Temptations The Convert is afraid of the very first risings of Sin for Sin is an Enemy and if once this Enemy be risen really it may much disturb the Peace and give many a painful blow before it is quell'd again The Convert is afraid of Sins conceiving least being conceived it should be finished and at last bring forth Death Jam. 1. 15. The Convert flies from great Sins and won't connive at small ones The Converted Soul is afraid of known and presumptuous Transgressions and it is jealous least any should pass unknown and be harboured unsuspected therefore the Convert Prayes with David Psal 19. 12. VVho can understand his Errors Cleanse thou me from secret Sins The Convert is so afraid of Sin that he will venture upon other evils rather than upon Sin he will venture upon Poverty he will venture upon a Prison he will venture upon Flames of Martyrdom rather than venture upon Sin. Moses was so afraid of Sin though it was attended with the Pleasures and Preferments of Egypt that he did preferr the enduring of Afflictions with the People of God before it Heb. 11. 25. 3. The Converted Soul hates and abhorrs Sin I wish there was no other hatred in the World but the hatred of Sin here the most fixed and settled hatred would be very commendable Hatred is an Affection that doth aim at the destruction of the thing hated he that hateth his Brother in Scripture is said to be a Murderer and he that hateth Sin nothing short of the death of Sin will satisfie him It is the Converts business from the day of his Conversion unto the hour of his Dissolution still to be killing and mortifying of Sin and he doth endeavour to advance in doing of this work daily he labours and strives to kill Pride Covetousness Concupisence and Sensuality more dead and being sensible that Sin is much above his Match to deal with he calls in the help of the Spirit of God that the more effectually he may mortifie the Works of the Flesh Rom. 8. 13. For if ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live 4. Sin is the Converted Souls shame Israel that refused to turn they are charged with Impudence and hardness of Heart Ezek. 3. 7. They will not hearken unto thee O son of Man saith God for they will not hearken unto me for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted So Jer. 8. 12. VVere they ashamed when they had committed abomination No they were not at all ashamed neither could they blush But now Converts are ashamed of Sin they are confounded before God because they have so much and so inexcusably offended Heark to Ephraim Converted Ephraim Jer. 31. 19. Surely after I was turned I repented after I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth This Shame in those that are Converts is of great Vse for it makes them to lye low before God it makes them in honour to prefer others before themselves The chief of Sinners saith the Apostle being ashamed because he Persecuted the Saints and less than the least of all Saints And it makes Converts to admire the rich and the Free Grace of God in advancing them to such a dignity as to become the Children of God who did so justly deserve everlasting Contempt and Ruine 7. When the Soul is Converted those Affections that have good for their Object are placed upon God who is the highest and chiefest good of all Doers of evil have not seen God 3 John 11. He that doth good is of God he that doth evil hath not seen God. The Unconverted Sinner either saith in his Heart there is no God or if there be one the Creatures are better and more desirable than he This is the Language of every Unconverted Sinners Heart But the Converted Soul hath seen God and hath seen that in God that he loves God best and still desires to love him better How strong are his desires after God and when he is pleased to manifest his Love to communicate his Grace with a liberal hand now the Soul hath the greatest Joy and Delight on Earth The Converts Hope is in God his expectation of help is from him and his hope of Happiness is in him he is Zealous for the Glory of God and he is Zealous of those Works that are good in his sight and whatever a Convert sees that hath the Image and Stamp of God upon it that thing is loved for Gods sake 8. When the Soul is Converted the Memory is put to good and holy Vses before it was like a den of Thieves like a Cage full of unclean and hateful Birds but now the Memory is a Treasury where the best things are laid up safest Here I shall tell you of four things that the Convert doth remember 1. The Convert remembers his Creator and indeed no New Creature doth forget him he remembers his Duty towards him and the obligations and encouragements unto a faithful Performance of it Wicked Men forget God trifles they can think of but God is not in all their thoughts Jer 2. 32. Can a Maid forget her Ornaments or a Bride her Attire yet ye have forgot me days without number Those that by Profession are my People and yet really are estranged from me they have forgotten me days without number but the Convert remembers God and desires to be in his Love and Fear all his days 2. The Convert remembers the Redeemer and his death The benefits that were purchased by so great a price and how the work of Redemption was compleat when Christ rose from the dead A special memento is put upon the Resurrection of Christ 2 Tim. 2. 8. Remember that Jesus Christ of the Seed of David was raised from the dead according to my Gospel 3. The Convert remembers the VVord and that effectually and seasonably he remembers it so as that he is cast into the mould of it His heart doth stand in a we of the Oracles of God and they are an excellent preservative against temptation Psal 119. 11. Thy VVord have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee Joseph he did seasonably and effectually remember that command Thou shalt not commit Adultery When he had that impure and immodest motion made by a Creature that forgot the presence of God and her own Duty and though he was a servant and though he was a young Man and an uamarried Man yet he was so far from complying with the temptation that he reproves the concupisence and ventures upon the revenge of his impure Mistriss 4. Lastly The Convert remembers his latter end and the judgment that will follow after O Brethren methinks I see my self and all you holding up our hands at the Bar of God. As sure as you are here so certainly you shall stand there The
change our very Hearts Love to the Word distinguishes the true Church from the Antichristian Society Of these 't is said because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had Pleasure in Vnrighteousness 2 Thes 2. 10 11 12. All the excellent properties of the Word and the wonderful effects of it should take your Hearts and still be increasing your affection to it and the stronger your love is the greater will be your care to keep it Psal 119. 167. My Soul hath kept thy Testimonies and I love them exceedingly Love will make you labour hard in the work which the Word commands and yet it will so overcome the difficulty that hard labour shall become easie It was a saying of Bernard Is rectè divinas Scripturas legit qui verba vâ—rtit in opera He rightly reads the Holy Scriptures who turns VVords into VVorks Love will mightily constrain you to this 't will make you doers and blessed in your deed Love the Word of God as a Malefactour would love to read his pardon after the Sentence of Death has been past upon him Love the Word as a Debtour would love to read his general and full discharge which delivers him out of Prison and secures him from the danger of being arrested any more Love the Word as a Sick man would love to read a Receipt prescribing a medicine that would certainly cure his distemper and save his Life Finally love the Word as an Heir would love to read over a Testament in which is left him a rich Estate a most plentiful Inheritance In the VVord of God you find a pardon a discharge from all debts by your great your sufficient Surety here is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Souls universal remedy And the Psalmist says Psal 119. 111. Thy Testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my Heart 8. Never be ashamed of this Word of God which is so perfect and worthy to be owned VVith your Hearts believe it unto Righteousness with your Mouths Confess it to Salvation Be not concerned that the VVorld accounts the VVord foolishness fear not either their reviling or their rage their hands are weak considering how strong your helper is and their Judgments weaker Stand fast in the Faith and quit you like men be strong 1 Cor. 16. 13. Your Lord will be much pleased to see you valiant for the Truth and no less than a Crown of Life shall be the reward of Faithfulness unto the Death But if you are ashamed of Christ and of his word before Men he will be ashamed of you before his Father and all his Holy Angels Mar. 8. 38. And how great and everlasting then will your shame and confusion be VSE III. Of Exhortation Since the VVord is perfect let me exhort you all unto Perfection The legal Perfection of Adam in Innocency you cannot reach since the fall keeps all his Posterity short of it hear the Apostle confessing and bewailing Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect Phil. 3. 12. But evangelical Perfection is possible 't is necessary 't is actually found in all true Converts In legal Perfection it may be said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is no Sin. In evangelical Perfection it may be said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is no predominant Hypocrisie In the former there is no sin at all in the latter there is no Sin loved and allowed In the one every command is kept in the other there is grief when any command is broke and a true Desire after Grace to keep every Commandment better When I exhort you to Perfection I mean three things That you would be of a perfect Heart That you would walk in a perfect way That you would stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God. 1. Let your Hearts be perfect The Heart is the very Seat of Sincerity if it be not here 't is no where 't is not in the eye or tongue or hands or feet if the Heart remain as it was by Nature without a change and is still wicked sensual and earthly the VVords and actions though never so good signifie and avail nothing nay the better the VVords and Actions are the greater is the Hypocrisie and Dissimulation There are several excellent ingredients in this Perfection of Heart which I would press upon the Hearts and Consciences of All. 1. Let your Hearts shew themselves perfect by setting God alwaies before them Walk before me says God to Abraham and be perfect Gen. 17. 1. The perfect Heart is sensible that Gods eye looks into it and sees all that is in it therefore its eye is also upon God and as there is an holy awe of God upon it so 't is not satisfied without his approbation Upright David cryes out O Lord thou hast searched me and known me thou understandest my thoughts afar off Psal 139 1 2. Thoughts include all the affections workings and inclinations of the Heart all these were open and naked unto the Eye of Gad. And David looks to his Heart accordingly and he begs that the evil of his Heart might be more plainly discover'd to him that his Heart might be more throughly cleansed 2. Let your Hearts be perfect in being truely willing and very studious to please that God with whom you have to do The perfect Heart sees 't is highly reasonable that Mans Will in all things should be obedient unto Gods since the VVill of God is so righteous good and holy since He cannot be tempted with evil neither tempteth hâ— any man to any thing that is hurtful Jam. 1. 13. to please the Lord should be the Pleasure of your very Souls You should hate every abominable thing which he hates and what he delights in should always be chosen 3. Let your Hearts be perfect in refusing to have a liking respect and regard to any iniquity David manifested his uprightness and as a perfect man he was regarded and his Prayer heard because he did not regard iniquity in his Heart Psal 66. 18 19. Iniquity in the Heart is to be regarded so as to be humbled for it weary of it and bewail it and to endeavour by all means to mortifie and purge it away 't is not to be regarded so as to cover and excuse it so as secretly to delight in it and resolve to spare iâ— Especially let your Hearts set themselves with full bent against that which may be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sin that does most easily be set you Heb. 12. 1. from hence is the greatest guilt defilement danger the Sin that by reason of your Constitutions Callings Age and the bad Customs of the Places where you live have been most insinuating into your Affection and aptest to prevail should be abandon'd with a special and peculiar
shine To turn with the whole Heart is for the whole to turn excellent for the whole to be secured Be never satisfied till you perceive that God has your love which is indeed the leading and commanding Affection If Sin if Mammons Pleasures and Wealth have still your love your professing your selves Converts is all but feigned kindness and you provoke the Lord to jealousiè Give unto God your Love which he calls for in the first and great Commandment or else you give him nothing if your love be given him you will not deny him any thing And if as yet you can't shew your love by delighting in God because of your doubts and the darkness of your state shew your love by desiring after God whose loving kindness is better than Life whose Alsufficiency is enough and enough and infinitely more than enough for you But here 's the difficulty How shall the Heart of Man be brought unto the love of God The Stream of the affections runs naturally and violently downwards and how shall the tide be turned how shall the love be carried quite contrary to the bent of Nature Certainly this must be the doing of the God of all Grace The Apostle prayes for the Thessalonians that the Lord would direct their hearts into the love of God 2 Thes 3. 5. Put up this Petition for your selves 'T is an encouraging Scripture Deut. 30. 6. The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy Soul that thou mayest live apply it improve it and if you grudge your love to every thing else and are continually offering it to God and above all things in the World desire to love him and to be beloved of him Love is already wrought the acts of it appear and you shall by degrees love more sensibly and the stronger the love the more sound the Conversion 10. Deceive not your selves with faint wishes and half-willingness to be Converted I grant that the desire of Grace is Grace but if there be not Truth in the desire the Truth of Grace can't be concluded from it A lazy wish to be Converted where there is a prevailing resolution to connive at and continue in Sin what does it signifie but that the Heart is not right with God notwithstanding some feeble good inclinations towards him Our Lord commands his Followers to strive to enter in at the strait gate because many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able Luk. 13. 24. Many hereafter shall seek and expect admission into Heaven who shall be excluded because they would not strive they would not use an holy violence to take that Kingdom Many over hastily conclude they are Converted because there is some little inclination to what is good though a stronger inclination to what is evil without check does bear the sway in them In spiritual as well as natural lukewarmness there is some mixture of heat as well as a prevalency of cold Can water be called hot where heat is least and cold is most Can the Heart be said to be turned to God which is least inclined towards him and most strongly and resolvedly bent towards Sin and Vanity Oh take heed of Sloth and Idleness Sloth is that which has brought many a Conviction to nothing you can hardly name a greater Impediment of Conversion Upon thousands of Professors Tombs this may be written Here lye those who have undone themselves by Slothfulness and miss'd of Grace and Glory because they would take Pains for neither If you would be Conveâ—â—s indeed abandon Idleness let your very Hearts be in every Duty your Souls and the strength of them the fervency of your Spirits in every Ordinance of God Rom. 12. 11. Not slothful in business especially not in the main business servent in Spirit serving the Lord. Satisfie not your selves in a customary and formal using of the means of Grace but look to this that life and warmth and strength and Grace be indeed conveyed to you in them 11. Would you be Converts indeed look much into another World confine not your sight and thoughts to the things of time and sense but take the Perspective of the Word of God that to the eye of your Faith things unseen may become evident Heb. 11. â— Time is so short a thing that you may easily and quickly see to the end of it and yet concerning this short Time it may be said that Now you must be turn'd or Never At the end of Time Death stands thousands feel his stroke every day before your eyes and how soon may you feel his deadly Dart and return to the dust out of which we were all taken where 's the Man that upon good ground can say He is sure to live a Year a Month a VVeek a Day to an end Just behind Death is Judgment and at the Bar of God who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the Counsels of the Heart what will a shew of Grace and of Conversion signifie At that Bar all the Children of Men must receive their final and unalterable Doom from that Tribunal there can be no Appeal to another there is no higher Judge than he who shall judge the quick and the dead at his Appearing and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. The Sentence which he will Pronounce will stand good and firm for ever and 't will be a Sentence either to eternal Glory or everlasting Flames And know that Conversion now will make the Discrimination then only Converts will stand in Judgment only those that sincerely â—urn'd to God in this World will be received into his Joy and Kingdom in the other World. But as for the Unconverted who would not turn from Sin they shall without any Pity or hopes of any according as they were threatned and have justly deserved be turned into Hell and there will be no remedy You are all posting away from hence and shall shortly hear the Word and be seen your selves no more A serious belief and consideration of the eternal Joyes and eternal Woes of another World would have a mighty Influence upon the very worst of you to make you of another of a better Mind VSE VI. Of Consolation unto Converts There is a Consolation that has a Woe joyn'd with it VVoe to you rich Men for ye have received your Consolation The Wicked and the Hypocrite have their Peace and Joy but their Peace is false and their Joy but for a moment but the Converts Comfort is styled both strong and everlasting Consolation Here I shall first give you the Converts Character and then lay down the Grounds of his Comfort and indeed true Comfort belongs to none in the World but true Converts Though I have spoken a great deal already to shew who are Converted yet I shall add these Signs following 1. Converts chuse God for their Portron rather than the World Thou art my Portion O Lord I have said
