A59669:401
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.
Fourthly, By reason of mans bold presumption, whereby men scramble to save themselves by their own seeming faith, when they see an insufficiency in duties, and an unworthiness in themselves for God to save them.
Fourthly, By reason of mans bold presumption, whereby men scramble to save themselves by their own seeming faith, when they see an insufficiency in duties, and an unworthinesse in themselves for God to save them.
I will begin with the first Reason,1 and discover the first train, whereby men blow up themselves, which is this: They know not their misery, nor that fearful accursed forlorn estate wherein they lye, but think and say, they shall do as well as others; and therefore when any friend persuadeth them to come out of it, and shows, them the danger of remaining in such a condition; what's their answer? I pray yon save your breath to cool your broth. Every Fat shall stand on his own bottom; let me alone, I hope I have a soul to save as well as you, and shall be as careful of it as you shall or can be; you shall not answer for my soul, I hope I shall do as well as the precisest of you all. Hence likewise, if the Minister come home to them, they go home with hearts full of out-cries against the man, and their tongue dipped in gall against the Sermon. God be merciful unto us, if all this be true; here's harsh doctrine, enough to make a man run out of his wits, and to drive ⟨p. 158⟩me to despair. Thus they know not their misery, and not knowing (they are lost and condemned Creatures under the ever lasting wrath of God) They never seek, pray, strive or follow the means whereby they may come out of it, and so perish in it, and never know it, till they awake with the •lames of Hell about their ears. They will acknowledge indeed many of them, that all men are borne in a most miserable estate, but they never apply particularly that general truth to themselves; saying, I am the man, I am now under Gods wrath, and may be snatched away by death every hour, and then I am undone and lost for ever.