A59669:506
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.
Answ. 1Take a full view of thy misery. 2. Take special notice of the Lords readiness and willingness to receive thee yet unto mercy: for, two things harden the heart. 1. false hope: whereby a man hopes, he is not so bad, as indeed he is. •. No hope; whereby a man when he seeth himself so notoriously ⟨p. 226⟩bad, thinks there is no willingness in the Lord to pardon or receive such a monster of men to mercy; and if neither the hammer can break thy stony heart, nor the Sunshine of mercy melt it, thou hast an heart worse than the Devil, and art a spectacle of the greatest misery. 1. In regard of sin, 2. in regard of Gods wrath.
Answ. 1Take a full view of thy misery. 2. Take speciall notice of the Lords readinesse and willingnesse to receive thee yet unto mercy: for, two things harden the heart. 1. false hope: whereby a man hopes, he is not so bad, as indeed he is. •. No hope; whereby a man when he seeth himselfe so notoriously ⟨p. 226⟩bad, thinkes there is no willingnesse in the Lord to pardon or receive such a monster of men to mercy; and if neither the hammer can breake thy stony heart, nor the Sunshine of mercy melt it, thou hast an heart worse than the Devill, and art a spectacle of the greatest misery. 1. In regard of sinne, 2. in regard of Gods wrath.
- 1Answ. 1. How to get a broken heart.
First, in regard of sin. Thou hast sinned, and that grievously against a great God, thou makest no great matter of this: No, but though it be no load to thee, it's a load on the Lords heart,