A59669:521
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.
8. If they find no help from hence, ⟨p. 239⟩but are forced to see and say, when they have done all, they are unprofitable servants• and they sin in all that which they do; then they rest in that which is like unto Evangelical Obedience, they think to please God by mourning for their failings in their good duties, desiring to be better, and promising for the time to come to be so, and therein rest, Deut. 5. 29.
8. If they find no helpe from hence, ⟨p. 239⟩but are forced to see and say, when they have done all, they are unprofitable servants• and they sinne in all that which they doe; then they rest in that which is like unto Evangelicall Obedience, they thinke to please God by mourning for their failings in their good duties, d•siring to be better, and promising for the time to come to be so, and therein rest, Deut. 5. 29.
9. If they feel a want of all these,§9 then they dig within themselves for power to leave sin, power to be more holy and humble, and so think to work out themselves in time, out of this▪ estate, and so they dig for pearls in their own dunghills, and will not be beholding to the Lord Jesus, to live on him in the want of all; they think to set up themselves out of their own stock without Jesus Christ, and so, as the Prophet Hosea speaks 14. 3, 4. think to save themselves by their riding on Horses, (that is) by their own abilities.