CHAP. I. Shewing the Negative, what Conversion is not, and correcting some Mistakes about it.

LEt the blind Samaritans worship they know not what, John 4.22. Let the Heathen Athe­ [...]ans superscribe their Altar unto the unknown God Acts 17.23. Let the guileful Papists commend the Mother of Destruction, Hosea 4.6. for the Mother [...]f Devotion; they that know Man's Constitution, [...]nd the Nature of the reasonable Soul's Operation, [...]nnot but know, that the Understanding having [...]e Empire in the Soul, he that will go rationally to [...]ork, must labour to let in the Light here. Igno­ [...]tis non est consensus. And therefore that you may [...] mistake me, I shall shew you what I mean by [Page 6] the Conversion I perswade you to endeavour after

It is storied, that when Jupiter let down the gol­den Chaplets from Heaven, all of them but one were stolen: Whereupon (lest they should lose a relique of so great esteem) they make five others so like it, that if thy were so wickedly minded, as to steal that also, they should not be able to discern which was it. And truly my beloved, the Devil hath made many counterfeits of this Conversion and cheats one with this, and another with that and such a Craft and Artifice he hath, in this My­stery of Deceits: (that if it were possible) he would deceive the very Elect. Now that I may cure th [...] damnable Mistakes of some, who think they are Converted when they are not, as well as remove the troubles, and fears of others, that think they are not converted when they are; I shall shew you the Nature of Conversion, both Negatively, o [...] what it is not; and positively what it is.

1 It is not the taking on us the Profession of Christianity Doubtless Christianity is more than a Name. If we will hear Paul, it lies not in Words, but in Pow­er, 1 Cor. 4.20. If to cease to be Jews and Pa­gans, and put on the Christian Profession, had been true Conversion (as this is all that some would have to be understood by it) who better Christians that they of Sardis and Laodicea? These were all Christians by profession, and had a name to live; but because they had but a name, are condemned by Christ, and threatned to be sp [...]ed out. Rev. 3.1 [...] 16. Are there not many that name the name o [...] the Lord Jesus, that yet depart not from Iniquity [...] 2 Tim. 2.19. and profess they know God, bu [...] in Works deny him? Titus 1.16. And will God receive these for true Converts, because turned to the Christian Religion? What! Converts from Sin, when they do live in Sin? 'Tis a visible Contradic­tion. Surely, if the Lamp of Profession would have served the turn, the foolish Virgins had never been shut [...], Matth. 25 3, 12. we find not only Pro­fessors [Page 7] but Preachers of Christ, and Wonder-work­ [...]rs turned off, because Evil workers, Matth. 7.22, 23.

2. It is not the being washed in the Laver of Regener­ation, or putting on the Badge of Christ in Baptism. Many take the Press-money, and wear the Livery of Christ, that yet never stand to their Colours, no [...] follow the [...] Leader. Ananias and Sapphira, and Magus, were baptized, as well as the rest. How fondly do many mistake here, deceiving, and be­ing deceived! dreaming that effectual Grace is ne­cessarily tied to the external Administration of Baptism (which, what is it, but to revive the Popish Tenent, of the Sacraments working Grace, ex opere [...]) and so every Infant shall be regenerated, not only (Sacramento tenus) sacramentally, but [...]e­ally and properly. Hence Men do fancy, that be­ing regenerated already, when baptized, they need no farther work

But if this were so, then all that were baptized (in their Infancy) must necessarily be saved? be­cause the Promise of pardon and Salvation is made to Conversion and Regeneration.

Acts 3.19. 1 Pet. 3.4. Matth. 19.28. Our calling Sanctification (as to the beginnings of it) or Con­version (which are but the same things, under dif­ferent Conceptions and Expressions) is but a mid­dle link in the golden Chain, fastned to Election at the one end, and Glorification at the other, Rom. 8.30. 2 Thess 2.13. 1 Pet. 1.2 The Silver to [...]d may not be broken, nor the connexion between Sanctification and Salvation, between Grace and Glory, impiously violated, Matth. 5.8. If we were indeed begotten again, it is to an Inheritance in­corruptible, reserved in Heaven for us, and the Divine Power is engaged to keep us for it, 1 Pet. [...].5. And if the very Regenerate may perish at last in their Sins, we will no more say, that he that is born of God, his Seed remaineth in him, and that he cannot sin, 1 John 3.9. i. e. unto Death, nor that it is impossible to deceive the very Elect, Matth. 24.

And indeed, were this true, we need look no [Page 8] f [...]ther to see our names written in Heaven, than on­ly to search the Register, and see whether we were baptized: Then I would keep the Certificate of my Baptism, as my fairest Evidence for Heaven, and should come by assurance of my gracious state, with a we [...] Finger: Then Men should do well to carry but a Certificate of their Baptism, under the Regi­ster's Hand, when they died, (as the Philosopher would be buried with the Bishop's Bond in his hand, which he had given him for receiving his Alms in another World;) and upon sight of this, there were no doubt of their admission into Heaven.

In short, if there be no more necessary to Conver­sion or Regeneration, than to be turned to the Chri­stian Religion, or to be baptized in Infancy, this will fly directly in the Face of that Scripture, Matt. 7.14. as well as multitudes of others. For First, W [...] will then no more say, Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way; for if all that were baptized, & of true Religion, are saved, the door is become heavenly wide, and we will henceforth say, Wide is the gate, & broad is the way that leadeth unto life; for if this be true, whole Parishes, yea, whole countries, & whole kingdoms may go in a breast; and we will no more teach, that the righteous is scarcely saved, or that there is need of such a sti [...] in taking the king­dom of Heaven by Violence, and striving to enter in. Surely if the way be so easy as many make it, that there is little more necessary, than to be regenerated in our Baptism, and cry God-a-Me [...]cy, and be ab­solved by the Minister at our end; 'tis more ad [...] then needs to put our selves to such running and seeking, & knocking, & fighting, & wrestling, as the word requires as necessary for Salvation.

Secondly, If this be true, we will no more say, Few there be that find it; yea we will rather say, Few there he that miss it: We will no more say, that of the many that are called, but few are chosen, Matth. 22 14 and that even of the professing Israel, but a rem­nant shall he saved, Rom. 11.5. If this Doctrine be true, we will not say any more with the Disciple [...], [Page 9] who then shall be saved? but rather, who then shall not be saved? Then if a Man be called a Brother, (that is, a Christian) and be baptized, tho' he be a Fornicator, or a Ra [...]er, or covetous, or a Drunkard, yet he shall inherit the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 5.11.

But the Arminian will reply, Such as these, tho' they did receive regenerating Grace in Baptism, are since fallen away, and must be renewed again, or else they cannot be saved.

I answer, [...] That there is an infallible connexion between regeneration and Salvation, as we have al­ready shewed, and [...]i [...]ten to be farther evidencing, but that 'tis against designed brevity. 2. Then Men must be born again, which carries a great deal of absurdity in its very Face. And why may not Men be twice born in Nature, as well as in Grace? Why not as great an absurdity to be twice regenerated, as to be twice generated? But 3. and above all, This grants however the thing I contend for, that whatever Men do, or pretend to receive in Baptism, if they be found afterwards to be grosly ignorant, or profane, or for­mal, without the Power of Godliness, they must be born again, or else be shut out of the Kingdom of God. So then they must have more to plead for themselves, than their Baptismal Regeneration.

Well, in this you see all are agreed, that be it more or less that is received in Baptism, if (when Men come to years) they are evidently unsanctified, they must be renewed again by a thorough and powerful change, or else they cannot escape the damnation of Hell. Friends and Brethren, be not deceived, God is not mocked, Gal. 6.7. whether it be your Baptism, or whatever else that you pretend, I tell you from the living God, that if any of you be prayerless Per­sons, John 15.14. or unclean, or malicious, or co­vetous, or riotous, or a Scoffer, or a lover of evil Company, Prov. 13.20. In a word, if you are not holy, strict and self-denying Christians, Heb. 12.14. Matth. 16.24. you cannot be saved, except you be transformed by a further Work upon you, and re­newed again by Repentance.

[Page 10]Thus I have shewed, that it is not enough to evi­dence a Man to be regenerate, that he hath been baptized, effectual grace not necessarily accompany­ing Baptism, as some have vainly asserted. But I must answer one Objection before I pass.

Object. The Sacraments do certainly attain their ends, where Man doth not ponere obicem, or lay some obstruction, which Infants do not.

Sol. I answer, it is not the end of Baptism, to rege­nerate, 1. Because then there would be no Reason, why it should be confined only to the seed of Belie­vers, for both the Law of God and the Nature of Charity, requires us to use the Means of Conversion for all, as far as we can have Opportunity. Were this true, no such Charity as to catch the Children of Turks and Heathens, and baptize them, and dispatch them to Heaven out of hand, like the bloody wretches that made the poor Protestants (to save their Lives) to swear they would come to Mass, and that they would never depart from it, and then put them forth­with to Death, saying, They would hang them while in a good mind. 2. Because it presupposeth Regeneration, and therefore cannot be intended to confer it. In all the express Instances in Scripture, we find that Bap­tism doth suppose their repenting, believing, re­ceiving the Holy Ghost, Acts. 8 37. & 2.38. and 10.37. Mark 16.16. And to imagine, that Baptism was instituted for an end of which not one of the first Subjects was capable (for they were all adult Persons, and supposed to have Faith and Repentance ac­cordingly as they professed, and their Children were not baptized till after them, in their Right) were no little absurdity. Were this Doctrine true, Baptism would make Disciples; but we find it doth bespeak them such before hand, Matth. 28.19.3. Because Bap­tism, being but a Seal of the Covenant, canno [...] convey the Benefits, but according to the tenour of the Covenant, to which it is set.

Now the Covenant is conditional, therefore the Soul conveys conditionally. The Covenant re­quires Faith and Repentance, as the condition of the [Page 11] grand Benefits, Pardon, and Life, Acts 16.31. and [...].19. And what the Covenant doth not convey, [...]t upon these Conditions, the Seal cannot. So that [...]aptism doth presuppose Faith and Repentance in [...]he subject, without which, it neither doth, nor can [...]onvey the saving Benefits; otherwise the Seal should [...]onvey contrary to the Tenour of the Covenant to which it is affixed.

3. It lies not in a moral Righteousness. This exceeds not the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, and therefore cannot bring us to the Kingdom of God, Matth. 5.20 Paul, while unconverted, touching the [...]ighteousness which is in the Law, blameless, Phil. [...].6. None could say, Black is thine Eye. The Self- [...]sticiary could say, I am no Extortioner, Adulterer, [...]njust, &c. Luke 18.11. Thou must have something more than all this to shew, or else (however thou mayest justify thy self) God will condemn thee. I [...]ondemn not Morality, but warn you not to rest here: Piety includes Morality, as Christianity doth Hu­manity, and Grace Reason, but we must not divide the Tables.

4 It consists not in an external conformity to the Rules [...]f Piety. 'Tis too manifest, Men may have a Form of godliness, without the power, 2 Tim. 3.5. Men may pray long, Matth. 23.14. and fast often, Luke 18.12. and hear gladly, Mark 6.20. and be very forward [...]n the Service of God, tho' costly and expensive, Isa. 1.11. and yet be strangers to Conversion. They must have more to plead for themselves, than that they keep to their Church, and give Alms, and make use of prayer, to prove themselves sound Converts. No outward service, but an Hypocrite may do it; even to the giving all his Goods to the Poor, and his Members to the Fire, 1 Cor. 13.3.

5. It lies not in the chaining up of Corruption, by edu­cation, human laws, or the course of incumbent affliction. 'Tis too common and easy to mistake Education for Grace; but if this were enough, who a better Man than Jehoash? While Jehoiadah his Uncle lived, he was very forward in God's Service, and calls upon [Page 12] him to repair the House of the Lord, 2 Kings 12.2 [...]. But here was nothing more than good Education all this while; for when his good Tuto [...] was taken out of the Way, he appears to have been but a Woll chained up, and falls on to idolatry.

6. In short, it consists not in illumination or conviction; in a superficial change, or partial reformation: An Apostate may be a Man enlightned, Heb 6 4. & a Felix tremble under Convictions, Acts. 24.25 and a Heord amend many things. Mark 6.20. 'Tis one thing to have Sin alarm'd only by Convictions, and another to have it captivated and crucified by Converting Grace. Many, because they have been troubled in Conscience for their Sins, think well of their case: miserably mistaking Conviction for Conversion. With these Cain might have passed for a Convert, who ran up and down the World, like a Man distracted, under the rage of a guilty conscience, till with building and business he had wore it away, Gen. 4.13, 14. Others think, that because they have given off their riotous courses, and are broken off from evil Company or some particular lust, and reduced to sobriety, and civility, they are now no other than real Converts; forgetting that there is a vast Difference between being sanctified, and civilized; and that many seek to enter into the kingdom of Heaven, Luke 13.24. and are not far from it, Mark 12.34. and arrive to the almost of Christianity, Acts 26.28. and yet fall short at last: While Conscience holds the whip over them, many will pray, hear, and read, and forbear their delightful sins; but no sooner is this Lion asleep, but they are at their vomit again. Who more religous than the Jews, when God's [...]nd was upon them? Psalm 78.34, 35. But no sooner was the affliction over, but they forgot God, and shewed their Religion to be a Fit, verses 36, 37. Thou may­est have disgorged a troublesome Sin, that will not sit in thy Stomach, and have escaped those gross pollutions of the Word, and yet not have changed the swinish Nature all the while, 2 Peter 2.20, 22.

You may cast the Lead out of the rude Mass, into [Page 13] the more comely propotion of a Plant, and then into the shape of a Beast, and thence into the Form and Features of a Man; but all the while it is but Lead still. So a Man my pass through divers transmutations, from Ignorance to Knowledge, from Profaneness to Civility, thence to a form of Religion; and all this while he is but carnal and unregenerate, while his Nature remains unchanged.

Application. Hear then, O Sinners, hear; as you would live, so come and hear, Isa. 55.3. Why would you so wilfully deceive your selves, or build your Hopes upon the Sand? I know he shall find hard work of it, that goes to pluck away your hopes. It cannot but be ungrateful to you, and truly it is not pleasing to me. I set about it as a Surgeon, when to cut off a putrified Member from his well-beloved Friend; which of force he must do, but with an aking heart, a pitiful Eye, a trembling Hand. But understand me, Brethren, I am only taking down the ruinous House, (which will otherwise speedily fall of it self, and bury you in the rubbish,) that I may build fair, and strong, and firm for ever. The Hope of the wicked shall perish, if God be true of his word, Prov. 11.7. And wert not thou better, O Sinner, to let the Word convince thee now in time, and let go thy false and self-deluding Hopes, than to have Death too late to open thine Eyes, and find they self in Hell, before thou are aware? I should be a false and faithless Shepherd, if I should not tell you, that you who have built your hopes upon no better grounds then these fore-mentioned, are yet in your Sins. Let your Conscience speak; What is it that you have to plead for your selves? Is it that you wear Christ's Livery? that you bear his Name? that you are of the visible Church? that you have knowledge in the points of Religion; are civilized, perform Re­ligious Duties, are just in your Dealings, have been troubled in Conscience for your Sins? I tell you from the Lord, these Pleas will never be accepted [...] God's Bar. All this, tho' good in it self, will not prove you converted, and so will not suffice to [Page 14] your Salvation. Oh look about you, & bethink your selves of turning speedily and soundly. Set to Pray­ing, and to Reading, and studying your own Hearts; rest not, till God hath made thorow work with you; for you must be other Men or else you are lost Men.

But if these be short of Conversion, what shall I say of the profane Sinner; It may be he will scarce cast his Eyes, or lend his Ears to this Discourse. But if there be any such reading, or within hearing, he must know from the Lord that made him, that he is far from the Kingdom of God. May a Man be civi­lized, and not converted? where then shall the Drun­kard, and Glutton appear? May a Man keep Com­pany with the wise Virgins, & yet be shut out? shall not a companion of fools much more be destroyed? Prov. 13.20. May a Man be true and just in his deal­ing, and yet not be justified of God? What then will become of thee, O wretched Man, whose Conscience tells thee thou art false in thy Trade, and false of thy word, and mak'st thy advantage by a lying Tongue? If Men may be enlightned, and brought to the perfor­mance of Holy Duties, and yet go down to perdition for resting in them, and sitting down on this side of Conversion; what will become of you, O miserable Families, that live as without God in the World? & of you, O wretched Sinners, with whom God is scarce in all your Thoughts; that are so ignorant, that you cannot, or so careless, that you will not pray? O repent and be converted! break off your Sins by righteousness, away to Christ for pardoning and renewing Grace; give up your selves to him, walk with him in Holiness, or else you shall neve [...] see God. Oh that you would take the Warnings of God! In his Name I once more admonish you Turn you at my reproof, Prov. 1.23. Forsake the Foolish, and live, Prov. 9 6 B [...] sober, righteous, godly, Titus 2.1 [...], Wash your Hand [...] [...]ou Sinners, purify your Hearts, ye double minded, James 4 8. Cease to do evil, learn to de­wel [...], Isa. 1 16.17. But if you will on, you must die, Ezek. 33.11.

Chap. II. Shewing positively what Conversion is.

I May not leave you with your Eyes half open, as he that saw Men as Trees walking, Mark 8.24. The Word is profitable for Doctrine, as well as Reproof. 2 Tim. 3.16. And therefore having thus far conducted you by the shelves and rocks of so many dangerous Mistakes, I would guide yo [...] at length into the Harbour of Truth.

Conversion then, in short, lies in the thorough Change both of the Heart and Life. I shall briefly describe it in its Nature and Causes.

1 The Author of it is the Spirit of God; and therefore it is called the sanctification of the Spirit, 2 Thess. 2.13. and the renewing of the Holy Ghost, Tit. 3.5. Yet not excluding the other Persons in the Trinity: For the Apostle teacheth us, to bless the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for that he hath begotten us again, 1 Peter 1.3. and Christ is said to give Re­pentance to Israel, Acts 5.31. and is called the ever­lasting Father, Isa. 9 6. and we his Seed, and the Children which God hath given him, Heb 2.13. Isa. 53.10. O blessed Birth! Seven Cities, contend­ed for the Birth of Homer: but the whole Trinity fathers the new Creature. Yet is this Work princi­pally ascribed to the Holy Ghost, and so we are said to be born of the Spirit, John 3.8.

So then it is a work above Man's power. We are born, not of the will of the Flesh, nor of the Will of Man, but of God, John 1.13. Never think thou canst convert thy self: If ever thou wouldst be fa­vingly converted, thou must despair of doing it in thine own strengh; Jer. 13.18. It is a Resurrection from the Dead, Rev. 20.5. Eph. 2.1. a new creati­on, Gal. 6.15. Eph. 2.10. a Work of absolute Om­nipotency, Eph. 19. Are these out of the reach of Human power? If thou hast no more than thou hadst by thy First-birth, a good Nature, a meek and chaste Temper, &c. thou art a very strang [...] to true Con­version. This is a supernatural W [...]k.

[Page 16]2. The moving Cause is Internal, or External.

The internal mover is only Free grace; not by works of righteousness which we have [...]ne, but of his own Mer­cy he saved us — by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, Titus 3.5. Of his own Will began he us, James 1. We are chosen and called unto Sanctification, not for it, Eph. 1.4.

God finds nothing in a Man to turn his Heart, but to turn his Stomach; enough to provoke his loa [...]h­ing, nothing to provoke his love Look back upon thy self, O Christian: Take thy verminous Rags: Look upon thy self in thy blood, Ezek. 16.6. Oh, reflect upon thy swinish Nature, thy filthy swill, thy once beloved mi [...]e, 2 Pet. 2 Canst thou think, without loathing, of thy trough and draugh? Open thy Sepulcher, Matth. 23.27. Art thou struck al­most dead with the hellish damp? Behold thy pu­trid Soul, thy loathsome Members O Stench unsuffer­able, if thou dost but sense thy own putrifaction. Psal. 14.3. Behold thy ghastly Visage, thy crawling lusts, thy slime and corruption. Do not thine own Clothes abhor thee? Job 9.31. How then should Holiness and Purity love thee? Be astonished, O Heavens, at this; be moved, O Earth, Jer 2 12. Who but must needs cry, Grace! Grace! Zech 4.7 Hear and blush, you Children of the most High: O you unthankful Generation! that Free grace is no more in your Mouths, in your thoughts; no more adored, admired, commended by such as you. One would think you should be nothing but praising and admiring God, whatever you are. How can you mak a shift to forget such Grace, or to pass it over with a slight and seldom mention! What but Free-grace should move God to love you, unless enmity could do it, or deformity could do it, unless vomit or rottenness could do it? How affectionately doth Peter lift up his Hands? Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who of his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again, 1 Pet. 1.3. How feel­ingly doth Paul magnify the Free-mercy of God in it. God, [...] [...]s rich in Mercy, for his great Love where­with [Page 17] he loved us, hath quickned us together with Christ? by Grace ye are saved, Eph. 2.4, 5.

The external Mover is the Merit & Intercession of the blessed Jesus. He hath obtained gifts for the rebel­lious, Psal. 68.18. and through him it is, that God worketh in us what is well-pleasing in his sight, Heb. 13.21. Through him are all spiritual Blessings be­stowed upon us in heavenly things, Eph. 1.3. He in­terceedeth for the Elect that believe not John 17.20. Every Convert is the fruit of his Travel, Isa. 53.11. Oh, never was Infant born into the World with that difficulty that Christ endured for us! How empha­tically he groaneth in his travail! All the Pains that he suffer'd on his Cross, they were our Birth pains, Acts 2.24 odinas, the pulls and throws that Christ endured for us. He is made Sanctification to us, 1 Cor. 1.30. He sanctified himself (that is, set apart himself as a Sacrifice) that we may be sanctified, John. 17 19 We are sanctified through the Offer­ing of his Body once for all, Heb. 10.10.

'Tis nothing then without his own Bowels, but the Merit and Intercession of Christ, that prevails with God to bestow on us converting grace. If thou art a new creature, thou knowest to whom thou ow­est it, to Christ's Pangs and Prayers. Hence the na­tural affection of a Believer to Christ. The Foal doth not more naturally run after the D [...]m, nor the Suckling to the Dugs, than a Believer to Jesus Christ. And whither else shouldst thou go? If any in the World can shew that for thy Heart that Christ can, let them carry it. Doth Satan put in, doth the World court thee? Doth Sin sue for thy Heart? Why, were these crucified for thee? 1 Cor. 1.13. O Christian, love and serve the Lord whilst thou [...]ast a Being. Do not even the Publicans love those [...]hat love them? And shew kindness to them that [...]re kind to them? Matth. 5.46, 47.

3. The Instrument is either Personal, or Real.

The Personal is the Ministry. I have begotten you [...] Christ through the Gospel, 1 Cor. 4.15. Christ's [Page 18] Ministers are they that are sent to open Mens Eyes, and to turn them to God, Acts 26.18.

O unthankful World, little do you know what you are doing, while you are persecuting the Messengers of the Lord: These are they whose Business is (un­der Christ) to save you. Whom have you reproach­ed and blasphemed? Against whom have you exalt­ed your Voice, and lifted your Eyes on high? Isa. 27.23. Those are the Servants of the most high God, that shew unto you the way of Salvation, Acts 16.17. and do you thus requite them, O foolish and un­wise; Deut. 32.6. O Sons of Ingratitude, against whom do you sport your selves, against whom [...]ke you a wide mouth, & draw out the tongue Isa. 57.34. These are the Instruments that God useth to convert and save you, and do you spit in the Face of your Physicians, and throw your Pilots over board? Fa­ther forgive them, for they know not what they do.

