allowed to act as others of the same age with us and enjoy our Sports and Pleasures and fulfil our youthful Lusts and Desires when Age comes on then 't will be time enough to turn to God and make Provision for Eternity Ans 1. Early Conversion is very acceptable 'T is the Duty of them that are young to remember their Creatour in the dayes of their Youth Eccles 12. 1. And God is very much pleased when he is thus remembred A mark of Honour is put upon them that have been Converted betimes Joseph Josiah Timothy and others are upon sacred Record because when very young and tender they did fly from sin turn'd to God and fear'd him and by his Word became wise unto Salvation 2. Early Conversion is more easie 〈◊〉 grant Nature in the Young as well as Old is utterly averse from it but yet 't is certain that long continuance and custom in Sin does make it harder to be forsaken Therefore sayes the Prophet Jer. 13. 23. Can the Ethiopian change his Skin or a Leopard his Spots then may ye do good that are accustomed to do evil Evil Custom is a second evil Nature and doubles the Cords which hold and hinder the Sinner from Conversion They that turn while young have not such habits of sâ—â— to grapple with neither are evils so rooted in them as in those that are Older 3. Early Conversion prevents a great deal of Sin which impetuous Youth is apt to be defiled with When the Psalmist saies Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way Psal 119. 9. he plainly intimates that the way of the young man is naturally unclean and Nature being vigorous in him his Pollutions and Defilements exceedingly grow upon him But if he turn to God and take heed to himself according to the Words Direction and Command his Heart shall be made and kept pure his Vessel shall be possessed in Sanctification and Honour and though Youth be a dangerous Age the Grace of God shall be sufficient for preservation 4. You that are born of Christian Parents God has challenged a special interest in you from your very Infancy a The Scripture makes a difference between the Children of Christian Parents and the Children of Infidels and therefore that opinion which makes no difference between them must needs be an errour and contrary to the Scripture The Children of them that are Infidels are expresly said to be unclean but if the Parents or but one of them does believe the Children are affirmed to be holy 1 Cor. 7. 14. You are Holy to the Lord your faithful Parents as they gave themselves so they gave you their Seed unto their Lord to be peculiarly for his Use and Service Circumcision of Infants under the Law and baptizing them under the Gospel shews that obligations to Conversion are early and that the thing it self can never be too soon 5. You that are young and talk of having time enough remember that young ones may dye and often do and after death they are brought to judgment Eccles 11. 9. b Since feats of Youth must be brought into judgement what manner of persons ought young men to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness And if you dye before Converted you will dye in your Sins and the first death and second death will come together O young man consider that Childhood and youth are vanity the Thoughts and Counsels then are usually foolish and unreasonable Life is not to be reckoned upon for mans Life is but 〈◊〉 Vapour and Thine may be as a morning Cloud and as the early dew vanishing very quickly Therefore hasten thy flight from youthful lusts and turn to God without any further delay Obj. 4. Others do further Object That if once they are Converted they must biâ— an eternal farewell to all Delight and Pleasure and live a melancholick Life their eyes must alwaies be full of Tears and theiâ— breathing must be a continual sighing they must ever be complaining of their Hearts and lamenting the miscarriages of their Lives and unto Joy they must become perfect Strangers And by such sad apprehensions as these Satan sills the Hearts of thousands with a mighty Prejudice against Conversion But to this Objection I thus Answer Ans 1. Conversion only banishes the Pleasures that are sinful and to take Pleasure in Sin how unreasonable is it should it be counted a Pleasure to anger the Almighty to lay our selves under a Curse which none can bear without being extreamly wretched should it be counted a Pleasure to expose our selves to all sorts of Judgments and Calamities in this life to wound the Conscience to damn the Soul for ever Is there any ease in Hell are those Burnings become desirable and should Pleasure be taken in Sin which if still delighted in will certainly bring us to those Torments Lovers of sinful Pleasures understand not Pleasures All these kind of Delights are to be shunn'd for they have as it were an intoxicating and stupifying Poyson in the mouth and a mortal Sting in the tail of them 2. Conversion spiritualizes and hightens the Pleasures that are innocent and lawful He that keeps within the bounds that God has set him consults his own Peace When God is eyed and served in the abundance of all things there is the greater Joy in that abundance as is intimated Deut. 28. 47. When the Creatures are improved for God this is one way towards the Cure of that Vanity and Vexation that Sinners find in them To Eat and Drink and Recreate our selves to the Glory of God designing by these actions to be fitter for our Lords work and use this puts a very great sweetness into both our Food and Recreations and this sweetness the greatest Epicures and Sensualists taste not of 3. That Godly Sorrow which is so much cryed out against is not without a satisfaction Did ever any one that truly repented repent of his Repentance Impenitency will be found a most destructive Madness and will be repented of in Hell at farthest but Repentance never not in this World less at Death and least of all in Heaven 2 Cor. 7. 10. Godly sorrow worketh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Repentance unto Salvation not tâ— be repented of As God is pleased with thâ— Sacrifice of a broken and contrite Spirit sâ— the Heart that is broken may be glad oâ— this Contrition which is the work of a Coâ—forter and to find how God has changâ— the heart of stone into an heart of flesh 4. 'T is the greatest mistake in the World to think that turning to God is nothing else but turning sorrowful Care is taken that the grossest Offenders if truly Penitent should not be swallowed up of over much sorrow 2 Cor. 2. 7. The Mourners are pronounced blessed for they shall be Comforted They that sow in Tears shall reap in Joy The Kingdom of God is Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost as well as Righteousness Rom. 14. 17. and this Peace passes all