Convert thinks of this at present and he lives and acts as one that is under continual observation Prov. 5. 21. The wayes of Man are before the eyes of the Lord and he pondereth all his goings He lives and acts as one that is perswaded he must give account of himself to God and is exceeding diligent that he may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless That 's the Eighth particular When the Soul is Converted the Memory is imployed to good and holy uses 9. When the Soul is Converted there is a desire to be turned to God still more and more That Conversion is not right where there is not a desire of progression As there is an insatiableness in Sin so there is an insatiableness in Grace too until there is a compleat Sanctification and Satisfaction in Glory The Convert in some respects may be compared unto the Horse-leeches daughter still he is crying Give give Give more Wisdom Give more Grace Give more strength Give more of those riches and treasures that are durable It was a saying of one of the Ancient Fathers who certainly had as great experience of his own Heart as any of them all and that was St. Austin Si dixeris sufficit periisti If thou sayest I have Grace enough thou hast none at all and art an undone wretch He that with Laodicea says I am rich and increased with good things and have need of nothing what a wretched case is that Man in He knows not that he is poor and miserable and blind and naked True Converts are sensible of their defects and have recourse for supplies unto the inexhaustible fulness that dwells in our Lord Jesus and it is their continual work to be cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit and to perfect holiness in Gods fear The true Convert he is not and he is sensible that he ought not to be content with any measure of Grace that he hath already received but he is still longing and crying for more He wishes that the New Creature were better shaped in him and that Christ were more perfectly formed in him and being in some measure emulous of Heaven he doth endeavour to do something for God here that may resemble that which is done for him above in Glory 10. Lastly When the Soul is Converted it doth act the Body for God and causeth the Members of it to be yielded as Instruments of Righteousness unto Holiness The Convert takes care of his Senses that at those Gates nothing may enâ—er that may betray and insnare his Soul and he sets a watch before the door of his Lips that out of that door nothing may proceed which may be dishonouring â—o God injurious to himself or unto any other It is but reason that care should be taken of the body of a Man that is Converted And that none of the Members should be prophaned since the Body is the member of Christ since it is the Temple of the Spirit since there is such a sure promise made of a Glorious and Happy Resurrection Thus have I done with the first particular propounded to be spoken to I have told you when the Soul may be said to be truly Converted In the second place I am to prove that till the Soul be Converted Conversion cannot be sincere And there are these two or three Arguments that I shall produce to make this evident 1. While the Soul is unconverted Sin reigns The Dominion of Sin lies in the affection that the Soul hath to it If the Heart regard iniquity iniquity is certainly in the Throne and there must needs be an absence of true Grace The Psalmist saies Psal 97. 10. Ye that love the Lord hate evil and the Words may be inverted Ye that love evil certainly are haters of the Lord. 2. While the Soul is unconverted Sathan still keeps Possession for his strong holds are in the Soul. The unreasonable Prejudices the bad Resolutions the wicked Inclinations that are there these these are the strong holds of the strong man armed and therefore if the Soul be not turned Sathan hath his Forts standing undemolished and as Sathan hath Possession so Mammon is chief if the Soul be not turned and where Mammon is chief Mammon is an Idol And to be turned to God and to have Mammon the great Idol these two things cannot stand together Mat. 6. 24. No man can serve two Masters for either he will hate the One and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other ye cannot serve God and Mammon 3. While the Soul is unconverted all external Righteousness is but a meer shew If the Soul be not Religious the Soul of Religion is wanting All the works of the hands though never so specious though never so good as to the matter of them are but dead works if the Heart and the Soul of the doer is not in them Thus it is plain that Conversion cannot be sincere unless the Soul be Converted 3. I am to demonstrate the Necessity of the Souls Conversion unto God. In the former Doctrine by many Arguments I demonstrated the Necessity of Conversion now I am to demonstrate the necessity of turning to God with the very Soul and there are these three or four things that I shall produce to make this evident 1. The Soul must turn because God is Allseeing He doth not judge of things according to the outward appearance but the inward man is open and naked to his view The Heart may deceive the by-standers Ay and it may deceive it self but all the secrets of the Heart are open unto that God whose Prerogative it is to search the Heart and try the reins Unless the Heart be right with God all Religion all seeking of him is nothing else but lies and flatteries Psal 78. 36 37. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their Mouth and they lyed unto him with their Tongues For their Heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant 2. The Soul must turn to God because by the acts of the Soul God is Principally honoured Observe it how is God glorified when the Soul admires his greatness and his Majesty and is in a manner overwhelmed with it Psal 104. 1. Bless the Lord O my Soul O Lord my God thou art very great thou art clothed with Honour and with Majesty who coverest thy self with light as with a Garment How is God honoured When the Soul is sweetly astonished and ravished with his goodness Psal 31. 19. O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the Sons of Men. When the Soul sees that in God that is to be found in none else when in its choice it doth preferr God before Pleasure God before Wealth I had rather have God to be mine though alone than to have all things in the World and be
Detestation and abhorrency I was upright before thee says David and I kept my self from mine iniquity Psal 18. 23. possibly he may mean revenge upon Saul which he had again and again opportunity to take which not only those that were with him but Corruption of Nature might prompt him to but the true Grace which was in him was peremptory against 4. Let your Hearts be perfect in being sound in Gods Statutes Let them all be approved for all are the Lords and all are worthy This argues a rectified Judgment indeed when every Precept is lookt on as right and that the keeping of it is not only a Duty but a kindness to him that keeps it I esteem all thy Commandments says the Psalmist concerning all things to be right and I hate every false way Psal 119. 128. Though there be an Election of some yet if there be a Reprobation of other Commandments the Heart is not sound It cannot have a right respect to any unless it have a general respect to all The Apostle tells us that parâ—iâ—â— obedience will not pass Jam. 2. 10. VVhosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all An allowed neglect oâ— one command argues that none are kept because they are Gods and that he may be pleased because he has been pleased to injoyn one as well as another 5. Let your Hearts be perfect in consenting to the Sanctification of all your Faculties and Powers Desire that your whole Souls should be renewed by the Grace of God and highly value every Grace of the Spirit Every Power iâ— you needs Renovation and every Grace of thâ— Holy Ghost excells in worth all things that arâ— Temporal Faith Love Fear Hope Meekness Patience Temperance Humility and the rest how much better are they than the best thingâ— of this present evil VVorld And when any new degrees are added to the Grace you have conclude that you are very highly favoured 6. Let your Hearts be perfect in havinâ— right designs and making God your end He 〈◊〉 his own end and with good reason for theâ— is nothing so good so high as He. Let hiâ— be your end in all you do Still let your Hâ—aâ— designing to extol him by more high aâ— suitable apprehensions by more enlarged 〈◊〉 raised affections by a more profound Submiâ—sion to him Design that others may be brougâ— to Honour him and desire his Name may be â—lowed all the Earth over and that his Kingdom may be advanced above all other Monarchies whatsoever Thus your hearts should be perfect 2. I exhort you to walk in a perfect way Walk not according to the course of this World after the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that works in the Children of disobedience Eph. 2. 2. Walk not as those Professors did of whom the Apostle speaks with Weeping Phil. 3. 18 19. Many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even Weeping that they are the Enemies of the Cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their belly whose glory is in their shame and who mind earthly things But do you take heed of imitating such patterns be sure to shun their pernicious paths Follow better examples walk in a perfect way Thus to walk implys three things 1. Walk humbly with God break not the first Table of the Law let not onely the Lord himself but his Worship his Ordinances his Name his Sabbaths be dear unto you Neglect not publick Ordinances in the Sanctuary private in the Family secret in the Closet Perform every Duty as before God Perform every Duty as to Him. 2. Make great Conscience also of doing your Duty towards Men. Be perfectly true and just in all your dealings with all To defraud to deceive to over-reach any way to be unjust to your Neighbour is to injure and engage the Justice of God against you â—e very merciful to those that are in distress and â—isery and if your Souls are drawn out towards â—hem indeed to compassionate their case purses and â—ands will be open for their relief Especially prâ—y those that are in Sin as well as Misery and are â—n the worse condition because neither Sin nor Miâ—ery are perceived I beseech you also be very exact in doing the Duties of your places and relations that you may glorifie the Perfect Word of God the perfect rule you walk by in being Parents Children Subjects Husbands Wives Masters Servants with a Nonâ—-such none that are without the Word being in any of these relations comparable to you 3. Do not injury but your duty towards your selves Employ not your Eyes your Tongues your Hands or any of your Members to your own hurt and defiling Do not by uncleanness sin against your own bodies 1 Cor. 6. 18. Do not by Surfeiting and Drunkenness load them with diseases and hasten them to the Grave Let not Covetousness and carking care make you to â—ise up early and sit up late and eat the Bread of sorrows nor cause you to be uncharitable to the needy and to grudg what is convenient to your selves Thus walk in a perfect way 3. In the third and last place I exhort you to stand perfect and compleat in all the Will of God Col. 4. 12. His Perfect Word should alwaies be heeded The good and honest Heart receives this Word understands it and how safe 't is to be guided by it eveâ— unto death and therefore brings forth fruit with patience Luke 8. 15. Why with patience Because patience is very requisite to overcome both the difficulty of duty and trouble and Persecution upon the account of duty Heb 10. 36. Ye have need of patience that after ye have doâ— the Will of God ye might receive the Promise Perseverâ— in the Perfect Word in the good the acceptable the perfect Will and Work of God unto thâ— end hereby manifest you are Disciples and Servants indeed And an happy Eternity will satisfie you that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. VSE IV. Of Consolation The Perfection of the Word of God serves for much comfort to the Church of Christ and all Converts the true Members of it The Grounds of Consolation are these 1. Wherever this Church is this perfect Word of God shall certainly be The Word may sometimes be Eclipsed in a Church but never quite extinguished Indeed when a Church is unchurched the Word goes When the Candlestick is removed the light in that place is put out But suppose a Church to remain there will be the Word by which 't was gather'd and which is a means also to govern and preserve it in spight of all opposite Policy and Power Spiritual hunger is a blessed thing it never ends in Starving but in Satisfaction Mat. 5. 6. The sincere Members of the true Church have this hunger therefore they shall more or less have the food of the Word to sustain and strengthen them The Great and Good Shepherd will some way
to the Wicked to the good to the clean and to the unclean to him that Sacrificeth and him that Sacrificeth not as is the good so is the sinner and he that Sweareth as he that feareth an Oath Eccles 9. 1 2. Nay often times the worst of men have in this present Life the best on 't We read Luke 16. of a wicked Rich Man receiving his good things cloathed in Purple and fine Linnen and faring Sumptuously every day A poor Man ready to starve for Hunger was laid at this Rich Man's Gate his Body was full of sores and yet this Mans Soul was sanctified with Grace a good Man he was though here he received evil things since thus it is now there is a day coming when 't will be otherwise Job having spoken of the Prosperity of the Wicked in this World strongly argues that in the next World there will be a dreadful after-reckoning Job 21. 30. The Wicked is reserved to the day of Destruction they shall be brought forth to the day of Wrath This is the day I am speaking of a day of the revelation of the righteous Judgment of God Rom. 2. 5. Who then will render to every man according to his works to them that by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life but to them that are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile v. 6 7 8 9. 3. Christ hath Promised his Church that he will come again to Judgment and hath raised her hopes and expectations of his coming Rev. 3. 11. Behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy Crown Heb. 10. 36. For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry He thus speaks to his Disciples Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me I am indeed about to leave you but I go to prepare a place for you and assure your selves I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also Joh. 14. 1 5. Christ is the Amen the true and faithful Witness he will certainly be the Judge The Church will assuredly see him at last upon the great White Throne and her self safe and triumphant at his right hand When he comes how will he be glorified in his Saints and how will he be admired by all Believers in that Day 2 Thes 1. 10. 4. There are several things that are hastening Christs coming to Judgment The World grows old in Wickedness and all the Sins of the World have tongues to cry for the appearing of a Judge to pay their deserved Wages the World grows riper and riper for Vengeance dryer and dryer for that Fire that is to burn it The Church of Christ is also hastning Christs Appearing with their incessant Cryes Come Lord Jesus Come quickly Rev. 22. 20. The Spirit and the Bride say Come not only unto Sinners to come to Christ but unto Christ himself to appear that he may put an end both to Sin and Suffering That 's the longing and language of the Spouse Cant. 8. 14. Make haste my Beloved and be like a Roe or a young Hart upon the mountains of spices And this is not the Voice only of the Church on Earth but they in Heaven wish for and intreat the same thing How long Lord holy and true is heard from the Souls under the Altar Rev. 6. 10. In the last Place I come to the Application I begin with Inferences from the Doctrine 1. If there will be a Day of Judgment hence I inferr that there is a present Providence Will the Lord judge all at last surely he observes all now The Lord Jesus would have all the Churches to know as well that he searches the Reins and Heart as that he will render to every man according to his Works Rev. 2. 