The Sincere Convert

For, take a profane man, what makes him drink, swear, cozen, game, whore? Is there no God to punish? Is there no hell hot enough to torment? are there no plagues to confound him? yes, why •inneth he then so? Oh! he prayeth to God for forgiveness, and sorroweth, and repents in secret (as he •aith) and this bears him out in his lewd pranks.

For, take a prophane man, what makes him drink, sweare, cozen, game, whore? Is there no God to punish? Is there no hell hot enough to torment? are there no plagues to confound him? yes, why •inneth he then so? Oh! he prayeth to God for forgivenesse, and sorroweth, and repents in secret (as he •aith) and this beares him out in his lewd pranks.

Take a moral man, he knows he hath his failings and his sins, as the best have, and is overtaken sometimes as the best are; why doth he not remove these sins then? He confesseth them to God every morning when he riseth; why is he not more humbled under his sin then? the reason is, he constantly observeth morning and evening prayer, & then he craves forgiveness ⟨p. 254⟩for his failings, by which course he hopes he makes his peace with God, and hence he sinneth without fear, and riseth out of his falls into sin without sorrow. And thus they see and maintain their sins by their duties, and therefore rest in duties.

Take a morall man, he knowes he hath his failings and his sinnes, as the best have, and is overtaken sometimes as the best are; why doth he not remove these sinnes then? He confesseth them to God every morning when he riseth; why is he not more humbled under his sinne then? the reason is, he constantly observeth morning and evening prayer, & then he craves forgivenesse ⟨p. 254⟩