A62053:341
The sinners last sentence to eternal punishment, for sins of omission
The sinners last sentence to eternal punishment, for sins of omission wherein is discovered, the nature, causes, and cure of those sins / by Geo. Swinnock.
London: printed for Geo. Swinnock, 1675
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 27: Negative godliness is not enough. Christs impartiality in Judgment.
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.
How many civil men presume their persons holy, because they are not so filthy as those who rake in Ditches and Kennels, and defile themselves daily ⟨p. 206⟩with scandalous Abominations; and they presume their states to be good, and themselves in the way to Heaven, because they are no Drunkards, no Swearers, no Adulterers, no Thieves, no Murderers; when for all this they shall be cast to Hell, because they are no Believers, no Penitents, no obedient Subjects to the King of Saints, Because they know not God, and obey not the Gospel, 2 Thess. 1.7, 8. Such men are farther distant from good than from evil. Ceasing from evil is not enough, it's but one step Heaven-ward; doing of good must accompany it, or it will be of small moment.
How many civil men presume their persons holy, because they are not so filthy as those who rake in Ditches and Kennels, and defile themselves daily ⟨p. 206⟩with scandalous Abominations; and they presume their states to be good, and themselves in the way to Heaven, because they are no Drunkards, no Swearers, no Adulterers, no Theeves, no Murderers; when for all this they shall be cast to Hell, because they are no Believers, no Penitents, no obedient Subjects to the King of Saints, Because they know not God, and obey not the Gospel, 2 Thess. 1.7, 8. Such men are farther distant from good than from evil. Ceasing from evil is not enough, it's but one step Heaven-ward; doing of good must accompany it, or it will be of small moment.
I confess, when I behold a civil man, who is harmless in his Carriage, unblamable (in regard of scandal) in his public Conversation, and courteous in his Behaviour to all; I cannot but respect him, and am ready to wish (as Athanasius, that all the World of Atheists and profane Wretches would turn Hypocrites) that all scandalous Sinners would turn Civilians, and come so far towards Holiness; but yet I must say, that this is scarce half way to Christianity.