only Rulers in the World the greatest Monarchs that are graceless are slaves to their ambition carnal interests and to divers lusts and pleasures but the Converted are more than conquerors and recover that dominion over the Creatures which was lost in the first transgression 6. Conversion is a directing all we do to the glory of God. They that take aim shut one of their Eyes The Convert in his aims and ends has a single Eye Gods honour is designed above all He that makes not God his End has not yet begun to turn to him in sincerity The Convert in his civil actions as buying and selling in his natural actions as eâ—â—â—â—g and ar 〈…〉 does what he does to the glory of God as the Apostle enjoyns 1 Cor. 10. 31. And especially in his religiâ—us actions his design is that the Name of God may be hallowed and glorified in the desiring and working out his own Salvation he designs that God may have the glory of saving him as well as he 〈…〉 self the happiness of being saved Thus have I shewn what Conversion is with reference to God. Fifthly Conversion may be considered with reference to Jesus the Mediatour As God is He to whom we turn so Christ is He through whom we do it and indeed there is no coming to the Father but by this one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus Joh. 14. 6. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Christ is both God and Man in one person and two Natures so very distinct and the one so infinitely above the other being united in the Person of Christ hence follows an Vnion and Reconciliation between God and those of the Children of Men for and of whom Christ undertakes to be an Advocate a Surety a Saviour and Redeemer In Conversion there is an absolute necessity of using the Mediation of Christ it is by the Grace of Christ strengthening that the Sinner is enabled to turn to God and 't is upon the account of the Obedience and Intercession of the Lord Jesus that the returning Sinner does find acceptance with the Father Christ is the Lord whom the Prophet speaks of Isa 45. 24 25. Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength in the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be â—ustified and shall glory Now how the Convert in his turning has his Eye and Heart â—n Christ I shall shew you in these particulars 1. The Convert is perswaded that God is accessible in Christ Jesus Eph. 3. 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the Faith of him God is not implacable he is not mexorable but ready to forgive and plenteous in Mercy unto all that cry for it Christ has satisfied the Justice of God to the very utmost of its demands he paid more to Justice in an hour than Believers could have paid unto Eternity Christ can â—ppease the Almighties 〈◊〉 Anger and his Blood can do away the greatest transgressions 1 Joh. â— 7. The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseâ—â— us from all sin The Convert is encouraged by the Blood of Christ which is the Blood of him that is God and by the rich Grace of God in him Eph. 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his Grace Indeed the Scripture speaks of one Sin that is unpardonable that against the Holy Ghost but the reason is not as if it were too great for the Blood of Christ to procure the Pardon of it but because such Sinners resist and do despight to the Spirit of Christ and will by no means be brought to him but trample under foot the Son of God and count his Blood an unholy and common thing The Remedy is not insufficient for them but they perversely despise and will by no means use it and therefore perish 2. The Convert is encouraged by the general serious frequent gracious invitations made in the Gospel All Offenders are invited to Christ who is Sinners Peace for the Chastisement of their peace was upon him Isa 53. 5. The Captives are invited to this Redeemer that they may have liberty by him and such liberty as is freedom indeed Joh. 8. 36. All thirsty Souls are invited to come to him for the Waters of Life Rev. 22. 17. Whosoever will let him drink of the waters of Life freely Finally the lost that see themselves to be lost are invited to come to Christ for Salvation and He is able to save unto the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. Whatever the guilt of Sin is whatever the pollutions are the Blood the Spirit of Christ are offer'd in the Gospel and are sufficient for the justifying and washing of the guilty and defiled 3. The Convert receives Christ and relyes upon him for Pardon Grace and Life eternal He is troubled that he received him no sooner that his Heart was with a foolish Obstinacy shut against him for so long a time though to receive him is to have power to become a Son of God Joh. 1. 12. But now his Heart is open to entertain this Lord of life this Prince and maker of Peace his accepting Christ is a voluntary a glad a thankful acceptance and in Him not in the Flesh he places his confidence and hopes he despairs in himself and every thing else but he abounds in hope because of that superabundant Grace that reigns by Jesus Christ Rom. 5. 