counsels are against thee to contrive they destruction Ier. 18. 11. He laughs in himself to see how thou wilt be taken and ensnared in the evil day Psal. 37. 13. The Lord shall laugh at him for he seeth that the day is coming He sees how thou wilt come down mightily in a moment how thou wilt wring thine hands and tear thine hair and eat thy flesh and gnash thy teeth for anguish and astonishment of heart when thou seest thou art fallen remedilesly into the pit of destruction Fifthly The truth of God is sworn against thee Psal. 95. 11. If he be true and faithful thou must perish if thou goest on Luke 13. 3. Unless he be false of his word thou must die except thou repent Ezek. 33. 11. If we believe not yet he abideth faithful he cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2. 13. That is he is faithful to his threatnings as well as promises and will shew his faithfulness in our confusion if we believe not God hath told thee as plain as it can be spoken That if he wash thee not thou hast no part in him John 13. 8. that if thou livest after the flesh thou shalt die Rom. 8. 13. That except thou be converted thou shalt in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 18. 3. and he abideth faithful he cannot deny himself Beloved as the immutable faithfulness of God in his promise and oath afford Believers strong consolation Heb. 6. 18. so they are to Unbelievers for strong consternation and confusion O sinner tell me what shift dost thou make to think of all the threatnings of Gods word that stand upon record against thee Dost thou believe their truth or not If not thou art a wretched inâ—idel and not a Christian and therefore give over the name and hopes of a Christian. But if thou dost believe them O heart of steel that thou hast that canst walk up and down in quiet when the truth and faithfulness of God is engaged to destroy thee That if God Almighty can do it thou shalt surely perish and be damned Why man the whole book of God doth testifie against thee while thou remainest unsanctified It condemns thee in every leaf and is to thee like Ezekiel's roll written within and without with lamentation and mourning and woe Ezek. 2. 10. and all this shall surely come upon thee and overtake thee Deut. 28. 15. except thou repent Heaven and Earth shall pass away but one jot or tittle of this word shall never pass away Mat. 5. 18. Now put all this together and tell me if the case of the unconverted be not deplorably miserable As we read of some persons that had bound themselves in an oath and in a curse to kill Paul So thou must know O sinner to thy terrer that all the Attributes of the Infinite God are bound in an oath to destroy thee Heb. 3. 28. O man what wilt thou do Whither wilt thou fly If Gods Omnisciency can find thee thou shalt not escape If the true and faithful God will save his Oath perish thou must except thou believe and repent If the Almighty hath power to torment thee thou shalt be perfectly miserable in Soul and Body to all eternity unless it be prevented by thy speedy Conversion II. The whole Creation of God is against thee The whole Creation saith Paul groaneth and travelleth in pain Rom. 8. 22. But what is it that the Creation groaneth under Why the fearful abuse that it is subject to in serving the lusts of unsanctified men And what is it that the Creation groaneth for Why for freedom and liberty from this abuse for the creature is very unwillingly subject to this bondage Rom. 8. 19 20 21. If the unreasonable and inanimate creatures had speech and reason they would cry out under it as bondage unsufferable to be abused by the ungodly contrary to their natures and the ends that the great Creator made them for It is a passage of an eminent Divine The liquor that the drunkard drinketh if it had reason as well as a man to know how shamefully 't is abused and spoiled it would groan in the Barrels against him it would groan in the Cup against him groan in his Throat in his Belly against him It would fly in his Face if it could speak And if God should open the mouths of the Creatures as he did the mouth of Balaam's Ass the proud mans garments on his back would groan against him There is never a creature but if it had reason to know how 't is abused till a man be converted it would groan against him The land would groan to bear him the air would groan to give him breathing their houses would groan to lodge them their beds would groan to ease them their food to nourish them their clothes to cover them and the creature would groan to give them any help and comfort so long as they live in sin against God. Thus far he Methinks this should be a terror to an unconverted soul to think that he is a burden to the Creation Luke 13. 7. Cut it down why cumbreth it the ground If the poor inanimate creatures could but speak they would say to the ungodly as Moses to Israel Must we fetch you water out of the Rock ye rebe's Numb 2. 10. Thy food would say Lord must I nourish such a wretch as this and yield forth my strength for him to dishonour thee withall No. I will choak him rather if thou wilt give me commission The very air would say Lord must I give this man breath to set his tongue against Heaven and scorn thy people and vent his pride and wrath and filthy communication and belch our oaths and blasphemy against thee No if thou but say the word he shall be breathless for me His poor Beast would say Lord must I carry him upon his wicked designs No I will break his bones I will end his days rather if I may have but leave from thee A wicked man the earth groans under him and Hell groans for him till death satisfies both and unburdens the earth and stops the mouth of Hell with him While the Lord of Hosts is against thee be sure the Hosts of the Lord are against thee and all the creatures as it were up in arms till upon a mans convertion the controversie being taken up between God and him he makes a convenant of peace with the creatures for him Iob 5. 22 23 24. Hos. 2. 18 19 20. III. The roaring Lyon hath his full power upon thee 1 Pet. 5. 8. Thou art fast in the paw of that Lion that is greedy to devour In the snare of the Devil led captive by him at 〈◊〉 will 2 Tim. 2. 26. This is the spirit that worketh in 〈◊〉 Children of disobedience Eph. 2. 2. His Drudgeâ— they are and his lusts they do He is the Ruler of the darkness of this world Eph. 6. 12. that is of ignorant sinners that live in darkness You
mine iniquity and am by Nature a Son of Death and a thousand-fold more the Child of Hell by my wicked practice But of thine infinite Grace thou hast promised Mercy to me in Christ if I will but turn to Thee with all my Heart Therefore upon the Call of thy Gospel I am now come in and throwing down my weapons submit my self to thy Mercy And because thou requirest as the Condition of my Peace with Thee that I should put away mine Idols and be at defiance with all thine Enemies which I acknowledge I have wickedly sided with against Thee I here from the bottom of my heart renounce them all firmly Covenanting with thee not to allow my self in any known sin but conscientiously to use all the means that I know thou hast prescribed for the death and utter destruction of all my corruptions And whereas I have formerly inordinately and idolatrously let out my affections upon the World I do here resign up my heart to Thee that madest it humbly protesting before thy Glorious Majesty that it is the firm resolution of my heart and that I do unfeignedly desire Grace from Thee that when thou shalt call me hereunto I may practise this my resolution through thy assistance to forsake all that is dear unto me in this world rather than to turn from thee to the ways of sin and that I will watch against all its temptations whether of Prosperity or Adversity lest they should withdraw my heart from thee beseeching thee also to help me against the temptations of Satan to whose wicked Suggestions I resolve by thy grace never to yield my self a Servant And because my own righteousness is but menstruous rags◠I renounce all confidence therein and acknowledge that I am of my self a hopeless helpless undone creature without righteousness or strength And forasmuch as thou hast of thy bottomless Mercy offered most graciously to me wretched sinner to be again my God through Christ if I would accept of thee I call Heaven and Earth to record this day that I do here solemnly avouch thee for the Lord my God and with all possible veneration bowing the neck of my Soul under the feet of thy most Sacred Majesty I do here take thee Lord Iehovah Father Son and Holy Ghost for my Portion and chief good and to give up my self Body and Soul for thy Servant promising and vowing to serve thee in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of my life And since thou hast appointed the Lord Jesus Christ the only means of coming unto thee I do here upon the bended knees of my Soul accept of him as the only new and living way by which sinners may have access to thee and do here solemnly joyn my self in Marriage Covenant to him O Blessed Jesus I come to thee hungry and hardly bested poor and wretched and miserable and blind and naked a most loathsom polluted wretch a guilty condemned Malefactor unworthy for ever to wash the feet of the servants of my Lord much more to be solemnly married to the King of Glory but sith such is thine unparallel'd love I do here with all my power accept thee and do take thee for my Head and Husband for better for worse for richer for poorer for all times and conditions to love honour and obey thee before all others and this to the death I embrace thee in all thine offices I 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 grace 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 iust 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 shouldst 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 AUTHORS 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 〈◊〉 a Memorial of the Solemn Transactions that have passed between God and you that you may have recourse to it in Doubts and Temptations Direct XI Take heed of delaying thy Conversion and set upon a speedy and present turning I made haste and delayed not Psal. 119. 60. Remember and tremble at the sad instance of the foolish 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 Acts 24. 25. O come in while it is called to day lest thou shouldst be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin lest thy day of grace should be over and the things that
