THE WAY STEP by STEP To sound and saving CONVERSION With a clear discovery of the two states VIZ Nature Grace AND How to know in which state one is and the way to come out of the one into the other OR The ready and right path-way for the first Adams posterity to get out of their fallen estate accompanied with sin and misery into the relation and Family of the last Adam which estate is attended with Grace and Glory c. With many weighty questions answered and cases of Conscience resolved for the clearing and confirming the truths asserted By ROBERT PURNELL John 3. 3. Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Matt. 18. 3. Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven Luke 13. 5. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish LONDON Printed by T. Childe and L. Parry for Edw. Thomas at the Adam and Eve in Little Britain 1659. An Epistle to the Impartial Reader THough it be not expedient to be alwaies laying the Foundation yet it is of absolute necessity that the Foundation be at first firmly laid that so the building notwithanding the Floods Winde and Storms may stand c. There are many waies to Damnation and there is but one way to Salvation that is streight and the Gate narrow so that although the Runners are many yet the Obtainers are but few for except a man be born again converted regenerated renewed and quickned he cannot be saved for we are by Nature Children of Wrath and such a one as this even just such a one and no other is a man yea every man by Nature such a one was I and you and each of all the Sons of Adam that have been or shall be and that universally without any exception or reservation we are all gone out of the ways we are all become unprofitable there is none that doth good no not one yet there is a way if we could light on it how to possess what we want and to live long in a little time and to have one foot as it were in Heaven whilst the other is upon the earth to point out that way was my endeavour in this Treatise Reader this small peece is the birth of many Prayers and a Description of many choyce Experiences and the sum and substance of many solid and sweet converses and the judgement of many precious Christians wherefore I would entreat the Reader to weigh things in the Ballance of Righteousness and then I am almost confident that there will be few or none that have the work of Grace upon their hearts unlesse they be under some violent fit of Temptation or re-insnared and intangled in a state of Backsliding but in the main will cordially own the ensuing Treatise wherefore let the Reader rather amend what I have done amisse than to carp catch and bark at what he may suppose to be unsound let him rather put pen to paper and correct the faults and supply the defects if he find any that so this Book may be of great worth though but of small price I am sure this subject is the most seasonablest and the most needfullest that can be offered or presented Conversion being a most blessed work and the day of Conversion the most blessed day that dawns on this side Heaven it self It is true nothing is more common than for men to write of this subject on the by and by parts and pieces but purposely on this subject and alone I know none nor as yet could ever hear of any besides Mr. Whatleis New Birth Mr. Baxters Treatise of Conversion so that a man may almost say there is nothing more rare than to find Books that are wrote purposely alone on this subject those few that are are either so voluminous on the one hand or scolastick on the other that the Reader for want of Learning and a better Memory gains not altogether that benefit thereby as otherwise he might To draw towards a close Let me acquaint the Reader that the best and chiefest Authors that I have consulted withall in the asserting and compiling the ensuing Discourse are the Prophets and Apostles mentioned in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament next unto them not as infallible but as fallible men knowing but in part I have perused the writings of Mr. John Wollebius Mr. Sam Boulton Mr. Christopher Love Mr. William Jenkin Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs Mr. John Norton Mr. Francis Roberts Mr. Thomas Brooks and many others but chiefly and principally I have perused and made use of Mr. Whatleis New Birth and Mr. Baxters Treatise of Conversion finding my Spirit witnessing the same before I ever saw their Books for a great part I have sometimes named them and sometimes omitted it and so do here recite it in general I have not step by step followed the method of neither but here and there where I found things fully proved by Scripture and my own Conscience bearing me Witnesse thereto those and such like things I have taken as helps in the compiling the ensuing piece and no otherwise c. Reader I doubt not through the Grace of God and his blessing upon thee in the reading this Book but Faith may be wrought in thee if thou hast it not or strengthened if thou hast it and if so I have my end and thou wilt have the benefit Let a mans sin be never so great if he believe he shall be pardoned if his Sin be never so small if he believe not he shall be damned the very sin against the Holy-Ghost est is not unpardonable for want of Grace in our Saviour but for want of Faith and Repentance in the sinner the cause of condemnation according to the Law is all sin but the cause of condemnation under the Gospel is Vnbelief and as Vnbelief contains in it all manner of Disobedience so Believing containeth all Obedience therefore this one Act of Faith is more acceptable unto God than all our Sins are unacceptable Here thou art presented with the means for the obtaining this grace of Faith and all other graces of the Spirit and for the growing in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whose protection I leave thee and subscribe my self thy Servant for his sake ROBERT PURNELL A Table of the principal Heads in General and the conexion of these things together and dependency of the one upon the other OF the Creation of Man page 1 Of the pleasurable and delightfull condition he was placed in 1 2 The manner of his fall and the subtilty of Sathan therein 4 The sad and miserable estate he fell into 5 Man can never be saved unlesse born again 8 There be four Gates shut against him 8 9 There be 18 sorts of persons that shall not enter into Heaven 11 12 There be four reasons why the Lord will not save them 14 Man is
no farther than to speak to her self she saith to her self if I may but touch his garment I shall bâ—â—whole then Christ spake to her though she would not speak to him to overcome her bashfullness he called her daughter and to overcome her unbelief he bid her be of good comfort he had healed her From how little a spark how greata fire from how little a beginning how great a proceeding she desired but the hemm of his garment and had himself See John 3. 2. Nicodemus he came to Jesus by night who was so weak as being either afraid or ashamed to own Christ in the day he cometh to him by night One would have thought that Christ would have said to him Nicodemus is thy desire after me so saint as that thou fearest to come to me in the day time Or am l so unworthy as not to be owned but out of fight Hast thou either so low an esteem of me or bearest thou so little love to me Goe return as thou camest I will not accept of thee in the dark who wouldest not acknowledg me in the light No no Christ hath not one syllable of this he knew that Nicodemus was but a beginner and therefore entertaines him and insâ—ructs him in the new birth John 3. 5. Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God c. Consider there is none effect of election before illumination and effectual vocation the elâ—â—t themselves are said before to be children of wrath as well as others Ephes. 2. 3. Some affirme that in this act of Vocation the seeds or root of faith is wrought in the heart which may be true onely under correction I doe verily think it is not exercised but in part the Soul doth exercise but little more than to give credit to what is written which some call the faith of credence giving credit to what is written which others call the Faith of assent this undoubtedly is wrought in the heart either in the work of Illumination or in estectual Vocation now effectual Vocation or special effectual Calling is attended or accompanied with Viz. 1. The Faith of assent 2. Repentance 3. Conversion 4. Regeneration Now most of these words are used in Scripture to expresse the same work upon the soul as Mr Baxster affirmes or rather as the Scripture teacheth us c. 1. That special effectual Calling is attended or accompanied with the Faith of assent or credence See Mat. 8. 