23. Whether thy Eye be upon God or no his Eye is never off from thee 't is indeed in every place beholding the evil and the good What a foolish Creature hast thou reason to call thy self who considerest not in thy heart that God remembers all thy Wickedness Hos 7. 2. and Gods remembrance at last will rub up thine and what thou now forgettest will sadly be recalled to thy Mind 2. Shall all be Judged hence I inserr the Love of God to the Righteous and his hatred of Iniquity Not one righteous Man but shall be acquitted and received by the Judge not a righteous action or sincere intention but shall be rewarded It will be found at the last day that a Widdows Mite given with a Charitable spirit and according to the ability was a great deal in Gods Treasury and that a Cup of cold Water given to a Disciple in the Name of a Disciple was well taken and shall not go unrewarded Mat. 10. 42. And there has not been there is not a Wicked Man on Earth but his Sin that has been hunting and pursuing to overthrow him will then find him out Psal 11. 5 6. because the Lords Soul hates the workers of Iniquity therefore upon the wicked he will rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their Cup By fire and brimstone and tempest understand a suddain grievous surprizing and intolerable Punishment and by snares understand that they in Hell shall never be able to extricate themselves out of that Misery into which their Wickedness has brought them 3. If all shall be Judged hence I inserr the truth of the Doctrine of the Resurrection The whole Man has sinn'd the whole Man shall be judg'd and punished for sin Believers are sanctified both in Soul and Body therefore in Body and Soul they shall be gloryfied The Dead shall rise again all that are in the Graves shall hear the Voice of Christ and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of Life they that have done evil to the resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5. 28 29. The Grave is only a Prison for a time not a Body that is there that shall lye there always the same Body that was employed in the unfruitful works of darkness shall be raised by the Power of the righteous Judge to share in the demerited Punishment And the same Body of the Saints the Members of which were used as Instruments of Righteousness unto Holiness by Vertue of its Union with Christ shall rise again and be made like unto Christs glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3. 21. It is not another Body I grant that qualities are alter'd but the substance is the same therefore the Apostle does not stick to say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This corruptible shall put on incorruption this mortal shall put on immortality so
the words is this Though all sin is to be cast away the Master-sin especially is to be abandoned In the handling of this Doctrine I shall 1. Prove that all Sin is to be cast away 2. I shall shew you how the Master sin may be known 3. Produce the Reasons why this in a special manis to be forsaken And then in the last place make Application In the first place I am to prove that every sin should be cast away and the Argument to convince you of this is in the Verse where my Text lies Every Sin is a weight and a most unreasonable thing it is that Men should be fond of that which is burthensome and grievous The weightiness of Sin I shall demonstrate in these particulars 1. Sin is a weight to a softned and sensible soul though a stupid Transgressor feels Sin no more than a stone does a Mountain that lies upon it yet when once the Heart of Stone is turned into a Heart of Flesh Sin presently becomes very burthensome He that has a new Heart and a new Spirit given him will have new and other apprehensions of Sin he will look upon Sin with sorrow and himself with self-abhorrency Ezek. 36. 26 31. A new Heart will I give you a new Spirit will I put within you Then shall ye remember your evil wayes and your doings that have not been good and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations David could not make light of sin when once convinced of its evil by the Spirit he grieves because he had offended God he fears his wrath that he had deserved and earnestly implores compassion and favour His Sin lay very hard upon him Psal 38. 4 6. Mine iniquities are gone over my head as an heavy burthen they are too heavy for me I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long 2. Sin is a weight unto the damned in Hell that 't is so I know but how weighty I cannot express no mind on Earth is able to conceive Sin is the weight which has sunk all the Souls that are there into that place of Wo and because sin will ly upon them for ever they shall never be able to rise up under it In Hell there is a full a general an everlasting Conviction that sin is heavy If we could discourse with the rich Man who as the Gospel tells us is in Hell and ask him whether his Gluttony Pride contempt of God hatred of Holiness are light or weighty Oh! what would that Tongue that cryed out for a drop of Water answer to such a question Surely none in Hell â—n make light of sin which brought them thither 3. Sin is a weight which burthens the whole Creation Hard-hearted Man groans not under it when the whole Creation besides does The Creatures were made subject to vanity not willingly but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope Rom. 8. 20. and v. 22. We â—â—ow that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together even until now And all these travelling pains they are the effects of Sin. Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes uses several very significant expressions Vanity of Vanities all is vaniny and all things are full of labour Man cannot utter it And again there are many things that increase vanity When Sin entred into the World it made a sad alteration in it well may the Creatures groan under it and though their pains are terrible pains of travel yet because such pains they are hopeful and will issue in a restauration which will certainly be for God has said it He has told us thus much that the Creature shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the glorious liberty of the Children of God Rom. 8. 21. But the manner of this Restauration he has not told us Gods silence should repress inquisitive Curiosity 4. Sin was found a Weight by Jesus the Mediator He undertook and 't was well for us he did to bear this Burthen and no Shoulders but his could have born it but when he bore it how did he groan under it This put him into an Agony this made him Sweat and Sweat drops of Blood. This made him cry out my Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto Death And My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Oh! blessed Saviour what extorted such cryes as these from Thee Oh! Sinner It was thy Sin and the Sins of all others whom I save that lay so hard upon Me Isa 53. 6. All we like Sheep sayes the Prophet have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid upon him the Iniquity of us all If the Man Christ Jesus had not been the Eternal Son of God he could never have born such an heavy Load as all the Sins of his whole Church laid upon him at once all together 5. God himself complains of Sin as a weighty thing which He is very weary of Isa 43. 24. Thou hast made me to serve with thy Sins and hast wearied me with thine Iniquities And Amos 2. 13. Behold I am pressed under you as a Cart is pressed that is full of Sheaves Sin is a Burthen to the Almighty tho he be so rich and abundant in Forbearance and Long-suffering Nay Sin will make Duties to be a Burthen to Him Isa 1. 13 14. Bring no more vain Oblations your Sabbaths and calling of Assemblies I cannot away with it is Iniquity even the Solemn Meeting Your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my Soul hateth they are a Trouble to me I am weary to bear them And 't is observable when the Lord comes to a Resolution to punish Sinners because of their Transgressions He speaks as One about to ease himself of a Load Isa 1. 24. Therefore thus saith the Lord the Lord of Hosts the mighty one of Israel Ah! I will ease me of my Adversaries and avenge me of my Enemies If Sin be thus a Weight I advise all to be weary and beg to be eased of it He is a senseless Fool indeed who makes a Mock of Sin and still goes on to add unto his own Burthen In the second place I shall shew you how the Master Sin may be known And here I would premise these three things 1. All Sin that is allowed of may truly be said to Reign where 't is allowed A Man that wilfully continues in the Commission of any Sin is certainly the Servant of it whatever it be 'T is the Misery of the unregenerate that they have tot Dominos quot vitia so many Lusts so many Lords 2. There is in many Persons a particular Sin which does prevail more than any other In the Natural Body there are all the Humours yet One commonly is Predominant and the Denomination is from that Thus 't is in the Body of Sin tho there is a Mass of all Corruption yet there may be some special Corruption that has the
be espoused to Christ This Sin stands up and forbids the Banes. We read of a young man in the Gospel soberly inclined he saw the necessity of eternal Life and the value of it he comes to Jesus and says Good Master What shall I do that I may inherit eternal Life Our Lord tells him of the commands the young man is glad of this for as to the letter of the second-Table-precepts he had been a strict observer of them all from his Youth up At length our Lord who knew Love to the World was his Master Sin bids him to go and sell all that he had on Earth and follow him and he should have a more enduring and better Treasure in Heaven But his Love to the World hindred his Believing and Conversion he goes away very sorrowful for he was very rich Mat. 19. 21 22. His Riches were very unreasonably and excessively loved he cleaves to Mammon and leaves the only Saviour 6. That is a Master Sin which pretends most highly to consult the Sinners safety gain and pleasure To be safe to be advantaged and delighted are things very taking to Humane Nature pretences this way are prevalent but all Sins pretences are vain When our Lord commands that the right eye should be pluckt out the right hand cut off the meaning is not that Christianity binds us cruelly to dismember our selves Indeed the abuse of our members is severely forbidden but our members themselves are not to be parted with but employed after an holy manner That therefore which our Lord intends is this either that we should be as without an eye to behold vanity and tempting Objects as without an hand to work that which is evil Or that though Sin be naturally as dear to us as our right eye as seemingly necessary as our right hand yet we must part with it and not spare it to the hazard and ruine of our selves for ever Mat. 5. 29 30. I might also add that Sinners are apt above all to wish that the Master Sin were no Sin at all And because the Law forbids it they hate the Law and the motions of their wicked Hearts towards it are more strong and violent And here is a notable difference between an unsanctified and a sanctified Heart The unsanctified Heart wishes that the Law were less Holy that Sins were no Sins but the Heart that is sanctified does not desire the Law were less strict and pure but that it self were more pure and more conformed unto a Law that is so good and excellent it does not desire a Liberty to commit Sin but that all the remaining lustings of the Flesh that way were more throughly mortified In the third place I am to produce the Reasons why this Master Sin ought especially to be abandoned 1. Because this is Gods Principal Enemy All Sin is against him but this is a special Provocation in the the eyes of his Holiness and Glory The Apostle tells us that Love is the greatest Grace and Christ himself says that Love is the first and great Commandment The Master Sin which is most beloved which takes away the affection of the Heart which God chiefly requires must needs provoke Him unto great Jealousie This is the Presumptuous Sin 't is greatly offensive for deservedly 't is called the great Transgression â—â—al 19. 13. 2. The Master Sin should be abandon'd because in a special manner it separates between God and the Soul that is guilty of it Sin has many bad effects but a worse can't be named than this Isa 59. 2. Your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear Let the Saints in Heaven speak what 't is to see the Face of Godâ— Oh the evil that is in Sin which causes the Face of God to be hid from the Sinner Every Sin may be compared to a cloud but the Sin which does most easily beset us is the blackest the darkest cloud of all which does most totally deprive us of the Light of Gods Countenance 3. If the Master-Sin be not abandon'd no other Sin whatsoever can be truly repented of A man may indeed abstain from some Sins but he does not abstain from them as Sins and because they are displeasing to God because contrary to his will and because they hinder Communion with God if he did then certainly he would keep himself from the beloved Sin which is principally hateful to God and the grand obstruction of fellowship with Him. 4. The Master Sin should be abandon'd because this is so great a grief unto the Holy Spirit of God. How often does he tell the false Professour of his lying Tongue and the unjust Professour of his unrighteous dealing The good Spirit vouchsafes to strive with very wicked men and moves them to hate the Sin which they unreasonably Love to their own ruine But if Sin be loved still the Spirit is grieved and vexed And is it safe to grieve and vex the Sanctifier the Comforter No. Read what follows upon vexing the Spirit Isa 63. 10. But they rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit therefore he was turned to be their Enemy and he fought against them 5. The Master Sin should be abandon'd because 't is this chiefly that keeps the Lord Jesus out of the Throne Why do so many say in their Hearts we will not have Christ to Reign over us The reason is because they are resolved their fleshly and their wordly Lusts shall rule there still And if Christ rule not 't is in vain to expect he will save for he is the Author of Eternal Salvation unto them that obey him Heb. 5. 9. Nay as he will not save them that will not be subject to him so he has threatned to slay them As for those mine Enemies that would not I should reign over them bring them forth and slay them before me Luk. 19. 27. I come in the last place to the Application and the Vses are these three VSE I. By way of Examination Try your selves whether you are willing to abandon the Sin that does so easily beset you and for you your help in this matter I would ask you 1. Are you willing to have this Sin whatever it be discover'd Are you willing that God should signifie to you what 't is in you that most of all displeases him Job professes that he cover'd not his Transgression as Adam by hiding his Iniquity in his Bosom Job 31. 33. He that hides Sin loves it he that pleads for Sin is a Servant a Slave to it The defence of Sin is worse than the Offence it self Can you come to God and say Lord I open my Heart to Thee Search Ransack here Let no sin lye concealed Let not so much as one be spared but especially discover the Master-sin which is my greatest Enemy as well as thine 2. Are you willing to hear all the Evil the Word does speak against the Master-sin If so this would argue that