Opera Dei s◠pius Considerator advertat perhibent testimonium Creatori quid autem borum est quod non sit mirabile si unumquodque ratione metiamur Augustin Euarrat in Psal 118. The Heavens Preach to Men on Earth and plainly Declare their Creators Glory they utter a Voice which all of all Languages may understand here are such lines in which every Eye may read the eternal Power and Godhead of Him of whom and through whom and to whom are all things and who is to be glorifified for evermore Among the other Works of God the Psalmist takes special notice of the Sun in the Firmament whose light and influence is so great and beneficial and then makes a transition to the Law and Word of God whose Light in a sense obscures that glorious Luminary giving such a clear manifestation and affecting knowledge to Man concerning his Maker as turns his Heart to him though naturally blind and foolish alienated and estranged from Him. The Law of the Lord is perfect Converting the Soul. This weighty Argument of Conversion I begin to insist on this day Conversion to God is the Epitome of Religion it is the Summe of Law and Gospel in a few Syllables it is fallen Man's recovery and rising again and the new making of that which Sin had marr'd and spoyled it is the shutting of Hell and is exceedingly opposed by the evil Angels that are there it is the opening of the gate of Heaven There is no Flaming Sword to keep the true Convert from the Tree of Life he shall have entrance into the Paradise of God and be crown'd with Righteousness and Immortality But is not the Tongue of an Angel fitter to be employed in calling to Conversion than that of a mortal Man Is there not need of the loudest Thunder or such an amazing sound as was heard when the Law was delivered on Mount Sinai of old How unlikely alas how unlikely are humane endeavours to be successful since where Conversion is the Power of Satan must be vanquisht the Dominion of Sin unto which the whole World almost is subject must be thrown down the Deaf must be made to hear the Blind must be made to see and the Dead must be raised to the highest Life in this World and that is Life Spiritual and Nature it self must be changed and of Old become New. Lord what is Man that he should be employed in such a work as this the earthen Vessel is weak or rather nothing the Treasure is the Word of God and the Excellency of its Power is of the Lord himself The Law of Lord is perfect Converting the Soul. In the Text there are four things observable 1. The Word of God is called the Law of the Lord. The Law comprehends not only the Preceptive part but also the whole Doctrine revealed in the Holy Scriptures The very Gospel it self is styled the Law of Faith Well may the Word of God be called a Law since its Author is the great Law-giver who has Power to save and to destroy and considering the deep Obligation it layes Man under A principal part of the Word are the Commands of it the Promises and Threatnings are Appendices to the Precepts and the Examples in which both Promises and Threatnings are in some measure fulfilled may strongly excite unto Obedience 2. Here is an excellent Property of this Word of God 't is Perfect though some most impiously make bold with it and eke it out with their own Traditions which they make to be of equal Authority with it yet the Word of God is perfect sufficient as a Means to attain the End whereunto 't is designed turning Sinners to God and making them wise unto Salvation He does most truly consult his own Eternal Peace and Safety and is indeed the wisest Man who refuses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be wise above what is written 3. Here is a notable Effect of the Word of God and that is Conversion The Hebrew has it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and signifies redire faciens making to return some Interpreters referr this to the restoring and comforting Power of the Word of God which brings as it were the Man to life again who was ready to dye away and to sink under the burthen of Sin and Misery But this Consolation supposes Conversion and Repentance and it seems unlikely that the Psalmist enumerating the more remarkable effects of the Word of God should omit this of Conversion which is one of the chiefest among them all 4. The Sincerity of Conversion is signified when the Soul is said to be Converted The Soul is sometimes taken for the Person for the whole Man The whole Man is by Sin corrupted and depraved and strongly inclined to depart from God there is need that the whole should be renewed and reduced Sometimes the Soul is taken for the spiritual and immortal part of Man and when this is enlightned and inclined and turned to God then the very Heart which he so often calls for is given him and the Change that is wrought is inward real saving I raise four Doctrines from the Text. First Conversion to God is of absolute necessity and the great thing he requires of Man. Secondly Conversion to God is then sincere when the Soul is Converted to him Thirdly The Word of God is the great Means of Conversion Fourthly In the Word of God which is the Means of Conversion there is a Perfection and Sufficiency Doct. I. I begin with the first of these Conversion to God is of absolute necessity and the great thing he requires of Man 'T is spoken of in the Text as that which is Man's Duty Man's Benefit and that which is inexpressibly for Mans Interest Converting the Soul is really Saving it and without Conversion there can be no Salvation He that turns from his evil wayes shall live he that is resolved against turning is in effect resolved to ruine himself Death he wills Death he chuses and 't is a strange choice that the Will makes Ezek. 33. 11. As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked should turn from his way and live Turn ye turn ye from your evil wayes for why will you dye O house of Israel In the handling of this Doctrine I shall First Speak of the preparative Antecedents of Conversion Secondly Explain the Nature of Conversion Thirdly Tell you what are the Properties of Conversion Fourthly Demonstrate the necessity of Conversion and the reason why God does so much require it Fifthly Answer the Arguments which the carnal minds of Men object against Conversion the body of Sin may be more and more destroyed 4. In Conversion there is a turning from the power of Satan Unconverted ones are of their Father the Devil and the lusts of their Father they will do but Converts are no longer at his beck they are not led Captive by him at his will