The Instrument Real is the Word. We were begotten by the Word of Truth: This is it that enlightens the Eyes, that converteth the Soul, Psalm 19.7, 8. that maketh wise to Salvation, 2 Tim. 3.15. This is the incorruptible Seed, by which we are born again, 1 Peter 1.23. If we are washed, 'tis by the Word, Eph. 5.26. If we are sanctified, 'tis through the Truth, John 17.17. This regenerates Faith, and regenerates us, Rom. 10.17. James 1.18.

O ye Saints, how shuold ye love the Word? For by this you have been converted: O ye Sinners, [...]ow should you ply the Word? for by this you must be converted: No other ordinary Means but this. You that have felt its renewing Power, make much of it, while you live, be for ever thankful for it. Tie it about your Necks, write it upon your Hands, lay it in your Bosoms, Prov. 6.21, 22. When you go let it lead you, when you sleep let it keep you [...] when you wake let it talk with you: Say with Holy David, I will never forget thy Precepts, for by them thou hast quickned me, Psalm 119.93. You that are un­converted, read the Word with Diligence, flock to it where powerfully preached, fill the Porches as [Page 19] the multitude of the Impotent, Blind, [...]al [...] Wi­thered waiting for the moving of the Wa [...]e [...], John 5.3. Pray for the coming of the Spirit in the Word. Come off thy Knees to the Sermon; and to thy Knees from the Sermon. The Seed doth not prosper, because not watered by Prayers and Tears, nor co­vered by Meditation.

4 The final cause is Man's salvation, & God's Glory. We are chosen through Sanctification to Salvation, 2 Thess. 2.13. Called that we might be glorified, Rom. 8.30. but especially, that God might be glorifi­ed, Isa. 6.21. that we should shew forth his Praises, 1 Peter 2 9. and be fruitful in good works, Col. 1.10. O Christian, do not forget the end of thy Calling, let thy Light shine, Matth. 5.16. Let thy Lamp burn, let thy Fruits be good and many, and in Season, Psalm. 1.3. Let all thy Designs fall in with God's, that he may be magnified in thee. Philip. 1.20. Why should God repent that he hath made thee a Chri­stian, as in the time of the old World that he made them Men? Gen. 6.6. Why shouldst thou be an Eye-sore in his Orchard, Luke 7. by thy unfruit­fulness? or a Son that causeth shame, as it were, a grief to thy Father, and a bitterness to her that bare thee? Prov 17 25. Prov. 10.5. O let the Womb bless thee that bare thee, Prov. 17.21. He that begets a Fool, doth it to his Sorrow; and the Father of a Fool hath no Joy.

5. The Subject is the Elect Sinner, and that in all his Parts and powers, members and mind. Whom God predestinates, them only he calls, Rom. 8.30. None are drawn to Christ by their Calling, nor come to him by believing, but his Sheep; those whom the Father hath given him, John. 6 37.44 Effectual Calling runs parallel with Eternal Election, 2 Pet. 1.10.

Thou beginnest at the wrong end, if thou disputest first about thine Election: Prove thy Conversion, and then never doubt of thine Election: Or canst thou not yet prove it? Set upon a present and thorow turning▪ Whatever God's purposes be, (which are [Page 20] secret) I am sure his Promises are plain. How desperately do Rebels argue, If I am Elected, I shall be saved, do what I will; if not, I shall be damn­ed, do what I can. Perverse Sinner, wilt thou be­gin where thou shouldst end? Is not the word before thee? What saith it? Repent and be converted, that your Sins may be blotted out, Acts 13.19 if you mortify the deeds of the Body, you shall live, Rom. 8.13. Believe and be saved, Acts 16.31. What can be plainer? Do not stand still, disputing about thine Election, but set to repenting and believing. Cry to God for converting grace. Revealed things belong to thee, in these busy thy self. 'Tis just (as one well said) that they that will not feed on the plain food of the Word, should be choked with the Bones. Whatever God's Purposes be I am sure His Promises be true. What ever the Decrees of Heaven be, I am sure, that if I repent and believe, I shall be saved; and that if I re­pent not, I shall be damned Is not here plain ground for thee? and wilt thou yet run upon the Rocks?

More particularly this Change of conversion passes throughout the whole Subject. A Carnal Person may have some Shreds of good Morality, a little near the list; but he is never good throughout the whole cloth, the whole Body of Holiness and Chri­stianity; Feel him a little further near the Ridge, and you shall see him to be but a deceitful Piece. Conversion is no repairing of the old Building, but it takes all down, and erects a new Structure: It is not the putting in a patch, or sowing on a List of Holiness: but with the true Convert, Holiness is woven into all his Powers, Principles, and Practice. The sincere Christian is quite a new Fabrick, from the Foundation to the Top stone, all Fire-new. He is a new Man, Eph 4, 24. a new Creature. All things are become new, 1 Cor. 5.17. Conversion is a deep Work; a Heart-work, Acts 2.37. and 6.14. it turns all upside down, and makes a Man be in a new World. It goes throughout with Men, through­out the mind, throughout the Members, through­out the Motions of the whole Life.

[Page 21]1. Throughout the mind. It makes an universal Change within. First, It turns the Ballance of the Judgment, so that God and his Glory do weigh down all carnal and worldly Interest, Acts 20.24. Phil. 1.20. Psalm 73.25. It opens the Eye of the Mind, and makes the Scales of its Native Ignorance to fall off, and turns Men from darkness to Light, Acts 26 18. Eph. 5 8. 1 Pet. 2.9 The Man that before saw no danger in his condition, now concludes him­self lost, and for ever undone, Acts 2.37. except renewed by the power of Grace. He that formerly thought there was little Hurt in Sin, now comes to see it to be the Chief of Evils; he sees the unreason­ableness, unrighteousness, the deformity and filthi­ness that is in Sin: so that he is affrighted with it, loaths at it, dreads it, flies it, and even abhors himself for it, Rom 7.15. Job 42.6. Ezek. 36.31. He that could see little Sin in himself, and could find no mat­ter for confession (as it was said of that learned Ignora­mus Bellarmine, who, it seems, while he knew so much abroad, was a miserable Stranger to himself) that when he was to be confessed by the Priest, could not remember any thing to confess; but was fain to run back to the Sins of his Youth: I say, he that could not find matter for confession, unless it were some few gross and staring Evils, now Sin reviveth with him, Rom. 7.9. he sees the Rottenness of his Heart, and desperate and deep pollution of his whole Na­ture: he cries, Unclean, unclean, Levit. 13.45. Lord, purge me with byssop, wash me throughly, create in me a new heart, Psalm 51.2, [...], 10. He sees him­self altogether become filthy, Psalm 14.3 Corrupt, both Root and Tree, Matth. 7.17, 18. he writes un­clean upon all his Parts and Powers, and Perfor­mances, Isa. 64.6. Rom. 7.18. He discovers the nasty corners that he was never aware of, and sees the Blasphemy, and Theft, and Murder, and Adulte­ry, that is in his Heart, which before he was ignorant of. Heretofore he saw no form nor comeliness in Christ, no beauty, that he should desire him; but now he finds the hid Treasure, and will sell all to [Page 22] [...]: Christ is the Pearl he seeks, Sin [...] [...]e loa [...]ns.

[...]w, according to this new light, the Man is of a [...] [...] mind, another judgment, than before he was. N [...] God is all with him, he hath none in Heaven, [...] Earth, like him, Psal: 73.25. He prefers him truly before all the world: his favour is his life; the light of his countenance is more than Corn or Wine, and Oyl, (the good that formerly he enquired after, an [...] set his Heart upon, Psalm 4.6, 7.) Now let all the World be set on one side, and God alone on the other; Let the Harlot put on her paint and gallan­try, and present her self to the Soul (as when Satan would have tempted our Saviour with her) in all the glory of her kingdoms; yet the Soul will not fall down and worship her, but will prefer a naked, yea, a crucified, persecuted Christ before her, Philip 3.8. 1 Cor. 2.2: Not but that a Hypocrite may come to yield a general assent to this, that God is the chief good: yea, the wiser Heathens, some dew of them, have at last stumbled upon this; but there is a Dif­ferance between the absolute and comparative Judg­ment of the Understanding; no Hypocrite comes so far, as to look upon God as the most desirable and suitable good to him, and thereupon to acquiesce in him: This was the Convert's Voice. The Lord is my portion, saith my Soul: Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none upon Earth, that I desire besides thee: God is the strength of my Heart, and my portion for ever, Psalm 73.25, 26. Lam. 3.24.

Secondly, It turns the Biass of the Will, hath as to means and end: (1.) The Intention of the Will is alter­ed, Ezek. 36.26. Jer 31.33. Isa 26 8, 9 Now the Man hath new ends and designs: Now he intends God above all, and desires and designs nothing in all the World so much as that Christ may be magnified in him, Philip 1.20. He accounts himself more hap­py in this, than in all that the Earth could yield, that he may be serviceable to Christ, and bring him Glory in this Generation: This is the Mark he aims at, that the Name of Jesus may be great in the [Page 23] World, and that all the Sheaves of his Brethren may bow to this Sheaf.

Reader, Dost thou view this, and never ask thy self whether it be thus with thee? Pause a while, and breathe on this great Concernment.

2. The Election is also Changed; so that he chooseth another way, Psalm 119.13. He pitcheth upon God, as his blessedness and upon Christ as the Principal; and holiness as the subordinate means to bring him to God, John 14.6. Rom 2.7. He chooseth Jesus for his Lord, Col 2.6. He is not meerely forced in­to Christ by the storm, nor doth he take Christ for [...]re necessity, as the Man begged from the Gallows, when he takes the Wife rather than the Halter; but he comes off freely in the Choice: This Match is not made in a fright, as with the terrified Consci­ence of a dying Sinner; that will seemingly do any thing for Christ, but doth only take Christ, rather than Hell; but he deliberately resolves, that Christ [...]s his best choice, Philip. 1.23. and would [...]ather have him to chuse, than all the goods of this World, might he enjoy it while he would: Again, he makes Holiness for his Path; he doth not, out of meer ne­cessity submit to it, but he likes and loves it: I have chosen the way of thy precepts, Psalm 119.173. He [...]akes God's Testimonies, not as his Bondage, but as [...]is Heritage; yea, his Heritage for ever, verse 111. He counts them not his burden, but his bliss; not [...]is cords, but his cordials, 1 John 5.3. Psalm 119.14, [...]6.17. He doth not only bear, but take up Christ's [...]oke: He takes not Holiness as the Stomach doth he loathed potion, (which it will down with ra­ [...]er than die,) but as the hungry doth his beloved [...]ood: no time passeth so sweetly with him (when [...]e i [...] himself) as that he spends in the Exercises of [...]o [...]ess; these are both his aliment and element; [...]e desire of his Eyes, and the Joy of his Heart, Job 6: 12: Psalm 119.82, 131, 162, 174. Psalm 63: 5.

Put thy Conscience to it as thou goest, whether [...]ou art the Man? O happy Man, if this be thy [...]afe! But see thou be thorow and impartial in the [...]arch.

[Page 24] Thirdly, It turns the bent of the Affections, 2 Cor 11. These run all in a new Channel: The Jorda [...] is now driven back, and the Water runs upwards a­gainst its natural course.

Christ is his Hope, 1 Tim. 1.1. this is his Prize Phil 3: 8. here his Eye is, here his Heart is. He i [...] contented to cast all over board, (as the Merchan [...] in the Storm, ready to perish) so he may b [...] keep this Jewel.

The first of his desires is, not after Gold but Grace Phil 3: 13; He hungers after it, he seeks it as Silver he digs for it as for hid treasure. He had rather be gracious than great; he had rather be the holie [...] Man on the Earth, than the most learned, the most famous, most prosperous. While carnal, he said, O [...], if I were but in great esteem, and rolled in Wealth, and swimmed in pleasure, if my Debts were paid, and I and mine provided for! then I were a happy Man: But now the Tune is changed; Oh, saith the Convert, if I had but my Co [...]ruptions subdued, if I had such measures of Grace, such Fellowship with God, tho' I were poor and despised, I should not care, I should account may self a blessed Man. Rea­der, Is this the Language of thy Soul?

His Joys are changed. He rejoiceth in the ways of God's testimonies, as much as in all riches, Psal. 11 [...] 14. He delights in the Law of the Lord, whereas once he had little savour. He hath no such Joy, [...] in the Thoughts of Christ, the Fruition of his Com­pany, the Prosperity of his People.

His Cares are quite altered. He was once set for the World, and any Scraps of by time, nothing (too often) was enough for his Soul. Now he gives over caring for the asses, & sets his heart on the kingdom Now all the Cry is, What shall I do to be saved? Act 16.30. His great Solicitude is, how to secure hi [...] Soul. Oh, how he would bless you, if you cou [...] but put him out of doubt of this!

His Fears are not so much of suffering, but of s [...] ­ing Heb, 11.25, 27. Once he was afraid of nothing so much as the loss of his Estate, or Esteem, the Plea­sure [Page 25] of Friends, the Frowns of the Great: Nothing [...]ounded so terrible to him as Pain, or Poverty, or [...]isgrace Now these are little to him, in compari­ [...]on of God's dishonour or displeasure. How warily doth [...]e walk, lest he should tread on a snare? He feareth [...]way, he looks before and behind; he hath his Eye vpon his Heart, and is often casting over his shoul­ [...]er, lest he should be overtaken with sin, Psal. 30.1. Prov. 28.14. Eccles. 1.14. It kills his Heart to think [...]f losing God's Favour: this he dreads as his only [...]ndoing, Psalm 51.11, 12. Psalm 119.8. No thought [...] the World doth pinch him, and pain him so such as to think of parting with Christ.

His Love runs a new Course. My love was cru­ [...]fied (said holy Ignatius) that is, my Christ. This is my Beloved, saith the Spouse, Cant. 5.16. [...]ow doth Augustine often pour his Loves upon Christ? O Eternal Blessedness, &c.

He can find no Words sweet enough: Let me see [...]e, O Light of m [...]ne Eyes. Come, O thou Joy of my [...]pirit. Let me behold thee, O the gladness of my Heart, [...]et me love thee, O Life of my Soul. Appear unto [...]e, O my great delight, my sweet Comfort, O my [...]od, my Life, and the whole Glory of my Soul. Let me [...]d thee, O Desire of my Heart. Let me hold thee, Love of my Soul. Let me embrace thee, O heavenly [...]ridegroom. Let me possess thee.

His Sorrows have now a new vent, 2 Cor. 7.9, 10. [...]he view of his Sins, the Sight of a Christ cruci­ [...]ed, that would scarce stir him before, now how [...]uch do they affect his Heart?

His hatred boils, his anger burns against sin, Psal. [...]9.104. He hath no patience with himself; he [...]ls himself a Fool, and Beast, and thinks any Name [...]o good for himself, when his Indignation is stir­ [...]d up against Sin, Psalm 73.22. Prov. 30.2. He [...]uld once swill in it with too much Pleasure; [...]w he lothes the thought of returning to it, as such as of licking up the filthiest Vomit.

Commune then with thine own Heart, and attend [...]e common and general current of thine affections, [Page 26] whether it be towards God in Christ, above all other concernments. Indeed sudden and strong Commo­tions of the Affections, and sensitive Part, are oft­ [...]mes found in Hypocrites, especially where the na­tural constitution leads thereunto; and contrari­wise, the sanctified themselves are many times with­out sensible stirrings of the Affections, where the Temper is more slow, dry and dull. The great Enquity is, whether the Judgment and Will be standingly determined for God above all other good, real or apparent; and if the Affections do sincerely follow their choice and conduct, tho' it be not so strongly and sensibly as to be desired, there is no doubt but the change is saving.

2 Throughout the Members. Those that were be­fore the Instruments of sin, are now become the ho­ly utensils of Christ's living Temple, Rom. 6.16. 1 Cor. 3.16. He that before made, as it were, a baud or a barrel of his Body, now possesseth his Vessel in Sanctification and Honour, in Temperance, Chastity and Sobriety, and dedicated to the Lord, 1 Thess. 4.4. Gal. 5.22, 23. 1 Cor. 6.19, 20.

The Eye that was once a wandring Eye, a wan­ton Eye, a haughty, a covetous Eye, is now em­ployed, as Mary, in weeping over her Sins, Luke 38. in beholding God in his Works, Psalm 8.3. i [...] reading his Word, Acts 8.30. in looking up and down for Objects of Mercy, and Opportunities for His Service.

The Ear that was once open to Satan's Call, and that (like a vitiated Palate) did relish nothing so much as filthy, as, at least, frothy Talk, and the Fool's laughter, is now bored to the Door of Christ's House, and open to his Discipline: It saith, Speak Lord, for thy Servant heareth: It cries with him Veniat Verbum Domini, and waits for his Word a [...] the Rain, and relisheth them more than the appoin [...] ­ed Food, Job 23.12, than the Honey and ti [...] Honey-comb, Psalm 19.10.

The Head, that was the Shop of worldly Design is now filled with other matters, and set on t [...] [Page 27] study of God's Will, Psalm 1.2. and 119.97. and the Man beats his Head, not so much about his Gain, but about his Duty. The Thoughts and Cares that now fill his Head, are principally, how he may please God, and fly Sin.

His Heart, that was a fly of filthy Lusts, is now become an Altar of Incense, where the Fire of divine Love is ever kept in, and whence the daily Sacrifice of Prayer and Praises, and sweet Incense of Holy Desires, Ejaculations, and Anhelations, are conti­nually ascending, Psalm 108.1. and 119.20. and 139.1 [...] [...]8.

The [...]th is become a Well of Life, his Tongue as choice Silver, and his Lips, feed many: Now the Salt of Grace hath seasoned his Speech, and eat out the Corruption, Col. 4.6 and cleansed the Mouth from his filthy Communication, Flattery, Boasting, Railing, Lying, Swearing, Back-biting, that once came like the flashes proceeding from the Hell that was in the Heart, James 3.6, 7. The Throat, that was once an open Sepulcher, Rom. 3.13. now sends forth the sweet Breath of Prayer and holy Discourse, and the Man speaks in another Tongue, in the Lan­guage of Canaan, and is never so well as when talk­ing of God and Christ, and the matters of another World. His Mouth bringeth forth Wisdom, his Tongue is become the silver Trumpet of his Maker's Praise, his Glory, and the best Member that he hath.

Now here you shall have the Hypocrite halting, He speaks, it may be like an Angel, but he hath a [...]wetous Eye, or the gain of Unrighteousness in his and. Or the Hand is white, but his Heart is full [...]f rottenness, Matth. 23.27. full of unmortified cares, very Oven of Lust, a Shop of Pride, the Seat of [...]alice. It may be with Nabuchadnezzar's Image, he [...]th a golden Head, a great deal of Knowledge: but [...]e hath Feet of Clay, his Affections are worldly, he finds Earthly Things, and his way and walk are [...]nal, and carnal, you may trace him in his secret [...]nts, and his footsteps will be found in some By­ [...] of Sin. The work is not throughout with him.

[Page 28]3. Throughout the Motions, or the Life and Practice. The new Man takes a new Course, Eph. 2.2.3. His Conversation is in Heaven, Phil. 3.20. No sooner doth Christ call by effectual grace, but he straight-way becomes a follower of him, Matth. 4.20. When God hath given the new Heart, and writ his Law in his Mind, he forthwith walks in his Statutes, and keeps his Judgments, Ezek. 36.26.27.

Tho' Sin may dwell (God knows a wearisome and unwelcome guest) in him, yet it hath no more Dominion over him, Rom. 6.7, 14. He hath his fruit unto Holiness, Rom. 6.22. and tho' he makes many a blot, yet the Law and Life of Jesus is that he eyes as his copy, Psalm. 119.30. Heb 12.2. and hath an unfeigned respect to all God's Commandments, Psalm 119.6 He makes Conscience even of little Sins, and little Duties, Psal. 119.113, His very In­firmities which he cannot help, tho' he would, are his Soul's burden, and are like the Dust in a Man's Eye, which tho' but little, yet are not a little trou­blesome. [O Man dost thou read this, and never turn in upon thy Soul by Self-examination?] The Sincere Convert is not one Man at Church, and another at home; he is not a Saint on his Knees, and a Cheat in his Shop; he will not tythe Mint and Cummin, and neglect Mercy and Judgment, and the weighty matters of the Law; he doth not pretend Piety, and neglect Morality, Matth. 23.14. But he turns from all his Sins, and keeps all God's Statutes Ezek. 18.21. tho' not perfectly (except in desire and endeavour) yet sincerely; not allowing himself i [...] the breach of any, Rom. 7.15. Now he delight in the Word, and sets himself to Prayer, and open his Hand, (if able) and draws out his Soul to th [...] hungry, Rom. 7.21. Psalm 109, 4, Isa. 58, 10, H [...] breaketh off his Sins by Righteousness, and his Ini­quities by shewing Mercy to the Poor, Dan. 4, 3 [...] and hath a good Conscience, willing in all things [...] live honestly, Heb. 3, 18, and to keep without Of­fence towards God and Man.

Here again you shall find the unsoundness of ma [...] [Page 29] Professors, that take themselv [...] or good Christians. They are partial in the Law, Mal. 2.9. and take up with the cheap and easy Duties of Religion, but they go not through with the work: They are as a Cake not turned, half toasted, and half raw: It may be you shall have them exact in their Word, punc­tual in their dealings: but then they do not exer­cise themselves, unto Godliness; and for examining themselves, and governing their Hearts, to this they are strangers: You may have them duly at Church, but follow them to their Families, and there you shall see little but their Families minded; or if they have a Road of Family-duties, follow them to their Closets, and there you shall find their Souls are little looked after: It may be they seem otherwise religi­ons, but bridle not their Tongues, and so all their Religion is in vain, James 1, 26. It may be they come up to Closet, and Family-prayer; but follow them to their Shops, and there you shall find them in a trade of lying, or some covert and cleanly way of deceit; Thus the Hypocrite goes not through­out in the Course of his Obedience.

And thus much for the su [...]t of Conversion.

6. The Terms are either from, which or to which

1. The Terms from which we turn in this motion of Conversion, are Sin, Satan, the World, and our own Righteousness.

First, Sin. When a Man is converted, he is for ever out with sin; yea, with all sin, Psalm 119, 128, but most of all with his own sins, and especially with his Bosom-sin, Psalm 18.23. Sin is now the But of his Indignation, 2 Cor. 7.11. he thrists to bathe his hands in the blood of his sins. His sins set a broach in sorrows: It is sin that pierceth him, and wounds him; he feels it like a thorn in his side, like a prick in his Eyes; he groans and struggles un­der it, and not formally, but feelingly cries out, O [...]ched Man [...]he is not impatient of any Burthen, so much as his sin, Psalm 40.12. If God should give him his choice, he would choose any Affliction, [...]o be might be rid of sin; he feels it like the [Page 30] cutting Gravel in his Shoes, p [...]cking and paining him as he goes

Before Conversion, he had light thoughts of Sin; he cherished it in his Bosom, as Uriah his Lamb; he nourished it up, and it grew up together with him; it did eat, as it were, of his own Meat, and drank of his own Cup, and lay in his Bosom, and was to him as a Daughter▪ But when God open his Eyes by Conversion, he throws i [...] away with abhorrence, Isa 30.22 as a Man would a loathsome Toade, which in the dark he had hugged fast in his Bosom, and thought it had been some pretty and harmless Bird: When a Man is savingly changed, he is not only deeply convinced of the Danger, but Defilement of Sin; and Oh, how earnest is he with God to be purified! He loaths himself for his Sins, Ezek 36.31. He runs to Christ, and casts himself into the Foun­tain, for Sin, and for Uncleanness, Zech. 13.1. If he fall, what a stir is there to get all clean again! He flies to the Word, and washes, and rubs, and rinses; labouring to cleanse himself from all Filthi­ness, both of Flesh and Spirit; he abhors his once beloved sin, Psalm 18.23. as a cleanly Nature doth the trough and mire wherein he sees the Swine delight.

