the Sun of Righteousness set and all hopes of Conversion and healing quite gone To have a Famine of the VVord sent it is to have a Church unchurched a Vineyard laid wast and not only turned into a Common but into barren and cursed ground To have a Famine of the VVord sent it is to have the Lord to spue a people out of his mouth and say I will never return to this Vomit again To have a Famine of the VVord sent it is to have the Lord to give a Bill of Divorce and upon this Bill of Divorce writ Loammi you are not my people Loruhamah I will no more have mercy on you Tremble tremble every one that hears me this day at the thoughts of such a Judgment as a Famine of the VVord of God! Pray pray that this Judgment may never be inflicted upon England I read that there was seven years plenty in Egypt before there was the greatest Famine that ever Egypt knew I heartily wish that our present Liberty and plentiful injoyment of the VVord of God be not a fore-runner of the most dreadful Famine of it that ever England knew Pray it may not be so pray that God would still give you Pastors after his own heart Pray that God would cause you to lye down in green pastures that he would load you besides the still waters that he would restore your Souls and lead you in the paths of righteousness for his Names sake Psal 23. 2 3. And when you pray for this fill your mouths with Arguments Tell the Lord of his own honour which his VVord doth direct the Children of Men to yield to him Tell the Lord of his Sons Interest He will neither be believed in nor known unless there be the VVord of God to reveal him Mention the promise that the Father hath made unto the Son the Mediator to give him the Heathen for his Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for his Possession Psal 2. 8. That of the increase of his Kingdom and Government there shall be no end Isa 9. 7. Urge him with that word that he hath said the Earth shall be filled with Knowledge as the waters cover the Sea Isa 11. 9. Be importunate in pleading such Promises as these and it will manifest that you prize the VVord of God and are afraid of its going And this importunity will be mighty pleasing to God and very prevalent with Him. 4. Hence I inferr That whensoever the Word of God is effectual to the Conversion of any there is just cause of great thankfulness When means attain their designed end it is a satisfaction unto those that use them and the higher and better the end is the satisfaction is the more The Conversion of a Sinner to God is one of the best things that can be done in the World to feed the hungry to cloath the naked to relieve the oppressed to cure the dangerously diseased to sheath the Sword of War and to establish Peace in Kingdoms and Nations all these are works very good but let me tell you that the turning of a Sinner unto God doth imply a far greater benefit because it doth include Eternal Blessedness The lost Sheep the lost Silver the lost Son were all missed with trouble and were all found with great Joy. When the Word is Powerful to Convert a Soul Oh what a precious thing is then secured It is secured from Eternal Misery and there is an everlasting Kingdom that it shall at last be brought safe unto 2 Tim. 4. 18. The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and he will preserve me unto his Heavenly Kingdom When a Sinner is Converted how thankful should he himself be for he is catched as a Fire-brand out of the burning he is delivered from intolerable Wrath and interested in unchangeable Love How thankful should Ministers be when they see their spiritual Offspring and Christ formed in them How thankful should Saints be when they behold their Number increased If they beheld the Transgressours and were grieved certainly with gladness should they behold them turnâ—ng from Transgression Nay those Angels that are in Heaven take notice of Conversion as a just ground of great Joy What was said concerning the first Creaâ—ion may be applyed unto the new Creaâ—ion the Morning Stars do sing together and all the Sons of God the whole Host of thâ— Principalities and Powers of Heaven â— shout for Joy when any are converted and made indeed new Creatures 5. Hence I inferr that it is no wonder that Sathan and his Instruments would faiâ— have this VVord of God out of the VVorld since it is the great means of Conversion O what a hateful Book unto Hell is the Holy Bible If evil Angels might have their wish I am perswaded their wish would be this that Souls may burn â—â— Hell and that Bibles might be burnt on Earth Oaths Curses Blasphemies Lying Slanders Railing filthy Discourse prophane Songs and Laughter Mirth and Musick damnable Heresies and Doctrines these have all a very pleasing sound iâ— Sathans ears Ay but the powerful anâ— plain Preaching of the Word of God Sathan cannot bear this is very harsh and it is very grating to him and he dotâ— endeavour to stop the mouths of skilâ—â— Dispensers of the Word of Righteousness for he fears their voice lest his stroâ— holds should be pulled down If in spigâ— of him a door of utterance be opened thâ— evil and envious One endeavours to â—â— men with prejudices against them that theâ— may have but very few â—eâ—rers but their Hâ—aâ—â—â—â— are a very great Multitude O then â—â—w doth he bestir himself to â—inder the entrance of the Word that Eyes and Ears and Hearts may be shut against it Christ compares the Word of God unto Seed and evil Angels unto Fowls that endeavour to catch it away as soon as sown Mat. 13. 4. that so it may be altogether fruitless or bring forth no fruit unto Eternal Life When there are a great many Pick-pockets in a Crowd upon notice Persons are the more careful of their Purses O what a company of evil Angels are here that are arrant Thieves and they will endeavour to rob you of the Word of God it concerns you to heed the Word and to hide it in your Hearts and then it will be safe a good and an honest Heart will certainly secure this Treasure 6. Hence I inferr that the Dispensers and Preachers of the VVord of God which is the great means of Conversion ought highly to be esteemed in Love for their works sake 1 Thes 5. 12 13. VVe beseech you Brethren to know them that labour among you are over in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake and be at peace among your selves When Christ ascended up on high far above all Heavens that he might fill all things the Ministry of the VVord was a gift that he did bestow upon his Church Eph. 4. 11.
the Sanctuary and he writes Tekel upon them all because being weighed they are found wanting 5. The Convert uses this World as not abusing it He calls himself bruitish because of his former affecting it because it made him such a Fool such a Slave but now he recovers his Dominion over the Creatures which was lost by the fall Earth is now under foot which is its proper place and the things of it he improves for God. He lives as a Stranger and Pilgrim and he puts the Mammon of unrighteousness to holy and gracious uses and doing good with the World he scapes the evil of it and becomes more and more meet for the heavenly Inheritance And are Converts thus indeed turn'd from Sin do they thus come out from the World Lord how few will be saved for how small is the number of those who are thus Converted You see what Conversion is with reference to the World. Thirdly Conversion may be considered with reference to the Sinner himself and so it includes that great Christian Duty of Self-denyal What a strange Creature has Sin turn'd Man into that he must beware of himself especially as one that is false and a Foe to himself he is to flye from Sin he is to resist Satan and from Self how unconceivable is his danger Where shall Man find his greatest Enemy not among his most malicious Neighbours not among the evil Angels though these as so many roaring Lions go about seeking whom they may devour but Man must look into his own Breast and ransack his own Heart and there he will find the most deadly Foe his Destruction is of himself he procures evil to himself Jer. 2. 17. He treasures up unto himself Wrath against the day of wrath Rom. 2. 5. Our Lord very well knew how pernicious and foolish Man 's own Counsels are how hurtful his own Lusts and Inclinations therefore he presses Self-denyal upon all his followers Luk. 9. 23. He said unto them all If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me The true Convert does thus for he apprehends what a Party there is within him that is indeed against him 1. He that is Converted mortifies Self-love The Apostle makes it a great part of the Sin and a great reason of the perillousness of the latter dayes that Men shall be lovers of their own selves 2 Tim. 3. 1 2. There is an holy Self-love which is a Love to the Soul and that 's a Duty and in this sense only true Saints are true Self-lovers and God loves them not the less but the more for being so There is a carnal Self-love when the Flesh is loved and gratified when the Flesh is the pondus weight that sets all wheels a going when the Flesh is the center in which all lines meet This Self-love excludes the Love of God of the Soul and of the Brother and is a great and fruitful root from whence innumerable other Sins do grow The Converts mortifie this Love of their Flesh considering they have Souls that deserve and need their Love and Care and whose Interest ought mainly to be minded 2. He that is Converted is not a Self-flatterer The wicked man flatters himself in his own eyes until the Punishment inflicted upon him proves his Iniquity is hateful in the eyes of God Psal 36. 2. He loves those that flatter him he sayes to the Seers see not to the Prophets prophesie not unto me right things prophesie unto me smooth things though you prophesie Deceits The Convert is truly willing to know himself and the worst of himself he can't endure Dawbers the Word that searches most is most acceptable He comes to the Light that what is good in him may be discovered and that God who has wrought that good may have the Glory Joh. 3. 21. and that all remaining evil may be manifest that it may be mortified 3. He that is Converted is not a Self-pleaser To be all for pleasing his external senses he accounts bruitish to please his sancy he esteems below reason and contrary to Grace and that 't is the highest madness for the sake of sinful and sensual Pleasures to incurr the Displeasure and Indignation of the Almighty and venture the enduring of eternal Vengeance Moses shewed the truth of his Conversion in undervaluing the Pleasures of Sin that were but for a season Heb. 11. 25. He contemn'd the Delight of Pharaoh's Court the Honour of being the Son of Pharaoh ' s Daughter and chose Affliction with the People of God that he might find a truer an higher a better Delight in God himself 4. He that is Converted is not a Self-seeker He is not taken as once he was with secular honour and temporal gain such things sway not with him when the Honour of God and his own Salvation lye at stake In different respects he is the greatest Self-seeker and the least No man minds his truest Interest durable Riches and everlasting Glory but himself and such as are like-minded and yet he can bear the scorn of Men and the spoyling of his Goods and if Christ be but magnified he can lye in the dust contentedly He seeks not great things for himself on Earth the Praise of Men he looks upon as empty and dangerous breath without Gods approbation and the gaining of the whole World nothing if God be not reconciled and enjoyed How far were the Apostles from being Self-seekers when that they might make Christ known in the World and perswade the World to receive him and be saved by him they were contented to be made a spectacle to Angels and Men to be hungry thirsty naked â—uffeted and without any certain dwelling-place â—ay to be esteemed the very filth of the World and the off-scouring of all things 1 Cor. 4. 9 13. 5. He that is Converted is not Self-confident He dares not glory in his own Wisdom for God has made foolish the wisdom of this World 1 Cor. 1 20. He dares not trust to his Strength for God gives Power to the faint and that perceive they have none of their own to help themselves Isa 40. 29. He dares not think that his righteousness is satiâ—factory to divine Justice or meritorious of divine Favour but cryes out with David Enter not into Judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Psal 143. 2. He that places his Confidence in himself plainly discovers great Ignorance of himself and also of Gods design in the Gospel which is that his Grace in Christ may be All and that no Flesh may glory in the Lords Presence 6. He that is Converted is engaged in a Combat with himself his Heart is a Field where many a Battel is fought between him and his proud Self between him and his lustful Self between him and his worldly Self between him and his unbelieving Self 'T is easier to resist the very Prince of the Devils and to withstand the