him This was the Converts voice The Lord is my portion saith my soul Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal. 73. 25 26. Lam. 3. 24. Secondly it turns the byass of the Will both as to means and end 1. The intention of the Will is altered Ezek. 36. 26. Ier. 31. 33. Esay 26. 8 9. Now the man hath new ends and designs Now he intends God above all and desires and designs nothing in all the world so much as that Christ may be magnified in him Phil. 1. 20. He accounts himself more happy in this than in all that the earth could yield that he may be serviceable to Christ and bring him glory in his generation This is the mark he aims aâ— that the name of Jesus may be great in the world and that all the Sheaves of his Brethren may bow to this Sheaf Reader dost thou view this and never ask thy self whether it be thus with thee Pause a while and breath on this great concernment 2. The Election also is changed so that he chooses another way Psal. 119. 30. He pitches upon God as his blessedness and upon Christ as the principal and holiness as the subordinate means to bring him to God Iohn 14. 6. Rom. 2. 7. He chooses Jesus for his Lord Col. 2. 6. He is not meerly forced into Christ by the storm nor doth he take Christ for bare necessity as the man begged from the gallows when he takes the wife rather than the halter but he comes off freely in the choice This match is not made in a fright as with the terrified conscience or dying sinner that will seemingly do any thing for Christ but doth only take Christ rather than Hell but he deliberately resolves that Christ is his best choice Phil. 1. 23. and would rather have him to choose than all the good of this world might he enjoy it while he would Again he takes holiness for his path He doth not out of meer necessity submit to it but he likes and loves it I have chosen the way of thy Precepts Ps. 119. 173. He takes God's testimonies not as his bondage but as his heritage yea his heritage for ever v. 111. He counts them not his burden but his Bliss not his cords but his cordials 1 Iohn 5. 3. Psal. 119. 14 16 17. He doth not only bear but take up Christ's yoke He takes not holiness as the stomach doth the loathed potion which it will down with rather than dye but as the hungry doth his beloved food Now time passes so sweetly with him when he is himself as that he spends in the exercises of holiness these are both his aâ—â—â—ent and element the desire of his eyes and the joy of his heart Iob 23. 12. Psal. 119. 82 131 162 174. Psal. 63. 5. Put thy conscience to it as thou goest whether thou art the man O happy man if this be thy case But see thou be thorow and impartial in the search Thirdly It turns the bent of the affection 2 Cor. 7. 11. These run all in a new channel The Iordan is now driven back and the water runs upward against its natural course Christ is his Hope 1 Tim. 1. 1. this is his prize Phil. 3. 8. here his eye is here his heart is He is contented to cast all over board as the merchant in the Storm ready to perish so he may but keep this Jewel The first of his Desires is not after gold but grace Phil. 3. 13. He hungers after it he seeks it as silver he digs for it as for hid treasure He had rather be gracious than be great he had rather be the holiest man on earth than the most learned the most famous most prosperous While carnal he said Oh if I were but in great esteem and rolled in wealth and swim'd in pleasure if my debts were paid and I and mine provided for then I were a happy man but now the tune is changed Oh saith the convert if I had but my corruptions subdued if I had such measures of grace such fellowship with God tho' I were poor and despised I should not care I should account my self a blessed man. Reader is this the language of thy soul His Ioys are changed He rejoyceth in the ways of God's Testimonies as much as in all Riches Psal. 119. 14. He delights in the Law of the Lord wherein once he had little favour He hath no such Joy as in the thoughts of Christ the fruition of his company the prosperity of his people His Cares are quite altered He was once set for the World and any scraps of by time nothing too often was enough for his soul. Now he gives over caring for the Asses and sets his heart on the Kingdom Now all the cry is What shall I do to be saved Acts 16. 30. His great solicitude is how to secure his soul. Oh! how he would bless you if you could but put him out of doubt of this His Fears are not so much of suffering but of sinning Heb. 11. 25 27. Once he was afraid of nothing so much as the loss of his estate or esteem the pleasure of friends the frowns of the great Nothing sounded so terrible to him as pain or poverty or disgrace Now these are little to him in comparison of God's dishonour or displeasure How warily doth he walk lest he should tread on a snâ—â—e He feareth alway he looks before and behind he hath his eye upon his heart and is often casting over his shoulder lest he should be overtaken with sin Psal. 39. 1. Prov. 28. 14. Eccles. 2. 14. It kills his heart to think of losing Gods favour this he dreads as his only undoing Psal. 51. 11 12. Psal. 119. 8. No thought in the world doth pinch him and pain him so much as to think of parting with Christ. His Love runs a new course My love was crucified said holy Ignatius that is my Christ. This is my Beloved saith the Spouse Cant. 5. 18. How doth Augustine often pour his loves upon Christ. O Eternal Blessedness c. He can find no words sweet enough Let me see thee O light of mine eyes Come O thou joy of my spirit Let me behold thee O the gladness of my heart Let me love thee O life of my soul. Appear unto me O my great delight my sweet comfort O my God my life and the whole glory of my soul. Let me find thee O desire of my heart Let me hold thee O love of my soul. Let me embrace thee O heavenly Bridegroom Let me possess thee His Sorrows have now a new vent 2 Cor. 7. 9 10. The view of his sins the sight of a Christ crucified that would scarce stir him before now how much do they affect his heart His Hatred boils his Anger burns against sin Psal. 119. 104. He hath no patience with himself
my Liege Soveraign and resolve all my days to pay the tribute of Worship Obedience and Love and Service is thee and to live to thee as the end of my Life This is a right accepting of God. To be short he tells you I am the true and faithful God. If you wiâ—l have me for your God you must be content to trust me 2 Tim. 1. 12. Prov. 3. 5. Will you venture your selves upon my word and depend on my faithfulness and take my bond for your security Will you be content to follow me in poverty and reproach and affliction here and to see much going out and little coming in and to tarry till the next world for your preferment Mat. 9. 21. I deal much upon trust will you be content to labour and suffer and to tarry for your returns till the Resurrection of the Just Luke 14. 14. The womb of my Promise will not presently bring forth will you have the patience to wait Heb. 10. 36. Now Beloved what say you to this Will you have this God for your God Will you be content to live by faith and trust him for an unseen happiness an unseen heaven an unseen glory Do your hearts answer Lord we will venture our selves upon thee we commit our selves to thee We roll upon thee we know whom we have trusted we are willing to take thy word we will prefer thy promises before our own possessions and the hopes of Heaven before all the enjoyments of the Earth We will wait thy leisure What thou wilt here so that we may have but thy faithful promise for Heaven hereafter If you can in truth and upon deliberation thus accept of God he will be yours Thus there must be in a right conversion to God a closing with him suitable to his excellencies But when men close with his mercy but yet love sin hating holiness and purity or will take him for their Benefactor but not for their Soveraign or for their Patron but not for their Portion this is no thorow and no sound Conversion Direct VII Accept of the Lord Iesus in all his Offices with all his inconveniences as thine Upon these terms Christ may be had Sinner thou hast undone thy self and art plunged into the Ditch of most deplorable misery out of which thou art never able to climb up But Jesus Christ is able and ready to help thee and he freely tenders himself to thee Heb. 7. 25. Iohn 3. 36. Be thy sins never so many never so great of never so long continuance yet thou shalt be most certainly pardoned and saved if thou dost not wretchedly neglect the offer that in the name of God is here made unto thee The Lord Jesus calleth unto thee to look unto him and be saved Isa. 45. 22. to come unto him and he will in no wise cast thee out Iohn 6. 37. Yea he is a suitor to thee and beseecheth thee to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 20. he cryeth in the streets he knocketh at thy door he wooeth thee to accept of him and live with him Prov. 1. 20. Rev. 2. 30. If thou diest 't is because thou wouldst not come to him for life Iohn 5. 40. Now accept of an offered Christ and thou art made for ever Now give up thy consent to him and the match is made all the world cannot hinder it Do not stand off because of thine unworthiness Man I tell thee nothing in all the world can undo thee but thine unwillingnessâ— Speak man art thou willing of the match Wilt thou have Christ in all his celations 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 the 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 determined to â—â—eave 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 found in thy covenant-closure with Jesus Christ and therefore if thou love thy self see that thou be faithful to God and thy soulâ— ere Direct 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 Resing 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 â—t worthy of all acceptation chief of ten thousand Happy is the man that finâ—eth 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 ever I made here 's the richest prize that ever man was offereâ— here 's the sovereignest remedy that ever mercy prepared he is worthy of my esteem worthy of my choice worthy of my love worthy to be embraved 〈…〉 admired for ever more Rev. 5. 12. I approve of his 〈◊〉 his terms are rightteous 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 thâ—â— hâ—st 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 shall 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 treaâ—ure Let me be a granary a repositorâ— 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 of 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
