THE WAY STEP by STEP To sound and saving CONVERSION With a clear discovery of the two states VIZ Nature Grace AND How to know in which state one is and the way to come out of the one into the other OR The ready and right path-way for the first Adams posterity to get out of their fallen estate accompanied with sin and misery into the relation and Family of the last Adam which estate is attended with Grace and Glory c. With many weighty questions answered and cases of Conscience resolved for the clearing and confirming the truths asserted By ROBERT PURNELL John 3. 3. Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Matt. 18. 3. Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven Luke 13. 5. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish LONDON Printed by T. Childe and L. Parry for Edw. Thomas at the Adam and Eve in Little Britain 1659. An Epistle to the Impartial Reader THough it be not expedient to be alwaies laying the Foundation yet it is of absolute necessity that the Foundation be at first firmly laid that so the building notwithanding the Floods Winde and Storms may stand c. There are many waies to Damnation and there is but one way to Salvation that is streight and the Gate narrow so that although the Runners are many yet the Obtainers are but few for except a man be born again converted regenerated renewed and quickned he cannot be saved for we are by Nature Children of Wrath and such a one as this even just such a one and no other is a man yea every man by Nature such a one was I and you and each of all the Sons of Adam that have been or shall be and that universally without any exception or reservation we are all gone out of the ways we are all become unprofitable there is none that doth good no not one yet there is a way if we could light on it how to possess what we want and to live long in a little time and to have one foot as it were in Heaven whilst the other is upon the earth to point out that way was my endeavour in this Treatise Reader this small peece is the birth of many Prayers and a Description of many choyce Experiences and the sum and substance of many solid and sweet converses and the judgement of many precious Christians wherefore I would entreat the Reader to weigh things in the Ballance of Righteousness and then I am almost confident that there will be few or none that have the work of Grace upon their hearts unlesse they be under some violent fit of Temptation or re-insnared and intangled in a state of Backsliding but in the main will cordially own the ensuing Treatise wherefore let the Reader rather amend what I have done amisse than to carp catch and bark at what he may suppose to be unsound let him rather put pen to paper and correct the faults and supply the defects if he find any that so this Book may be of great worth though but of small price I am sure this subject is the most seasonablest and the most needfullest that can be offered or presented Conversion being a most blessed work and the day of Conversion the most blessed day that dawns on this side Heaven it self It is true nothing is more common than for men to write of this subject on the by and by parts and pieces but purposely on this subject and alone I know none nor as yet could ever hear of any besides Mr. Whatleis New Birth Mr. Baxters Treatise of Conversion so that a man may almost say there is nothing more rare than to find Books that are wrote purposely alone on this subject those few that are are either so voluminous on the one hand or scolastick on the other that the Reader for want of Learning and a better Memory gains not altogether that benefit thereby as otherwise he might To draw towards a close Let me acquaint the Reader that the best and chiefest Authors that I have consulted withall in the asserting and compiling the ensuing Discourse are the Prophets and Apostles mentioned in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament next unto them not as infallible but as fallible men knowing but in part I have perused the writings of Mr. John Wollebius Mr. Sam Boulton Mr. Christopher Love Mr. William Jenkin Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs Mr. John Norton Mr. Francis Roberts Mr. Thomas Brooks and many others but chiefly and principally I have perused and made use of Mr. Whatleis New Birth and Mr. Baxters Treatise of Conversion finding my Spirit witnessing the same before I ever saw their Books for a great part I have sometimes named them and sometimes omitted it and so do here recite it in general I have not step by step followed the method of neither but here and there where I found things fully proved by Scripture and my own Conscience bearing me Witnesse thereto those and such like things I have taken as helps in the compiling the ensuing piece and no otherwise c. Reader I doubt not through the Grace of God and his blessing upon thee in the reading this Book but Faith may be wrought in thee if thou hast it not or strengthened if thou hast it and if so I have my end and thou wilt have the benefit Let a mans sin be never so great if he believe he shall be pardoned if his Sin be never so small if he believe not he shall be damned the very sin against the Holy-Ghost est is not unpardonable for want of Grace in our Saviour but for want of Faith and Repentance in the sinner the cause of condemnation according to the Law is all sin but the cause of condemnation under the Gospel is Vnbelief and as Vnbelief contains in it all manner of Disobedience so Believing containeth all Obedience therefore this one Act of Faith is more acceptable unto God than all our Sins are unacceptable Here thou art presented with the means for the obtaining this grace of Faith and all other graces of the Spirit and for the growing in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whose protection I leave thee and subscribe my self thy Servant for his sake ROBERT PURNELL A Table of the principal Heads in General and the conexion of these things together and dependency of the one upon the other OF the Creation of Man page 1 Of the pleasurable and delightfull condition he was placed in 1 2 The manner of his fall and the subtilty of Sathan therein 4 The sad and miserable estate he fell into 5 Man can never be saved unlesse born again 8 There be four Gates shut against him 8 9 There be 18 sorts of persons that shall not enter into Heaven 11 12 There be four reasons why the Lord will not save them 14 Man is