liberty Liberty not only to discern what is good but Liberty to chuse and embrace it Finally He changes the Soul into the divine Image and he abides for ever in the Church of Christ that he may hinder this Image from ever being quite defaced that he may perfect and compleat it 8. Conversion is necessary to fit for present Service and Duty An Unconverted Sinner is a bad Tree and all the Fruit he bears must needs be evil Is it reasonable to expect Figs from the Thistle or Grapes from the Bramble or the Thorn how can he whose Person is hateful to God whose Heart never was sanctified do any action which may be truly pleasing in Gods sight Solomon tells us that not only the Prayer of the wicked is an abomination to God because he turns away his ear from hearing the Law Prov. 28. 9. but also that the Ploughing of the wicked is sin Prov. 21. 4. If Ploughing be taken properly it intimates that the wicked mans ordinary Employments are not without Provocation because he does nothing in a right manner to a good end If Ploughing be taken Metaphorically for Contriving and Designing it shews that the Devices of the Heart of a wicked man are all vain and evil Conversion therefore is very needful that Man may become meet for the Service of God. The Converts Heart is right with God desires God himself chiefly and in what he does designs his Glory and being made a sanctified Vessel he is made fit for his Lords use and prepared unto every good work 2 Tim. 2. 21. 9. Conversion is necessary to fit for future Reward We read that the unrighteous shall not Inherit the Kingdom of God Wicked ones are unfit to be among the Spirits of just Men who are made perfectly holy to be among the Elect Angels who never sinn'd but are ever crying out Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Sabaoth Though Heaven is not merited by our turning Holy yet Holiness prepares and fits us for Heaven The Apostle signifies that Converts are deliver'd from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of the Son of God and hereby they are made meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12 13. The same Apostle having spoken of Life and Immortality adds Now he that hath wrought us for the self same thing is God who hath also given unto us the earnest of the Spirit By Converting Grace we are wrought upon for Glory and the Spirit who works in us a new Life which is Spiritual is an earnest to assure us of Life Eternal Oh Heavenly Jerusalem a City that has foundations whose builder and maker is God! where Glory is everlasting Blessedness perfect and Joy is full without possibility of abatement into thee none but Converts shall have or are fit to have admission 10. The Threatnings which the Word denounces against the Vnconverted prove the Necessity of Conversion The only Saviour asserts with vehemency and that again and again assuring all that there is no Salvation for the Impenitent Luk. 13. 3 5. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish If Souls are Unconverted Sin is certainly Unpardon'd and unpardon'd Sin binds over to eternal Death We are commanded to Repent and be Converted that our Sins may be blotted out Act. 3. 19. Those who refuse to be Converted all their Sins are written down in the book of Gods Remembrance not one blotted out or forgotten which book will be open'd at the last day to their Confusion and Condemnation What heavy loads are Guilt and Wrath both these abide upon the Unconverted How soon may the Wrath of God which is both threatned and justly merited seize upon the Unconverted how suddainly may it destroy them beyond all possibility of remedy Psal 7. 11 12. God is angry with the wicked every day and as he grows more wicked God becomes more angry If he turn not he hath whet his Sword he hath bent his bow and made it ready To signifie the Patience of God and his unwillingness to destroy the slaughtering Weapons are represented as lying by him unprepared his Sword is not whetted his Bow is unbent but if Sinners refuse to turn the Sword the Bow may quickly be made ready and God may come to that peremptory resolution Isa 1. 24. Ah! I will ease me of mine adversaries and avenge me of mine enemies Turning you see is in the highest degree necessary for you must turn or dye If a City were on fire and there were but one Gate at which there might be an egress to fly from the fury of the flames Oh! what flocking would there be to that Gate If Sinners had but any sense and knowledge they would turn to God by thousands and by millions since Conversion is the only Door through which they may escape the Vengeance of eternal Fire Those obstinate Wretches that will not turn in time God will make them burn in Hell for evermore Thus have I at large demonstrated the Necessity of Conversion But alas VVho believes our report who credits that which is of all the greatest certainty Necessity in other matters has a mighty force but the Necessity of Conversion prevails with very few I make a needful Apostrophe from Man to God himself Lord Reveal and make bare thine own arm and cause the most stubborn and stout-hearted to yield 〈◊〉 thee for Arguments alone will never prevail with the dead in Sin to turn and live to God. In the fifth place I am to Answer the Arguments which the carnal Minds of men object against Conversion These 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these fleshly reasonings are strong holds which must be cast down 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. And I would not leave one of them undemolished Removere prohibens to remove the hindrance of Conversion is very much conducing to the thing it self therefore I shall which is but needful be the larger in producing the strongest Reasons and most forcible Pleas that are brought and used against Sinners turning to God and give a full Answer shewing the miserable invalidity and weakness of them all Obj. 1. The first Objection against Conversion is this We are Members of the Christian Church already We have been Baptized in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost If indeed we were Heathens or Infidels 't were proper to call us to turn to the true God and to embrace the Faith of Christ but since we are already Baptized into the Church which is his Body the Call and Invitation to turn seems not to be made to us Answ 1. It is one thing to be a Member of the visible Church and another thing to be really a Member of Christ The Apostle sayes All are not Israel who are of Israel Rom. 9. 6. Many have a Form of Godliness without the Power In the same Vine there are many fruitless as well as fruitful Branches In the same Church visible many unsound Professors if
all Flesh may see the Salvation of God Luk. 3. 5 6. And that Conversion to him is required of all that will partake of his Salvation In the last place I come to the Application VSE I. If Conversion be thus necessary and the great thing which God requires learn from hence the great danger that there is in being mistaken about Conversion To mistake counterfeit Coyn for good and lawful Money to purchase an Estate upon a false Title instead of a sound and true one to place Confidence in one that seems a Friend but is really faithless and an Enemy all such mistakes are accounted dangerous and hurtful But no mistakes in Point of Prejudice and Mischievousness are comparable to this when that which is not Grace is taken to be the Grace of God in Truth It is an Observation that Fraus oritur ex similitudine Deceit arises from likeness There are many things that have some kind of likeness to Conversion that indeed are not Conversion these I am with all faithfulness to discover to you and you with all care are to heed the discovery for if you should deceive your own selves and mistake about Converting Grace you would be for ever frustrated in your hopes of Glory And can there be a greater disappointment than confidently to expect Heaven and find your selves not only excluded but Sentenc'd and sent to that place of Woe where there is the greatest loss and that loss irreparable where there is the greatest Pain and Torment without any hope of ease or end The things that are mistaken for Conversion are these 1. The turning to a Party and Opinion there may be this where there is no turning unto God. An Orthodox Judgment there may be where there is an unrenewed Heart and Truth may have many to side with it upon the account of secular Interest What Multitudes followed Christ for the Loaves whose Hearts relished not his Doctrine nor himself though he is the Bread of God that came down from Heaven to give Life unto the World Joh. 6. 26 27 33. 'T is good indeed to profess what is indeed the Truth and to be of that party which is most sober and Godly But the Girdle of Truth will signifie little without the Breast-plate of Righteousness the form of Godliness will not avail if the Heart be a stranger to and inwardly dislike the Power of Godliness Judas was turned to the Doctrine of Christ as to an Opinion and he associated himself with the most eminent of the Disciples being one of the twelve Apostles but he valued the Bagg more than the Faith he talkt like a Follower of Christ but his Heart went after his Covetousness and at last for thirty pieces of Silver he sold his Lord and lost himself Oh! Take heed of such an imagination that if you are of such a way or party or Congregation you are certainly Converts In the Church at Jerusalem there was a false and dissembling Ananias and Sapphira Act. 5. 1 -4. In the Church of Corinth there were some that had not the Knowledge of God who were asleep in Sin and whom the Apostle endeavours to awake to Righteousness 1 Cor. 15. 34. There may be turning to a party without inward Purity and this is but turning the Church into a Stage and acting a part there And as turning to a party is not Conversion so ceasing to be fierce for a party is not Apostacy but 't is a Moderate healing temper which would do a mighty kindness at this day and have a great tendency to the Churches Peace and Edification 2. Zeal about Circumstantials in Religion is mistaken for Conversion This sort of Zeal is sometimes joyn'd with gross ignorance and then 't is Ignis fatuus a foolish fire and sometimes 't is joyn'd with great impatience and fury against every thing that stands in it's way and then 't is perfect Wild-fire In the Apostles dayes some were exceeding hot for Circumcision Others did as loudly cry up Vncircumcision But the Apostle decryes the Ardour and heat both of the one and the other party and plainly tells them that Neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision neither of these things by themselves can prove a man a Convert and in a State of Salvation but a new Creature but Faith which worketh by Love Gal. 5. 6. Chap. 6. 15. Those that place all Religion in bare Conformity and are eager for Ceremonies but neglect the substance of Christianity and remain without Faith Truth Love Humility and serious Holiness they will find these Ceremonies insignificant to secure them at Death and Judgment And on the other side they who place all their Religion in Non-conformity but yet are greatly consormed to a vain and sinful World are as proud envious and revengeful as sensual and covetous as intemperate unjust and unclean as others in the World are though these seem to go in a different path yet 't is a path in the same broad way that leads to Destruction 3. Turning to Errour and forwardness to promote errours that are very dangerous is also mistaken for Conversion Many that are unlearned and unstable do wrest the Scriptures to their own Destruction 2 Pet. 3. 16. and yet vainly suppose they are contending for the Faith and are in the right way to Salvation this is not Conversion but Delusion and the greater the Confidence is the Delusion is the stronger When Satan transforms himself into an Angel of Light and his Ministers appear as the Ministers of Righteousness and Errour is dress't up as if it were most certain and Sacred Truth how many are led away and believe lies and are industrious to perswade others also to believe them And so much is placed in the embracing of these falshoods as if it were damnable to reject them But I Counsel you to remember that of the Apostle Jam. 5. 20. that turning from an Errour and not to it is the way to save a Soul from Death Observe concerning these deluded ones whether some spiritual Pride or carnal Affection or notorious Omissions were not the fore-runners of their being perverted whether they don't allow themselves in the neglect of plainly commanded Duties bearing some fruits or other which discover them And whatever Joyes and Comforts they bragg of they had better be without them since they serve only as confirming Seals of their Delusions 4. Another thing mistaken for Conversion is forsaking of One sin though there be a running into the contrary at least an allowance of some Iniquity or other still He that has been exceedingly addicted to Prodigality ceases perhaps his Profuseness and Luxury but runs into the other Extream and becomes excessively greedy after gain this Man has not turned from sin to God but from one sin to another To reform in one thing nay in many things is insufficient if the Reformation be not universal one sin loved and liv'd in is enough to prove one Unconverted and will be sufficient to destroy A Man
that has one Dagger thrust into his Heart dyes as certainly as Julius Caesar did of all the Wounds which were given him in the Senate or as Attilius Regulus did who was pierced from Head to Foot in the nayled Barrel 5. A blameless Conversation is also mistaken for Conversion though there be no Care or Observation no Renovation of the Heart and Nature The righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees was short because only external if they imbrued not their hands in blood they were unconcern'd though their Hearts were full of Wrath and Hatred if free from actual Adultery inward Concupiscence was nothing with them But our Lord rightly expounds the Law shews how being spiritual it reaches the Soul and obliges unto internal Purity and Righteousness and he expressly affirms Mat. 5. 20. Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven The Apostle Paul tells us before his Conversion he was touching the righteousness of the Law blameless Phil. 3. 6. Yet though his Life were free from blame and ordered according to a more than ordinary Pharisaical strictness and severity yet his Heart was void of saving Grace 'till he was beaten off from Confidence in himself and he was turned to the Faith of Christ 6. Bodily Temper and good Nature is mistaken for Conversion Some by reason of their Constitutions are naturally Mild they take this for the Grace of Patience and for the meekness and gentleness of Christ 't is the temper of some to be Liberal and Free-hearted they take this for the Grace of Christian Charity When they behold others of crooked and crabbed Dispositions and perceive themselves of a more even and loving temper they are very apt to be deceived in judging what is the effect of their natural temperament to be the sanctifying work of the Spiâ—it But Oh how much does Converting Grace differ from meer Nature when most resined He that is naturally Patient is not so in Obedience to God but because Nature inclines him not to be otherwise Nature has no regard to the pleasing of God nor to the enjoying of him neither does it desire help from him but is centred in it self and well enough contented without him 7. Another thing mistaken for Conversion is Education and restraining Grace Some that have been brought up under Religious Parents and have lived in places free from Temptation and by this means have been preserved from the Worlds Pollutions they are very apt to call that Renewing Grace which is no more than Grace restraining But when these do change their Place and change their Company how does Corruption discover it self Experience very sad has shewn that they who under their Parents eyes and care have seemed very serious and well inclined when their Parents have been removed by Death all the good Inclinations of the Children have been as it were buried in their Parents graves and with a strange kind of eagerness have they run out to great excess of riot Joash during the Life of Jehoiada the Priest who had saved him from being Murther'd and brought him to the Throne seemed a Prince very well Inclined but after Jehoiada his Death all his Goodness vanished he left the Lord Jehovah and shamefully Apostatized into Idolatry and when he was faithfully reproved by Zachariah the Son of Jehoiada he Commanded him to be Stoned Wicked and Ungrateful Man thus to take away the Life of the Son who was himself preserved by the Father 2 Chron. 24. 17 23. And truly if you observe Education and restraining Grace at the very best when it has most kept Persons within compass yet even then there is a levity of spirit in them that are thus restrained serious Discourses are not so savoury to them as those that are more frothy and vain and upon Self-reflection they may observe in themselves a secret dislike of Religion and strictness which they dare not openly shew 8. Conviction in the Conscience is also mistaken for Conversion When Conscience is thoroughly awakened and the spirit of bondage causes great fear of Wrath when Mercy is implored and Pardon of Sin is begg'd with great earnestness and the force of Conscience produces a reformation of several Miscarriages this may seem Conversion and sometimes ends in it and it often issues otherwise Pharaoh under Conviction cryes out I have sinned resolves to let Israel go desires Moses his Prayers for him yet after this hardens his Heart and that Obduration ended in his Destruction The Children of Israel under Affliction and Conviction together when God slew them then they sought him they returned and enquired early after God they remembred God was their rock and the high God their Redeemer And yet though Conscience compell'd them thus far their Heart remained Unconverted was not right with God neither were they stedfast in his Covenant Psal 78. 34 37. There may be amazing terrour in the Conscience and yet the Heart remain carnal and ill inclined endeavouring to cast the awakened Conscience into a dead slaep again that without any check or trouble it may return to its former perverse and evil way 9. Temporary Faith and forwardness in Profession is likewise mistaken for Conversion Those Hearers of the Gospel whom our Lord compares to the stony ground were forward to hear and received the Word with joy and for a while believed they assented to the Truth of the Word and look'd upon it as worthy of acceptation but it was not so acceptable in their account as to make them willing to lose all for the sake of it thus far thus deeply it had not taken root in them therefore when Persecution arose because of the Word they were offended and in time of Temptation they fell away Luk. 8. 13. These joyful forward Professors seemed Converts but really were not Converted Neither were those that went a degree further who brought forth not only the blade of an external Profession but also some fruit but being choaked with cares and riches and the pleasures of this life did not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bring forth any fruit unto perfection v. 14. 10. Spiritual Gifts especially if in some Excellency are mistaken for Conversion When there is a great measure of Notional knowledge and ability to Discourse well of the things of God variety and fluency of Utterance in Prayer these things take with others and are apt to a Est enim superbia non Magnitudo sed tumor quod autem tumâ—t videtur magnum sed non est sanum Augustin Serm. 27. de Tempore puff up those themselves that have them with a great conceit of their great Attainments as if they were spiritually alive and spiritual Worshippers of God who will be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth And yet these Gifts may be and often are without any true Humility and in them that know not the more excellent way of Love. Gifts are to be earnestly Coveted 1 Cor.
