would not believe that 't is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God His mighty hands have taken hold of me and bound me hand and foot and thrown me into outer darkness And there I must lie tortured to Eternity Oh that word does rend my very heart kills all hope sinks and quite overwhelms me in utter desperâ—ion If after millions of millions of ages my torments were to end I should strengthen my self under my sorrows but since after so long a space of time I shall be as far from releasing as the first moment I was imprisoned this is that which makes my grief to know no bounds because my misery knows none Oh what phrenzy possess'd me that for the sake of a little gain and pleasure for a short season which sin did yield me I should venture to dwell with devouring fire and to inhabit everlasting burnings But I must only blame my self God is severe but not in the least unrighteous He called but I refused he stretched forth his hand but I disregarded him I set at nought all his counsel and would none of his reproofs I remember very well he spake to me often to turn out of the paths that lead to destruction and misery but I would needs go on I was warned to flie from the wrath to come but I would take no warning I was intreated to be reconciled but resolved to continue a rebel I would not be made clean though the Lord waited to be gracions and frequently said When will it once be And what Will any of you continue in the same desperate mind that I was of Will you still cherish the self-same sins for kind that were my undoing Behold the flamâ— about my ears and oh that you could conceive the anguish of my heart Be wise be wise and accept of mercy and salvation while 't is tendered to you for if once you come to this place of torment the Lord will forget to be gracious and his mercy will be quite and clean gone for ever 2. A voice from Heaven Suppose one of the glorified Saints who has been an Inhabitant of the heavenly Jerusalem who has conversed with an innumerable company of Angels and has seen God face to face should for a while leave his blissful Mansion and having abundance of joy and glory in his looks should utter such kind of language as this before you Oh the height and length and depth and breadth of the love of Christ which passes knowledge How unsearchable is his goodness and his mercy past finding out Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing for by his blood he has redeemed me with millions more out of every kindred and tongue and people and Nation I was called to turn and live and through rich grace was enabled to obey the Call and now I find what a glorious life that is unto which sincere and persevering Converts shall at last be brought This is a life that 's free from sin and free from suffering that will never see death or be in danger of the grave 'T is best of all to be neer to God Christ is without all controversie the best Master to be subject to him it is to reign and reign for ever What ails the blind and stupid world that they see no form nor comliness in this fairest among ten thousand the light of whose countenance makes heaven not to need the light of the Sun or Moon or Stars His beauty is all-surpassing his grace is much more precious than gold that perishes but his glory 't is not lawful or possible for me to utter And now will any of you any longer slight him Open your eyes and see evidently that you are the children of perdition the sons of death without him but through him you may be turned through him you may be saved with a great and everlasting salvation Surely then you have reason to value him above all though the whole world nay though ten thousand worlds should stand in competition with him 3. Hear a voice from Christ himself Imagine the Lord Jesus appearing with a light far above the brightness of the Sun Suppose some of his Angels as his Harbingers and forerunners coming before him and crying Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hâ—sts and at last himself visibly filling this place with his Majesty and with his glory and having stricken an awe into you and wrought in you an admiration of his excellency and greatness suppose him thus speaking and pleading with you Look unto me and be ye saved all ye ends of the earth I am your Redeemer and there is none else you have destroyed your selves but in me and me alone you may find help unless I make you free sin will still reign in you and if it reign it will also ruine unless I binde the strong man armed he will keep you bound and lead you captive at his pleasure unless I turn and bring you neer to God you will run farther and farther away from him till at last there be no possibility of returning How long ye simple souls will ye love simplicity and fools hate knowledge Turn ye at my reproof behold I will pour out my spirit upon you I will make known my words unto you Former contempts I will pass by if now at last you will receive me I will free you from the guilt and from the power of sin I will pacifie my Fathers anger though by breaking his Laws and despising me his Son you have never so much incensed him Though by nature captives I will make you Kings and Priests though by sin traitors and enemies I will make you Sons and heirs of God and coheirs with my self who am the Heir of all things You shall in no case be miserable if all that fulness which dwells in me can satisfie and make you happy And after all this my brethren will you