The sound Convert is heartily engaged against sin: he wrestles with it, he wars against it; he is too often foiled, but he never yields the Cause, nor lays down the Weapons; but he will up and to it again, while he hath Breath in his Body: He will never give quiet possession, he will make no peace, he wil [...] give no quarter, he falls upon it, and fires upon it and is still disquieting of it with continual Alarms. He can forgive his other Enemies, he can pity them, and pray for them, Acts 7.60. But here he is im­placable, here he is set upon revenge; he hunteth, as it were, for the precious Life; his Eye shall not pity, his Hand shall not spare, tho' it be a right-hand, or a right Eye: Be it a gainful Sin, most delightful to his Nature, or Support to his Esteem with carnal Friends; yet he will rather throw his Gai [...] down the Kennel, see his credit fall, or the Flower o [...] [Page 31] Pleasure wither in his hand▪ than he will allow him­self in any known way of sin, Luke 19.8. He will grant no Indulgence, he will give no Toleration, but he draws upon sin, where-ever he meets it, and frowns upon it with this unwelcome Salute, Have I found thee, O mine Enemy!

Reader, hath Conscience been at work, while thou hast been looking over these Lines? Hast thou pon­dered these things in thine Heart? Hast thou search­ed the Book within, to see if these things be so? if not, read it again, and make thy Conscience speak, whether or no it be thus with thee.

Hast thou crucified thy Flesh with its Affections and Lusts; and not only confessed, but forsaken thy Sins; all sin in thy fervent desires, and the ordinary practice of every deliberate and wilful sin in thy life? If not, thou art yet unconverted. Doth not Conscience fly in thy Face, as thou readest, and tell thee that thou livest in a way of lying for thy Ad­vantage, that thou usest deceit in thy Calling, that there is some way of secret wantonness that thou liv­est in? why then, do not deceive thy self, thou art in the Gall of Bitterness, and Bond of Iniquity.

Doth not thy unbridled Tongue, thy brutish In­temperance, thy wicked Company, thy Neglect of Prayer, of Hearing and Reading the Word, now witness against thee, and say, We are thy Works, and we will follow thee? Or if I have not hit thee right, doth not the Bird within tell thee, there is such or such a way, that thou knowest to be evil, that yet for some carnal respect thou dost tolerate thy self in, and art willing to spare? If this be thy Case, thou art to this Day Unregenerate, and must be changed or condemned.

Secondly, Satan. Conversion binds the strong Man, spoils his Armour, casts out his Goods, turns Men from the power of Satan unto God, Acts 26 18. Before, the Devil could no sooner hold up his Fin­ger to the Sinner, to call him to his wicked Com­pany, sinful Games, filthy Delight, but presently he followed, like an Ox to the Slaughter, and a Fool [Page 32] to the Correction of the stocks; as the Bird that hasteth to the Prey, and knoweth not that it is for his Life: No sooner could Satan bid him lie, but presently he had it upon the top of his Tongue, Acts 5.3. No sooner could Satan offer a wanton Object, but he was stung with Lust. The Devil could do more with him than God could: It the Devil say, Away with these Family duties, be sure they shall be rarely enough performed in his house: If the Devil say, Away with this strictness, this Precise­ness, he will keep far enough from it: If he tells him, there's no need of these Closet-duties, he shall go from Day to Day, and scarce perform them: But now he is converted, he serves another Master, and takes quite another course, 1 Peter 4.4 he goes and comes at Christ's beck, Col. 3.24. Satan may some­times catch his Foot in a trap, but he will no longer be a willing captive: he watches against the snares and Baits of Satan, and studies to be acquainted with his devices; he is very suspicious of his Plots, and is very jealous in what comes athwart him, lest Satan should have some Design upon him: He wrestles against Principalities and Powers, Eph. 6. he entertains the Messenger of Satan, as Men do the Messenger of Death: he keeps his Eye upon his E­nemy, 1 Peter 5.8. and watches in his Duties, lest Satan should put in his Foot.

Thirdly, the World. Before a sound Faith, a Man is overcome of the World; either he bows down to Mammon, or idolizes his reputation, or is a Lover of Pleasure more than a Lover of God, 2 Tim. 3.4. Here's the Root of Man's Misery by the Fall; he is turned aside to the Creature, instead of God, and gives that esteem, confidence, and affection to the Creature, that is due to him alone, Rom. 1.25. Mat. 10.37. Prov 18.11. Jer. 17.5.

O miserable Man! What a deformed Monster hath sin made the [...]? God made thee little lower than the Angels; Sin little better than the Devils, John 6.70. & 8.44. A monster, that hath his Head, and Heart where his Feet should be, and his Feet [Page 33] kicking against Heaven, and every thing out of place; the World, that was formed to serve thee, is come to rule thee, and the deceitful Harlot hath bewitch­ed thee with her Inchantments, and made thee bow down and serve her.

But converting Grace sets all in order again, [...]d puts God in the Throne, and the World at his Foot­stool, Psalm 73: 25. Christ in the Heart, and the World under Feet, Eph. 3, 17, Rev. 12, 1. So Paul I am crucified to the World, and the World to me, Gal. 6.14 Before this change, all the cry was, Who will shew us any (worldly) good? But now he sings another tune, Lord, lift up the Light of thy Countenance upon me, and take the Corn and Oil whoso will, Psal. 4.6, 7. Before, his Heart's delight and content was in the World; then the Song was, Soul take thine case; eat, drink, and be merry; thou hast much Goods laid up for many Years: But now all this is withered, and there is no comeliness, that he should desire it; and he tunes up with the sweet Psalmist of Israel, The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, the lines are fallen to me in a fair place, and I have a goodly heritage. He blesseth himself, and boasts himself in God, Psal. 34.2. Lam. 3.24. nothing else can give him content. He hath written Vanity and Vexation upon all his worldly enjoyments, Eccles. 1 2. and loss and dung upon all human excellencies, Philip. 3: 7, 8: He hath Life and Immortality now in chase, Rom. 2, 7: He trades for Grace and Glory, and hath a Crown incorruptible in pursuit, 1 Cor. 8: 25. His Heart is set in him to seek the Lord, 1 Chron. 22: 19: and 2 Chron. 15.15. He first seeks the Kingdom of Hea­ven, and the Righteousness thereof; and Religion is no longer a matter by the by with him, but the main of his care, Matt. 9.33. Psalm 17.4. Now the gaudy Idol is become Nebushtan, 2 Kings 18.4; and he gets up and trends upon it, as Diogenes trampling upon Plato's Hangings, saying, Celco Pl [...]tonis Fastum. Before the World had a swaying Interest with him; he would do more for gain than godliness, 1 Tim. 6.6. more to pleasure his Friend, or his Flesh than [Page 34] to please the God that made him; and God must stand by till the World were first served: But now all must stand by; he hates Father and Mother, and Life and all, in comparison of Christ, Luke 1.26.

Well then, pause a little, and look within; Doth not this nearly concern thee? Thou pretendest for Christ, but doth not the World sway thee? Dost thou not take more real delight and content in the World than in him? Dost thou not find thyself better at ease when the World goes to thy Mind, and thou art encompassed with carnal Delights, than when retired to Prayer and Meditation in thy Closet, or attending upon God's Word and Worship? No surer evidence of an unconverted State, than to have the things of the World uppermost in our Aims, Love and Estimation, John 2.15. James 4.4.

With the second Convert, Christ hath the Supre­macy. How dear is this Name to him? How pre­cious is its favour? Cant. 13. Psalm 54.8. The name of Jesus is engraven upon his Heart, Gal. 4.19. and lies as a bundle of Myrrhe between his breasts, Cant. 1.13.14. Honour is but Air, and Laughter is but Madness, and Mammon is fallen like Dagon before the Ark, with Hands and Head broken off on the Threshold, when once Christ is savingly revealed. Here is the Pearl of great price to the true Convert, here is his Treasure, here is his Hope, Matth. 13.44.45. This is his Glory, My beloved is mine, and I am his, Gal 6.14. Cant. 2.16. Oh, 'tis sweeter to him to be able to say, Christ is mine, than if he could say, The Kingdom is mine, the Indies are mine.

Fourthly, Your own Righteousness: Before Conver­sion, Man seeks to cover himself with his own Fig-leaves, Phil, 3.6 7. and to lick himself whole with his own Duties, Micah 6 6, 7. He is apt to trust in himself, Luke 16.15. & 18.9. and s [...] up his own Righteousness, and to reckon his Counters for Gold, and not submit to the Righteousness of God, Rom. 10.3. But Conversion changes his Mind; now he casts away his filthy Rags, and counts his own Righteousness but a menstruons Cloth? He casts it [Page 35] off, as a Man would the verminous tatters of a nasty Beggar, Isa 64.7. Now he is brought to Poverty of Spirit, Matth. 5.3. complains of, and condemns himself, Rom. 7. and all his Inventory is, Poor, and miserable, and wretched and blind, and naked, Rev. 3.17, He sees a World of Iniquity in his holy things and calls his once idolized Righteousness but Flesh, and Loss, and Dogs Meat, and would not for a thou­sand Worlds be found in himself, Philip. 3.4, 7, 8, 9. His Finger is even upon his Sores, Psalm 51.3. his, Sins, his Wants. Now he begins to set a high Price upon Christ's Righteousness; he sees the Need of a Christ in every Duty, to justify his Person, and justify his Performances; he cannot live without him, he cannot pray without him. Christ must go with him, or else he cannot come into the Presence of God; he leans upon the Hand of Christ, and so he bows himself in the House of his God; he sets himself down for a lost, undone Man, without him: His Life is hid in Christ, as the Life of a Man in the Heart; he is fixed in Christ, as the Roots of the Tree spread in the Earth, for Stabi­lity and Nutriment. Before, the News of a Christ was a stale and sapless thing; but no [...] how sweet is a Christ; Augustine could not relish his before so much admired Cicero, because he could not find the Name of Christ, how pathetically cries he, Dul­cissime, amantis. benignis. caris. &c. quando te videbo? quando satiabo de pulchritudine tua? Medit. c. 37. O most sweet, most loving, most kind, most dear, most precious, most desired, most lovely most fair, &c. all in a Breath, when he speaks of, and to his Christ: In a Word, the Voice of the Convert, is with the Martyr, None but Christ.

2. The Terms which are ether Ultimate, or Sub­ordinate, and Mediate.

The Ultimate, is God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, whom the true Convert takes, as his Allsuf­ficient and Eternal blessedness. A Man is never truly Sanctified, till his very Heart be in Truth set upon God above all things, as his portion and chief [Page 36] good. These are the natural Breathings of a Belie­ver's Heart; thou art my portion, Psal. 119.57. My Soul shall make her boast in the Lord, Psal 34, 2. My ex­pectation, is from him, he only is my rock, and my Salvation, he is my defence: in God is my Salvation, and my Glory, the Rock of my Strengh, and my Refuge is in God, Psalm 62.1, 2, 5, 6, 7. Psalm 18.1, 2.

Would you put it to an Issue, whether you be converted or not? Now then let thy Soul and all that is within thee attend.

Hast thou taken God for thy Happiness? Where doth the content of thy Heart [...]ly? Whence doth thy choicest comfort come in; Come then, and with Abraham, lift up thine Eyes Eastward, and West­ward, and Northward, and Southward, and cast about thee, what is it that thou wouldst have in Heaven or Earth to make thee happy? If God should give thee thy choice, as he did to Solomon, or should say to thee, as Ahasuerus to Esther, What is thy Pe­tition, and what is thy Request, and it shall granted thee, Esther 5.3. What wouldst thou ask? Go into the Gardens of Pleasure, and gather all the fragrant Flowers from thence: Would these content thee? Go to the Treasures of Mammon; suppose thou mightest lade thy self while thou wouldst from hence: Go to the Towers, to the Trophies of Honour: What thinkest thou of being a Man of renown and having a name like the name of the great Men of the Earth? Would any of this, all this suffice thee, and make thee count thy self a happy Man? If so then certainly thou art Carnal and Unconverted; if not, go farther; wade into the Divine excellencies, the sto [...]e of his Mercies, the hiding of his Power, the deeps unfathomable of his All-sufficiency; Doth this suit thee best, and please thee most? Dost thou say. 'Tis good to be here, Matth. 17.4. Here I will pitch. [...]ere I will live and die? Wilt thou let all the World go, rather than this? Then 'tis well between God and thee: Happy art thou, O Man! Happy art thou that ever thou wast born: If a God can make thee happy, thou must needs be [Page 37] happy; for thou hast avouched the Lord to be thy God, Deut. 26.17. Dost thou say to Christ, as he to us, Thy Father shall be my Father, and thy God my God, John 20.17. Here is the turning Point. An un­sound Professor never takes up his rest in God, but converting grace doe the work, and so cures the fatal misery of the fall, by turning the heart from its Idols, to the living God, 1 Thess 1.9. Now says the Soul, Lord, whither should I go? Thou hast the Words of Eternal Life, John 6.68. Here he cen­ters, here he settles: O, 'tis as the entrance of Hea­ven to him, to see his Interest in God. When he discovers this, he saith, Return unto thy rest, O my Soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee, Psalm 116, 17. And it is even ready to breathe out Simeon's Song, Lord, now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace, Luk. 2.29. and saith with Jacob, when his old heart revived at the welcome tidings, It is enough, Gen. 45 28. When he sees he hath a God in Covenant to go to, this is all his Salvation, and all his desire, 2 Sam. 23.5.

M [...]n, is this thy Case? hast thou experienced this? Why then, blessed art thou of the Lord: God hath been at work with thee, he hath laid hold on thy heart by the power of converting Grace, or else thou couldst never have done this:

The Mediate Term of Conversion is either princi­pal, or less principal.

The Principal is Christ, the only Mediator be­tween God and Man, 1 Tim. 2.5. His Work is to bring us to God, 1 Peter 3.18. He is the way to the Father, John 14.6. the only plank on which we may escape, the only door by which we may enter, John 10.9. Conversion brings over the Soul to Christ, to accept of him, Col. 2.6. as the only means to Life, as the only way, the only name given under Hea­ven, Acts 4.12. He looks not for Salvation in any other but him, nor in any other with him; but throws himself on Christ alone, as one that should cast himself with spread A [...]ms upon the Sea.

Here (saith the convinced Sinner) here I will ven­ture, [Page 38] and if I perish, I perish: if I die, I will die here. But, Lord, suffer me not to perish under the pitiful Eyes of thy mercy. Intreat me not to leave thee, or to turn away from following after thee, Ruth 1 16. Here I will throw my self: If thou kick me, if thou kill me, Job 13.15. I will not go from thy door.

Thus the poor Soul doth venture on Christ, and resolvedly adhere to him. Before Conversion, the Man made light of Christ, minded the Farm, Friends, Merchandise, more than Christ, Matth 22 5. Now Christ is to him as his necessary Food, his Daily-bread, the Life of his Heart, the Staff of his Life, Philip. 3 9: His great design is, that Christ may be magnified in him, Philip. 1.20. His Heart once said, as they to the Spouse, What is thy Beloved more than another? Cant. 5.9. He found more sweetness in his merry Company, wicked Games, earthly De­lights, than in Christ. He took Religion for a Fancy, and the Talk of great Enjoyments for an idle Dream. But now, to him to live is Christ. He sets light by all that he accounted precious, for the Excellency of the Knowledge of CHRIST, Phil. 3.8.

All of Christ is accepted by the Sincere Convert. He loves not only the wages but work of Christ, Rom. 7.12. not only the Benefits, but the burden of Christ: He is willing not only to tread out the Corn, but to draw under the Yoke: He takes up the Commands of Christ, yea, and Cross of Christ, Matth 11. Matth. 16.24.

The unsound closeth by the halves with Christ: He is all for the Salvation of Christ, but he is not for Sanctification: He is for the Privileges, but ap­pretrates not the Person of Christ: He divides the Offices and Benefits of Christ. This is an Error in the Foundation: Whoso loveth Life let him beware here; 'tis an undoing mistake, of which you have been often warned, and yet none more common. Jesus is a sweet name, but Men love not the Lord Jesus in Sincerity, Eph 6.24. They will not have him as God offers, To be a Prince, and a Saviour, [Page 39] Acts 5, 31. They divide what God hath joyned, the King and the Priest; Yea, they will not ac­cept the Salvation of Christ, as he intends it; they divide it here. Every Man's Vote is for Salvation from Suffering, but they desire not to be saved from sinning; they would have their Lives saved, but withall, they would have their Lusts. Yea, many divide her again; they would be content to have some of their Sins destroyed, but they cannot leave the Lap of Dalilah, or divorce the beloved Herodias. They cannot be cruel to the Right-eye, or Right-hand; the Lord must pardon them in this thing, 2 Kings 5.18. Oh! be infinitely tender here; your Souls lye upon it. The sound Convert takes a whole Christ, and takes him for all intents and purposes: without exceptions, without limitations, without reserves. He is willing to have Christ upon his terms upon any terms. He is willing of the Dominion [...] Christ, as well as deliverance by Christ; he saith with Paul, Lord, what will thou have me to do? Acts 9.6. Any thing, Lord. He sends the blank to Christ, to set down his own Conditions, Acts 1.37. and 16.30.

The less Principal is the Laws Ordinances and Ways of Christ. The Heart that was once set against these, and could not endure the strictness of these Bonds, the severity of these ways, now falls in love with them, and chooses them as its Rule and Guide for ever, Psalm 119.111, 112.

Four things (I observe) God doth work in every sound Convert, with reference to the Laws and Ways of Christ, by which you may come to know your Estates, if you will be faithful to your own Souls; and therefore keep your Eyes upon your Hearts as you go along.

1. The Judgment is brought to approve of them, and subscribe to them as most righteous and most reasonable Psalm 11.112.128, 137, 138. The Mind is brought to like the Ways of God, and the corrupt Prejudices that were once against them, as unreasonable, and intolerable, are now removed. The Understanding assents to them all, as holy, just and good, Rom. 7 [Page 40] 12. How is David taken up with these Excellencies of God's Laws; How doth he explain in their praises both from their inherent Qualities and ad­mirable Effects, Psalm 19.8, 9, 10, &c.

There is a two-fold Judgment of the Understand­ing, Judicium abs [...]iutum & comparatum. The abso­lute Judgment is, when a Man thinks such a course best in the general, but not for him, or not under the present circumstances he is in, pro hic & nunc. Now a godly Man's Judgment is for the Ways of God; and that not only the absolute, but compara­tive Judgment; he thinks them not only best in ge­neral, but best for him; he looks upon the Rules of Religion, not only as tolerable, but desirable; yea, more desirable than Gold, fine Gold; yea, much fine Gold, Psalm 19.10.

His Judgments are settledly determined, that 'tis best to be holy, that 'tis best to be strict, that it is in it self the most eligible course; and that 'tis for him the wisest, and most rational, and desirable choice. Hear the Godly Man's Judgment. I know O Lord, that thy judgments are right. I love thy commandment; above Gold, yea, above fine Gold. I esteem all thy pre­cepts, concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false Way, Psalm 119.127, 121. Mark, he did approve of all that God required, and disallowed of all that he forbad; Righteous, O Lord, and upright are thy Judgments. Thy testimonies that thou hast com­manded, are righteous and very faithful. Thy word is true from the beginning, and every one of thy righteous Judgments endureth forever, Psalm 119.86, 160, 162, 163. See how readily and fully he subscribes: he declares his assent and consent to it, and all and e­very thing therein contained.

2. The desire of the Heart is to know the whole mind of Christ, Psalm 112.124, 125, 169 and 25.4.5. He would not have one Sin undiscovered, nor be ignorant of one Duty required. 'Tis the natural and earnest breathing of a sanctified Heart: Lord, if there be any way of wickedness in me, do thou dis­cover it. What I know not, teach thou me; and if I [Page 41] have done Iniquity, I will do it no more. The unsound is willingly ignorant, 2 Peter 3.5. loves not to come to the light, Job 3.20. He is willing to keep such or such a Sin, and therefore is loath to know it to be a Sin, and will not let in the Light at that Window. The gracious Heart is willing to know the whole latitude and compass of his Maker's Law, Psalm 119.18, 19, 27, 33, 64, 66, 68, 78, 108, 124. He receives with all Acceptation the Word that convinceth him of any Duty that [...]he knew not, or minded not before; or discovereth any Sin that lay hid before, Psalm 119.11.

3. The free and resolved choice of the Will is deter­mined for the ways of Christ, before all the pleasures of Sin, and prosperities of the World, Psalm 119.103. 127, 162. His consent is not extorted by some Ex­tremity of Anguish, nor is it only a sudden and hasty resolve, but he is deliberately purposed, and comes off freely to the choice, Psalm 17.3. and 119. 39. True, the Flesh will rebel, yet the prevailing Part of his Will is for Christ's Laws and Govern­ment, so that he takes them not up as his toil or burden, but his bliss, 1 John 5.3. Psalm 119.60, 72. When the unsanctified goes in Christ's w [...]ys as in Chains and Fetters, he doth them naturally, Psalm 40.8. Jer. 31.13. and counts Christ's Law his liber­ty, Psalm 119.32, 45. James 1.25. He is willing in the beauties of holiness. Psalm 110.3. and hath this inseparable mark; That he had rather (if he might have his choice) live a strict and holy Life, than the most prosperous and flourishing Life in the World. 1 Sam. 10.26. There went with Saul a band of Men, whose Hearts God had touched. When God touched the Hearts of his chosen, they presently follow Christ, Matth. 4.22. (and tho' drawn) do freely run after him, Cant. 1.4. and willingly offer them­selves to the Service of the Lord, 2 Chron. 7; 16. seeking him with their whole desire, 2 Chron. 15: 15. Fear hath its use; but this is not the main Spring of Motion with a sanctified Heart. Christ keeps not his Subjects in by force, but is King of a willing [Page 42] People. They are (through his Grace) freely re­solved for his Service, and do it out of choice, not as Slaves, but as the Son or Spouse, from a Spring of Love, and a loyal Mind. In a Word, the Laws of Christ are the Convert's Love, Psalm 119.159, 163, 167. Desire, Verse 5, 20, 40. Delight, Verse 77, 92, 103, 111, 143. and continual Study, Verse 99, 79. Psalm 1.2.

4. The bent of his course is directed to keep God's Sta­tutes. Psalm 119.4, 8, 167, 198. 'Tis the daily Care of his Life to walk with God. He seeks great Things, he hath noble Designs, tho' he fall too short. He aims at nothing less than Perfection: He desires it, he reaches after it, he would not rest in any Pitch of Grace, till he were quite rid of Sin, and had per­fected Holiness, Phil. 3.11, 12, 13, 14.