sincere 'T is possible for the Convert to be assured he is Converted and what Consolation is consequent upon such an Assurance For if a Man know that he is turned to God he may warrantably conclude that God is turned unto him and he may as warrantably inferr that being turned to him He will never turn away from him to do him good Jer. 32. 40. Wherefore are such Characters and Signs of Conversion and Grace laid down in the Scripture if the thing were not capable of being made evident why are Prophets commanded to comfort the Converts if none in this World could attain to a knowledge they are Converted What Strangers are they to the Spirit of Adoption to the Spirits sealing of Believers to the day of Redemption and his bearing witness with their spirits that they are the Children of God Rom. 8. 16. who deny assurance of Conversion and Salvation That Church which has been so severe against those that have come out of her is also hard-hearted to them that remain in Communion with her for she keeps Souls in torment by encouraging Doubts and Fears and by calling a confidence of Salvation though never so Scriptural Fiduciam ab omni pietate alienam an Impious Presumption But we are not to mind the dictates of such a Step-mother but hearken to a truer a sweeter and safer Guide Heb. 3. 6. But Christ as a Son over his own house whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end 12. Conversion that is true is lasting None ever totally and finally turn away from God who are indeed turn'd to him Christ the Mediator has made a firm Peace between God and those that Believe and are Converted The enmity between Jews and Gentiles and between them both and God is slain by the cross of Christ Eph. 2. 16. Upon their turning and believing the Lord enters into a Covenant which he will never break And as Christ by his Death has made an atonement and appeased his Fathers displeasure so his Crucifixion is effectual to the killing the enmity that was naturally in Converts against God their flesh and the lusts of it are crucified Gal. 5. 24. They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts And Rom. 6. 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with Him that the Body of Sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve Sin. True Converts shall persevere for Christ has prayed that they may be establisht kept from the evil of the World and be with him where he is and behold which does imply the enjoyment of his Glory Joh. 17. 15 24. Persevering Grace is one thing Promised in the Covenant of Grace God himself engages for those that turn to him in Truth that He will not suffer them to apostatize and perish Jer. 32. 40. I will put my fear into their Hearts that they shall not depart from me I have done with the properties of Conversion In the fourth place I am to demonstrate the Necessity of Conversion What tongue can name the thing that is of greater or of so great necessity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this is indeed the one thing necessary This has been necessary in all ages ever since the fall of Man and 't will be necessary to the Worlds end this is necessary for all sorts of Persons Jews Gentiles high low rich poor young old male female bond and free all must of necessity perish and that for ever without it None but Converts will live to God in this World shall live with Him in the World to come We call Food to eat and Raiment to put on and Air to breath in Necessaries and so in a sense they are because frail Nature cannot subsist without them because we must quickly dye without them But how much more necessary is Conversion without which the precious Soul must needs be lost and there is no escaping eternal Death and Condemnation The Arguments to prove the necessity of Conversion are these following 1. The first shall be drawn from Gods frequent earnest calls and express command What voice has sounded more frequently from Heaven than that which requires Man to return to God Hos 14. 1. O Israel return to the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquities Jer. 3. 12. Go and proclaim these words towards the North and say Return thou backsliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause my anger to fall upon thee for I am merciful saith the Lord and I will not keep anger for ever The Proclamation was made towards the North whither Israel were carried Captives to intimate their departing from their own land was the punishment of their departing from the Lord and sincere returning unto God was the way to prevail with him to turn again their captivity But now in Gospel daies the Proclamation is to be made East and West and North and South even to every Creature for now God commands all men every where to repent and return to him Act. 17. 30. This command is not properly a Commandment of the Moral Law which requires exact obedience and without allowing of a transgressours Conversion Curses every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Gal. 3. 10. Yet it must be added that Conversion includes a sincere Obedience to the Moral Law as the rigour of it is abated under the Gospel Conversion is a command of a remedying Law given unto Man after the fall To refuse therefore to obey and to return is not only an affront of Gods Authority and Sovereignty but a contempt of his gracious condescension towards man and surely despising of his kindness and good will must needs provoke the fiercer wrath Conversion or coming to God by Jesus Christ is the great command of the Gospel know that then when Conversion is press'd on Sinners the Gospel is indeed preached to them 2. Conversion is necessary because Mans truest happiness lies in God whom he is called to turn unto 'T is the Misery of Hell that the wicked Spirits there are separated for ever from that God who made them And 't is the Worlds Misery that most men in it are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without God in the World Eph. 2. 12. If God be not a mans Happiness what besides can make him truly happy Here all the Creatures manifest their utter insufficiency Did the Rich mans purple cloathing and fine tinnen and delicious fare make him an happy man No no having this plenty and prosperity without God it proved a means of loading him with the heavier guilt and sinking the Wretch into an hotter and lower Hell. Mans happiness does certainly consist in his being favoured of God in his being admitted unto fellowship with him and transformed into his image and likeness Those that are far from him are far from felicity and are near perishing and though never so many
