The Sincere Convert

Again, that word which quickeneth the dead is certainly Gods word, but the word of God ordinarily preached quickeneth the dead; it maketh the blind to see, the dumb to speak, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, those that never felt their sins to load them, ⟨p. 6⟩to mourn, those that never could pray to breath out unutterable groans and sighs for their sins.

Againe, that word which quickneth the dead is certainely Gods word, but the word of God ordinarily preached quickneth the dead; it maketh the blind to see, the dumbe to speake, the deafe to heare, the lame to walke, those that never felt their sinnes to loade them, ⟨p. 6⟩to mourn, those that never could pray to breath out unutterable grones and sighes for their sinnes.

Thirdly, From the Children begotten of God: For we may read in mens foreheads, as soon as ever they are borne, the sentence of death; and we may see by mens lives what hellish hearts they have. Now there is a time that some of this monstrous brood of men, are quite changed and made all new; they have new minds, new opinions,¹ new desires, new joys, new sorrows, new speeches, new prayers, new lives: and such a difference there is betwixt these and others, that they are hated by others, who loved them well while they loved their sins: and whence came this strange change? Is it from themselves? No; For they hated this new life, and these new men once themselves. Is it because they would be credited thereby? no, It is to be hated of Father, Mother, Friends, and maligned every where. Is it out of simplicity, or are their brains grown crazy? they were indeed ⟨p. 7⟩once fools, and I can prove them all to be Solomons fools: bt even simple men have been known to be more wise for the world, after they have been made new. But lastly, is it now from a slavish fear of hell, which works this alteration? Nothing less; they abhor to live like slaves in Bridewell, to do all for fear of the whip.