liberty Liberty not only to discern what is good but Liberty to chuse and embrace it Finally He changes the Soul into the divine Image and he abides for ever in the Church of Christ that he may hinder this Image from ever being quite defaced that he may perfect and compleat it 8. Conversion is necessary to fit for present Service and Duty An Unconverted Sinner is a bad Tree and all the Fruit he bears must needs be evil Is it reasonable to expect Figs from the Thistle or Grapes from the Bramble or the Thorn how can he whose Person is hateful to God whose Heart never was sanctified do any action which may be truly pleasing in Gods sight Solomon tells us that not only the Prayer of the wicked is an abomination to God because he turns away his ear from hearing the Law Prov. 28. 9. but also that the Ploughing of the wicked is sin Prov. 21. 4. If Ploughing be taken properly it intimates that the wicked mans ordinary Employments are not without Provocation because he does nothing in a right manner to a good end If Ploughing be taken Metaphorically for Contriving and Designing it shews that the Devices of the Heart of a wicked man are all vain and evil Conversion therefore is very needful that Man may become meet for the Service of God. The Converts Heart is right with God desires God himself chiefly and in what he does designs his Glory and being made a sanctified Vessel he is made fit for his Lords use and prepared unto every good work 2 Tim. 2. 21. 9. Conversion is necessary to fit for future Reward We read that the unrighteous shall not Inherit the Kingdom of God Wicked ones are unfit to be among the Spirits of just Men who are made perfectly holy to be among the Elect Angels who never sinn'd but are ever crying out Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Sabaoth Though Heaven is not merited by our turning Holy yet Holiness prepares and fits us for Heaven The Apostle signifies that Converts are deliver'd from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of the Son of God and hereby they are made meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12 13. The same Apostle having spoken of Life and Immortality adds Now he that hath wrought us for the self same thing is God who hath also given unto us the earnest of the Spirit By Converting Grace we are wrought upon for Glory and the Spirit who works in us a new Life which is Spiritual is an earnest to assure us of Life Eternal Oh Heavenly Jerusalem a City that has foundations whose builder and maker is God! where Glory is everlasting Blessedness perfect and Joy is full without possibility of abatement into thee none but Converts shall have or are fit to have admission 10. The Threatnings which the Word denounces against the Vnconverted prove the Necessity of Conversion The only Saviour asserts with vehemency and that again and again assuring all that there is no Salvation for the Impenitent Luk. 13. 3 5. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish If Souls are Unconverted Sin is certainly Unpardon'd and unpardon'd Sin binds over to eternal Death We are commanded to Repent and be Converted that our Sins may be blotted out Act. 3. 19. Those who refuse to be Converted all their Sins are written down in the book of Gods Remembrance not one blotted out or forgotten which book will be open'd at the last day to their Confusion and Condemnation What heavy loads are Guilt and Wrath both these abide upon the Unconverted How soon may the Wrath of God which is both threatned and justly merited seize upon the Unconverted how suddainly may it destroy them beyond all possibility of remedy Psal 7. 11 12. God is angry with the wicked every day and as he grows more wicked God becomes more angry If he turn not he hath whet his Sword he hath bent his bow and made it ready To signifie the Patience of God and his unwillingness to destroy the slaughtering Weapons are represented as lying by him unprepared his Sword is not whetted his Bow is unbent but if Sinners refuse to turn the Sword the Bow may quickly be made ready and God may come to that peremptory resolution Isa 1. 24. Ah! I will ease me of mine adversaries and avenge me of mine enemies Turning you see is in the highest degree necessary for you must turn or dye If a City were on fire and there were but one Gate at which there might be an egress to fly from the fury of the flames Oh! what flocking would there be to that Gate If Sinners had but any sense and knowledge they would turn to God by thousands and by millions since Conversion is the only Door through which they may escape the Vengeance of eternal Fire Those obstinate Wretches that will not turn in time God will make them burn in Hell for evermore Thus have I at large demonstrated the Necessity of Conversion But alas VVho believes our report who credits that which is of all the greatest certainty Necessity in other matters has a mighty force but the Necessity of Conversion prevails with very few I make a needful Apostrophe from Man to God himself Lord Reveal and make bare thine own arm and cause the most stubborn and stout-hearted to yield 〈◊〉 thee for Arguments alone will never prevail with the dead in Sin to turn and live to God. In the fifth place I am to Answer the Arguments which the carnal Minds of men object against Conversion These 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these fleshly reasonings are strong holds which must be cast down 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. And I would not leave one of them undemolished Removere prohibens to remove the hindrance of Conversion is very much conducing to the thing it self therefore I shall which is but needful be the larger in producing the strongest Reasons and most forcible Pleas that are brought and used against Sinners turning to God and give a full Answer shewing the miserable invalidity and weakness of them all Obj. 1. The first Objection against Conversion is this We are Members of the Christian Church already We have been Baptized in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost If indeed we were Heathens or Infidels 't were proper to call us to turn to the true God and to embrace the Faith of Christ but since we are already Baptized into the Church which is his Body the Call and Invitation to turn seems not to be made to us Answ 1. It is one thing to be a Member of the visible Church and another thing to be really a Member of Christ The Apostle sayes All are not Israel who are of Israel Rom. 9. 6. Many have a Form of Godliness without the Power In the same Vine there are many fruitless as well as fruitful Branches In the same Church visible many unsound Professors if
will he guide in Judgment and the meek will he teach his way And while Christians are using the Word of God if they cry to the Father of Lights that gives wisdom liberally without upbraiding they shall have a Heart to know him that he is the Lord Jer. 24. 7. and they shall return to him with the whole Heart 9. Hence I inferr That we should be such lovers of Mankind as to wish the whole World did enjoy the Word of God the great means of Conversion It should be a sadning thought to our Hearts that though all mankind have sinned and are in a lost estate the Word of God that informs concerning the only Saviour is known to so very few The Jewish Church of old for hundreds of years did put up that Prayer and at length it was answered in the Vocation and calling of the Gentiles Psal 67. 〈◊〉 That thy way may be known upon the Earth and thy saving health among all Nations Christians should Pray in the same strain that this Petition may be heard further Christians should be compassionate Intercessours for the poor World that lyes in darkness and wickedness that the Light of the Gospel may come wherever the Sun in the Firmament shines that so whole Kingdoms and Nations by thousands and by millions may not thus throng the way to Hell for want of Saving Knowledge and Converting Grace And as we should pity and pray for the Infidel VVorld so we should pity and pray for poor Posterity that they when they come to be born into England may find this a Land of Light for if we should leave them without the glorious Gospel of the blessed God we should leave them under Sathans Power and in the Conâ—lâ—es of Hell O let us put on Bowels and pray hard that those that shall be born twenty forty a hundred years hence and more may find England the Land of Immanuel and may be priviledged with the Word of God that may be a means of their being regenerate and born again 10. Lastly Hence I inferr How inexcusable those are that turn the VVord of God the great means of Conversion and Salvation into a deadly savour to themselves O the evil Nature of that Sin of unbelief the evil Heart of unbelief doth make the greatest Blessings to become Curses To grow more blind under the Light to grow more deaf and disobedient the louder God calls to grow more barren and unfruitful notwithstanding all advantages to make you thrive in Grace and Goodness what excuse can be brought for this To receive the Grace of God in vain is a very great folly but to turn the Grace of God into wantonness to Sin because Grace doth abound this is to turn the very Remedy and Antidote into Poyson and to perish the more certainly the more fearfully The Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 2. 16. telleth us that his Ministry was a savour of death unto death to some they grew more dead more estranged from God and Holiness even while they heard the Gospel that is a Doctrine according to Godliness preached to them and growing more dead 〈◊〉 a spiritual sence eternal Death did prove the sorer to them That man that under the Word of God grows worse and worse comes daily to hear but goes away more vain more filthy more wedded to his will and to his hateful and hurtful lusts this Man is indeed desparately wicked this man doth fix himself under the Laws Curse he pulls down upon his own Head the Mediators Vengeance and after his hardness and impenitent Heart treasures up unto himself wrath against the day of wrath and the Revelation of the righteous Judgment of God. The second Use is by way of Reproof If the Word be the great means of Conversion several sorts of Persons are sharply to be reprehended 1. Those that dislike and hate the VVord of God these are Fools in the worst and most dangerous sence that hate Instruction and cast the Laws of God behind their backs Psal 50. 17. These are bruitish that can't endure to be reproved for doing harm to themselves they are certainly bewitched that will not obey the Truth Gal. 3. 1. As Christ says For which of my good works do ye stone me so say I For which of the good Effects of the VVord of God do you hate it It is Light in darkness a means of conveying Life to the dead Food to the hungry a Cordial to the fainting a Sword to secure you against and to conquer your spiritual Enemies And therefore if you dislike this Word of God you are even unto sottishness without understanding It is a Scripture phrase Jer. 4. 22. My people are foolish they have not known me they are sottish Children and without understanding they are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledge 2. Those are sharply to be reproved who endeavour to hinder the Efficacy of the VVord of God upon others this they do by ill Counsel and by worse Example This they do by being Contentious against the Truth and by pleading for unrighteousness This they do by promoting prejudices against the Word of God as if the embracing of it were the way to Melancholick sadness sorrow and scorn which is indeed the way to the truest Gain and the surest Peace They that are troubled to see others minding Heaven are strangely degenerate and are become Factors for Hell and discover a most diabolical Disposition But whatsoever Persons speak against Grace and Holiness whatever they say for the continuance in a wicked way all their words are but vain words and every eaâ— should be deaf to them Eph. 5. 6. Let no man deceive you with vain words for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the Children of disobedience 3. Loose Professours of Religion are to be reproved who are indeed a discredit to the Word of God they come and hear the Word of God but what are they in their Families what are they in their Closets what are they in the whole course of their Lives Filthiness greediness after Gain excessive Drinking Impurity Covetousness these things indeed they can shew but too much of But any thing of true Holiness of Humility of Strictness of Contempt of this World of Delight in minding another World they are utter Strangers to Will you remember one Truth The Conversion of the prophane is very much hindred by the licentiousness of the Hypocrites the former won't be prevailed with to turn into the way of Truth because the latter by their evil Courses do make this way of Truth to be evil spoken of 2 Pet. 2. 2. I shall conclude with a Vse of Direction How may the Word of God be heard so as that it may be effectual to the Conversion of the hearers 1. Consent that all the Impediments of the Words efficacy should be removed Be unwilling that your hearts should be like the high-way ground utterly careless grossly Ignorant of the Truths you hear My