understanding this Joy is unspeakable and full of glory How large and lasting is the Foundation that the Converts Joy is built upon he rejoyces in Christ Jesus as a Saviour to the uttermost he rejoyces in God as the best of Fathers as a Portion for ever he rejoyces because his Name is written in the Book of Life and shall never be blotted out he rejoyces because he shall want no good thing in this World and the evils that are his exercise shall work together for his good he rejoyces finally because in the next World his Joy will be full and without any mixture of Grief or any reason for Trouble in Gods glorious Presence and his Pleasures will not be like those of sin only for a season but will last for evermore Psal 16. ult Conversion then will not rob you of Delight but make it truer greater and better grounded whereas the Pleasures of the Unconverted are but meer Delusions Dreams and are chased away like Night-visions Obj. 5. In the fifth place there be that argue thus against Conversion If we turn to God we shall be exposed to Contempt and Reproach How many Mouths will be open'd against us how many Tongues will speak evil of us we shall perfectly be made the meer foot-balls of disdain if we become indeed religious Ans 1. A wise Man should not be concern'd at the disesteem of Fools and Mad men so wicked men are called and such and no better indeed they are If all the poor Lunaticks in Bedlam should deride you because of your sober Carriage you would not mind them unless it were to pity them because you would know your selves to be in your Wits and them to be out of theirs When wicked ones do make a mock of Sin 't is a sign that they are in a spiritual sense delirious and when they prate against Religion this is really their frantick raving 2. To be Reproached is better than to be Commended of the World You would be none of the best your selves if you had the good word of all that are bad Christ himself sayes Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you Luk. 6. 26. Reproach for Religion and Righteousness sake is a far greater Honour than the esteem of all the Men of the World. The Apostle Paul was so far from being discouraged that he took Pleasure in Reproaches 2 Cor. 12. 10. And Moses before him had esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt Heb. 11. 26. 3. Better Men reproach thee for thy Conversion than Conscience reproach thee for thy Obstinacy The reproaches of an awakened a wounded Conscience will be very terrible not to be denied not to be answered not to be endured As long as Job's Heart did not reproach him but witnessed his Integrity Job 27. 5 6. he could bear his unfriendly Friends Censures and Reproaches the better 4. Whatever the World judges Conversion is exceedingly for the honour of all that are Converted All Unconverted ones are really vile and abominable slaves to their lusts the unclean Spirits drudges they are most basely employed because employed in works that are evil But the Convert has a real excellency he partakes of a new of a divine Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. How highly is he advanced who is promoted to be a Child an Heir of God a Joint-heir with Christ Priestly nay Kingly dignity is put upon him Rev. 1. 6. Oh mind not the scoffs and scorn of the foolish To have God to be your Father Christ your Brother the Holy Angels ministring Spirits to you to be enriched with Grace and at last Crown'd with Glory cannot justly be look'd upon as a matter of disgrace to any Obj. 6. There be some that further Object against Conversion This is a thing may cost us very dear we may come hereby to suffer the loss of Liberty Estate and Life how many Thousands of Martyrs have there been since there was a Church gather'd out of the World and Converted to God through Christ Jesus Death came to these before the time and came with Violence and the Torments they endured made them suffer many Deaths in one 'T is terrible to be stoned sawn asunder slain with the Sword burnt to ashes at a stake or if it come not to this 't is sad enough to wander about in sheep-skins and goat-skins being destitute and afflicted and forced to dwell in Dens and Caves of the earth Flames Swords Racks Gibbets are none of the most taking things to perswade unto Conversion Unto this affrighting Objection I thus Answer Ans 1. Though all should count the Cost of being Converts and reckon upon the Cross yet all are not put upon bearing the heaviest part of it though many have sail'd through a very tempestuous Ocean to Heaven yet many have also through a calmer Sea arrived safe thither The Church of Christ has its lucid Intervals and for many years in some places there is not the fiery Tryal The God whom they serve takes away the righteous very frequently from the evil to come Isa 57. 1 2. and they are safe at rest above before the storm here below rises 2. There is a Promise made to Converts of so much of this World as God sees to be good for them and he is best able to judge what is indeed convenient So that Godliness is really a gainful thing and has the Promise of the Life that now is as well as of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. While the Lord sees it expedient his Saints should keep their temporal enjoyments that fence his Providence has set about them will secure them from the sons of violence Heb. 13. 5 6. Let your Conversation be without Covetousness and be content with such things as ye have for He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee So that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper I will not fear what man can do to me 3. All losses for Religion are sanctified and the Soul gains so much Grace and Peace when temporal goods are taken away that in point of value the Sufferer receives in this life an hundred-fold Mar. 10. 30. He that receives a Wedge of massy Gold from the hand that took away a few Farthings has he reason to complain of being a looser less reason has he to cry out of loss who has less of the World but much more Grace and spiritual Joy than ever 4. If Converts are called to Martyrdom and extraordinary Trials extraordinary Strength shall be vouchsafed for God is faithful who will not suffer any of his to be tempted above what they are able 1 Cor. 10. 13. The greater the Saints sufferings are the greater honour is put upon them and the greater is their support and comfort Abundant Sufferings and abundant Consolation to sweeten them go together 2 Cor. 1. 5. For as the Sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ 'T is ill