3. The Devil is said to be his Prince John 12. 31. 4. The Devil is said to be his God 2 Cor. 4 4. And so man thus fallen bears the Image of Satan which doth not consist in any bodily shape as some do foolishly imagine but in a likeliness of all manner of wickedness The understanding by this fall was darkened and filled with vanitie Psal 94. 11. and 2 Cor. 4. 4 The will depraved the affections disordered the memory misimploied the conscience benummed In a word the wretched soul is so desormed with filthiness outraged with passions pined with envie overcharged with gluttonie boiling with revenge transported with rage that the Image of God in Man is transformed into the uglie shape of the Devil Gen. 6. 5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evil and that continually And this fallen heart not onely evil but desperately wicked Jer. 17. 9. The heart is deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked who can know it O Sirs there are but few that doth know the plague of their own hearts c. So that Man in this fallen estate is become a lump of sinne from the crown of the head to the soale of the foot there is no soundness And so all the posteritie of Adam have sinned and come short of the glorie of God and are now become Satans conquest captives and slaves being under the curse and subject to bondage and miserie Isai 63. 6. So we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousness as filtby rags and we all do fade as a leaf and our iniquities like the winde have taken us away Mr. Baxter in his Treatise of Conversion p. 71. affirms that even our children by nature considered as finfull and unsanctified are as hatefull in the eies of God as any Toads or Serpents are in ours c. See 1 John 3. 10. Nay further consider a little by what names and titles all men and women thus fallen and so remaining are The names Titles given in Scripture to fallen man known by in the Scriptures of truth Sometimes they are called filtby dreamers defiling the flesh Jud. 8. Raging waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame Jud. 13. Natural bruit beasts made to be taken and destroyed that shall utterly perish in their own corruptions 2 Pet. 2. 12. Wells without water cloudes that are carried with a tempest to whom the mist of darknesse is reserved for ever 2 Pet. 2. 17. A generation of vipers Mat. 3. 7. Ye serpents how can ye escape the damnation of hell Mat. 23. 33. The Scripture calls them Lions for their fiercenesse and Bears for their cruelty Dragons for their hiddiousnesse dogs for their filthinesse and wolves and foxes for their subtilty in a word the Scripture stiles them Scorpions vipers thorns briars thistles brambles stubble dirt chaffe dust drosse smoak scum and a cage of every unclean Bird Rev. 18. 2. And if all this be not enough we are said to be Satans slaves or captives 2 Tim. 2. 26. Man can never be saved unlesse he be regenerated No salvation without regeneration born again and converted and have the image of God renewed which was defaced in our fall in the first Adam Hence it is that Christ tells us Mat. 7. 13. 4. Straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to life and few there be that find it There being four gates shut and five exceptions made by Christ against their entering in First there are four gates shut Mat. 25. 12. 1. The gate of hope 2. The gate of grace 3. The gate of mercy 4. The gate of comfort Secondly there are five exceptions made by the Lord Jesus Christ against their entring into heaven The first exception is that in John 3. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again be cannot see the Kingdome of God 2. Exception is that Mat. 18. 3. Verily I say unto you except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven 3. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Luke 13. 3. 5. 4. Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you John 6. 53. 5. Except your righteousnesse shall exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharises ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of heaven Mat. 5. 20. But most of the world will be apt to say Object we grant all this But what is this to us we have confessed our sinnes we have prayed we have repented of our sinnes and in some good measure reformed our lives Beware of temporary faith partial obedience Answ messionary love pretended zeal legal sorrow and feined humility these may have the forme and yet want the power of godlinesse except thy righteousnesse exceed that of the Pharisees thy sacrifice that of Cain's thy confessing of sins that of Pharaoh's thy weeping that of Sauls thy fasting that of Abab's thy reformation that of Jehu's thy restitution that of Judas thy believing that of Simon Maguâ— thy fear and trembling that of Felix these were cast-awaies notwithstanding these were seeming good things Hast thou never read of Pharaoh desiring the prayer of Moses Balaam desiring to die the death of the righteous Saul condemning of himself Ahab humbling himself Ninive repenting Felix trembling Herod hearing John Baptist joyfully and did many things Mark 6. 20. All this mayst thou doe and more thou mayst live rejoycingly and die peaceably and yet perish eternally Consider if thou wert cursed in the wombe born a child of wrath what art thou now having lived so long in sin but the child of hell farr more than thou wast before Psal 58. 3. Job 20. 11. Again if for one fin all the curses of the Law doe lie upon thee as Gal. 3. 10. James 2. 10. what is due to thee for all thy sins If single sins deserve death what doe thy double and treble sins deserve Consider thy often backsliding sinnes against knowledge conscience covenants purposes promises protestations c. Doâ— not all these deserve double and dâ—eper damation viz. Not knowing of God he will not have mercie upon thee Isa 27. 11. compared with 2 Thess 1. 8. Not repenting thou shalt perish Luke 13. 3. Not believing in him thou shalt be damned John 3. 18. Not loving him thou art cursed 1 Cor. 16. 22. Not being zealous according to knowledge he will spew thee out of his mouth Rev. 3. 16. Not being meek thou art abomination to the Lord Prov. 3. 32. Not being mercifull thou shalt have judgement without mercy Jam. 2. 13. Not being holy thou shalt never see the face of the Lord Not washing thy heart from wickedness thou canst not be saved Jer. 4. 14. Therefore ground this in the bottom of thy heart That without true conversion
