A59669:388
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.
Sixthly, the way of sloth, whereby men lye still, and say, God must do all; If the Lord would set up a Pulpit at the Ale-house door, it may be they would hear oftener. If God will always thunder, they will always pray; if strike them now and then with sickness, God shall be payed with good words and promises enow, that they will be better if they live; but as long as peace lasts, they will run to Hell as fast as they can; and if God will not catch them, they care not, they will not return.
Sixthly, the way of sloth, whereby men lye still, and say, God must doe all; If the Lord would set up a Pulpit at the Ale-house doore, it may be they would heare oftner. If God will alwaies thunder, they will alwaies pray; if strike them now and then with sicknesse, God shall be payed with good words and promises enow, that they will be better if they live; but as long as peace lasts, they will run to Hell as fast as they can; and if God will not catch them, they care not, they will not returne.
Seventhly, The way of carelessness, when men feeling many difficulties, pass through some of them, but not all, and what they cannot get now, ⟨p. 153⟩they feed themselves with a false hope they shall hereafter: they are content to be called Precisians, and fools, and crazy brains, but they want brokenness of heart, and they will pray (it may be) for it, and pass by that difficulty; but to keep the wound always open, this they will not do, to be always sighing for help, and never to give themselves rest, till their hearts are humbled; that they will not; these have a name to live, yet are dead.
Seventhly, The way of carelesnesse, when men feeling many difficulties, passe through some of them, but not all, and what they cannot get now, ⟨p. 153⟩they feed themselves with a false hope they shall hereafter: they are content to be called Precisians, and fooles, and crazie braines, but they want brokennesse of heart, and they will pray (it may be) for it, and passe by that difficultie; but to keep the wound alwayes open, this they will not doe, to be alwayes sighing for helpe, and never to give themselves rest, till their hearts are humbled; that they will not; these have a name to live, yet are dead.