the flesh Christ has the highest room in every true Converts Heart he counts all things loss that Christ may be gained Phil. 3. 8. And 't is but reason that Christ should be best loved by him whose love to him is greatest and most beneficial and who is altogether lovely Cant. 5. 〈◊〉 Vbi amor ibi oculus where the Love is the Eye is Christ being loved the Convert's eye of Faith is set also upon him and he stayes on Jesus the Author and finisher of his Faith that he may be preserved in a state of Grace and strengthned unto all continuance and perseverance in well doing Let senseless Souls that are without knowledge and experience call this Resting a Lolling on Christ notwithstanding their Ignorance and Blasphemy the Members of the true Church will according as the Holy Ghost by wise Solomon expresses it lean upon their Beloved Cant. 8. 5. in their passage through the Wildernâ—ss of this World that they may be conducted and brought safe unto the heavenly and incorruptible Inheritance Thus much of Conversion with reference to Jesus the Mediatour Sixthly and Lastly Conversion may be considered with reference to the Word of God This Word is the way into which every true Convert turns Psal 119. 59 60. I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandments The Converts Eye is turned to look into this Word of God his Ear is turned to hearken to it his Feet are turned to walk according to it and his very Heart is turned to love it As 't is natural to new born Babes to desire the Mothers or Nurses Milk so 't is spiritually natural to them that are Regenerate and Converted to desire the Word of God 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new born Babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby 1. The Converts natural enmity against the Word of God is cured he neither with the Jews counts the Gospel a stumbling-block and matter of offence nor with the Greeks does he esteem it foolishness he does not look upon the Mysteries of the Word as absurd nor upon the strictest Rules as unreasonable He owns the Authority of God in his Word and acknowledges his Wisdom and Goodness in giving such a Testimony of his Will upon record as is so faithful and worthy of all acceptation 2. The Convert approves the whole of the Word of God He prizes Truth and is afraid of Error for there are damnable Errors in Judgment as well as damnable Immoralities in Practice They that are led away with the Errour of the wicked do wrest the Scriptures and that is not without danger of Destruction 2 Pet. 3. 16 17. The Convert sees a need of threatnings to deter him from Sin and to keep his flesh in awe that it become not head-strong against the Spirit He likes the Commands as well as â—he Promises and is perswaded 't is a priviledge to work for God as well as an encouragement that his labour shall not be 〈◊〉 vain 1 Cor. 15. 58. He concludes whatever God has spoken is spoken for his good therefore dislikes nothing he has â—id The Apostle consented to the goodness of the Law and was troubled that so much evil was present with him which â—indred that exact obedience he desired 〈◊〉 yield Rom. 7. 16 21. And the Psamist â—eaks fully Psal 119. 128. I esteem all by Commandments concerning all things to be â—ght and I hate every false way 3. The Convert performs the word of God â—to the end his Faith is not temporary â—or his obedience forced by a present fear â—nishing away as soon as ever the danâ—r is apprehended to be over The righâ—ousness that is as the morning cloud is hyâ—critical and unacceptable The truly â—ghteous man holds on his way and waxes â—onger and stronger Job 17. 9. The entrance of the word gives that light and strength to the Convert as heartens him to go on the more he obeys the greateâ— cause and reason he sees to be still more obedient the greater progress he makes iâ— his course the nearer he comes to the prize the glory of that prize makes him press forward and run the faster Thus have I opened the Nature oâ— Conversion Much is included in it Happy those that have felt what I have spoken But what a Mulâ—itude of Professorâ— are excluded out of the number of sincerâ— Converts To how many a Man may Conscience say Thou hast no part nâ— experience in this matter thy heart is not rigâ— with God. Thy beloved lusts thy idolizâ— gain and pleasures thy unreasonable self-confidence have hindred thy coming to Christ tâ— turning to God and obeying his Word to thâ— day In the third place I am to tell you whaâ— are the Properties of Conversion Here shall observe several things concerning iâ— which will help you the better to understand it and may serve for a trial whethâ— you are indeed converted 1. Conversion is both a duty and a previledge Conscience should take notice oâ— and with authority and vehemency urge â—he Sinner to the duty and the Heart â—hould be forward to Conversion since it 〈◊〉 such a Priviledge The Gospel calls all that hear it to turn to God and layes them under an obligation to do it And Conversion being a Submission to the whole Will of God it is the summ of all the duties which he requires Turning to God is a consenting to do and suffer whatever he commands and continuing a Convert is a standing perfect with â—n evangelical perfection which is Sinceriâ— and compleat in all the Will of God Col. 4. 12. And as the Convert does his duty so the doing of it is beneficial to himself Is it not a priviledge and every â—ay for his truest interest to be near God â—o be received into his favour and to be under the blessed influence of his powerful and special Grace 'T was good counsel that â—liphaz gave though he gave it to a better man than himself Job 22. 21. Acquaint â—ow thy self with him and he explains that by returning to the Almighty and be 〈◊〉 peace thereby good shall come to thee 2. Conversion meets with great oppositiâ— What in the whole World is oppoâ—d more The Children of men go by â—roves in the broad way that leads to Destruction and they can't endure that any should part company if any begin to make a stand and run not with them to the same excess of riot they think it strange and their tongues speak evil of them 1 Pet. 4. 4. if they do not make them feel the violence of their hands also But if Earth is troubled when any are converted Hell is much more moved when a Sinner turns Satan loses an House where he dwelt and an Heart which was a Throne where he reigned And for that proud spirit to lose a vassal nay to be forced to flee from him as the promise is he shall upon resistance Jam. 4.
from every thing but Grace and Grace then is perfected in Glory The end of the upright and sincere Convert is Peace Psal 37. 37. and a peaceful Death is the forerunner of an everlasting Rest If he should dye in a Cloud he would shine not at all the less brightly in another World all sin and fears and tears will be gone as soon as he enters into Heavens door and sees his Lord there If he sets as the Sun in the clearest Summers evening his Death is encouraging to others comfortable to himself but ten thousand thousand times more Comfort will he presently have as soon as ever he is got out of and is absent from the body and is present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8. I have done with the Motives to Conversion And now for shame be silent all tongues that talk against turning to God! Apostate Angels be for ever mute what Adversaries and lying Spirits are ye in disswading Man from Conversion and in asserting that though he turn not he shall not surely dye And Carnal Reason confess thy self quite baffled with strength of Argument and that not one word more of good sense can be spoken against the Sinners Conversion which is so much for his Interest both in time and to eternity VSE V. Of Direction how Sinners may become true and thorough Converts It greatly concerns you to be sincere in turning for in this matter you have chiefly to do with God himself who can't be deceived with the fairest shews but understands perfectly the most secret thoughts inclinations and purposes of the Hearts of Men every upright Heart is open to him and he takes Pleasure in the uprightness which himself has wrought And if there be nothing but Hypocrisie under the greatest Profession that Hypocrisie is both observed and abhorred Any thing short of true and thorough Conversion will be a dangerous Cheating of your selves therefore that you may be Converts indeed I shall give you these Directions 1. Let spiritual Wisdom and Knowledge be valued as that which is of great price and usefulness He that is indeed a Convert is called out of darkness into marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9. In this Verse where my Text lies Converting the Soul and making Wise the Simple are joyn'd together the one is necessary and subservient to the other That Devotion of which Ignorance is the Mother is indeed a following of blind and deluded or crafty and deluding Guides but a turning to and a following of God it is not Be well Catechized and Instructed in the Principles of the Scripture-doctrine let a true Light be set up in your Understandings The Mind is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the leading Faculty 't is needful it be well Informed In the first Creation when Darkness covered the face of the deep God said let there be Light and there was Light Gen. 1. 2 3. and thus it is in the new Creation and Conversion 2 Cor. 4. 6. God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined into our Hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Search for Knowledge in the Scripture as you would search for Silver or hid Treasure and look up to Heaven for light and ability to understand it that you may know Christ and God in him and what you are to believe desire and do in order to your Happiness You can't be made wise to Salvation unless you are first made wise to Conversion And as you are to acquaint your selves with so you are firmly to assent to the Doctrine revealed in the Word of God and the more strongly you credit whatever the Word sayes the more powerful influence will this Faith have upon your Conscience Will and Life Vnbelief is the root of defection and departing from the living God Heb. 3. 12. If the arm of the Lord be revealed his Power shewn forth and cause the report of the Word all the Promises and Threatnings of it to be indeed believed this will have a mighty efficacy towards the Souls return to God again 2. That you may become true Converts be sensible that all Mankind are fallen by Iniquity and are estranged from God and you in particular are by Nature far off from Him. The Lord indeed made Man upright but he has sought out many Inventions Eccles 7. ult New wayes he thought to have found of being higher and happier but while through the subtilty of the old Serpent he catcht at a shadow he lost the substance and became both foolish and miserable Adam the first Man corrupted the humane Nature and as thus corrupted you partake of it so that you are by Nature Children of Wrath your Hearts are desperately wicked dangerously deceitful and returning to God is that which they have a strange and strong antipathy against The more you are sensible that your Hearts are thus depraved and alienated from Gâ—â— the more jealous you will be of them and the more earnest for that new Heart and new Spirit which the Lord has Promised in his new Covenant Ezek. 36. 26. Perceiving and being burthen'd with a Distemper is a good step towards a Cure especially if an able Physician is ready to heal any that will but make use of him A right sense that Sin has set you at a distance from God and that those who are far from him shall perish Psal 37. 27. will have a mighty tendency to your being brought nigh to him by the Blood and Spirit of the Lord Jesus And truly He that in the daies of his Flesh was so ready to heal corporal Maladies is much more willing to heal the corrupted Nature and to change and turn the Heart of every one that seriously cries Turn me and I shall be turned heal me and I shall be healed save me and I shall be saved for thou art my Praise 3. Let Humiliation for Sin be very hearty and very deep A Soul that never was truly humbled for its iniquities still retains a liking of them and is more easily tempted to return to them Humiliation serves very much to break the league with Sin the Covenant with Death and Hell. The Apostle Paul who at his Conversion was deeply abased was made to tremble and to be astonished Act. 9. 6. seeing his Sin the insufficiency of his Pharisaical Righteousness and that he was so far from Salvation that he persecuted the onely Saviour after this low Humiliation how thorowly was his Heart turned to God! how precious was Jesus to his Soul how circumspectly did he walk how abundantly did he labour how patiently and joyfully did he suffer for Righteousness sake how constantly did he keep the Faith and finish his course till he got the Crown In true Humiliation there is a mixture of fear and sorrow and shame and upon these does follow holy anger and indignation Look up to Heaven behold the great and glorious God against whom every one of your Sins have