it self to God that made it and Christ that bought it and so his soul is carried forth to a secret resting relying leaning staying and hanging upon the mercy of God in Christ alone for life and happinesse Now he looks after and endeavours to be found in walking in the way of sanctification he reads and finds 1 Pet. 1. 2. that if he be elected to life it is through Sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and 2 Thes 2. 13. God hath chosen a people from the beginning to salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth He labours for holiness as well as happiness he reads and findeth that the word of God hath a purifying faculty in it John 15. 3. Ye are clean through the word that I have spoken to you Ps 119. 9. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way but by taking heed thereto according to thy word Ps 119. 11. Thy word-have I bid in mine heart that I might not sinne against thee Of Grace-begetting and Soul-converting means for all heedfully to attend upon that hope to enter into Heaven THere are springs of Grace or pipes of conveyance which if cut off or neglected we may live in sinne and die in sinne and at last go to hell but if we heedfully and frequently make use of them we may live in the fear of the Lord and die in his favour and enter into heaven these means are for the increasing holiness as well as for the attaining it and therefore we are not to satisfie our selves with making use of them now and then but frequently and willingly for the same meanes that doth work the work of Illumination doth also work the work of Conversion Vocation Regeneration Faith and Repentance c. And not only work and beget these in us but increase it and cause it to flourish and grow up from one degree of grace to another untill we come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ the means follow 1. Keep close to Grace-begetting and Soul-converting Ordinances 2. Dwell much upon the meditation of Grace-begetting Promises 3. Frequent the company of Grace-begetting and Soul-converting companions 4. Be frequent in the cherishing of Grace-begetting Considerations 5. Gather and treasure up Grace-begetting and Soul-converting Experiences 1. Keep close to Grace-begetting and Soul-converting Ordinances and they are these three 1. The hearing of the word preached 2. Reading of the Scriptures 3. Frequent and earnest Prayer First of the First 1. Hearing of the Word preached Acts 2. 37 41. it was by hearing Peter preach that the Jews were pricked at the heart and converted and three thousand added to the Church at once So Acts 26. 17 18. God sent Paul to preach for the opening of mens eyes and turning them from darkness to light by teaching sinners the way of God David assured himself they shall be converted to him Psal 51. 13. the word of god is the seed of life which is sown and takes root in thâ— hearts of them that God will save 1 Pet. 1. 23 25. It is the word of God which is the incorruptible seed by which we are born again it was those that had ears and heard not that were not converted and born again Mark 4. 12. c. as we should hear the word preached in order to conversion so for the begetting of faith in our hearts Luke 10. 17. Faith cometh by hearing Ephes 1. 13. in whom also ye trusted after ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of our salvation Isai 55. 3. hear and your soules shall live Now in the use of this blessed meanes observe these four rules and thou shalt never miscarry but get something by every Sermon thou hearest 1. Try the doctrines preached by the Scritures Act. 17. 11. they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so 2. Receive what thou findest agreeable to the word as from the Lord 1 Thess 2. 13. for this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of man but as it is in truth the word of God 3. Keep in memory as much of it as may be James 1. 25. Being not a forgetful hearer but a doer Heb. 2. 1 2. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest beed to the things which we have heard leâ—t at any time we should let them slip vers 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation 4. Indeavour to practise it thy self and communicate it to others Mat. 7. 26. Every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not is like unto a foolish man that built his house upon the sand James 1. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed therefore be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only deceiving your own souls 2. The next Faith-begetting and Soul-converting Ordinance is reading the Scriptures many a soul hath had happy experience of the benefit of reading the Word Psal 19. 7. for the Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul Acts 8. 28. The Eunuch was reading in Isaiah and in the 37th verse we read he was converted and baptised 1 Tim. 4. 13. Till I come give attendance to reading Rev. 1. 3. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophesie Acts 17. 11 12. They searched the Seriptures daily whether those things were so and many of them believed 3. The next Grace-begetting and Soul-converting Ordinance is frequent and â—arnest prayer prayer is a fruit of faith and yet prayer is a means for the begetting of faith as the Spirit is the fruit of prayer so prayer is the fruit of the Spirit Luke 11. 13. Compared with Rom. 8. 15. In the former place the Spirit is said to be the fruit of prayer in the latter place prayer is said to be the fruit of the Spirit whereby we cry Abba Father c. Isa 55. 6 7. Seek the Lord whilst he may be found call upon him while he is neer let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts c. James 1. 5. If any of you lack wisdome let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and â—pbraideth not and it shall be given him Joh. 4. 10. Jesus said unto her if thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee give me to drink thou wouldst have asked of him and he would have given thee living water 2. Dwell much upon Grace-breeding and soul converting promises there are promises of direction and supportation and promises of protection and promises of justification and sanctification and promises of