of thy Commandments yet I will allow my self in the breach of none I know my flesh will hang back But I resolve in the power of thy Grace to cleave to thee and thy holy ways what ever it cost me I am sure I cannot come off a loser by thee therefore I will be content with reproach and difficulties and hardships here and will deny my self and take up my Cross and follow thee Lord Jesus thy Yoke is easie thy Cross is welcome as it is the way to thee I lay aside all hopes of worldly happiness I will be content to tarry till I come to thee Let me be poor and low little and despised here so I may but be admitted to live and reign with thee hereafter Lord thou hast my heart and hand to this agreement Be it as the laws of the Medes and Persians never to be reversed To this I will stand In this resolution by Grace I will live and die I have sworn and will perform it that I will keep thy righteous judgments I have given my free consent I have made my everlasting choice Lord Jesus confirm the Contract Amen Chap. VII Containing the Motives to Conversion THough what is already said of the Necessity of Conversion and of the Miseries of the Unconverted might be sufficient to induce any considering mind to resolve upon a present Turning or Conversion unto God Yet knowing what a piece of desperate obstinacy and untractableness the heart of man naturally is I have thought it necessary to add to the means of Conversion and Directions for a Covenant-closure with God in Christ some Motives to perswade you hereunto O Lord fail me not now at my last attempts If any soul hath read hitherto and be yet untouched now Lord fasten in him and do thy work Now take him by the heart overcome him perswade him till he sayâ— thou hast prevailed for thou wast stronger than I. Lord didst thou not make me a Fisher of men And have I toiled all this while and caught nothing Alas that I should have spent my strength for nought And now I am casting my last Lord Jesus stand thou upon the Shore and direct how and where I shall spread my Net and let me so enclose with arguments the souls I seek for that they may not be able to get out Now Lord for a multitude of souls I Now for a full draughtâ— O Lord God remember me I pray thee and strengthen me this once O God. But I turn me unto you Men and Brethren Heaven and Earth do call upon you yea Hell it self doth preach the Doctrine of Repentance unto you The Angels of the Churches travel with you Gal. 4. 19. the Angels of Heaven wait for you for your repenting and turning unto God. O sinner why should the Devils make merry with thee Why shouldst thou be a morsel for that devouring Leviathan Why should Harpies and Hell-Hounds tear thee and make a feast upon thee and when they have got thee into the Snare and have fastened their Talons in thee laugh at thy destruction and deride thy misery and sport themselves with thy damnable folly This must be thy case except thou turn And were it not better thou shouldst be a joy to Angels than a laughing stock and sport for Devils Verily if thou wouldst but come in the Heavenly Host would take up their Anthems and sing Glory be to God in the Highest the Morning Stars would sing together and all the Sons of God shout for joy and celebrate this new Creation as they did the first Thy Repentance would as it were make Holy-day in Heaven and the glorious Spirits would rejoice in that there is a new Brother added to their society Rev. 22. 9. another Heir born to their Lord and the lost Son received safe and sound The true penitents tears are indeed the Wine that cheareth both God and Man. If it be little that Men and Angels would rejoice at thy Conversion know that God himself would rejoice over thee even with singing and rest in his love Luke 15. 9. Isa. 62. 5. Never did Iacob with such joy weep over the Nâ—ck of his Ioseph as thy Heavenly Father would rejoice over thee upon thy coming in to him Look over the Story of the Prodigal Methinks I see how the Aged Father lays aside his estate and forgets his years Behold how he runneth Luke 15. 20. Oh the haste that mercy makes The Sinner makes not half that speed Methinks I see how his Bowels turn how his compassions yearn How quick-sighted is love Mercy spies him a great way off forgets his riotous courses unnatural rebellion horrid unthankfulness debauched practices not a word of these but receives him with open Arms clasps about his Neck forgets the nastiness of his Rags kisses the Lips that deserve to be loathed the Lips that had been joined to Harlots that had been commoners with the Swine calls for the fatted Calf the best Robe the Ring the Shooes the best cheer in Heavens Store the best attire in Heavens Wardrobe Luke 15. 6 9 23. yea the joy cannot be held in one breast c. others must be called to participate the friends must meet and make merry Angels must wait but the Prodigal must be set at the Table under his Fathers wing He is the joy of the feast He is the sweet subject of the Fathers delight The Friends sympathize but none knows the felicity the Father takes in his new born Son whom he hath received from the dead Methinks I hear the Musick and the Dancing at a distance Oh the Melody of the Heavenly Choristers I cannot learn the Sonâ— Rev. 14. 3. But methinks I over-hear the burden at which all the harmonious Quire with one consent strikes sweetly in for thus goes the round at Heavens Table For this my Son was dead and is alivâ— again was lost and is found Luke 5. 23 24 32. I need not farther explain the parable God is the Father Christ the Cheer his Righteousness the Robe his Graces the Ornaments Ministers Saints Angels the Friends and Servants and thou that readest if thou wilt but unfeignedly repent and turn the welcome Prodigal the happy instance of all this grace and blessed subject of this joy and love O Rock Oh Adamant What! not moved yet not yet resolved to turn forthwith and to close with mercy I will try thee yet once again If one were sent to thee from the dead wouldst thou be perswaded Why hear the voice from the dead from the damned crying to thee that thou shouldst repent I pray thee that thou wouldst send him to my Fathers house for I have five Brethren that he may testifie unto them lest they also come into this place of torment If one went unto them from the dead they will repent Luke 16. 27 28 c. Hear O man thy Predecessors in impenitence Preach to thee from the infernal Gibbets from the Flames from the Rack that thou shouldst repent O look
pardon peace life blessedness all are thine and is not this an offer worth the embracing Why shouldest thou hesitate or doubtfully dispute about the case Is it not past controversie whether God be better than sin and glory better than vanity Why shouldest 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 knowest 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 selt 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 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 movingly how meltingly how pitifully how passionately he calleth The Church is put into a sudden extasie upon the found of his voice The voice of my beloved Cant. 2. 8. O 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 Sinai's Thunder but the soft and still voice It is not the voice of Mount Ebal a voice of cursing and terror 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 O come and lay thy mouth to his side How free is he he excludeth none Whosoever will let him come and take the water of life freely Rev. 22. 17. Whose is simple let him turn in hither Come eat of my bread drink of the wine which I have mingled For sake the foolish and live Prov. 9. 4 5 6. Come unto me c. Take my yoak 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 refuser O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered by 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 rebellious people Isa. 65. 1 2. O 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 Acts 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 tolled from thence but it is from your prison Sirs from your Chains from the Dungeon from the Darkness that he calleth you Isa. 42. 6 7. and yet will you not come He calleth you unto liberty Gal. 5. 13. and yet will you not hearken His Yoak is easie his Laws are Liberty his Service Freedom Matth. 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 tast sweetness and joy unutterable and take infinite delight and felicity in them Prov. 3. 17. Psal. 119. 165. â— 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 me off 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 Acts 7. 51. if you will not now be prevailed with to repent and be converted Well though I have called you 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 Jer. 22. 29. Unless you be resolved to die 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 be 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 price Wherefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently unto me and eat â—e that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatness Incline your ear and come ye unto me hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlastingâ— Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Isai. 55. 1 2 3. Ho every one that is sick of any manner of disease or torment Matâ—h 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 Lo here is he that healeth all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people Ho every one that is in debt
