The Sincere Convert

Master Bradford would never look upon any ones lewd life with one eye, but he would presently return within his own breast with the other eye, and say, In this my vile heart remains that sin, which without Gods special grace I should have committed as well as •ee. O me thinks this might pull down mens proud conceits of themselves, especially such as bear up and comfort themselves in their smooth, honest, civil life; such as through education have been washed from all soul sins, they were never tainted with whoredom, swearing, ⟨p. 54⟩drunkenness, or profaneness; and here they think themselves so safe, that God cannot find in his heart to have a thought of damming them.

Master Bradford would never looke upon any ones lewd life with one eye, bnt he would presently re•urne within his owne breast with the other eye, and say, In this my vile heart remaines that sinne, which without Gods speciall grace I should have committed as well as •ee. O mee thinkes this might pull downe mens proud conceits of themselves, especially such as beare up and comfort themselves in their smooth, honest, civil life; such as through education have beene washed from all soule sinnes, they were never tainted with whoredome, swearing, ⟨p. 54⟩drunkennes, or prophanenesse; and here they think themselves so safe, that God cannot finde in his heart to have a thought of damming them.

Oh consider of this point, which may make thee pull thine hair from thine head, and turn thy clothes to sackcloth, and run up and down with amazement and paleness in thy face, and horror in thy conscience, and tears in thine eyes. What though thy life be smooth, what though thy outside, thy sepulchre be painted? oh thou art full of rottenness of sin within. Guilty not before men as the sins of thy life make thee, but before God, of all the sins that swarm and roar in the whole world at this day, for God looks to the heart; guilty thou art therefore of heart-whoredom, heart-sodomy, heart-blasphemy, heart-drunkenness, heart-buggery, heart oppression, heart-idolatry; and these are the sins that terribly provoke the wrath of almighty God against thee, Isay 57. 16. for the iniquity of his covetousness (saith our Translation,) I smote him, but the Hebrew renders it better,