been committed Sin is Rebellion and Treason against the King of Glory 't is a Transgression of a Law given from Heaven the breach of which is threatned with not only a temporal Curse but an eternal Penalty Well may sin fill you with fear Let your Sorrow express it self freely and abundantly in remembrance of your evil wayes Sin is the only evil in Gods eyes and the â—reatest evil unto you hateful to God hurtful to the Sinner Every Sin has given you a Wound and as Sins Wounds are the worst so they should be most grievous Lament when you see in what a woful plight you are The sad effects of Sin the whole man over the Prophet emphatically sets forth Isa 1. 5 6. The whole Head is sick the whole Heart is faint from the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it but wounds bruises and putrifying sores they have not been closed nor bound up nor mollified with oyntment And should you not be ashamed of your own folly in being such enemies to your selves your Pollutions your Perdition is really of your selves Guilt should make you blush and because Sin has stript you naked and bare of every thing that 's good and beautiful Oh what a loathsome Leprosie is apparent in all your Parts and Powers your foulest spots are open to Gods eye well therefore you may be cover'd with Confusion and that which still should make you more confounded is your base ingratitude you have despised riches of goodness you have abused Mercy and Grace and when a Cure has been offered in the Gospel you would not be healed Be therefore truly angry at your selves Let your Indignation and hatred spend it self on your iniquities be revenged upon them that they being mortified and dying you may not dye in them and for them Humiliation is indeed grievous to Nature but friendly to Grace The more Humiliation Ploughs up the Fallow ground the fruits of Righteousness commonly are brought forth in greater Plenty 4. Study the mischief which the beloved Sin or Sins have done you The Master Sin is Gods Capital Enemy and the chief obstacle of Conversion this has the greatest Interest in the Heart to forsake this is indeed most difficult but withall most necessary That great Commander Hannibal had more of Enmity against the Romane State than a thousand ordinary Carthaginians He still to his utmost endeavour'd to hinder peace with Rome and to bring Rome to ruine The commanding Sin which by reason of the Sinners complexion or calling or other circumstances has most strength and bears the greatest sway does most oppose the turning unto God therefore this must in a special manner be resisted hated for the Life and Strength of it lies in the love of it Thy Master Sin is thy greatest transgression Psal 19. 13. and has rendred thee obnoxious to the greatest Wrath this especially provokes divine jealousie this has made thee most a slave and most abominably defiled thee this is thy strongest fetter and thy most deadly plague thy love to it is altogether against thy hatred of it will be with the greatest reason The young man in the Gospel might have been a Convert but Love to his great Possessions was the sin that hindred Mat. 19. 22. He went away from Christ he was too much taken with worldly Wealth therefore not at all taken with a Treasure in Heaven Herod that did many things might have done more but love to his Herodias was his darling Lust this made him instead of hearkning to John the Baptist put him in Prison though John designed Herods spiritual Liberty and eternal Salvation Let the proud man hate his Pride the Covetous man contemn the World which he has made an Idol of the filthy wretch abhor Fornication and all Uncleanness the unrighteous become just and make Restitution of what he has unjustly gained Mortifie all the members of the Body of Sin but especially consent the right eye should be pluckt out the right hand cut off and the very Heart torn out of that Body 5. Would you become Converts in Truth save your selves from the Society of evil doers The Prophet who tells us he turned his Feet unto the Testimonies of God quickly after adds I am become a Companion of them that fear thee and of them that keep thy Precepts Psal 119. 63. He that will be a true Convert and indeed a blessed Man he must not walk in the Counsel of the Vngodly nor stand in the way of Sinners nor sit in the Seat of the Scornful Psal 1. 1. David resolving to keep the commands of God abandons that company that were breakers of those commands and were likely to be continually perswading him to transgress them Psal 119. 115. Depart from me ye evil doers for I will keep the Commandments of my God he is so far from approbation from imitation of them that he beheld them with grief and with horrour It was Counsel given to those that had been prickt at the Heart and began to turn Save your selves from this untoward Generation Act. 2. 40. There is a great Contagion in Sin 't is likened to the Plague to the Leprosie because 't is such a deadly because 't is such a catching disease When we are needlesly Conversant with them that are dead in Sin what deadness do we find seizing upon our own Hearts When we are too intimate with vain Persons how does vanity insinuate it self into our minds too much estranging them from God and putting them out of a serious frame Carnal Company are a sort of Devils in humane shape that are bound for Hell themselves and are drawing as many others as they can thither they can't be contented to Sin and be damn'd alone Have therefore no fellowship with the unfruitful Works of darkness but rather reprove them Eph. 5. 11. Reprove them because Destruction and Misery is in their wayes but let not them ever perswade you out of the way of Peace And as you are to shun the Profaâ—â— so you must take heed of being deaded and diverted by the Erroneous If Satan cannot draw you back to your formâ— ungodliness and unrighteousness he will endeavour to turn you aside to some false and strange Doctrine that this may take up your time your thoughts your zeal the Power of Godliness and Practical Religion being in the mean while neglected When Errour has been embraced and has corrupted the Mind and made the Head giddy 't is usual for it to bring a false Peace into the Conscience and by diverting the Heart to hinder it's Converting unto God. Beware beware of that vain Religion which is nothing but a kind of Philosophy of Opinions which is a thing for a wanton fancy to play with a smooth Tongue to talk of that is made up of Brain and Mouth without Heart to love and Hands to work for God. 6. If you would be Converts in Truth let your Hearts be fill'd with awful apprehensions of the
shine To turn with the whole Heart is for the whole to turn excellent for the whole to be secured Be never satisfied till you perceive that God has your love which is indeed the leading and commanding Affection If Sin if Mammons Pleasures and Wealth have still your love your professing your selves Converts is all but feigned kindness and you provoke the Lord to jealousiè Give unto God your Love which he calls for in the first and great Commandment or else you give him nothing if your love be given him you will not deny him any thing And if as yet you can't shew your love by delighting in God because of your doubts and the darkness of your state shew your love by desiring after God whose loving kindness is better than Life whose Alsufficiency is enough and enough and infinitely more than enough for you But here 's the difficulty How shall the Heart of Man be brought unto the love of God The Stream of the affections runs naturally and violently downwards and how shall the tide be turned how shall the love be carried quite contrary to the bent of Nature Certainly this must be the doing of the God of all Grace The Apostle prayes for the Thessalonians that the Lord would direct their hearts into the love of God 2 Thes 3. 5. Put up this Petition for your selves 'T is an encouraging Scripture Deut. 30. 6. The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy Soul that thou mayest live apply it improve it and if you grudge your love to every thing else and are continually offering it to God and above all things in the World desire to love him and to be beloved of him Love is already wrought the acts of it appear and you shall by degrees love more sensibly and the stronger the love the more sound the Conversion 10. Deceive not your selves with faint wishes and half-willingness to be Converted I grant that the desire of Grace is Grace but if there be not Truth in the desire the Truth of Grace can't be concluded from it A lazy wish to be Converted where there is a prevailing resolution to connive at and continue in Sin what does it signifie but that the Heart is not right with God notwithstanding some feeble good inclinations towards him Our Lord commands his Followers to strive to enter in at the strait gate because many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able Luk. 13. 24. Many hereafter shall seek and expect admission into Heaven who shall be excluded because they would not strive they would not use an holy violence to take that Kingdom Many over hastily conclude they are Converted because there is some little inclination to what is good though a stronger inclination to what is evil without check does bear the sway in them In spiritual as well as natural lukewarmness there is some mixture of heat as well as a prevalency of cold Can water be called hot where heat is least and cold is most Can the Heart be said to be turned to God which is least inclined towards him and most strongly and resolvedly bent towards Sin and Vanity Oh take heed of Sloth and Idleness Sloth is that which has brought many a Conviction to nothing you can hardly name a greater Impediment of Conversion Upon thousands of Professors Tombs this may be written Here lye those who have undone themselves by Slothfulness and miss'd of Grace and Glory because they would take Pains for neither If you would be Conveâ—â—s indeed abandon Idleness let your very Hearts be in every Duty your Souls and the strength of them the fervency of your Spirits in every Ordinance of God Rom. 12. 11. Not slothful in business especially not in the main business servent in Spirit serving the Lord. Satisfie not your selves in a customary and formal using of the means of Grace but look to this that life and warmth and strength and Grace be indeed conveyed to you in them 11. Would you be Converts indeed look much into another World confine not your sight and thoughts to the things of time and sense but take the Perspective of the Word of God that to the eye of your Faith things unseen may become evident Heb. 11. â— Time is so short a thing that you may easily and quickly see to the end of it and yet concerning this short Time it may be said that Now you must be turn'd or Never At the end of Time Death stands thousands feel his stroke every day before your eyes and how soon may you feel his deadly Dart and return to the dust out of which we were all taken where 's the Man that upon good ground can say He is sure to live a Year a Month a VVeek a Day to an end Just behind Death is Judgment and at the Bar of God who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the Counsels of the Heart what will a shew of Grace and of Conversion signifie At that Bar all the Children of Men must receive their final and unalterable Doom from that Tribunal there can be no Appeal to another there is no higher Judge than he who shall judge the quick and the dead at his Appearing and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. The Sentence which he will Pronounce will stand good and firm for ever and 't will be a Sentence either to eternal Glory or everlasting Flames And know that Conversion now will make the Discrimination then only Converts will stand in Judgment only those that sincerely â—urn'd to God in this World will be received into his Joy and Kingdom in the other World. But as for the Unconverted who would not turn from Sin they shall without any Pity or hopes of any according as they were threatned and have justly deserved be turned into Hell and there will be no remedy You are all posting away from hence and shall shortly hear the Word and be seen your selves no more A serious belief and consideration of the eternal Joyes and eternal Woes of another World would have a mighty Influence upon the very worst of you to make you of another of a better Mind VSE VI. Of Consolation unto Converts There is a Consolation that has a Woe joyn'd with it VVoe to you rich Men for ye have received your Consolation The Wicked and the Hypocrite have their Peace and Joy but their Peace is false and their Joy but for a moment but the Converts Comfort is styled both strong and everlasting Consolation Here I shall first give you the Converts Character and then lay down the Grounds of his Comfort and indeed true Comfort belongs to none in the World but true Converts Though I have spoken a great deal already to shew who are Converted yet I shall add these Signs following 1. Converts chuse God for their Portron rather than the World Thou art my Portion O Lord I have said
had and bought it Matth. 13. 46. 2. When the Soul is Converted the Judgment is rectified The Judgment of the natural Man is wofully perverted He judges aright of nothing he judges amiss of every thing Wo to him he calls evil good and good evil he puts darkness for Light and Light for darkness bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter as the Prophet speaks Isa 5. 20. The Wisdom of God he ealls by the Name of foolishness and the folly of the VVorld he will needs have to be the shrewdest and best sort of wisdom He errs on both hands valuing what is vile and sleighting what is excellent But the Apostle in 1 Cor. 2. 15. telleth us That he that is spiritual judgeth all things yet he himself is judged of no Man. The Convert hath a faculty of spiritual discerning and can pass a right judgment upon things One Angel can see another though the bodily Eye can see neither One that is a Convert having a spiritual faculty of discerning can see the excellency of spiritual things which the natural Man cannot behold And when it is said that the Spiritual Man is judged of no Man the meaning is this that no natural Man is a competent judge concerning him Censure him he may as if he were regardless of and beside himself but really this Censure is without reason Not judging but missjudging this is to be called The Converts judgment is very sound he takes the right ballance even those of the Sanctuary to weigh all things in He compares God and the Creature together the righteousness and strength of Man and the righteousness and strength of Christ together things temporal and things eternal together and weighing these things together the difference between them is apparent He writes Takel upon what is Mammons and upon what is Mans and the weightiest and most excellent things he doth approve as such especially a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. And as the Converts Judgment is sound so let me tell you it is very grave and serious in propounding what is good unto the Will. It is deliberate in its determination what is good and then with greatest evidence and strength of Reason nay with Demonstration of the Spirit it urges the Soul that this which is so good may be followed and embraced My beloved a Judgment thus rectified and set right it is one of the greatest Blessings from Heaven and comes down from the Father of Lights who manifests himself to be the Father of Mercies in bestowing such a Gift Now the Soul is Light when the Judgment is rectified and the whole Man is under better conduct and this Light proves Armour and Defence against the Works of Darkness Rom. 13. 