Here the Hypocrites rottenness may be discovered. He desires Holiness (as one says well) only as a Bridge to Heaven, and enquires earnestly, what is the least that will serve his Turn; and if he can get but so much as may just bring him to Heaven, this is all he cares for. But the sound Convert desires Holi­ness for Holiness sake, Psalm 119.97. Matth. 5.6. and not only for Heaven's sake. He would not b [...] satisfied with so much as might save him from Hell but desires the highest Pitch. Yet Desires are no [...] enough. What is thy Way and thy Course? Is th [...] drift and scope of thy Life altered? Is Holines [...] thy Trade, and Religion thy Business? Rom. 8. [...] Matth. 25.16. Phil. 1.20. If not, thou art short [...] sound Conversion.

Application. And is this, that we have described the Conversion that is of absolute necessity to Salva­tion? Then be informed, 1. That strait is the Ga [...] and narrow the way that leadeth unto Life. 2. Th [...] there be but few that find it. 3. That there is ne [...] of a Divine Power, savingly to convert a Sinner [...] Jesus Christ.

Again, then be exhorted, O Man that reade [...] to turn in upon thine own self. What saith Co [...]science? Doth it not begin to bite? Doth it [...] [Page 43] [...]itch thee as thou goest? Is this thy judgment, and this thy choice, and this thy way, that we have de­scribed? If so, then 'tis well. But doth not thy Heart condemn thee, and tell thee, there is such a Sin thou livest in, against thy Conscience? Doth it not tell thee, there is such and such a secret way of Wicked­ness, that thou makest no bones of? Such or such a Duty, that thou makest no Conscience of?

Doth not Conscience carry thee to thy closet, and tell thee how seldom Prayer and Reading is perform­ed there? Doth it not carry thee to thy Family, and shew thee the Charge of God, and the Souls of thy Children and Servants that be neglected there? Doth not Conscience lead thee to thy Shop, thy Trade, and tell thee of some mystery of Iniquity there? Doth it not carry thee to the Ale-shop, or to the Sack-shop, and round thee in thine Ear for the loose Company thou keepest there, the precious time thou mis-spend­est there, for the Talents of God which thou throw­est down this sink, for thy gaming, and thy swil­ling? &c. Doth it not carry thee into thy Secret- [...]amber, and read thee a curtain Lecture?

O Conscience! do thy Duty: In the Name of the living God, I command thee, discharge thine office. Lay hold upon this Sinner, fall upon him, arrest him, apprehend him, undeceive him; What! Wilt thou flatter and sooth him, while he lives in his Sins? Awake, O Conscience! What meanest thou, O Sleep­er? What! Hast thou never a reproof in thy Mouth? What! Shall this Soul die in a careless neglect of God and Eternity, and thou altogether hold thy Peace? What! Shall he still go on in his Trespasses, and yet have Peace? Oh, rouze up thy self, and do thy Work. Now let the Preacher in the Bosom speak: Cry aloud, and spare not; lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet; let not the Blood of this Soul be required at thy Hands.

Chap. III. Of the Necessity of Conversion.

IT may be, you are ready to say, What meaneth this stir? And are apt to wonder why I follow [Page 44] you with such earnestness, still ringing one Lesson in your Ears, That you should repent and be converted, Acts 3.19. But I must say unto you, as Ruth to Naeomi, Intreat me not to leave you, nor to turn aside from following after you, Ruth 1.16. Were it a Mat­ter of Indifferency, I would never keep so much ado: Might you be saved as you be, I wou'd gladly let you alone. But would you not have me sollici­tous for you, when I see you ready to perish? As the Lord liveth, before whom I am, I have not the least hopes to see one of your Faces in Heaven, ex­cept you be converted: I utterly despair of your Salvation; except you will be prevailed with to turn throughly, and give up yourselves to God in Holi­ness, and Newness of Life. Hath God said, Except you be born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God? John 3.3. and yet do you wonder why your Mini­sters do so plainly travail in Birth with you? Think it not strange, that I am earnest with you to fol­low after Holiness, and long to see the Image of God upon you: Never did any, nor shall any enter in­to Heaven by any other way but this. The Con­version described, is not an high pitch of some tal­ler Christians; but every Soul that it [...] [...]asseth this Universal Change.

It was a Passage of the noble Roman, when he was hasting with Corn to the City in the Famine, and the Mariners were loth to set sail in foul weather, Neces­sarium est navigare, non est necessarium vivere: Ou [...] Voyage is of more necessity than our Lives. Wha [...] is it that thou dost account necessary? Is thy Brea [...] necessary? is thy Breath necessary? Then thy Con­version is much more necessary. Indeed, this is the unu [...] necessarium, the one thing necessary. Thi [...] Estate is not necessary; thou mayest sell all for the Pearl of great Price; and yet be a Gainer by the Pur­chase. Matth. 13.46. Thy Life is not necessary, thou mayest part with it for Christ to infinite Advantage Thine Esteem is not necessary; thou mayest be reproached for the Name of Christ, and yet be happy you, much more happy in reproach than in repu [...] [Page 45] 1 Peter 4.4. Matth. 5.10, 11. But thy Conversion is necessary, thy Damnation lies upon it: And is it not needful in so important a Case to look about thee? Upon this one Point depends thy making, or marring, to all Eternity.

But I shall more particularly shew the Necessity of Conversion in Five Things; for without this,

1. Thy Being is in vain: Is it not Pity thou shouldest be good for nothing, an unprofitable bur­then of the Earth, a wart or wen in the Body of the Universe? Thus thou art, whilst unconverted; for thou canst not answer the End of thy Being: Is it not for the divine Pleasure thou art and wert crea­ted? Rev. 4.11. Did he not make thee for him­self? Prov. 16.4. Art thou a Man, and hast thou rea­son? Why then bethink thyself, why and whence thy Being is. Behold God's Workmanship in thy Body, and ask thyself, To what end did God rear this Fabrick? Consider the noble Faculties of thy Heaven-born Soul: To what end did God bestow these Excellencies: To no other, than that thou shouldest please thyself and gratify thy Senses? Did God send Men, like the Swallows, into the World, only to gather a few sticks and dirt, and build their Nests, and breed up their young, and then away! The very Heathens could see farther than this. Art thou so fearfully and wonderfully made, Psalm 139. 14. and dost thou not yet think with thyself, surely it was for some noble and raised end!

O Man! set thy Reason a little in the Chair▪ Is it not pity such a goodly Fabrick should be raised in vain! Verily, thou art in vain, except thou art for God; better thou hadst no being, than not to be for him. Would thou serve thy End? Thou must repent, and be converted; without this, thou art to us Purpose; yea, to had Purpose.

First, To no purpose: Man unconverted, is like a choice Instrument, that hath every String broke, or out of Tune; the Spirit of the living God must re­pair and tune it by the Grace of Regeneration, and sweetly move it by the power of actuating Grace, or [Page 46] else thy Prayers will be but how sings, and all thy Services will make no Musick in the Ears of the most Holy, Eph. 2.10. Philip. 2.13. Hosea 7.14. Isa. 1.15. All thy Powers and Faculties are so cor­rupt in thy Natural State, that except thou be purged from dead Works, thou canst not serve the living God, Heb. 9.14. Titus 1.15.

An Unsanctified Man cannot work the Work of God. 1. He hath no Skill in it. He is altogether as unskilful in the Work, as in the Word of Righteous­ness, Heb. 5.13. There are great Mysteries, as well in the Practices, as Principles of Godliness; now the Unregenerate knows not the Mysteries of the King­dom of Heaven, Matth. 13: 11.1 Tim. 3.16. You may as well expect him that never learned the Alphabet, to read; or look for goodly Musick of the Lute, from one that never set his Hand to an Instrument, as that a natural Man should do the Lord any pleasing Service: He must first be taught of God, John 6.45. taught to pray, Luke 11.1. taught to profit, Isa. 48. 17. taught to go, Hosea 11.3. or else he will be ut­terly at a Loss. 2. He hath no Strength for it, How weak is his Heart? Ezek. 16.30. He is presently tired. The Sabbath, what a weariness is it, Mal. 1 13. He is without strength, Rom. 5.6. yea, stark dead in Sin, Eph. 2.5, 3. He hath no Mind to it. He desires not the Knowledge of God's ways, Job 21.14. He doth not know them, and he doth not eare to know them, Psalm 82 5. He knows not, nei­ther will he understand. 4 He hath neither due In­struments, nor Materials for it. A Man may as well hew the Marble without Tools, or limn without Colours or Instruments, or build without Materials, as perform any acceptable Service without the Graces of the Spirit, which are both the Materials and Instruments in the Work. Alms-giving is not a Service of God, but of Vain-glory, unless dealt forth by the Hand of divine Love. What is the Prayer of the Lips without Grace in the Heart, but the Carcase without the Life? What are all our Confessions, unless [...] be Exercises of godly Sor­row, [Page 47] and unfeigned Repentance? What our Petiti­ons, unless animated all along with holy Desires, and Faith in divine Attributes and Promises? What our Praises and Thanksgivings, unless from the Love of God, and a holy Gratitude, and Sense of God's Mercies in the Heart? So that a Man may as well expect that Trees should speak, or look for Lo­gick from the Brutes, or Motion from the Dead, as for any Service holy and acceptable to God from the Unconverted. When the Tree is evil, how can the Fruit be good? Matth. 7.18.

Secondly, To bad purpose. The unconverted Soul is a very Cage of unclean Birds, Rev. 18 2. a Sepul­chre full of corruption and rottenness, Matth. 23.27. a loathsome Carcase, full of crawling Worms, and sending forth a hellish and most noisom Savour in the Nostrils of God, Psalm 14.3. O dreadful Case! Dost thou not yet see a change to be needful? Would it not have griev'd one, to have seen the golden consecrated Vessels of God's Temple turned into quaffing Bowls of Drunkenness, and polluted with the Idols Service, Dan. 5.2, 3. Was [...] such an A­bomination to the Jews, when Antiochus set up the Picture of a Swine at the Entrance of the Temple? How much more abominable then would it have been, to have had the very Temple itself turned into a Stable or a Sty, and to have the Holy of Holies served like the House of Baal; to have the Image of God taken down, and be turned into a Draught-house? 2 Kings 10.27. This is the very Case of the Unregenerate; All thy Members are turned into In­struments of unrighteousness, Rom. 6.19. Servants of Satan: and thy [...]nmost powers into receptacles of uncleanness. Eph. 2.2. Titus 1.15. You may see the goodly Guests within, by what come out. For out of the Heart proceed evil Thoughts, Murders, Adul­teries, Fernicatione, Thefts, False Witness, Blasphemies, &c. This black Guard discovers what a Hell there is within.

O Abuse insufferable! to see a Heaven-born Soul abased to the filthiest Drudgery; to see the Glory of [Page 48] God's Creation, the chief of the Works of God, the Lord of the Universe, a lapping with the Prodigal at the trough, or licking up with greediness the most loathsom Vomit? Was it such a lamentation to see those that did feed delicately, to sit desolate in the street; and the precious Sons of Sion, comparable to fine Gold, to be esteemed as earthen pitchers; and those that were clothed in Scarlet, to embrace dung­hills, Lam. 4.2, 5. And is it not much more fear­ful, to see the only thing that hath Immortality in this low [...] world, and carries the stamp of God, to become as a Vessel wherein there is no Pleasure, Jer. [...]2.28. (which is but a modest Expression of the Vessel Men put to the most sordid Use): O Indig­nity untolerable! Better thou wert dashed in a thousand pieces, than continue to be abused to so filthy a Service.

II. Not only Man, but the whole visible Creation is in vain without this: Beloved, God hath made all the visible creatures in Heaven and Earth for the Service of Man, and Man only is the Spokesman for all the rest. Man is in the Universe, like the Tongue in the Body, which speaks for all the Members: The other Creatures cannot praise their Maker, but by dumb signs hint to Man, that he should speak for them: Man is (as it were) the High-Priest of God's Creation, to offer the Sacrifice of Praise for all his Fellow-creatures, Psalm 147, and 148, and 250. The Lord expecteth a Tribute of Praise from all his works, Psalm 103.22. Now all the rest do bring their Tribute to Man, and pay it in by his Hand: So then, if Man be false, and faithless, and selfish, God is wronged of all, and shall have no active Glory from his Works.

O dreadful Thought to think of! That God should build such a World as this, [...]d And lay out such infinite Power, and Wisdom, and Goodness thereupon, and all in vain; and Man should be guilty, at last, of robbing and spoiling him of the Glory of all: Oh think of this! while thou art unconverted, all the Offices of the Creatures to thee are in vain: [Page 49] Thy Me [...]t nourishes thee in vain, the Sun holds forth his light to thee in vain, the Stars that serve thee in their Courses, by their most powerful, tho' hidden Influence, Judg' 5.20. Hos. 2.21, 22. do it in vain; thy Clothes warm thee in vain; thy Beast carries thee in vain: In a Word, the unwearied labour and continual travel of the whole Creation (as to thee) is in vain. The Service of all the Creatures, that drudge for thee, and yield forth their Strength unto thee (that therewith thou shouldest serve their Maker) is all but lost Labour. Hence the whole Creation groaneth under the Abuse of the unsancti­fied World, Rom. 8.22. that pervert them to the service of their Lusts, quite contrary to the very end of their Being.

III. Without this, thy Religion is in vain, J [...]. 1.26. All thy religious Performances will be but lost; for they can neither please God, Rom. 8.8. nor save thy Soul, 1 Cor. 13.2, 3. which are the very Ends of Re­ligion. Be thy services never so precious, yet God hath no Pleasure in them, Isa. 1.14. Mal. 1.10. Is not that Man's Case dreadful, whose sacrifices are as murder, and whose prayers are a breath of abomi­nation, Isa. 66.3. Prov 28.9. Many, under Con­victions, think they will set upon mending, and that a few Prayers and Alms will solve all again: But alas, Sirs! while your Hearts remain unsanctified, your Duties will not pass. How punctual was Jehu! and yet all was rejected, because his Heart was not upright, 2 Kings 10, with Hos. 1.4. How blameless was Paul? and yet, being unconverted, all was but loss, Philip. 3.6, 7. Men think they do much in at­tending God's Service, and are ready to twit him with it, Isa. 58.3. Matth. 7.22. and set him down so much their debtor, when as (their Persons being unsanctified) their Duties cannot be accepted.

O Soul! do not think, when thy Sins pursue thee, a little praying and reforming thy course will pacify God: Thou must begin with thine Heart; if that be not renewed, thou canst no more please God, than one that having unspeakably offended thee, should [Page 50] bring thee his Vomit in a Dish to pacify thee; or having fallen into the Mi [...]e, should think with his loathed Embraces to reconcile thee.

It is a great Misery to labour in the Fire. The Poets could not invent a worser hell for Sis [...]plous, than to be getting the barrel still up the hill, and then that it should presently fall down again, and renew his labour. God threatens it, as the greatest of temporal Judgments, that they should build and not inhabit, plant and not gather, and their Labours should be eat up by Strangers, Deut. 23.30, 38, 39, 41. Is it so great a misery to lose our common labours, to sow in vain, and build in vain? how much more to lose our pains in Religion, to pray and hear, and fast in vain? This is an undoing and eternal loss. Be not deceived, if thou goest on in thy sinful state, tho' thou shouldst spread forth thine Hands, God will hide his Eyes; tho' thou make many prayers, he will not hear, Isa. 1.15 If a Man without Skill set about our Work, and ma [...] it in the doing, tho' he take much Pains, we give him but small thanks. God will be wor­shipped after the due Order, 1 Chron. 15.13. If a Servant do our Work, but quite contrary to our Or­der, he shall have rather stripes than praise. God's Work must be done according to God's mind, or he will not be pleased; and this cannot be, except it be done with a holy Heart, 2 Chron. 25.2.

IV. Without this, thy bo [...]s are in vain, Job 12.13. The Lord hath rejected thy Confidence, Jer. 2.37.

First, Thy hopes of Comfort here are in vain. 'Tis not only necessary to the Safety, but Comfort o [...] your Condition, that you be converted. Without this, you shall not know Peace, Isa. 59. Without the Fear of God, you cannot have the Comforts of the Holy Ghost, Acts 9.31. God speaks peace only to his People, and to his Saints, Psalm 35.8. If you have a false Peace, continuing in your Sins, 'tis not of God's speaking, and then you may guess the Au­thor. Sin is a real Sickness, Isai. 1.5. yea, the worst of Sickness; 'tis a Leprosy in the Head, Lev. 13.44. the Plague in the Heart, 1 Kings 8: 31. 'tis [Page] brokeness in the Bones, Psalm 51.8. it pierceth, it woundeth, it racketh, it tormenteth, 1 Tim. 1.10. A Man may as well expect Ease, when his Diseases are in their strength, or his Bones out of Joynt, as true Comfort, while in his Sins.

O wretched Man, that canst have no Ease in this Case but what comes from the Deadliness of the Di­sease! You shall have the poor sick Man, saying in his lightness, He is well, when you see Death i [...] his Face: He will needs up and about his Business, when the very next step is like to be into the Grave. The unsanctified often see nothing amiss; they think themselves whole, and cry not out for the Physician; but this shews the Danger of their Case.

Sin doth naturally breed Distempers, and Distur­bances in the Soul. What a continual tempest and commotion is there in a discontented Mind? What an eating evil is inordinate care? What is Passion, but a very Fever in the Mind? What is Lost, but a Fire in the Bones? What is Pride, but a deadly Tym­pany, or Covetousness but an unsatiable and unsuf­ferable Thirst? or Malice and Envy, but Venom in the very Heart? Spiritual Sloth is but a Scurvy in the Mind, and carnal Security a mortal Lethargy? and how can that Soul have true Comfort that is un­der so many Diseases? but converting Grace cures, and so eases the Mind, and prepares the Soul for a settled, standing, immortal Peace, Great Peace have they that love thy Commandments, and nothing shall offend them, Psal. 119.165. They are the Ways of Wis­dom, that afford Pleasure and Peace, Prov. 3.17. David had infinitely more pleasure in the Word, than in all the Delights of his Court, Psal. 119.103, 127: The Conscience cannot be truly pacified, till s [...]dly purified, Heb. 10.22. Cursed is that Peace, that is maintained in a Way of Sin, Deut. 29.19, 20. Two Sorts of Peace are more to be dreaded, than all the Troubles in the World; Peace with Sin, and Peace in Sin.

Secondly, Thy hopes of Salvation hereafter are in vain; yea, worse than in vain, they are most injurious [Page 52] to God, most pernicious to thy self: There is Death, Desperation, Blasphemy in the Bowels of this Hope. 1. There is Death in it. Thy Confidence shall be rooted out of thy Tabernacles (God will up with it root and branch) it shall bring thee to the King of Terrors, Job 18.14. Tho' thou mayest lean upon this House, it will not stand, Job 8.15. But will prove like a ruinous building, which when a Man trusts to, it falls down about his Ears. 2. There is Desperation in it. Where is the hope of the Hypocrite, when God takes away his soul? Job 27.8. Then there is an end for ever of his Hope. Indeed, the Hope of the Righteous hath an end; but then 'tis not a destructive, but a perfective end; his hope ends in fruition, others in frustration, Prov. 10. 28. The Godly must say at Death, It is finished; but the Wicked. It is perished; and in too sad earnest bemoan himself (as Job in a mistake) Where now is my hope? he hath destroyed me, I am gone, and my hope is removed like a tree, Job 19.10. The righteous hath hope in his Death, Prov. 14.32. When Nature is dying, his Hopes are living; when his Body is languishing, his Hopes are flourishing; his Hope is a living Hope, 1 Pet. 1.3. eis alpida Zodan; but others a dying, yea, a damning, Soul-undoing Hope. When a wicked Man dieth, his Expectation shall perish; and the Hope of unjust Men perisheth, Prov. 11.7. It shall be cut off, and prove like the Spider's Web, Job 8.14. which he spins out of his own Bowels; but then comes Death with the Broom, and takes down all, and so there is an eternal end of his Confidence, wherein he trusted: For the Eyes of the Wicked shall fail, and their Hopes shall be as the giving up of the Ghost, Job 11.20. Wicked Men are settled in the Carnal Hope, and will not be beaten out of it: They hold it fast, they will not let it go. Yea but Death will knock off their fingers: Tho' we cannot undeceive them, Death and Judg­ment will: When Death strikes his dart through thy Liver, it will let out thy Soul, and thy Hopes toge­ther. The unsanctified have Hope only in this Life, 1 Cor. 15.19. and therefore are, of all Men, most [Page 53] miserable: When Death comes, it lets them out into the amazing Gulf of endless Desperation. 3. There is Blasphemy in it. To hope we shall be saved, tho' continuing unconverted, is to hope we shall prove God a liar. He hath told you, that so merciful and pitiful as he is, he will never save you notwithstand­ing, if you go on in Ignorance, or a Course of Un­righteousness, Isa. 27.11. 1 Cor. 6.9. In a Word, he hath told you, that whatever you be, or do, nothing shall avail you to Salvation, without you be New Creatures, Gal. 6.15. Now, to say God is merciful, and we hope he will save us nevertheless, is to say, in effect, we hope God will not do as he saith. We may not set God's Attributes at variance: God is resolved to glorify Mercy, but not with the Preju­dice of Truth; as the presumptuous Sinner will find, to his everlasting Sorrow.

Object. Why but we hope in Jesus Christ, we put our whole Trust in God, and therefore doubt not but we shall be saved.

Ans. 1. This is not to hope in Christ, but against Christ. To hope to see the Kingdom of God without being born again; to hope to find eternal Life in the broad Way, is to hope Christ will prove a false Prophet. 'Tis David's Plea, I hope in thy Word, Ps. 119.81. but this hope is against the Word. Shew me a Word of Christ for thy hope, that he will save thee in thine Ignorance, or profane Neglects of his Service, and I will never go to shake thy Confidence.

2. God doth with abhorrence reject this hope. Those condemned in the Prophet, went on in their Sins, yet (saith the Text) they will lean upon the Lord, Micah 3.11. God will not endure to be made a prop to Men in their Sins: The Lord rejected those presumptuous Sinners, that went on still in their Trespasses, and yet would stay themselves upon the God of Israel, Isa. 48.1, 2. as a Man would shake off the Briars (as one said well) that cleaves to his Garment.

3. If thy Hope be any thing worth, it will purify thee from thy Sins, 1 John 3.3. but cursed is that hope, which doth cherish Men in their Sins.

[Page 54] Object. Would you have us to despair?

Answ. You must despair of ever coming to Hea­ven as you are, Acts 2.37. that is, while you remain unconverted You must despair ever to see the Face of God, without holiness; but you must by no means despair of finding Mercy, upon your thorough Repentance and Conversion; neither must you despair of attaining to Repentance and Conver­sion, in the Use of God's Means.

V. Without this, all that Christ hath done and suffer­ed will be (as to you) in vain, John 13.8. Tit. 2.14. That is, it will not avail to your Salvation. Many urge this as a sufficient ground for their Hopes, that Christ died for Sinners: But I must tell you, Christ never died to save impenitent and unconverted Sin­ners (so continuing) 2 Tim. 2.19. A great Divine was wont, in his private Dealings with Souls, to ask two Questions, 1. What hath Christ done for you? 2. What hath Christ wrought in you? Without the Application of the Spirit in Regeneration, we can have no saving Interest in the Benefits of Redemption. I tell you from the Lord, Christ himself cannot save you, if you go on in this estate.

I. It were against his Trust. The Mediator is the Servant of the Father, Isa. 42.1. shews his Commission from him, acts in his Name, and pleads his command for his Justification, John 10.18, 36. and 6.38, 40. And God hath committed all Things to him, en­trusted his own Glory, and the Salvation of the Elect with him, Mat. 11.27. Job. 17.2. Accordingly, Christ gives his Father an account of both parts of his trust, before he leaves the World, Joh. 17.4, 6, 12. Now Christ should quite cross his Father's Glory, his greatest Trust, if he should save Men in their Sins; for this were to overturn all his Councils; and to of­fer Violence to all his Attributes.