be fond of sin and ruine Oh hear the voice of the Son of God who is not willing you should perish How shall I do to work upon you Methinks I could be willing that these words should be my last upon condition they might be powerful and effectual to the converting and healing and saving all that are within the sound of them Methinks I could be willing to expire here and be carried dead out of the Pulpit upon condition all you might hear so as to turn from your evil wayes and live Most of those thousands which are before me are unknown to me But this I know that you all have souls and that every soul is worth a world Oh that you all would consult your souls interest and safety But lest it should be in vain if I only speak to you I shall direct my words unto him who is Lord over all And oh that he who works and none can let â—r hinder would work a thorow saving change in you Oh
sin is not â—o be admired for its pleasure at present thou art only chastized with whips but if thou arâ—â—ncorrigible and sinnest yet more and more assuredly at last thou shalt be lashed with scorâ—ions 5. God calls upon sinners to turn to him by the internal voice and motions of his Spirit The Spirit often suggests concerning the sinful and false way This is â—ot the way and therefore turn out of it but concerning the way of holiness which leads to God This is the way therefore turn into it and without declining walk iâ— it Isa 30. 21. All the other Calls will be to little purpose unless the Spirit do accompany them Without his conviction thâ— denunciation of curses will not awaken Without his illumination the blessing profered will be undervalued Withouâ— his setting an edge upon them the mosâ— pathetical expostulations will not havâ— the least efficacy to perswade the loudeâ— word will be no more regarded than if iâ— were a whisper Unless the Spirit joy his teaching and instruction the rod wiâ— be mute and insignificant nothing wiâ— be learned either by personal afflictionâ— or by National judgments 'T is dangerous therefore to be heedless of and resiâ— the holy Ghost since the efficacy of aâ— depends upon him There is a twofold Call of the Spirit more commune and more special 1. More commune and so many aâ— called which never are throughly converted 'T was the commune work of thâ— Spirit which made Felix tremble whicâ— brought Agrippa within a step of Christianity and caused Herod to do many thingâ— Multitudes of unregenerate ones have feâ— the waters stirr'd the holy Ghost moving them to conversion and readily profering his aid and assistance and perhaps for a while they have been led by him But then some lust or vanity they refused to let go which he has bid them to abandon they would not turn their spiritual sloth into serious diligence about the concerns of their immortal souls and so by disregarding of his motions slighting of his help they have made the Spirit to go away in grief that came in love to work upon them 2. There is a Call of the Spirit which is more special and efficacious and when he thus moves them to turn to God sinners are not only almost but perswaded altogether Now the Method of the Spirit in working on those who are indeed made Converts is much to be observed 1. Those whom the Spirit calls effectually he convinces of sin Joh. 16. 8. He sets the Law before them and he himself is the Laws Interpreter and by his Commentary on it they are made to see that the Law forbids not only the breakings forth of sin at the lips and in the life but also the inward lustings and risings of sin in the heart And when the Law thus comes Oh! how does the offence abound The Spirit sets their iniquities in order before their eyes and holds their eyes waking to behold them The Book of Conscience is opened and how many transgressions are presently beheld there registred And if upon dipping into this book so many abominations do appear what an innumerable multitude are down in the book of Gods remembrance Though sinners may not consider it yet God remembers all their wickedness Hos 7. 2. This the soul layes to heart Innumerable evils compass him about as David speaks his iniquities take hold upon him Psal 40. 12. when he lyes down they lye down when he rises they rise with him wherever he goes or is they continually dog and haunt him If the sinner have been notorious how hideous and horrid will sin appear to him when all pleas and excuses are silenced when the painted visour is pull'd off and it is seen by him in its native complexion drunkenness uncleanness oaths profane jesting greediness after the world will no longer then be made light of These and such like before seemed to have nothing of danger much of delight and pleasure but after conviction their deceitful and damnable nature will be as evident as the Sun at noon-day And though the sinner has been free from the more gross pollutions of the world yet enough shall be shewed him to cause him to conclude himself a Wretch and in a lost estate What! are all his omissions or mocking of the jealous God by heartless performances nothing Is his mispence of time and regardlessness of eternity nothing Is his delighting in creatures and vanity and the things of the world and loving these more than God and Christ and glory but a small matter These are heinous sins which yet the more civilized are to be charged with This conviction of the Spirit is strong and lasting wears not off till the sinner is brought quite home Actual transgressions with their aggravations lye heavy and original sin which is the fountain whence â—ne other flow is discover'd And in this â—ountain there is enough to feed ten thouâ—nd times more streams than have issued â—rth David is not only convinced of the â—urder and adultery he had committed â—ut is made to trace these sins to the Wellâ—ad the original corruption of his naâ—re Psal 51. 