2. The Leper did assent to the power of Christ that he was able to clense him saying Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean surely Vocation is accompanied with a bare naked assent to every truth revealed by God 2. It is accompanied with Repentance which conteineth two things The first is a hearty sorrow that ever he sinned The second is a turning from that sinne to God or there is a turning from a state of sinne and misery unto God our only remedy this Repentance is wrought by the Ministry both of Law and Gospel the thunders of the Law terrifie and the dews of the Gospel mollifie there is nothing breaks the heart more than mercy nothing melts a man more than the mercies of God which he hath abused the consideration of this opens all the springs in thee the soul is not able to stand stubborn under it 2 Cor. 7. 9 10 11. 3. This special effectual Calling is accompanyed with Conversion which is a work of the Spirit of Christ in a sensible lost undone sinner by the Doctrine of Christ by which he effectually changeth the minde heart and life from the creature to God in Christ the parts of this Conversion are these three First it is a change of the minde Secondly of the heart Thirdly of the life c. In the moment of Conversion God works that blessed work which shall never be undone In a word that is wrought in an instant which shall remain for ever 4. This effectual Calling is accompanied with Regeneration which doth make so great a change that a man is as it were an other man so that this word Regeneration is more comprehensive than Conversion Repentance or Vocation 2 Cor. 5. 17. He that is in Christ is a new creature old things are past away behold all things are become new Mark every man that is in Christ that is thus converted every true Christian then is a new creature not in substance but in quality all things are become new a true converted man he hath new love new desires new sorrow new delight new resolution and a new conversion Vocation Conversion and Regeneration is wrought in an instant God in saying live makes the soul to live as it is in the first so it shall be in the second Resurrection in a moment in the twinkling of an eye whiles God speaks the word the dead shall rise 1 Cor. 15. 52 c. 3. The next step to get out of a state of death into a state of life is to trust or believe in the Lord. I know there be many that doth make this the first step to salvation which I hear them say but not prove sure I am no man can have grace without knowledge for who can hate sinne till he knoweth it and the evil of it and who can love God or believe in him till he know him to be merciful able and faithfull who can do the duty that he understandeth not or go the way to heaven that he is ignorant of so that illumination must needs be the first step but withall it is granted that the Spirit of God either in Illumination or Vocation doth cause the first act of faith in the heart and by that act a habit is effected and therewith the seed of all graces For the habit of faith saith Master Norton seemeth not to be infused alone before the other habits of saving grace The universal frame of saving grace is infused into the soul at once as one general habit so that the infusion of life into the heart or soul hath its being all at once and is uncapable of division into parts and so the habit of faith seemeth not to be infused alone before or after the other saving graces so that I am not speaking of what comes into the soul first but what the soul doth put forth and act first in order to its coming out of a state of nature into a state of grace Two things are here of an absolute necessity to our salvation the one is to believe unfainedly that Christ is the Redeemer of the world and that there is no other way of salvation but by him Acts 4. 12. Iohn 14. 6. Iohn 10. 1 7 8 9. The second is to accept of him as he is offered to us in the Gospel and so faith instates a soul in the possession of heaven whilst the body remains on the earth Now in this third step of trusting in God or believing in him the soul
O how may this encourage us to stir up our selves and take hâ—ld of God! See Isa 64. 7. Isa 27. 5. Let him take hold of my strength and he shall make peace within me As there is no promise to us till we believe so if once we believe all the promises are ours he hath promised to be a tower a rock a refuge a covert from a storm and hidden place in time of danger he hath promised to hear us when we pray to answer us when we call to open to us when we knock Psal 50. 15. Mat. 7. 7. Ground this in the bottom of your hearts that without faith in Christ and obedience to Christ there is no promise of life and salvation by Christ no coming to the Father but by him no coming to Christ but by faith no getting of faith but by waiting upon him in the use of means c. And so to close up the fourth head let the Reader consider that this looking unto him coming unto him receiving of him and believeing in him is spiritually to be understood and spirituâ—lly to be performed 4. Step for the carring on and compleating this work there is dropped into him or her the Spirit of grace by which he is at length imboldened to go unto God with confessions and petitions he puts on the resolution of the King of Ninive Jonah 3. and saith within himself I will cry mightily unto the Lord who can tell but that he may have mercy upon me He principally prayeâ— for these and the like things 1. He prayes for more light that he may see his sinnes and the vildness of them more fully that he may arraign accuse and judge himself for them 2. He prayes for pardoning mercy Pardon my sin saith David for it is wondrous great 3. He prayes for purging mercy 1. He prayes for an increase of light that he may see his sinnes more fully and clearly that he may abhor arraign accuse and judge himself for them That which I see not teach thou me saith the Prophet Again Job 13. 23 How many are mine iniquities and my sins make me to know my transgression and my sin Job 40. 4. Behold I am vile what shall I answer thee once have I spoken yea twice but I will proceed no farther 2. He prayes for pardoning mercy Rom. 8. 15. We have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father As a little child at first saith Dad and Mam so doth a Christian the evidence that the Lord gave Ananias of Saul's conversion was this Acts 9. 11. Behold he prayes He that hath not this breath of Prayer is either a dead man or in a dangerous swoun Psal 25. 7. Remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions but according to thy mercy remember me for thy goodness sake 3. He prayes for purging mercy Psal 19. 12. Who can understand his errors cleanse thou me from secret faults Psal 79. 9. Purge away our sins for thy name sake the soul is not satisfied with pardoning mercy unless he may have purging mercy also so that pardoning mercy is so great a belly-mercy that it hath many mercies in the bowels of it 2 Cor. 5. 19. it brings reconciliation with God and admission into his favour and adoption of children whereby the soul hath access to God as a Father with child-like boldness and acceptation of our services and sanctification of every condition to us and supportations under tryals and crosses and last of all peace joy comfort which are not so much fruits of pardon as fruits of purging and keeping down of sin that it reign not in our mortal bodies He freed me from the guilt of fin and shall I love the filth of fin He made me a member of Christ and shall I be a filthy member of so holy a body He hath made me a branch and shall I be a polluted branch of so holy a stock the Lord forbid Let the Reader consider that although we have brought Prayer under the fourth Step or head yet this is to be understood that the habit or root of this grace or gift was infused or conveyed into the heart and soul in the first step to wit illumination but it lay there as fire under ashes or sap in the root of the tree it was still and dumb it did not open the mouth nor inlarge the heart until Vocation and Believing had made way If wee did consider what order and method the Lord doth take to unveil his love to man and what order and method man should take to apprehend and apply this love it will make much for our satisfaction Viz. Gods order is he goes downward from the Cause to the Effect and we must goe upward from the Effect to the Cause he goes from Election downward we must go from Illumination Vocation Regeneration and Believing upward and thus God and we at last shall meet in the middle way we must prove our selves to be called and he will acknowledg us to be elected Let us consider that golden chain Rom. 8. 