it will not affect him savingly unless I could find him ears Mat. 13. 15. as well as tell him the news Shall I set before him the feast of fat things the wine of wisdom the bread of God the tree of life the hidden Manna he hath no appetite for them no mind to them 1 Cor. 2. 14. Mat. 22. 5. Should I press the choicest grapes the heavenly clusters of gospel priviledges and drink to him in the richest wine of Gods own cellar yea of his own side or set before him the delicious honey-comb of Gods testimonies Psal. 19. 10. alas he hath no taste to discern them Shall I invite the dead to arise and eat the banquet of their funerals No more can the dead in sin savour the holy food wherewith the Lord of life hath spread his table What then shall I do shall I burn the brimstone of hell at his nostrils or shall I open the box of Spikenard very precious that filleth the whole house of this universe with its perfume Mark 14. 3. Ioh. 12. 8. and hope that the savour of Christs ointments and the smell of his garments will attract him Psal. 45. 8. Alas dead â—inners are like the dumb idols they have mouths but they speak not eyes have they but they see not they have ears but they hear not noses have they but they smell not they have hands but they handle not feet have they but they walk not neither speak they through their throat Psal. 1. 5 6 7. They are destitute of all spiritual sense and motion But let me try the sense that doth last leave us and draw the sword of the word yet lay at him while I will yea though I choose mine arrows out of Gods quiver and direct them to the heart nevertheless he feeleth not for how should he being past feeling Eph. 4. 19. So that though the wrath of God abideth on him and the mountainous weight of so many thousand sins yet he goes up and down as light as if nothing ailed him Rom. 7. 9. In a word he carries a dead soul in a living body and his flesh is but the walking cossin of a corrupted mind that is twice dead Iude 12. rotting in the slime and putrefaction of noisome lusts Mat. 23. 27 28. Which way then shall I come at the miserable objects that I have to deal with who shall make the heart of stone to relent Zech. 7. 12. or the liveless carcase to feel and move That God that is able of stones to raise up children unto Abraham Mat. 3. 9. that raiseth the dead 2 Cor. 1. 9. and melteth the mountains Nah. 1. 5. and strikes water out of the flints Deut. 8. 15. that loves to work like himself beyond the hopes and belief of man that peopleth his Church with dry bones and planteth his orchard with dry sticks he is able to do this Therefore I bow my knee to the most high God Eph. 3. 14. and as our Saviour prayed at the sepulchre of Lazarus Iohn 11. 38 41. and the Shunamite ran to the man of God for her dead child 2 Kings 4. 25. so doth your mourning Minister kneel about your graves and carry you in the arms of prayer to that God in whom your help is found O thou all-powerful Iehovab that workest and none can let thee that hast the keys of â—ell and of death pity thou the dead souls that lie here intombed and roll away the grave-stone and say as to Lazarus when already stinking Come forth Lighten thou this darkness O inaccessible light and let the day-spring from on high visit the darksome region of the dead to whom I speak for thou canst open the eyes that death it self hath closed Thou that formedst the ear canst restore the hearing Sâ—y thou to these ears Ephatah and they shall be opened Give thou eyes to see thine excellenciesâ—â— a taste that may relish thy sweetness a sent that may savour thine oinâ—ments â— a feeling that may sense the priviledge of thy favour the burden of thy wrath the weight intolerable of unpardoned sin and give thy servant command to prophesie to the dry bones and let the effect of this prophesie be as of thy Prophet's when he prophesied the valley of dry bones into a living army exceeding great Ezek. 37. 1. c. The hand of the Lord was upon me and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones He said unto me prophesie upon thâ—se bones and say unto them O ye dry bones hear the word of the Lord Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones Behold I will cause breath to enter into you and ye shall live And I will lay sinews upon you and will bring up flesh upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you and ye shall live and ye shall know that I am the Lord. So I prophesied as I was commanded and as I prophesied there was a noise and â—ehold a shaking and the bones came together bone to his bone And when I behold Loe the sinews and the flesh came up upon them and covered them above but there was no breath in them Then said he unto me Prophesie unto the wind prophesie son of man and say to the wind Thus saith the Lord God Câ—me from the four winds O breath and breath upon these slain that they may live So I prophesied as he commanded me and the breath came into them and they lived and stood up upon their feet an exceeding great army But I must proceed as I am able to unfold that misery which I confess no tongue can unfold no heart can sufficiently comprehend Know therefore that while thou art unconverted 1. The infinite God is engaged against thee It is no small part of thy misery that thou art without God Eph. 2. 12. How doth Micah run crying after the Danites You have taken away my gods and what have I more Iudges 18. 23 24. Oh what a mourning then must thou lift up that art without God that canst lay no claim to him without daring usurpation Thou must say of God as Sheba of David We have no part in David neither have we inheritance in the son of Iesse 2 Sam. 20. 1. How pitiful and piercing a moan is that of Saul in his extremity The Philistines are upon me and God is departed from me 1 Sam. 28. 15. Sinners what will you do in the day of your visitation whither will you flee for help where will you leave your glory Esay 10. 3. What will you do when the Philistines are upon you when the world shall take its eternal leave of you when you must bid your friends houses lands Farewel for evermore What will you do then I say that have never a God to go to Will you call on him will you cry to him for help alas he will not own you Prov. 1. 28 29. he will not take any knowledge of
descend with you Psal. 49. 17. 1. Tim. 6. 7. If not had you not need look after somewhat that will What mean you to stand wavering to be off and on Foolish children how long will you stick between the womb and the world Shall I leave you at last no farther than Agrippa but almost perswaded Why you are for ever lost if left here As good not at all as not altogether Christians You are half of the mind to give over your former negligent life and to set to a strict and holy course you could wish that you were as some others be and could do as 〈◊〉 can do How long will you rest in idle wishes and fruitless purposes when will you come to a fixed full and firm resolve Do not you see how Satan gulls you by tempting you to delays How long hath he toll'd you on in the way to perdition How many years have you been purposing to amend What if God should have taken you off this while Well put not me off with a dilatory answer Tell not me of hereafter I must have your present consent It you be not now resolved while the Lord is treating with you and wooing of you much less are you like to be hereafter when these impressions are worn out and you are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Will you give me your hands Will you set open the doors and give the Lord Jesus the â—ull and present possession Will you put in your names into his covenant Will you subscribe What do you resolve upon If you are sâ—ill upon your delays my labour is lost and all is like to come to nothing Fain I would that you should now put in your adventures Come cast in your lot make your choice Now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation to day if you will hear his voice Why should not this be the day from whence thou shouldst be able to date thine happiness Why shouldst thou venture a day longer in this dangerous and dreadful condition What if God should this night require thy soul Oh that thou mightest know in this thy day the things that belong unto thy peace before they be hid from thine eyes Luke 19. 42. This is thy day and 't is but a day Iohn 9. 4. Others have had their day and have received their doom and now art thou brought upon the stage of this world here to act thy part for a whole eternity Remember thou art now upon thy good behaviour for everlasting If thou make not a wise choice now thou art undone for ever Look what thy present choice is such must thine eternal condition be Luke 10. 42. Luke 16. 25. Prov. 1. 27 28 29. And is it true indeed is life and death at thy choice Yea 't is as true as truth is Deut. 30. 