12. ult yet they are not too much to be magnified A man may have the Gift of Prophecy who is not a Saint but a worker of Iniquity Mat. 7. 22 23. A man may have the Gift of Prayer that has not the Spirit of Grace and Supplication and then though he Prayes never so well as to outward Expression yet his Heart being carnal proud self-conceited self-designing in his Duties he is really to be rank'd among the carnal and the formal Worshippers Under how many Praying lips are there covetous wrathful lustful and haughty Hearts and these Hearts are far from God whatever good words are given to him And if the Heart is absent from a Duty God is also absent and that Duty as splendid as it seems is really Hypocrisie and Provocation Judas had Gifts and so had Demas but had they saving Grace this World had the highest room in the Heart of the one and of the other I read in Scripture that an evil Spirit came upon Saul and he fell a Prophesying in the house 1 Sam. 18. 10. I have read of a Scottish Major who excelled in the Gift of Prayer but had made a compact with the Devil O Professor do not rest and glory in thy Gifts but humbly use them and be sure let it be within the sphere of thy Calling Labour to excell in Love and lowliness of Mind that 's the way to have the more comfortable evidence of Conversion in thy own spirit and to be the more truly serviceable to the Church of Christ Thus have I discover'd many mistakes about Conversion that your danger might be apprehended and avoided And pray remember that groundless Confidence you are Converted is one of the strongest barrs against the Grace of God one of the mightiest hindrances of Conversion And Oh! how unconceivably woful and dreadful will it be still to continue confident till Hell it self for ever but too late convince you that your Confidence is utterly unreasonable VSE II. If Conversion be thus necessary Behold the madness of refusing to be Converted There is an hereditary Phrenzy that is derived from the old fallen Adam unto all his Posterity not one of his Children is born in his right Wits the Understanding of none return until they are born again Physicians tell us that the signs of Madness are furor audacia fury and boldness and alas how bold are men in Sin They rush into it as an Horse into the battel Jer. 8. 6. They are so daring as to fight against the Almighty though none ever hardned himself against him and prosper'd And these audacious Sinners when reproved and urged to returning and submission they are full of fury and rage and are ready to rend the Reprover The Madness of every one that will not be Converted I shall demonstrate in several particulars and Oh that the Discovery may tend to the Cure of it 1. He that will not be Converted he will not be pardon'd though he is Condemn'd to dye eternally and a Pardon is offer'd him he hears the Gospel which is the Word of Reconciliation he is told that God is ready to forgive forward to be at Peace nay beseecheâ— him to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 20. but he will not be intreated he will continue an Enemy he chuses to lye under Guilt and Wrath still and acts so senslesly as if everlasting Burnings were not to be dreaded but to be desired 2. He that will not be Converted he will not be healed of a most deadly Plague though the Physician do offer freely and throughly to Cure him Sin is certainly the sorest Distemper because 't is the Souls Disease No Souls dye but of this Plague and all Souls must perish and be lost that refuse to be healed Christ came on purpose to heal but frantick Sinners are more afraid of their Physician than of their Sickness though never so dangerous and mortal The unjust Man sayes let me alone to be unjust still though my Vnrighteousness hinder my entrance into the Heavenly Kingdom the proud Man sayes let me be proud still whatever the Scripture speaks of Gods resisting the Proud the unclean Sinner sayes let me be filthy still if I can't go to Heaven without being Holy I care not to come thither Thus Jerasalem of old would not be cleansed the Lord offer'd to sanctifie and heal her but she would by no means consent to it Jer. 13. 27. Woe unto thee O Jerusalem wilt thou not be made clean when shall it once be 3. He that will not be Converted is certainly frantick for he will not be eased of a load that he can't bear Can he stand under the weight of thousands and millions of Iniquities No no the least of all is heavy enough to sink him into Hell Oh how exceeding low will he be depressed under the whole number Can he bear up under the Almighty's Indignation that Wrath has such righteousness and strength with it that none can stand before it Now if the Sinner would become a Convert Iniquity should be removed divine Anger appeased through a Mediatour but he utterly rejects the motion 4. He that will not be Converted is resolved to remain poor though the greatest Treasure the Pearl of price be proffer'd him and may be had for prizing and acceptance The second Adam tells us how we are beggar'd in the first those words may truly be applyed to every natural Man Thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked Rev. 3. 17. Now our Lord adds v. 18. I counsel thee to buy of me Gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest be rich This Gold can't be bought too dear nay 't is bought without money and without price Parting with our Sins and Idols which we preferr'd before this tried Gold and willingness to have it is in a Gospel sense buying of it But Unconverted Sinners are so poor in understanding that they preferr their beggery and lusts before all the Vnsearchable Riches of Christ 5. He that will not be Converted is resolved to be a Slave though he is called unto Liberty In the Gospel Liberty is proclaimed to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound Isa 61. 1. The Son of God did and suffer'd much to procure this Liberty he paid a vast Price when he gave himself a ransom But frantick Sinners are fond of their Fetters they chuse to be drudges in the basest work which is the working of Iniquity they fancy such is the distemper and vanity of their Imagination the bondage of Corruption though the worst of bondage and the forerunner of being for ever in Chains of Darkness to be easie and pleasant and they will not come to the Son to make them free indeed 6. He that will not be Converted the Hopes that he entertains are most unreasonable He Promises to himself safety though in the greatest danger he sayes he shall have Peace though the way of Peace he knows not but goes in
from every thing but Grace and Grace then is perfected in Glory The end of the upright and sincere Convert is Peace Psal 37. 37. and a peaceful Death is the forerunner of an everlasting Rest If he should dye in a Cloud he would shine not at all the less brightly in another World all sin and fears and tears will be gone as soon as he enters into Heavens door and sees his Lord there If he sets as the Sun in the clearest Summers evening his Death is encouraging to others comfortable to himself but ten thousand thousand times more Comfort will he presently have as soon as ever he is got out of and is absent from the body and is present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8. I have done with the Motives to Conversion And now for shame be silent all tongues that talk against turning to God! Apostate Angels be for ever mute what Adversaries and lying Spirits are ye in disswading Man from Conversion and in asserting that though he turn not he shall not surely dye And Carnal Reason confess thy self quite baffled with strength of Argument and that not one word more of good sense can be spoken against the Sinners Conversion which is so much for his Interest both in time and to eternity VSE V. Of Direction how Sinners may become true and thorough Converts It greatly concerns you to be sincere in turning for in this matter you have chiefly to do with God himself who can't be deceived with the fairest shews but understands perfectly the most secret thoughts inclinations and purposes of the Hearts of Men every upright Heart is open to him and he takes Pleasure in the uprightness which himself has wrought And if there be nothing but Hypocrisie under the greatest Profession that Hypocrisie is both observed and abhorred Any thing short of true and thorough Conversion will be a dangerous Cheating of your selves therefore that you may be Converts indeed I shall give you these Directions 1. Let spiritual Wisdom and Knowledge be valued as that which is of great price and usefulness He that is indeed a Convert is called out of darkness into marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9. In this Verse where my Text lies Converting the Soul and making Wise the Simple are joyn'd together the one is necessary and subservient to the other That Devotion of which Ignorance is the Mother is indeed a following of blind and deluded or crafty and deluding Guides but a turning to and a following of God it is not Be well Catechized and Instructed in the Principles of the Scripture-doctrine let a true Light be set up in your Understandings The Mind is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the leading Faculty 't is needful it be well Informed In the first Creation when Darkness covered the face of the deep God said let there be Light and there was Light Gen. 1. 2 3. and thus it is in the new Creation and Conversion 2 Cor. 4. 6. God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined into our Hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Search for Knowledge in the Scripture as you would search for Silver or hid Treasure and look up to Heaven for light and ability to understand it that you may know Christ and God in him and what you are to believe desire and do in order to your Happiness You can't be made wise to Salvation unless you are first made wise to Conversion And as you are to acquaint your selves with so you are firmly to assent to the Doctrine revealed in the Word of God and the more strongly you credit whatever the Word sayes the more powerful influence will this Faith have upon your Conscience Will and Life Vnbelief is the root of defection and departing from the living God Heb. 3. 12. If the arm of the Lord be revealed his Power shewn forth and cause the report of the Word all the Promises and Threatnings of it to be indeed believed this will have a mighty efficacy towards the Souls return to God again 2. That you may become true Converts be sensible that all Mankind are fallen by Iniquity and are estranged from God and you in particular are by Nature far off from Him. The Lord indeed made Man upright but he has sought out many Inventions Eccles 7. ult New wayes he thought to have found of being higher and happier but while through the subtilty of the old Serpent he catcht at a shadow he lost the substance and became both foolish and miserable Adam the first Man corrupted the humane Nature and as thus corrupted you partake of it so that you are by Nature Children of Wrath your Hearts are desperately wicked dangerously deceitful and returning to God is that which they have a strange and strong antipathy against The more you are sensible that your Hearts are thus depraved and alienated from Gâ—â— the more jealous you will be of them and the more earnest for that new Heart and new Spirit which the Lord has Promised in his new Covenant Ezek. 36. 26. Perceiving and being burthen'd with a Distemper is a good step towards a Cure especially if an able Physician is ready to heal any that will but make use of him A right sense that Sin has set you at a distance from God and that those who are far from him shall perish Psal 37. 27. will have a mighty tendency to your being brought nigh to him by the Blood and Spirit of the Lord Jesus And truly He that in the daies of his Flesh was so ready to heal corporal Maladies is much more willing to heal the corrupted Nature and to change and turn the Heart of every one that seriously cries Turn me and I shall be turned heal me and I shall be healed save me and I shall be saved for thou art my Praise 3. Let Humiliation for Sin be very hearty and very deep A Soul that never was truly humbled for its iniquities still retains a liking of them and is more easily tempted to return to them Humiliation serves very much to break the league with Sin the Covenant with Death and Hell. The Apostle Paul who at his Conversion was deeply abased was made to tremble and to be astonished Act. 9. 6. seeing his Sin the insufficiency of his Pharisaical Righteousness and that he was so far from Salvation that he persecuted the onely Saviour after this low Humiliation how thorowly was his Heart turned to God! how precious was Jesus to his Soul how circumspectly did he walk how abundantly did he labour how patiently and joyfully did he suffer for Righteousness sake how constantly did he keep the Faith and finish his course till he got the Crown In true Humiliation there is a mixture of fear and sorrow and shame and upon these does follow holy anger and indignation Look up to Heaven behold the great and glorious God against whom every one of your Sins have
