A59669:155
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.
It is true, thou feelest not all these things stirring in thee, at one time, no more than Hazael thought he was or should be such a blood sucker, when he asked the Prophet Elisha if he were a dog; but they are in thee like a nest of snakes in an old hedge. Although they break not out into thy life, they lie lurking in thy heart, they are there as a filthy puddle in a barrel, which runs not our, because thou haply wantest the temptation or occasion to broach and tap thine heart, or because of Gods restraining Grace by Fear and Sham, Education, good Company, thou art restrained and builded up: and therefore ⟨p. 53⟩when one came to comfort that famous picture, pattern and monument of Gods justice by seven years horror and grievous distress of conscience:1 when one told him he never had committed such sins as Manasseh, and therefore he was not the greatest sinner isince the Creation, as he conceived; he replied that he should have been worse than ever Manasseh was if he had lived in his time, and been on his throne.
It is true, thou feelest not all these things stirring in thee, at one time, no more than Hazael thought he was or should be such a blood sucker, when he asked the Prophe• Elishab if he were a dog; but they are in thee like a nest of snakes in an old hedge. Although they break not out into thy life, they lie lurking in thy heart, they are there as a filthy puddle in a barrell, which runs not our, because thou happly wantest the temptation or occasion to broach and tappe thine heart, or because of Gods restraining Grace by Feare and Sham, Educaeion, good Company, thou art restrained and builded up: and therfore ⟨p. 53⟩when one came to comfort that famous picture, patterne and monument of Gods justice by seven yeares horrour and grievous distresse of conscience:1 when one told him hee never had committeed such sins as Manasses, and therefore hee was not the greatest sinner isince the Creation, as he conceived; hee replyed that hee should have beene worse than ever Manasses was if he had lived in his time, and been on his throne.