19. Why then what hinders but that thou shouldst be happy Nothing doth or can hinder but thine own wilful neglect or refusal It was the passage of the Eunuch to Philip See here is water what doth hinder me to be baptised So I may say to thee See here is Christ here is mercy pardon life what hinders but that thou shouldst be pardoned and saved One of the Martyrs as he was praying at the stake had his pardon set by in a box which indeed he refused deservedly because upon unworthy terms But here the terms are most honourable and easie Oh sinner wilt thou burn with thy pardon by Why do but forthwith give up thy consent to Christ renounce thy sins deny thy self take up the Yoke and the Cross and thou carriest the day Christ is thing pardon peace life blessedness all are thâ—â—â—e And is not this an offer worth the embracing Why shouldst thou hesitate or doubtfully dispute about the case Is it not past controversy whether God be better than sin and glory better than vanity Why shouldst thou forsake thine own mercy and sin against thine own life When wilt thou shake off thy sloth and lay by thine excuses Boast not thy self of to morrow thou knowst not where this night may lodge thee Prov. 27. 1. Beloved now the holy spirit is striving with you He will not always strive Hast thou not felt thy heart warmed by the word and been almost perswaded to leave off thy sins and come in to God Hast thou not felt some good motions in thy mind wherein thou hast been warned of thy danger and told what thy careless course would end in It may be thou art like young Samuel who when the Lord called once and again he knew not the voice of the Lord 1. Sam. 3. 6 7. but these motions and items are the offers and essays and the calls and strivings of the Spirit O take the advantage of the tide and know the day of thy visitation Now the Lord Jesus stretcheth wide his arms to receive you He beseecheth you by us How â—â—ovingly how meltingly how pitifully how passionately he calleth you The-Church is put into a suddain extasie upon the sound of his voice The voice of my beloved Cant. 2. 8. Oh wilt thou turn a deaf ear to his voice It is not the voice that breaketh the Cedars and maketh the mountains to skip like a Calf that shaketh the Wilderness and divideth the flames of fire it is not Sinais Thunder but the soft and still voice It is not the voice of Mount Ebal a voice of cursing and terrour but the voice of Mount Gerizim the voice of blessing and of glad tidings of good things It is not the voice of the Trumpet nor the noise of War but a message of peace from the King of peace Eph. 6. 15. 2 Cor. 5. 18 20. Methinks it should be with thee as with the spouse My soul failed when he spake Cant. 5. 6. I may say to thee O sinner as Martha to her Sister The master is come and he calleth for thee Iohn 11. 28. Oh now with Mary arise quickly and come unto him How sweet are his invitations He cryeth in the open concourse If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink Iohn 7. 37. Prov. 1. 21. He broacheth his own body for thee Oh come and lay thy mouth to his side How free he is he excludeth none Whosoever will let him come and take the water of life freely Rev. 22. 17. Whoso is simple let him turn in hither Come eat of my bread drink of the Wine which I have mingled Forsake the foolish and live Prov. 9. 4 5 6. Come unto me c. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me and ye shall find rest unto your souls Mat. 11. 28 29. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out John 6. 37. How doth he bemoan the obstinate refusers O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy Children as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings and ye would not Mat. 23. 37. Behold me behold me I have stretched out my hands all the day to a
Christian and restest in the form of godliness give over thy halving and thy halting be a throughout Christian and be zealous and repent and then though thou hast been an offence ot Christ's stomach thou shall be the joy of his heart Rev. 3. 16 19 20. And now bear witness that mercy hath been offered you I call heaven and earth to record against you this day that I have set before you life and death blessing and cursing therefore chuse life that you may live Deut. 30. 19. I can but wooe you and warn you I cannot compel you to be happy if I could I would What answer will you send me with to my master Let me speak unto you as Abraham's servant to them And now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master tell me Gen. 24. 49. Oh for such a happy answer as Rebekah gave to them Gen. 24. 57 58. And they said we will call the damsel and enquire at her mouth And they called Rebekah and said unto her Wilt thou go with this man and she said I will go Oh that I had but thus much from you Why should I be your accuser Mat. 10. 14 15. who thirst for your salvation Why should the passionate pleadings and wooings of mercy be turned into the horrid aggravations of your obstinacy and additions to your misery Judge in your own selves Do you not think their condemnation will be doubly dreadful that shall still go on in their sins after all endeavours to recall them Doubtless it shall be more toleable for Tyre and Sidâ—n yea for Sâ—dom and Gomorrah in the day of Iudgment than for such Mat. 11. 22. 24. Beloved if you have any pity for your perishing souls close with the present offers of mercy If you would not continue and increase the pains of your travelling Ministers do not stick in the birth If the God that made you have any authority with you obey his command and come in If you are not the despisers of grace and would not shut up the doors of mercy against your selves repent and be converted Let not Heaven stand open for you in vain Let not the Lord Jesus open his wares and bid you buy without money and without price in vain Let not his Ministers and his Spirit strive with you in vain and leave you now at last unperswaded lest the sentence go forth against you The bellows are burnt the lead is consumed of the fire the founder melteth in vain Reprobate silver shall men call them because the Lord hath rejected them Ier. 6. 29 30. Father of Spirits take the heart in hand that is too hard for my weakness Do not thou have ended though I have done Half a word from thine effectual power will do the work O thou that hast the key of David that openest when no man shutteth open thou this heart as thou didst Lydia's and let the King of glory enter in and make this soul thy happy captive Let not the tempter harden him in delays Let him not stir from this place nor take his eyesfrom these lines till he be resolved to forgâ— his sins and to accept of life upon thy self-denying terms In thy name O Lord God did I go forth to these labours in thy name do I shut them up Let not all the time they have cost be but lost hours let not all the thoughts of heart and all the pains that have been about them be but lost labour Lord put in thine hand into the heart of this Reader and send thy Spirit as once thou didst Philip to joyn himself to the Chariot of the Eunuch while he was reading thy word And though I should never know it while I live yet I beseech thee Lord God let it be found at that day that some souls were converted by these labours and let some be able to stand forth and say that by these perswasions they were won unto thee Amen Amen Let him that readeth say Amen FINIS The Terms of our Communion are either from which or to which The Terms from which we must turn are Sin Satan the World and our own Righteousness which must be thus renounced The Terms to which we must turn are either ultimate or mediate The ultimate is God the Father Son and Holy Ghost who must be thus accepted The mediate Terms are either principal or less principal The principal is Christ the Mediatour who must thus be embraced The less Principal are the Laws of Christ which must be thus observed