he left all that he might enjoy pure publick Ordinances Certainly he found that of Grace that of Christ in them as was much more valuable to him than all his Pleasant and Plentiful Estate which is one of the chief Flowers in Italy the Garden of the World. 5. God is turned unto these true Converts that are turned to him and will never turn away from them to do them good and to keep them good and upright before Him. Regeneration and Conversion is a great Fruit and effect of the Resurrection of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 3. Believers are said to be begotten again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead And as Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more Death hath no more Dominion over him Rom. 6. 9. so they who by Converting Grace are made spiritually a live shall never totally relapse under the Dominion of Sin nor become again dead in Trespasses That God who has called these Converts is faithful and therefore as the Apostle sayes he will preserve their whole Spirits and Souls and Bodies blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5. 23 24. The Lord turns to them that are turned Zech. 1. 3. Turn to me saith the Lord of Hosts and I will turn to you saith the Lord of Hosts he turns his Eye his Face his Ear his Heart his Hand towards them for good And he has said he will never leave them nor forsake them neither shall they leave nor forsake him for he will establish them with his Free Spirit he will uphold them with the right hand of his Righteousness Oh Happy Converts who have Glory promised upon their Perseverance and have Strengthning Grace Promised to make them persevere unto the end 6. Conversion will end in Coronation All Converts are by Adoption the Children of God heirs of his Kingdom and shall for ever wear a Crown of Life Though the Heathens knew something of future Rewards and Punishments yet their Apprehensions of these were low and unsuitable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who knows saies Euripides whether to live be not to dye and to dye be not to live He seems to guess there was a better Life after this yet he is not certain of it When Vlysses imagined Achilles the bravest among the Greeks to have been most happy after Death Homer Odyss l. 11. brings in Achilles appearing to him and saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which may be thus Englished I 'd rather serve a Clown on Earth for bread Than in those Regions of the Dead Command and be of all the supream Head. Heaven is here set forth as a poor and undesirable thing But Life and Immortality is brought to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. Here the Glory of the other World is displayed here is an excellent Map of the heavenly and everlasting Kingdom where Knowledge and Light is compleat without Darkness Holiness perfect without the least remainder of Defilement Blessedness and Joy is full without any Grief or Fear or Possibility of Sorrow where there is no such thing as Sin or Death or Trouble but God himself is All in All 1 Cor. 15. 28. All Converts their Feet are turned into the way to Heaven their Hearts are now set upon it it won't be long e're they be there and Crown'd there themselves Conversion is called a Rising from the Dead Eph. 5. 14. for it has some likeness to and is an earnest of a future glorious Resurrection What a glorious Creature will the Convert be when Christ has done his whole VVork upon him and has put to him his last hand in making his whole Man every way perfect Glorified Bodies will shine as the Sun glorified Souls will be pure and spotless like the Seraphim and Wonder Love Joy and Praise will be in Heaven the everlasting business I have spoken much to Comfort Converts but no Tongue can tell the thousandth part of all their Happiness The Heart of Man is too narrow at present to comprehend what God has prepared for them that Love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. VSE VII Of Counsel unto them that are Converted and my Advice shall be in these particulars 1. Thankfully admire the Grace of God which has Converted you The best thing in this World which is Grace and Glory in the World to come certainly do well deserve your thanks Sin has made you less than the least of Mercies by Conversion you come to partake of the greatest Christ is formed in you and you are made New Creatures that a New Song should be in your Mouths and that you should shew forth the Praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9. Let every Convert admire and admiring Praise and say How much has God done for me and how has he done that for me which he has not done for thousands and millions in the World in the very Church who are let alone to live and dye in Sin and to damn themselves for ever 2. Labour to be more thoroughly Converted Pray for this that God would still turn you more and more unto himself follow on to know him follow harder after him and strive still more to please him 1 Thes 4. 1. Furthermore then we beseech you Brethren and exhort you by our Lord Jesus that as ye have received how ye ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound more and more The more fully you turn the more you please him and to please him will be pleasant to you The nearer you come to God the safer you will be under his shadow the more evidently will you see and the more abundantly will you taste his goodness 3. Do nothing unbecoming Converts Think often with your selves whose you are and what a Price was pay'd to redeem you from all Iniquity and to make you Zealous of good works Tit. 2. 14. Reckon it bruitish to be Intemperate and Unclean base to be Covetous and Earthly-minded hellish to be Malicious Envious and Proud. Be Patient under Gods Corrections under Injuries from Man Let your Tongues be true and kind your Hands merciful and just in your Morals be of great exactness Divine Morality without thee Religion is a vain shew holy Duties are but lost labour and Confidence that all is well is but self-deceiving What Brutus said of Vertue may be used concerning Faith O miserable Faith without moral Honesty thou art nothing else but an empty Name Take heed of falls especially great ones after Conversion least you wound both Conscience and Religion and go smarting and groaning to your Graves 4. Pity the Vnconverted about you Misery moves Bowels and stirs up Mercy who more miserable than Sinners who are at a distance from God and under his Wrath and who are so far from fearing and turning that they are still running farther from him and provoking him to
that she was still indeed in her wickedness as long as sinful and vain thoughts had entertainment given to them Jer. 4. 14. O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee A converted Soul may be likened unto a House that formerly had very bad but now hath other and better Inhabitants The Hectors the Ranters the Swearers the Whoremongers the Drunkards they come and knock at the Door of this House and say that formerly none were more welcome there than themselves but the door is kept fast lockt bolted barr'd against them and the answer is that there is no room for such as they The House hath now another owner that don't like such company but another a better sort of Society Thus it is with the Heart of the Convert proud lustfull covetous malicious revengefull thoughts plead for admission and say we used to be very welcome and formerly there was a great deal of pleasure and delight taken in us and must we now be turned out of doors The answer is the Heart hath another Inhabitant Sin dwelt there before and then sinful thoughts were welcom thoughts Ay but now Grace reigns there therefore these sinful Thoughts as fast as they endeavour to Croud in there are endeavours used to extrude them And as sinful thoughts are burthensome to a Converted Soul so good thoughts are welcome guests Indulge Hospitio causasque innecte morandi A Converted Soul Indulges to such Thoughts and earnestly desires their constant abode and stay The Convert is truly troubled that he can hardly joyn three or four good thoughts together without some Interruption The Convert wishes that God were more and with more delight his Meditation and that his Law were meditated on and delighted in as well as himself Saith David Psal 104. 34. My Meditation of him shall be sweet I will be glad in the Lord. And in Psal 1. 2. It is said of the blessed man His delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and Night And the Convert whose Soul is indeed turned unto God he speaks thus such and so delightful let my thoughts ever be 5. When the Soul is Converted there is a Conformity of the Will of man unto the Holy and blessed Will of God. This was the ground of the first controversie between the Lord and those Angels that revolted from him they would needs oppose their wills to his God would have them to keep humble their Wills were to become proud and pride was both the fault and fall of the Devil and his Followers 1 Tim. 3. 6. Not a Novice lest being lifted up with Pride he fall into the Condemnation of the Devil God would have these Angels to abide in Truth but their will was to let go their Primitive Integrity and they turned false and rebellious Spirits And the natural man is too much like these evil Angels God calls but man will not hear God commands but man will not obey and in some sort evil men out-do the Apostate Angels because when God doth offer to sanctifie and to cure and to save the Children of men they chuse death and damning rather than they will consent to be healed But when the Soul is Converted the Will is changed and indeed the great turning change is here In the Will of man there is the great turning change wrought as long as that remains perverse and stubborn and refractory to be sure there is nothing of Converting Grace and when once the Will is changed and set right and inclined steddily towards God all remaining infirmities and the Truth of Grace may very well stand together There are these three things that the Will of the Convert doth 1. It doth make choice of that which God propounds as most eligible 2. It is Subject unto Gods Laws and Commandments 3. It submits to Correction and the Cross 1. The Will of the Convert makes choice of that which God propounds as most eligible and above all it makes choice of God himself It is taken with the exceeding Riches of his Grace It is taken with his Wisdom Truth Faithfulness Alsufficiency Vnchangeableness and Eternity To enjoy the highest and chiefest good and to enjoy this good for ever and for ever What is more what is so worthy to be chosen The bent of Davids Will was thus towards God when he said Psal 42. 2. My Soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God and though David was advanced to a Throne yet that doth not divert him from seeking after God and saying to him O when wilt thou come to me Psal 101. 2. I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way O when wilt thou come to me I will walk within my house with a perfect Heart Though my House be a Palace and though my Chair be a Throne I shall be uneasie in my Seat I shall look upon my Crown as uncomfortable unless I have thy Presence in this Palace of mine and therefore O when wilt thou come unto me The Converted Soul refuses what God informs it is evil what God informs it is abominable and Sin doth very well deserve the Name of Abomination The Converted Soul doth sleight that which the Word of God tells him is but contemptible Vanity And as the Will of the Convert does chuse God above all so it chuses other things with reference unto God It chuses the Word because it declares the Will of God and what it is that will indeed please him It chuses Christ because he is the way to God as Mediator It chuses Prayer because it is pouring out the Soul before God. Psal 62. 18. It chuses the Ordinances of God because God hath appointed them and is to be found in them The more Converts have of God in any thing upon that thing is put the higher esteem 2. The Will of the Converts is subject unto Gods Laws and Commandments The Heart of Flesh why do you think it is so called I will take away the Heart of Stone out of their Flesh and I will give them a Heart of Flesh Why is it called a Heart of Flesh Partly because it is sensible and troubled at Transgression and partly because it is soft and doth receive the impression of the Word and of the Law of God. It is indeed a fleshly Table on which the Law of God is written by the Finger of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 3. God hath written according to his new Covenant Promise his own Law in the Hearts of Converts and there is a voluntary and delightful Obedience yielded Psal 40. 8. I delight to do thy Will O my God yea thy Law is within my Heart God saies I Command The Convert answers I Consent and Lord help me to please thee still more and more for I am never better pleased my self than when I best please thee Thus the Wills of Converts yield to the
God in Christ be loved and chosen above all then conclude that Conversion is sound and sincere If the Heart be grieved because it is no more suited to God because it hath no more Faith in him and though it can't say with Peter Joh. 21. 17. Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I do love thee yet it can say Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I would love thee Above all things in the world I desire to love thee and to be beloved of thee Such a kind of desire as this doth plainly shew that the work of of Conversion is begun notwithstanding a great many doubts and fears that do remain about it But if under the highest Prosession of Religion if under the most constant attendance upon all Ordinances the Heart doth secretly go after its Covetousness the Soul is fond of its Lusts and of its Vanities and is resolved still to be so certainly there is no such thing as a work of Conversion though there be never so high and mighty a Confidence that there is Ezek. 33. 31. They come unto thee as the People cometh and they sit before thee as my People and they hear thy words but they will not do them for with their Mouth they shew much love but their Heart goeth after their Covetousness The Second Use is by way of Exhortation I exhort you all to lift up your Souls to God with a desire that he would turn them to himself Naturally your Hearts are in very bad hands but if you give them unto God his hands are powerfull and good and safe He can new form your Souls both to and for Himself And therefore I beseech you give your consent and earnestly desire that God would take the Work in hand and Convert every Soul before him to himself to day To prevail with you thus to Consent and Desire I would lay before you these following Arguments 1. If your Souls are Converted they will be enlivened though before dead in Trespasses and in Sins they will be made alive unto God Eph. 2. 1. You will presently be free from the Sentence of Death and Condemnation that ye are under and ye will be made to live in the Spirit and to walk in the Spirit Gal. 5. 25. O what a Life will you lead when once ye become Converts your Lives will become Holy they will be Heavenly they will be Angelical The Spirit of God will be that and a great deal more unto your Souls than what your Souls are to your Bodies The Spirit will set you at liberty The Spirit will act and lead you The Spirit will fill you with his own blessed fruits that are both pure and peaceable 2. If your Souls are Converted they will be healed Where is the Soul among us that is not sick of various Maladies and that Soul is most sick that least feels its sickness Conversion and healing are joyned together Isa 6. 10. Least at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be Converted and I should heal them So Jer. 3. 23. Return ye backsliding Children saith the Lord and I will heal your backsliding behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God. The Soul is most precious and the best part in a Man the diseases of the Soul are the worst and most dangerous and consequently the cure and healing of these diseases is most of all desirable If thou didst labour under a death-threatning Malady how wouldst thou long to be cured Poor Man thy Soul labours under a great many Maladies and all of them Hell-threatning Maladies and if thou art not Cured thou must be damned therefore Cure should be prized and Conversion and Curing go together 3. If your Souls are Converted they will be both beautified and strengthned the Image of God is the Souls Beauty and Glory and upon all true Converts this Image of God is Instampt Sin makes men vile Conversion and Sanctification makes them excellent so excellent that the Scripture plainly affirms that the World is not worthy of the Saints that are in it Heb. 11. 38. And Strength will follow Conversion as well as Beauty Who is the strongest upon Earth The answer is the Convert is the strongest All the Unconverted are without strength Alas they are without Life and therefore must needs be without strength The Convert is strengthned with might by the Spirit of God in the inward Man so that he is enabled to do good he is enabled to bear evils with patience he is enabled to resist the Enemies of his Salvation he is enabled to Fight and to Conquer nay which is more emphatical he is enabled so to conquer as to be more than a Conquerer through him that hath loved him Rom. 8. 37. Lastly If your Souls are Converted they will be both satisfied and secured and what can you desire more It would be a loud lie if Mammon should say that ever he satisfied any All is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit and there is no profit under the Sun Eccles 2. 11. But now the Lord with truth doth say I have satiated the weary Soul and I have replenished every sorrowful Soul Jer. 31. 25. Those Souls that are weary and sorrowful seem furthest off from Satisfaction yet these weary and sorrowful Souls the Lord is able to satisfie Nay in Scripture we read of abundant Satisfaction Psal 35. 8 9. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy House and thou shalt make them drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures That which increaseth the Satisfaction is that the Souls of Converts are secure the Hand of Christ and the Hand of the Father which is greater than all is sufficient to defend these Converted Souls from the force of Earth and Hell and Sin too If your Souls are lifted up to God Sursum Corda Up with your hearts unto God If your Souls are Converted to Him they will be safe in Life they will be safe in Death and immediately after death they will be past all danger being admitted into that House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1. Thus have I done with the second Doctrine That Conversion is then sincere when the very Soul is Converted Doct. 3. Is this That the Word of God is the great means of Conversion And O that the Word that sounds in your ears to day may be found an effectual Means of the Conversion of all the Uncoverted here before the Lord The Law of the Lord in the Text is said to Convert the Soul because 't is the Means which the Lord himself makes use of and adds an efficacy to that such an effect may be produced The Word is styled the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believes Rom. 1. 16. And by this Word Faith it self is wrought whereby the Soul comes to Christ and by him does Convert to God Rom. 10. 17. So then Faith
