The Sincere Convert

It is in this respect a harder matter to ⟨p. 264⟩convert a man in England than in India, for there they have no such shifts and forts against our Sermons, to say they believe in Christ already, as most amongst us do: we cannot wrap off mens fingers from catching hold on Christ before they be fit for him; like a company of thieves in the street, you shall see an hundred hands scrambling for a jewel that is fallen there, that have least, nay nothing to do with it. Every man saith almost, I hope Christ is mine, I put my whole trust and confidence in him, and will not be beaten from this. What, must a man despair? must not a man trust unto Christ? thus, men will hope and trust, though they have no ground, no graces to prove they may lay hold and claim unto Christ. This hope scared out of his wits damns thousands, for I am persuaded if men did see themselves Christless creatures, as well as sinful creatures, they would cry out, Lord, what shall I do to be saved?

It is in this respect a harder matter to ⟨p. 264⟩convert a man in England than in India, for there they have no such shifts and forts against our Sermons, to say they beleeve in Christ already, as most amongst us doe: wee cannot wrap off mens fingers from catching hold on Christ before they be fit for him; like a company of theeves in the street, you shall see an hundred hands scrambling for a jewell that is fallen there, that have least, nay nothing to doe with it. Every man saith almost, I hope Christ is mine, I put my whole trust and confidence in him, and will not be beaten from this. What, must a man despaire? must not a man trust unto Christ? thus, men will hope and trust, though they have no ground, no graces to prove they may lay hold and claime unto Christ. This hope skared out of his wits damnes thousands, for I am perswaded if men did see themselves Christlesse creatures, as well as sinfull creatures, they would cry out, Lord, what shall I doe to be saved?