point save carnal interests ask them why they are Preachers or Priests And if Conversion and Holiness be a needless thing what use they themselves are of and why the Country must be troubled with them and pay them tythes and owe them reverence When these twenty Questions are well answered conclude that you may be saved without Conversion But if poor soul thou art fully convinced and askest What should I do to be converted The Lord make thee willing and save thee from hypocrisie and I will quickly tell thee in a few words 1. Give not over sober thinking of these things till thy heart be changed Psal. 119. 59. 2. Come to Christ and take him for thy Saviour thy Teacher thy King and he will pardon all that 's past and save thee Iohn 1. 12. and 3. 16. and 5. 40. 1 Iohn 5. 11 12. 3. Believe Gods love and the pardon of sin and the everlasting joyes of Heaven that thou maist feel that all the pleasures of the world and flesh are dung in comparison of the Heavenly delights of Faith and Hope and holy Love and peace of Conscience and sincere obedience 4. Sin no more wilfully but forbear that which thou maist forbear Isa. 55. 7. 5. Away from Temptations occasions of sin and evil company and be a Companion of the humble holy heavenly and sincere Psal. 119. 115. 63. 6. Wait on Gods spirit in the diligent constant use of his own means Read hear meditate pray Pray hard for that grace that must convert thee wait thus and thou shalt not wait in vain Psal. 25. 3. and 37. 34. and 69. 6. Pitty O Lord and perswade these souls Let not Christ's blood his doctrine his example his spirit be lost unto them and they lost for ever Let not Heaven be as no Heaven to them while they dream and dote on the shaddows in this world And O save this land from the greater destruction than all our late plagues and flames and divisions which our sins and thy threatnings make us fear O Lord in thee have we trusted let us never be confounded Having thus contributed my endeavour in this Preface to the furtherance of the design of this excellent book I must tell thee Reader that I take it for an honour to commend so masculine a birth unto the World The Midwife of Alexander or Aristotle need not be ashamed of her office Who the Author of this treatise was how he preached how he lived how he suffered and for what and how he died his Life and Letters lately printed fully tell you and I earnestly commend the reading of them to all but especially Ministers not to tell them what men have been here forbidden to preach Christ's Gospel and for what nor what men they are that so many years have done it but to tell you what men Christ's Ministers should be But say not He kill'd himself with excessive Labour and therefore I will take warning and take my ease For 1. He lived in perfect health all his days notwithstanding his labours till after his hard and long imprisonment 2. It was not the greatest labours of his times of liberty that hurt him but his preaching 6 or 7 or 8 times a week after that he was silenced because he could not speak to all his people at once O make not an ill use of so excellent an example Say not like Iudas What need this waste His labour his life his sufferings his death were not in vain The ages to come that read his Life and read this little popular treatise and his Call to Archippus shall say They were not in vain And though he was cut off in the midst of his age and his longer labours more elaborate writings thus prevented take thankfully this small but methodical warm and serious tractate Read it seriously and it cannot be but it must do thee good I am one that have lookt into books and sciences and speculations of many sorts and seriously tell thee as a dying man that after all my searches and experience I have found that Philosophical enquiries into the Divine Artifices and the Nature of things hath among a greater number of uncertainties a great many pretty pleasant probabilities which a holy soul can make good use of in admiring God may find us a lawful kind of sport but in the moralities which Atheists count uncertainties the knowledge of God and our duty and our hopes the doctrine and practice of Holiness Temperance Charity and Iustice and the diligent seeking joyful hopes of life everlasting is all the true Wisdom the Goodness the Rest and Comfort of a soul whatever be our play this is the satisfying certainty the Business and the beatifying improvement of our lives I have done when I have sought to remove a little scandal which I foresaw that I should my self write the Preface to his Life where himself and two of his friends make such a mention of my name which I cannot own which will seem a praising him for praising me I confess it looketh ill-favouredly in me But I had not the power of other mens writings durst not therefore forbear that which was his due Had I directed their pens they should have gone a middle way and only esteemed me a very unworthy servant of Christ who yet long to see the peace and prosperity of his Church and should have forborn their undeserved praise as other men should have done their slanderous libels But if the Reader get no harm by it I assure him the use I made of it was to lament that I am really so much worse than they esteemed me and to fear lest I should prove yet worse than I discern my self who see so much sin and weakness in my betters and much more in my self as to make it the constant sentiment of my soul that PRIDE of mens GREATNESS WISDOM and GOODNESS is the first part of the DEVILS IMAGE on mans soul and DARKNES is the second and MALIGNITY the third Râ— Baxter TO THE UNCONVERTED Reader READER HOw well were it if there were no more unconverted ones among us than those to whom this is directed Vnconverted persons how many are there but how few unconverted Readers especially of such Books as this before thee A Play or a Romance better suits the lusts and therefore must have more of the eye of such what will cherish the evil heart is only grateful not what will change it How many are there to whom this is directed who will not know that they are the men and how little hope is there that this excellent Treatise should reach its end with those who apprehend not themselves concern'd in it Art not thou one of them Art thou a Convert or art thou not yet in thy sins What is sin What is Conversion It may be thou canst tell me neither and yet a Convert thou sayst thou art But to what purpose is it then like to be for the servant of God to
call for my most earnest compassions and hasty diligence to pluck them out of the burning Iud. 23. and therefore to these first I shall apply my self in these lines But whence shall I fetch my arguments or how shall I choose my words Lord wherewith shall I wooe them whereby shall I win them Oh that I could but tell I would write unto them in tears I would weep out every argument I would empty my veins for ink I would petition them on my knees verily were I able I would O how thankfully I would if they would be prevailed with to repent and turn How long have I travelled in birth with you how frequently have I made suit to you how often would I have gathered you how instant have I been with you This is that I have prayed for and studied for for many years that I might bring you to God O that I might but do it Will you yet be intreated O what a happy man might you make me if you would but hearken to me and suffer me to carry you over to Jesus Christ But Lord how insufficient am I for this work I have been many a year wooing for thee but the damsel would not go with me Lord what a task hast thou set me to Alas wherewith shall I pierce the scales of Leviathan or make the heart to feel that is firm as a stone hard as a piece of the nether milstone Shall I go and lay my mouth to the grave and look when the dead will obey me and come forth shall I make an oration to the rocks or declaim to the mountains and think to move them with arguments shall I give the blind to see From the beginning of the world was it not heard that a Man opened the eyes of the blind But thou O Lord canst pierce the scales and prick the heart of the sinner I can but shoot at rovers and draw the bow at a venture do thou direct the arrow between the joints of the harness and kill the sin and save the soul of the sinner that casts his eye into these labours But I must apply my self to you to whom I am sent yet I am at a great loss Would to God I knew how to go to work with you would I stick at the pains God knoweth you your selves are my witnesses how I have followed you in private as well as in publick and have brought the Gospel to your doors testifying to you the necessity of the new birth and perswading you to look in time after a found and through change Beloved I have not acted a part among you to serve my own advantage our Gospel is not yea and nay Have not you heard the same truths from the Pulpit by publick labours and by private letters by personal instructions Bretheren I am of the same mind as ever that holiness is the best choice that there is no entring into Heaven but by the streight passages of the second birth that without holiness you shal never see God Heb. 12. 14. Ah my beloved refresh my bowels in the Lord. If there be any consolation in Christ any comfort of love any fellowship of the spirit any bowels and mercies fulfil you my joy Now give your selves unto the Lord 2 Cor. 8. 5. Now set your faces to seek him Now set up the Lord Jesus in your hearts and set him up in your houses Now come in and kiss the Son Psal. 2. 12. and embrace the tenders of his mercy Touch his Scepter and live why will you die I beg not for my self but fain I would have you happy This is the prize I run for and the white I aim at My souls desire and prayer for you is that you may be saved Rom. 10. 