A Sure Guide TO HEAVEN OR An Earnest Invitation to Sinners to turn to God in order to their Eternal Salvation Shewing the thoughtful Sinner what he must do to be saved By Ioseph Alleine late Minister of the Gospel at Taunton in Somersetshire John 3. 3. Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God. LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside near Mercers Chappel 1688. TO THE READER That would be safe and happy IF it were only possible thou mayst live hereafter and be called to account in another world for what thou dost in this it would be thy wisdom to take the safest course and not to run the constant hazard of being dragg'd by death to Iudgment before thou wert prepar'd to meet thy Iudge But another Life and a Judgment to come are more than possible there is an high probability yea as great a certainty as can with reason he expected that death will not put an end to thy being that thou shalt live after the return of thy body to the Earth and that then thou shalt be tryed and sentenced to such an happiness or misery as will be incomparably greater than any thing nay than all thou didst ever feel or see hear of or imagine These weighty Truths are taught and establisht in some measure by the Light of Nature but much more clearly and firmly by the Oracles of God in the Holy Scriptures Besides what they say of the different states of separated Souls they plainly teach and strongly assert That God hath appointed a time in which he will judge the whole world by the Mediator Jesus Christ that that great Mediator who is God as well as Man will descend from Heaven attended by its glorious Inhabitants with triumphant Acclamations to his Royal Throne that a mighty Voice will cite all that ever dwelt on Earth to make their personal appearance that that awakening and commanding Summons shall be presently heard and obeyed by the dead and they with the quick then remaining alive shall all stand before the Judgment Seat that after a throughly searching and impartial tryal which will reach mens several talents trusts and opportunities of getting and doing good and their most secret actions words and thoughts every one shall receive an unalterable Sentence of Absolution or Condemnation and that then such as are approv'd and absolv'd shall inherit an heavenly Kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world be like the Angels their delightful Companions converse with their most amiable and loving Saviour beholding and partaking of his glory yea resemble see and enjoy God himself in compleated Holiness and everlasting Bliss And those on the other hand that are reprobated and damn'd shall never be admitted into the Regions of Light nor yet be favour'd with a glimpse thereof but suffer with Devils in the blackness of darkness for ever the perpetual gnawings of the Worm that dieth not and the extreme torments of unquenchable fire Seeing then these things cannot be denied thou must be guilty of such woful abuses of reason as far exceed all the extravagancies of them that want it thou must be most grosly foolish most unnaturally cruel to thine own Soul to thy whole self if thou dost not earnestly desire to be one of those unto whom the Lord shall say Come ye blessed and not Depart ye cursed if thou dost not readily welcom and diligently use any proper helps for the avoiding of the heaviest endless misery and for the attaining of the purest vastest everlasting happiness And such helps are now offered thee in this little Book which hath a taking tincture of the excellent Author's flaming love to God and useful Charity to the Souls of men and now it is in thine hand let me tell thee it cannot be refus'd the reading or reaâ— without doing what it so plainly teacheth and affectionately urgeth but at thy greatest peril If thou wilt not be at a small expence of time and pains to read it over if after the neglect of so many means of instruction this also be rejected how justly mayst thou be destroyed for lack of knowledge How soon may the things which belong unto thy peace be hid from thine eyes A continued wilful want of understanding is large ground for fear lest he that made thee should not have mercy on thee and he that form'd and redeem'd thee should shew thee no favour If thou readest but dost not practise what Scripture and Reason so pathetically plead for the increase of thy knowledge will increase thy sorrow because it will aggravate thy sin for to him that knows his Lords will how and why to do good and doth it not but the forbidden evil to him 't is heinous inexcusable sin for which he is liable to be beaten with many stripes in constant dreadful danger of severer punishment I hope therefore thou wilt peruse so short a discourse and art not unwilling to do it in such a manner as to grow acquainted with and be perswaded to thy great duty and which is inseparable from it thy greatest advantage and that thou may'st not fail thereof is the design of the following Directions 1. Pray in the name of Christ as thou art and shalt be enabled for the more effectual assistances of the Holy Spirit Such is the corruption of our nature that it utterly disables to make a saving use of outward means without inward aids Unless the Spirit by his powerful operations work thee into a serious teachable temper set home the attempts of Gods Messengers and give them an efficacy far beyond their own the most concerning truths and weightiest arguments can never be so represented and inforc'd as to overcome thy sensual worldly inclinations rescue thee from the dominion of sin and Satan and bring thee back to God. Thou must therefore pray and that with becoming apprehensions of the great God due regard to the gracious Mediator deep shame and sorrow for the â—ins thou confessest ardent desires of all the grace thou beggest and faithful improvements of such measures as thou hast already received And if thou thus askest with fervent importunity and persevering constancy thou wilt undoubtedly find that God bade thee not to seek his face in vain As our Lord warrants us to argue Luke II. If a man will not deny a Friend what he is importunate for and if a Father will grant his Son what he asks and wants much more will thy Heavenly Father give thee the Holy Spirit for all needful purposes to produce all those effects in thee that are truly necessary for thine Eternal Salvation 2. Consider seriously what thou readest and work it on thy Soul as far as thou art concern'd therein Medicines for the Body will operate though they are not thought of but Spiritual Remedies for the mind require its co-operation with them the clearest explications fullest proofs and strongest motives about matters of nearest and
greatest concernment will not do the Soul any good unless by thinking it apply them and extract their vertue nor will the Spirit heal its lamentable Diseases if his influences be not answer'd with suitable endeavours Work then as he works in and with thee take into most serious consideration whatever is apt to promote thy recovery lay those things closest to heart which are likeliest to cure the hardness thereof inculcate and urge them and withal cry mightily unto him who is able and no less willing to help thee till thou feelest his gentle force and comest to a conquering resolution that thou must and wilt do as thou art advis'd till thou dost not only assent to the course propos'd as fit to be taken but art steadily determin'd that it is best for thee that it is absolutely necessary and must effectually be prosecuted that by the grace of God thou wilt thoroughly change thy heart and life and so escape from the greatest evil and make sure of the chiefest good 3. When thou hast seriously consider'd and resolv'd proceed presently to practise with all thy might and without the least delay 'T is commonly a work of some time to alter the temper of the Soul and change the course of the life and according to God's usual methods the longer thou hast been accustom'd to do evil the more time and pains will be requisite to break the force of stubborn lusts to weaken and subdue vitious habits and to gain those of grace and goodness to travel back the way thou hast gone wrong and to get out of it into the path of life 'T is well then if there be days enough before thee to do the one thing needful to be sure thou art not certain of an hour to spare the loss of so small a part may prove the loss of all Besides if thou putt'st off thy reformation though but for a little while 't is a sign thou dost not really intend it at all for thou purposest against conviction to add sin to sin at present and how can that consist with an hearty design of growing good afterward Delude not therefore thy self with such a desperate cheat but imitate the Royal Psâ—lmist When thou hast thought on thy ways turn thy feet unto Gods testimonies Make haste and delay not to keep his Commandments 4. Remember that conversion unto God is but the beginning of thy duty that thou must afterward obey him all the days of thy life and that there is no other way to preserve an interest in his favour and a right to the great expressions thereof They are the largest and the last discoveries of Divine Grace that teach thee to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world and so doing to look for the blessed Object of thy hope they plainly enough warn thee against drawing back unto perdition they threaten a final rejection if thou deniest thy Saviour in words or works and they oft direct and command thee to seek for glory and honour and immortality by patient continuance in well-doing to be faith ful unto death whatever it cost thee that thy Lord may give thee a crown of life These may seem hard sayings but they contain nothing like a reasonable discouragement There 's misery more than enough in Hell to necessitate a prevention by any temporary labours wants and suffâ—rings and an abundantly sufficient happiness in Heaven to encourage a stedfast perseverance in the work of the Lord though it were more harsh and grievous than sinners imagine And even at present Religion is not without a reward yea thou wilt find it if thou triest as thou shouldst a reward to it self when the main difficulties at first are over thy duty will grow daily easier it will have many pleasures mixed with it and become at length it self the greatest It will not abridge thy appetites of any desirable gratifications but give them a new delicious relish of the Fountain from which they flow Instead of the girds and twinges of a bad Conscience and dread of an after-reckoning 't will settle peace within and fill thee with comfortable reflections and joyful hopes and a loving thankful praising obedience will by degrees become thy sweetest employment Therein thou may'st draw still nearer to God delight thy self in and receive from him the desires of thine heart thou may'st walk always in the light of his countenance and feed on his loving kindness which is better than life In short before thou ascendest to Heaven thou may'st be in an Heaven on Earth and find by happy experience that the way to have all thou canst wish hereafter is to be and do what is best for thy self here Useful Questions whereby a Christian may every day examine himself Psal. 4. 4. Commune with your heart upon your beds EVery Evening before you sleep unless you find some other time of the day more for your advantage in this work sequester your self from the World and having set your heart in the presence of the Lord charge it before God to answer to these Interrogatories For your Duties Q. 1. Did not God find me on my Bed when he looked for me on my knees Job 1. 5. Psal. 5. 3. Q. 2. Have not I prayed to no purpose or suffered wandring thoughts to eat out my duties Mat. 15. 8 9. Jer. 12. 2. Q. 3. Have not I neglected or been very overly in the reading Gods holy word Deut. 17. 19. Josh. 1. 7 8. Q. 4. Have I digested the Sermon I heard last Have I repeated it over and prayed it over Luke 2. 19 51. Psal. 1. 2. and 119. 5 11 97. Q. 5. Was there not more of custom and fashion in my family-duties than of Conscience Psal. 101. 2. Jer 30. 21. Q. 6. Where in have I denied my self this day for God Luke 9. 23. Q. 7. Have I redeemed my time from too long or needless visits idle imaginations fruitless discourse unnecessary sleep more than needs of the World Eph. 5. 16. Col. 4. 5. Q. 8. Have I done any thing more than ordinary for the Church of God in this time extraordinary 2 Cor. 11. 28. Isa. 62. 6. Q. 9. Have I look care of my company Prov. 13. 20. Psal. 119. 63. Q. 10. Have not Ineglected or done something against the duties of my Relations as a Master Servant Husband Wife Parent Child c. Eph. 5. 22. to chap. 6. V. 10. Col. 3. 18. to the 4. V. 2. For your Sins Q. 1. Doth not sin sit light Psal. 38. 4. Rom. 7. 24. Q. 2. Am I a mourner for the sins of the Land Ezek. 9. 4. Jer. 9. 1 2 3. Q. 3. Do I live in nothing that I know or fear to be a sin Psal. 119. 101 104. For your Heart Q. 1. Have I been much in holy Ejaculations Neh. 2. 4 5. Q. 2. Hath not God been out of mind Heaven out of sight Psal. 16. 8 Jer. 2. 32. Col. 3. 1 2. Q. 3. Have