12 13 14. Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light Let us walk honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkenness not in chambering and wantonness not in strife and envying but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof 3. When the Soul is converted the Conscience is made very faithful and very tender The Soul of Man is endued with a Power of Self-reflection it can with a great deal of delight take notice of what of God and what of good is in it self and it can terribly recoyl upon it self and prove a selfpunisher at the commission of what is evil The Conscience of an unconverted Sinner is usually in a dead sleep How many sleepy Consciences are here God awaken them to day Usually the Conscience of an unconverted Sinner is in a dead sleep He takes little or no notice at all of that God that is by him of his Presence of the Purity of his Law and of the Sinners obligation to obey it And Conscience being thus asleep talks in its sleep and what doth it talk in its sleep it doth say Peace and it doth dream of Safety and thus it goes on crying Peace and dreaming of Safety untill suddain destruction doth prove that Peace and that Safety to be nothing else but a meer delusion 1 Thess 5. 3. When men shall say Peace and Safety then suddain destruction cometh upon them as travel upon a woman with Child and they shall not escape But the Convert his Conscience is awakened it is awakened so thoroughly that it keeps more or less awake ever after The Conscience doth understand the Authority that it hath from God. And it doth improve that Authority for God. The Conscience of a Convert doth understand the Authority that it hath from God. The God of Heaven hath allowed the Conscience a Negative Voice To sin contrary to the Light and to the Dictates of Conscience it is to sin with a great Aggravation and it is to incurr great danger 1 Joh. 3. 20. If our hearts condemn us God is greater than our hearts and knows all things Nay supposing that Conscience doth but doubt concerning an Action that Action must not be ventured upon untill Conscience be fully satisfied about it Rom. 14. ult He that doubts of the lawfulness of a Meat is damned if he eats because he eateth not of Faith that is being not fully perswaded of the lawfulness of what he eats he eats not of Faith and that which is not of Faith is sin And as Conscience knows the Authority it hath of God so it doth improve and exercise this Authority that it hath from God for Him. The Converts Conscience urges that the Will of God may be done still tho' it never so much thwarts the inclination and grain of mans it urges that God may be alwayes pleased whoever is offended and herein it does consult the Converts truest Interest The sharper the Sight the clearer the Light the greater the force of Conscience is there will be a departing from evil with the greater fear and care and hatred and there will be a doing of good with the greater diligence exactness and perseverance and all this is for the good of Converts in more Worlds than one Psal 37. 27. Depart from evil and do good and dwell for evermore 4. When the Soul is Converted the Thoughts have not a lawless Liberty allowed them but there is a Conflict with them and great care to govern them well The Mind of Man is a busie and an Active thing thoughts are continually issuing from it as Sparks from a Furnace or Waters from a Fountain and naturally all these are evil Gen. 6. 5. God saw that the wickedness of Man was great upon the Earth and every Imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually When the Soul is converted the nature of the Thoughts is changed vain and sinful thoughts presently become burthensome The Heart is made new and a new heart will have new kind of thoughts The thoughts will be pure and clean if the Heart be sanctified and cleansed Jerusalem did shew her self a Stranger to Conversion
Temptations The Convert is afraid of the very first risings of Sin for Sin is an Enemy and if once this Enemy be risen really it may much disturb the Peace and give many a painful blow before it is quell'd again The Convert is afraid of Sins conceiving least being conceived it should be finished and at last bring forth Death Jam. 1. 15. The Convert flies from great Sins and won't connive at small ones The Converted Soul is afraid of known and presumptuous Transgressions and it is jealous least any should pass unknown and be harboured unsuspected therefore the Convert Prayes with David Psal 19. 12. VVho can understand his Errors Cleanse thou me from secret Sins The Convert is so afraid of Sin that he will venture upon other evils rather than upon Sin he will venture upon Poverty he will venture upon a Prison he will venture upon Flames of Martyrdom rather than venture upon Sin. Moses was so afraid of Sin though it was attended with the Pleasures and Preferments of Egypt that he did preferr the enduring of Afflictions with the People of God before it Heb. 11. 25. 3. The Converted Soul hates and abhorrs Sin I wish there was no other hatred in the World but the hatred of Sin here the most fixed and settled hatred would be very commendable Hatred is an Affection that doth aim at the destruction of the thing hated he that hateth his Brother in Scripture is said to be a Murderer and he that hateth Sin nothing short of the death of Sin will satisfie him It is the Converts business from the day of his Conversion unto the hour of his Dissolution still to be killing and mortifying of Sin and he doth endeavour to advance in doing of this work daily he labours and strives to kill Pride Covetousness Concupisence and Sensuality more dead and being sensible that Sin is much above his Match to deal with he calls in the help of the Spirit of God that the more effectually he may mortifie the Works of the Flesh Rom. 8. 13. For if ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live 4. Sin is the Converted Souls shame Israel that refused to turn they are charged with Impudence and hardness of Heart Ezek. 3. 7. They will not hearken unto thee O son of Man saith God for they will not hearken unto me for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted So Jer. 8. 12. VVere they ashamed when they had committed abomination No they were not at all ashamed neither could they blush But now Converts are ashamed of Sin they are confounded before God because they have so much and so inexcusably offended Heark to Ephraim Converted Ephraim Jer. 31. 19. Surely after I was turned I repented after I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth This Shame in those that are Converts is of great Vse for it makes them to lye low before God it makes them in honour to prefer others before themselves The chief of Sinners saith the Apostle being ashamed because he Persecuted the Saints and less than the least of all Saints And it makes Converts to admire the rich and the Free Grace of God in advancing them to such a dignity as to become the Children of God who did so justly deserve everlasting Contempt and Ruine 7. When the Soul is Converted those Affections that have good for their Object are placed upon God who is the highest and chiefest good of all Doers of evil have not seen God 3 John 11. He that doth good is of God he that doth evil hath not seen God. The Unconverted Sinner either saith in his Heart there is no God or if there be one the Creatures are better and more desirable than he This is the Language of every Unconverted Sinners Heart But the Converted Soul hath seen God and hath seen that in God that he loves God best and still desires to love him better How strong are his desires after God and when he is pleased to manifest his Love to communicate his Grace with a liberal hand now the Soul hath the greatest Joy and Delight on Earth The Converts Hope is in God his expectation of help is from him and his hope of Happiness is in him he is Zealous for the Glory of God and he is Zealous of those Works that are good in his sight and whatever a Convert sees that hath the Image and Stamp of God upon it that thing is loved for Gods sake 8. When the Soul is Converted the Memory is put to good and holy Vses before it was like a den of Thieves like a Cage full of unclean and hateful Birds but now the Memory is a Treasury where the best things are laid up safest Here I shall tell you of four things that the Convert doth remember 1. The Convert remembers his Creator and indeed no New Creature doth forget him he remembers his Duty towards him and the obligations and encouragements unto a faithful Performance of it Wicked Men forget God trifles they can think of but God is not in all their thoughts Jer 2. 32. Can a Maid forget her Ornaments or a Bride her Attire yet ye have forgot me days without number Those that by Profession are my People and yet really are estranged from me they have forgotten me days without number but the Convert remembers God and desires to be in his Love and Fear all his days 2. The Convert remembers the Redeemer and his death The benefits that were purchased by so great a price and how the work of Redemption was compleat when Christ rose from the dead A special memento is put upon the Resurrection of Christ 2 Tim. 2. 8. Remember that Jesus Christ of the Seed of David was raised from the dead according to my Gospel 3. The Convert remembers the VVord and that effectually and seasonably he remembers it so as that he is cast into the mould of it His heart doth stand in a we of the Oracles of God and they are an excellent preservative against temptation Psal 119. 11. Thy VVord have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee Joseph he did seasonably and effectually remember that command Thou shalt not commit Adultery When he had that impure and immodest motion made by a Creature that forgot the presence of God and her own Duty and though he was a servant and though he was a young Man and an uamarried Man yet he was so far from complying with the temptation that he reproves the concupisence and ventures upon the revenge of his impure Mistriss 4. Lastly The Convert remembers his latter end and the judgment that will follow after O Brethren methinks I see my self and all you holding up our hands at the Bar of God. As sure as you are here so certainly you shall stand there The
let them hear them And after 't is answered further If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Luk. 16. 27 -31 A Sinner whose Heart is all Adamant and Sermon-proof the terrours of the Lord don't affright him the inestimable Treasures of the Gospel don't take him the Mediatours Vengeance for neglecting great Salvation is not at all dreaded Suppose a command should be given to unlock the gates of Hell and a damned Spirit that has been for some time tortur'd in the slames there and was once well known to this stupid Sinner should at Midnight appear to him and the Curtains being drawn aside and that Soul out of the midst of fire with a ghastly horrour in its looks should thus speak to Him Awake hard-hearted Wretch awake awake What sleep and lye secure in Sin that art in danger of dying in Sin every moment VVhat take thine ease who art so near to endless pain and Torment Thy time has both Feet and VVings and is with great haste both running and flying away from thee and as thy time in Sin and folly spends so thou daily and hourly approache◠nearer to a miserable Eternity Thy Judgment lingers not thy Damnation does not slumber while thou refusest to awake to Righteousness Once I made a mock of Sin as much as thou dost was mad to destroy my self as thou art I made a meer Jest of Hell but now I know I feel and wo wo is me I shall to my Sorrow feel for ever what 't is to be damn'd in earnest Sin 's thy worst Enemy Oh cast it away before it undoe thee past remedy Divine wrath and jealousie is in the other World found a hotter and heavier thing than ever could be conceived in this 'T is really a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But I have leave to stay no longer be sure to take this warning I have given thee I must again to the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone where there are no such things as Help or Hope or Happiness but Pain and Misery are extream and endless Suppose I say a damned Soul should speak such language to a Sinner that has all along been deaf to the call of the Word and resisted the Spirit of the Lord he might perhaps be exceedingly amazed and possibly be frighted out of his VVits but he would not be scared out of his Sins nor ever by such an Apparition alone be turned unto God. If Gods own Word will not make thee a Convert O Sinner thy disease is obstinate against the likeliest remedy and what means will 5. The Word is a Means which Thousands and Millions in the VVorld never were so much Priviledg'd as to enjoy An Hallelujah is justly deserved and expected from the People of God of old because he shewed his Word unto Jacob his Statutes and Judgments to the Children of Israel whereas He had not dealt so with any Nation and as for his Judgments they had not known them Psal 147. 19 20. How great a part of the World is Satans Common how little comparatively is so much as the visible Inclosure of our Lord Jesus It is the observation of a Learned man that if the World were divided into thirty parts Nineteen would be found still Pagan six Mahometan and but five Christian take in all of all Perswasions But alas how much darkness is there even in Nations that are called Christian Ignorance is affected the Word of God and the Knowledg of it is taken away though the Scripture says that for lack of it people are destroyed Hos 4. 