First, To overturn all his Counsels: Of which this is the Order, that Men should be brought through Sanctification to Salvation, 2 Thess. 2.13. He hath chosen them, that they should be holy, Eph, 1.4. They are elected to pardon and life throught Sancti­fication, [Page 55] 1 Pet. 1.2. If thou canst repeal the Law of God's immutable Counsel, or corrupt him whom the Father hath sealed, to go directly against his com­mission, then, and not otherwise, mayest thou get to Heaven in this Condition. To hope that Christ will save thee while unconverted, is to hope that Christ will falsify his Trust. He never did, not will save one Soul, but whom the Father hath given him in Election, and drawn to him in effectual Calling, John 6.34, 37. Be assured, Christ will save none in a Way contrary to his Father's Will, John 6.38.

2dly. To offer Violence to all his Attributes. 1. To his Justice: For the Righteousness of God's Judgment lies, in rendring to all according to their Works, Rom. 2.5, 6. Now, should Men sow to the Flesh, and yet of the Spirit reap everlasting Life, Gal. 6.7, 8. where were the Glory of Divine Justice, since it should be given to the Wicked according to the work of the Righteous? 2. To his Holiness: If God should not only save Sinners, but save them in their Sins, his most pure and strict Holiness would be ex­ceedingly defaced. The unsanctified is, in the Eyes of God's Holiness, worse than a swine or viper, Mat. 23.33. 2 Pet. 2.22. Now, what cleanly Nature could endure to have the filthy Swine bed and board with him in his Parlour or Bed-chamber? It would offer the extreamest Violence to the infinite Purity of the divine Nature, to have such to dwell with him. They cannot stand in his Judgment, they cannot abide in his Presence, Psalm 1.5. and 5.4, 5. If holy David would not endure such in his House, no nor in his sight, Psalm 101.3, 7. shall we think God will? Should he take Men as they be, from [...]he Trough, to the Table; from the Harlot's Lips, from the Sty and Draff, to the Glory of Heaven, the World would think God were at no such a distance from Sin, nor had such dislike of it, as we are told he hath: They would conclude, God were altogether such a one as themselves, (as they wickedly did, but from the very Forbearance of God, Psalm 50.21) 3. To his Vera­ [...]y: For God hath declared from Heaven, That if any [Page 56] shall say, he shall have Peace, tho' he should go on in the Imagination of his Heart: his Wrath shall smoke against that Man, Deut. 29.10, 20. That they (only) that con­fess and forsake their Sins, shall find Mercy, Prov. 28.13. That they that shall enter into his Hill, must be of clean Hands, and a pure Heart, Psalm 24.3, 4. Where were God's Truth, if notwithstanding all this, he should bring Men to Salvation without Conversion? O desperate Sinner, that darest to hope that Christ will put the Lye upon his Father, and nullify his Word, to save thee! 4. To his Wisdom▪ For this wer [...] to throw away the choicest Mercies on them [...] would not value them, nor were any way suited to them. First, They would not value them. The [...]n­sanctified Sinner puts but little Price upon GOD's great Salvation, Matth. 22.5. He sets no more by Christ, than the Whole by the Physician, Matth. 9. 12. He prizeth not his Balm, values not his Cure tramples upon his Blood, Heb. 20, 29. Now, would it stand with Wisdom, to force pardon and life upon them that would give him no thanks for them? Wil [...] the All-wise God (when he hath forbidden us to d [...] it) thr [...] his holy Things to Dogs, and his Pearls to Swine, that would (as it were) but turn again, and rend him? Matth. 7.6. This would ma [...] Mercy to be despised indeed Wisdom [...] Life be given in a way suitable to God's Honour and that God provide for the securing his own Glo­ry, as well as Man's Felicity. It would be dishonour able to God to set his Jewels on the snouts of Swine (continuing such) and to bestow his choicest Riche [...] on them that have more pleasure in their Swil [...], tha [...] the heavenly Delights that he doth offer. God should lose the praise and glory of his Grace, if he should cast it away on them that were not only unworth [...] but unwilling Secondly, They are no way suite to them. The Divine Wisdom is seen in suitin [...] things each to other, the Means to the End, th [...] Object to the Faculty, the Quality of the Gift to th [...] Capacity of the Receiver. Now, if Christ shoul [...] bring the [...] a [...]e Sinn [...] to Heaven, he c [...] [Page 57] take no more Felicity there than a Beast, if you should bring him into a beautiful Room, to the Society of learned Men, and a well-furnished Table; when as the poor thing had much rather be grazing with his Fellow brutes. Alas! what should an unsanctified Creature do in Heaven [...] He could take no Content there, because nothing suits him. The Place doth not suit him; he would be out piscis in arido, quite out of his Element, as a Swine in the Parlour or a Fish out of Water. The Company doth not suit him: What Communion hath Darkness with Light? Cor­ruption with Perfection? Filth and Rottenness with Glory and Immortality? The Employment do [...]h not sui [...] him: The Anthems of Heaven fit not his Mouth, suit not his Ear. Canst thou charm thy Beast with Musick? Or wilt thou bring him to thy Organ, and expect that he should mak [...] thee me­lody, or keep time with t [...] skilful Qui [...]e? Or, had [...]he Skill, he would ha [...] no Will▪ and so could find no Pleasure, no more than the nauseous Stomach in the M [...], on which it hath newly surfeited. Spread thy Table with delicates, before a languishing Pati­ent, and it will be but a very Offence. Alas! if the poor Man think a Sermon long, and say of a Sab­bath, What a W [...]iness is it? Mal. 1.13. how mi­serable would he think it to be held to it to all E­ternity? 5 To his Immutability, or else to his Om­ [...]isciency, or Omnipotency. For this is enacted in the [...]nclave of Heaven, and enrolled in the Decrees of [...]he Court above, that none but the Pure in Heart shall ever see God, Matth. 5.8. This is laid up with him, and sealed among his Treasures. Now, if Christ yet bring any to Heaven unconverted, either [...] must get them in without his Father's Know­ledge, and then where is his Omnisciency? Or against his Will, and then where were his Omni­potency? Or he must change his Will, and the [...]here were his Immutability?

[...]ner, wilt thou not yet give up thy vain Hop [...] [...]eing sav'd in this Condition? Saith Bildad, Shall [...]arth [...] forsaken for thee, or the Rocks mov'd out of [Page 58] their place? Job 18.4. May not I, much more, rea­son so with thee? Shall the Laws of Heaven be re­versed for thee? Shall the everlasting Foundations be overturned for thee? Shall Christ put out the Eye of his Father's Omnisciency, or shorten the Arm of his eternal Power for thee? Shall divine Justice be violated for thee, or the brightness of the Glory of his Holiness be blemished for thee? Oh the Impossibi­lity, Absu [...]ity, Blasphemy, that is in such a Con­fidence! To think Christ will ever save thee in this Condition, is to make thy Saviour to become a Sin­ner, and to do more wrong to the infinite Majesty, than all the Wicked on Earth, or Devils in Hell ever did, or could: And yet wilt thou not give up such a blasphemous Hope?

II. Against his Word: We need not say, Who shall ascend into Heaven, to bring down Christ from above? [...] who shall descend into the Deep, to bring up Christ from beneath? The Word is nigh us, Rom. 10.6, [...] Are you agreed that Christ shall end the Co [...] Hear then his own Words, Except you be [...] you shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Hea [...] Matth. 18.3. You must be born again, John 3.7. If I wash thee not, thou hast no Part in me, John 13.8. Repent, or perish, Luke 13.3. One Word, one would think, were enough from Christ; but how oft and earnestly doth he reiterate it? Verily, verily, verily, Except a Man be born again, he shall not see the King­dom of God, John 3.3, 5 Yea, he doth not only assert, but prove the Necessity of the New birth, viz. from the Fleshliness and Filthiness of Man's First birth, John 3.6. by Reason of which, Man is n [...] more fit for Heaven, than the Beast is for the Cham­ber of the King's Presence. And wilt thou yet be­lieve thine own presumptuous Confidence, directly against Christ's Words? He must go quite against the Law o [...] his Kingdom, and Rule of his Judgment to Save thee in this Estate.

III. Against his Oath. He hath lifted up his Hand to Heaven, h [...] hath sworn, that those that remain in Unbelief, and know not his Ways (that is, are [Page 59] ignorant of them, o [...] disobedient to them) shall not enter into his Rest, Psalm 95.11. Heb. 3.18. And wilt thou not yet believe, O Sinne [...] that he is in ear­nest? Canst thou hope he will be forsworn for thee? The Covenant of Grace is confirmed by an Oath, and sealed by Blood, Heb. 6.17. and 9. [...]6, 18.19. Matth. 20.28. but all must be made void, and another way to Heaven found out, if thou be saved, living and dying unsanctified. God is come in his lowest and last Terms with Man, and hath condescended as far as with honour he could, hath set up his Pillars with a me plus ultra. Man cannot be saved, while uncon­verted, except they could get another Covenant made, and the whole Frame of the Gospel (which was established forever, with such dreadful solem­nities) quite altered. And would not this be a distracted Hope?

IV. Against his Honour. God will so shew his love to the Sinner, as withal to shew his hatred to Sin. Therefore, he that names the name of Jesus must de­part from Iniquity, 2 Tim. 2.19. and deny all Un­godliness: And he that hath hope of Life by Christ, must purify himself, as he is pure, 1 John 3 3. Titus 2.12. otherwise Christ would be thought a favourer of Sin. The Lord Jesus would have all the World to know, tho' he pardon sin, he will not protect it. If holy David shall say, Depart from me all ye workers of Iniquity, Psalm 6.8. and shall shut the Doors a­gainst them, Psalm 101.7. shall not such much more expect it from Christ's Holiness? would it be for his Honour, to have the Dogs to the Table, or to lodge the Swine with his Children, or to have Abraham's Bosom to be a Nest of Vipers?

V. Against his Offices, God hath exalted him to be a Prince and a Saviour, Acts 5.31. He should act against both, should he save Men in their Sins? It is the Office of a King, ‘Parcere subjectis, & debellare superbos.’

To be a Terror to Evil doers, and a Praise to them that do well, Rom. 14.34. He is a Minister of God, a Re­venger to execute Wrath on him that doth Evil. Now, [Page 60] should Christ favour the ungodly, (so continuing) and take those to reign with him that would not that he should reign over them? Luke 19.27. this were quite against his Office; He therefore reigns, that he may put his Enemies under his Feet, 1 Cor. 15.24. Now, should he lay them in his Bosom, he should cross the end of his regal power. It belongs to Christ, as a King, to subdue Hearts, and stay the Lusts of his chosen, Psalm 45.5. and 110.3. What King would take the rebels, in open hostility, into his Court? What were this, but to betray life, king­dom, Government, and all together? It Christ be a King, he must have Homage, Honours, Subjection, &c. Mal. 1.6. Now, to save Men while in their natural enmity, were to obscure his Dignity, lose his Authority, bring a Contempt on his Government, and sell his dear bought Rights for nought.

Again, as Christ should not be a Prince, so nei­ther a Saviour, if he should do this; for his Salva­tion is spiritual: He is called Jesus, because he saves his People from their Sins, Matth. 1.21. so that should he save them in their Sins, he should be neither Lord nor Jesus. To save Men from the Punishment, and not from the Power of Sin, were to do his Work by halves, and be an imperfect Saviour. His Office, a [...] the Deliverer, is, to turn away Ungodliness from Jacob Rom 11.26. He is sent to bless Men, in turning [...]o [...] their Iniquities, Acts 3.26. to make an end of Sin, Dan 9.24 So that he should destroy his own Design [...] and nullify his Offices, to save Men abiding in thei [...] unconverted State.

Application. Arise then; what meanest thou, O Sleeper? Awake, O secure Sinner, lest thou be con­sumed in thine Iniquities Say, as the [...]epers, If w [...] sit here, we shall die, 2 Kings 7.3, 4. Verily, it is no [...] more certain that thou art now out of Hell, tha [...] that thou shalt speedily be in it, except thou repen [...] and be converted; there is but this one Door for the [...] to escape by: Arise then, O Sluggard, and shake o [...] thine Excuses; How long wilt thou slumber, an [...] fold thine Hands to Sleep, Prov. 6.10, 11. Wi [...] [Page 61] thou lie down in the midst of the Sea, or sleep on the top of the Mast? Prov. 23.34. There is no Re­medy; but thou must either turn or burn. There is an unchangeable Necessity of the Change of thy Con­dition, except thou art resolved to abide the worst of it, and try it out with the Almighty. If thou lovest thy Life, O Man, arise and come away. Methinks I see the Lord Jesus laying the merciful Hands of an holy Violence upon thee; Methinks he carries it like the Angels to Lot, Gen. 19.15. &c Then the Angels hastned Lot, saying, Arise, lest thou be con­sumed. And while he lingred, the Men laid held upon his H [...]d, the Lord being merciful unto him, and they brought him without the City, and said, Escape for thy Life, stay not in all the Plain, escape to the Mountain, lest thou be consumed.

Oh, how wilful will thy Destruction be, if thou shouldst yet harden thyself in thy sinful State! But none of you can say, but you have had fair Warn­ing. Yet methinks I cannot tell how to leave you so: It is not enough to me to have delivered my own Soul. What, shall I go away without my errand? Will none of you arise and follow me? Have I been all this while speaking to the Wind? Have I been charming the deaf Adder, or allaying the tumbling Ocean with Arguments? Do I speak to the Trees or Rocks, or to Men? To the tombs and monuments of the Dead, or to a living Auditory? If you be Men, and not senseless Stocks, stand still, and consider whither you are going: If you have the Reason and Understanding of Men, dare not to run into the Flames and fall into Hell with your Eyes open; but [...]ethink yourselves, and set to the Work of Repen­ [...]ance What, Men, and yet run into the Pit, when [...]he very Beasts will not be forced in! What, endued with Reason, and yet dally with Death and Hell, [...]nd the Vengeance of the Almighty! Are Men here­ [...] distinguished from the very Brutes, that they have [...]o Foresight of, and Care to provide for the Things [...] come; and will you not hasten your Escape from [...]rnal Torments? Oh, shew yourselves Men, an [...] [Page 62] let Reason prevail with you: Is it a reasonable thing for you to contend against the Lord, your Maker? Isa. 45.9 or to harden yourselves against his Word? Job 9.4. as tho' the Strength of Israel would lie? 1 Sam. 15.29. Is it reasonable, that an understanding Creature should lose, yea live quite against the very End of his Being, and be as a broken Pitcher, only fit for the Dunghill! Is it tolerable, that the only Thing in this World that God hath made capable of knowing his Will, and bringing him Glory, should yet live in Ignorance of his Maker, and be unser­viceable to his Use, yea, should be engaged against him, and spit his Venom in the Face of his Creator, Hear, O Heavens, and give Ear, O Earth, and let the Creatures without Sense be judge, if this be Reason, That Man when God hath nourished and brought him up, should rebel against him? Isa. 1.2. Judge in your ownselves: Is it a reasonable Undertaking, for Briars and Thorns to set themselves in Battle against the devouring Fire, Isa. 27.4. Or for the Potsheard of the Earth to strive with his Maker [...] If you will say, This is Reason; surely the Eye o [...] Reason is quite put out: And if this be not Reason then there is no Reason that you should continue a [...] you be, but 'tis all the Reason in the World, you should forthwith repent and turn.

What shall I say? I could spend my self in th [...] Argument. Oh, that you would but hearken to me that you would presently set upon a new Course▪ Will you not be made clean? When shall it o [...] be? What! Will No-body be persuaded? Reader shall I prevail with thee for one? Wilt thou [...] down and consider the forementioned Arguments and debate it, whether it be not best to turn? Com [...] and let us reason together: Is it good for thee to b [...] here? Wilt thou sit still, till the Tide come in upo [...] thee? Is it good for thee to try whether God [...] be so good as his Word; and not to harden thysel [...] in a Conceit that all is well with thee, while the [...] remainest unsanctified?

[...] I know you will not [...]e persuaded, but th [...] [Page 63] greatest Part will be as they have been, and do as they have done I know the Drunkard will to his Vomit again, and the Deceiver will to his Deceit again, and the lustful Wanton to his Dalliance again: Alas! that I must leave you where you were; in your Ignorance or Looseness, or in your lifeless For­mality and customary Devotions! However, I will sit down and bemoan my fruitless Labours, and spend some Sighs over my perishing Hearers.

O distracted Sinners! What will their End be? What will they do in the Day of Visitation? Whither will they flee for Help? Where will they leave their Glory? Is. 10 3 How powerfully hath Sin bewitch'd them? How effectually hath the god of this World blinded them? How strong is their Delusion? How uncir­cumcised their Ears? How obdurate their Hearts? Satan hath them at his Beck. But how long may I call, and can get no Answer? I may dispute with them Year after Year, and they will give me the hear­ing, and that is all. They must and will have their Sins, say what I will: Tho' I tell them there is Death in the Cup, yet they will take it up; Tho' I tell them 'tis the Broad-way, and endeth in Destruc­tion, yet they will go on in it: I warn them, yet cannot win them. Sometimes I think, the Mercies of God will melt them, and his winning Invitations will overcome them, but I find them as they were. Sometimes, that the Terror of the Lord will per­suade them; yet neither will this do it. They will approve the Word, like the Sermon, commend the Preacher; but they will yet live as they did They will not deny me, yet they will not obey me. They will flock to the Word of God, and sit before me as his People, and hear my Words; but they will not do them. They value, and will plead for Ministers, and I am to them as the lovely Song of one that hath [...] pleasant Voice; yet I cannot get them to come under Christ's Yoke. They love me, and will be ready to say, they will do any thing for me; but for my Life, I cannot persuade them to leave their Sins, to fore-go their evil Company, their Intemperance, [Page 64] their unjust Gain, &c. I cannot prevail with them to set up Prayer in their Families and C [...]osets, yet they will promise me, like the forward Son, that said, I go, Sir, but went not, Matth 21. [...]0. I cannot persuade them to learn the Principles of Religion, tho' else they will die without Knowledge. Job 36.12. I tell them their Misery, but they will not be­lieve but 'tis well enough: If I tell them particu­larly, I fear for such Reasons their state is bad, they will judge me censorious, or if they be at present a little awakened, are quickly lull'd asleep by Satan again, and have lost the Sense of all.

Alas for my poor Hearers! must they perish at last by Hundreds, when Ministers would so fain save them? What Course shall I use with them, that I have not tried? What shall I do for the Daughter of my People? Jer. 9.7. O Lord God, help. Alas! shall I leave them thus? If they will not hear me, yet do thou hear me: Oh that they might yet live in thy Sight! O Lord, save them, or else they perish. My Heart would melt to see their Houses on Fire about their Ears, when they were fast asleep in their Beds, and shall not my Soul be moved within me, to see them falling into endless Perdition! Lord, have Compassion, and save them out of the Burning: Put forth thy divine Power, and the Work will be done: But as for me, I cannot prevail.

Chap. IV. Shewing the Marks of the Unconverted.

WHile we keep aloof in generals, there is little fruit to be expected: It is the Hand fight that does execution. David is not awaken'd by the Pro­phet's hovering at a Distance, in parabolical Insinu­ations: He is forced to close with him, and tell him Home, Thou art the Man. Few will, in Words, deny the Necessity of the New-birth; but they have a Self-deluding Confidence, that the work is not now to do: And because they know themselves free from that gross Hypocrisy, that doth take up Religion merely for a colour to deceive others, and for the Covering of wicked Designs, they are confident of their [Page 65] Sincerity, and suspect not that more close Hypocrisy (where the greatest Danger lies) by which a Man de­ceiveth his own Soul, Ja. 1.26. But Man's deceitful Heart is such a matchless Cheat; and Self-delusion so reigning and so fatal a Disease, that I know not whether be the greater, the difficulty, or displicency or the necessity of the undeceiving Work that I am now upon. Alas, for my unconverted Hearers, they must be undeceived, or undone. But how shall this be effected? Hic labor, hoc opus est.

Help, O All searching Light! and let thy discerning Eye discover the rotten Foundation of the Self deceiver; and lead me, O Lord God, as thou didst the Prophet, into the Chambers of Imagery, and dig through the Wall of Sinners Hearts, and discover the hidden Abominations that are lurking out of sight, in the dark. Oh send thine Angel before me, to open the sundry Wards of their Hearts, as thou didst before Peter, and make even the Iron gates to fly open of their own Accord. And as Jonathan no sooner tasted the Honey, but his Eyes were enlightened; so grant, O Lord, that when the poor deceived Souls with whom I have to do, shall cast their Eyes upon these Lines, their Minds may be illuminated, and their Consciences convinced and awakened, that they may see with their Eyes, and hear with their Ears, and be converted, that thou mayest heal them.

This must be premised, before we proceed to the Discovery, That it is most certain Men may have a confident Perswasion, that their Hearts and States be good, and yet be unsound. Hear the Truth him­self, who shews in Laodicea's Case, that Men may be wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, and yet not know it; yea, they may be confident they are rich, and increased in Grace▪ Rev. 3.17. There is a Generation that is pure in their own Eyes, and yet is not washed from their own Filthiness, Prov. 30.12. Who better perswaded of his Case than Paul, while yet he remained unconverted? Rom. 7.9. So that they are miserably deceived, that take a strong Confidence, for a sufficient Evidence. They [Page 66] that have no better Proof, than barely a strong Per­swasion, that they are converted, are certainly as yet Strangers to Conversion.

But to come more close; as it was said of the Adherents of Antichrist, so here; some of the Un­converted carry their Mark in the Foreheads more openly; and some in their Hands more covertly. The Apostle reckons up some, upon whom he writes the Sentence of Death, as in these dreadful Cata­logues, which I beseech you to attend with all Dili­gence, Eph. 5.5, 6. For this you know, that no Whore-monger, nor unclean Person, nor covetous Man, who is an Idolater, hath any Inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ, and of God: Let no Man deceive you with vain Words; for because of these Things cometh the Wrath of God upon the Children of Disobedience, Rev. 21.8. But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abo­minable, and Murderers, and Whore-mongers, and Sorcerers, and Idolaters, and all Lyars, shall have their Part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone, which is the Second Death. 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Know ye not, that the Unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither Fornica­tors, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, nor Abusers of themselves with Mankind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God, See Gal. 5.19, 20, 21. Wo to them that have their Names written in these Bead-rolls: Such may know as certainly as if God had told it them from Heaven, that they are unsanctified, and under an Impossibility of being saved in this Condition.

There are then these several Sorts, that, past all dispute, are unconverted; they carry their Marks in their Foreheads.

1. The Unclean. These are ever reckoned among the Goats, and have their Names, whoever be left out, in all the fore mentioned Catalogues, Eph. 5.5. Rev. 21.8. 1 Cor. 5.9, 10.

2. The Covetous. These are ever branded for Idola­ters, and the Doors of the Kingdom are shut against [Page 67] them by Name, Eph. 5.5. Col. 3 5. 1 Cor. 6.9, 10.

3. Drunkards. Not only such as drink away their Reason, but withall, yea, above all, such as are too strong for strong drink: The Lord fills his Mouth with Woes against these, and declares them to have no Inheritance in the Kingdom of God, Isa. 5.11, 12, 22. Gal. 5.21.