needless work 1. It cannot be an easie work Jer. 13. 23. Can the Aethiopian change his skin and the Leopard his spots then may they that are accustomed to do evil learn to do well 2. It is not a needless work but one of the most needfullest works without which we perish everlastingly in Hell John 3. 3. 5. Mat. 18. 3. except a man be born again be cannot see the kingdom of God and except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdome of Heaven 3. Hindrance is either a total neglect or a careless formal use of those ordinary meanes which God hath appointed for the breeding and perfecting the work of conversion if we will not eat how can we live and grow if we will not drink how can we quench our thirst if we will not wear cloathes how can we be warm if vve vvill not sovve and plant hovv can vve reap shall vve be industrious and neglect no means for the obteining of natural things and altogether remiss in the use of means for the obtaining of spiritual that are far better surely we ought to leave no means unattempted for the accomplishing of what God hath promised seeing we have more commands and promises for the latter than we have for the former 4. Hindrance is mens not confidering the joyes of Heaven and the torments of Hell that so the love of the one might win them or the fear of the other compell them to make use of the means and improve their talent and time for the obtaining of life and salvation and the escaping of Hell and damnation surely we ought to lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us and to run with patience the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him indured the cross and despised the shame Heb. 12. 1 2 3. 5. Hindrance is false conceits that they are converted already which ariseth from some seeming change in an external conformity to the Gospel which ariseth from the souls sight of fin and sense of punishment which leads him so far as to confess his fins Mat. 27. 4. and vomiâ— it up 2 Pet. 2. 20. and in some good measure abstain from the external commission of it and so reformeth its conversation ignorance is taken away by illumination pleasure in fin is abated by sorrow for fin boldness in finning is abated by the fear of punishment he may know the very time â—he sermon the book the chapter the verse that were the means of doing this work and therefore thinks it is truly done and that he hath a saving change and yet it may be but common preparation or some common works which many partake of that perish c. 6. Hindrance is too deep a familiarity with bad company Oh what a dangerous thing it is to live amongst such company as will be still hindring but never helping in the way to heaven who can converse with defiled ones and not be defiled Psal 106. 35. the people were mingled amongst the heathen and learned their works Psal 119. 115. evil doers we must depart from if ever we keep the commands of God these are not grace-begetting and soul-converting but gracehindring and soul-condemning companions 7. Hindrance is their ignorance of the principles of Religion their not being Catechised themselves neither catechising their Families so that the foundational truths are for the most part Paradoxes and Riddles to them 8. Hindrance is Delay when men intend to become new men and to live another life and to leave sin and to take another course yet they delay and put off the time till the next year and when that is come to the last moneth of that year and when that is come to the last vveek of that moneth and vvhen that is come to the last day of that vveek and when that is come to the last hour of that day and when that is come to the last minute of that hour and so in the mean while they are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin as Heb. 3. 13. and so goe on from folly to folly until they are ripe for eternal misery Oh! say they we are yet young and have day-light and time enough we are yet in health and there is no such haste and thus many are cut off whilst they are purposing to return and many thousand souls are lost as it is to be feared that once were purposed to have turned to God before they die and all by delaying and continuing in sinning til they have sinned themselves into a reprobate sense and so they must perish everlastingly by delaying to make use of their remedie by not calling upon God whilst he was near and seeking him whilst he might be found See Isa 55. 6. compared with Prov. 1. 24. 28. I might instance in many other hindrances as hardness of heart unbelief love of this present evil world the Differences amongst Professors but I cannot speak particularly to them all lest this Book should svvell too bigg Of the sad condition of all that are not Converted THe longer men or women stay or go on in an unconverted estate the greater is their sin the harder is their cure and the greater will be their punishment c. They make void as much as in them lyeth the great Counsel of God and all the thoughts of his wisdom in contriving such a way to advance his own glory in the salvation of man Yea they make void all the purposes of Gods mercy to them in restoring and renewing them and sending Christ to die for them yea they do as much as in them lyeth make void the death of Christ they make all his sufferings and blood-shed to be to no purpose You deny him that which is his own you deny him your hearts and souls that which he hath made and redeemed you deny him that which none can lay claim to but himself again they are cursed in their going out and coming in in their basket and in their store and in all they put their hands unto they can do nothing truly pleasing to God but are servants and slaves to Satan and led about as his captives at his will and so remain in a continual danger of damnation there being but a breath between them and Hell Of the priviledges and benefits of all that are Converted THe Lord is their portion and they are the Lords portion Deut. 32. 9. what ever losses crosses troubles and trials they may pass through here all shall work for their good at the present and they shall be freed from all troubles in time to come there was joy in Heaven at their conversion Luke 15. 10. 1. Christ calls them his servants John 12. 26. 2. Again he calls them his friends John 15. 15. 3. He calls them his brethren Mar. 3. 34. 4. He calls them his Jewels or treasure Mal. 3. 17.