20 21. And because the Apostle plainly sayes He that spared not his own Son but deliver'd him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. The Converts eye is fixt on Jesus at his very first Conversion and still he is looking to him to his very dissolution he sees in Him an everlasting Righteousness a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an all-fulness of Grace on Christ therefore he depends for acceptance with God and all needful Strength and Grace until he comes to Glory 4. The Convert submits to the easie Yoak of Christ Jesus He walks no longer after the course of this World he fulfils no longer the â—â—siâ—â—â— of the Flesh and of the Mind he casts off the Yoak of Mammon and of Satan and now his great Inquiry is what the Lord Jesus would have him to do that he may do according to his Will He looks on Christ as Law-giver and King in Sion and his Laws he is willing to obey and he remembers that Christ endured the Cross and was Crown'd with thâ—rns therefore he stumbles not at the Cross but takes it up and follows the Lamb and reckons those are light Afflictions which are but for a moment and that they ought not to be feared or shunn'd when they can't be avoided without sin being they work for those that undergo them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 5. The Convert loves the Lord Jesus in sincerity and lives by Faith on him is long as he lives here in
the righteous he is a Buckler to them that walk uprightly 3. You that live under the New Testament Dispensation be very thankful that the written Word is so very copious and so large To have such a compleat Declaration of the Mind of God by his own Son was a Priviledge which the Old Testament Believers wisht for but did not enjoy What Moles are they who are onely busie and working in the Earth and for Earthly things and regard not the clear shining of the Sun of Righteousness To be deaf and regardless when God speaks so much to us not to understand when he speaks so fully and so plainly is inexcusable but to have Knowledg and to sin against it and to detain the truth in unrighteousness is inexcusable much more here is Ingratitude and Presumption together and the more stripes are threatned and deserved Luke 12. 47. And that Servant that knâ—w his Lords will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beatâ—◠〈◊〉 many stripes Search the VVord of God be much that you may be mighty in the Scriptures By this weapon you may defend your selves against the subtilest Enemies of the truth nay against the old subtle Serpent himself It was not an unwritten but a written word that Christ produced when he was assaulted by the Tempter Mat. 4. 4 7 10. It was an Injunction of our Lord himself Joh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal Life It was a right thought that the Scriptures direct unto Life Eternal but it was a presumptuous thought in the Pharisees to imagine Eternal Life was theirs since instead of building upon the Foundation Stone in Sion they stumbled at it But the Injunction it self is of great Moment The Scriptures are Gods own Books and the onely Books he has in the World. Longâ assiâ—uâ meditatione Scripturaram prâ—tus suun fecerat Bibliothicam Chriâ—â—â— Hyeronym de Nepotiano Every ones Breast should be like Nepotian's Bibliotheca Christi A Library in which these Books should be kept safely To be acquainted more intimately with the Word is the way to be better acquainted with God and the consequent of this acquaintance is Peace Job 22. 21. Acquaint now thy self with him and be at peace thereby good shall come to thee By Searching of the Scriptures the Understanding is improved the Heart is purified the Life is regulated This Book is indeed the thankful Glass that mends the Eyes of all that rightly look into it It was an honest Distich of one Ex aliis paleae viles hinc grana leguntur Aurea tu paleas linquito grana lege Which another thus Englishes Mens Books with worthless chaff are stor'd Gods Scripture Golden grains afford Reject the chaff and spend thy pains In gleaning up these golden Grains 5. Pray for the Spirit who endited the Word that he may interpret it and lead you into the understanding of it He is called the Spirit of wisdom and Revelation Eph. 1. 17. He reveals the Gospel he enlightens the eyes of the Understanding True Wisdom is the special Gift of the Holy Ghost It is an encouragement in Prayer that the best things may be asked with the greatest confidence The Gift of the Spirit comprehends the best things of all doubt not of Gods willingness to bestow it Luk. 11. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your Children how much more shall your heavenly Father gave the holy Spirit unto them that ask him It is not a notional Knowledge which many Hypocrites excell in that you should content your selves with Such Knowledge being alone puffs up him that has it 1 Cor. 8. 