4. Lyars. The God that cannot lie hath told them, that there is no place for them in his Kingdom, no entrance into his Hill; but their Portion is with the Father of Lies (whose Children they are) in the Lake of Burnings, Psalm 15.1, 2. Rev. 21.8, 27. James 8.44. Prov. 6.17.

5. Swearers. The End of these, without deep and speedy Repentance, is s [...]ift Destruction, and most certain and unavoidable Condemnation, James 5.12. Zech. 5.1, 2, 3.

6. Railers and Backbiters: That love to take up a Reproach against their Neighbour, and fling all the Dirt they can in his Face, or else wound him secretly behind his Back, Psalm 15.1, 3. 1 Cor. 6.10. and 5.11.

7. Thieves: Extortioners, Oppressors, that grind the Poor, over-reach their Brethren when they have them at an Advantage: These must know that God is the Avenger of all such, 1 Thess. 4.6. Hear, O ye false, and purloining and wasteful Servants! Hear, O ye deceitful Tradesmen! hear your Sentence: God will certainly hold his Door against you, and turn your treasures of Unrighteousness into the treasures of Wrath, and make your ill-gotten Silver and Gold to torment you, like burning Metal in your Bowels, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. James 5.2, 3.

8. All that do ordinarily live in the profane Neglect of God's Worship, that hear not his Word, that call not on his Name, that restrain Prayer before God, that mind not their own, nor their Families Souls, but live without God in the World, John 8.47. and 15: 4. Psalm 14.4. and 79.6. Eph. 2.12. and 4.18.

9. These that are frequent [...]rs and lovers of evil Com­pany; God hath declared he will be the Destruction [Page 68] of all such, and that they shall never enter in the Hill of his Rest, Prov. 13.20. Psal. 15.4. Prov. 9.6.

10. Scoffers at Religion, that make a Scorn at pre­cise Walking, and mock at the Messengers and dili­gent Servants of the Lord, and at their holy Profes­sion, and make themselves mercy with the Weakness and Failings of Professors: Hear, ye Despisers, hear your dreadful Doom, Prov. 19.29. 2 Chron. 36.16. Prov. 3.24.

Sinner, consider diligently whether thou art not to be found in one of these Ranks! for if this be thy Case, thou art in the Gall of Bitterness, and Bond of Iniquity; for all these do carry their Marks in their Foreheads, and are undoubtedly the Sons of Death;

And if so, the Lord pity our poor Congregations. Oh, how little a Number would be left, when these ten Sorts are left out? Alas, on how many Doors, on how many Faces must we write, Lord, have Mercy upon us! Sirs, what shift do you make to keep up your Confidence of your good Estate, when God from Heaven declares against you, and pronounces you in a State of Damnation? I would reason with you, as God with them; how canst thou say, I am not pollu­ted? Jer. 2.23: See thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done. Man, is not thy Conscience privy to thy tricks of Deceit, to thy Chamber-pranks, to thy Way of lying? Yea, are not thy Friends, thy Family, thy Neighbours, Witnesses to thy prophane Neglects of God's Worship, to thy covetous Practices, to thy envious and malicious Carriage! May not they point at thee, as thou goest, There goes a gaming Prodi­gal; There goes a drunken Nabal, a Companion of Evil-doers; There goes a Railer or a Scoffer, a loose Liver, Beloved, God hath written it, as with a Sun­beam, in the Book out of which you must be judged, that these are not the Spots of his Children, and that none such (except renewed by converting Grace) shall ever escape the Damnation of Hell.

Oh that such of you would now be persuaded to repent and turn from all your Transgressions; or else Iniquity will be your Ruin! Ezek. 18.30. Alas, for [Page 69] poor hardned Sinners! Must I leave you at last where you were? Must I leave the Tipler still at the Ale­bench? Must I leave the wanton still at Dalliance? Must I leave the malicious still in his Venom? And the Drunkard still at his Vomit? However you must know that you have been warned, and that I am clear of your Blood. And whether Men will hear, or whe­ther they will forbear, I will leave these Scriptures with them, either as Thunder-bolts to awaken them, or as searing Irons to harden them to a reprobate Sense, Psal. 68.21. ‘God shall wound the Head of his Enemies, and the hairy Scalp of such an one as goeth on still in their Trespasses, Prov. 29.1. He that, being often reproved, hardneth his Neck shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without Remedy, Prov. 1.24, &c. Because I have called, and ye refu­sed: I have stretched out my Hand and no Man re­garded, &c. I will mock at your Calamity,’— when your Destruction cometh as a Whirlwind.

And now I imagine, many will begin to bless themselves, and think all is well, because they can­not be spotted with the grosser Evils above-mention­ed. But I must further tell you, that there are ano­ther Sort of unsanctified Persons, that carry not their Marks in their Fore-heads, but more secretly and covertly in their Hands: These do frequently de­ceive themselves and others, and pass for good Chris­tians, when they are all the while unsound at Bot­tom. Many pass undiscovered▪ till Death and Judg­ment bring all to light. These Self-deceivers seem to come even to Heaven's Gate with Confidence of their Admission, and yet are turned off at last, Mat 7.22. Brethren, beloved, I beseech you deeply to lay to heart, and firmly to retain this awakning Consi­deration; That Multitudes miscarry by the Hand of some secret Sin, that is not only hidden from others, but (for want of observing their own Hearts) even from themselves. A Man may be free from open Polluti­ons, and yet die at last by the fatal Hand of some un­observed Iniquity: And there be these twelve hidden Sins, by which Souls go down by Numbers into the [Page 70] Chambers of Death. These you must search carefully for, and take them as black Marks (wherever they be found) discovering a graceless and unconverted Estate: And as you love your Lives, read carefully, with a holy Jealousy of yourselves, lest you should be the Persons concerned.

1. Gross Ignorance. Ah, how many poor Souls doth this Sin kill in the dark, Hos. 4.6. while they think verily they have good Hearts, and are in the ready Way to Heaven! This is the Murderer that dispatch­eth thousands in a silent Manner, when (poor Hearts) they suspect nothing, and see not the Hand that mis­chiefs them. You shall find whatever Excuses you have for Ignorance, that it is a Soul-undoing Evil, Isa. 27.21. 2 Thess 1. S. 2. Cor. 4.3. Ah! would it not have pitied a Man's Heart to have seen that woful Spectacle, when the poor Protestants were shut up, a Multitude together, in a Barn, and a Butcher comes, with his inhuman Hands warm in human Blood, and leads them, one by one, blind-fold to a Block, where he slew them (poor Innocents!) one after an­other, by Scores, in cold Blood? But how much more should our Hearts bleed, to think of the hun­dreds in great Congregations, that Ignorance doth bu [...]cher in secret, and lead them blindfold to the Block? Beware this be none of your Case; Make no Pleas for Ignorance. If you spare that Sin, know that that will not spare you. Will a Man keep a Murderer in his Bosom?

2. Some Reserves in closing with Christ. To forsake all for Christ; to hate Father and Mother, yea, and a Man's own Life for him; this is a hard saying, Luke 14.26. Some will do much, but they will not be of the Religion that will undo them; they never come to be intirely devoted to Christ, not ful­ly to resign to him; they must have the sweet Sin, they mean to do themselves no harm; they have se­cret Exceptions for Life, Liberty, or Estate: Many take Christ thus hand over head, and never consider his self-denying Terms, nor cast up the Cost; and this Error in the Foundation marrs all, and sweetly [Page 71] ruins them forever, Luke 14.28. Matth. 13.21.

3. Formality in Religion. Many stick in the Bark, and rest in the outside of Religion, and in the exter­nal Performances of holy Duties, Matth. 23.35. And this oft-times doth most effectually deceive Men; and doth more certainly undo them, than open loose­ness; as it was in the Pharisee's Case, Matth. 23.21. They hear, they fast, they pray, they give Alms; and therefore will not believe but their Case is good, Luke. 18.11. Whereas resting in the Works done, and coming short of the Heart-work, and the inward Power and Vitals of Religion, they fall at last into the Burning, from the flattering Hopes and confident Persuasions of their being in the ready Way to Hea­ven, Matth. 7.22.23. O dreadful Case, when a Man's Religion shall serve only to harden him, and effectually to delude and deceive his own Soul.

4. The Prevalency of false Ends in holy Duties, Mat. 23.25. This was the Bane of the Pharisees. Oh, how many a poor Soul is undone by this, and drops into Hell, before he discerns the Mistake! He per­forms good Duties, and so thinks all is well, and perceives not that he is actuated by carnal Motives all the while: It is too true, that even with the truly sanctified, many carnal Ends will often-times creep in; but they are Matter of his hatred and hu­miliation, and never come to be habitually prevail­ing with him, and to bear the greatest Sway, Rom. 14.7. But now, when the main Thing that doth ordinarily carry a Man out to religious Duties, shall be some carnal End, as to satisfy his Conscience, [...] get the Repute of being religious, to be seen of Men, to shew his own Gifts and Parts, to avoid the Re­proach of a prophane and irreligious Person, or the like; this discovers an unsound Heart, Hos. 19.1: Zach. 7.5, 6. O Christians, if you would avoid Self-conceit, see that you mind, not only your Acts, but withall, yea, above all, your Ends.

5. Trusting in their own Righteousness, Luke 18.9. This is a Soul-undoing Mischief, Rom. 10.3. When Men do trust in their own Righteousness, they do [Page 72] indeed reject Christ. Beloved, you had need b [...] watchful on every Hand; for not only your Sins, but your Duties may undo you: It may be you ne­ver thought of this, but so it is, that a Man may a [...] certainly miscarry by his seeming Righteousness, and supposed Graces, as by gross Sins; and that is, when a Man doth trust to these as his Righteousness before God, for the satisfying his Justice, appeasing his Wrath, procuring his Favour, and obtaining of his own Pardon; for this is to put Christ out of Office, and make a Saviour of our own Duties and Graces. Beware of this, O Professors! you are much in Du­ties, but this one Fly will spoil all the Ointment. When you have done most, and best, be sure to go out of yourselves to Christ, reckon your own Righteousness as filthy Rags, Psalm 143.2. Philip. 3.8. Isaiah 64 6. Nah. 13.22.

6. A secret Enmity against the Strictness of Religion. Many moral Persons, punctual in their formal Devo­tion, have yet a bitter Enmity against Preciseness, and hate the Life and Power of Religion, Philip. 3.6. compared with Acts 9.1. They like not this For­wardness, nor that Men should keep such a Stir in Religion: They condemn the Strictness of Religion, as Singularity, Indiscretion, and intemperate Zeal: And with them, a lively Preacher, or lively Christi­an, is but a Heady-fellow. These Men love not Ho­liness, as Holiness (for then they would love the Height of Holiness,) and therefore are undoubtedly rotten at Heart, whatever good Opinion they have of themselves.

7. The Resting in a certain Pitch of Religion. When they have so much as will save them (as they suppose) they look no further, and so shew themselves short of true Grace, which will ever put Men upon aspi­ring to further Perfection, Philip., 3.13. Prov. 4 18.

8. The predominant Love of the World. This is th [...] sure Evidence of an unsanctified Heart, Mark 10.31 1 John 2.15.

But how close doth this Sin lurk oft-times under fair Covert of forward Profession? Luk. 18.14 Yea [Page 73] such a Power of Deceit is there in this Sin, that many times, when every Body else can see the Man's Worldliness, and Covetousness, he cannot see it him­self; but hath so many Colours, and Excuses, and Pretences for his Eagerness on the World, that he doth blind his own Eyes, and perish in his Self-Deceit. How many Professors be here, with whom the World hath more of their Hearts and Affections than Christ▪ Who mind earthly things, and thereby are evident­ly after the Flesh, and like to end in Destruction? Rom. 8 5. Philip. 3, 19. Yet ask these Men, and they will tell you confidently, they prize Christ a­bove all, God forbid else! And see not their own Earthly-mindedness, for Want of a narrow Observa­tion of the Workings of their own Hearts. Did they but carefully search, they would quickly find, that their greatest Content is in the World, Luke 12.19. and their greatest Care, and main Endeavour to get and secure the World; which are the certain Disco­very of an unconverted Sinner. May the professing Part of the World take earnest heed, that they perish not by the Hand of this Sin unobserved. Men may be, and often are kept off from Christ, as effectually, by the inordinate Love of lawful Comforts, as by the most unlawful Courses, Matth. 22.5. Luke 14: 18, 19, 20, 24.

9 Reigning Malice and Envy against those that disre­spect them, or are injurious them, 1 John 2.9, 11. Oh, how do many that seem to be religious remember In­juries, and carry Grudges, and will return Men as good as they bring, rendring Evil for Evil, loving to take Revenge, wishing Evil to them that wrong them, directly against the Rule of the Gospel, the Pattern of Christ, and the Nature of God, Rom. 12.14, 17. 1 Pet. [...] 21, 23. Neh. 9.17. Doubtless, where this Evil is kept boiling in the Heart, and is not hated, resisted, mortified, but doth habitually prevail, that Person is in the very Gall of Bitterness, and in a State of Death, Matth. 18.34.35. 1. John 3.14.15.

Reader, doth nothing of this touch thee? Art thou in none of the fore-mentioned Ranks? Oh, [Page 74] search and search again; take thy Heart solemnly to task. Wo unto thee, if after all thy Profession, thou shouldest be found under the Power of Ignorance, lost in Formality, drowned in Earthly Mindedness, envenomed with Malice, exalted in an Opinion of thine own Righteousness, leavened with Hypocrisy, and carnal Ends in God's Service, imbittered against [...]ness; this would be a sad Discovery, that all thy Religon were in vain. But I must proceed,

10. Unmortified Pride. When Men love the Praise of Men, more than the Praise of God; and set their Hearts upon Men's Esteem, Applause and Approba­tion, it is most certain they are yet in their Sins, and Strangers to true Conversion, John 12.43. Gal. 1.10. When Men see not, nor complain, nor groan under the Pride of their own Hearts, it is a Sign they are stark dead in Sin: Oh how secretly doth this Sin live and reign in many Hearts, and they know it not, but are very Strangers to themselves, John 9.40.

11. The prevailing Love of Pleasure. 2 Tim. 3.4. This is a black Mark: When Men give the Flesh the Li­berty that it craves, and pamper and please it, and do not deny and restrain it; when their great Delight is in gratifying their Bellies, and pleasing their Senses▪ Whatever Appearance they may have of Religion, all is unsound, Rom. 16.18. Titus 3.3. A Flesh-pleasing Life cannot be pleasing to God; They that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh, and are careful to cross it, and keep it under, as their Enemy, Gal. 5 24. 1 Cor. 9.25, 26, 27.

12. Carnal Security, or a presumptuous and ungrounded Confidence that their Condition is already good, Rev. 3.17. Many cry Peace and Safety, when sudden Destructi­on is coming upon them, 1 Thess. 5.3. This was that which kept the foolish Virgins sleeping, when they should have been working; upon their Beds, when they should have been at the Markets, Matth. 25.5.19. Prov. 20.5 They perceived not their Want of Oyl, till the Bridegroom was come; and while they went to buy, the Door was shut. And Oh that these foolish Virgins had no Successors! Where is the [Page 75] Place, yea, where is the House almost, where these do not dwell? Men are willing to cherish in them­selves, upon ever so slight Grounds, a Hope that their Condition, is good and so look not out after a Change, and by this means perish in their Sins. Are you at peace! Shew me upon what Grounds your Peace is maintained: Is it a Scripture-peace? Can you shew the distinguishing Marks of a sound B [...] ­liever? Can you evidence that you have something more than any Hypocrite in the World ever had? If not, fear this Peace more than any Trouble; and know, that a carnal Peace doth commonly prove the most mortal Enemy of the poor Soul, and while it smiles and kisses, and speaks it fair, doth fatally smite it (as it were) under the fifth Rib.

By this time methinks I hear my Reader crying out with the Disciples, Who then shall be saved? Set out from among our Congregations all those ten Ranks of the Prophane on the one hand, and then be­sides, take out all these twelve Sorts of close and self deceiving Hypocrites on the other hand, and tell me then, whether it be not a Remnant that shall be saved! How few will be the Sheep that shall be left, when all these shall be separated, and set among the Goats? For my part, of all my numerous Hearers, I have no hope to see any of them in Heaven, that are to be found among these two and twenty Sorts that are here mentioned, except by sound Conversion they be brought into another Condition.

Application: And now, Conscience, do thine Office. Speak out, and speak home to him that heareth, or readeth these Lines: If thou find any of these Marks upon him, thou must pronounce him utterly unclean, Levit. 13.44. Take not up a Lie into thy Mouth: speak not Peace to him to whom GOD speaks no Peace: Let no Lust bribe thee, or Self-Love or carnal Prejudice blind thee: I subpoena thee from the Court of Heaven, to come and give in Evidence: [...] require thee, in the Name of God, to go with me [...]o the Search of the suspected House: As thou wilt [...]nswer it at thy Peril, give in a true Report of the [Page 76] State and Case of him that readeth this Book. Conscience, wilt thou altogether hold thy Peace at such a Time as this? I adjure thee by the living G [...], that thou tell us the Truth, Matth. 26.63. as the Man converted, or is he not? Doth he allow himself in any Way of Sin, or doth he not? Doth he truly love, and please, and prize, and delight in God above all other Things, or not? Come, put it to an Issue.

How long shall this Soul live at Uncertainties! O Conscience, bring in thy Verdict. Is this Man a new Man, or is he not? How dost thou find it? Hath there passed a thorow and mighty Change upon him, or not? When was the Time, where was the Place, or what was the means by which this thorow Change of the New birth was wrought in his Soul? Speak, Conscience: O [...] if thou canst not tell Time and Place, canst thou shew Scripture-evidence, that the Work is done! Hath the Man been ever taken off from his false Bottom, from the false Hopes, and false Peace, wherein once he trusted? Hath he been deeply con­vinced of Sin, and of his lost and undone Condition, and brought out of himself, and off from his Sins, to give up himself entirely to Jesus Christ? Or do'st thou not find him to this Day under the Power of Ig­norance, or in the mire of prophaneness? Hast thou not taken upon him the Gains of Unrighteousness [...] Dost thou not find him a Stranger to Prayer, a Neg­lecter of the Word, a Lover of this present World Dost not thou often catch him in a Lie? Dost no thou find his Heart fermented with Malice, or bu [...]n­ing with Lust, or going after his Covetousness Speak plainly to all the fore-mentioned Particulars Canst thou acquit this Man, this Woman, from bein [...] any of the two and twenty Sorts here described? he be found with any of them, set him aside, I Portion is not with the Saints: He must be conveed, and made a New-Creature; or else he cau [...] enter into the Kingdom of God.

Beloved, be not your own Betrayers, do not [...] ceive your own Hearts, nor set your Hands to y [...] [Page 77] own Ruin, by a wilful binding of your selves. Set up a Tribunal in your own Breasts: Bring the Word and Conscience together [...] To the Law, and to the Testimony, Isai. 8.20. Hear what the Word con­cludes of your Estates. Oh, follow the search, till you have found how the Case stands: Mistake here, and perish. And such is the Treachery of the H [...], the Subtilty of the Tempter, and the Deceitfulnes [...] Sin, Jer. 17.9. 2 Cor. 11.3. Heb. 3.13. all con­spire to flatter and deceive the poor Soul; and with­all, so common and easy it is to be mistaken, [...]hat 'tis a Thousand to One but you will be deceived, unless you be very careful, and thorow, and impar­tial in the Enquiry into your spiritual Conditions, Oh, therefore ply your Work, go to the Bottom, search as with Candles, weigh you in the Balance, come to the Standard of the Sanctuary, bring your Coin to the Touch stone. You have the archest Cheats in the World to deal with, a World of Coun­terfeit Coin is going, happy is he that takes not Counters for Gold. Satan is Master of Deceits; he can draw to the Life, he is perfect in the Trade, there is nothing but he can imitate: You cannot wish for any Grace, but he can fit you to a Hair with a Counterfeit. Trade warily, look on every Piece you take, be jealous, trust not so much as your own Hearts. Run to God to search you, and try you; to examine you, and prove your Reins, Psalm 26.2. and 139.23, 24. If other Helps suffice not to bring all to an Issue, but you are still at a Loss, open your Cases faithfully to some godly and faithful Minister, Malachi 2.7. Rest not, till you have put the Business of your eternal Welfare out of question, 1 Peter 2.10. O Searcher of Hearts, put Thou this Soul upon, and help him in the Search.

Chap. V. Shewing the Miseries of the Unconverted

SO unspeakably dreadful is the Case of every Un­converted Soul, that I have sometimes thought, if we could, but convince Men that they [...]e yet [Page 78] unregenerate, the Work were upon the Matter done. But I sadly experience, that such a Spirit of sloth and slumber ( Rom. 11.8. Matth. 13.15.) possesseth the unsanctified, that tho' they be convinced that they are yet unconverted, yet they oft-times carelesly sit still; and what through the Avocation of sensual Pleasures, or Hurry of Wordly Business, or Noise and Clamour of Earthly Cares, and Lusts, and Affec­tions, Luke 8.14. the Voice of Conscience is drown­ed, and Men go no farther than some cold Wishes, and general Purposes of repenting and amending, Acts 24.25.

It is therefore of high Necessity, that I do not only convince Men that they are unconverted, but that I also endeavour to bring them to a Sense of the fearful Misery of this Estate.

But here I find my self a-ground at first putting forth. What Tongue can tell the Heirs of Hell sufficiently of their Misery, unless 'twere Dives's in that Flame? Luke 16.24. Where is the ready Writer whose Pen can decipher their Misery, that are with­out God in the World? Eph. 2.12. This cannot fully be done, unless we knew the infinite Ocean of that Bliss and Perfection which is in that God, which a State of Sin doth exclude Men from: Who knoweth (saith Moses) the Power of thine Anger? Psalm 90.11. And how shall I tell Men that which I do not know? Yet so much we know, as one would think, would shake the Heart of that Man that had the least Degree of spiritual Life and Sense.

But this is yet the more posing Difficulty, that I am to speak to them that are without Sense. Alas, this is not the least Part of Man's Misery upon him, that he is dead, stark dead in Trespasses and Sins, Eph. 2.1.

Could I bring Paradise into View, or represent the Kingdom of Heaven to as much Advantage as the Tempter did the Kingdoms of the World, and all the Glory thereof to our Saviour; or could I uncover the face of the Deep, and devouring Gulph of Tophet, in all its Terrors, and open the Gates of the Infernal [Page 79] Furnace; alas, he hath no Eyes to see it, Matth. 1 [...] 14, 15. Could I paint out the Beauties of Holiness or Glory of the Gospel to the life; or could I bring above board the more than diabolical Deformity and Ugliness of Sin, be can no more judge of the Loveli­ness and Beauty of the one, nor the Filthiness and Hatefulness of the other, than the blind Man of Co­lours. He is alienated from the Life of God, thro [...] the Ignorance that is in him, because of the Blind [...]s of his Heart, Eph. 4.18. He neither doth, not can know the Things of God, because they are spiritual­ly discerned, 1 Cor. 2.14. His Eyes cannot be sav­ingly opened but by converting Grace, Acts 26.16. He is a Child of Darkness, and walks in Darkness, 1 John 1.6. Yea, the Light in him is Darkness, Matth. 6.2, 3.