unto Sanctification not for it Eph. 1. 4. God finds nothing in a man to turn his heart but to turn his stomach enough to provoke his loathing nothing to provoke his love Look back upon thy self O Christian Take up thy verminous rags Look upon thy self in thy blood Ez. 16. 6. O reflect upon thy swinish Nature thy filthy swill thy once beloved mire 2 Pet. 2. Canst thou think without loathing of thy trough and draugh Open thy Sepulchre Mat. 23. 27. Art thou struck almost dead with the hellish damp behold thy putrid soul thy loathsome members O stench unsufferable if thou dost but sense thy own putrifaction Psal. 14. 3. Behold thy ghastly visage they crawling Iusts thy slime and corruption Do not thine own Cloaths abhor thee Iob 9. 31. How then should holiness and purity love thee Be astonished O Heavens at this be moved O Earth Ier. 2. 12. Who but must needs cry Grace Grace Zech. 4. 7. Hear and blush you Children of the most high O you unthankful generation that free grace is no more in your mouths in your thoughts no more adored admired commended by such as you One would think you should be nothing but praising and admiring God whatever you are How can you make a shift to forget such grace or to pass it over with a slight and seldom mention What but free grace should move God to love you unless enmity could do it or deformity could do it unless vomit or rottenness could do it How affectionately doth Peter lift up his hands Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who of his abundant mercy hath begotten us again 1 Pet. 1. 3. How feelingly doth Paul magnifie the free mercy of God in it God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us hath quickened us together with Christ by grace ye are saâ—ed Eph. 2. 4 5. The External mover is the merit and intercession of the blessed Iesus He hath obtained gifts for the rebellious Psal. 68. 18. and through him it is that God worketh in us what is well pleasing in his sight Heb. 13. 21. Through him are all spiritual blessings bestowed upon us in Heavenly things Eph. 1. 3. He interceedeth for the Elect that believe not Iohn 17. 20. Every Convert is the fruit of his travel Isa. 53. 11. O never was Infant born into the world with that difficulty that Christ endured for us How emphatically he groaneth in his travel All the pains that he suffered on his Cross they were our birth pains Acts 2. 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the pulls and throws that Christ endured for us He is made sanctification to us 1 Cor. 1 30. He sanctified himself that is set apart himself as a sacrifice that we may be sanctified Iohn 17. 19. We are sanctified through the offering of his Body once for all Heb. 10. 10. 'T is nothing then without his own bowels but the merit and intercession of Christ that prevails with God to bestow on us converting grace If thou art a new creature thou knowest to whom thou owest it to Christ's pangs and prayers Hence the natural affection of a believer to Christ. The Foal doth not more naturally run after the Dam nor the Suckling to the Dugs than a Believer to Jesus Christ. And whither else shouldst thou go If any in the World can shew that for thy heart that Christ can let them carry it Doth Satan put in doth the World court thee Doth sin sue for thy heart Why were these crucified for thee 1 Cor. 1. 13. O Christian love and serve the Lord whilst thou hast a Being Do not even the Publicans love those that love them And shew kindness to them that are kind to them Mat. 5. 46 47. 3. The Instrument is either Personal or Real The personal is the Ministry I have begotten you to Christ through the Gospel 1 Cor. 4. 15. Christ's Ministers are they that are sent to open mens eyes and to turn them to God Acts 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 you have exalted your voice and lifted your eyes on high Isa. 37. 23. These are the servants of the most high God that shew unto you the way of salvationâ— Acts 16. 17. and do you thus requite them O foolish and unwise Deut. 32. 6. O Sons of ingratitude against whom do you sport your selves against whom make you a wide mouth and draw out the tongue Isa. 57. 34. These are the Instruments that God useth to convert and save you and do you spit in the face of your Physicians and throw your 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 enlightens 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 Iohn 17. 17. This generates faith and regenerates us Rom. 10. 17. Iam. 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 holy 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 water Iohn 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 final cause is mans salvation and Gods glory We are chosen through sanctification to salvationâ— 2 Thes. 2. 13. Called that we might be glorified Rom. 8. 30. but especially that God might be glorified Isa. 60. 21. that we should shew forth his praises 1â— 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 shouldst 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 Iohn 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 thorough turning Whatever God's 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 suâ— 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 said 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 damned Is not here plain ground for thee and wilt thou yet run upon the rocks More particularly this change of conversion passes throughout 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 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 Acts 2. 37. and 6. 14. it turns all upside down and makes a man be in a new world It goes throughout with Men throughout the Mind throughout the Members throughout the Motions of the whole Life 1. Throughout the Mind It makes an universal change within First it turns the ballance of the judgment so that God and his Glory do weigh down all carnal and worldly interest Acts 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 Acts 26. 18. Eph. 5. 8. 1 Pet. 2. 9. The man that before saw no danger in his condition now concludes himself lost and for ever undone Acts 2. 37. except renewed by the power of Grace He that formerly thought there was little hurt in sin now comes to see it to be the chief of evils he sees the unreasonableness unrighteousness the deformity and filthiness that is in sin so that he is affrighted with it loaths it dreads it flies it and even abhors himself for it Rom. 7. 15. Iob 42. 6. Ezek. 36. 31. He that could see little sin in himself and could find no matter for confession as it was said of that learned Ignoramus Bellarmine who it seems while he knew so much abroad was a miserable stranger to himself that when he was to be confessed by the Priest could not remember any thing to confess but was fain to run back to the sins of his youth I say he that could not find matter for confession unless it were some few gross and staring evils now sin reviveth with him Rom. 7. 9. he sees the rottenness of his heart and desperate and deep pollution of his whole nature he cries unclean unclean Lev. 13. 45. Lord purge me with Hyssop wash me throughly create in me a new heart Psal. 51. 2 7 10. He sees himself altogether become filthy Psal. 14. 3. corrupt both root and tree Mat. 7. 17 18. he writes unclean upon all his parts and powers and performances Isa. 64. 6. Rom. 7. 18. He discovers the nasty corners that he was never aware of and sees the blasphemy and theft and murder and adultery that is in his heart which before he was ignorant of Heretofore he saw no form nor comliness in Christ no beauty that he should desire him but now he finds the hid treasure and will sell all to buy this field Christ is the pearl he seeks sin the puddle he loaths Now according to this new light the man is of another mind another judgment than before he was Now God is all with him he hath none in Heaven nor in Earth like him Psal. 73. 25. He prefers him truly before all the World his favour is his life the light of his Countenance is more than Corn or Wine and Oyl the good that he formerly enquired after and set his heart upon Psal. 4. 6 7. Now let all the world be set on one side and God alone on the other Let the Harlot put on her paint and gallantry and present her self to the soul as when Satan would have tempted our Saviour with her in all the glory of her Kingdoms yet the soul will not fall down and worship her but will prefer a naked yea a crucified persecuted Christ before her Phil. 3. 8. 1 Cor. 2. 2. Not but that a Hypocrite may come to yield a general assent to this that God is the chief good yea the wiser Heathens some few of them have at last stumbled upon this but there is a difference between the absolute and comparative judgment of the understanding No hypocrite comes so far as to look upon God as the most desirable and suitable good to him and thereupon to acquiesce in