1. The famous Lycurgus having instituted most strict and wholesome laws for his people told them he was necessitated to go a journey from them and got them to bind themselves in an oath that his laws should be observed till his return This done he went into a voluntary banishment and never returned more that they might by vertue of their oath be engaged to the perpetual observing of his laws Methinks I should be glad of the hard conditions which he endured though I love you tenderly so I might but hereby engage you throughly to the Lord Jesus Christ. Dearly beloved would you rejoice the heart of your Ministers Why then embrace the counsels of the Lord by me forgo your sins set to prayer up with the worship of God in your families keep at a distance from the corruptions of the times What greater joy to a Minister than to hear of souls born unto Christ by him and that his children walk in the truth 2 Iâ—h 4. Brethren I beseech you suffer a friendly plainness and freedom with you in your deepest concernments I am not playing the oratour to make a learned speech to you nor dressing my dish with eloquence wherewith to please you These lines are upon a weighty errand indeed viz. to convince and convert and save you I am not baiting my hook with Rhetorick nor fishing for your applause but for your souls My work is not to please you but to save you nor is my business with your fancies but your hearts If I have not your hearts I have nothing If I were to please your ears I would sing another song If I were to preach my self I would steer another course I could then tell you a smoother tale I would make you pillows and speak you peace for how can Ahab love this Micaiah that alwaies prophesies evil concerning him 1 King 22. 8. But how much better are the wounds of a friend than the fair speeches of the harlot who flattereth with her lips till the dart strike through the liver and hunteth for the precious life Prov. 7. 21. 22 23. Prov. 6. 26. If I were to quiet a crying infant I might sing him into a pleasant mood or rock him asleep but when the child is fallen into the fire the parent takes another course he will not now go to still him with a song or trifle I know if we speed not with you you are lost if we cannot get your consent to arise and come away you perish for ever No Conversion and no Salvation I must get your good will or leave you miserable But here the difficulty of my work again recurrs upon me Lord choose my stones out of the rock 1 Sam. 17. 40. v. 45. I come in the name of the Lord of Hosts the God of the armies of Israel I come forth like the stripling against Goliah to wrestle not with flesh and blood but with Principalities and Powers and the Rulers of the darkness of this world Eph. 6. 12. This day let the Lord smite the Philistine and spoil the strong man of his Armour and give me to fetch off the captives out of his hand Lord choose my words choose my weapons for me and when I put my hand
is the Ministry I have begotten you to Christ through the Gospel 1 Cor. 4. 15. Christs ministers are they that are sent to open mens eyes and to turn them to God Act. 26. 18. O unthankful world little do you know what you are doing while you are persecuting the messengers of the Lord. These are they whose business is under Christ to save you Whom have you reproached and blasphemed Against whom have you exalted your voice and lifted up your eyes on high Esay 37. 23. These are the servants of the most high God that shew unto you the way of salvation Act. 16. 17. and do you thus require them O foolish and unwise Deut. 32. 6. Oh sons of ingratitude against whom do you sport your selves against whom make ye a wide mouth and draw out the tongue Esay 57. 3. These are the instruments that God useth to convert and save you and do you spit in the faces of your Physicians and throw your â— Pilots over board Father forgive them for they know not what they do The Instrument Real is the word We were begotten by the word of truth This is it that inlightens the eyes that converteth the soul Psal. 19. 7 8. that maketh wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3. 15. This is the incorruptible seed by which we are born again 1. Pet. 1. 23. If we are washed 't is by the word Eph. 5. 26. if we are sanctified 't is through the truth Ioh. 17. 17. This generates faith and regenerates us Rom. 10. 17. Iames 1. 18. O ye Saints how should you love the word for by this you have been converted O ye sinners how should you ply the word for by this you must be converted No other ordinary means but this You that have felt its renewing power make much of it while you live be for ever thankful for it Tie it about your necks write it upon your hands lay it in your bosoms Prov. 6. 21 22. When you go let it lead you when you sleep let it keep you when you wake let it talk with you Say with holyâ— David I will never forget thy precepts for by them hast thou quickened me Psal. 119. 93. You that are unconverted read the word with diligence flock to it where powerfully preached fill the porches as the multitude of the impotent blind halt withered waiting for the moving of the waters Ioh. 5. 3. Pray for the coming of the spirit in the word Come off thy knees to the sermon and come to thy knees from the sermon The seed doth not prosper because not watered by prayers and tears nor covered by meditation 4. The finall cause is mans salvation and Gods glory We are chosen through sanctification to Salvation 2 Thess. 2. 13. Called that we might be glorified Rom. 8. 30. but especially that God might be glorified Esay 60. 21. that we should shew forth his praises 1. Pet. 2. 9. and be fruitful in good works Col. 1. 10. O Christian do not forget the end of thy calling let thy light shine Mat. 5. 16. let thy lamp burn let thy fruits be good and many and in season Psal. 1. 3. Let all thy designs fall in with Gods that he may be magnified in thee Phil. 1. 20. Why should God repent that he hath made thee a Christian as in the time of the old world that he made them men Gen. 6. 6. Why shouldest thou be an eye-sore in his Orchard Luke 7. by thy unfruitfulness or a son that causeth shame as it were a grief to thy father and a bitterness to her that bare thee Prov. 17. 25. Prov. 10. 5. O let the womb bless thee that bare thee Prov. 17. 21. He that begets a fool doth it to his sorrow and the father of a fool hath no joy 5. The subject is the elect sinner and that in all his parts and powers members and mind Whom God predestinates them only he calls Rom. 8. 30. None are drawn to Christ by their calling nor come to him by believing but his sheep those whom the father hath given him 1 Ioh. 6. 37 44. Effectual calling runs parallel with eternal election 2 Pet. 1. 10. Thou beginnest at the wrong end if thou disputest first about thine Election Prove thy conversion and then never doubt of thine election Or canst thou not yet prove it Set upon a present and thorow turning Whatever Gods purposes be which are secret I am sure his promises are plain How desperately do rebels argue If I am elected I shall be saved do what I will if not I shall be damned do what I can Perverse sinner wilt thou begin where thou shouldest end Is not the word before thee what saith it Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out Acts. 3. 19. If you mortifie the deeds of the body you shall live Rom. 8. 13. Believe and be saved Acts 16. 31. What can be plainer Do not stand still disputing about thine election but set to repenting and believing Cry to God for converting Grace Revealed things belong to thee in these busie thy self 'T is just as one well that they that will not feed on the plain food of the word should be choaked with the bones Whatever Gods purposes be I am sure his promises be true Whatever the decrees of Heaven be I am sure that if I repent and believe I shall be saved and that if I repent not I shall be damnâ—d Is not here plain ground for thee and wilt thou yet run upon the rocks More particularly this change of conversion passes thorowout in the whole subject A carnal person may have some shreds of good morality a little near the list but he is never good throughout the whole cloth the whole body of Holiness and Christianity feel him a little further near the ridge and you shall see him to be but a deceitful piece Conversion is not a repairing of the old building but it takes all down and erects a new structure it is not the putting in a patch or sowing on a list of holiness but with the true convert holiness is woven into all his powers principles and practice The sincere Christian is quite a new fabrick from the foundation to the top stone all fire-new He is a new man Eph. 4. 24. a new creature All things are become new 2. Cor. 5. 17. Conversion is a deep work a heart work Act. 2. 37. and 16. 14. it turns all upside down and makes a man begin a new world It goes thorowout with men thorowout the Mind thorowout the Members thorowout the motions of the wole life 1 Thorowout the Mind It makes an universal change within First it turns the ballance of the judgement so that God and his glory do weigh down all carnal and worldly interests Act. 20. 24. Phil. 1. 20. Psal. 73. 25. It opens the eye of the mind and makes the scales of its native ignorance to fall off and turns men from darkness to light Act. 26. 18. Eph.