29 30. For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified c. Here is a golden chain indeed no link thereof can be unlinked because the fastning thereof is from and by the Lord First whom he fore-knew for his own as the word is taken John 10. 14. 27. those whom he marked out as it were out of all other men in the world and set his affection upon 2ly he also did predestinate that is ordained to be conformable to Christ their head in part both in grace and glory 3ly Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called to the obedience of faith by the outward preaching of the word and the inward and effectual operation of the spirit and whom he called them he also justified that is God merely of his own grace and free will forgiveth our sinnes and pronounceth us just justice and mercy doth both meet in this justification justice in that he will not justifie a sinner without a perfect righteousness and mercy in that he will accept of such a righteousness that is neither in us nor done by us but by our surety for us all eminent acts as justification regeneration sanctification are but one act in God as we have proved before but because of our darkness and unteachableness the Lord doth speak to us after the manner of men and so doth make out things gradually to us leading us from step to step from things more plain to things more and more hard as we are able to hear and understand and practice them 5. The fifth and last step that I shall name for the carrying on and compleating this work is the Lord doth cause the soul secretly to give it self up in an everlasting Covenant and so to surrender all the interest that it had in
Answ The best way to mortifie our flesh with the Affections and Lusts is to meditate on the mercies of God which is one of the most powerfull Arguments to perswade and prevail with a Soul to leave sin Psal 26. 3 4. For thy loving kindnesse is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth 1 John 3. 3. he that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure I have read of five men that were studying what was the best way to mortifie sin The first said to meditate of death the second said to meditate of judgement to come the third said to meditate on the joys of Heaven the fourth said to meditate on the torments of Hell which is the wages of sin the fifth said to meditate on the blood and sufferings of Iesus Christ And certainly the last is the strongest motive of all to mortifie sin surely it is the appearance of Gods grace to us which works a hope of glory in us and this hope of glory doth purifie 1 Ioh. 3. 3. both in kind and degree 2 Cor. 7. 1. Let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit Rom. 8. 13. And so by the Spirit we come to mortifie the deeds of the flesh he that hath the strongest Faith hath the holyest life Sanctification ariseth from Justification let us then make war against our Lusts in the strength of Christ still seeking unto him for assisting grace for as we have said before in this Treatise strength to perform any duty to exercise any grace to subdue any Lust to resist any temptation to bear any affliction is derived only from Christ Quest What is or who is the object of Faith A. God the Father Son holy Ghost is the object of saving Faith no man was ever saved without this for no man ever called upon God but by the help of the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. 3. As no man can say that Jesus is the Christ so neither can any man say that God is God but by the holy Ghost neither did God ever hear any man that prayed unto him for salvation but for his Sons sake we are in order not in time to believe first in Christ by Christ in God 1 pet 1. 21. Who by him do believe in God We are commanded to believe in Christ 1 Joh 3. 23. and this is his commandement that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ for Christ as Redeemer is the mediate not the ultimate object of Faith for we believe by Christ in God as before As Christ is the object of divine worship Asts 7. 59. And of saving hope Collo 1. 27. And of our greatest love 1 Cor. 16. 22. And of our absolute service Rom. 14. 9. 18. So he is the object of our divine Faith together with the Father and the Holy Ghost so John 14. 1. compared with Acts 20 21. as God in Trinity is the object of Faith so the Scripture seems to be the ground of Faith First the Lord presents us with a command to believe 1 Ioh. 3. 23. and a promise of Salvation to them that believe Mar. 16. 16. and it is the duty of all that do hear the Gospel to believe Mar. 1. 15. Iohn 3. 18. Iohn 15. 22. 16. 7. In the begetting or breeding of Faith in the heart is manifested both the inability of Man and the ability of God here appears the evil of the Spirit of corrupt nature and the good of the Spirit of Grace Sarah her conceiving of Isaac whose birth was a figure of Regeneration was a great work a miracle so Mary her conception of Christ by the power command and blessing of the holy Ghost was also a great work a miracle but for Christ to be formed in the Soul by believing is as great if not a greater work see Ephes 1. 19 20. Quest What incouragement and grounds are there to provoke or perswade us to believe Answ There are many I will instance only in a few which may be reduced to these two heads viz. 1. The benefits in doing it 2. The hurt or danger in neglecting it 1. The benefits that doe attend those that doe believe and they are these 1. By believing we honour God our Creator Christ our Redeemer and the holy Ghost our Sanctifier Iohn 3. 33 compared with Rom. 3. 34. 2. By believing we come to be established Isay 7. 9. 3. By believing we shall be kept in perfect peace Isay 26. 34. compared with Rom. 5. 1. 4. Whosoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed Rom 9. 33. 5. Our naked believing in God and cleaving to him in his free promises will carry down all our distempers at once and fill our Souls with joy and peace in believing 6. This is the way to have God take pleasure in us Psalm 147. 11. the Lord taketh pleasure in those that hope in his mercy Psalm 33. 18. the eyes of the Lord is upon them that fear him upon them that hope in his mercy 7. Our believing doth instate the Soul in the possession of Heaven whiles the body remains on â—arth Iohn 3. 36. 8. For our incouragement to believe consider Christ outbids all Merchants for thy Soul he out-bids the World Sin and Sathan they do not present pardon remission redemption salvation but Christ doth present these and many more such like choyse things 2. Let us consider the evil of Unbelief and the misery that doth attend it it is a dishonouring of God a denying of Christ it as much as in it lyeth makes void the great Counsel of God and purposes of his mercy viz. 1. We do what lyes in us make void Gods end in sending Christ his end was that we might believe and live for ever in blessednesse 2. We as much as in us lyes make void the death of Christ all his sufferings and bloodshed to be to no purpose 3. We make void what lyes in us the great counsel of God and all the thoughts of his wisedom in contriving such a way to advance his glory in the salvation of man 4. By continuing in a state of Unbelief we rob Christ of the reward and fruit of all his sufferings and death 5. We wrong God by our Unbelief we obscure his glory we limit his power we contemn his wisedom we give a lye to his truth we abuse his love we slight and reject all the Precious thoughts of his mercy and grace we proclaim the Devil a Conquerour and lift him up above Christ himself Iuâ—as did sin more by Unbelief and despairing than by his betraying of Christ as might be gathered from Scripture 6. We hasten damnation to our selves Iohn 3. 18 36 Were we in Adams created innocency then we need not to look after a Saviour but we are all fallen but we are broken but we are sold under sin but we are transgressors from the wombe but we are by nature the children of disobedience and wrath What shall I say more