Before the news of a Christ was a stale and sapless thing but now how sweet is a Christ Augustine could not relish his before so much admired Cicero because he could not find the name of Christ how pathetically cries he Dulcissime amantis benignis caris c. quando te videbo quando satiabor de pulchritudine tua Medit. c. 37. O most sweet most loving most kind most dear most precious most desired most lovely most fair c. all in a breath when he speaks of and to his Christ in a word the voice of the Convert is with the Martyr None but Christ. 2. The terms which are either ultimate or Subordinate and Mediate The ultimate is God the Father Son and Holy Ghost whom the true Convert takes as his All-sufficient and eternal blessedness A Man is never truly sanctified till his very heart be in truth set upon God above all things as his portion and chief good These are the natural breathings of a believers heart Thou art my portion Psal. 119. 57. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord Psalm 34. 2. My expectation is from him he only is my rock and my salvation he is my defence in God is my salvation and my glory the Rock of my strength and my Refuge is in God Psalm 62. 1. 2 5 6 7. Psalm 18. 1 2. Would you put it to an issue whether you be converted or not Now then let thy soul and all that is within thee attend Hast thou taken God for thy happiness Where doth the content of thy heart lie Whence doth thy choicest comfort come in Come then and with Abraham lift up thine eyes Eastward and Westward and Northward and Southward and cast about thee what it is that thou wouldst have in Heaven or Earth to make thee happy If God should give thee thy choice as he did to Solomon or should say to thee as Ahashuerus to Esther What is thy petition and what is thy request and it shall be granted thee Esther 5. 3. What wouldst thou ask go into the gardens of pleasure and gather all the fragrant flowers from thence would these content thee Go to the treasures of Mammon suppose thou might'st lade thy self while thou wouldst from hence go to the towers to the trophies of honour what thinkest thou of being a man of renown and having a name like the name of the great men of the earth Would any of this all this suffice thee and make thee count thy self a happy man If so then certainly thou art carnal and unconverted If not go farther wâ—de into the divine excellencies the store of his mercies the hiding of his power the deeps unfathomable of his All-sufficiency Doth this sâ—it thee best and please thee most Dost thou say 'T is good to be here Mat. 17. 4. Here I will pitch here I will live and dye Wilt thou let all the world go rather than this Then 't is well between God and thee Happy art thou O man happy art thou that ever thou wast born If a God can make thee happy thou must needs be happy for thou hast avouched the Lord to be thy God Deut. 26. 17. Dost thou say to Christ as he to us Thy Father shall be my Father and thy God my God John 20. 17. Here is the turning Point An unsound professor never takes up his rest in God but converting grace does the work and so cures the fatal misery of the fall by turning the heart from its idols to the living God 1 Thes. 1. 9. Now says the soul Lord whither should I go Thou hast the words of eternal life Iohn 6. 68. Here he centers here he settles O 't is as the entrance of Heaven to him to see his interest in God When he discovers this he saith Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Psalm 116. 7. and it is even ready to breath out Simons Song Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace Luke 2. 29. and saith with Iacob when his old heart revived at the welcome tidings It is enough Gen. 45. 28. When he sees he hath a God in Covenant to go to this is all his salvation and all his desire 2 Sam. 23. 5. Man is this thy case Hast thou experienced this Why then blessed art thou of the Lord. God hath been at work with thee he hath laid hold on thy heart by the power of converting grace or else thou couldst never have done this The Mediate term of Conversion is either Principal or less Principal The Principal is Christ the only Mediator between God and Man 1 Tim. 2. 5. His work is to bring us to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. he is the way to the Father Iohn 14. 6. the only plank on which we may escape the only door by which we may enter Iohn 10. 9. Conversion brings over the soul to Christ to accept of him Col. 2. 6. as the only means to life as the only way the only name given under Heaven Acts 4. 12. He looks not for salvation in any other but him nor in any other with him but throws himself on Christ alone as one that should cast himself with spread arms upon the Sea. Here saith the convinced sinner here I will venture and if I perish I perish If I dâ—â— I will die here But Lord suffer me not to perish under the pitiful eyes of thy mercy Intreat me not to leave thee or to turn away from following after thee Ruth 1. 16. Here I will throw my self If thou kick me if thou kill me Job 13. 15. I will not go from thy door Thus the poor soul doth venture on Christ and resolvedly adhere to him Before Conversion the man made light of Christ minded the Farm Friends Merchandise more than Christ Mâ—t. 22. 5. Now Christ is to him as his necessary food his daily bread the life of his heart the staff of his life Phil. 3. 9. His great design is that Christ may be magnified in him Phil. 1. 20. His heart once said as they to the Spouse What is thy Beloved more than another Cant. 5. 9. He found more sweetness in his merry company wicked games earthly delights than in Christ. He took Religion of a fancy and the talk of great enjoyments for an idle dream But now to him to live is Christ. He sets light by all that he accounted precious for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Phil. 3. 8. All of Christ is accepted by the sincere Convert He loves not only the Wages but work of Christ. Ro. 7. 12. not only the benefits but the burden of Christ He is willing not only to tread out the corn but to draw under the yoak he takes up the commands of Christ yea and Cross of Christ Mat. 11. Mat. 16. 24. The unsound closes by the halves with Christ He is all for the Salvation of Christ but he is not for sanctification he is for the priviledges
Art thou a man and hast thou reason Why then bethink thy self why and whence thy Being is Behold God's workmanship in thy body and ask thy self to what end did God rear this fabrick Consider the noble faculties or my Heaven-born soul to what end did God bestow these excellencies To no other than that 〈◊〉 shouldst please thy self and gratifie thy senses Did God send men like the Swallows into the World only to gather a few sticks and dirt and build their Nests and breed up their young and then away The very Heathens could see farther than this Art thou so fearfully and wonderfully made Psal. 139. 14. and dost thou not yet think with thy self surely it was for some noble and raised end O man set thy reason a little in the Chair Is it not pity such a goodly fabrick should be raised in vain Verily thou art in vain except thou art for God. Better thou hadst no Being than not to be for him Wouldst thou serve thy end Thou must repent and be converted Without this thou art to no purpose yea to bad purpose First To No purpose Man unconverted is like a choice instrument that hath every string broke or out of tune The Spirit of the living God must repair and tune it by the grace of regeneration and sweetly move it by the power of actuating grace or else thy prayers will be but howlings and all thy services will make no Musick in the Ears of the most Holy Eph. 2. 10. Phil. 2. 13. Hos. 7. 14. Isa. 1. 15. All thy powers and faculties are so corrupt in thy natural State that except thou be purged from dead works thou canst not serve the living God Heb. 9. 14. Tit. 1. 15. An unsanctified man cannot work the work of God. 1. He hath no skill in it He is altogether as unskilful in the work as in the word of righteousness Heb. 5. 13. There are great mysteries as well in the practices as principles of godliness now the unregenerate knoweth not the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 13. 11. 1 Tim. 3. 16. You may as well expect him that never learn'd the Alphabet to read or look for goodly Musick on the Lute from one that never set his hand to an instrument as that a natural man should do the Lord any pleasing service He must first be taught of God Iohn 6. 45. taught to pray Luke 11. 1. taught to profit Esay 48. 17. taught to go Hos. 11. 3. or else he will be utterly at a loss 2. He hath no strength for it How weak is his heart Ezek. 16. 30. He is presently tired The Sabbath what a weariness is it Maâ— 1. 13. He is without strength Rom. 5. 6. yea stark dead in sin Eph. 2. 5. 3. He hath no mind to it he desires not the knowledge of God's ways Iob 21. 14. He doth not know them and he doth not care to know them Psalm 82. 5. He knows not neither will he understand 4. He hath neither due instruments nor materials for it A man may as well hew the Marble without Tools or Limn without Colours or Instruments or build without Materials as perform any acceptable service without the graces of the Spirit which are both the Materials and Instruments in the work Alms giving is not a service of God but of vain glory unless dealt forth by the hand of divine love What is the prayer of the lips without grace in the heart but the carcass without the life What are all our confessions unless they be the exercises of godly sorrow and unfeigned repentance What our petitions unless animated all along with holy desires and faith in divine attributes and promises What our praises and thanksgivings unless from the Love of God and a holy grattiude and sense of God's mercies in the heart So that a man may as well expect the trees should speak or look for Logick from the brutes or motion from the dead as for any service holy and acceptable to God from the unconverted When the tree is evil how can the fruit be good Mat. 7. 18. Secondly To Bad purpose The unconverted soul is a very cage of unclean birds Rev. 18. 2. a Sepulchre full of Corruption and Rottenness Mat. 23. 27. a loathsome carkass full of crawling Worms and sending forth a hellish and most noisome favour in the nostrils of God. Psalm 14. 3. O dreadful case Dost thou not yet see a change to be needful would it not have grieved one to have seen the golden consecrated Vessels of God's Temple turned into quaffing bowls for drunkenness and polluted with the Idols service Dan. 5. 2 3. Was it such an abomination to the Jews when Antiechus set up the picture of a Swine at the entrance of the temple How much more abominable then would it have been to have had the very Temple it self turned into a Stable or a Stye and to have the holy of holies served like the house of Baul to have the Image of God taken down and be turned into a draught-house 2 Kings 10. 