5. and the sight of this how much did it tend to his humiliation Finally this conviction is not only of some acts of sin but of the badness of the sinners state he is made to see himself because a child of disobedience therefore also a child of wrath And without cavilling all is yielded to and acknowledged with such evidence is this conviction of the Spirit 2. Those whom the Spirit calls effectually he works fear in them The spirit of bondage to fear goes before the spirit of adoption Of these fears and terrors there are degrees indeed yet such a measure is wrought in all towards whom the Lord has designs of love as to make them restlests in a natural estate Carnal security is one of the first things that is struck at by the Spirit he bids the soul awake and lets him know that while he sleeps in sin 't is much more hazardous than if he slept upon the top of a Mast Well may the sinner be afraid wrath armed with irresistible and almighty power he has engaged against himself And who can stand before Gods indignation who can abide the fierceness of his anger Nah. 1. The curses of the Law have a dreadful sound in the sinners ears and because threatned damnation will not slumber long the propinquity and neerness of such great evils raises fear exceedingly His assent is strong and in his mind he now foresees the Lord Jesus revealed with his mighty Angels in flaming fire ready to take vengeance on them that know not God and disobey the Gospel and to punish them with everlasting destruction 2 Thes 1. 8 9. And on thinks he with himself how terrible will it be to be of the number of them who shall call to the rocks and mountains to fall upon them that they may be hid from the face of him that sits
hear the command to believe it should make us cry out with the sick childes Father in the Gospel Lord help my unbelief When we hear the command to cast away every transgression it should make us beg with David Order my steps in thy word and let not any iniquity have the dominion over me When we hear the command to turn it should make us to use the language of that penitent Jer. 31. 18. Turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God 5. The Lord calls upon us to turn to leave the obstinate without excuse who will not turn who will not come to Christ that they may have life Of Israel he saith All the day long have I stretched forth my hand to a disobedient and gainsaying people Rom. 10. ult but this their disobedience rendred them without apology When the unconverted fall into God's revenging hands they are the less to be pitied they can have nothing to plead because Gods stretching forth his hands by way of invitation in the Gospel was in vain These sinners against their own souls whose neck is like an iron sinew who will neither be terrified by menaces nor mollified by the expressions of the greatest kindness and mercy when they are summon'd to the bar how will they be struck speechless having not one word to say against their own condemnation They were called unto grace and glory but they would not hearken They were told of their danger but they would not seek to prevent it they were informed of the wayes of sin and were dehorted from it nay wooed and intreated with the most passionate earnestness not to be cruel to themselves by giving way to such a cursed thing yet they would not consent to be freed from sin and become the servants of righteousness And surely their mouths must needs be stopped or if they say any thing when sentence is passed upon them it must be to side with the justice of God against themselves to acknowledge the equality of his wayes the inequality of their own 6. The Lord calls upon us to turn that those who are ordained to eternal life may be effectually wrought upon and prevailed with to turn indeed We read that the Gospel was preached both to the Jews and to the Gentiles and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed Act. 15. 48. And the truth is 't is much for the sake of the Elect who are scattered up and down among the multitude that the call to turn is so general as it is Hereby those whom the Father has given to Christ are brought home and coming home how welcome are they Joh. 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out So much for the reasons why God calls upon sinners to turn In the Third place I promised to explain the nature of this conversion or turning And I find the Apostle does give a notable and full description of it Act. 26. 18. where he calls it A turning from darkness unto light and from the power of Satan unto God Hence we gather that conversion lyes in four things 1. In being turned from darkness 2. In being turned unto light 3. In being turned from the power of Satan 4. In being turned unto God 1. Conversion implies a being turned from darkness As darkness was upon the face of the deep till God said Let there be light Gen. 1. 2. So truly darkness overspreads the soul of a natural man till he is enlightned from above Believers are delivered from the power of darkness when translated into the Sons Kingdom Col. 1. 