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 ....
Thomas Shepard 1605–1649London: printed by T.P. and M.S. for Humphrey Blunden, 1641
[18], 266 p. · 52k words · Wing S3118 · ESTC R9618
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. Venture and try, it may be God may hear, not for thy prayers sake, but for his names sake. The unjust Judge helped the poor widow, not because he loved her or her suite, but because of her importunity; and so be sure thou ⟨p. 62⟩shalt have nothing if thou doest not seek: what though thou beest a dog, yet thou art alive, and art for the present under the Table. Catch not at Christ, snatch not at his bread, but wait till God give thee him; it may be thou mayest have him one day. Oh wonder then at Gods patience, that thou livest one day longer, who hast all thy lifetime like a filthy Toad spit thy venom in the face of God, that he hath never been quiet for thee: oh look upon that black bill that will one day be put in against thee, at the great day of account, where thou must answer with flames of fire about thine ears, not only for thy drunkenness, thy bloody oaths, and whoring, but for all the actions of thy short life, and just so many actions so many fins.
3. Venture and try, it may be God may heare, not for thy prayers sake, but for his names sake. The unjust Iudge holpe the poore widow, not because hee loved her or her suite, but because of her importunitie; and so be sure thou ⟨p. 62⟩shalt have nothing if thou doest not seeke: what though thou beest a dog, yet thou art alive, and art for the present under the Table. Catch not at Christ, snatch not at his bread, but waite till God give thee him; it may be thou maiest have him one day. Oh wonder then at Gods patience, that thou livest one day longer, who hast all thy lifetime like a filthy Toade spet thy venome in the face of God, that hee hath never beene quiet for thee: oh looke upon that black bill that will one day be put in against thee, at the great day of account, where thou must answer with flames of fire about thine eares, not only for thy drunkennesse, thy bloody oathes, and whoring, but for all the actions of thy short life, and just so many actions so many fins.
Thou hast painted thy face over now with good duties, and good desires; and a little honesty amongst some men, is of that worth and rarity, that they think God is beholding to them, if he can get any good action from them. But when thy painted ⟨p. 63⟩face shall be brought before the fire of Gods wrath, then thy vileness shall appear before men and Angels. Oh know it, that as thou doest nothing else but sin, so God heaps up wrath against the dreadful day of wrath.
Thou hast painted thy face over now with good dueties, and good desires; and a little honesty amongst some men, is of that worth and raritie, that they thinke God is beholding to them, if hee can get any good action from them. But when thy painted ⟨p. 63⟩face shall be brought before the fire of Gods wrath, then thy vilenesse shall appeare before men and Angels. Oh know it, that as thou doest nothing else but sinne, so God heapes up wrath against the dreadfull day of wrath.
Never tell me therefore, that God blesseth thee in thine outward estate; no greater sign of Gods wrath, then for the Lord to give thee thy swing, as a Father never looks after a desperate Son, but lets him run where he pleases. And if God be thine enemy, then every creature is so too, both in Heaven and Earth.
Never tell me therefore, that God blesseth thee in thine outward estate; no greater signe of Gods wrath, then for the Lord to give thee thy swinge, as a Father never lookes after a desperate Sonne, but lets him run where he pleases. And if God be thine enemy, then every creature is so too, both in Heaven and Earth.