1. and disturbing Strife and contention follows upon Pride and High-mindedness such Knowledge aggravates Sin in the careless and carnal Professor and will exceedingly inflame his Reckoning in the day he must give account of himself to God. It is true wisdom a Spiritual understanding of the Scriptures that you should cry for When the Spirit of God discovers a truth to you with what Satisfaction will your Mind receive it When the Spirit shews you your Duty how Righteous how reasonable and what a Priviledge does it appear The Spirits Light and Strength go together so that the Will is inclined to a compliance when the enlightned Soul does understand the Will of God. When the Spirit applies a Promise to you how will your Faith be confirmed how will you abound in Hope and how full of sweetest peace will your hearts be while you securely rest on the God of Truth whose VVord will endure when Heaven and Earth shall pass away Isa 26. 3 4. Thou wilt keep him in perfect Peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee Trust ye in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting Strength 6. Let your Knowledge of the Word of God be more perfect Alas how little do we know of what may be known and what we do know how much better may we know it Though the Children of God are Children of Light and Children of the Day yet there are great remainders of darkness in some of them and some remainders in all This remaining Ignorance is both their Sin and Misery by reason of which Satan their subtle enemy has many times great advantage against them Labour after a more perfect Knowledge of God his Son his Truth his Will his Word informs you of all If the Happiness of Heaven lies so much in a beatifical seeing Oh use all possible intention of mind that you may see more and more even while you are here on Earth True Knowledge will debase the idolized World and make it nothing in your eyes and it wil humble you and make you perceive that really you are worse than nothing How does a clearer Knowledge of God make holy Job much more humble than ever Job 42. 5 6. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the Ear but now mine Eye seeth thee wherefore I abhorr my self and repent in Dust and Ashes The better you know the Lord the more you will Love and Fear and Praise him The better you know his Christ you cannot chuse but still more highly prize him and your Hearts will cleave to him with the fuller purpose The 〈…〉 er you know his Commands the more they 〈◊〉 be your Counsellours your longing your delight and your Songs in the house of your Pilgrimage The better you know the Cross of Christ you will be the less offended 〈…〉 heaviest Afflictions will be made light of 〈◊〉 compared with a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 7. Let your Love be greater and more perfect to this perfect VVord of God. The World indeed hates this VVord because it testifies against them that their works are evil and will have an ill end True love to it will argue spiritual Life by it and that it has been effectual to turn and
But when Sinners have sinn'd away the day of Grace and ended all their days on Earth and by their final Impenitency brought themselves to Hell then the same Chains are clapt on them in which the Reprobate Angelsly fetter'd and Christ will no more save them than these Oh dreadful to lose all hope in Jesus never to be called to come to him more Astonishingly fearful to be in a place where the glad tidings of the Gospel are never heard where the Spirit never strives and where the Redeemer never stretches forth an hand to save 4. They in Hell are deprived of the glory of the new Jerusalem 'T is a mighty loss to lose such a weighty thing as a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. Suppose a Rich Man worth Millions should break and not be worth a Farthing suppose all the Kings and Emperors breathing should lose their Crowns in one day this would be but a petty Loss compared with the loss of a Crown of Life In Heaven there is such a Crown and the Damned might have had it if they had but valued it but alas that Crown they must never wear In Heaven there is a Kingdom where they in Hell must never reign When they see what they have lose and how foolishly wilfully and for the sâ—ke of what poor things they lost it how will they be fill'd with Heartâ—earing vexation and be quite over whelmed with sorrow Luk. 13. 28. There shall be weeping and gnashing of â—eeth when ye shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of Heaven and you your selves thrust out 2. As in Hell there is a Deprivation of good so there is an Infliction of evil pain and torment 1. There is in Hell great torment in the Conscience A wounded Conscience in this World has been found intolerable Spira he signifies that Racks Gibbets Flames of Martyrdom were nothing to what he felt and in a Pang of Despair attempts Self-murthering but being hindred he breaks out into Blasphemy I wish I were above God for I know he will not have Mercy on me here was Hells language in his Mouth and much of Hell-torment in his Heart Judas his Conscience was wounded could he bear it No he becomes his own Executioner with his own hand ends his Life and sends his Soul to his appointed place And yet the torment of Conscience in this World is but the Praludium the beginning of sorrows Every Conscience in Hell will be thoroughly awake and keep it self for ever waking it will be exactly sensible not a Sin that has been Committed all the life-time but will have made a Wound in the Conscience and not a Wound but will be intolerably smarting without hope of any ease Conscience will be in a