Shall I ring his Knell, or read his Sentence, or sound in his Ear the terrible Trump of God's Judg­ments, that one would think should make both his Ears [...]tingle, and strike him into Be [...]azzar's Fit; even to appa [...]e his Countenance, and loose his Joints, and make his Knees smite one against another? Yet alas! he perceives me not, he hath no Ears to hear. Or shall I call up all the Daughters of Musick, and sing the Song of Moses, and of the Lamb? Yet he will not be stirred. Shall I allure him with the joyful Sound, and the louely Song, and glad Tidings of the Gospel? With the most sweet and inviting Calls, Comforts, Cordials of the Divine Promises, so exceeding great and precious? It will not affect him savingly, unless I could find him Ears, Matth. 13.15. as well as tell him the News.

Shall I set before him the Feast of fa [...] Things, the Wine of Wisdom, the Bread of God, the Tree of Life, the hidden Ma [...]a: He hath no Appetite for them, no mind to them, 1 Cor. 2.14. Matth. 22.5. Should I press the choicest Grapes, the heavenly Clusters of Gospel-Privileges, and drink to him in the richest Wine of God's own Cellar, yes, of his own side; or set before [...] the delicious Honey-comb of God's Testimonies, Psalm 19.10. alas, he hath no Taste to [Page 80] discern them. [...]hall I invite the Dead to arise, and eat the Banquet of their Funerals? No more can the Dead in Sin savour the Holy Food wherewith the Lord of Life hath spread his Table.

What then shall I do? Shall I burn the Brimstone of Hell at his Nostrils? Or shall I open the Box o [...] Spikenard, very precious, that filleth the whole House of this Universe with its Perfume, Mark 14 3. John 12.8. and hope that the Savour of Christ' [...] Ointments, and the Smell of his Garments, wil [...] attract him? Psalm 45.8. Alas! dead Sinners are lik [...] the dumb Idols, they have Mouths, but they spea [...] not; Eyes have they, but they see not, they hav [...] Ears, but they hear not; Noses have they, but the [...] smell not; they have Hands, but they handle not▪ Feet have they, but they walk not; neither spea [...] they through their Throat, Psalm 115.5, 6, 7. They are destitute of all Spiritual Sense and Motion.

But let me try the Sense that doth last leave us, an draw the Sword of the Word. Yet lay at him whi [...] I will, yea, tho' I chuse mine Arrows out of God Quiver, and direct them to the Heart, neverthel [...] he feeleth it not; for how should he, being pa [...] feeling? Eph 4.19. So that tho' the Wrath of Go [...] abideth on him, and the mountainous Weight of [...] many thousand Sins, yet he goes up and down [...] light as if nothing ailed him, Rom. 7.9. In a Wo [...] he carries a dead Soul in a living Body, and his Fle [...] is but the walking Coffin of a corrupted Mind, th [...] is twice dead, Jude 12. rooting in the Slime and P [...] trefaction of noisome Lusts, Matth. 23.27, 28.

Which Way then shall I come at the miseral [...] Object that I have to deal with? Who shall make [...] Heart of Stone to relent, Zech. 11.12. or the life! Carcase to feel and move? That God that is able Stones to raise up Children unto Abraham, Matth [...] 9. that raiseth the Dead, 2 Cor. 1.9. and melteth [...] Mountains, Neh. 1.5. and strikes Water out of [...] Flints, Deut. 8.15. that loves to work like hims [...] beyond the Hopes and Belief of Man; that peopl [...] his Church with dry Bones, and planted his Orch [...] [Page 81] with dry Sticks; he is able to do this. Therefore I bow my Knee to the most high God, Eph. 3.14. and as our Saviour prayed at the Sepulchre of Lazarus, John 11.38, 41. and the Sh [...]namite ran to the Man of God, for her dead Child, 2 Kings 4.25. so doth your mourning Minister kneel about your Graves, and carry you in the Arms of Prayer to that God in whom your Help is found.

O thou All-powerful Jehovah, that workest and [...] can let Thee; thou hast the Keys of Hell, and of Death, pity thou the dead Souls that lie here inte [...]bed, and roll away the Grave-Stone, and say, as to Lazarus, when already stinking, Come forth. Lighten thou this Darkness. O inaccessible Light, and let the Day-spring from on High visit the darksome Region of the Dead, to whom I speak; for thou canst open the Eyes that Death it self hath closed; thou that formedst the Ear, canst restore the Hearing. Say thou to these Ears, Ephpha­thah, and they shall be opened. Give th [...] Eyes to see thine Excellencies, a Taste that may [...] thy Sweet­ness, a Scent that may savour thine Ointments, a Feel­ing that may sense the Privilege of thy Favour, the Burden of thy Wrath, the intolerable Weight of unpar­doned Sin▪ and give thy Servants Command to prophesy to the dry Bones, and let the Effects of this Prophesy be, as of thy Prophet, when be prophesied the Valley of dry Bones into a living Army, exceeding great, Ezek. 37.1. &c. The Hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the Midst of the Valley, which was full of Bones. He said unto me, Prophesie upon these Bones, and say unto them, O ye dry Bones, hear the Word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God [...]nto these Bones, Behold, I will cause Breath to enter into you, and ye shall live. And I will lay Sinews upon you, and will bring up [...] you, and cover you with Skin, and [...]ut Br [...] [...] you, and ye shall live, and ye shall [...] [...]hat I [...] the Lord. So I prophesied as I was com­manded, and [...] I prophesied, there was a Noise, and behold a Shaking, and the Bones came together, Bone [...] his Bone. And when I beheld, Lo, the Sinews and [Page 82] the Flesh came upon them, and co [...]ed them above, but there was no Breath in them Then said he unto me, Prophesie unto the Wind, prophesie, Son of Man, and say unto the Wind, Thus saith the Lord God, Come from the four Winds, O Breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the Breath [...] them, and they lived and stood upon their Feet, an exceeding great Army.

But I must proceed, as I am able, to unfold that Misery, which, I confess, no Tongue can unfold, no Heart can sufficiently comprehend. Know there­fore, that while thou art unconverted,

I. The infinite God is engaged against thee.

It is no small Part of thy Misery, that thou art without God, Eph. 2.12. How doth Micah run cry­ing after the Danites, You have taken away my Gods, and what have I more? Judges 18.23.24. Oh, what a Mourning then must thou lift up, that art without God, that canst lay no Claim to him, without daring Usurpation! Thou mayest say of God, as Sheba o [...] David, We have no Part in David, neither have w [...] Inheritance in the Son of Jesse, 2 Sam. 20.1. Ho [...] pitiful and piercing a Moan is that of Saul, in hi [...] Extremity? The Philistines are upon me, and God is d [...] parted from me, 1 Sam. 28.15. Sinners, But what w [...] you do in the Day of your Visitation? Whither will y [...] flee for Help? Where will you have your Glory? Isa. 10. [...] What will you do when the Philistines are upo [...] you; when the World shall take its eternal Lea [...] of you; when you must bid your Friends, House Lands, farewel for evermore? What will you [...] then, I say, that have never a God to go to? W [...] you call on him? Will you cry to him for Help Alas! he will not own you, Prov. 1.2 [...] [...]8. He w [...] not take any Knowledge of you, but [...] with an I never knew you, Mat. 7.23. They th [...] know what it is to have a God to go to, a God [...] live upon, they know a little, what a fearful Mise [...] it is to be without God. This made that holy M [...] cry out, Let me have a God or nothing. Let me [...] [Page 83] him, and his Will, and what will please him, and how I may come to enjoy him; or would I had never had an Understanding to know any Thing, &c.

But thou art not only without God, but God is against thee, Ezek. 5.8, 9: Nahum 2.13. Oh, if God would but stand a Neuter, tho' he did not own nor help the poor Sinner, his Case were not so deeply miserable. Tho' God should give up the poor Crea­tures to the Will of all his Enemies, to do their worst with him; tho' he should deliver him over to the Torments, Matth. 18.34. that Devils should tear and torture him to their utmost Power and Skill, yet this were not half so fearful. But God will set himself against the Sinner; and believe it, 'Tis a fearful Thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God, Heb. 10.31. There is no Friend like him, no Enemy like him. As much as Heaven is above the Earth, Omnipotency above Impotency, Infinity above Nullity; so much more horrible is it to fall into the Hands of the living God, than into the Paws of Bears or Lions, yea, Furies or Devils. God him­self will be thy Tormentor, thy Destruction shall come from the Presence of the Lord, 2 Thess 1.9. Tophet is deep and large and the Wrath of the Lord, like a River of Brimstone, doth kindle it. Isai. 30.33. If God be against thee, who shall be for thee? If one Man sin against another, the Judge shall judge him: But if a Man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? 1 Sam. 2.25. Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who shall stand in thy Sight, when once thou art angry? Psalm 76 7. Who is that God, that shall deliver you out of his Hands? Dan. 3.15. Can Mammon? Riches profit not in the Day of Wrath, Prov. 11.4 Can Kings, or Warriors? No, they shall cry to the Mountains and Rocks to fall on us, and hide us from [...] Face of him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the Wrath of the Lamb; for the great Day of his Wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? Rev. 6.15, 16, 19.

Sinner, Methinks this should go like a Dagger to thine Heart, to know that God is thine Enemy. Oh, [Page 84] whither wilt thou go? Where wilt thou shelter thee? There is no hope for thee, unless thou lay down thy Weapons, and sue out thy Pardon, and get Christ to stand thy Friend, and make thy Peace. If it were not for this, thou mightest go into some howling Wilderness, and there pine in Sorrow, and run mad for Anguish of Heart, and horrible Despair. But in Christ there is a Possibility of Mercy for thee, yea, a Proffer of Mercy for thee, that thou mayest have God to be more for thee, than he is now against thee. But if thou wilt not forsake thy Sins, nor turn thoroughly, and to Purpose, unto God, by a sound Conversion, the Wrath of God abideth on thee, and he proclaims himself to be against thee, as in the Prophet, Ezek. 5.8. Therefore thus saith the Lord God Behold I, even I, am against thee.

I. His Face is against thee, Psalm 34.15. The Fac [...] of the Lord is against them that do Evil, to cut off th [...] Remembrance of them. Wo unto them whom Go [...] shall set his Face against. When he did but loo [...] upon the Host of the Egyptians, how terrible was th [...] Consequence, Ezek. 14.8. I will set my Face agains [...] that Man, and will make him a Sign, and Proverb, a [...] will cut him off from the Midst of my People, and yo [...] shall know that I am the Lord. 2. His Heart is again [...] thee: He hateth all the Workers of Iniquity. Man, d [...] not thine Heart tremble, to think of thy being an Object God's Hatred? Jer. 15.1. Though Moses and Samu [...] stood before me, yet my Mind could not be towards th [...] People: Cast them out of my Sight, Zech. 7.8. [...] Soul loatheth them, and their Souls also abhorred [...] 3. His Hand is against the [...] 1 Sam. 12.14, 15. A [...] his Attributes are against thee.

First, His Justice is like a flaming Sword, [...] sheathed against thee. If I whet my glittering Sw [...] and my Hand take hold on Judgment, I will [...] Vengeance to mine Adversaries, and will reward t [...] that hate me. I will make mine Arrows drunk w [...] Blood, &c. Deut. 32.41, 42. So exact is Justic [...] that it will by no Means clear the Guilty, Exod. [...] [...] God will not discharge thee, he will not [...] [Page 85] [...]e guiltless, Exod. 20.7. but will require the whole [...]bt in Person of thee, unless thou can make a Scrip­ [...]e claim to Christ, and his Satisfaction. When [...]e enlightned Sinner looks on Justice, and sees the [...]llance in which he must be weighed, and the Sword [...] which he must be executed, he feels an Earth­ [...]ake in his Breast: But Satan keeps this out of [...]ght, and persuades the Soul, while he can, that [...] Lord is all made up of Mercy, and so lulls it a­ [...]ep in Sin. Divine Justice is very strict; it must [...]ave Satisfaction to the utmost Farthing; it denoun­ [...]th Indignation and Wrath, Tribulation and Anguish, [...] every Soul that doth evil, Rom. 2.8, 9. It curseth [...]very one that continueth not in every thing that is [...]itten in the Law, to do it, Gal. 3.10 The Jus­ [...]ice of God to the unpardoned Sinner, that hath a [...]ense of his Misery, is more terrible than the Sight of the Bayliff or Creditor to the Bankrupt Debtor, [...] than the Sight of the Judge and Bench to the Robber, or of the Irons and Gibbet to the guilty Murderer. When Justice sits upon Life and Death, Oh, what dreadful Work doth it make with the wretched Sinner! Bind him Hand and Foot, cast him [...]o utter Darkness, there shall he Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth, Matth 22.13. Depart from me, ye Cursed, [...] everlasting Fire, Matth. 25.41. This is the ter­ [...]ible Sentence that Justice pronounceth. Why Sin­ner, by this severe Justice must thou be tried; and as God liveth, this killing Sentence shalt thou hear, [...]nless thou repent, and be converted.

Secondly, The Holiness of God is full of Antipathy against [...]hee, Psal. 5.4, 5 He is not only angry with thee, (so he may be with his own Children) but he hath a fix­ [...] [...] habitual Displeasure against thee, he [...] [...]uch. 11.8. and what is done by thee, [...] [...]ince commanded by him, Isa. 1.14. [...]a [...]. 1.10. As if a Man should give his Servant ne­ver so good Meat to dress; yet if he should mingle F [...]th or Poison with it, he would not touch it. God's Nature is infinitely contrary to Sin, and so he cannot [...] hate a Sinner out of Christ.

[Page 86]Oh, what a Misery is this, to be out of the Favour, yea, under the hatred of God, Eccles. 5.4. Hos. 9.15. That God can as easily lay aside his Nature, and cease to be God, as not be contrary to thee, and detest thee, except thou be changed and renewed by Grace. O Sinner, how darest thou think of the bright and radi­ant Sun of Purity, upon the Beauties, the Glory of Holiness that is in God! The Stars are not pure in his Sight, Job 25.5. He humbleth himself to behold Things that are done in Heaven, Psal. 11.3, 6. O those light and sparkling eyes of his? What do they espy in thee? And thou hast no Interest in Christ neither, that he should plead for thee. Methinks I should hear thee crying out, astonished, with the Bethshemites, Who shall stand before this holy Lord God? 1 Sam. 6.20.

Thirdly, The Power of God is mounted like a mighty Cannon against thee. The Glory of God's Power i [...] to be displayed, in the wonderful Confusion and De­struction of them that obey not the Gospel, 2 Thess 1.8, 9. He will make his Power known in them, Rom. 9.22. How mightily he can torment them▪ For this end he raiseth them up, that he might mak [...] his Power known, Rom. 9.17. O Man, art thou able to make thy Party good with thy Maker? No more than a silly Reed against the Cedars of God, or a little Cock-boat against the tumbling Ocean, or the Childrens Bubbles against the blustring Winds.

Sinner, the Power of God's Anger is against thee Psal. 90.11. and Power and Anger together make fearful Work. 'Twere better thou hadst all the world in Arms against thee, than to have the Power of God against thee. There is no escaping his Hand, n [...] breaking his Prison, ‘The Thunder of his Powe [...] who can understand? Job 26.14. Unhappy Man that shall understand it by feeling it! if he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of [...] thousand. He is wise in Heart, and mighty i [...] Strength: who hath hardned himself against him and prospered? Which removeth the Mountain and they know it not: which overturneth the in his anger; which shaketh the Earth out of [...] [Page 87] Place, and the Pillars thereof tremble; which com­mandeth the Sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the Stars. Behold, he taketh away, who can hin­der him? who will say unto him, what dost thou? If God will not withdraw his Anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him, Job 9.3, 4, 5, 6, &c. And art thou a fit Match for such an Antagonist? Oh, consider this, you that forget God, lest he tear you in Pieces, and there be none to deliver you, Psa. 50.22. Submit to Mercy, let not Dust and Stubble [...]and it out against the Almighty. Set not Briars and Thorns against him in Battle, lest he go thro' them, [...]nd consume them together; but lay hold on His [...]trength, that you may make Peace with him, Is. 27.4, 5. Wo to him that striveth with his Maker, Isa. 45.9.’

Fourthly, The Wisdom of God is set to ruin thee. He [...]th ordained his Arrows, and prepared the Instru­ments of Death, and made all Things ready, Psalm [...].12, 13. His Counsels are against thee, to contrive [...]y Destruction, Jer. 18.11. He laughs in himself, [...]o see how thou wilt be taken and ensnared in the [...]vil Day, Psal. 37.13. The Lord shall laugh at him, for [...]e seeth that the Day is coming. He sees how thou wilt [...]ome down mightily in a Moment, how thou wilt [...]ring thine Hands, and tear thine Hair, and eat thy [...]lesh, and gnash thy Teeth for Anguish and Asto­ [...]shment of Heart, when thou seest thou art fallen [...]medilesly into the Pit of Destruction.

Fifthly, The Truth of God is sworn against thee, Psal. [...].11. If he be true and faithful, thou must perish, [...] thou goest on, Luke 13.3. Unless he be false of [...]s Word, thou must die, except thou repent, Ezek: [...].11. If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful, He [...]t deny himself, 2 Tim. 2.13. That is, He is [...]thful to his Threatnings, as well as Promises; [...]d will shew his Faithfulness in our Confusion, if [...] believe not. God hath told thee, as plain as it [...] be spoken, That it he wash thee not, thou hast no [...]t in him, John 13.8. That if thou livest after the [...], thou shalt die, Rom. 8.13. That except thou be [...], thou shalt in no wise enter into the Kingdom [Page 88] of Heaven, Matth. 18.3. and he abideth faithful, he cannot deny himself. Beloved, as the immutable Faithfulness of God in his Promise and Oath, afford Believers strong Consolation, Hel: 6. [...]8. so they are to Unbelievers, for strong Consterna [...]n and Confu­sion. O Sinner, tell me, What Shift dost thou make to think of all the Threatnings of God's Word, that stand upon Record against thee? Dost thou believe their Truth or not? If not thou'rt a wretched Infidel, and no Christian, and therefore give over the Name and Hopes of a Christian: But if thou dost believe them, O Heart of Steel that thou hast, that canst walk up and down in quiet, when the Truth and Faithfulness of God is engaged to destroy thee! That if God Almighty can do it thou shalt surely perish and be damned. Why, Man, the whole Book of God doth testify against thee, while thou remainest unsanctified: It condemns thee in every Leaf, and is to thee, like Ezekiel's Roll, written within and without with Lamentation and Mourning, and W [...] Ezek. 2.10. And all this shall surely come upon the [...] and overtake thee, Deut. 28.15. except thou repent Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but one Jot or Tittle [...] this Word shall never pass away, Mat. 5 18.

Now put all this together, and tell me if the C [...] of the Unconverted be not deplorably miserable▪ As we read of some Persons, that had bound themselves in an Oath, and in a Curse, to kill Paul, [...] thou must know, O Sinner, to thy Terror, that [...] the Attributes of the infinite God are bound in [...] Oath to destroy thee, Heb. 3.28. O Man! Wi [...] wilt thou do? Whither wilt thou fly? If God Omniscience can find thee, thou shalt not escape▪ If the true and faithful God will save his O [...] perish thou must, except thou believe and repe [...] If the Almighty hath Power to torment thee, t [...] shalt be perfectly miserable in Soul and Body all [...] Eternity, unless it be prevented by thy spe [...] Conversion.

II. The whole Creation of God is against thee [...] whole Creation (saith Paul) gro [...]eth and tro [...] [Page 89] i [...] pain, Rom. 8.22. But what is it that the Creation groaneth under? Why, the fearful Abuse that it is subject to, in serving the Lusts of unsanctified Men. And what is it that the Creation groaneth for? Why, for Freedom and Liberty from this Abuse; for the Creature is very unwillingly subject to this Bondage, Rom. 8.19, 20, 21. If the unreasonable and inanimate Creatures had Speech and Reason, they would cry out under it, as Bondage unsufferable, to be abused by the ungodly, contrary to their Natures, and the Ends that the great Creator made them for. It is a Passage of an eminent Divine, ‘The Liquor that the Drunkard drinketh, if it had Reason as well as a Man, to know how shamefully it is abused and spoiled, it would groan in the Barrels against him, it would groan in the Cup against him, groan in his Throat, in his Belly against him, it would fly in his Face, if it could speak. And if God should open the Mouths of the Creatures, as he did the Mouth of Balaam's Ass, the proud Man's Garment on his Back would groan against him. There is ne­ver a Creature, but if it had Reason to know how it is abused, till a Man be converted, it would groan against him: The Land would groan to bear him, the Air would groan to give him breathing, their Houses would groan to lodge them, their fleds would groan to ease them, their Food to nourish them, their Cloaths to cover them, and the Creature would groan to give them any Help and Comfort, so long as they live in Sin against God.’ Thus far he. Me­thinks this should be a Terror to an Unconverted Soul, to think that he is a Burden to the Creation, Luke 13.7. Cut it down, why cumbreth it the Ground? If the poor inanimate Creatures could but speak, they would say to the Ungodly, as Moses to Israel, ‘Must we fetch you Water out of the Rock, ye Re­bels, Numb. 2.10. Thy Food would say, Lord, must I nourish such a Wretch as this, and yield forth my Strength for him to dishonour thee withal? No, I will choke him rather, if thou wilt give me Com­mission. The very Air would say, Lord, must I [Page 90] give the Man breath, to set his Tongue against Hea­ven, and scorn thy People, and vent his Pride and Wrath, and filthy Communication, and belch out Oaths and Blasphemy against thee? No, if thou but say the Word, he shall be Breathless for me. His poor Beast would say, Lord, must I carry him upon his wicked Designs? No, I will break his Bones, I will end his Days rather, if I may have but Leave from thee.’ A wicked Man the Earth groans under him, and Hell groans for him, till Death satisfies both, and unburdens the Earth, and stops the Mouth of Hell with him. While the Lord of Hosts is against thee, be sure the Hosts of the Lord are against thee, and all the Creatures (as it were) up in Arms, till upon a Man's Conversion, the Controversy being taken up between God and him, he makes a Covenant of Peace with the Creatures for him, Job 5.22, 29, 24. Hosea 2.18, 19, 20.

III. The Roaring-Lion hath his full Power upon thee, 1 Pet. 5.8. Thou art fast in the Paw of that Lion, that is greedy to devour: ‘In the Snare of the Devil, led captive by him at his Will, 2 Tim. 2.26. This is the Spirit that worketh in the Chil­dren of Disobedience, Eph. 2.2.’ His Drudges they are, and his Lusts they do. He is the Ruler of the Darkness of this World, Eph. 6.12. that is, of ig­norant Sinners that live in Darkness. You pity the poor Indians, that worship the Devil for their God, but little think that 'tis your own Case. Why 'tis the common Misery of all the Unsanctified, that the Devil is their God, 2 Cor. 4.4. Not that they do intend to do him Homage and Worship; they will be ready to defy him, and him that should say so by them; but all this while they serve him, and come and go at his Beck, and live under his Government: His Servants you are, to whom you yield your selves to obey, Rom. 6.16. Oh, how many then will be found the real Servants of the Devil, that take them­selves for no other than the Children of God! He can no sooner offer a sinful Delight or Opportunity for your unlawful Advantage, but you embrace it. [Page 91] If he suggest a Lie, or prompt you to Revenge, you readily obey: If he forbid you to read or pray, you hearken to him, and therefore his Servants you are. Indeed he lies behind the Curtain, he acts in the Dark, and Sinners see not who setteth them on Work, but all the While he leads them in a String. Doubtless the Liar intends not a Service to Satan, but his own Advantage; yet 'tis he that stands in the Corner un­observed, and putteth the Thing into his Heart, Acts 5.3. John 8.44. Questionless Judas, when he sold his Master for Money, and the Chaldeans and Sabeans, when they plundered Job, intended not to do the Devil a Pleasure, but to satisfy their own covetous Thirst, yet 'twas he that actuated them in their Wick­edness, Job 13.27. Job 1.12, 15, 17. Men may be very Slaves, and common Drudges for the Devil, and never know it; nay, they may please themselves in the Thoughts of a happy Liberty, 2 Peter 2.19.