we behold the downfall of all natural preparations and meritorious dispositions Quere 2. How Vocation conversion repentance regeneration agree or differ For answer to this let me give the Reader Master Baxsters judgement to which I fully assent and consent All these particular expressions saith he are used in Scripture to expresse one and the same work upon the soul onely they have some small difference Viz. The word Vocation is taken for Gods act of Calling and is two-fold First Common when men are brought to an outward profession Secondly Specially when people are savingly converted to Christ this last calling is the same with conversion only this difference Calling hath usually in Scripture a principal respect to the first act on the soul even the act of faith it self or at least the habit of faith is effected in the heart and therewith the seed of all graces in the soul this is that Vocation or special effectual Calling next Consider that Repentance is the same thing as special effectual Calling only this difference the word Vocation doth principally expresse the state to which we are called but the word Repentance doth principally respect our our turning to God from whom we fell and the word Vocation doth as much or more respect our coming to Christ the true and only way to the Father the word Regeneration is more comprehensive than Conversion Repentance and Vocation because there is so great a change that a man is as it were another man 2 Cor. 5. 11. He that is in Christ is a new creature And yet the word Regeneration fignifieth the same thing as Conversion Repentance and Vocation only observing a small difference as before mentioned Quere 3. The way step by step which the Lord in his ordinary dispensation in these Gospel-dayes doth lead a soul as it were by the band out of a state of nature into a state of grace 1. The first step to Conversion is Illumination 2. The second step to accomplish or at least to carry on this work is effectual Vocation which hath many branches 3. The third step to get out of a state of nature into a state of grace out of a state of death into a state of life is to trust or believe in the Lord which hath many branches 4. The fourth step for the compleating and carrying on this work there is usually dropped into the soul and heart the spirit of grace and supplication by which the party goes unto God with confessions and petitions 5. The fifth step to effect and compleat this great work the Lord doth cause the soul secretly to give it selfe up and surrender all the interest that it had in it self to God that made it and Christ that bought it 1. The first step to Conversion is illumination as doth fully appear by these Scriptures Acts. 26. 18. I send thee saith Christ to Paul to open their eyes and to turn them from darknes to light and from the power of Sathan unto God So Psal 119. 130. The entrance of thy word giveth light it giveth understanding unto the simple lob 33. 30. to bring back his soul from the pit to be enlightned with the light of the living Men are not born with this saving light in their hearts as they are born with tongues in their mouthes for the best knowing men under heaven untill born again and converted are in darkness Ephes 5. 8. For ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the Lord being born again 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 2 Cor. 4. 6. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ This illumination is acompanied with 1 A renewing of the mind Rom. 12. 2. Eph. 4. 23. 2 A conviction of sin and guilt he doth acknowledge himself a lawfull captive 3 There are the seeds or roots of all saving grace infused into the soul at once if the soul be enlightned with a special saving light but the soul doth not presently sensibly exercise thē all the first part of saving grace is illumination the opening of the eyes causeth the opening of the heart 2. The second step to accomplish or at least to carry on this work of conversion is Vocation this effectual vocation is the first or second act of Election saith Master Norton Calling is the first act of Divine mercy in recovering miserable man Doctor Twiss saith effectuall calling is the first mercy c. But let the Reader consider that if these four words Vocation Conversion Repentance Regeneration agree in one and are used in Scripture to expresse the same work upon the soul having but a small difference as hath been proved before then now in speaking to this word Vocation let the Reader take notice that though Conversion Repentance Regeneration be not exprest yet they all are included and contained and if so then Vocation seems to be a second work upon the soul rather than the first Jer. 31. 19. Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth the way that the Lord doth take for the recovering of a backslider and the conversion of a sinner doth in many thing if not in all go hand in hand together he calls upon the one and so he doth upon the other he enlightens the one to see from whence he is fallen and so he doth the other he gives repentance to the one and so he doth to the other c. There are principally these three things to be considered in this Vocation 1. The principal cause of Vocation is Gods free mercy 2 Tim. 1. 9. Titus 3. 3 4 5. 2. The instrumental cause is the preaching of the Gospel 2 Thes 2. 14. 3. The end of Vocation is Gods glory and the salvation of his elected ones Ephes 2. 1. And you hath he quickened when you were dead in sinnes and trespasses Col. 2. 13. And you that were dead in your sinnes hath he quickned Eph. 1. 12. that we should be to the praise of his glory There be certain steps at first in a souls coming to Christ or preparatory accesses like that we read Psalm 6. 2 4. Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed Return O Lord deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake Matt. 9. 20. Bebold a woman diseased though she came not presently to look God fully in the face though she dare not come to touch Christ and lay hold on him yet she was sensible of her own misery and want of mercy she knew there was vertue to come from him and she came as near that as she durst she had a desire to speak but she went
it self to God that made it and Christ that bought it and so his soul is carried forth to a secret resting relying leaning staying and hanging upon the mercy of God in Christ alone for life and happinesse Now he looks after and endeavours to be found in walking in the way of sanctification he reads and finds 1 Pet. 1. 2. that if he be elected to life it is through Sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and 2 Thes 2. 13. God hath chosen a people from the beginning to salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth He labours for holiness as well as happiness he reads and findeth that the word of God hath a purifying faculty in it John 15. 3. Ye are clean through the word that I have spoken to you Ps 119. 9. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way but by taking heed thereto according to thy word Ps 119. 11. Thy word-have I bid in mine heart that I might not sinne against thee Of Grace-begetting and Soul-converting means for all heedfully to attend upon that hope to enter into Heaven THere are springs of Grace or pipes of conveyance which if cut off or neglected we may live in sinne and die in sinne and at last go to hell but if we heedfully and frequently make use of them we may live in the fear of the Lord and die in his favour and enter into heaven these means are for the increasing holiness as well as for the attaining it and therefore we are not to satisfie our selves with making use of them now and then but frequently and willingly for the same meanes that doth work the work of Illumination doth also work the work of Conversion Vocation Regeneration Faith and Repentance c. And not only work and beget these in us but increase it and cause it to flourish and grow up from one degree of grace to another untill we come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ the means follow 1. Keep close to Grace-begetting and Soul-converting Ordinances 2. Dwell much upon the meditation of Grace-begetting Promises 3. Frequent the company of Grace-begetting and Soul-converting companions 4. Be frequent in the cherishing of Grace-begetting Considerations 5. Gather and treasure up Grace-begetting and Soul-converting Experiences 1. Keep close to Grace-begetting and Soul-converting Ordinances and they are these three 1. The hearing of the word preached 2. Reading of the Scriptures 3. Frequent and earnest Prayer First of the First 1. Hearing of the Word preached Acts 2. 37 41. it was by hearing Peter preach that the Jews were pricked at the heart and converted and three thousand added to the Church at once So Acts 26. 17 18. God sent Paul to preach for the opening of mens eyes and turning them from darkness to light by teaching sinners the way of God David assured himself they shall be converted to him Psal 51. 13. the word of god is the seed of life which is sown and takes root in thâ— hearts of them that God will save 1 Pet. 1. 23 25. It is the word of God which is the incorruptible seed by which we are born again it was those that had ears and heard not that were not converted and born again Mark 4. 12. c. as we should hear the word preached in order to conversion so for the begetting of faith in our hearts Luke 10. 17. Faith cometh by hearing Ephes 1. 13. in whom also ye trusted after ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of our salvation Isai 55. 