A94157:232
The door of salvation opened by the key of regeneration
The door of salvation opened by the key of regeneration: or A treatise containing the nature, necessity, marks and means of regeneration; as also the duty of the regenerate. / By George Swinnocke, M.A. and pastor of Rickmersworth in Hertfordshire.
London: printed by John Best for Tho. Parkhurst, 1661
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.
Reader, do not rely upon these affections which thou seest may be in them which are not regenerated: for as the Sorcerers seemed to do as much as Moses, but did nothing in reality, so thou mayst seem to do as much as a Christian, when all is but counterfeit. Thy fear of sin may be forced, not flow freely from thee. Fearfulness hath taken hold on the hypocrites. Isa. 33.14. as a Serjeant takes hold on a bad debtor, or an armed man on a coward, being more bold then welcome. Thou mayst fear sin as the Medes and Persians the Jews, when the fear of the Jews fell upon them, Esther 8.17. when the presence of this fear, is as Christs presence is to the Devils, a torment to thee, Mat. 8.29.
Reader, do not relie upon these affections which thou seest may be in them which are not regenerated: for as the Sorcerers seemed to do as much as Moses, but did nothing in reality, so thou mayst seem to do as much as a Christian, when all is but counterfeit. Thy fear of sin may be forced, not flow freely from thee. Fearfulness hath taken hold on the hypocrites. Isa. 33.14. as a Serjeant takes hold on a bad debtor, or an armed man on a coward, being more bold then welcome. Thou mayst fear sin as the Medes and Persians the Jews, when the fear of the Jews fell upon them, Esther 8.17. when the presence of this fear, is as Christs presence is to the Devils, a torment to thee, Mat. 8.29.
Nay, thy fear may be only for a fit, like a mushroom which groweth up in a night, and perisheth the next day. The people when they saw Amasa weltering in his blood in the way, stood still; but he being quickly removed, they went on. When thou thinkest of others weltering in their soul-blood in hell or seest the judgements of God upon others, thou mayst be afraid, and stand still a little at present; but these thoughts being soon removed, thou mayst go on in the way of thine own heart.