Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A64955
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The conversion of a sinner explained and applied from Ezek. 33. 11 ... part whereof was preached some while since at Saviours Southwark : The day of grace, discoursed of from Luke 19. 41,42 ... / by Nathaneal Vincent.
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Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697.
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1669
(1669)
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Wing V402; ESTC R39737
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47,380
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118
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sin is not âo be admired for its pleasure at present thou art only chastized with whips but if thou arââncorrigible and sinnest yet more and more assuredly at last thou shalt be lashed with scorâions 5. God calls upon sinners to turn to him by the internal voice and motions of his Spirit The Spirit often suggests concerning the sinful and false way This is âot the way and therefore turn out of it but concerning the way of holiness which leads to God This is the way therefore turn into it and without declining walk iâ it Isa 30. 21. All the other Calls will be to little purpose unless the Spirit do accompany them Without his conviction thâ denunciation of curses will not awaken Without his illumination the blessing profered will be undervalued Withouâ his setting an edge upon them the mosâ pathetical expostulations will not havâ the least efficacy to perswade the loudeâ word will be no more regarded than if iâ were a whisper Unless the Spirit joy his teaching and instruction the rod wiâ be mute and insignificant nothing wiâ be learned either by personal afflictionâ or by National judgments 'T is dangerous therefore to be heedless of and resiâ the holy Ghost since the efficacy of aâ depends upon him There is a twofold Call of the Spirit more commune and more special 1. More commune and so many aâ called which never are throughly converted 'T was the commune work of thâ Spirit which made Felix tremble whicâ brought Agrippa within a step of Christianity and caused Herod to do many thingâ Multitudes of unregenerate ones have feâ the waters stirr'd the holy Ghost moving them to conversion and readily profering his aid and assistance and perhaps for a while they have been led by him But then some lust or vanity they refused to let go which he has bid them to abandon they would not turn their spiritual sloth into serious diligence about the concerns of their immortal souls and so by disregarding of his motions slighting of his help they have made the Spirit to go away in grief that came in love to work upon them 2. There is a Call of the Spirit which is more special and efficacious and when he thus moves them to turn to God sinners are not only almost but perswaded altogether Now the Method of the Spirit in working on those who are indeed made Converts is much to be observed 1. Those whom the Spirit calls effectually he convinces of sin Joh. 16. 8. He sets the Law before them and he himself is the Laws Interpreter and by his Commentary on it they are made to see that the Law forbids not only the breakings forth of sin at the lips and in the life but also the inward lustings and risings of sin in the heart And when the Law thus comes Oh! how does the offence abound The Spirit sets their iniquities in order before their eyes and holds their eyes waking to behold them The Book of Conscience is opened and how many transgressions are presently beheld there registred And if upon dipping into this book so many abominations do appear what an innumerable multitude are down in the book of Gods remembrance Though sinners may not consider it yet God remembers all their wickedness Hos 7. 2. This the soul layes to heart Innumerable evils compass him about as David speaks his iniquities take hold upon him Psal 40. 12. when he lyes down they lye down when he rises they rise with him wherever he goes or is they continually dog and haunt him If the sinner have been notorious how hideous and horrid will sin appear to him when all pleas and excuses are silenced when the painted visour is pull'd off and it is seen by him in its native complexion drunkenness uncleanness oaths profane jesting greediness after the world will no longer then be made light of These and such like before seemed to have nothing of danger much of delight and pleasure but after conviction their deceitful and damnable nature will be as evident as the Sun at noon-day And though the sinner has been free from the more gross pollutions of the world yet enough shall be shewed him to cause him to conclude himself a Wretch and in a lost estate What! are all his omissions or mocking of the jealous God by heartless performances nothing Is his mispence of time and regardlessness of eternity nothing Is his delighting in creatures and vanity and the things of the world and loving these more than God and Christ and glory but a small matter These are heinous sins which yet the more civilized are to be charged with This conviction of the Spirit is strong and lasting wears not off till the sinner is brought quite home Actual transgressions with their aggravations lye heavy and original sin which is the fountain whence âne other flow is discover'd And in this âountain there is enough to feed ten thouând times more streams than have issued ârth David is not only convinced of the âurder and adultery he had committed âut is made to trace these sins to the Wellâad the original corruption of his naâre Psal 51. 5. and the sight of this how much did it tend to his humiliation Finally this conviction is not only of some acts of sin but of the badness of the sinners state he is made to see himself because a child of disobedience therefore also a child of wrath And without cavilling all is yielded to and acknowledged with such evidence is this conviction of the Spirit 2. Those whom the Spirit calls effectually he works fear in them The spirit of bondage to fear goes before the spirit of adoption Of these fears and terrors there are degrees indeed yet such a measure is wrought in all towards whom the Lord has designs of love as to make them restlests in a natural estate Carnal security is one of the first things that is struck at by the Spirit he bids the soul awake and lets him know that while he sleeps in sin 't is much more hazardous than if he slept upon the top of a Mast Well may the sinner be afraid wrath armed with irresistible and almighty power he has engaged against himself And who can stand before Gods indignation who can abide the fierceness of his anger Nah. 1. The curses of the Law have a dreadful sound in the sinners ears and because threatned damnation will not slumber long the propinquity and neerness of such great evils raises fear exceedingly His assent is strong and in his mind he now foresees the Lord Jesus revealed with his mighty Angels in flaming fire ready to take vengeance on them that know not God and disobey the Gospel and to punish them with everlasting destruction 2 Thes 1. 8 9. And on thinks he with himself how terrible will it be to be of the number of them who shall call to the rocks and mountains to fall upon them that they may be hid from the face of him that sits