a very great affront offered to Him for 't is in effect to say that they have tried both Christ and Sin and upon trial they judge Sin to be the best Master of the two Thus in a sense they crucifie the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame Heb. 6. 6. They value Him no more than if he had been a Deceiver and justly put to a Death that was so Ignominious and while they say Not Christ but our Pride not Christ but the World not Christ but our Lusts shall rule us and have our Hearts they but too much resemble the Jews crying out Not this Man but Barabbas though that Man was Jesus and Barabbas was a Robber 5. They that are only almost Converts harden the Hearts and strengthen the hands of the profane in their wickedness When such perceive these who they thought were turned Saints returning again to their old sins this makes them more resolute in Sins service and more unalterably fixt in their evil way These half Converts when they totally fall away from all Profession of Religionâ— how do they advance Satans Kingdom and establish the Throne of the Prince of Darkness 6. What poor things are those that hiâ—der the almost Converted from becoming Converts altogether Relapsing is styled folly Psal 85. 8. What Wisdom can there be in departing from God Is the Ease the Honour the Pleasure the Wealth which Sin and Mammon bragg of comparable to the Grace of God or the Glory that will follow Death will certainly prove the World a Trifle the Worldling a Beggar and he that has forsaken God for the Worlds sake to be altogether void of understanding Suppose a Convert stript naked of all as Job was upon the Dunghil he is as having nothing but yet he does possess all things 2 Cor. 6. 10. Suppose the almost Convert is never so great a gainer by his backsliding he is as having much but he does possess nothing 7. They that are only almost Converted come very near Heaven and yet miss of it they come near the Port and yet are Shipwrack't It was a torment to the Rich man in Hell to see Heaven afar off though he had liv'd a sensual Life and never minded Heaven But how sad will it be to the almost Converts to remember that once they were in a fair way to Heaven and not far off from that Kingdom and if they had but parted with one or two more Sins if they had but taken a little more pains and had been constant in their diligence if they had but consented to some few more Conditions which were but very reasonable God would have been theirs Christ theirs and Heaven theirs for over But their Lusts befool'd them the old Serpent beguiled them and they themselves held fast deceit and refused to return in Truth Jer. 8. 5. VSE IV. Of Exhortation unto all Vnconverted Sinners to hearken consider and turn to God. You that have been long deaf at last hear the call from Heaven you that have been long in darkness at last admit and comprehena the Light which â—hines about you You that have hitherto â—een dead in Sin be attentive and obedient to the Voice of the Son of God and live O ye Atheists that profess to know God but in works deny him O ye Covetous and Unrighteous that will be rich if you can though it be by unjust waies and will venture the losing of your precious Souls for the sake of a little perishing Treasure O ye intemperate and unclean that are bewitched with present Delights and fear not eternal Torments O all ye workers of iniquity of what sorts of what sizes soever Turn ye turn ye from your evil waies unto the true and living God who is the God of Mercy Peace and Grace and Love. He himself does really and seriously and earnestly call you as well as Man who is his Messenger Arguments are not wanting in themselves really of great strength to perswade Oh that the Spirit of God would set an Edge upon them and make them strong to you that your Consciences may yield to the force of them and your Hearts may be willingly captivated into a sincere and saving compliance with them 1. 'T is wonderful Grace that you have leave to turn Do we read that this was ever allowed to the Apostate Angels was there a door of hope ever open'd to them after they had departed from God was there any space or place for Repentance granted them or Liberty to return with intimation of a readiness to receive them The Scripture sayes that God spared not the Angels that sinn'd but cast them down to Hell and deliver'd them into Chains of Darkness to be reserved unto Judgment 2 Pet. 2. 4. Oh 't was a dreadful fall from the highest Heaven to the lowest Hell eternal Punishment followed Sin at the heels and not the least mention of any season of Grace afforded them Nothing done nothing spoken in order to their return and recovery Admirable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 kindness of God and good will towards Man that when the fallen Angels were suffered to lye where they fell He should be permitted nay so earnestly solicited to return though fallen also by his iniquity 2. 'T is wonderful Patience that after the refusing so many calls you should be called to turn still God shews himself rich in goodness and forbearance and long-suffering Rom. 2. 4. else he had ceased Calling long ago and come to a resolution that the unjust should be unjust still and that those who would not be purged should never be purged till his fury took hold on them Ezek. 24. 13. If a merciful Prince offer Pardon to a condemn'd Malefactor once if a ransom be tender'd once for the Redemption of a Captive the Malefactor the Captive ought to acknowledge it an Act of much Grace And if the first offer were not accepted every one would be ready to say t were just the Malefactor should dye and the Captive remain under bondage ever after Astonishing Patience that God should call not once or twice only but thousands of times and yet to this day continue Calling that Christ should stand many years knocking at the door and though the door be kept fast shut against him yet he is not gone away but while I am speaking may be knocking again at this very instant Foolish Heart at last be so wise as to open and bewail thy folly in being so averse to give admission to the Lord of Life and Author of Salvation 3. Consider who 't is that calls you to turn Oh refuse not rebell not for 't is the Glorious and blessed God who calls you to yielding and submission None so great none so good as he He protests by his Life he has no Pleasure in your Death therefore He himself bids you turn and cast away every Transgression and assures you iniquity shall not be your ruine Ezek. 18. 30 31. For man to refuse to hearken unto