but thine unwillingness Speak man art thou willing of the match Wilt thou have Christ in all his relations to be thine thy King thy Priest thy Prophet Wilt thou have him with all his inconveniences Take not Christ hand over head but sit down first and count thy cost Wilt thou lay all at his feet Wilt thou be content to run all hazards with him Wilt thou take thy lot with him fall where it will Wilt thou deny thy self take up thy Cross and follow him Art thou deliberately understandingly freely fixedly detetermined to cleave to him in all times and conditions If so my soul for thine thou shalt never perish Iohn 3. 16. but art passed from death to life Here lies the main point of thy salvation that thou be sound in thy covenant-closure with Jesus Christ and therefore if thou love thy life see that thou be faithful to God and thy soul here Dir. VIII Resign up all thy powers and faculties and thy whole interest to be his They gave their own selves unto the Lord. 2 Cor. 8. 5. Present your bodies as a living Sacrifice Rom. 12. 1. The Lord seeks not yours but you Resign therefore thy body with all its members to him and thy soul with all its powers that he may be glorified in thy body and in thy spirit which are his 1 Cor. 6. 20. In a right closure with Christ all the faculties give up to him The Judgment subscribes Lord thou art worthy of all acceptation chief of ten thousand Happy is the man that findeth thee All the things that are to be desired are not to be compared with thee Prov. 3. 13 14 15. The Understanding lays aside its corrupt reasonings and cavils and its prejudices against Christ and his ways It is now past questioning and disputing and casts it for Christ against all the world It concludes it 's good to be here and sees such a treasure in this field such value in this pearl as is worth all Mat. 13. 44. Oh here 's the richest bargain that â—ver I madeâ— here 's the richest prize that ever man was offered here 's the soveraignst remedy that ever mercy prepared he is worthy of my esteem worthy of my choice worthy of my love worthy to be embraced adored admired for ever more Rev. 5. 12. I approve of his articles his terms are righteous and reasonable full of equity and mercy Again the Will resigns It stands no longer wavering nor wishing and woulding but is peremptorily determin'd Lord thy love hath overcome me thou hast won me and thou shalt have me Come in Lord to thee I freely open I consent to be saved in thine own way thou shalt have any thing thou shalt have all let me have but thee The Memory gives up to Christ Lord here is a store-house for thee Out with this trash lay in thy treasure Let me be a granary a repository of thy truths thy promises thy providences The Conscience comes in Lord I will ever side with thee I will be thy faithful register I will warn when the sinner is tempted and smite when thou art offended I will witness for thee and judge for thee and guide into thy ways and will never let sin have quiet in this soul. The Affections also come in to Christ. O saith Love I am sick for thee O saith Desire now I have my longing Here 's the satisfaction I sought for Here 's the desire of nations Here 's bread for me and balm for me all that I want Fear bows the knee with aw and veneration Welcome Lord to thee will I pay my homage Thy word and thy rod shall command my motions Thee will I reverence and adore before thee will I fall down and worship-Grief likewise puts in Lord thy displeasure and thy dishonour thy peoples calamities and mine own iniquities shall be that that shall set me abroach I will mourn when thou art offended I will weep when thy cause is mounded Anger likewise comes in for Christ Lord nothing so enrages me as my folly against thee that I should be so befooled and bewitched as to hearken to the flatteries of sin and temptations of Satan against thee Hatred too will side with Christ. I protest mortal enmity with thine enemies that I will never be friends with thy foes I vow an immortal quarrel with every sin I will give no quarter I will make no peace Thus let all thy powers give up to Jesus Christ. Again thou must give up thy whole interest to him If there be any thing that thou keepest back from Christ it will be thine undoing Luke 14. 33. Unless thou wilt forsake all in preparation and resolution of thy heart thou canst not be his disciple Thou must hate Father and Mother yea and thine own life also in comparison of him and as far as it stands in competition with him Mat. 10. 37. Luke 14. 26 27 28 c. In a word thou must give him thy self and all that thou hast without reservation or else thou 〈◊〉 have no part in him Dir. IX Make choice of the Laws of Christ as the rule of thy words thoughts and actions Psal. 119. 30. This is the true Converts choice But here remember these three rules 1. Thou must choose them all There is no coming to Heaven by a partial obedience Read Psal. 119. 6 128 160. Ezek. 18. 21. None may think it enough to take up with the cheap and easie part of religion and let alone the duties that are costly and self-denying and grate upon the interest of the flesh You must take all or none A sincere Convert though he makes most conscience of the greatest sins and weightiest duties yet he makes true conscience of little sins and of all duties Psal. 119. 6 113. Mat. 23. 23. 2. For all times for prosperity and for adversity whether it rain or shine A true Convert is resolved in his way he will stand to his choice and will not set his back to the wind and be of the religion of the times I have stuck to thy testimonies I have enclined my heart to perform thy statutes alway even to the end Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever Psal. 119. 31 111 117 44 93. I will have respect unto thy statutes continually 3. This must be done not hand over head but deliberately and understandingly That disobedient son said I go sir but he went not Mat. 24. 30. How fairly did they promise All that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee we will do it and it 's like they spake as they meant but when it came to tryal it was found that there was not such a heart in them as to do what they had promised Deâ—â—â—â— 5. 27 29. If you would be sincere in closing with the laws and ways of Christ First Study the meaning and the latitude and compass of them Remember that they are very spiritual they reach the very thoughts and inclinations of the heart so
renounce mine own worthiness and do here avow thee to be the Lord my Righteousness I renounce mine own wisdom and do here take thee for mine only Guide I renounce mine own will and take thy will for my Law And since thou hast told me that I must suffer if I will reign I do here Covenant with thee to take my lot as it falls with thee and by thy Crace assisting to run all hazards with thee verily supposing that neither life nor death shall part between thee and me And because thou hast been pleased to give me thy holy Laws as the rule of my life and the way in which I should walk to thy Kingdom I do here willingly put my Neck under thy Yoak and set my shoulder to thy burden and subscribing to all thy Laws as holy just and good I solemnly take them as the rule of my words thoughts and actions promising that though my flesh contradict and rebel yet I will endeavour to order and govern my whole life according to thy direction and will not allow my self in the neglect of any thing that I know to be my Duty Only because through the frailty of my flesh I am subject to many failings I am bold humbly to protest That unallowed miscarriages contrary to the setled bent and resolution of my heart shall not make void this Covenant for so thou hast said Now Almighty God searcher of hearts thou knowest that I make this Covenant with thee this day without any known guile or reservation beseeching thee that if thou espiest any flaw or falshood therein thou wouldst