bondage of Corruption the cords of Vanity the snare of Satan and has both a Will and Power given him to Convert to God and to continue and abide with him 'T is manifest upon all these accounts that the Word has a fitness to be a means of Conversion In the third place I am to tell you what kind of Means the Word is 1. The Word is a Means of Gods own appointing Divine Institution is a thing of very great significancy God indeed can work without means and against them but if he is pleased to appoint them they deserve to be used and shall not be used in vain if they are used seriously God appointed seven Trumpets of Rams horns to be blown and at length the blast is more powerful than a battering Ram the Walls of Jericho fall down to the ground and the City is delivered into the hand of Israel Josh 6. 4 20. God has appointed the Ministers of the Gospel to lift up their Voices like a Trumpet to shew the Transgressours their Iniquities to cry to them to turn The Word is with Power the strongest holds of the Prince of Darkness fall down before it he is cast out his works destroyed where before he had the surest Possession The Word is ordained of God as the Means of Conversion 't is dangerous and a great Contempt of God himself to neglect it and truly after a careless manner to attend upon it is the way to grow more hard-hearted and dead in Sin under it 2. The Word is usually most Powerful when Preached Reading of the word must be granted an Ordinance of great use 〈◊〉 When our Lord was asked by a man what he should do that he might inherit Eternal Life He answers What is written in the Law how readest thou Luk. 10. 26. He that would inherit Eternal Life it concerns him diligently to read the Word which instructs him in the way thither Not only those of a lower condition but those of the highest Estate are to read the Word all the dayes of their lives the Word of God is the best Counsellour even of King◠themselves Deut. 17. 18 19. The way to Heaven is one and the same both for the High and Low. The Word is to be read not only Privately but Publickly such publick reading has a warrant in the New Testament as well as the Old 1 Thes 5. 27. I charge you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I adjure you by the Lord that this Epistle be read unto a◠the Holy Brethren And publick reading is mentioned no less than three times in one verse Col. 4. 16. And when this Epistle i◠read amongst you cause that it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans and that ye likewise read the Epistle from Laodicea Certainly the Scripture is not so obscure but that it may be read before the Congregation to their Spiritual Benefit Yet the Preaching the opening and applying of the Word of God has a special Honour put upon it as to the working of Conversion and Faith Rom. 10. 14 15. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe on Him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher and how shall they Preach except they be sent as it is written How beautiful are the Feet of them that preach the Gospel of Peace that bring glad tidings of good things They that are sent of God scripturally qualified separated and set apart to the work of the Ministry 't is their great business to Preach the Word to be instant in season out of season to reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and Doctrine 2 Tim. 4. 2. And when in Sincerity with an earnest desire to win Souls they make the Truth manifest and endeavour to commend themselves to every mans Conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4. 2. the Word of God is the more likely to reach the Conscience and to touch and turn the Heart to Him. Glorious things have been done by Preaching The twelve Apostles and if you will add a thirteenth the Apostle Paul how powerful was the Word in their Mouths to the Worlds Conversion They did not as they were slander'd turn the world upside down but were blessed Instruments to turn it to God and to deliver it out of that Idolatry Superstition Ignorance and Wickedness in which it had lain buried for many ages 3. The Word of God is the highest means of Conversion Psal 138. 2. Thou hast magnified thy VVord above all thy Name Here chiefly thou doest make thy self known in the powerful Effects of thy Grace and Spirit and in the accomplishment of the Promises which thou hast made The design of Mercies is that this VVord may be more minded Rom. 12. 1 2. I beseech you therefore Brethren by the Mercies of God that ye present your Bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable which is your reasonable service And be not conformed to this VVorld but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds that ye may prove what is that good that acceptable and perfect VVill of God. Mercies are cords of love to draw us to the Lord and to constrain us to keep his Word and Commandments The end of Affliction is to turn our Eyes and Hearts and Feet into the way of Gods Testimonies The Psalmist tells us Before he was afflicted he went astray but after he kept the VVord with greater care Psal 119. 67. and he adds v. 71. 72. It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes the Law of thy Mouth is better unto me than thousands of Gold and Silver Affliction is sent to humble for Transgression to reduce the wandring Soul and to bring it back to the Word of God and when this Word is truly heeded received and highly prized then the Soul is indeed Converted The Word declares the meaning of Mercies the Word is the Tongue that utters the voice and message of the Rod The Word directs what to pray for and how to pray so as to speed and instructs about every other Ordinance 4. If the Word be ineffectual to Conversion alas what is likely to become efficacious When Wisdom had cryed long and upbraided foolish Sinners with their hating Knowledge when they had been called to turn with a proffer of the Spirit to be poured out but they refused still their case is set forth as desperate because the Word being rejected hated and cast behind their back nothing was likely to do or to make them good dreadful and utter Destruction is threatned and instead of being pitied they are told they shall be derided and laught at in their ruine Prov. 1. 20 30. When the Rich man in Hell intreated that One might be sent from the dead to warn his sive secure impenitent Brethren lest they should also come at last into the Place of Torment The Answere first is They have Moses and the Prophets
the Sun of Righteousness set and all hopes of Conversion and healing quite gone To have a Famine of the VVord sent it is to have a Church unchurched a Vineyard laid wast and not only turned into a Common but into barren and cursed ground To have a Famine of the VVord sent it is to have the Lord to spue a people out of his mouth and say I will never return to this Vomit again To have a Famine of the VVord sent it is to have the Lord to give a Bill of Divorce and upon this Bill of Divorce writ Loammi you are not my people Loruhamah I will no more have mercy on you Tremble tremble every one that hears me this day at the thoughts of such a Judgment as a Famine of the VVord of God! Pray pray that this Judgment may never be inflicted upon England I read that there was seven years plenty in Egypt before there was the greatest Famine that ever Egypt knew I heartily wish that our present Liberty and plentiful injoyment of the VVord of God be not a fore-runner of the most dreadful Famine of it that ever England knew Pray it may not be so pray that God would still give you Pastors after his own heart Pray that God would cause you to lye down in green pastures that he would load you besides the still waters that he would restore your Souls and lead you in the paths of righteousness for his Names sake Psal 23. 2 3. And when you pray for this fill your mouths with Arguments Tell the Lord of his own honour which his VVord doth direct the Children of Men to yield to him Tell the Lord of his Sons Interest He will neither be believed in nor known unless there be the VVord of God to reveal him Mention the promise that the Father hath made unto the Son the Mediator to give him the Heathen for his Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for his Possession Psal 2. 8. That of the increase of his Kingdom and Government there shall be no end Isa 9. 7. Urge him with that word that he hath said the Earth shall be filled with Knowledge as the waters cover the Sea Isa 11. 9. Be importunate in pleading such Promises as these and it will manifest that you prize the VVord of God and are afraid of its going And this importunity will be mighty pleasing to God and very prevalent with Him. 4. Hence I inferr That whensoever the Word of God is effectual to the Conversion of any there is just cause of great thankfulness When means attain their designed end it is a satisfaction unto those that use them and the higher and better the end is the satisfaction is the more The Conversion of a Sinner to God is one of the best things that can be done in the World to feed the hungry to cloath the naked to relieve the oppressed to cure the dangerously diseased to sheath the Sword of War and to establish Peace in Kingdoms and Nations all these are works very good but let me tell you that the turning of a Sinner unto God doth imply a far greater benefit because it doth include Eternal Blessedness The lost Sheep the lost Silver the lost Son were all missed with trouble and were all found with great Joy. When the Word is Powerful to Convert a Soul Oh what a precious thing is then secured It is secured from Eternal Misery and there is an everlasting Kingdom that it shall at last be brought safe unto 2 Tim. 4. 18. The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and he will preserve me unto his Heavenly Kingdom When a Sinner is Converted how thankful should he himself be for he is catched as a Fire-brand out of the burning he is delivered from intolerable Wrath and interested in unchangeable Love How thankful should Ministers be when they see their spiritual Offspring and Christ formed in them How thankful should Saints be when they behold their Number increased If they beheld the Transgressours and were grieved certainly with gladness should they behold them turnâ—ng from Transgression Nay those Angels that are in Heaven take notice of Conversion as a just ground of great Joy What was said concerning the first Creaâ—ion may be applyed unto the new Creaâ—ion the Morning Stars do sing together and all the Sons of God the whole Host of thâ— Principalities and Powers of Heaven â— shout for Joy when any are converted and made indeed new Creatures 5. Hence I inferr that it is no wonder that Sathan and his Instruments would faiâ— have this VVord of God out of the VVorld since it is the great means of Conversion O what a hateful Book unto Hell is the Holy Bible If evil Angels might have their wish I am perswaded their wish would be this that Souls may burn â—â— Hell and that Bibles might be burnt on Earth Oaths Curses Blasphemies Lying Slanders Railing filthy Discourse prophane Songs and Laughter Mirth and Musick damnable Heresies and Doctrines these have all a very pleasing sound iâ— Sathans ears Ay but the powerful anâ— plain Preaching of the Word of God Sathan cannot bear this is very harsh and it is very grating to him and he dotâ— endeavour to stop the mouths of skilâ—â— Dispensers of the Word of Righteousness for he fears their voice lest his stroâ— holds should be pulled down If in spigâ— of him a door of utterance be opened thâ— evil and envious One endeavours to â—â— men with prejudices against them that theâ— may have but very few â—eâ—rers but their Hâ—aâ—â—â—â— are a very great Multitude O then â—â—w doth he bestir himself to â—inder the entrance of the Word that Eyes and Ears and Hearts may be shut against it Christ compares the Word of God unto Seed and evil Angels unto Fowls that endeavour to catch it away as soon as sown Mat. 13. 4. that so it may be altogether fruitless or bring forth no fruit unto Eternal Life When there are a great many Pick-pockets in a Crowd upon notice Persons are the more careful of their Purses O what a company of evil Angels are here that are arrant Thieves and they will endeavour to rob you of the Word of God it concerns you to heed the Word and to hide it in your Hearts and then it will be safe a good and an honest Heart will certainly secure this Treasure 6. Hence I inferr that the Dispensers and Preachers of the VVord of God which is the great means of Conversion ought highly to be esteemed in Love for their works sake 1 Thes 5. 12 13. VVe beseech you Brethren to know them that labour among you are over in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake and be at peace among your selves When Christ ascended up on high far above all Heavens that he might fill all things the Ministry of the VVord was a gift that he did bestow upon his Church Eph. 4. 11.