6. How Happy would you be that in this City enjoy the light of the Word of Truth if you would but thankfully and fruitfully improve it It is as it were Noon day with you whereas in other places it is but a dark down and in most parts of the Earth a black midnight In the fourth place I am to tell you whence this Means the Word of God comes to be effectual to Conversion 'T is made effectual by the Power of God and this Power he exerts by his own Spirit 1 Thes 1. 5. Our Gospel came not unto you in word only but in Power also and in the Holy Ghost and in much Assurance the wonderful effects of Divine Power wrought by the Holy Ghost in the Preaching of the Gospel was an Evidence and Assurance that this Gospel is not the Word of Man but of God Himself Now the manner of the Spirits working when he makes the Word effectual to Conversion I shall declare in these particulars 1. The Spirit impresses upon the Sinners Heart the Divine Authority of this Word 'T is indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. When the Lord Himself is eyed and own'd in his Word then it shews it self mighty If the Messengers and Publishers of the Word only are regarded and there is not a looking beyond them they being but earthen vessels the Word though a Treasure will be trampled under foot But when Sinners are Converted the Spirit makes it evident that the Word is really of God. The demonstration of this is styled the demonstration of the Spirit He does demonstrate the Words divine Authority several wayes By Signs and VVonders wrought for its Confirmation Heb. 2. 4. God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost according to his own will. That these Miracles were done 't is plain for the Word of God pretending to Miracles done so openly so often by and upon so many persons in the midst of cunning and malicious Adversaries who were watchful enough to have espied the deceit if there had been any if such Miracles really had never been wrought this Word and the Religion it teaches would never have been received Our Lord Jesus though the Son of God when upon Earth was humbled in the form of a Servant yet affirms himself to be the Saviour of the VVorld preaches a Doctrine contrary to Flesh and Blood tells all that will be his Disciples they must deny themselves and forsake all that is dear to them in this World whenever they are called to it for the sake of a Treasure and Kingdom in Heaven And often he appeals to his working Miracles as a Confirmation of his Doctrine that it was from Heaven Now if such Miracles had never been wrought the Imposture would have been so apparent that the Christian Faith would never have been embraced by any of common sense and understanding And 't is evident also that these Miracles were done by the power of God. Wonders indeed were wrought by the Egyptian Magicians but outvied by greater Wonders effected by Moses Gods Servant These Miracles were beyond the Power and Ability of second Causes Who could make the blind to see and the deaf to hear and the lame to walk but that God who formed the Eye
Beloved do you think that Sathan hath not carefully treasâ—red up all the Sermons that you have lost all the Sermons that you have slept away all the Sermons that you have remained Ignorant and stupid under Sathan hath them to produce and shew against you at the great approaching day Be unwilling that your Hearts should remain like stony ground a hard heart will hinder the Word of God from taking root Be not terrified at any Persecutions that you may meet with for the Words sake Let the fear of God swallow up the ensnaring fear of Man. Pluck up all the thorns and how many of them are in your hearts Away with your cares about the World let not these eat up the heart and time and expell the more needful care about the one thing necâ—ssary Be not deceived by Earthly Riches let not these dazle your eyes with their glistering nor cause you to look with a strange eye upon the Treasures of Heaven which are everlasting In a word be not fond of your Lusts of your Pleasures any longer Sin hath kept you at a distance from God and the Children of wrath and disobedience but too long already 2. Chuse to sit under that Ministry thâ—â— speaks most home to the Conscience and that doth manifest the most earnest desire after the Conversion of Souls Those that are instructed from Heaven rightly to wield the sword of the Spirit so that it shall pierce the heart and as it were diâ—â—ect the Soul and make the secrets of â—â— manifest really their pains are very much to be prized and it were to be wisht that the voice of such could reach the ears of thousands and of millions because these Preachers are bound for Heaven themselves and it is their desire and design that great multitudes may go along with them thither 3. Be glad of and take the watchmans warning believe and tremble at the Sword of God that is coming to wound to slay all those that go on still in their trespasses Psal 68. 21. Destruction from the Almighty in which the Power of God is to be manifest in the glory of it must needs be exceeding terrible settle it upon your hearts that every Sin doth anger God Flee from Sin you must or escape his wrath you cannot As certainly as God is holy just â—â—â— true so certainly none but those that are holy shall be happy in and with him so certainly all that refuse to turn to him â—hall be Sentenced to depart for ever from â—im into everlasting burnings Your Blood will not lye upon my head I have told â—ou of the Sword that is a coming I â—ave given the watchmans warning if â—ou love God if you love your selves take â—â— 4. Hear God himself speaking by the Miâ—istry of Man if you would have the Word â—ffectual to your Conversion Alas the word â—f Man is but feeble breath but the Word â—f God can raise the dead John 5. 25. Veâ—ily verily I say to you the hour is comâ—â—g and now is when the dead shall hear the â—oice of the Son of God and they that hear â—all live It is not Man mistake not It â—â— not Man but God that telleth you that â—e Soul that sinneth shall dye It is not Man but God that tells you if you turn â—â— him he will turn to you and he will â—ecome a God and Father to you and you â—â—ough never so much strangers though â—ver so great enemies shall become the â—â—ns and Daughters of the Lord Almighty Cor. 6. ult These Gospel invitations these â—ospel Promises ought to be heeded ought â—â— be credited as if God had utter'd them with an audible Voice from Mount Sion as he did the Law of old from Mount Sinai Friend where are you You are before God who is speaking to you You are taking notice of the man Pray look further God speaks to you by the Tongue of a mortal Man. In hearing the Word remember that you have to do with God and how dare you refuse to turn to him 5. Lastly Would you have the Word effectual unto your Conversion Pray that God would open your Hearts to attend to what is spoken We read of Lydia that her Heart was opened Naturally it was shut and it would have remained shut still notwithstanding all the skill and Endeavours of the Minister The Text plainly tells us that it was the Lord that did open the heart of Lydia Acts 16. 14. And as the Lord did open hers so it is the Lord alone that can open yours Upon the hearing of this one should sigh and say Lord open mine Another should groan and say Lord open mine And a third should burst out into tears and say Lord open mine And this should be the general request of all That God would immediately open the Hearts of all and if once your hearts are opened then the Word of God will enter and the Spirit of Grace will enter and all will turn to God that are before him Thus have I finished the third Doctrine that I raised from the Text That the Word of God is the great means of Conversion Doct. 4. I come to the fourth and last Doctrine that I raised from the words and that is this That in the VVord of God which is the means of Conversion there is a Perfection and Sufficiency The Law of the Lord is perfect Converting the Soul I wish that the Power of this Word upon your Hearts and Consciences this day may be a sensible Demonstration of this Words perfection There are several properties of this Word that do commend it and render it much more desirable than all the Worldly wealth and greatness that the Children of Men do so much admire It is of Heavenly Original it is true it is necessary it is pure it is powerful it is perspicuous and plain and among other properties of the Word this is one it is perfect The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul The Hebrew word signifies pure without mixture whole and compleat having nothing wanting There is no defect in this Word of God of any thing that ought to be there and it cannot be charged with any thing that ought not to be there or that doth unbecome that God whose Word it is In the handling of this Doctrine I shall proceed in this Method 1. I shall shew you in what sence the Word of God is perfect And 2. By Arguments I shall prove the Perfection and Sufficiency of the Word of God. 3. I shall give you the Reasons why the Perfection and Sufficiency of the Word of God is mentioned when Conversion is spoken of And then in the last place I shall conclude with the Application 1. I am to state this Perfection of the Word of God and to shew you in what sence the Word of God is perfect By his Word you are to understand that which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament the Penmen of these Scriptures
change our very Hearts Love to the Word distinguishes the true Church from the Antichristian Society Of these 't is said because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had Pleasure in Vnrighteousness 2 Thes 2. 10 11 12. All the excellent properties of the Word and the wonderful effects of it should take your Hearts and still be increasing your affection to it and the stronger your love is the greater will be your care to keep it Psal 119. 167. My Soul hath kept thy Testimonies and I love them exceedingly Love will make you labour hard in the work which the Word commands and yet it will so overcome the difficulty that hard labour shall become easie It was a saying of Bernard Is rectè divinas Scripturas legit qui verba vâ—rtit in opera He rightly reads the Holy Scriptures who turns VVords into VVorks Love will mightily constrain you to this 't will make you doers and blessed in your deed Love the Word of God as a Malefactour would love to read his pardon after the Sentence of Death has been past upon him Love the Word as a Debtour would love to read his general and full discharge which delivers him out of Prison and secures him from the danger of being arrested any more Love the Word as a Sick man would love to read a Receipt prescribing a medicine that would certainly cure his distemper and save his Life Finally love the Word as an Heir would love to read over a Testament in which is left him a rich Estate a most plentiful Inheritance In the VVord of God you find a pardon a discharge from all debts by your great your sufficient Surety here is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Souls universal remedy And the Psalmist says Psal 119. 111. Thy Testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my Heart 8. Never be ashamed of this Word of God which is so perfect and worthy to be owned VVith your Hearts believe it unto Righteousness with your Mouths Confess it to Salvation Be not concerned that the VVorld accounts the VVord foolishness fear not either their reviling or their rage their hands are weak considering how strong your helper is and their Judgments weaker Stand fast in the Faith and quit you like men be strong 1 Cor. 16. 13. Your Lord will be much pleased to see you valiant for the Truth and no less than a Crown of Life shall be the reward of Faithfulness unto the Death But if you are ashamed of Christ and of his word before Men he will be ashamed of you before his Father and all his Holy Angels Mar. 8. 38. And how great and everlasting then will your shame and confusion be VSE III. Of Exhortation Since the VVord is perfect let me exhort you all unto Perfection The legal Perfection of Adam in Innocency you cannot reach since the fall keeps all his Posterity short of it hear the Apostle confessing and bewailing Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect Phil. 3. 12. But evangelical Perfection is possible 't is necessary 't is actually found in all true Converts In legal Perfection it may be said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is no Sin. In evangelical Perfection it may be said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is no predominant Hypocrisie In the former there is no sin at all in the latter there is no Sin loved and allowed In the one every command is kept in the other there is grief when any command is broke and a true Desire after Grace to keep every Commandment better When I exhort you to Perfection I mean three things That you would be of a perfect Heart That you would walk in a perfect way That you would stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God. 1. Let your Hearts be perfect The Heart is the very Seat of Sincerity if it be not here 't is no where 't is not in the eye or tongue or hands or feet if the Heart remain as it was by Nature without a change and is still wicked sensual and earthly the VVords and actions though never so good signifie and avail nothing nay the better the VVords and Actions are the greater is the Hypocrisie and Dissimulation There are several excellent ingredients in this Perfection of Heart which I would press upon the Hearts and Consciences of All. 1. Let your Hearts shew themselves perfect by setting God alwaies before them Walk before me says God to Abraham and be perfect Gen. 17. 1. The perfect Heart is sensible that Gods eye looks into it and sees all that is in it therefore its eye is also upon God and as there is an holy awe of God upon it so 't is not satisfied without his approbation Upright David cryes out O Lord thou hast searched me and known me thou understandest my thoughts afar off Psal 139 1 2. Thoughts include all the affections workings and inclinations of the Heart all these were open and naked unto the Eye of Gad. And David looks to his Heart accordingly and he begs that the evil of his Heart might be more plainly discover'd to him that his Heart might be more throughly cleansed 2. Let your Hearts be perfect in being truely willing and very studious to please that God with whom you have to do The perfect Heart sees 't is highly reasonable that Mans Will in all things should be obedient unto Gods since the VVill of God is so righteous good and holy since He cannot be tempted with evil neither tempteth hâ— any man to any thing that is hurtful Jam. 1. 13. to please the Lord should be the Pleasure of your very Souls You should hate every abominable thing which he hates and what he delights in should always be chosen 3. Let your Hearts be perfect in refusing to have a liking respect and regard to any iniquity David manifested his uprightness and as a perfect man he was regarded and his Prayer heard because he did not regard iniquity in his Heart Psal 66. 18 19. Iniquity in the Heart is to be regarded so as to be humbled for it weary of it and bewail it and to endeavour by all means to mortifie and purge it away 't is not to be regarded so as to cover and excuse it so as secretly to delight in it and resolve to spare iâ— Especially let your Hearts set themselves with full bent against that which may be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sin that does most easily be set you Heb. 12. 1. from hence is the greatest guilt defilement danger the Sin that by reason of your Constitutions Callings Age and the bad Customs of the Places where you live have been most insinuating into your Affection and aptest to prevail should be abandon'd with a special and peculiar
