A59669:259
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.
This strikes terror to them,1 that though there is a means of deliverance, yet they lye in their misery, never groan, never sigh to the Lord Jesus ⟨p. 102⟩for deliverance; nay, that rejoice in their bondage, and dance to Hell in their bolts; nay, that are weary of deliverance, that sit in the stocks, when they are at prayers, that come out of the Church, when the tedious Sermon runs somewhat beyond the hou•e, like prisoners out of a Jail, that despise the Lord Jesus, when he offers to open the doors, and so let them out of that miserable estate. Oh poor creatures! is there a means of deliverance? and dost thou neglect, nay despise it. Know it, that this will cut thine heart one day, when thou art hanging in thy gibbets in Hell, to see others standing at Gods right hand, redeemed by Christ; thou mightst have had share in their honour, for there was a Deliverer come to save thee, but thou wouldst have none of him. Oh thou wilt lye yelling in those everlasting burnings, and tear thy hair, and curse thy self: from hence might I have been delivered, but I would not. Hath Christ delivered thee from Hell, and hath he not delivered thee from thine ⟨p. 103⟩Alehouse? Hath Christ delivered thee from Satan's society, when he hath not delivered thee from thy loose company yet? Hath Christ delivered thee from burning, when thy faggots, thy sins, grow in thee? Is Christs blood thine, that makest no more account of it, nor feelest no more virtue from it than in the blood of a chicken? Art thou redeemed, dost thou hope by Christ to be saved, that didst never see, nor feel, nor sigh under thy bondage? O, the devils will keep holiday (as it were) in hell, in respect of thee, who shalt mourn under Gods wrath, and lament. Oh there was a means to deliver us out of it, but thou shalt mourn for ever for thy misery. And this will be a bodkin at thine heart one day, to think there was a deliverer, but I wretch would none of him.
This strikes terrour to them,1 that though there is a meanes of deliverance, yet they lye in their misery, never groane, never sigh to the Lord Jesus