fiercer indignation Compassionate these Counsel these Pray for these and endeavour though they are and will be without the Word to win them by a wisely expressed Love and by a well-ordered Conversation 1 Pet. 3. 1. Let not your Bowels be straitned but Pray for the Worlds Conversion to God that he would return to this Earth which for Sin he has so justly forsaken and that he would turn the VVorld into a New One wherein may dwell Righteousness 5. Be sure to Love all true Converts Love them all because God loves them and love what you see of God in them The Image of God is so excellent that in whomsoever it shines it ought with pure affection to be owned and respected Converts I grant may differ in many things but they agree in the main all of them believe in Jesus all of them turn to God all of them endeavour to Glorifie him here on Earth and all of them are bound for Heaven And Vniversal Agreement thus far is a strong reason for Catholick and Vniversal Charity All Converts of what Perswasion soever of what Nation soever of what Rank and Condition soever in this World they are all adopted by one Father all redeemed by one Christ Jesus all espoused to one Husband all members of one Body all enlivened by one Spirit and shall all meet at last in one Heaven where they shall perfectly be joyned together in Union and in Love and this should strongly move and perswade unto Unity and Love at present 6. Lastly and so I conclude this Doctrine you that are Coverts see that you abide with God and be stedfast in his Covenant they that totally and finally depart from God never were totally and fully turned to him Let your Perseverance be an evident Demonstration to prove the truth of your Conversation let not the hardest labour the hottest service that you may be put upon the greatest sufferings that you may be exposed to in the least discourage you for God doth not require that you should do or that you should suffer any thing for him but only by the strength that he himself hath promised and doth intend to give All you Converts have done well in turning to God do better in following hard after him and best of all in finishing your course that you may get the Crown of Righteousness To conclude Let your Faith be firm like to the Rock it is founded upon let your hope be stedfast Be rooted and grounded in your love and let your hearts be so united to fear the name of God Psal 86. 11. that it may be as possible to hinder the Sun from rising as to hinder you from shining like lights in the World. That it may be as possible to cause the Moon and Stars to cease their wonted courses as to turn you out of the way of Truth and Holiness That it may be as possible to alter the Ordinances of Heaven as to make you neglect Heaven and become again earthly-minded Thus have I done with the first Doctrine that I raised from the words which I have been large upon That Conversion is of absolute necessity and the great thing that God requires of Man. Doct. 2. I proceed unto the second Doctrine that I raised from the words and that is this Conversion is then sincere when the soul is Converted The Soul of Man is the chief subject of Sin. It is the Soul that uses or rather abuses the members of the Body as Instruments of Unrighteousness The Beasts that have no rational Soul are not capable of committing Iniquity and as the Soul is the chief subject of Sin so it is the chief subject of Converting Grace if this be not turned really there is no true turning unto God. God is a Spirit and he weighs the Spirits of Men and he doth chiefly require the Heart and Spirit Prov. 23. 26. and accordingly the Convert with David sayes Psal 25. 1. Vnto thee O Lord do I lift up my Soul. And Psal 119. 129. Thy Testimonies are wonderful therefore doth my Soul keep them In the handling this Doctrine 1. I am to shew you when the Soul may be said to be Converted 2. To prove that till the Soul is Converted Conversion is not sincere 3. To demonstrate the necessity of turning to God with the very Soul. And then in the last place to make application 1. I am to tell you when the Soul may be said truly to be Converted the opening of this is the chief thing that I design in this Doctrine 1. When the Soul is Converted there is a marvellous Light that shines into the Mind The Tree of Knowledge was so called because it was a Tree of Tryal whether Man would persevere in goodness or whether he would be tempted and drawn away to evil but when this Tree was once tasted Man presently fell under the power of darkness The eyes of all understandings are blind till enlightned by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation Eph. 1. 17 18. All the Stars that are in the Firmament cannot make day without the Sun and all the works that God hath wrought all the words that he hath spoken cannot of themselves enlighten the mind of Man without the Spirit of God. It is He that takes off the Vail and causes the Light to shine upon and into the very Soul. This Light makes things manifest Eph. 5. 13. For all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light This Light that shines into a Converted Soul doth discover Sin it shews the filth the spots the sting the poyson the death the wrath the Hell that is in Sin or is annexed to it It doth discover the deceitfulness of Sin in hiding its own bad nature and the dreadful consequences that follow upon it And as this Light doth make sin manifest so it doth discover Christ too the sufficiency of his justifying Righteousness the excellency of his sanctifying Grace and how to turn to God is of miserable to become truly blessed This Light also is directing It directs what Converts must do that they may be saved It shews them the End and the proper Means for the attaining of that End. It leads them out of the broad way and from all the snares and stumbling-blocks and the precipices that are there and it leads them into the way that is everlasting Psal 139. ult Finally This Light that shines into the Converted Soul hath Heat and Influence like the Light of the Sun in the Spring-season that causeth the Trees and Plants to be flourishing and to be fruitful The Light of the Converts hath a mighty influence upon them The things that are freely given of God are so seen as that the heart is taken with them as the principal things of all and undervalues other things in comparison of those Thus the wise Merchant that sought goodly Pearls when he had found one Pearl of great price he went and sold all that he