3. hear and your soules shall live Now in the use of this blessed meanes observe these four rules and thou shalt never miscarry but get something by every Sermon thou hearest 1. Try the doctrines preached by the Scritures Act. 17. 11. they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so 2. Receive what thou findest agreeable to the word as from the Lord 1 Thess 2. 13. for this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of man but as it is in truth the word of God 3. Keep in memory as much of it as may be James 1. 25. Being not a forgetful hearer but a doer Heb. 2. 1 2. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest beed to the things which we have heard leâ—t at any time we should let them slip vers 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation 4. Indeavour to practise it thy self and communicate it to others Mat. 7. 26. Every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not is like unto a foolish man that built his house upon the sand James 1. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed therefore be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only deceiving your own souls 2. The next Faith-begetting and Soul-converting Ordinance is reading the Scriptures many a soul hath had happy experience of the benefit of reading the Word Psal 19. 7. for the Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul Acts 8. 28. The Eunuch was reading in Isaiah and in the 37th verse we read he was converted and baptised 1 Tim. 4. 13. Till I come give attendance to reading Rev. 1. 3. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophesie Acts 17. 11 12. They searched the Seriptures daily whether those things were so and many of them believed 3. The next Grace-begetting and Soul-converting Ordinance is frequent and â—arnest prayer prayer is a fruit of faith and yet prayer is a means for the begetting of faith as the Spirit is the fruit of prayer so prayer is the fruit of the Spirit Luke 11. 13. Compared with Rom. 8. 15. In the former place the Spirit is said to be the fruit of prayer in the latter place prayer is said to be the fruit of the Spirit whereby we cry Abba Father c. Isa 55. 6 7. Seek the Lord whilst he may be found call upon him while he is neer let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts c. James 1. 5. If any of you lack wisdome let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and â—pbraideth not and it shall be given him Joh. 4. 10. Jesus said unto her if thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee give me to drink thou wouldst have asked of him and he would have given thee living water 2. Dwell much upon Grace-breeding and soul converting promises there are promises of direction and supportation and promises of protection and promises of justification and sanctification and promises of
God over all blessed for â—ver equal with the Father in being majestie and glorie him in whom his Father See Mr. R. F. in his mystery of godliness pag. 7. delighted from all eternitie his own and his onelie begotten Son promised before to Adam Gen. 3. 15. preached to Abraham Gen. 12. 3. typified in the legal Sacrifices Gal. 3. 18. and prophesied of by Moses and all the Prophets Gen. 18. 18. and Gen. 26. 4. and pointed at by John the Lord sends his Son in the liknesse of sinfull slesh to condemn sin in the flesh him we are to hear and to wait upon in a broken-hearted and diligent use of meanes untill we be made partakers of his free saving grace c. And although in this great work I shall I fear rather lisp than speak plain yet I trust I shall not darken counsel by words without knowledge It is true sometimes a child of light doth walk in darknesse as to the footsteps of the Lord Psal 77. 19. Thy way is in the Sea and thy path in the great waters and thy footsteps are not known compare this with John 3. 8. The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof but canst nâ—t tell whence it cometh and whether it goeth so is every one that is born of the Spirit saith our Lord Christ c. From these and other Scriptures it doth appear that God doth not work in the same measure and method upon all in the work of conversion some are sanctified from the womb Jer. 1. 5. as Jeremiah was sanctified before he came out of his mothers womb and John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mothers womb Luk. 1. 15. Some are converted by a small still voice See 1 King 19. 11. 12. some must have a great and strong wind renting the mountaines of sinne in their hearts others must have an Earth-quake to awaken them some must be brought through the fire to burn up their drosse some menâ— flesh is harder to heal then others so some mens hearts a needle may do that to one which a launce will not do to another a frown to one which a blow will not do to another some men are of greater parts of greater places who are not so easily humbled some men are of crabbed and untowards spirits and knotty blocks had need of hard wedges some men have longer scores and greater rekonings have been greater sinners than others and though not alwayes yet ordinarily God doth proportion the sorrow to the sinne Again upon some the Lord doth intend to bestow a greater measure of grace than upon others and so he layeth a proportionable foundation some he intends to use as one of a thousand To comfort others therefore he doth exercise them with difficulties of higher nature that they may experimentally comfort others 2 Cor. 1. 4. and some he intends for great service great imployment either in Church or State and therefore he doth humble them the more at the bringing in as we may seâ— and read in the conversion of Paul Luther Augustin It is true all Gods people are souldiers but all his people are not Champions all are brought home or shall be but all are not brought home equally alike in every thing and though the conversion of a sinner be a great work yet when the Lord sets about it it is soon done Though conversion be a great work yet it is soon done Vocation regeneration and conversion is many times wrought in an instant God in saying Awake thou that sleepest arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee life makes the soul to awake arise and live in a moment in the twinkling of an eye Isa 45. 22. Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else Christ tells us in few words and the Apostle in as few John 3. 14. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wildernesse so must the Sonne of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should be saved Rom. 10. 9. If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved c. But to proceed consider these three things 1. What preparations conditions or qualifications should a man or woman find in themselves before they lay hold on Christ and the promises 2. How Conversion regeneration repentance and vocation agree or differ 3. The way step by step which the Lord in his ordinary dispensation in these Gospel dayes doth lead a soul as it were by the hand out of a state of nature into a state of grace c 1. What preparations conditions or qualifications should a manor woman find in themselves before they lay hold on Christ and apply the promises For answer hereunto take these considerations Viz. I know no qualifications preparations that are so required as that without it we should not come but there be some without which we will not come we must buy milk and wine although it be without money and without price Isa 55. 1 2. By preparatory work we understand certain inherent qualifications according to the ordinary dispensation of God and so the soul is made sensible of sinne death and curse due to it before it passe through the new birth he must be convinced that the Law is holy just and good the precept holy the promise good the curse just a man must acknowledge himself a lawfull captive before the Lord will set him free all the preparations required in Gods ordinary way of dispensation before conversion may be reduced to these four heads 1. Revelation of Jesus Christ dying for the sinnes of the people according to the Gospel of free grace and so tenders pardon of sinne to all sinners that are sensible of sinne sinners that are broken hearted Isa 61. 1. broken and bruised Luk. 4. 18. that are weary and heavy laden Mat. 11. 28. poor sick sinners Mar. 2. 17. sensible of their misery and necessity of a remedy without which they perish eternally 2. After this sense of misery and want of mercy there will be an inquiring after a remedy Sirs what shall I do to be saved Rom. 16. 30. So Paul Lord what wilâ— thou have me to do Rom. 9. 6. 3. There will be a waiting upon God in the use of means for the obtaining of mercy But let the Reader consider that whatsoever preparations and qualifications there is required in any before conversion they are wrought in us by the singer of God who worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. So then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Rom. 9. 16. how was Paul disposed and affected when Christ calls him Acts 9. had not Pauls calling depended upon Gods choice at that time he had never been called here may