13. which shews that sometimes they were in darkness as well as others and this darkness is said to have a power a power to hold a power to blind a power to ruin so that there is a necessity of being delivered from it Now there be several kinds of darkness from which they are made free 1. Converts are turned from the darkness of ignorance No longer are they contented to be ignorant of the way to salvation but are made inquisitive what they must do to â—e saved They are informed about the doctrine of Christ and are made to understand what believing and repenting mean They know that sin is to be sorrowed for as the worst of evils and that God is the chiefest good and that he so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3. 16. They are made to know that Christ is to be received by faith and that there is not salvation in any other and that 't is in vain to expect any thing from him as a Saviour unless there be a consenting to obey him as a Lord. These and such like truths are no longer hid from them They are sensible now of the mischief and danger of ignorance 't is therefore their desire to have it in a greater measure removed and they follow on to know the Lord. 2. Converts are turned from the darkness of unbelief The Spirit does work a perswasion in their hearts of the certain truth of whatever God has revealed in his word They dare not any longer make the Lord a lyar by not crediting what he has recorded They believe and admire and acknowledge the Mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ Col. 2. 2. Heretofore their unbelief did hide the Gospel from them and concluded them in a lost estate they saw not the Majesty of the Word they were not taken with the treasures of wisdom and grace which are there revealed neither were they awakened by the terrors with which the Word abounds against ungodly ones But now the vail is taken away and they assent to and are affected with what the Gospel speaks to them They believe that God is in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses to them And that being justified by his blood they shall be saved from wrath through him Rom. 5. 9. They believe that sin is deadly and the world a cheat and that solid and eternal happiness is to be found in God therefore they leave a shadow to embrace that which is substantial 3. Converts are turned from the darkness of prejudice Prejudice raises a strange kind of mist before the eyes which hinders the light of truth from shining into the mind The Jews prejudice against Christ was one great thing that blinded them a principal impediment to their embracing of the Faith Satan endeavours to fill the ungodly with these prejudices and to keep them up because by these his Kingdom is very much upheld Sometimes sinners are prejudiced against holiness as if it were a disgrace whereas it being the glory of the Divine Nature certainly 't is the greatest honour and perfection which the rational creature is capable of Sometimes holiness is lookt upon as needless and yet the Scripture affirms that none
that he would pity those among you who are unto your selves cruel Oh that he would awaken the souls that are not only asleep but dead and break the hearts which have made themselves as an Adamant stone Oh that he would convince you of your sin and misery and effectually turn you from the one that you may be for ever freed from the other To these Petitions let every heart say Amen! Vse V. Of Direction I would believe by this time that you are willing to hearken unto and likewise follow some directions how to become sincere Converts Directions how to get ease when you are in pain how to recover health when you are sick or an â—â—tate which you have lost I am confident would be heeded And are not directions from the infallible word of truth how to be turned and saved of far greater consequence The Directions are these which follow 1. Think upon and with a serious spirit consider your wayes This Consideration had great influence upon the Psalmist Psal 119. 59. I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies I made haste and delayed not c. That injunction is doubled Hag. 1. 5. And again v. 7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts Consider your wayes And that passage Ezek. 18. 14. is to be observed Now lo if he beget a Son that seeth all his fathers sins which he hath done and considereth and doth not such like c. If sinners would but consider what they do when they do evil it would be a means to make them cease to do evil and learn to do well Consider the misery and danger of being at a distance from God The wayes which naturally you walk in do lead you away from him and the Scripture sayes Those that are far from God shall perish he will destroy all them that go a whoring from him Psal 73. 