God in Christ be loved and chosen above all then conclude that Conversion is sound and sincere If the Heart be grieved because it is no more suited to God because it hath no more Faith in him and though it can't say with Peter Joh. 21. 17. Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I do love thee yet it can say Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I would love thee Above all things in the world I desire to love thee and to be beloved of thee Such a kind of desire as this doth plainly shew that the work of of Conversion is begun notwithstanding a great many doubts and fears that do remain about it But if under the highest Prosession of Religion if under the most constant attendance upon all Ordinances the Heart doth secretly go after its Covetousness the Soul is fond of its Lusts and of its Vanities and is resolved still to be so certainly there is no such thing as a work of Conversion though there be never so high and mighty a Confidence that there is Ezek. 33. 31. They come unto thee as the People cometh and they sit before thee as my People and they hear thy words but they will not do them for with their Mouth they shew much love but their Heart goeth after their Covetousness The Second Use is by way of Exhortation I exhort you all to lift up your Souls to God with a desire that he would turn them to himself Naturally your Hearts are in very bad hands but if you give them unto God his hands are powerfull and good and safe He can new form your Souls both to and for Himself And therefore I beseech you give your consent and earnestly desire that God would take the Work in hand and Convert every Soul before him to himself to day To prevail with you thus to Consent and Desire I would lay before you these following Arguments 1. If your Souls are Converted they will be enlivened though before dead in Trespasses and in Sins they will be made alive unto God Eph. 2. 1. You will presently be free from the Sentence of Death and Condemnation that ye are under and ye will be made to live in the Spirit and to walk in the Spirit Gal. 5. 25. O what a Life will you lead when once ye become Converts your Lives will become Holy they will be Heavenly they will be Angelical The Spirit of God will be that and a great deal more unto your Souls than what your Souls are to your Bodies The Spirit will set you at liberty The Spirit will act and lead you The Spirit will fill you with his own blessed fruits that are both pure and peaceable 2. If your Souls are Converted they will be healed Where is the Soul among us that is not sick of various Maladies and that Soul is most sick that least feels its sickness Conversion and healing are joyned together Isa 6. 10. Least at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be Converted and I should heal them So Jer. 3. 23. Return ye backsliding Children saith the Lord and I will heal your backsliding behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God. The Soul is most precious and the best part in a Man the diseases of the Soul are the worst and most dangerous and consequently the cure and healing of these diseases is most of all desirable If thou didst labour under a death-threatning Malady how wouldst thou long to be cured Poor Man thy Soul labours under a great many Maladies and all of them Hell-threatning Maladies and if thou art not Cured thou must be damned therefore Cure should be prized and Conversion and Curing go together 3. If your Souls are Converted they will be both beautified and strengthned the Image of God is the Souls Beauty and Glory and upon all true Converts this Image of God is Instampt Sin makes men vile Conversion and Sanctification makes them excellent so excellent that the Scripture plainly affirms that the World is not worthy of the Saints that are in it Heb. 11. 38. And Strength will follow Conversion as well as Beauty Who is the strongest upon Earth The answer is the Convert is the strongest All the Unconverted are without strength Alas they are without Life and therefore must needs be without strength The Convert is strengthned with might by the Spirit of God in the inward Man so that he is enabled to do good he is enabled to bear evils with patience he is enabled to resist the Enemies of his Salvation he is enabled to Fight and to Conquer nay which is more emphatical he is enabled so to conquer as to be more than a Conquerer through him that hath loved him Rom. 8. 37. Lastly If your Souls are Converted they will be both satisfied and secured and what can you desire more It would be a loud lie if Mammon should say that ever he satisfied any All is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit and there is no profit under the Sun Eccles 2. 11. But now the Lord with truth doth say I have satiated the weary Soul and I have replenished every sorrowful Soul Jer. 31. 25. Those Souls that are weary and sorrowful seem furthest off from Satisfaction yet these weary and sorrowful Souls the Lord is able to satisfie Nay in Scripture we read of abundant Satisfaction Psal 35. 8 9. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy House and thou shalt make them drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures That which increaseth the Satisfaction is that the Souls of Converts are secure the Hand of Christ and the Hand of the Father which is greater than all is sufficient to defend these Converted Souls from the force of Earth and Hell and Sin too If your Souls are lifted up to God Sursum Corda Up with your hearts unto God If your Souls are Converted to Him they will be safe in Life they will be safe in Death and immediately after death they will be past all danger being admitted into that House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1. Thus have I done with the second Doctrine That Conversion is then sincere when the very Soul is Converted Doct. 3. Is this That the Word of God is the great means of Conversion And O that the Word that sounds in your ears to day may be found an effectual Means of the Conversion of all the Uncoverted here before the Lord The Law of the Lord in the Text is said to Convert the Soul because 't is the Means which the Lord himself makes use of and adds an efficacy to that such an effect may be produced The Word is styled the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believes Rom. 1. 16. And by this Word Faith it self is wrought whereby the Soul comes to Christ and by him does Convert to God Rom. 10. 17. So then Faith