himself out c. Of the preparations or qualifications that we are to find in our selves before we lay hold on Christ and the promise Conversion and Regeneration Vocation and Repentance are but four words to hold forth as it were one and the self same thing Of the way step by step how the Lord in his ordinary dispensation in these Gospel-dayes doth lead a soul as it were by the hand out of a state of nature into a state of grace First by enlightning the soul Secondly by calling him effectually Thirdly by enabling him to believe Fourthly by giving him the spirit of prayer by which he prayes for more light to see his sins and then for pardoning mercy and for purging mercy Fifthly the Lord doth cause the soul secretly to give it self up to God and so he comes to surrender all its own supposed interest that he had in himself unto God that made it and unto Christ that hath dearly purchased it then there follweth the meanâ— to be used to breed and beget grace and to convert the soul First to keep close to grace-begetting Ordinances viz. hearing the Word preached reading the Scriptures and frequent and earnest prayer Secondly to dwell much upon grace-begetting promises Thirdly to frequent the company of grace-begetting and soul-converting companions Fourthly to call to mind and meditate upon grace-begetting considerations Fisthly to gather and to treasure up grace-begetting and soul-converting experiences and so to be diligent in the use of many other means for the confirming sealing and assuring the soul of salvation these and many other subordinate branches thou hast here presented in a little room and a few words c. Now to proceed a little farther in this great work and so to draw towards a close let the Reader consider these things following viz. 1. If we remain in an unconverted estate let us blame our selves only for the want of conversion is not in God for he makes use of all means and wayes to convert us 2. We shall present the Reader with some of the principal hinderances of Conversion 3. Consider the sad and miserable condition of the unconverted 4. The trials of conversion by which a man may know whether he be converted yea or no 5. The priviledges and benefits of all that are converted 6. Certain Objections answered which some out of weakness and others out of prejudice may be apt to make against the foregoing discourse and so I shall close up this Book The want of Conversion iâ— not in God but in our selves he makes use of all means and waies to convert us 1. Our conversion and salvation is not a thing impossible for a new and living way is consecrated for us by Christ through the vail his flesh and by his blood we may have boldness to enter into the Holiest he hath borne our burthen he hath removed the impossibilities and nailed to his Cross the hand-writing that was against us Coll. 2. 14 15. So that if any of us perish it is for want of grace in us not for want of satisfaction by the Redeemer salvation is brought even to our doors and thrust in as it were into our hands we have Christ himself offered us and pardon life and salvation with him we have God himself waiting to be gracious and beseeching us to be reconciled to him 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. We have the Lords Embassadors intreating us in his Name and stead the Lord hath provided excellent and plentiful means with promise upon promise of his presence with and blessing upon us in the use of them and if the Spirit make not these means effectual it will not be long of him but of our selves God himself presents and offereth us mercy Prov. 1. 23. and continues his Ordinanceâ— the Angels waits for the joy that is due to them upon our conversion Ministers are preaching and praying for our conversion godly friends and neighbours are praying and longing to see this work wrought in us See Mr. Baxâ—ers Call to the unconverted in the Preface We study plainness of speach to make them understand we come with serious piercing words to make them feel but they will neither understand nor feel if the greatest matters would work with them we should awake them if the sweetest things would work we should intice them if the most dreadful things would work we should affright them if truth and certainty would take with them we should soon convince them if the God that made them and the Christ that bought them might be heard the case would soon be altered with them if Scripture might be heard we should soon prevail if the best and strongest reason might be heard we should speedily convince them if experience might be heard even their own experience the matter would soon be mended yea if the conscience within them might be heard the case would soon be better with them than it is but if the dreadful God of Heaven be slighted who then shall be regarded If the blood of a Redeemer be made slight of what then shall be valued If the joyes of Heaven is not worth the desiring and the torments of Hell the avoiding what shall we do for such souls as these c Now if after all these and the like means Man will not turn it is not long of God that they are not converted but of themselves so that Mans destruction is of himself James 1. 15. So earnest is God for the conversion of sinners that he doubleth his commands and exhortations Turn ye turn ye why will ye dy Ezek. 33. 11. Again it is the promise of God that the wicked shall live if they will but turn nay the Lord hath confirmed it to us by an oath That he hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked See the forementioned place Ezek. 33. 11. Nay farther the Lord condescendeth to reason the cause with all unconverted sinners as to ask them why they will dy in their sinnes See the forementioned place Ezek. 33. 11. Compared with 2 Pet. 3. 9. The Lord is long-suffering not willing that any should perish c. Some of the principal hinderances of Conversion 1. The first Hindrance is ignorance both of their own misery and Gods mercy the kingdome of Satan is a kingdome of darkness and himself the ruler of darkness and the mist and blackness of darkness is reserved to him and his servants for ever Jude 6 13. compared with John 3. 19. this is condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light So that if the Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not lest the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them but those that are converted can truly say we were once darkness but now we are light in the Lord Ephes 5. 8. 2. Hindrance of conversion is men think it to be either an easie work or a
5. He calls them his sons and daughters 2 Cor. 6. 18. 6. He calls them the Bride the Lambs wife Rev. 21. 9. 7. He calls them co-heirs with himself Rom. 8. 17. And if all this be too little to express his heart to them then he tells them that the Father loveth them with the same love for the quality of it wherewith he loveth Christ what shall I say more they have the glory of God to be their aime the word to be their rule the spirit to be their guide the angels to be their guard and the blessed promises to be their support and as by vertue of their oneness with the first Adam his sin was made theirs so by vertue of their oneness with the second Adam his righteousness is made theirs nay farther they have by vertue of converting grace union with Christ and so communion with the life and Spirit of Christ with the death and sufferings of Christ with the merits and victories of Christ with the priviledges and immunities as Adoption Son-ship c. The trials of Conversion by which a man may know whether he be converted yea or no. LEt the Reader make a curious narrow impartial diligent search into his own soul and see what humility what self-denial what sin-abhorrancy what love to Christ what delight in his ordinances what zeal for Gods glory what contempt of the world what desiring after the society of the Saints what sympathising in their afflictions and if thou findest any impressions of grace any spiritual work any saving savoury distinguishing operation upon thy soul and heart then the Spirit hath been there with his cure and thou art as certainly born again as thou wast born first but these graces thus planted in the heart at first are full of imperfections there is some darkness with your light some enmity with your love much hardness of heart with your mourning for sin and much worldly sorrow in your purest tears much pride with your humility much murmuring with your patience and therefore great care is to be taken in the laying down these trials or marks of conversion for as we are to put a difference between gifts and grace and internal and external marks and signs so also we are to distinguish between those that are strong in grace and those that are weak in grace that have but little grace and this will be of great use to Christians that are but of a lower forme new converts having but little grace yet they may know that little they have though as yet they have not attained strength of grace yet they may know the truth of grace in themselves although they come short of strong believers yet they shall know they go beyond the most shining hypocrite for the least measure of grace is better than the greatest measure of gifts But we come to the trials of the new birth by which a man may know whether he is born again yea or no. 1. He that is truly converted doth desire the word and means of grace 1 Pet. 2. 