Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…Confirmation and restauration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…

2. And moreover it will be a very great help to their Consciences, in order to the convincing them of their sin and misery, and of the insufficiency of that Condition which multitudes do now rest in; and so to waken them to look after a safer state, and to be what they must seem to be, if they will be taken to be Christians. It is a great help to the deceiving of the multitude of the ungodly, to be currently esteemed Christians, when they are not: And self-love is such a blinding thing, that a little help will go far with it, in the promoting of such deceits. Naturally men are very easily brought to think well of them selves, and hardly brought to confess their misery. Every man almost will easily confess himself a sinner, and a very great sinner, so you will but allow him to be a Christian, and a pardoned sinner. For ⟨p. 198⟩this is a common confession, and brings no very terrible Conclusion, and message to the Soul. But when a man must confess himself, no true Christian, but unsanctified, unpardoned, and a slave of Satan, this is as much as to confess himself in a state of damnation, in which if he die he is lost for ever, and men are hardly drawn to believe so terrible a Conclusion: when yet it is so necessary where it is true, that we can scarce imagine how a man can be saved without it. He that knoweth not himself to be out of his way, will hardly be persuaded to turn back: And he that knows not himself to be unpardoned, will hardly value or seek a pardon: And he that thinks he is sanctified, and a true Christian already, will seek to be made what he takes himself already to be. And how much Reputation doth, to help or hinder men, even in self-judging, is easily perceived. Now here is a threefold Reputation, of very great moment, to concur, either for mens Deception, or Conversion. 1. The Reputation of Prince and Parliament, and so of Law-givers and Rulers of the Nation, who by their Laws do manifest, whom they esteem good Christians, and this the people very much look at. 2. The Reputation of all the Pastors of the Church, which is to ⟨p. 199⟩be manifested in their Agreements, Confessions, or Declarations and Practices. 3. The common consent of Christian people, which is to be manifested by their actions, according to the Laws of Christ, and the Direction of their Guides.

2. And moreover it will be a very great helpe to their Consciences, in order to the convincing them of their sinne and misery, and of the insufficiency of that Condition which multitudes do now rest in; and so to waken them to look after a safer state, and to be what they must seem to be, if they will be taken to be Christians. It is a great help to the deceiving of the multitude of the ungodly, to be currantly esteemed Christians, when they are not: And self-love is such a blinding thing, that a little help will go farre with it, in the promoting of such deceits. Naturally men are very easily brought to think well of them selves, and hardly brought to confess their misery. Every man almost will easily confess himself a sinner, and a very great sinner, so you will but allow him to be a Christian, and a pardoned sinner. For