or other provide for the Sheep of his Pasture 2. This Church shall have the Spirit along with the Word We may as well suppose a living Body without a Soul as a true Church of Christ without his Spirit The Spirit is promised and given to the Church to abide there for ever Joh. 14. 16 17. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of truth whom the World cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you Now where the Spirit of the Lord is how effectual is the Word what Light what Liberty what Power what Peace is there The Spirit makes the Means of Grace to attain their end He fills Ordinances with an Heavenly vertue he quickens the Dead enlarges the straitned Heart causes fruit to be brought forth plentifully he comforts the true Converts and stablishes them in every good word and work 3. It 's matter of Consolation that in this perfect Word of God there is wisest and safest counsel given Prov. 6. 22. When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee when thou awakest it shall talk with thee So Prov. 3. 23. Thou shalt walk in thy way safely and thy foot shall not stumble This Word counsels Converts against evil Men evil Women evil Angels an evil World and against every evil work It never gave bad counsel unto any The Counsels of the Word are best with reference to Eternity and with reference to Time also It bids us pass the time of our sojourning here in fear to live as Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth that we may be less concerned and disturbed and keep more unspotted from the World. It bids us to walk uprightly that we may walk surely It informs us that all carnal Policy which is joyned with a contempt of God and Religion is onely a cunning contrivance to undo our selves but 't is the fear of the Lord that is the beginning of Wisdom and the Knowledge of the Holy is understanding 4. In this Perfect Word of God a compleat Armour is found to secure Converts against the Enemies of their Salvation Eph. 6. 13. Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand This Armour is to be valued indeed which is Armour of proof which secures us against the worst and most powerful Adversaries which certainly defends and makes us victorious when sighting for Eternal life when those against whom these Enemies prevail will surely dy the everlasting Death The Apostle speaks at large of the pieces of this Armour We are furnished with the Girdle of Truth sound Doctrine must be held fast our Judgments well settled against errour Here is the Breast-plate of Righteousness Sincere Holiness must be in the Heart if the Spirit be not right if the Heart be not clean there can be no safety Here the feet are shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace The Gospel that is the Word of Reconciliation with God and that speaks Peace to the Conscience does prepare and fit us to walk in the way of Holiness and the difficulties of that way are endured with patience Here is the shield of Faith Believing on Jesus resting on the Promises that in in Him are Yea and Amen quenches the Fiery Darts of Satan so that true Converts are not sunk into an Hell of Despair by the remembrance of their past Sins which the Blood of Jesus has made an atonement for neither are they discouraged by fiery Trials by the siercest Persecutions Here is the Helmet of Salvation that is the Hope of Salvation This Hope is lively well grounded will never make ashamed and causes the Convert to lift up his head with courage because Redemption and Glory are aproaching Here is the Sword of the Spiâ—it the Word of God rightly used and applyed And unto these pieces of Armour Preces Lacrymae arma Ecclesiae Prayers and Tears which are the Churches Weapons must be added because we need not onely Armour but skill and strength to use it from above then we shall prevail indeed when we are strong in the Lord and in the power of his might How strong may be the Consolation considering how compleat and strong the Armour is how strong the Helper of a Christian Eph. 6. 10 -18 5. In this Perfect Word of God the Convert finds Promises that may serve to support and encourage him in every condition Is he afflicted 't is in faithfulness and love not in wrath and hatred Prov. 3. 12. Whom the Lord loveth he correcteth even as a Father the Son in whom he delighteth And affliction shall be profitable because it shall be purifying Heb. 12 10. He that is the Father of Spirits chastizeth for our profit that we may be partakers of his Holiness Is the Convert poor and destitute He may cast all his care on God who cares for him 1 Pet. 5. 7. The young Lions lack and suffer hunger but those that seek the Lord have him to be their Shepheard and shall not want any good thing Psal 34. 10. Is the Convert tempted His merciful and faithful High-Priest was tempted before him and knowes how to succour him Heb. 2. ult When the Apostle was sorely buffered by Satan and cries for help what answer has he See be encouraged when you see 2 Cor. 12. 9. And the Lord said unto me My Grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness Is the Convert deserted and troubled because God hides his face He has the Name of God and his everlasting Covenant to trust in and the Face that is now hidden will be shewn again and dry up the Tears of the deserted Isa 54. 7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee in a little wrath hid I my Face from thee for a Moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy upon thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer 6. 'T is matter of Comfort unto Converts that this Perfect word endures for ever 1 Pet. 1. 24 25. All Flesh is grass and all the glory of Man as the Flower of the field the Grass withereth and the Flower thereof falleth away but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever and this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you The Word is an everlasting truth never did any never shall any find it false 'T is a means to Convert the Soul to make the Heart new and 't is written in the new heart in Characters that are indelible and abiding 't is a Sustentation to the New Creature and cherishes it unto that Life which is Eternal The New nature is Immortal true Grace never dies but at Death is perfected in Glory that fadeth not away The CONCLUSION THus have
't is no longer loved 'T is a Sign of malice towards our Neighbour if we are glad to hear all the Evil that is spoken of him and all the Reproach that is cast upon him 'T is a Sign of hatred to Sin when we like to have it discovered when we like that its deceitful and damnable Nature should be represented and the falsness foulness and filthiness of it should be laid open and naked Sin is so great an Evil that there cannot be too much Evil spoken of it 't is so great an Enemy that you can never too faithfully and plainly be warned against it 3. Do you apprehend your greatest danger to be from your Master Sin and therefore continually endeavour the Mortification of it The King of Syria give this Commission to his Army Fight neither against small nor great save onely with the King of Israel What were all besides to be spared No certainly many Israelites fell in the battel But there was a principal design to take at least if not to cut off the King of Israel All Sin deserves thy hatred no Sin is so small an Enemy as that thou mayest safely spare it But the Master Sin is the chief foe therefore its destruction should chiefly be designed That Man that is an Enemy to his Master Sin desires it may be still weakned by all means Oh! saith he that every Mercy may help to kill it leading me to Repentance for it That every stroke of the Rod may help to strike it more dead that every Sermon may give this Sin a blow that by every Prayer I may obtain more strength against it That every time I come to the Table of the Lord this Sin may be in a greater measure Crucified VSE II of Exhortation And of this there are two Branches I shall speak to Sinners that are under the full Fower of their Master Sin. Then I shall speak to Saints in whom there are too great remainders of it 1. I am to speak to Sinners who are under the full Power of their Master Sin. It is storied concerning Agrippina the Mother of Nero Caesar that it was told her by an Oracle that her Son should be Emperour of Rome but afterwards should kill his own Mother Agrippina replies Occidat mode imperet Let him kill me so he does but reign O 't is the Language of all presumptuous Sinners concerning their Master Lusts Let them but reign no matter though they are our Damnation and Destruction But what do you see in Sin or in its Wages that any of you should be thus fond of its Service What good reason can be given why Sin should have one slave in this whole Congregation or in the whole World I 〈…〉 stly exhort you to lay aside every weight but especially the Sin 〈…〉 t does most easily beset you Arguments to perswade are these 1. Consider the Master Sin is the strongest hold of Satan While Sin keeps up its Dominion Satan holds fast his Possession This Sin is your most deadly disease and the strongest Cord in which the Devil binds you and leads you Captive at his Pleasure 2. The Master Sin is the great hindrance of the efficacy of the means of Grace This makes the Preachers pains lost labour this makes Mercies and Afflictions to be lost upon you this makes you to lose all the duties you perform 3. This Master Sin is not without its Train A great Person especially a Crown'd Head is not without a great many that attend him A Master Sin has a great Attendance Many lusts are subservient to this Main one that the greater and more plentiful Provision may be made for the fulfilling it How great is thy danger who hast so many Enemies lodging in thee and lording it over thee 4. Suppose this Master Sin were alone this were enough to ruine thee If a Pistol is discharged at the Heart and a small Bullet enter there it kills as certainly as if there were a thousand Cannons discharged at a man at once One Sin suffered to rule in thy Heart is sufficient were there no more effectually and eternally to ruine thee 5. The Master Sin wars against thy Soul most dangerously and wounds most deeply And after it has ruined thee Oh with what anguish will it be reflected on in the lowest Hell This will be there thy heaviest load Thou wilt remember how deaf thou werâ— to all Counsel to cast it away and how great thy madness was iâ— taking most pleasure in that which proves the cause of the greatest even everâ—asting Sorrow and Vexation Oh be so wise as to change your old Master Sin and let Christ become your Lord. 2. I am to speak to Saints in whom there are too great remainders of the Sin that was once their Master I exhort you more essectually and throughly to mortifie it Pray consider 1. If this Sin does frequently prevail it will keep you very low in Grace Faith will be weak Hope will be dampt Love will be cool and the whole inward Man will wofully languish 2. As you will be weak in Grace so will be low in Comfort When Temptations are yielded to Conscience will be disquieted Peace will be disturbed Thâ— Pride thy Passion thy carnal Affections prevailing will make thy Heart too much like the troubled Sea when it ca 〈…〉 rest whose waters cast forth mire and dirt Isa 57. 〈◊〉 3. T 〈…〉 lency of this easily besetting Sin will hinder you from being so 〈…〉 le to your great and gracious Lord. It will make his work to 〈…〉 glected and when done to be done too negligently sorry Servants you will be and very sorry your services will be The more sanctified you are the fitter you are for your Masters use 2 Tim. 2 21. but Sin makes you unmeet and more unable and unwilling to serve him 4. This Sin will make you to shine less in your lives 't wil fully your Conversations and hinder you from adorning the Gospel Oh keep unspotted and walk exactly as in the day that you may be blameless and harmless the Children of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation and that you may shine as Lights in the World Phil. 2. 15. 5. This Sin may cause you to set in a Cloud It may fill you with doubts when you are dying and that will be very dreadful You may be terribly frighted with the fears of Hell when you are just at Heavens gate Be therefore upright keep your selves from the iniquity that does most easily beset you that you may be more useful in your lives have the stronger and more lively hope in Death and that your End when it comes may be more perfect Peace VSE III. Of Direction How the Sin which does most easily beset you may be laid aside 1. Pray for a clean Heart Psal 51. 10. David having been overcome by a strong Corruption and done a Deed that was very foul cryes for a purer Heart a more right and constant Spirit he knew that to purge the Fountain was the way to have the streaâ—s clean Go unto God for a new Heart which he has promised and will give to all who prize and desire such an Heart Sâ—rike at the root of Sin in the Heart then the branches and this top branch the Master-sin will wither 2. Seriously â—â—â—â—o Heart how much the Sin that naâ—â—â—aâ—ly is 〈◊〉 beloved does deserâ—â—â—â—ur hatred Hated Sin is so â—eak that it can ruine none 't is the love of Sin that gives it power and as it were puts a Sword into its hand to flay you 3. Resist the very first stirrings of this Sin in you I believe if David as soon as ever he beheld from his Palace the beauteous Bathsheba had presently turn'd away his eyes and had fallen upon his knees and gone to Prayer he had overcome the Temptation Sin is more weak at the beginning Our Lords Counsel is Watch and Pray that ye enter not into temptation Mat. â—â— 41. 4. If you would abandon the Master-sin Pray much for the contrary Grace Is Pride thy Master-sin Pray much for Humility Is Passion thy Master-sin Pray much for Patience â—â—â— for the Meekness and Gentleness of Christ Is Love to the 〈◊〉 thy Master-sin Pray that thou may'st rise with Christ 〈◊〉 â—ve and mind a better World better Honours better Plea 〈…〉 a more lasting Wealth than this World can yield 5 Let the Word of God which does forbid and threaten this Master-sin be carefully hid in your Heart This Word may be in thy Moâ—th thou mayest talk of it it may be in thy Mind thou may'st have a notional Knowledge of it Nay it may go further and be in thy Conscience and be thought of in the very act of Sin. But if it be in thy Heart if thy Will and Affections are taken with it then it will be an effectual Preservative against Iniquity Psal 119. 11. Thy Word have I hid in my Heart that I might not sin against thee 6. Improve the Death of our Lord Jesus Bring the Sin which does so easily beset you to the Cross of Christ No Sin truly dyes but upon Christs Cross Gal 5. 24. They that are Christs have Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts these are never Mortified but by being Crucified How can the old Adam dye but upon the Cross of the second Adam Rom. 6. 6. Knowing this that our old man is Crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serâ—e sin 7. Call in the Spirits aid He can make the Word sharp as a two-edged Sword to pierce the Heart and to slay the strongest Sin there He glorifies Christ and can draw you to him and enable you by Faith to derive Grace from him sufficient to help you against the most powerful Corruptions He can kill the Sin that is hardest to be slain he can mortifie all the deeds of the body Rom. â— 13. the strongest members on the Earth Col. 3. 5. and he can seal you unto the day of Redemption FINIS