discover it to me and help me to do it aright And now Glory be to thee O God the Father whom I shall be bold from this day forward to look upon as my God and Father that ever thou shouldest find out such a way for the recovery of undone sinners Glory be to thee O God the Son who hast loved me and washed me from my sins in thine own blood and art now become my Saviour and Redeemer Glory be to thee O God the Holy Ghost who by the finger of thine Almighty power hast turned about my heart from sin to God O dreadful Iehovah the Lord God Omnipotent Father Son and Holy Ghost thou art now become my Covenant-friend and I through thine infinite Grace am become thy Covenant-servant Amen So be it And the Covenant which I have made on earth let it be ratified in Heaven The Author's advice THis Covenant I advise you to make not only in Heart but in Word not only in Word but in Writing and that you would with all possible reverence spread the Writing before the Lord as if you would present it to him as your Act and Deed. And when you have done this set your hand to it Keep it as a Memorial of the Solemn Transactions that have passed between God and you that you may have recourse to it in Doubts and Temptations Dir. XI Take heed of delaying thy Conversion and set upon a speedy and present turning I made hast and delayed not Psal. 119. 59. Remember and tremble at the sad instance of the â—oolish Virgins that came not till the door of mercy was shut Mat. 25. and of a convinced Felix that put off Paul to another season and we never find that he had such a season more Act. 24. 25. O come in while it 's called to day lest thou shouldest be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin lest thy day of Grace should be over and the things that belong to thy peace should be hid from thine eyes Now mercy is wooing of thee Now Christ is waiting to be gracious to thee and the Spirit of God is striving with thee Now Ministers are calling now Conscience is stirring now the Market is open and Oyl may be had thou hast opportunity for the buying Now Christ is to be had for the taking Oh! strike in with the offers of Grace Oh! now or never If thou make light of this offer God may swear in his wrath thou shalt never tast of his Supper Luke 14. 24. Dir. XII Attend conscientiously upon the word as the means appointed for thy Conversion Iames 1. 18. 19. 1. Cor. 4. 15. Attend I say not customarily but Conscientiously with this desire design hope and expectation that thou maist be converted by it Every sermon thou hearest come with this thought Oh I hope God will now come in I hope this may be the time this may be the man by whom God will bring me home When thou art coming to the Ordinances lift up thine heart thus to God Lord let this be the Sabbath let this be the season wherein I may receive renewing Grace Oh let it be said that to day such a one was born unto thee Object Thou wilt say I have been long a hearer of the word and yet it hath not been effectual to my Conversion Answer Yea but thou hast not attended upon it in this manner as a means of thy Conversion nor with this design nor praying for and expecting of this happy effect of it Dir. XIII Strike in with the Spirit when he begins to work upon thy heart When he works convictions Oh do not stifle them but joyn in with him and beg the Lord to carry on convictions to conversion Quench not the Spirit do not out-strive him do not resist him Beware of putting out convictions by evil company or worldly business When thou findest any troubles for sin and fears about thine eternal State beg of God that they may never leave thee till they have wrought off thy heart throughly from sin and wrought it over to Jesus Christ. Say to him Strike home Lord leave not the work in the midst If thou seest that I am not yet wounded enough that I am not troubled enough wound me yet deeper Lord. Oh go to the bottom of my corruptions let out the life blood of my sins Thus yield up thy self to the workings of the Spirit and hoise thy sails to his gusts Dir. XIV Set upon the constant and diligent use of serious and fervent prayer He that neglects prayer is a prophane and unsanctified sinner Iob 15. 4. He that is not constant in prayer is but an Hypocrite Iob 27. 10. unless the omission be contrary to his ordinary course under the force of some instant temptation This is one of the first things that Conversion appears in that it sets men on praying Act 9. 11. Therefore set to this dutyâ— Let never a day pass over thee wherein thou hast not morning and evening set apart some time for set and solemn prayer in secret Call thy family also together daily and duly to worship God with thee Wo unto thee if thine be found amongst the families that call not on Gods name Ier. 10. 25. But cold and lifeless devotions will not reach half way to Heaven Be fervent and importunate Importunity will carry it But without violence the Kingdom of Heaven will
to deal with as you have Who is a God 〈◊〉 unto thee that pardoneth iniquity c. Mic. 7. 18. Oh sinners see what a God you have to deal with if you will but turn He will turn again and have compassion upon you he will subdue your iniquities and cast all your sins into the depths of the Sea v. 19. Return unto me saith the Lord of hosts and I will return unto you Mal. 3. 7. Zech. 1. 3. Sinners do not fail in that they have too high thoughts of Gods mercies but in that 1. They overlook his Iustice. 2. They promise themselves mercy out of Gods way His mercies are beyond all imagination Esay 55. 9. great mercies 1 Chron. 21. 13. manifold mercies Neh. 9. 19. tender mercies Psal. 25. 6. sure mercies Esay 55. 3. everlasting mercies Psal. 103. 17. Esay 54. 8. and all thine own if thou wilt but turn Art thou willing to come in Why the Lord hath laid aside his terror erected a Throne of grace holds forth the golden Scepter touch and live Would a merciful man slay his enemy when prostrate at his feet acknowledging his wrong begging pardon and offering to enter with him into a Covenant of peace Much less will the merciful God Study his name Exod. 34. 7. Read their experience Neh. 9. 17. Secondly His soul-encouraging calls and promises do invite thee Ah what an earnest suiter is mercy to thee how lovingly how instantly it calleth after thee how passionately it wooeth thee Return thou backsliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you for I am merciful saith the Lord and I will not keep anger for ever Only acknowledge thine iniquity Turn O backsliding children saith the Lord for I am married unto you return and I will heal your backslidings Thou hast plaid the harlot with many lovers yet return unto me saith the Lord. Ier. 3. 1 12 13 14 22. As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye from your evil ways for why will ye die O house of Israel Ezek. 33. 11. If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed and keep all my statutes and do that which is lawful and right he shall surely live he shall not die All his transgressions that he hath committed they shall not be mentioned unto him in his righteousness that he hath done shall he live Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine Cast away from you all your transgressionsâ— and make you a clean heart and a new spirit for why will ye die O house of Israel For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord God wherefore turn your selves and live ye Ezek. 18. 21 22 30 31 32. Oh melting gracious words The voice of a God and not of a man This is not the manner of men for the offended Soveraign to sue to the offending traiterous varlet Oh how doth mercy follow thee and plead with thee Is not thy heart broken yet Oh that to day ye would hear his voice 2. The doors of Heaven are thrown open to thee The everlasting gates are set wide for thee and an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven administred to thee Christ now bespeaks thee as she her husband Arise and take possession 1 Kings 21. 