there is no hope of Salvation Mat. 18. 3. John 3. 5 Sin was that which fetched the dearest blood from the heart of Christ and will have thine too if thou gettest not an interest in him if thy sin doth not die before thou dost die thou art in danger of 18 Sorts of men womeÌ„ that shall never enter into heaven perishing eternally Read seriously but these four Scriptures and thou shalt find at least 18 sorts of men and women that shall never enter into heaven unless before they die Christ be formed in them and they restored and renewed born again and covertâ—d c. 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God be not deceived 1. No Fornicators 2. No Idolators 3. Nor Adulterers 4. Nor Effeminate 5. Nor abusers of themselves with mankinde 6. Nor Theeves 7. Nor Covetous 8. Nor Drunkards 9. Nor Revilers or envious persons 10. Nor Extortioners These shall not inherit the kingdom of God Rev. 21. 8. 11. Nor the fearfull and unbelieving 12. Nor murderers See Rev. 22. 15. 13. Nor sorcerers or those that use witchcraft 14. Nor Lyars all these shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire which is the second death Gal. 5. 19 20 21. 15. Nor he that is given to hatred variance and strife 16. Nor he that is given to seditions heresies they which doe such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God 2 Thess 1. 8. 17. Nor ignorant persons 18. Nor those that refuse to practice what they know being disobedient These persons being shut out of heaven makes good the words of Christ Mat. 7. 13 14. Enter ye in at the strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which enter in thereat because straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be which find it Rom. 9. 27. Though the number of the children of Israel he as the sands of the Sea a remnant shall be saved Well the holy nature of God will not permit the unclean and unholy soul to come into his presence Rev. 21. 27. There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that deâ—ileth or whatsoever worketh abomination Ps 5. 4. Neither shall evil dwell with him the foolish shall not stand in his sight it is true you may call him Lord Lord till the last Mat. 7. 21 22. But he will tell you he doth not know you if thou hast not something of the image of that Spirit that holy nature whatsoever thou mayest think of thy self he will never take thee for his child thou art wicked and the wicked as Psal 9 17. shall be turned into hell and all they that forget God and surely God in the execution of the curse doth the sinner no wrong nay he should doe wrong unto himself and with reverence so to speak be unjust if he should not execute Justice upon the sinner either in himself or in his Surety There are four strong reasons for it viz. 1. To manifest the majestie of him who is offended 2. And the goodness of the command that is transgressed 3. The evil of sin that is committed 4. The vildness of the sinner for sinning c. I had once thought to have spoken somthing to each of these four heads but shall not at present but desire the Reader to consider that every sin puts God upon complaining and Christ upon bleeding and the Spirit upon grieving Every sin doth cast a treble dishonor upon God 1. In its malignitie as being most contrary to the pure unspotted and perfect nature of God 2. In its obstinacie it opposeth the command of God slights the will of God and contradicts the design of God 3. Sin doth cast a dishonor upon God in its choice a sinner in sinning chuseth a base lust a venomous sin a crooked way before the glorious precious and most desirable good the Lord himself So that man in the state of nature lives upon the earth as a condemned creature under guilt curse and death being conceived in sin and brought forth into the world in iniquitie having lost that Image of righteousness holiness and saving knowledg of God in which Adam our father was at first created and so remains till born again converted and regenerated the children of wrath by Nature dead in sins and trespasses Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel Satans captives servants and slaves and these men in this estate of Nature differ much one from another one seems nearer unto the other farther from the Kingdom of God Mark 12. 34. compared with Psal 119. 155. They 1. Have such hardened hearts and seared consciences that they commit all manner of wickedness with greediness glorying in their shame and so making themselves as the Scripture saith sevenfold more the children of wrath than they were before guilty of original sin but now they are become guiltie of original and actual transgression having been filling up the measure of their iniquitie and fitting themselves for the day of slaughter Matth. 23. 32 33. compared with James 5. 5. 2. Others walk more evenly and usefully being in a measure civilized by education custome fear of punishment good Examples wholesome counsels So was the young man Matth. 19. 20. All these things have I kept from my youth up What lack I yet c. So was the Scribe we reade of Mark 12. 32 33 34 he answered discreetly and Christ told him he was not far from the Kingdom of God Let the Reader consider that although Man is so fearfully and shamefully fallen yet there râ—mains some footsteps marks and impressions of that righteous and eternal Law at first engraven in his heart by the finger of the Almightie by which many Naturalists have acted wisely and prudently as to worldly affairs and humane concernments as may at large be safely gathered from many Scriptures there may be a change and yet not The Change Some of the Lord's people upon good ground doth observe that there is a souâ— fold change Change 1. A moral 2. A partial 3. A formal 4. A spiritual A man by improvement of the light and gifc in Nature may obtain to the three former as to instance 1. There is a moral change when a person or a people changeth from sinfull notorious waies to temperance justice equitie patience when ignorance is taken away by illumination and boldness in sinning is abated by fear of punishment and sticks there and goes no farther and here thousands stay and live quietly and perish eternally 2. There is a partial Change when men forsake some sins and yet live in the love and liking of other sins Christ sets this down in the Parable of the unclean Spirit as to some sinfull courses is cast out for a time but afterwards returns with seven spirits worse than himself and so his last end proves worse than his beginning Matth. 12.
