N00054:144
[The sincere convert, discovering the small number of true believers, and the great difficulty…[The sincere convert, discovering the small number of true beleevers, and the great difficulty…
[The sincere convert, discovering the small number of true believers, and the great difficulty of saving conversion. ...][The sincere convert, discovering the small number of true beleevers, and the great difficulty of saving conversion. ...]
printed by S. Green?, 1664
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.
Answ. 1. Good duties are good in themselves, although coming from thy vile hearts, they are sins.
2. Ill is less sin to do them, then to omit them; therefore if thou wilt go to hell, go in the fairest path thou canst in thither.
3. Venture and try, it may be God may hear, not for thy prayers sake, but for his Names sake. The unjust Judge help the poor widow, not because he loved her or her suit, but because of her importunity; and so be sure thou shalt have nothing if thou dost not seek: what though thou beest a dog, yet thou art alive, and art for the present under the table. Catch not at Christ, snatch not at his bread, but wait till God give thee him; it may be thou mayest have him one day. Oh, wonder then at Gods patience, that thou livest one day longer, who hast all thy lifetime like a filthy •oad, spit thy venom in the face of God, that he ha•h never been quiet for thee. Oh, look upon the black bill that will one day be put in against thee, at the great day of account, where thou must ⟨p. 49⟩answer with flames of fire about thine ••rs, not only for thy drunkenness, thy bloody oaths, and whoring; but for all ••e actions of thy short life, and just so many actions, so many sins.
3. Venture and try, it may be God may hear, not for thy prayers sake, but for his Names sake. The unjust Judge help the poor widow, not because he loved her or her suit, but because of her importunity; and so be sure thou shalt have nothing if thou dost not seek: what though thou beest a dog, yet thou art alive, and art for the present under the table. Catch not at Christ, snatch not at his bread, but wait till God give thee him; it may be thou mayest have him one day. Oh, wonder then at Gods patience, that thou livest one day longer, who hast all thy lifetime like a filthy oad, spit thy venome in the face of God, that he hah never been quyet for thee. Oh, look upon the black bill that will one day be put in against thee, at the great day of account, where thou must