2. 2. He is either willing or willing to be made willing to do whatsoever the Lord doth command him though it be never so contrary to flesh and blood Gal. 1. 16. 3. He is brought unto an unseined hatred of the whole body of sin Rom. 7. 24. compared with Philip. 3. 21. 4. His greatest and hottest mournings and strivings is against his inward pollution his close spiritual and secret sins Psal 19. 12. compared with Psal 90. 8. 5. He often mourns for the sins of others and for the want of growth in himself Lam 16. 3. 48. 6. He doth love to be speaking of those great and saving truths which his heart hath taken in in the work of conversion 7. He doth begin to keep a watch over his own heart 8. He makes conscience of keeping every known command 9. He is willing to put himself upon the tryal and to have any Christian search him and sometimes he intreats the Lord to search him Psal 139. 23. Lam. 3. 40. 10. He that is born again or truly converted haâ—h his soul renewed in its faculties and vertues c. These are such flowers of Paradise that grows not in Natures garden until the new man was put on and the party renewed in the spirit of his mind until Christ was formed in him for these are pearls that are not to be found in the worlds field wherefore we shall speak something to each of them briefly but before I proceed further let me give the Reader this caution Let not every one think he is not converted unless he finde these and the like characters of a true conversion in him if he finde but something of every thing if it be but in the budding in the breeding in the beginning his state may be good for when he is a well grown Christian these things will more and more clearly appear at the first conversion a man hath as it were but the root of them c. 1. He that is indeed born againe and so converted doth desire the word and means of grace 1 Pet. 2. 2. as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby There the apostle makes it a resemblance of a spiritual man a man spiritually new born will desire after the meanes of grace that he may grow in grace by milk is here meant the word of God which is compared to milk First because of the sweetness of it Psal 19. 10. and Psal 119. 103. Secondly because of the purity of it it is without falshood Psal 19. 18. and 119. 140 and Thirdly because of the nourishing property thereof 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. When the Lord begets one by the immortal seed of his word he teacheth him to rest upon the word of promise which indureth for ever tendred in the Gospel indeed tho whole word of God is sincere milk whereby we grow and the old and new Testament may be called the Brests of consolation but if we grow not it is because we feed not we play with the breast c. 2. He that is indeed born againe he is either willing or at least willing that the Lord should make him willing to observe and do whatsoever the Lord doth command him though it be never so contrary to flesh and blood Acts. 9. 9. Lord what will thou have me to do How willing Paul was to lay down his first commission to take up another So Psal â—10 3 thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power They are willing to hear speak Lord for thy servant heareth they are willing to do Lord what wilt thou have me to do Psal 119. 5. Oh that my waies were directed to keep thy statutes Again David sets down another character of a godly man Psal 1. 2. His delight is in the Law of the Lord and Paul after conversion speaks of himself that his delight was in the Law of God as concerning the
inward man So again in another Psal 40. 8. I delight to do thy will thy Law is in my hearâ— there was a principal within him agreeable to the precept without him this is a clear demonstration of a new creature though he may drive heavily sometimes under vexing and lasting temptations 3. He that is effectually converted he iâ— brought unto an unfeined hatred of the whole body of sin especially his beloved sins that did most powerfully captivate him before Col. 3. 7 8. But now you put off all these anger wrath malice blasphemy filthy communication see 1 Corinth 6. 11. compared with Titus 3. 3 4 5. c. Nay further he hath an unfeined hatred of the whole body of sin as it is the greatest evil in the world sin is worse than hell there may be good in punishment but there can be no good in sin it makes God hide his face from us and shut out our prayers Isa 59. 2. it is the cause of all wars James 4. 1. it is the cause of all sickness Deut. 28. In a word sin is the cause of all misery both temporal spiritual and eternal therefore Daniel was content to be thrown into the den of Lyons rather than to sin the three Children in the fire Paul and Silas into the prison and many Christians have chosen to imbrace prisons stakes fire and the hottest persecutions rather than sin a converted person comes to see the weakness and wickedness of his own heart he knows he cannot trust any member alone without a guard 4. He that is indeed converted may know it by this viz. his greatest and hottest conflicts are against inward pollution his close spiritual and secret sins that are known only to God and himself he doth accuse himself for that which no man can accuse him he blames himself for that which no man can blame him he judgeth and arraigneth himself for that which no man can judge him for he makes a through and sound search he knows Hypocrisie is spun of a fine thred and is not discerned without diligent search Again he knows that one stab at the heart though it be with a pen-knife will kill a man one little leak in a Ship will sink it and one secret sin unrepented of will damn a Soul the least sin contains in it the nature of all sin no sooner did one sin enter into Adams heart but he had all sin in him 5. He often mourns for the sins of others and for the want of more grace in himself we read Jer. 13. 17. that the Prophet did weep in secret places for the sins of others so in another place mine eyes run down with tears because men keep not thy laws c. and as for the sins of others so for the want of more grace in themselves viz. Isaiah 6. 5. I am a man of unclean lips said Isaiah I abhor my self in dust and ashes said Job Job 42 6 Surely I am more brutish than any man and have not the knowledge of a man said Augur Pro. 30. 2. I am less than the least of all Saints said Paul Eph. 3. 8. nay I have so little grace that I am the greatest of Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief 6. He doth dearly love to be ever now and then speaking of those great and saving truths which his heart took in the work of conversion he feeleth most savour of life in those necessary points which were instruments of this blessed change that there is made upon him and upon these he feedâ—th and delighteth even on the inward life of spiritual things and so he feedeth his hungry Soul in hearing and reading praying and conversing with Christians he endeavours to learn something from â—very thing 7. He doth begin to keep a watch over his own heart eyes and tongue and feet c. 1. He keeps his heart with Solomons diligence Prov. 4. 24. 2. He keeps his eyes with Jobs Covenant Job 31. 1. 3. He keeps his tongue with Davids bridle Psalm 39. 7. 4. He keeps his foot with Solomons guard Eccles 5. 