we behold the downfall of all natural preparations and meritorious dispositions Quere 2. How Vocation conversion repentance regeneration agree or differ For answer to this let me give the Reader Master Baxsters judgement to which I fully assent and consent All these particular expressions saith he are used in Scripture to expresse one and the same work upon the soul onely they have some small difference Viz. The word Vocation is taken for Gods act of Calling and is two-fold First Common when men are brought to an outward profession Secondly Specially when people are savingly converted to Christ this last calling is the same with conversion only this difference Calling hath usually in Scripture a principal respect to the first act on the soul even the act of faith it self or at least the habit of faith is effected in the heart and therewith the seed of all graces in the soul this is that Vocation or special effectual Calling next Consider that Repentance is the same thing as special effectual Calling only this difference the word Vocation doth principally expresse the state to which we are called but the word Repentance doth principally respect our our turning to God from whom we fell and the word Vocation doth as much or more respect our coming to Christ the true and only way to the Father the word Regeneration is more comprehensive than Conversion Repentance and Vocation because there is so great a change that a man is as it were another man 2 Cor. 5. 11. He that is in Christ is a new creature And yet the word Regeneration fignifieth the same thing as Conversion Repentance and Vocation only observing a small difference as before mentioned Quere 3. The way step by step which the Lord in his ordinary dispensation in these Gospel-dayes doth lead a soul as it were by the band out of a state of nature into a state of grace 1. The first step to Conversion is Illumination 2. The second step to accomplish or at least to carry on this work is effectual Vocation which hath many branches 3. The third step to get out of a state of nature into a state of grace out of a state of death into a state of life is to trust or believe in the Lord which hath many branches 4. The fourth step for the compleating and carrying on this work there is usually dropped into the soul and heart the spirit of grace and supplication by which the party goes unto God with confessions and petitions 5. The fifth step to effect and compleat this great work the Lord doth cause the soul secretly to give it selfe up and surrender all the interest that it had in it self to God that made it and Christ that bought it 1. The first step to Conversion is illumination as doth fully appear by these Scriptures Acts. 26. 18. I send thee saith Christ to Paul to open their eyes and to turn them from darknes to light and from the power of Sathan unto God So Psal 119. 130. The entrance of thy word giveth light it giveth understanding unto the simple lob 33. 30. to bring back his soul from the pit to be enlightned with the light of the living Men are not born with this saving light in their hearts as they are born with tongues in their mouthes for the best knowing men under heaven untill born again and converted are in darkness Ephes 5. 8. For ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the Lord being born again 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 2 Cor. 4. 6. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ This illumination is acompanied with 1 A renewing of the mind Rom. 12. 2. Eph. 4. 23. 2 A conviction of sin and guilt he doth acknowledge himself a lawfull captive 3 There are the seeds or roots of all saving grace infused into the soul at once if the soul be enlightned with a special saving light but the soul doth not presently sensibly exercise thē all the first part of saving grace is illumination the opening of the eyes causeth the opening of the heart 2. The second step to accomplish or at least to carry on this work of conversion is Vocation this effectual vocation is the first or second act of Election saith Master Norton Calling is the first act of Divine mercy in recovering miserable man Doctor Twiss saith effectuall calling is the first mercy c. But let the Reader consider that if these four words Vocation Conversion Repentance Regeneration agree in one and are used in Scripture to expresse the same work upon the soul having but a small difference as hath been proved before then now in speaking to this word Vocation let the Reader take notice that though Conversion Repentance Regeneration be not exprest yet they all are included and contained and if so then Vocation seems to be a second work upon the soul rather than the first Jer. 31. 19. Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth the way that the Lord doth take for the recovering of a backslider and the conversion of a sinner doth in many thing if not in all go hand in hand together he calls upon the one and so he doth upon the other he enlightens the one to see from whence he is fallen and so he doth the other he gives repentance to the one and so he doth to the other c. There are principally these three things to be considered in this Vocation 1. The principal cause of Vocation is Gods free mercy 2 Tim. 1. 9. Titus 3. 3 4 5. 2. The instrumental cause is the preaching of the Gospel 2 Thes 2. 14. 3. The end of Vocation is Gods glory and the salvation of his elected ones Ephes 2. 1. And you hath he quickened when you were dead in sinnes and trespasses Col. 2. 13. And you that were dead in your sinnes hath he quickned Eph. 1. 12. that we should be to the praise of his glory There be certain steps at first in a souls coming to Christ or preparatory accesses like that we read Psalm 6. 2 4. Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed Return O Lord deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake Matt. 9. 20. Bebold a woman diseased though she came not presently to look God fully in the face though she dare not come to touch Christ and lay hold on him yet she was sensible of her own misery and want of mercy she knew there was vertue to come from him and she came as near that as she durst she had a desire to speak but she went
