A59669:113
The Sincere Convert
The sincere convert discovering the paucity of true believers and the great difficulty of saving conversion by Tho. Shepherd ....The sincere convert discovering the paucity of true beleevers and the great difficulty of saving conversion by Tho. Shepheard ....
London: printed by T.P. and M.S. for Humphrey Blunden, 1641
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. The pinching devout hypocrite, that being pursued with the fear of Hell, goes further, and labours for just so much holiness as will save him only, and carry him to heaven at last. Hence the young man in the Gospel came with that great question to Christ, which many unsound hearts come with to Ministers now, what he should do to inherit eternal life. These people set up such a man in their thoughts to be a very honest man, and one doubtless that shall be saved, and hence they will take him to be their Copy and Sampler, and labour to do as he doth, and to live just as he lives, and to hold opinions as he holds, and so hope to be saved. They will ask very inquisitively what is the least measure of grace, and the least grain of faith, and the best ⟨p. 39⟩Sermons are not such as humble them most, but such as flatter them, best; wherein they may hear how well good desires are accepted of by God; which if they hear to be of that virtue to save them, God shall be served only with good desires, and the Devil in deed all their life time.
3. The pinching devont hypocrite, that being pursued with the feare of Hell, goes further, and labours for just so much holinesse as will save him onely, and carry him to heaven at last. Hence the young man in the Gospell came with that great question to Christ, which many unsound hearts come with to Ministers now, what he should doe to inherit eternall life. These people set up such a man in their thoughts to bee a very honest man, and one doubtlesse that shall be saved, and hence they will take him to bee their Copy and Sampler, and labour to doe as he doth, and to live just as hee lives, and to hold opinions as he holds, and so hope to be saved. They will aske very inquisitively what is the least measure of grace, and the least graine of faith, and the best ⟨p. 39⟩Sermons are not such as humble them most, but such as slatter them, best; wherein they may heare how well good desires are accepted of by God; which if they heare to be of that vertue to save them, God shall bee served only with good desires, and the Devill in deed all their life time.