1. In a word we should not trust any Member without its Keeper for there doth and will remain even in the converted themselves the remnants of corruption a body of death a rebelling flesh and thiâ— will be still tempting and draw them from God so that the whole way to Heaven is a continual warfare there be enemies that will dispute every foot of the way there is no going a step forward but as the ship doth in the Sea by cutting its way through the waves there is Self our greatest enemy and there is Sathan and the world and almost all that we meet with in it will prove hinderances in the way to Heaven therefore keep up your watch with your loynes girt and your lamps burning 8. He that is truly converted makes conscience of keeping every known duty or command in respect of the general bent and frame of his heart he doth subject himself to Christ freely universally and constantly and unweariedly at least in desire if it be not so he could wish it were so he endeavours prays to have it so he considereth that Christ did not discharge us from the debt of sin to free us from the debt of service but therefore did he pay the one that we might be able to return the other Rom. 8. 12. Therefore we are Debters not to the slesh 1 John 2. 5. Who so keepeth his word in him is the love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him there is no known sin but he labours to avoid and no known grace but he longs to have and no known duty but he labours to perform 9. He is willing to put himself upon the tryal whether he be converted or no he is willing to have any Christian to search him and sometimes he entreats the Lord to search him he loves those company best that deals most plainly with him he carefully and continually searcheth himself and goes down with light into his heart he is jealous of his own heart he doubts of none more than himself suspects most his own graces and the witnesse of his own spirit least Sathan shine like an Angel of light and say it is the testimony of Gods spirit he is content to have his spiritual estate tryed by any not only by a searching Ministry in publick but by any private Friends he opens his heart freely for others to ask and gives answers of his hope with weaknesse and fear his ears are open to the whole word he believes the threatnings and trembles he fears also the promises lest he comes short he hath found out the hell in his heart and feels the flames of it in secret he hath found an emptiness in himself and an enmity to all good he is poor in spirit which appears by his continual complaints and importunat prayers he desireth not to be
found in his own righteousness but in Christs righteousness all the rest he accounts as dung 10. He that is born again or truly converted hath his soul renewed in its facultiâ—s and vertues when the Lord made man in his own image Gen. 1. 26 27. Gen. 9. 6. which image of God in man consisteth not in any bodily shape but in the nature of the soul as it is a spiritual and immortal substance indued with three faculties Understanding Will and Memory as the Deitie hath three Father Sonne and Holy Ghost this image of God in man by his fall was defaced which by regeneration is again restored and renewed 1. In its faculties 2. In its senses 3 In its vertues 1. In its faculties 1. Understanding 2. Will. 3. Memory 1. The Understanding that by the fall was darkened is now again by regeneration â—nlightened Ephes 5. 8. Compared with Ephes 1. 18. 2. The Will that was inthralled is now renewed by which it doth choose the good and reject the evil 3. The Memory that since the fall of Man would forget the good that it should have reteyned and retein the evill that it should forget is now restored so as to treasure up spiritual things and let slip carnal things The Conscience which is Gods Deputy in man that did cease to do his Office being seared with an hot Iron 1 Tim. 4. 2. is now awakened and sits as Judge overall your Actions accusing in one thing excusing in another now if Conscience he not a Bridle it will be a Whip if it be not a Curb iâ— will be a Scourge if you will not hear the Warnings you shall feel the Lashes if it doth not restrain from Sin by admonition it will put uâ— to pain in sin by Contrition The Senses also they come to be exercised Heb. 5. 14. to discern both good and evil the Sense of Hearing is frequently exercised in hearing the joyfull sound and the Sense of Seeing is exercised in beholding the wonderfull works of God and the Sense of Smelling is exercised smelling a sweet savour in Christ and all his wayes and so for the rest of the Senses they are ever now and then exercised about spiritual things The Vertues of the Soul or graces of the Spirit they begin also to be employâ—d about matters of great concernment viz. Faith endeavours to believe and lay hold on God for what he hath promised Hope anchors upon the promise and waits with patience for a supply of all its wants Love is exerciâ—â—d in loving of God his Ordinances and People and sometimes in doing good to his enemies Prudence iâ— a verâ—â—â— whereby we foresee how things arâ— to be done in respect of time place and mâ—nner and what will be the event of each bâ—siness which is undertaken prudence in our hearts to guide our thoughts and in our mouths to order our speeches it is prudence in the evils of sin to choose none and in the evils of punishment to choose the lesser 2 Sam. 24. 12. Another Vertue which begins to be exercised is Temperance which moderates our desires and brings the Appetite under a rule of reason then Constancy or Perseverance is another Vertue whereby a man is resolved to persevere to the end in the knowledge profession and worship of God Justice is another Vertue which giveth every man his due it binds us to give due to God to our Parents and Kindred and to exercise Verity and Equity in all that we do lo what a wonderfull change is here yet notwithstanding all this the Soul is the same after conversion as it was before and so it shall be after the resurrection the same there being the same faculties only thus changed the Soul is renewed and restored to its primitive institution and so its purity and blessednesse is or shall be greater than ever it was before c. Thus the Regenerate doth partake of another begetting of another birth of another nature that a man should be the same and not the same the same man for Body yet as different in quality as if another soul did dwell in the same body he of a lyon iâ— become a lamb of a wolfe a sheep of a Saul a Paul of a persecuter a friend of the persecuted here is a blessed change indeed Wouldst thou know whether thou art regenerated art thou one whom God hath enlightned art thou one whom he hath called art thou one who art washed purged renewed sanctyfied examine thy heart throughly deceits lie low and false evidence is the fruit of a slight search Art thou one whose heart is taken with Christ when God delights in us thereupon we come to delight in him God knows us and thereupon we come to know him John 10. 14. God apprehends us and thereupon we come to apprehend him he chuseth us and thereupon we chuse him he loves us and therefore we love him 1 John 4. 19. his heart is taken with us and thereupon we come to be taken with him take thy evidences from the carriage of thy spirit neither at the best nor at the worst but the middle way which is most thy frame for if thou look upon thy self at the worst thou mayst be discouraged if at the best thou mayst be deceived neither judg of thy self by particular actions but look upon the universal frame and benâ— of thy spirit art thou heavy laden with the weight of thy offences dost thou groan under the yoak and tyrannie of manifold temptations Come unto me saith Christ I will refresh the Mat. 11. 28. Doest thou thirst after the wayes of grace loe I am the living spring saith Christ Come drinks hâ—râ— is my blood that was shed for many for the remission of sinnes are the wounds of thy transgressions so deep that they â—annot be searched or so old that they corrupt and purâ—fie loe here is the good Samaritan that will either eind them up or powr in oyle and wine are there any seeds of true life began is there any motion of repentance in thy soul will thy pulse of remorse heat a little hast thou but a touch of sorrow a spark of contrition a grain of faith a drop of self denyal surely he that hath began this good work will finish it Philip. 1. 6. Surely he will more and more inform thy mind conform thy will reform thy life and tranâ—form the whole man into the likeness of the heavenly patterne a man that is born again may be weak in respect of life in whom the spirit breathâ— though feintly whose pulse beats but feebly whose heart pants after Christ but weakly in whom Christ who is the wisdome of the father shines though through many clouds very dimly who indeed reâ—â—ives Christ and his free gâ—â—â—â— though with a shaking hand who hopes that Christ will not cast him off though not sure he will take him up he hath a desire to fear the name of the Lord hâ— hath a willing mind 2 Cor. 8. 12 and this is