perpetual Agony in this Agony 't will rage and raging it will reproach the Damned It will tell them of their presumptuous sinning of their rejecting Christ their neglecting great Salvation and how all its cheeking of them was in vain And now 't is incurably wounded it can never be quiet but they shall always find it a tormented a tormenting Fury within thâ—â— 2. There is in Hell not only torment iâ— thâ— Conscience but also torment in the Mind and Heart What rueful thoughts will possesâ— their Minds whatever they think of will be torturing a pleasing a delightful thought can never enter into them more If they think of Sin it will be bitter to consider how they have been deceived and ruin'd by it If they think of their present Misery and the remedilesness of it and that themselves had the greatest hand in bringing themselves into it these thoughts like daggers must needs pierce their Souls If they think of God Oh how will they be troubled how will his Justice Jealousie Fury Holiness Truth irresistible Power and Vnchangableness terrifie them Thoughts on Earth were their Sins and Thoughts in Hell will be their Racks and Sorrows their Hearts will always be brim full of Grief Shame and Confusion of face will add to their Misery when all their wickedness shall be known to all which will make the justness of their Punishment evident And how will they be tormented with Anger at the very heart and Indignation against themselves because though the Devil was their great Enemy yet they themselves were far greater Enemies to themselves than he 3. There will in Hell be torment in Sinners Memories I wish that none of you that hear me this day may in that place of Woe remember the Warning now given you to your Confusion because you would not take it heark what was said Luk. 16. 25. Son remember thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things and Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented Really the remembrance of what he had what he was and what he did on Earth was in Hell very tormenting to this wretched Rich Man. The Damned there will remember their delicious Fare and how sensual and bruitish they were in pleasing of their Appetites they will remember the time they spent in Adorning of themselves taking much Pains to dress and trick the Carkass but no Pains at all to purge the Heart they will remember their Feasts their Mirth their carnal Jollity which quite stupified their Hearts and banished all thoughts and care about another World and Eternity they will remember all the Mercies they enjoyed which they did nothing but abuse to their own harm as well as to the dishonour of that God who gave them Above all they will remember what Pains were taken to have prevented their Destruction The Lord was unwilling they should Perish but Death was that which themselves preferr'd before Life Oh how long did Christ come Sabbath after Sabbath and knock at the door but they would not open How often did the Spirit strive with them to stop them in Hells road and to turn them into the way of Peace but they were stiff-necked and always resisted the Holy Ghost They will remember their Preachers Pains and Prayers and labour and travel of Soul how they lifted up their Voices to awaken them out of their Sin and Security how they intreated them to be reconciled to God and to turn into the safe and blessed Paths of Righteousness but they were Deaf and obstinate nothing would prevail with them and the remembrance of all this will be bitter 〈◊〉 bitter to them 4. In Hell there will be torment in the Body and the Members of it and such as no body ever felt or was capable of bearing here on Earth The Stone the Cholick and the Strangury the greatest Torture that ever the hand of Man inflicted are no more comparable to the Pains of Hell than the smallest Prick of a Pin is to a Dagger that strikes quite through and gives the Heart a deadly Wound The Senses of the Damned shall have that which will be exceedingly afflicting What woful Spectacles will their Eyes behold
indeed to suffer as an evil doer or as a busie body in that which it does not concern us to be doing but to suffer as a Christian as a Convert is an happy thing and should be rejoyced in because the Spirit of Glory and of God does rest upon those that thus bear the Cross of Christ 1 Pet. 4. 13 14. He gives them boldness in Confessing the Truth a Mouth and Wisdom to silence those that gainsay it and Faith Fortitude and Patience to bear the uttermost of their Force and Fury A fiery Furnace though seven times heated is not to be dreaded if the Son of God be there with us 5. None that come to Heaven repent of having parted with any thing that stood in competition with it The Apostle while here called Afflictions light but how did he look on them when they were all past and the weight of Glory was actually received All Heads are Crowned in Heaven and all Crowns are bright all Vessels of glory are so full that there is not room for the least envy yet there seems to be a special note of Honour set upon Sufferers the Scripture represents them as pointed at for their Faithfulness and for their Reward Rev. 7. 