according to ordinary dispensation to look at all living under the gospel to be capable of believing and in the judgement of charity for ought we know elected and it is the duty of every one to whom the object of faith is propounded to believe and it is the duty of every believer to believe that he is elected Again God together with the object of faith tenders us means so farr sufficient to the begetting of faith as leaveth us without excuse we love our unbelief and resist this means of believing John 1. 11. He came to his own and they received him not John 5. 40. And you will not come to me that ye might have life If we look on God with a legal eye so the least sinner is uncapable but if wee look at him with an evangelical eye so the greatest sinner is capable of mercy Abraham becometh a father and Sarah a mother by overcoming such temptations as arose from his dead body and the deadness of her womb Again let us consider though the decree be absolute yet the dispensation of the decree in the gospel is conditional Whosoever believeth shall be saved John 3. 16. compared with Rev. 3. 20. Again who dare say that God hath decreed that he should not believe This decree is a secret thing and secret things belong to God and revealed things to us a man may know he is elected when he hath made his calling and election sure but no man can say he is reprobated till he is given up to a reprobate sense We read in many places of Scripture that it is the duty of every one to believe and we finde in many other places of Scripture that God is the author of faith which is wrought in our hearts by his mighty power so that without him we cannot believe Q. Now why doth the most just and righteous God command all to believe and promise salvation to them that doe believe and threaten damnation to all that doe not believe seeing it is not in mans power to believe Ans For these Five Reasons 1. That he might by means of those promises and threats work us unto that which by nature we are averse unto 2 Cor. 5. 11. 20. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we perswade men we are ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us c. 2. That the sons and daughters of men might appear mâ—re inexcusabâ—e when neither promises nor threatmings will move them to imbrace free mercy Acts 13 46. 51. and Acts 18. 6. 3. That the grace of God might as well appear in giving us power to believe as in giving Christ and in him forgiveness of sins to be believed Rom. 9. 16. Rom. 11. 5. 6. 4. That we might apply ourselves unto God in the use of means appointed by him for the working of faith in us Isa 55. 3. John 6. 27. 5. That we might search and by searching find in the covenant of grace matter of free conveyance of power to believe whatsoever is required to be believed Rom. 10. 17. John 5. 39 Rom. 4. 16. Qu. Whether there be not a light in every man which if improved and walkt up to would lead us to the gate of heaven if not into heaven yea or no An God doth give to every man some talent or talents which if people did improve should be increased and the party much advantaged c. the same Lord doth give to some natural talents as wisdom wealth aâ—t c. and to others spiritual talents or gifts as to pray prophesie in erpret c. and God may justly condemn men for not improving what he gives them we read that the heathen that had but the very light of nature Rom 1. and 2. chapters their walking not up to that left them without excuse but withall consider that not to minde the light within him so as to improve that and all other talents given him is enough to damn him yet the improvement thereof is not sufficient to save him the Law that every man hath broken must have a perfect personal perpetual universal obedience or else it leaves us under the curse and all our improvements cannot purchase the pardon of one sin If the stung Israelites had made a medicin of the best herbs in the wilderness and a plaister of all the soverein ingredients in the whole world and applied it with mountains of prayers and seas of tears yet this would not have helped them if withall they did not look upon the brazen serpent and all because that was Gods way of healing c. So now Gods way of saving is not by or for the improvement of light but by the obedience of Christ for us and his righteousness imputed to us and therefore in Scripture we read that our salvation is attributed all to grace Titus 3. 7 Rom. 3. 24. Rom. 4. 5. Isa 43. 23 24 25. All our best and choicest performances are but gilded sins we can doe nothing which is truly really and substantially good no not so much as think a good thought 2 Cor. 3. 5. Neither are we able to understand as we ought 1. Cor. 2. 14. Neither able to will any thing that is good Philip. 2. 13. Neither able to begin a good work Philip. 1. 6. Neither able to perfect it when it is begun Isa 26. 12. Rom. 7. 18. So that in all our improvements there is still imperfection something polluted so that our most Spiritual duties are not wound up to command they are all tainted with disproportion to rule and be-leopard with spots so that it is in vain to expect a bed or rest in the barâ—en wilderness of our own performances Isa 28. 20. This bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it and the covering is narrower than that a man can wrap himself in it Isa 50. 11. Behold all ye that kindle a fire walk in the light of your fire and in the sparkâ— that ye have kindled this shall ye have of my hand ye shall lie down in sorrow Our own righteousnes is called a monstrous rag a rag therfore cannot cover us monstrous and therefore if it should cover us it would but cover filth with filth Isa 30. 1. They cover but not with the covering of my spirit that they might add sin to sin that is the sin of their own righteousness to the sin of their unrighteousness they cover a blot with a blot add sin to sin dung to dung Q But how doth it more particularly appear that our acceptation salvation and glorification c. is purely clearly and only of grace and nothing but grace Ans Election is the election of grace and according to the good pleasure of his will Eph. 1. 5. Vocation is also of grace 2 Tim. 1. 9. Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace given us in Christ c. Regeneration is