or other provide for the Sheep of his Pasture 2. This Church shall have the Spirit along with the Word We may as well suppose a living Body without a Soul as a true Church of Christ without his Spirit The Spirit is promised and given to the Church to abide there for ever Joh. 14. 16 17. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of truth whom the World cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you Now where the Spirit of the Lord is how effectual is the Word what Light what Liberty what Power what Peace is there The Spirit makes the Means of Grace to attain their end He fills Ordinances with an Heavenly vertue he quickens the Dead enlarges the straitned Heart causes fruit to be brought forth plentifully he comforts the true Converts and stablishes them in every good word and work 3. It 's matter of Consolation that in this perfect Word of God there is wisest and safest counsel given Prov. 6. 22. When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee when thou awakest it shall talk with thee So Prov. 3. 23. Thou shalt walk in thy way safely and thy foot shall not stumble This Word counsels Converts against evil Men evil Women evil Angels an evil World and against every evil work It never gave bad counsel unto any The Counsels of the Word are best with reference to Eternity and with reference to Time also It bids us pass the time of our sojourning here in fear to live as Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth that we may be less concerned and disturbed and keep more unspotted from the World. It bids us to walk uprightly that we may walk surely It informs us that all carnal Policy which is joyned with a contempt of God and Religion is onely a cunning contrivance to undo our selves but 't is the fear of the Lord that is the beginning of Wisdom and the Knowledge of the Holy is understanding 4. In this Perfect Word of God a compleat Armour is found to secure Converts against the Enemies of their Salvation Eph. 6. 13. Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand This Armour is to be valued indeed which is Armour of proof which secures us against the worst and most powerful Adversaries which certainly defends and makes us victorious when sighting for Eternal life when those against whom these Enemies prevail will surely dy the everlasting Death The Apostle speaks at large of the pieces of this Armour We are furnished with the Girdle of Truth sound Doctrine must be held fast our Judgments well settled against errour Here is the Breast-plate of Righteousness Sincere Holiness must be in the Heart if the Spirit be not right if the Heart be not clean there can be no safety Here the feet are shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace The Gospel that is the Word of Reconciliation with God and that speaks Peace to the Conscience does prepare and fit us to walk in the way of Holiness and the difficulties of that way are endured with patience Here is the shield of Faith Believing on Jesus resting on the Promises that in in Him are Yea and Amen quenches the Fiery Darts of Satan so that true Converts are not sunk into an Hell of Despair by the remembrance of their past Sins which the Blood of Jesus has made an atonement for neither are they discouraged by fiery Trials by the siercest Persecutions Here is the Helmet of Salvation that is the Hope of Salvation This Hope is lively well grounded will never make ashamed and causes the Convert to lift up his head with courage because Redemption and Glory are aproaching Here is the Sword of the Spiâ—it the Word of God rightly used and applyed And unto these pieces of Armour Preces Lacrymae arma Ecclesiae Prayers and Tears which are the Churches Weapons must be added because we need not onely Armour but skill and strength to use it from above then we shall prevail indeed when we are strong in the Lord and in the power of his might How strong may be the Consolation considering how compleat and strong the Armour is how strong the Helper of a Christian Eph. 6. 10 -18 5. In this Perfect Word of God the Convert finds Promises that may serve to support and encourage him in every condition Is he afflicted 't is in faithfulness and love not in wrath and hatred Prov. 3. 12. Whom the Lord loveth he correcteth even as a Father the Son in whom he delighteth And affliction shall be profitable because it shall be purifying Heb. 12 10. He that is the Father of Spirits chastizeth for our profit that we may be partakers of his Holiness Is the Convert poor and destitute He may cast all his care on God who cares for him 1 Pet. 5. 7. The young Lions lack and suffer hunger but those that seek the Lord have him to be their Shepheard and shall not want any good thing Psal 34. 10. Is the Convert tempted His merciful and faithful High-Priest was tempted before him and knowes how to succour him Heb. 2. ult When the Apostle was sorely buffered by Satan and cries for help what answer has he See be encouraged when you see 2 Cor. 12. 9. And the Lord said unto me My Grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness Is the Convert deserted and troubled because God hides his face He has the Name of God and his everlasting Covenant to trust in and the Face that is now hidden will be shewn again and dry up the Tears of the deserted Isa 54. 7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee in a little wrath hid I my Face from thee for a Moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy upon thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer 6. 'T is matter of Comfort unto Converts that this Perfect word endures for ever 1 Pet. 1. 24 25. All Flesh is grass and all the glory of Man as the Flower of the field the Grass withereth and the Flower thereof falleth away but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever and this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you The Word is an everlasting truth never did any never shall any find it false 'T is a means to Convert the Soul to make the Heart new and 't is written in the new heart in Characters that are indelible and abiding 't is a Sustentation to the New Creature and cherishes it unto that Life which is Eternal The New nature is Immortal true Grace never dies but at Death is perfected in Glory that fadeth not away The CONCLUSION THus have