27. This is the very case of the unregenerate all thy Members aâ—e turned into instruments of unrighteousness Rom. 6. 19. Servants of Satan and thy in most powers into receptacles of uncleanness Eph. 2. 2. Tit. 1. 15. You may see the goodly guests within by what comes out For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts Murders Adulteries Fornications Theits False witness Blasphemies c. This black guard discovers what a Hell there is within Oh abuse unsufferable to see a Heaven-born soul abased to the filthiest drudgery to see the glory of Gods creation the chief of the ways of God the Lord of the Universe a lapping with the prodigal at the trough or licking up with greediness the most loathsom vomit Was it such a lamentation to see those that did feed delicately to sit desolate in the streets and the precious Sons of Sion comparable to fine gold to be esteemed as earthen Pitchers and those that were cloathed in Scarlet to embrace dunghils Lam. 4. 2 5. And is it not much more fearful to see the only thing that hath immortality in this lower world and carries the stamp of God to become as a vessel wherein there is no pleasure Ier. 22. 28. which is but the modest expression of the vessel men put to the most sordid use Oh indignity intolerable Better thou wert dashed in a thousand pieces than continue to be abused to so filthy a service II. Not only man but the whole visible creation is in vain without this Beloved God hath made all the visible creatures in heaven and earth for the service of man and man only is the spokesman for all the rest Man is in the universe like the tongue in the body which speaks for all the Members The other creatures cannot praise their Maker but by dumb signs and hints to man that he should speak for them Man is as it were the high Priest of Gods creation
in this condition is to make thy Saviour to become a Sinner and to do more wrong to the infinite Majesty than all the wicked on Earth or Devils in Hell ever did or could And yet wilt thou not give up such a blasphemous hope II. Against his word We need not say Who shall ascend into Heaven to bring down Christ from above Or who shall descend into the deep to bring up Christ from beneath The word is nigh us Rom. 10. 6 7 8. Are you agreed that Christ shall end the controversie Hear then his own words Except you be converted you shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 18. 3. You must be born again John 3. 7. If I wash thee not thou hast no part in me John 13. 8. Repent or perish Luke 13. 3. One word one would think were enough from Christ but how often and earnestly doth he reiterate it verily verily verily verily except a man be born again he shall not see the Kingdom of God Iohn 3. 3 5. Yea he doth not only assert but prove the necessity of the new birth viz. from the fleshliness and filthiness of man's first birth Iohn 3. 6. by reason of which man is no more fit for Heaven than the Beast is for the Chamber of the Kings presence And wilâ— thou yet believe thine own presumptuous confidence directly against Christs words He must go quite against the Law of his Kingdom and Rule of his Judgment to save thee in this estate III. Against his Oath He hath lifted up his hand to heaven he hath sworn that those that remain in unbelief and know not his ways that is are ignorant of them or disobedient to them shall not enter into his rest Psalm 95. 11. Heb. 3. 18. and wilt thou not yet believe O sinner that he is in earnest Canst thou hope he will be forsworn for thee The Covenant of Grace is confirmed by an Oath and sealed by blood Heb. 6. 17. Heb. 9. 16 18 19. Mat. 26. 28. But all must be made void and another way to heaven found out if thou be saved living and dying unsanctified God is come to his lowest and last terms with man and hath condescended as far as with honour he could hath set up his Pillars with a Ne plus ultra Men cannot be saved while unconverted except they could get another Covenant made and the whole frame of the Gospel which was established for ever with such dreadful solemnities quite altered and would not this be a distracted hope IV. Against his honour God will so shew his love to the sinner as withal to shew his hatred to sin Therefore he that names the name of Jesus must depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. 19. and deny all ungodliness and he that hath hope of life by Christ must purifie himself as he is pure 1 Iohn 3. 3. Tit. 2. 12. otherwise Christ would be thought a favourer of sin The Lord Jesus would have all the world to know though he pardon sin he will not protect it If holy David shall say Depart from me all you workers of iniquity Psal. 6. 8. and shall shut the doors against them Psal. 101. 7. shall not such much more expect it from Christs holiness Would it be for his honour to have the dogs to the table or to lodge the swine with his children or to have Abraham's bosom to be a nest of Vipers V. Against his Offices God hath exalted him to be a Prince and a Saviour Acts 5. 31. he should act against both should he save men in their sins It is the Office of a King. Parcere subjectis debellare superbos To be a terrer to evil doers and a praise to them that do well Rom. 13. 3 4. He is a Minister of God a revenger to execute wrath on him that doth evil Now should Christ favour the ungodly so continuing and take those to reign with him that would not that he should reign over them Luke 19. 27. this were quite against his Office He therefore reigns that he may put his enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15. 25. now should he lay them in his bosom he should cross the end of his regal power It belongs to Christ as a King to subdue the hearts and slay the lusts of his chosen Psalm 45. 5. Psalm 110. 3. What King would take the rebels in open hostility into his Court What were this but to betraâ— Life Kingdom Government and all together If Christ be a King he must have homage honour subâ—ection c. Maâ— 1. 6. Now to save men while in their natural enmity were to obscure his Dignity lose his Authority bring contempt on his Government and sell his dear-bought rights for nought Again as Christ should not be a Prince so neither a Saviour if he should do this For his Salvation is spiritual he is called Jesus because he saves his people from their sins Mat. 1. 21. So that should he save them in their sins he should be neither Lord nor Jesus To save men from the punishment and not from the power of sin were to do his work by halves and be an imperfect Saviour His Office as the Deliverer is to turn away ungodliness from Jacob Rom. 11. 26. He is sent to bless men in turning them from their iniquities Acts 3. 26. to make an end of sin Dan. 9. 24. so that he should destroy his own designs and nullifie his offices to save men abiding in their unconverted estate Application Arise then what meanest thou O sleeper Awake O secure sinner left thou be consumed in thine iniquities Say as the Lepers If we sit here we shall die 2 Kings 7. 3 4. Verily it is not more certain that thou art now out of hell than that thou shalt speedily be in it except thou repent and be converted there is but this one door for thee to escape by Arise then O sluggard and shake off thine excuses How long wilt thou slumber and fold thine hands to sleep Prov. 6. 10 11. Wilt thou lie down in the midst of the Sea or sleep on the top of the mast Prov. 23. 34. There is no remedy but thou must either turn or burn There is an unchangeable necessity of the change of thy condition except thou art resolved to abide the worst of it and try it out with the Almighty If thou lovest thy life O man arise and come away Methinks I see the Lord Jesus laying the merciful hands of an holy violence upon thee methinks he carries it like the Angels to Let Gen. 19. 15 c. Then the Angels â—â—â—stâ—ned Lot saying Arise lest thou be consumed And while â—he lingâ—ed the men laid hold upon his hand the Lord being mercifull unto him and they brought him without the City and said Escape for thy life stay not in all the plain escape to the mountain lest thou be consumed Oh how willful will thy destruction be if thou shouldest yet harden thy self in thy
sinful states But none of you can say but you have had fair warning Yet methinks I cannot tell how to leave you so It is not enough to me to have delivered my own soul. What shall I go away without my errand Will none of you arise and follow me Have I been all this while speaking to the wind Have I been charming the deaf Adder or allaying the tumbling Ocean with arguments Do I speak to the trees or rocks or to men to the tombs and monuments of the dead or to a living auditory If you be men and not senseless stocks stand still and consider whither you are going if you have the reason and understanding of men dare not to run into the flames and fall into hell with your eyes open but bethink your selves and set to the work of repentance What! men and yet â—un into the pit when the very beasts will not be forced in What endowed with reason and yet dally with death and hell and the vengeance of the Almighty Are men herein distinguished from the very brutes that they have no foresight of and care to provide for the things to come and will you not hasten your escape from eternal torments O shew your selves men and let reason prevail with you Is it a reasonable thing for you to contend against the Lord your Maker Isa. 45. 9. or to harden your selves against his word Iob 9. 4. as though the strength of Israel would lie 1. Sam. 15. 29. Is it reasonable that an understanding creature should lose yea live quite against the very end of his Being and be as a broken pitcher only fit for the dunghill Is it tolerable that the only thing in this world that God hath made capable of knowing his will and bringing him glorâ— should yet live in ignorance of his Maker and be unserviceable to his use yea should be engaged against him and spit his venom in the face of his Creator Hear O Heavens and give Ear O earth and let the Creatures without sense be judge if this be reason that man when God hath nourished and brought him up should rebel against him Isa. 1. 2. Judge in â—our own selves Is it a reasonable undertaking for bryars and thorns to set themselves in Battle against the devouring sire Isa. 27. 