15. View the glory of the other world as set forth in the map of the Gospel Get thee up into the Pisgah of the promises and lift up thine eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward and see the good land that is beyond Iordan and that goodly mountain Behold the Paradise of God watered with the streams of glory Arise and walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it for all the land which thou seest the Lord will give it to thee for ever if thou wilt but return Gen. 13 14 15 17. Let me say to thee as Paul to Agrippa Believest thou the Prophets If thou believest indeed do but view what glorious things are spoken of the City of God Psal. 87. 3. and know that all this is here tendered in the name of God to thee As verily as God is true it shall be for ever thine if thou wilt but throughly turn Behold the City of pure transparent gold whose foundations are garnished with all manner of precious stones whose gates are pearls whose light is glory whose Temple is God Believest thou this If thou dost art not thou worse than distracted that wilt not take possession when the gates are flung open to theeâ— and thou art bid to enterâ— O ye sons of folly will ye embrace the dunghils and refuse the Kingdom Behold the Lord God taketh you up into the mountain shews you the Kingdom of Heaven and all the glory thereof and tells you All this will I give you if you will fall down and wâ—rship meâ— â—f you will submit to mercy accept my Sâ—â—â— and serve me in righteousness and holiness O fools and slow of heart to believe will ye court the harlot will you seek and serve the world and neglect the eternal glory What not enter into Paradise when the flaming sword that was once set to keep you out is now used to drive you in But you will say I am uncharitable to think you infidels and unbelievers Why what shall I think you Either you are desperate unbelievers that do not credit it or stark distracted that you know and believe the excellency and eternity of this glory and yet do so fearfully neglect it Sure you have no faith or no reason and I had almost said conscience should tell you so before I leave you Do but attend what is offered you Oh blessed Kingdom A Kingdom of glory 1 Thess. 2. 12. a Kingdom of righteousness 2 Pet. 3. 13. a Kingdom of peace Rom. 14. 17. an everlasting Kingdom 2 Pet. 1. 11. Here thou shalt dwell here thou shalt reign for ever and the Lord shall set thee in a Throne of glory Mat. 19. 28. and with his own hand shall set the Royal Diadem upon thine head and give thee a Crown not of thorns for there shall be no sinnning nor suffering there Rev. 21. 27 22 3 4 5. not of Gold for this shall be viler than the dirt in that day but a Crown of life Iames 1. 12. a Crown of righteousness 2 Tim. 4. 8. a Crown of glory 1 Pet. 5. 4. Yea thou shalt put on glory as a robe 1 Cor. 15. 53. and shalt shine like the Sun in the firmament in the glory of thy Father Mat. 13. 43. Look now upon thy dirty flesh thy clay thy worms-meat this very flesh this lump this carcase shall be brighter than the Stars Dan. 12. 3. In short thou shalt be made like unto the Angels of God Luke 20. 36. and behold his
13. If God had demanded some terrible some severe and rigorous thing of you to escape eternal damnation would you not have done it Suppose it had been to spend all your days in sorrow in some howling wilderness or pine your selves with famine or to offer the fruit of your bodies for the sin of your souls would you not have thankfully accepted eternal redemption though these had been the conditions Yea further if God should have told you you should have fried in the fire for millions of ages or been tormented so long in hell would you not have gladly accepted it Alas all these are not so much as one sand in the glass of eternity If your offended Creatour should have held you but one year on the rack and then come and bid you take your choice whether you would renounce your sins accept his Christ and serve him a few years in self-denial or lie in this case for ever and ever do you think you should have stuck at the offer and disputed the terms and have been unresolved whether you were best to accept of the motion O sinner return and live why shouldst thou die when life is to be had for the taking and mercy would be beholding to thee as it were to be saved Couldst thou say indeed Lord I knew that thou wast an hard man Mat. 25. 24. thou hadst some little excuse but when the God of Heaven hath stooped so low and abated so far if now thou shouldst stand off who shall plead for thee Obj. Notwithstanding all these abatements I am no more able to perform these conditions in themselves so easie of faith and repentance and sincere obedience than to satisfy and fulfil the law Answ. These you may perform by Gods grace enabling whereas the other are naturally impossible in this state even to believers themselves But let the next consideration serve for a fuller answer 5. Wherein you are impotent God doth offer grace to enable you I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded Prov. 1. 24. What though you are plunged into the ditch of that misery from which you can never get out Christ offereth to help you out he stretcheth forth his hand to you and if you perish it is for refusing his help Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man open to me I will come in Rev. 3. 20. What though you are poor and wretched and blind and naked Christ offereth a cure for your blindness a cover for your nakedness a remedy for your poverty he tendereth you his righteousness his graces I counsel thee to buy of me gold that thou maist be rich and white raâ—ment that thou maisi be cloathed and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou maist see Rev. 3â— 17 18. Do you say The condition is impossible for I have not wherewith to buy You must know that this buying is without money and without price Esay 55. 1. This buying is by begging and seeking with diligence and constancy in the use of Gods means Prov. 2. 3 4. God commandeth thee to know him and to fear him Dost thou say yea but my mind is blinded and my heart hardened from his fear I answer God doth offer to enlighten thy mind and to teach thee his fear that is presented to thy choice Prov. 1. 29. For that they hated knowledge and did not chuse the fear of the Lord. So that now if men live in ignorance and estrangement from the Lord it is because they will not understand and desire not the knowledge of his ways Iob. 21. 14 If thou criest after knowledge if thou seekest her as Silver c. Then shalt thou understand and the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Prov. 2. 3 4 5. Is not here a fair offer Turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my spirit unto you Prov. 1. 23. Though of your selves you can do nothing yet you may do all things through his spirit enabling you and he doth offer his assistance to you God bids you Wash you and make you clean Esay 1. 16. you say you are unable as much as the Leopard to wash out his spots Ier. 13. 23. yea but the Lord doth offer to purge you so that if you be filthy still 't is through your own wilfulness Esek 24. 13. I have purged thee and thou waâ—t not purged Jer. 13. 27. O Jerusaleâ— wilt thou not be made clean when shall it once be God doth wait when you will be made clean when you will yield to his motions and accept of his offers and let him do for and in you what you cannot do of your selves You do not know how much God will do upon your importunity if you will but be restless and instant with him Luke 11. 8. and 18. 