Detestation and abhorrency I was upright before thee says David and I kept my self from mine iniquity Psal 18. 23. possibly he may mean revenge upon Saul which he had again and again opportunity to take which not only those that were with him but Corruption of Nature might prompt him to but the true Grace which was in him was peremptory against 4. Let your Hearts be perfect in being sound in Gods Statutes Let them all be approved for all are the Lords and all are worthy This argues a rectified Judgment indeed when every Precept is lookt on as right and that the keeping of it is not only a Duty but a kindness to him that keeps it I esteem all thy Commandments says the Psalmist concerning all things to be right and I hate every false way Psal 119. 128. Though there be an Election of some yet if there be a Reprobation of other Commandments the Heart is not sound It cannot have a right respect to any unless it have a general respect to all The Apostle tells us that parâ—iâ—â— obedience will not pass Jam. 2. 10. VVhosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all An allowed neglect oâ— one command argues that none are kept because they are Gods and that he may be pleased because he has been pleased to injoyn one as well as another 5. Let your Hearts be perfect in consenting to the Sanctification of all your Faculties and Powers Desire that your whole Souls should be renewed by the Grace of God and highly value every Grace of the Spirit Every Power iâ— you needs Renovation and every Grace of thâ— Holy Ghost excells in worth all things that arâ— Temporal Faith Love Fear Hope Meekness Patience Temperance Humility and the rest how much better are they than the best thingâ— of this present evil VVorld And when any new degrees are added to the Grace you have conclude that you are very highly favoured 6. Let your Hearts be perfect in havinâ— right designs and making God your end He 〈◊〉 his own end and with good reason for theâ— is nothing so good so high as He. Let hiâ— be your end in all you do Still let your Hâ—aâ— designing to extol him by more high aâ— suitable apprehensions by more enlarged 〈◊〉 raised affections by a more profound Submiâ—sion to him Design that others may be brougâ— to Honour him and desire his Name may be â—lowed all the Earth over and that his Kingdom may be advanced above all other Monarchies whatsoever Thus your hearts should be perfect 2. I exhort you to walk in a perfect way Walk not according to the course of this World after the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that works in the Children of disobedience Eph. 2. 2. Walk not as those Professors did of whom the Apostle speaks with Weeping Phil. 3. 18 19. Many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even Weeping that they are the Enemies of the Cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their belly whose glory is in their shame and who mind earthly things But do you take heed of imitating such patterns be sure to shun their pernicious paths Follow better examples walk in a perfect way Thus to walk implys three things 1. Walk humbly with God break not the first Table of the Law let not onely the Lord himself but his Worship his Ordinances his Name his Sabbaths be dear unto you Neglect not publick Ordinances in the Sanctuary private in the Family secret in the Closet Perform every Duty as before God Perform every Duty as to Him. 2. Make great Conscience also of doing your Duty towards Men. Be perfectly true and just in all your dealings with all To defraud to deceive to over-reach any way to be unjust to your Neighbour is to injure and engage the Justice of God against you â—e very merciful to those that are in distress and â—isery and if your Souls are drawn out towards â—hem indeed to compassionate their case purses and â—ands will be open for their relief Especially prâ—y those that are in Sin as well as Misery and are â—n the worse condition because neither Sin nor Miâ—ery are perceived I beseech you also be very exact in doing the Duties of your places and relations that you may glorifie the Perfect Word of God the perfect rule you walk by in being Parents Children Subjects Husbands Wives Masters Servants with a Nonâ—-such none that are without the Word being in any of these relations comparable to you 3. Do not injury but your duty towards your selves Employ not your Eyes your Tongues your Hands or any of your Members to your own hurt and defiling Do not by uncleanness sin against your own bodies 1 Cor. 6. 18. Do not by Surfeiting and Drunkenness load them with diseases and hasten them to the Grave Let not Covetousness and carking care make you to â—ise up early and sit up late and eat the Bread of sorrows nor cause you to be uncharitable to the needy and to grudg what is convenient to your selves Thus walk in a perfect way 3. In the third and last place I exhort you to stand perfect and compleat in all the Will of God Col. 4. 12. His Perfect Word should alwaies be heeded The good and honest Heart receives this Word understands it and how safe 't is to be guided by it eveâ— unto death and therefore brings forth fruit with patience Luke 8. 15. Why with patience Because patience is very requisite to overcome both the difficulty of duty and trouble and Persecution upon the account of duty Heb 10. 36. Ye have need of patience that after ye have doâ— the Will of God ye might receive the Promise Perseverâ— in the Perfect Word in the good the acceptable the perfect Will and Work of God unto thâ— end hereby manifest you are Disciples and Servants indeed And an happy Eternity will satisfie you that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. VSE IV. Of Consolation The Perfection of the Word of God serves for much comfort to the Church of Christ and all Converts the true Members of it The Grounds of Consolation are these 1. Wherever this Church is this perfect Word of God shall certainly be The Word may sometimes be Eclipsed in a Church but never quite extinguished Indeed when a Church is unchurched the Word goes When the Candlestick is removed the light in that place is put out But suppose a Church to remain there will be the Word by which 't was gather'd and which is a means also to govern and preserve it in spight of all opposite Policy and Power Spiritual hunger is a blessed thing it never ends in Starving but in Satisfaction Mat. 5. 6. The sincere Members of the true Church have this hunger therefore they shall more or less have the food of the Word to sustain and strengthen them The Great and Good Shepherd will some way
Thus of the Righteous I am to speak also concerning the Wicked and as to these you must understand 1. All the works of wicked men will be brought into Judgment All their sinful Deeds will follow them to the Bar of God! they will rise with them and against them at that Day when a Sinner shall appear and all his Drunkenness his Whoredoms his unjust and cheating Actions all his evil Deeds of every fort shall surround and appear with him before the Holy and Righteous Judge How will he be amazed at the sight of all his Transgressions How will he tremble to hear how loud they cry for Vengeance upon him Not á deed of Darkness but then will be brought to light to his greater confusion 2. Not only the Works of the Wicked but their very Words shall all be accounted for The Judge himself speaks this very plainly Mat. 12. 36. But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of Judgment By idle words may be meant words useless and unprofitable to the Speakers and to the Hearers or idle and vain according to the Hebrew use may signifie false deceitful lying God does hear all words at present Psal 139. 4. There is not a word in my Tongue but lo O Lord thou knowest it altogether And words which very much declare what most abounds in the Heart must be answered for at last And if unprofitable talk will then be condemned how sad will be the Case of all obscene and filthy Speakers of all egregious Lyars of all injurious Slanderers and Back-biters of all Blasphemers cursing cursed Swearers of all whose impious Tongues have made bold with the Blood and Wounds of God their Judge and instead of serious praying have most presumptuously called upon and dared God to Damn them 3. As the works and words so the Thoughts of wicked men shall be brought into Judgment Thoughts are Sins and need forgiveness and ought to be repented of Memorable is that which Simon Peter says to Simon Magus Act. 8. 22. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thy Heart may be forgiven thee If these are not repented of and pardon'd alas these also must be charged upon Sinners vastly to the increasing of their punishment How innumerable are the Thousands of thousands the Millions of Millions of vain and wicked thoughts desires and lustings that have lodged in the Hearts of the ungodly The heart searcher sees every one of them and will make them know at the last day that he remembers all Proud and Self-conceited Thoughts and touring imaginations impure and lascivious Thoughts and inward boyling of Concupiscence insatiable Covetousness and eager projects for filthy gain the stirrings of Envy Malice Anger and Revenge the Judge will take notice of all for he knows what is in Man Joh. 2. 25. It will be a large Bill of Inditement where Deeds Words and Thoughts are all written down from first to last and not so much as â—ne forgotten The opening of the Book of Gods remembrance where all are recorded will be very amazing 4. The Sentence that will be past upon the wicked will be unconceivably full of horrour Mat. 25. 41. Then shall he say to them on the Left-hand Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devâ— and his Angels For Him who is the way to come to God to say Depart to depart from Christ the Sinners only Hope and Saviour to depart with a Curse to depart into Fire the Extremity of Torment to depart into everlasting Fire to be tormented without any intermission or end to be for ever in such evil and hateful Company as Devils and damned Angels this is woful beyond all utterance And this Sentence as soon as pass'd will be put in Execution Now indeed such is the patience of God Sentence against an evil work is not speedily Executed and therefore such is their Malignity and Ingratitude the Heart of the Sons of men is fully set in them to do Evil Eccles 8. 11. But at the great day as soon as the wicked are Sentenced they will be sent and forced to go away into everlasting Punishment Mat. 25. ult the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 everlasting Punishment or Torment are remarkable for here it is necessarily imply'd that the wicked shall certainly be to Eternity that they may be Punished and Tormented to Eternity and they shall be sensible else it would not be Torment of the Punishment they undergo By eternal Destruction you are not to understand eternal Annihilation or being turned for ever into Nothing for if a wicked Man should altogether cease to be he must needs also cease to be punished For 't is no more a Punishment to be nothing to Eternity than it can be called a Punishment to have been nothing from Eternity Wicked men must be for ever and alas they must bear for ever the Lord's Vengeance and Indignation I speak thus terribly not without bowels of Compassion towards you I would fain fright you by telling you of Wrath and the Vengeance of eternal Fire that you may never never feel it In the Fourth place I am to demonstrate the certainty of this Judgment If Faith concerning it were but more strong what an Influence would it have upon the Hearts and Lives of them that do believe it The Arguments to prove a future Judgment are these 1. Are there not fears of this Judgment impress't even upon natural Conscience What 's the reason that when Men commit the most secret wickedness that is very unlikely to be known there is notwithstanding a dread upon their Spirits The true reason is Conscience tells them there is a God that sees what Man does not see and that he will judge and punish the wickedness of which Man takes no notice This Doctrine of a Judgment to come of future Rewards and Punishments is written in the Heart of Man by Nature and he is fain to offer great violence to his own Soul before he can wear off what is written there and tho a Sinner become ordinarily very Stupid and Atheistical yet the thoughts and fears of Judgment will sometimes in spight of him return upon him The Apostle speaks of Conscience bearing witness and Thoughts accusing and excusing and then presently speaks of the Day when God shall judge the Secrets of Men by Jesus Christ Rom. 2. 15 16. Conscience judges at present and hints a future judgment 2. There is not such a Discrimination made in this World between the Righteous and the Wicked as is suitable to the difference that Grace has made between them Therefore there is a Day coming when there will be such a Discrimination Solomon tells us that in the course of Divine Providence at present no Man can know either Love or Hatred by all that is before him All things fall alike to all there is one Event to the Righteous and