4. or for the Potsherd of the earth to strive with his Maker If you will say this is not reason surely the eye of reason is quite put out And if this be reason then there is no reason that you should continue as you be but 't is all the reason in the world you should forthwith repent and turn What shall I say I could spend my self in this argument Oh that you would but hearken to me that you would preâ—ently set upon a new course will you not be made clean When shall it once be What! will no body be perswaded Reader shall I prevail with thee for one Wilt thou sit down and conâ—ider the forementioned arguments and debate it whether it be not best to turn Come and let us reason together Is it good for thee to be here Wilt thou fit still till the tide come in upon thee Is it good for thee to try whether God will be so good as his word and to harden thy self in a conceit that all is well with thee while thou remainest unsanctified But I know you will not be persuaded but the greatest part will be as they have been and do as they have done I know the drunkard will to his vomit again and the deceiver will to his deceit again and the lustful wanton to his dalliance again Alas that I must leave you where you were in your ignorance or looseness or in your lifeless formality and customary devotions however I will sit down and bemoan my fruitless labours and spend some sighs over mâ— perishing hearers O distracted sinners What will their end be What will they do in the day of visitation Whither will they flee for help Where will they leave their glory Isa. 10. 3. how powerfully hath sin bewitched them How effectually hath the God of this world blinded them How strong is their delusion How uncircumcised their ears How obdurate their hearts Satan hath them at his beck But how long may I call and can get no answer I may dispute with them year after year and they will give me the hearing and that is all They must and will have their sins say what I will. Though I tell them there is death in the Cup yet they will take it up Though I tell them 't is the broad way and endeth in destruction yet they will go on in it I warn them yet cannot win them Sometimes I think the mercies of God will melt them and his winning invitations will overcome them but I find them as they wereâ— Sometimes that the terrour of the Lord will persuade them yet neither will this do it They will approve the word like the Sermon commend the Preacher but they will yet live as they did They will not deny me yet they will not obey me They will flock to the word of God and sit before me as his people and hear my words but they will not do them They value and will plead for Ministers and I am to them as the lovely Song of one that hath a pleasant voice yet I cannot get them to come under Christ's Yoke They love me and will be ready to say they will do any thing for me but for my life I cannot persuade them to leave their sins to forgo their Evil Company their intemperance their unjust gains c. I cannot prevail with them to set up prayer in their Families and Closets yet they will promise me like the forward Son that said I go Sir but went not Mat. 21. 30. I cannot persuade them to learn the principles of Religion though else they will die without knowledge Iob 36. 12. I tell them their misery but they will not believe but â—tis well enough If I tell them particularly I fear for such reasons their State is bad they will judge me censorious or if they be at present a little awakened are quickly lull'd asleep by Satan again and have lost the sense of all Alas for my poor hearers Must they perish at last by hundreds when Ministers would so fain save them What course shall I use with them that I have not tryed What shall I do for the daughter of my people Jer. 9. 7. O Lord God help Alas shall I leave them thus If they will not hear me yet do thou hear me Oh that they might yet live in thy sight Lord save them or else they perish My heart would melt to see their houses on fire about their ears when they were fast asleep in their Beds and shall not my soul be moved within me to see them falling into endless perdition Lord have compassion and save them out of the burning Put forth thy divine power and the work will
found Oh thou all powerful Iehovah that workest and none can lett thee that hast the keys of Hell and of death pitty thou the dead souls that lie here intombed and roll away the grave stone and say as to Lazarus when already â—tinking Come forth Lighten thou this darkness O inaccessable 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 Say thou to these ears Ephphatah and they shall be opened Give thou eyes to see thine excellencies a taste that may relish thy sweetness a scent that may savour thine Ointments a feeling that may sence the priviledge of thy favour the burden of thy wrath the intolerable weight of unpardoned sin and give thy servants command to prophesie to the dry bones and let the effect of this prophesie be as of thy Prophet 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 these bones and say unto them O ye dry bones bear 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 behold a shaking and the bones came together bone to his bone And when I beheld Lo the sinewâ— 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 unto the wind Thus saith the Lord God Come from the four winds O breath and breathe 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 Judges 18. 23 24. O what a mourning then must thou lift up that art without God that canst lay no claim to him without daring unsurpation Thou mayst say of God as Sheba of David We have no part in David neither have we inheritance in the Son of Jesse 2. Sam. 20. 1. How pittiful 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 but what will you do in the day of your visitation whither will you flee for help where will you leave your glory Isa. 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 you but send you packing with an I never knew you Mat. 7. 23. They that know what 't is to have a God to go to a God to live upon they know a little what a fearful misery it is to be without God. This made that holy man cry out Let me have a God or nothing Let me know him and his will and what will please him and how I may come to enjoy him or would I had never had an understanding to know any thing c. But thou art not only without God but God is against thee Ezek. 5. 8 9. Nah. 2. 13. Oh if God would but stand a neuter though he did not own nor help the poor sinner his case were not so deeply miserable Though God should give up the poor creature to the will of all his enemies to do their worst with him though he should deliver him over to the tormentors Mat. 18. 〈◊〉 that devils should tear and torture him to their 〈◊〉 most power and skill yet this were not half â—o fearful But God will set himself against the sinner and believe it 'T is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Heb. 10. 31. Thereâ—s no friend like him no enemy like him As much as Heaven is above the Earth Omnipotency above Impotency Infinity above Nullity so much more horrible is it to fall into the hands of the living God than into the pawsâ— of Bears or Lions yea Furies or Devils God himself will be thy tormentor thy destruction shall come from the presence of the Lord 2 Thes. 1. 9. Tophet is deep and large and the wrath of the Lord like a river of Brimstone doth kindle it Isa. 30. 33. If God be against thee who shall be for thee If one man sin against another the Judge shall judge him but if a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him 1 Sam. 2. 25. Thou even thou art to be feared and who shall stand in thy fight when once thou art angry Psal. 76. 7. Whoâ— is that God that shall deliver you out of his hands Dan. 3. 15. Can Mammon Riches profit not in the day of Wrath Prov. 11. 4. Can Kings or Warriors No they shall cry to the Mountains and Rocks to fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand Rev. 6. 15 16 17. Sinner methinks this should go like a dagger to thine heart to know that God is thine enemy Oh whither wilt thou go where wilt thou shelter thee There is no hope for thee unless thou lay down thy weapons and sue out thy pardon and get Christ to stand thy friend and make thy peace If it were not for this thou mightest go into some howling wilderness and there pine in sorrow and run mad for anguish of heart and horrible despair But in Christ there is a possibility of mercy for thee yea a proffer of mercy to thee that thou mayst have God to be more for thee than he is now against thee But if thou wilt not forsake thy sins nor turn thoroughly and to purpose unto God by a
and every one that is in distress and every one that is discontented gather your selves unto Christâ— 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 blood seize you lest devouring wrath overtake you Ho every ignorant sinner come and buy eye-salve that thou may'st 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 Isa. 42. 6. Ephes. 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 if 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 inâ—â—eated 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 wast as unclean as Magdalen yet put away thy Whoredoms 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 〈◊〉 they shall be as wooll and though they be as crimson they shall be as white as snow Luke 7. 37. Hos. 2. 2. 1 Thes. 4. 4. Isa. 1. 18. Hear O ye drunkards How long will you 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 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. 1â— 22 33. 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 be washed 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 luke-warm and dough-baked 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 to Christ's stomach thou shalt 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 choose life that you may live Deut. 30. 19. I can but woo 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 Abrahams servant to them and now if you will deal kindly and truly with my Master tell me Gen. 24. 49. O for such a happy answer as Rebekah gave to them Gen. 24. 57 58. And they said we will call the damsel and inquire at her mouth And they called Rebekah and said unto her Wilt thou go with this man and she said I will go O 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 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 tolerable for Tyre and Sidon yea for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Iudgment than for you 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 Jer. 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 captive Let not the tempter harden him in delays Let him not stir from this place nor take his eyes from these lines till he be resolved to forgo 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 join himself to the Chariot of the Eunuch while he was reading the word And though I