of Gods own will James 1. 18. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth Faith is also the free gift of God Philip. 1. 29. Justification is freely by grace Rom. 3. 24. Forgiveness of sinnes is according to the riches of his grace Eph 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his bloud the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of his grace Eternal life also is the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. Qu If these and the like precious things be only of grace without works then in what respect are good works necessary An. Good works are necessary 1. in respect of God 2. in respect of our selves 3. in respect of others 1. Works are good in respect of God 1. to shew our obedience 2. to glorifie his name 3. to testifie our thankfulness 4. to beautifie his gospel 1. To shew our obedience Rom. 6. 16. To whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness See John 8. 34. compared with 2 Pet. 2. 19. 2. To glorifie his name Mat. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven 1 Pet. 2. 12. Having your conversation honest among the gentils that when as they speak against you as evil doers they may by your good works which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation See Thess 1. 12. 3. To testifie our thankfulness when we consider that we our selves together with the residue of mankind lay equally in the guilt and pollution of Adams sin he freely gave unto us so excellent a being after his own Image leaving our fellow sinners unto misery from all eternity he appointed his son to descend as low as hell to fetch us from thence and to ascend up as high as heaven to carry us up thither this is the great and glorious cause of thanksgiving saying in these or the like words Psal 116. 12. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me Whatsoever we are we are by him whatsoever we have we have received from him whatsoever we are or have we owe to him Rom. 11. 36. Of him and through him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen 4. Good works are necessary to beautifie the Gospel Philip. 1. 27. Let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ And in the 2 Col. 9. 13. there were a people commended fortheir professed sibjection to the gospel surely unless we maintain and keep up good works in our conversation we walk unworthy of God Col. 1 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruit failin every good work c. Nay farther if we are negligent in obeying we walk unworthy of our calling Eph. 4. 1. I beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called Tit. 2. 10. that we might adorn the doctrin of God out Saviour in all things for indeed an holy conversation is the end of our election Eph. 1 4. compared with John 15. 16. Again it is the end of our redemption 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. compared with 2 Cor. 5. 15. Nay farther it is the end of our vocation 1 Pet. 1. 15. compared with 1 Thess 4. 7. Lastly a holy conversation is the end of our new creation Eph. 2. 10. We are created in christ Jesus unto good works which God hath ordained before that we should walk in them So much for the first of these Good works are necessary in respect of God to shew our obedience to glorifie his name to testifie our thankfulness and to beautifie his gospel c. 2. Good works are necessary in respect of our selves 1. As it is the way of conveyance of mercy to us 2. To declare and manifest our sincerity 3. This is the way to have a being and a well-being 4. This is the way to make our calling and election sure 1. They are necessary in respect of our selves as they are the pipes of conveyance of both the apprehension and application of mercy to us See these Scriptures Psal 50. 23. To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Psal 107. 43. Who so is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. John 14 21. He that hath my commandements and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him 2 Cor. 1. 12. For this is our rejoycing that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversation among you 2. They are necessary to clear and manifest our sincerity both to ourselves and others to our selves as they spring from a right principle and are regulated by a pure rule and done to a good end 1 Tim. 1. 5. compared with 1 Cor. 10. 31 to others they know a tâ—ee by its fruits they know where faith is by its works and where love is by its effects 1 John 1. 6. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lye and do not the truth so 2 Cor. 8. 7. 8. 3. They are necessary as to our being and well being Psal 37. 3. Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed Mat. 16. 27. He will reward every man according to his works 4. This is the way to make our calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1. 5. 6 7 8 9 10 11. For if ye do these things ye shall never fall for so an entrance shall be administred unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 3. Good works are necessary in respect of others Titus 3. 8. they that have believed in Christ must be carefull to doe good works for these things are good and profitable to men in these four-sold respects 1. To stop the mouths of wicked men 2. To increase the joy of the Lords people 3. To win others to the embracing of the Gospel 4. For an example of vertue 1. To stop the mouthes of wicked men who will condemn sin in a Professor although they will approve of it in themselves 1 Pet. 217. For so is the will of God that with well-doing we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men this made wicked Saul say to David 1 Sam. 24. 17. Thou art more righteous than I for thou hast rewarded me good for evil 2. To increase the joy of the Lords people Col. 2. 5. for though I am absent in the flesh yet am I with you in the spirit joying and beholding your order and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ So again the second Epistle of John vers 4. I rejoyced greatly saith John that I found of thy children walking in truth Surely