A59669:329
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.
And in Luther's time, when the light began to arise again, he saw so many carnal Gospellers, that he breaks out in one Sermon into these speeches; God grant I may never live to see those bloody days that are coming upon an ungodly world. Latimer saw so much profaneness in his time, that he thought verily Dooms day was just at hand. And have not our eyes seen in the Palatinate, where scarce one man in twenty that stood out, but fell from their glorious profession to Popery, as fast as leaves fall in Autumn. Who would have thought there had lurked such hearts under such a show of detesting Popery, as was among them before. And at Christs coming, shall he find faith on the earth?
And in Luthers time, when the light began to arise againe, he saw so many carnall Gospellers, that he breaks out in one Sermon into these speeches; God grant I may never live to see those bloody dayes that are comming upon an ungodly world. Latimer saw so much prophanenesse in his time, that he thought verily Doomes day was just at hand. And have not our eyes seene in the Palatinate, where scarce one man in twenty that stood out, but fell from their glorious profession to Popery, as fast as leaves fall in Autumne. Who would have thought there had lurked such hearts under such a shew of detesting Popery, as was among them before. And at Christs comming, shall he finde faith on the earth?
2. Let us look into all places and persons,1 and see how few shall be saved. The world is now split into four parts, Europe, Asia, Africa, and America: and the three ⟨p. 125⟩biggest parts are drowned in a deluge of profaneness and superstition; they do not so much as profess Christ; you may see the sentence of death writ on these mens foreheads, Jer. 10. ult. But let us look upon the best part of the world, and that is Europe, how few shall be saved there. First, The Grecian Church, howsoever now in these days, their good Patriarch of Constantinople is about a general Reformation among them, and hath done much good, yet are they for the present, and have been for the most part of them without the saving means of knowledge. They content themselves with their old superstitions, having little or no Preaching at all. And for the other parts, as Italy, Spain, France, Germany, for the most part they are Popish; and see the end of these men,