A59669:331
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.
Nay, even amongst them that have the means of grace, but few shall be saved. It may be sometimes amongst ninety nine in a Parish, Christ sends a Minister to call some one lost Sheep,1 Matth. 13. Three grounds were bad where the seed was sown, and only one ground good. It's a strange speech of Chrysostom in his fourth Sermon to the people of Antioch, where he was much beloved, and did much good. How many do you think (saith he) shall be saved in this City? It will be an hard speech to you, but I will speak it; though here be so many thousands of you, yet there cannot be found a hundred that shall be saved, and I doubt of them too; for what villainy is there among youth, what sloth in old men? and so he goes ⟨p. 127⟩on: So say I, never tell me, we are baptized, and are Christians, and trust to Christ; let us but separate the Goats from the Sheep, and exclude none, but such as the Scripture doth, and sets a cross upon their doors, with, Lord have mercy upon them, and we shall see, only few in the City shall be saved.
Nay, even amongst them that have the meanes of grace, but few shall be saved. It may be sometimes amongst ninety nine in a Parish, Christ sends a Minister to call some one lost Sheepe,1 Matth. 13. Three grounds were bad where the seede was sowne, and onely one ground good. It's a strange speech of Chrysostome in his fourth Sermon to the people of Antioch, where he was much beloved, and did much good. How many doe you thinke (saith he) shall be saved in this Citie? It will be an hard speech to you, but I will speake it; though here be so many thousands of you, yet there cannot be found a hundred that shall be saved, and I doubt of them too; for what villany is there among youth, what sloth in old men? and so he goes ⟨p. 127⟩on: So say I, never tell me, we are baptized, and are Christians, and trust to Christ; let us but separate the Goates from the Sheepe, and exclude none, but such as the Scripture doth, and sets a crosse upon their dores, with, Lord have mercy upon them, and we shall see, onely few in the Citie shall be saved.