27. Think of these things so long till you find your hearts affected so as to conclude it height of madness to lye secure in an unconverted state Let this thought take deep impression All the while thou persistest in thy evil wayes thou for sakest the Lord and forsakest thy own mercies and art travelling apace to the regions of eternal wo and darkness 2. Study the vanity of former excuses I know the natural mans mouth is very full of them but 't is very easie to answer them Sin thou sayest is rivited in thy very nature Therefore thou hadst need to cry to heaven that thy nature may be changed and to be made a new creature But sin is the commune practise Therefore thy danger is the greater and thou shouldst be the more careful lest thou be overwhelmed in that râ—in that will be so general But my lusts are both profitable and pleasant and why then should I abandon them Consider soul whether the damned who have lost their souls and eternal blessedness and suffer the vengeance of eternal fire have any reason to boast of gain or pleasure But men will deride and scorn me if I become a Convert They that do so are besides themselves and sober people use not to be concerned at the laughter of such as are out of their wits Oh contèmn their contempt despise the shame they cost upon you shortly they themselves will wish that instead of scorning at they had been imitators of you But to turn unto and follow God is very hard and the difficulty is a very great discouragement The work is hard indeed but the strength and assistance is great which shall be afforded The Lord will work all your works in you and for you Isa 26. 12. He commands nothing but what he is ready to help you to perform himself But if I am a Convert I shall never live a pleasant hour my tears will be my meat and drink and my sorrows my perpetual companions Oh gross mistake and unreasonable prejudice against the wayes of holiness If godliness be so melancholy a business why does the Scripture tell us of peace which passeth all understanding and joys that are unspeakable and full of glory Why is David so often singing so often harping if mirth and Religion were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 altogether inconsistent Oh but if I turn I shall be exposed to suffering Well suppose thou art the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the present grace and consolation which will attend thy trials much less with the glory that shall be revealed Study the vanity of all such excuses 3. Save your selves from the untoward generation you live among This was the advice the Apostle gave to them that had been awakened and pricked in their heart Act. 2. 40. You must shake hands with your former brethren in iniquity else they will be a great temptation and snare to you Carnal company are incarnate devils who endeavour to draw as many as they can to Hell along with them Therefore the wisest of men does use so many words of caution Prov. 4. 14 15. Enter not into the path of the wicked and go not in the way of evil men avoid it pass not by it turn from it and pass away Though you are not bound to be morose and uncivil towards the ungodly take heed of being delightfully familiar Many a conviction and good resolution has cooled and vanished by our lighting into the society of the wicked Suck not in any prejudices from them against true piety and when they presume to prate against prayer hearing fasting professing when they quarrel against the Lord's day and censure the Lord's people look upon all this but as the ravings of such as are in a spiritual sense distracted 4. Despise not Prophecyings The Ministry of the Word is ordained on purpose to work faith and to turn sinners unto God and therefore let not drowsiness distraction cares or pleasures or lusts or the deceitfulness of riches choak this Word and hinder it from prospering to this end whereunto it is appointed When Ezekiel prophesied over the dead and dry bones they presently revived and a valley of dead bones became a living Army And who knows while thou art prophesied over by the Ministry of the Gospel but of a sudden thou mayest be made alive who wast dead in trespasses Let powerful preaching be prized and frequented by you Certainly the word has a converting power when 't is set home Psal 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple 5. Quench not the Spirit 1 Thes 5. 19. His conviction you must not stifle but improve The Spirit of the Lord sometimes approaches very neer unto a drunkard a swearer a covetous worldling an unclean person and tells them the way they take it is perverse before him that there is but a step between them and death between them and damnation and therefore moves them to humiliation and to reformation He informs them they had better leave their sins than be undone for their sake Now such convictions might be heightned into Conversion if they were but closed with and improved But thousands resist the holy Ghost they had rather be permitted to sin without disturbance than to have the waters troubled though upon stepping in they might be healed what ever their spiritual malady and plague be Dost thou find the Spirit neer thee Oh heed his checks comply with all his motions and beg that thou mayst not be put off with commune operations but that a saving work may be wrought in thee 6. Lay hold upon and plead the Lords own Covenant In this Covenant he has engaged to give you a new heart to cleanse you from your filthiness and your idols to put his Spirit within you and cause you to walk in his Statutes that is in one word to convert you Ezek. 36. 25 26 27. Be earnest that these promises may be accomplished Resolve to take no nay the Lord will be pleased with your importunity in a matter which 't is so much for his own honour to grant you You cannot turn your selves but he can as easily do this work as leave it undone One word of life and power will raise you And since he sayes Turn ye turn ye from your evil wayes for why will ye die O house of Israel presently make this Text into a prayer Turn us turn us from our evil wayes for why should we die O thou God of Israel FINIS