5. If God 〈◊〉 not bound himself by express promisâ—â—â—â— wicked men to give them Grace in the dâ—â—â—gent use of the means yet he hath given them abundant encouragement to expect it from him if they seek it earnestly in his way His most grâ—cious nature is abundant encouragement If a rich and most bountiful man should seâ— thee in misery and bid thee come to his door wouldst thou not with confidence expect at thy coming to find some relief Thou art not able to believe nor repent God appoints thee to use such and such means in order to thy obtaining faith and repentance doth not this argue that God will bestow these upon thee if thou dost ply him diligently in prayer meditation reading hearing self-examination and the rest of his means Otherwise God should but mock his poor creatures to put them upon these self-denying endeavours and then when they have put hard to it and continued waiting upon him for Grace deny them at last Surely if a sweet-natured man would not deal thus much less will the most merciful and gracious God I intended to have added many other arguments but these have swoln under my hands and I hope the judicious reader will rather look upon the weight than the number The Conclusion of the whole And now my brethren let me know your minds What do you intend to do Will you go on and dye or will you set upon a thorow and speedy conversion and lay hold on eternal life How long will you linger in Sodom how long will you halt between two opinions 1. Kings 18. 21. Are you not yet resolved whether Christ or Barrabas whether bliss or torment whether the land of Cabul 1 kings 9. 13. or the Paradise of God be the better choice Is it a disputable case whether the Abana and Pharphar of Damascus be better than all the streams of Eden or whether the vile puddle of sin be to be preferred before the water of life clear as Crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb Can the world in good earnest do that for you that Christ can will it stand by you to eternity will pleasures titles lands treasures
rebellious people Easy 65. 1 2. Oh be perswaded now at last to throw your selves into the arms of love Behold O ye sons of men the Lord Jesus hath thrown open the prisons and now he cometh to you as the Magistrates once to them Act. 16. 39 and beseecheth you to come out If it were from a Palace or a Paradise that Christ did call you it were no wonder if you were unwilling and yet how easily was Adam â—olled from hence but it is from your prison sirs from your chains from the dungeon from the darkness that he calleth you Esay 42. 6 7. and yet will you not come He calleth you unto liberty Gal. 5. 13. and yet will you not hearken His Yoke is easie his Laws are liberty his service freedome Mat. 11. 30. Iames 1. 25. 1. Cor. 7. 22. and whatever prejudices you have against his ways if a God may be believed you shall find them all pleasure and peace and shall taste sweetness and joyâ—unutterable and take infinite content and felicity in them Prov. 3. 17. Psal. 119. 165. 1 Pet. 1. 8. Psal. 119. 103 111. Beloved I am loth to leave you I cannot tell how to give you over I am now ready to shut up but fain I would drive this bargain between Christ and you before I end What shall I leave you as I found you at last Have you read hitherto and are not yet resolved upon a present abandoning all your sins and closing with Jesus Christ Alas what shall I say what shall I do Will you turn off all my importunity Have I run in vain Have I used so many arguments and spent so much time to perswade you and yet must sit down at last in disappointment But it is a small matter that you turn off me you put a slight upon the God that made you you reject the bowels and beseechings of a Saviour and will be found resisters of the Holy Ghost Act. 7. 51. if you will not now be prevailed withâ— to repent and be converted Well though I have caâ—â—ed long and ye have refused I shall yet this once more lift up my voice like a Trumpet and cry from the highest places of the City before I conclude with a miserable Conclamatum est Once more I shall call after regardless sinners that if it be possible I may awaken them O earth earth earth hear the word of the Lord. Ier. 22. 29. Unless you be resolved to dye lend your ears to the last calls of mercy Behold in the name of God I make open proclamation to you Hearken unto me O ye Children Hear instruction and he wise and refuse it not Prov. 8. 32 33. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without priee Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently unto me and eat yet that which is good and let your sâ—ul delight it self in fatness Incline your ear and come ye unto me hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Esay 55. 1 2 3. Ho every one that is sick of any manner of disease or torment Mat. 4. 23 24. or is possessed with an evil spirit whether of pride or fury or lust or covetousness come ye to the Physician bring away your sick Loe here is he that healeth all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people Ho every one that is in debt and every one that is in distress and every one that is discontented gather your selves unto Christ and he will become a Captain over you He will be your protection from the arrests of the Law He will save you from the hand of justice Behold he is an open sanctuary to you he is a known refuge Heb. 6. 18. Psal. 48. 3. Away with your sins and come in unto him lest the avenger of bloud seize you lest devouring wrath overtake you Ho every ignorant sinner come and buy eye-salve that thou maist see Rev. 3. 18. Away with thine excuses thou art for ever lost if thou continuest in this estate 2 Cor. 4. 3. But accept of Christ for thy Prophet and he will be a light unto thee Esay 42. 6. Eph. 5. 14. Cry unto him for knowledge study his word take pains about the principles of religion humble thy self before him and he will teach thee his way and make thee wise unto salvation Mat. 13. 36. Luke 8. 9. Iohn 5. 39. Psal. 25. 9. But iâ— thou wilt not follow him in the painful use of his means but sit down because thou hast but one talent he will condemn thee for a wicked and slothful servant Mat. 25. 24 26. Ho every prophane sinner come in and live Return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon thee Be entreated Oh return come Thou that hast filled thy mouth with oaths and execrations all manner of sins and blasphemies shall be forgiven thee Mark 3. 28. If thou wilt but throughly turn unto Christ and come in Though thou hast been as unclean as Magdalen yet put away thy Whoredomes out of thy sight and thine adulteries from between thy breasts and give up thy self unto Christ as a vessel of holiness alone for his use and then though thy sins be as scarlet they shall be as wool and though they be as crimson they shall be as white as snow Luke 7. 37. Hos. 2. 2. 1 Thess. 4. 4. Esay 1. 18. Hear O ye Drunkards how long will ye be drunken put away your wine 1 Sam. 1. 14. Though you have rolled in the vomit of your sin take the vomit of repentance and heartily disgorge your beloved lusts and the Lord will receive you 2 Cor. 6. 17. Give up your selves unto Christ to live soberly righteously and godly embrace his righteousness accept his government and though you have been swine he will wash you Rev. 3. 6. Hear O ye loose companions whose delight is in vain and wicked society to sport away your time in carnal mirth and jollity with them come in at wisdoms call and choose her and her ways and forsake the foolish and you shall live Prov. 9. 5 6. Hear O ye scorners hear the word of the Lord. Though you have made a sport at godliness and the professors thereof though you have made a scorn of Christ and of his ways yet even to you doth he call to gather you under the wings of his mercy Prov. 1. 22 23. In a word though you should be found among the worst of that black roll 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. yet upon your through Conversion you shall washed be you shall be justified you shall be sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God ver 11. Ho every formal professor that art but a lukewarm and dough-baked