to the Wicked to the good to the clean and to the unclean to him that Sacrificeth and him that Sacrificeth not as is the good so is the sinner and he that Sweareth as he that feareth an Oath Eccles 9. 1 2. Nay often times the worst of men have in this present Life the best on 't We read Luke 16. of a wicked Rich Man receiving his good things cloathed in Purple and fine Linnen and faring Sumptuously every day A poor Man ready to starve for Hunger was laid at this Rich Man's Gate his Body was full of sores and yet this Mans Soul was sanctified with Grace a good Man he was though here he received evil things since thus it is now there is a day coming when 't will be otherwise Job having spoken of the Prosperity of the Wicked in this World strongly argues that in the next World there will be a dreadful after-reckoning Job 21. 30. The Wicked is reserved to the day of Destruction they shall be brought forth to the day of Wrath This is the day I am speaking of a day of the revelation of the righteous Judgment of God Rom. 2. 5. Who then will render to every man according to his works to them that by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life but to them that are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile v. 6 7 8 9. 3. Christ hath Promised his Church that he will come again to Judgment and hath raised her hopes and expectations of his coming Rev. 3. 11. Behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy Crown Heb. 10. 36. For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry He thus speaks to his Disciples Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me I am indeed about to leave you but I go to prepare a place for you and assure your selves I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also Joh. 14. 1 5. Christ is the Amen the true and faithful Witness he will certainly be the Judge The Church will assuredly see him at last upon the great White Throne and her self safe and triumphant at his right hand When he comes how will he be glorified in his Saints and how will he be admired by all Believers in that Day 2 Thes 1. 10. 4. There are several things that are hastening Christs coming to Judgment The World grows old in Wickedness and all the Sins of the World have tongues to cry for the appearing of a Judge to pay their deserved Wages the World grows riper and riper for Vengeance dryer and dryer for that Fire that is to burn it The Church of Christ is also hastning Christs Appearing with their incessant Cryes Come Lord Jesus Come quickly Rev. 22. 20. The Spirit and the Bride say Come not only unto Sinners to come to Christ but unto Christ himself to appear that he may put an end both to Sin and Suffering That 's the longing and language of the Spouse Cant. 8. 14. Make haste my Beloved and be like a Roe or a young Hart upon the mountains of spices And this is not the Voice only of the Church on Earth but they in Heaven wish for and intreat the same thing How long Lord holy and true is heard from the Souls under the Altar Rev. 6. 10. In the last Place I come to the Application I begin with Inferences from the Doctrine 1. If there will be a Day of Judgment hence I inferr that there is a present Providence Will the Lord judge all at last surely he observes all now The Lord Jesus would have all the Churches to know as well that he searches the Reins and Heart as that he will render to every man according to his Works Rev. 2. 23. Whether thy Eye be upon God or no his Eye is never off from thee 't is indeed in every place beholding the evil and the good What a foolish Creature hast thou reason to call thy self who considerest not in thy heart that God remembers all thy Wickedness Hos 7. 2. and Gods remembrance at last will rub up thine and what thou now forgettest will sadly be recalled to thy Mind 2. Shall all be Judged hence I inserr the Love of God to the Righteous and his hatred of Iniquity Not one righteous Man but shall be acquitted and received by the Judge not a righteous action or sincere intention but shall be rewarded It will be found at the last day that a Widdows Mite given with a Charitable spirit and according to the ability was a great deal in Gods Treasury and that a Cup of cold Water given to a Disciple in the Name of a Disciple was well taken and shall not go unrewarded Mat. 10. 42. And there has not been there is not a Wicked Man on Earth but his Sin that has been hunting and pursuing to overthrow him will then find him out Psal 11. 5 6. because the Lords Soul hates the workers of Iniquity therefore upon the wicked he will rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their Cup By fire and brimstone and tempest understand a suddain grievous surprizing and intolerable Punishment and by snares understand that they in Hell shall never be able to extricate themselves out of that Misery into which their Wickedness has brought them 3. If all shall be Judged hence I inserr the truth of the Doctrine of the Resurrection The whole Man has sinn'd the whole Man shall be judg'd and punished for sin Believers are sanctified both in Soul and Body therefore in Body and Soul they shall be gloryfied The Dead shall rise again all that are in the Graves shall hear the Voice of Christ and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of Life they that have done evil to the resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5. 28 29. The Grave is only a Prison for a time not a Body that is there that shall lye there always the same Body that was employed in the unfruitful works of darkness shall be raised by the Power of the righteous Judge to share in the demerited Punishment And the same Body of the Saints the Members of which were used as Instruments of Righteousness unto Holiness by Vertue of its Union with Christ shall rise again and be made like unto Christs glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3. 21. It is not another Body I grant that qualities are alter'd but the substance is the same therefore the Apostle does not stick to say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This corruptible shall put on incorruption this mortal shall put on immortality so
when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in Victory 1 Cor. 15. 53 54. 4. Will there be a Judgment 't is wonderful there should be so much security in them that hear of it 〈◊〉 Really the very mentioning of Christs Tribunal before which all must stand should make all Criminals to tremble If a Man were seized for a Crime that 's capital deserving Death by the Law of God and Man and being in Bolts and Fetters in Newgate he should be secure and unconcerned though the Sessious were at hand you would conclude him to be very stupid and inconsiderate What Sinner secure and shortly to be Judged O Drunkard Whoremonger Swearer Sabbath-breaker Covetous Worldling what secure and speedily to appear at the Judgment-seat of Christ who has said That they that do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God! Sin is folly security in Sin is the folly of that folly Take heed of Security 't is not I only but Christ himself also that gives you this necessary caution Luk. 21. 34 35 36. And take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares for as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth Watch ye therefore and Pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man. VSE II. By way of Counsel Two words of Counsel I would give this Congregation The one is more firmly to believe a Judgment and more frequently to think of it The other is Be sure in time to prepare for eternal Judgment 1. More firmly believe more frequently think of Judgment You have reason to believe it for the Judge is ordained and though neither Men nor Angels know the day yet the day is appointed Act. 17. 30 31. The time of this ignorance God winked at but now commands all men every where to repent because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all in that he hath raised him from the dead The stronger your assent is unto this the more serious and often will be your Consideration of it To think of Judgment is proper for a Saint that he may be encouraged to fight the good fight of Faith and persevere in well doing to the end To think of Judgment is proper for a Wicked Man to awaken him and to make him with fear and trembling to work out his Salvation It 's proper for an Hypocrite to think of Judgment because then all Masks and Vizours will be pull'd off all shews will be at an end and naked Truth will appear at that day The Graves will be open'd and do ye think the whited painted Sepulchers will remain shut Oh! then all the concealed Pride and Filthiness and Selfishness and Sensuality and Injustice and earthliness of Professors will with all their aggravations be brought to light before Men and Angels Oh how many demure and serious Countenances that have been a covering to naughty Hearts will then be filled with Confusion 'T is proper for the Old to think of Judgment they have one foot in the Grave already and quickly the whole body must drop into it and the Spirit must return to God who gave it You also that are Young should think of Judgment have the youngest of you any assurance of your Lives Infants Children Youths do not many of them dye and step into Eternity and as you see them leave the World so certainly they appear before God and one way or other have their Doom Solomon tells you that Childhood and Youth are Vanity Would you that are Young be serious the Meditation of Judgment would conduce much to it Eccles 11. 9. Rejoyce O young Man in thy Youth and let thy heart chear thee in the days of thy Youth and walk in the wayes of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes He says Rejoyce but speaks Ironically and means the quite contrary thou hast no reason at all to rejoyce whilst taken with things that are seen and whilst thou walkest in those evil ways which thy Heart naturally does like Then the Wise man speaks seriously But know thou that for all these things God will bring thee to Judgment If you ask me What are the Benefits that will accrue by a firm Belief and frequent Meditation of Judgment I thus Answer to this momentous Question 1. This will be a great Preservative against Temptation Look beyond the present advantage and delight that Sin boasts of and see as far as the Judgment-seat this is the way to silence the Tempter and to avoid his snare Would the Lyar dare to speak falsly if he considered that all Lyars shall be adjudged to the lake that burns with fire and brimstone which is the second death Rev. 21. 8. Would the Unclean Person dare to defile himself and run to the Harlots house if he did but believe and consider that Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Improve Christs Cross and think of Christs Tribunal and this will cool and kill Corruptions and take away the force of your Temptations 2. The Belief and Meditation of Judgment will cause you to use this World as not abusing it to make a good improvement of it You that have this World in great abundance and have the clearest and largest Estates do you think you are Proprietors of what you have Do you think 't is given or only lent you for a time You are only Stewards intrusted with that which is Gods and not yours and are accountable at the last day for all you have received What sad accounts will most give up of their Stewardship when they must be no longer Stewards Imprimis So much daily for Eating and Drinking to Self and not to the Glory of God. Item So much for brave Apparel that Pride might be maintained and gratified Item So much for making provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof Item So much for costly and vast Past-times a great deal of Wealth and much more precious Time being wasted together But unto good uses to maintain a Godly and laborious Ministry of the Gospel to the poor and needy given very little or nothing With what an Eye do you think that the Judge will look upon such accounts as these Think of Judgment that you may holily improve the unrighteous Mammon and Christ may say you have been Faithful Stewards even of worldly things 3. The Belief and Meditation of Judgment will make you exceeding diligent that you may be found of your Judge in peace without spot and blameless With what Seriousness and Fervency will he come
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