14. These are they that came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Obj. 7. A seventh Objection against Conversion runs thus We see very few that are perswaded to turn to God the generality of those whom we live among remain Unconverted and why should we be singular Ans 1. The general bad Example that is given is a great mischief to the World whereby wicked men do harden one another A few indeed there be that are chosen out of the World and who do seek and chuse a better World but the generality are worldly minded the shrodest Heads the greatest Wits the deepest Polititians mind Earth and neglect Heaven and refuse to be Converted that they may come thither and multitudes going in pernicious wayes they are walked in with the greater security yet they are not at all the less destructive 2. Is it any harm to be singular in what is excellent To be singular in good Nature to be singular in Parts to be singular in Learning is not matter of reflection and why should it be accounted disgraceful to be singular in Grace and Holiness He that sayes Mat. 7. 14. Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to Life and few there be that find it intimates plainly that his followers must not herd with the multitude and that those must be singular who will go in the safest and most excellent way 3. Is it any harm in a time of Pestilence to be of the Number of those few that escape the Contagion Sin is the worst sort of Plague and most in the World dye of it and dye the Death that is Eternal Oh what madness is it to refuse to be Converted and healed and to resolve to dye and to be damn'd for Company 4. Multitudes in Hell will be no ease or relief to one another They that have been drawn to Sin by others with what eyes will they behold them in torments cursing the Counsel and Example they gave them and especially their own madness in imitating such pernicious Patterns And the perswaders to Sin will have their misery increased because they have occasioned others eternal misery 'T is very probable that the Rich man Luk. 16. was afraid of having his own torment increased by his Brethrens company unto whom perhaps he had been exemplary in Profaneness and Sensuality therefore he wish'd them a Messenger from the Dead to perswade them to Repentance Obj. 8. In the eighth place another Objection is this We have no strength no ability to turn to God. If we were endued with a Power to Convert our selves and to make our own Hearts new ' tweâ—â— reasonable to perswade us to exert and put that Power forth But man since the fall is without strength and therefore in urging us to Conversion you urge us to that which is impossible by us to be performed Ans 1. I grant mans inability to make himself a sincere Convert to turn is a Sinners Duty but from hence it does not follow that he has ability of himself to do it A man that owes ten thousand Talents does not cease to be a Debtour because he has never a Farthing to pay To help to answer this Objection we must not introduce the Pelagian or Semipelagian Errour 2. Are you glad that you are unable to turn to God do you rejoice that you have such an excuse for your laziness and perversness If so it shews the naughtiness of your Hearts And your Conscience must needs yield that your Plea of Impotence is a very weak one If a Servant that by a fall were made a Crâ—â—ple were glad that hereby he is disabled from serving his Master his Master would be just in punishing him for not doing what he can't do because he has such a naughty mind that he is glad he can't do it 3. If you are sensible of your inability to â—urn to God and sorry because unable and â—â—sirous to have ability to turn indeed your Condition is really very hopeful Obstiâ—ate Sinners had rather be without strength to turn to God than have it in vain therefore do they plead want of Power when Will is so much wanting But if you are sensible you have no might and desire Power from above God is ready to strengthen you by his Spirit to that unto which Nature is unable He is willing to give his Spirit unto any that seriously ask him Luk. 11. 13. He gives Power to the faint and to them that have no might and are sensible they have none he increases strength Isa 40. 29. Make use of and attend upon the appointed means and ordinances of Grace wherein this Strength is conveyed Fury is not in God when once Sinners begin to yield Lay hold upon his Strength that you may turn in Truth and make peace with him and you shall make peace with him Isa 27. 5. Obj. 9. A ninth Objection is this Though we do not turn to God at present yet we are not absolutely against the thing hereafter we intend to do it This is both an excuse for not turning and an argument against the present doing it because 't is time enough as they say hereafter Ans 1. Delay to turn to God is bottom'd upon very great mistakes as if Sinners could turn when they would or could command the Grace of God at Pleasure to assist them or were sure of the continuance of Life and the season of Salvation 2. Delay provokes the Lord exceedingly and very much grieves his Holy Spirit if a Master commands a Servant to do his work and he replyes he will do it seven year hence this is justly look't upon as disobedience and mockery joyn'd together How would a Master