Art thou yet in Ignorance, and not turned from Darkness to Light? Why, thou art under the Power of Satan, Acts 26.18. Dost thou live in the ordinary and wilful Practice of any known Sin? Know that thou art of the Devil, 1 John 3.8. Dost thou live i [...] Strife, or Malice, or Envy? Verily, he is thy Father John 8.49, 41. O dreadful Case! However Satan may provide his Slaves with divers Pleasures, Tit. 3.3. yet it is but to [...] them into endless Perdition. The Serpent comes with the Apple in his Mouth, Oh, but (with Eve) thou seest not the deadly Sting in his Tail. He that is now thy Tempter, will be one Day thy Tormenter. Oh, that I could but give thee to see how black a Master thou servest, how filthy a Drudgery thou dost, how merciless a Tyrant thou gratifiest! all whose Pleasure is, to set thee on work to make thy Perdition and Damnation sure, and to heat the Furnace hotter and hotter, in which thou must burn for Millions of Millions of Ages.

IV. The Guilt of all thy Sins lies like a Mountain upon thing [...] Poor Soul! thou feelest it not, but this is that which seals thy Misery upon thee. While un­ [...]ed, none of thy Sins are blotted out, Acts [Page 92] 3.10. They are all upon the Score against thee: Regeneration and Remission are never separated; the Unsanctified are unquestionably unjustified and unpardoned, 1 Cor. 6.11. 1 Peter 1.2. Heb. 9.14. Beloved, 'tis a fearful Thing to be in debt, but above all in God's Debt; for there is no Arrest so formidable as his, no Prison so horrible as his. Look upon an enlightned Sinner, who feels the Weight of his own Guilt: Oh, how frightful are his Looks, [...]ow fearful are his Complaints! His Comforts are turned into Wormwood, and his Moisture into Drought, and his Sleep departed from his Eyes. He is a Terror to himself, and all that are about him; and is ready to envy the very Stones that lie in the Street, because they are senseless, and feel not his Misery; and wishes he had been a Dog, or a Toad, or a Serpent, rather than a Man, because then Death had put an End to his Misery, whereas now it will be but the Beginning of that which will know no Ending.

How light soever you may make of it now, you will one Day find the Guilt of unpardoned Sin to be a heavy Burden. This is a Mill-stone that who­soever falleth upon it, shall be broken, but upon whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to Pow­der, Matth. 21.44. What Work did it make with our Saviour? It pressed the very Blood (to a Wonder) out of his Veins, and broke all his Bones. And if it did this in the Green-tree, what will it do in the Dry?

Oh! think of thy Case in Time. Canst thou not think of that Threat without trembling, Ye shall [...] in your Sins! John 8.24. Oh! bettor were it for the [...] die in a Goal, die in a Ditch, in a Dungeon, than di [...] in thy Sins. If Death, as it will take away all thy other Comforts, would take away thy Sins too, it were some Mitigation; but thy Sins will follow thee when thy Friends leave thee, and all worldly Enjoy­ment [...] shake Hands with thee: Thy Sins will not die with thee, 2 Cor. 5.10. Rev. 20.12. as a Prisoner's other Debts will; but they will to Judgment with [Page 93] thee, there to be thine Accusers, and they will to Hell with thee, there to be thy tormentors. Better to have so many Fiends and Furies about thee, than thy Sins to fall upon thee, and fasten in thee. Oh, the work that these will make thee! Oh look over thy Debts in time; how much art thou in the Books of every one of God's Laws? How is every one of God's Com­mandments ready to arrest thee, and take [...] by the Throat, for innumerable Bonds that it h [...] [...]on thee? What wilt thou do then, when they [...] all together lay in against thee? Hold open the Eyes of Conscience to consider this, that thou mayest despair of thyself, and be driven to Christ, and fly for Refuge to lay hold upon the Hope that is set before thee, Heb. 6.18.

V. Thy raging Lusts do miserably enslave thee. While unconverted, thou art a very Servant to Sin, it reigns over thee, and holds thee under its Dominion, till thou art brought within the bonds of God's Covenant, John 8.34.36. Tit. 3.3. Rom. 6.12.14, 16, 17. Now there's no such Tyrant as Sin: O the filthy and fear­ful Work that it doth engage its Servants in: Would it not pierce a Man's Heart, to see a Company of poor Creatures drudging and toiling, and all to carry together Faggots and Fuel for their own Burn­ing? Why, this is the Employment of Sins Drudges. Even while they bless themselves in their unrighteous Gains, while they swing and swill in Pleasures, they are but treasuring up Wrath and Vengeance for their eternal Burnings; they are but laying in Powder and Bullets, and adding to the Pile of Toph [...]t, and flinging in Oyl to make the Flame rage the fierces. Who [...]uld serve such a Master, whose Work is Drudgery, and whose Wages is Death? Rom. 6.13.

What a woful Spectacle was that poor Wretch possessed with the Legion? would it not have pitied [...] Heart to have seen him among the Tombs, cutting and wounding of himself? Mark 5.5. This is thy [...], such is thy Work, every Stroke is a Th [...] at thine Heart, 1 Tim. 6.10. Conscience in­deed [Page 94] is now asleep; But when Death and Judgment shall bring thee to thy Senses, then wilt thou feel the raging Smart and Anguish of every Wound. The convinced Sinner is a sensible Instance of the misera­ble Bondage of Sin: Conscience flies upon him, and tells him what the End of these Things will be: and yet such a Slave is he to his Lusts. that on he must, tho' he see it will be his endless Perdition; and when the Temptation comes, Lust gets the Bitt in his Mouth, breaks all the Cords of his Vows and Promises, and carries him headlong to his own Destruction.

VI. The Furnace of eternal Vengeance is heated ready for thee, Isa. 3.33. Hell and Destruction open their Mouths upon thee, they gape for thee, they groan for thee, Isa. 5.14. waiting (as it were) with a greedy Eye, as thou standest upon the Brink, when thou wilt drop in. If the Wrath of Man be as the roaring of a Lion, Prov. 20.2. more heavy than Sand, Prov. 27.3. what is the Wrath of the infinite God? If the Burning-Furnace heated in Nebuchadnezzar's Fiery­rage, when he commanded it to be made yet seven times hotter, were so fierce as to burn up even those that drew near it to throw the Children in, Dan. 3.19, 22. how hot is that burning Oven of the Al­mighty's Fury! Mal. 4.1. Surely this is seventy times seven more fierce. What thinkest thou, O Man, of being a Faggot in Hell to all Eternity? Can thine Heart endure, or can thine Hands be s [...]rong in the Day that I shall deal with thee, saith the Lord of Hosts, Ezek. 22.14. Canst thou dwell with everlasting Burnings! Canst thou abide the consuming Fire? Isa. 33.4. When thou shalt be as a glowing Iron in Hell, and thy whole Body and Soul shall be as perfectly pos­sessed by God's burning Vengeance, as the fiery spark­ling Iron, when heated, or in fiercest Forge? Thou canst not bear God's Whip, how then wilt thou en­dure his Scorpions? Thou art even crushed, and ready to wish thyself dead, under the Weight of his finger, how then wilt thou bear the Weight of his Loyns? The most patient Man that ever was, did [Page 95] curse the Day that ever he was born, Job 3.1. and even wish Death to come and end his Misery, Job 7.15, 16: when God did but let out one little Drop of his Wrath: How then wilt thou endure, when God shall pour out all his Vials, and set himself against thee, to torment thee! When he shall make thy Con­science the Tunnel, by which he will be pouring his burning Wrath into thy Soul forever; and when he shall fill all thy Powers as full of Torment as they be now full of Sin! When Immortality shall be thy Mi­sery: and to die the Death of a Brute, and be swal­lowed into the Gulf of Annihilation, shall be such a Felicity, as the whole Eternity of Wishes, and an Ocean of Tears shall never purchase! now thou canst put off the evil Day, and canst laugh and be merry, and forget the Terror of the Lord, 2 Cor. 5.11. but how wilt thou hold out, or hold up, when God will cast thee into a Bed of Torments, Rev. 2.21. and make thee to lye down in Sorrows, Isa. 50.11. When Roarings and Blasphemy shall be thine only Musick; and the Wine of the Wrath of God, which is poured out without Mixture, into the Cup of his Indigna­tion, shall be thine only Drink, Rev. 14.10. When thou shalt draw in Flames for thy Breath, and the horrid Stench of Sulphur shall be thy only Perfume! In a Word, when the Smoke of thy Torment shall ascend up for evet and ever, and thou shalt have no rest, Night nor Day; no rest in thy Conscience, no Ease in thy Bones, but thou shalt be an Execration, and an Astonishment, and a Curse, and a Reproach for evermore, Jer. 42.18.

O Sinner! stop here, and consider: If thou art a Man, and no senseless Block, consider; bethink thy self where thou standest; why, upon the very Brink of his Furnace. As the Lord liveth, and thy Soul liveth, there is but a Step between thee and this, I Sam. 10.3. Thou knowest not when thou liest down, but thou mayest be in it before the Morning: Thou know [...] not when thou risest, but thou mayst drop in before the Night: Darest thou make light of this! Wilt thou go on in such a dreadful Condition, and [Page 96] as if nothing ailed thee? If thou puttest it off, and sayest, This doth not belong to thee; look again over the foregoing Chapter, and tell me the Truth: Are none of these black Marks found upon thee? Do not blind thine Eyes, do not deceive thyself; see thy Misery while thou mayest prevent it; think what it is to be a vile Cast-out, a damned Reprobate, a Vessel of Wrath, into which the Lord will be pouring out his tormenting Fury, while he hath a Being, Rom. 9.22.

Divine Wrath is a fierce, Deut. 32.22. devouring, Isa. 33.14. everlasting, Matth. 25.41. unquenchable Fire, Matth. 3.12. and thy Soul and Body must be the Fuel upon which it will be feeding forever, unless thou consider thy Ways, and speedily turn to the Lord by a sound Conversion. They that have been on­ly singed by this Fire, and had no more but the Smell thereof passing upon them; Oh, what amazing Spec­tacles have they been! whose Heart would not have melted, to have heard Spira's Outcries? To have seen Chaloner, that Monument of Justice, worn to Skin and Bones, blaspheming the God of Heaven, cursing him­self, and continually crying out, O Torture, Torture, Torture! O Torture, Torture! as if the Flames of Wrath had already took hold on him? To have heard Ro­gers crying out, I have had a little Pleasure, but now I must to Hell for evermore; wishing but for this Mitiga­tion, that God would let him lye burning forever be­hind the Back of that Fire (on the Earth) and bring­ing in this sad Conclusion still, at the End of what­soever was spoken to him to afford him some Hope, I must to Hell, I must to the Furnace of Hell, for Mil­lions and Millions of Ages? Oh! if the Fears and Fore-Thoughts of the Wrath to come, be so terrible, so intolerable, what is the Feeling of it?

Sinner, 'tis but in vain to flatter you, this would be but to toll you into the unquenchable Fire; know ye from the living God, that here you must lie, with these Burnings you must dwel. [...]ill Immortality die, and Immutability change▪ [...] Eternity run out, and Omnipotency is not longer able t [...] torment, except [Page 97] you be in good Earnest renewed throughout by sanctifying Grace.

VII. The Law dischargeth all its Threats and Curses at thee, Gal. 3.10. Rom. 7. Oh, how dreadfully doth it thunder▪ It spits Fire and Brimstone in thy Face: Its Word [...] [...]re as drawn Swords, and as the sharp Ar­rows of the Mighty: It demands Satisfaction to the Utmost, and cries, Justice, Justice: It speaks Blood, and War, and Wounds, and Death against thee. O the Execrations, and Plagues, and Deaths that this murdering Piece is loaded with! (read Deut. 28.15, 16, &c.) and thou art the Mark at which this Shot is levelled. O Man! away to thy strong Hold, Zech. 9.12. Away from thy Sins, haste to the Sanctuary, the City of Refuge, Heb. 13.13. even the Lord Jesus Christ; hide thee in him, or else thou art lost without any Hope of Recovery.

VIII. The Gospel itself bindeth the Sentence of eternal Damnation upon thee, Mark 16.16. If thou continuest in thine impenitent and unconverted Estate, know that the Gospel denounceth a much sorer Condemna­tion, than ever would have been for the Transgression only of the first Covenant. Is it not a dreadful Case [...]o have the Gospel itself fill its Mouth with Threats [...]nd Thunder and Damnation? To have the Lord to roar from Mount Sion against thee? Joel 3.16. Hear the Terror of the Lord, ‘He that believeth not, shall be damned: Except ye repent, ye shall all perish, Luke 13.3. This is the Condemnation, that Light is come into the World, and Men love Darkness rather than Light, John 3.19. He that believeth not, the Wrath of God abideth on him, John 3.36. If the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast, and every Transgression and Disobedience received a just Recompence of Reward, how shall we escape, if we neglect so great Salvation, Heb. 2.2, 3. He that despised Moses's Law, died without Mercy: Of how much sorer Punishment shall he be thought worthy, that hath trampled under Foot the Son of God? Heb. 10.28, 29.’

Application. And is this true indeed? Is this thy [Page 98] Misery? Yea, 'tis as true as God is. Better open thine Eyes, and see it now, while thou mayest remedy it, than blind and harden thy self, till, to thine eternal Sorrow, thou shalt feel what thou would'st not believe: And if it be true, what dost thou mean to loiter and linger in such a Case as this?

Alas for thee, poor Man! how effectually hath Sin undone thee, and deprived and despoiled thee, even of thy Reason to look after thine own everlast­ing Good? O miserable Caitiff! What Stupidity and Senselessness hath surprized thee? Oh! let me knock up, and awake this Sleeper. Who dwells within the Walls of this Flesh? Is there ever a Soul here, a rational, understanding Soul? Or art thou only a walking Ghost, a senseless Lump? Art thou a reason­able Soul, and yet so far brutified, as to forget thy self immortal, and to think thy self to be as the Beasts that perish? Art thou turned into Flesh? that thou savourest nothing but gratifying the Sense, and making Provision for the Flesh? Or else having reason to understand the Eternity of thy future Estate, dost thou yet make light of being everlastingly mi­serable? which is to be so much below a Brute, as it is worse to act against Reason, than to act without it. O unhappy Soul, that wast the Glory of Man, the Mate of Angels, and the Image of God! that wast God's Representative in the World, and hadst the Supremacy amongst the Creatures, and the Dominion over thy Maker's Works! Art thou now become a Slave to Sense, a Servant to so base an Idol as thy Belly; for no higher Felicity than to fill thee with the Wind of Man's Applause, or heaping together a little refined Earth, no more suitable to thy spiritu [...] immortal Nature, than the Dirt and Sticks? O [...] why dost thou not bethink thee where thou shall be for ever? Death is at Hand, The Judge is even [...] the Door, James 5.9. Yet a little while, and Ti [...] shall be no longer, Rev. 10.5, 6. And wilt thou run the Hazard of continuing in such a State, in which, if thou be overtaken, thou art irrecoverably miserable.

[Page 99]Come then, Arise, and attend thy nearest Con­cernments. Tell me, Whither art thou going? What! wilt thou live in such a Course, wherein every Act is a Step to Perdition; and thou dost not know, but the next Night thou mayest make thy Bed in Hell▪ Oh, if thou hast a Spark of Reason, consider, and turn, and hearken to thy very Friend, [...]o would therefore shew thee thy present Misery, [...] at thou mightest in time make thine Escape, and [...] eternally happy.

Hear what the Lord saith, Fear ye not me? saith the Lord. Will ye not tremble at my Presence? Jer. 5.21. O Sinners! Do ye make light of the Wrath to come? Matth. 3.7. I am sure there is a Time coming, when you will not make light of it. Why the very Devils do believe and tremble, James 2.19. What, You more hardned than they! Will you run upon the Edge of the Rock? Will you play at the Hole of the Asp? Will you put your Hand upon the Cockatrice's Den? Will you dance about the Fire till you are burnt? or dally with devouring Wrath as if you were at a point of Indifferency, whether you did escape it, or endure it? O madness of Folly▪ Solomon's Mad-man, that casteth Firebrands, and Arrows and Death, and saith, Am I not in Jest? Prov. 26.18. is nothing so distracted as the willful Sinner, Luke 15.17. that goeth on in his unconverted Estate without Sense, as if nothing ailed him. The Man that runs on the Cannon's Mouth, that sports with his Blood, or lets out his Life in a Frolick, is sensible, sober and serious to him that goeth on still in his Trespasses, Psal. 68.21. For he stretcheth out his Hand against God, and strengthneth himself against the Almighty: He runneth upon him, even upon his Neck, upon the thick Bosses of his Buckler, Job 15.25, 26. Is it Wisdom to dally with the Second death, or to venture into the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone, Rev. 21.8. as if thou wert but going to wash thee, or swim for thy Recreation? Wilt thou, as it were, fetch thy Vieze, and jump into eternal Flames, as the Children through the Bon-fire? What shall I say? I can find [Page 100] out no Expression, no Comparison, whereby to se [...] forth the dreadful Distraction of that Soul, that shall go on in Sin.

Awake, awake, Eph. 5.14. O Sinner! Arise and take thy Flight: There is but one Door that thou mayest fly by, and that is the strait Door of Conversi­on, and the New-birth. Unless thou turn unfeign­edly from all thy Sins, and come unto Jesus Christ, and take him for the Lord thy Righteousness, and walk in him in Holiness and Newness of Life; as the Lord liveth, it is not more certain that thou art now our of Hell, than that thou shalt without fail be in it but a few Days and Nights from hence. Oh, set thine Heart to think of thy Case! Is not thine everlasting Misery or Welfare that which doth deserve a little Consideration? Look again over the Miseries of the Unconverted: If the Lord hath not spoken by me, regard me not; but if it be the very Word of God, that all this Misery lies upon thee, what a Case a [...] thou in? Is it for one that hath his Senses to live i [...] such a Condition, and not to make all possible Expe­dition for preventing his utter Ruin? O Man! wh [...] hath bewitched thee, Gal. 3.1. that in the Matte [...] of this present Life thou shouldst be wise enough i [...] vent forecast thy Business, foresee thy Danger, and pre­vent thy Mischief; but in Matters of Everlastin [...] Consequence shouldst be slight and careless, as if the little concerned thee? Why, is it nothing to the to have all the Attributes of God engaged again thee? Canst thou do well without his Favou [...] Canst thou escape his Hands, or endure his Veng [...] ance? Dost thou hear the Creation groaning und [...] thee, and Hell groaning for thee, and yet think t [...] Case good enough? Art thou in the Paw of the Li [...] under the Power of Corruption, in the dark [...] noisom Prison, fetter'd with thy Lusts, working [...] thine own Damnation; and is not this worth [...] considering? Wilt thou make light of all the T [...] rors of the Law, of all its Curses and Thunder b [...] as if they were but the Report of the Childrens [...] guns, or thou wert to war with their Paper-pelle [...] [Page 101] Dost thou [...]augh at Hell and Destruction? or canst thou drink the envenomed Cup of the Almighty's Fury, as if it were but a common Potion?

Gird up now thy Loins like a Man, for I will de­mand of thee, and answer thou me, Job 40.7. Art thou such a Leviathan, as that the Scales of thy Pride should keep thee from thy Maker's coming at thee? Wilt thou esteem his Arrows as Straw, and the Instru­ments of Death as rotten Wood? Art thou Chief of all the Children of Pride, even that thou shouldest count his Darts as Stubble, and laugh at the Shaking of his Spear? Art thou made without Fear, and con­temnest thou his barbed Irons? Job 41. Art thou like the Horse that paweth in the Valley, and rejoiceth in his Strength, who goeth out to meet the armed Men? Dost thou mock at Fear, and art not affrighted, neither turnest back from God's Sword, when his Quiver rai­leth against thee, the glittering Spear and the Shield? Job 39.21, 22, 23. Well, if the Threats and Calls of the Word will not fear thee, nor awaken thee, I am sure Death and Judgment will. Oh, what wilt thou do when the Lord cometh forth against thee, and in his Fury falleth upon thee, and thou shalt feel what thou readest! If when Daniel's Enemies were cast in­to the Den of Lions, both they, and their Wives, and [...]heir Children, the Lions had the Mastery of them, [...]nd brake all their Bones in Pieces, ere ever they [...]ame at the Bottom of the Den, Daniel 6.24. What [...]hall be done with thee, when thou fallest into the Hands of the living God? When he shall gripe thee [...]n his Iron-arms, and grind and crush thee to a thou­ [...]and Pieces in his Wrath?

Oh, do not then contend with God, Repent and [...]e converted, so none of this shall come upon thee, [...]sa. 55.6, 7. Seek the Lord while be may be found; call [...] upon him while he is near. Let the Wicked forsake his [...]ays, and the unrighteous Man his Thoughts; let him [...]n unto the Lord, and he will have Mercy on him; and our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Chap. VI. Containing Directions for Conversion.

BEfore thou readest these Directions, I advise thee, yea, I charge thee before God, and His Holy Angels, to resolve to follow them (as far as Consci­ence shall be convinced of their Agreeableness to God's Word, and thy Estate) and strive in his Assistance and Blessing that they may succeed. And as I have sought the Lord, and consulted his Oracles, what Advice to give thee, so must thou entertain it with that awe, reverence, and purpose of Obedience, that the Word of the living God doth require.

Now then attend, Set thine Heart unto all that I seal [...] testify unto thee in this Day; for it is not a vain Thing, i [...] is your Life, Deut. 32.46. That is the End of all that has been spoken hitherto, to bring you to set upon turning, and making use of God's Means for you [...] Conversion. I would not trouble you, nor tormen [...] you before the Time, with the Fore-thoughts of you [...] Eternal Misery, but in order to your making you [...] Escape. Were you shut up under your present Mi­sery, without Remedy, it were but Mercy (as one speaks) to let you alone, that you might take i [...] that little poor Comfort that you are capable of, he [...] in this World: But you may yet be happy, if yo [...] do not wilfully refuse the Means of your Recovery Behold, I hold open the Door unto you; arise, tak [...] your Flight: I set the Way of Life before you: wal [...] in it, and you shall live, and not die, Deut. 30.1 [...] Jer. 9 16. It pities me to think you should be you [...] own Murderers, and throw yourselves headlong when God and Men cry out to you, as Peter, in an [...] ther Case, to his Master, Spare thyself. A noble Vi [...] gin, that attended the Court of Spain, was wicked [...] [Page 103] ravished by the King, and hereupon exciting the Duke, her Father, to Revenge, he called in the Moors to his help; who, when they had executed his Design, miserably wasted and spoiled the Country, which this Virgin laying so exceedingly to Heart, shut her self up in a Tower belonging to her Father's House, and desired her Farher and Mother might be called forth, and bewailing to them her own Wretchedness, that she should have occasioned so much Misery and Desolation to her Country for the satisfying of her Revenge, she told them she was re­solved to be avenged upon herself. Her Father and Mother besought her to pity her self and them, but Nothing could prevail, but she took her Leave of them, and threw her self off the Battlements, and so perished before their Faces.

Just thus is the wilful Destruction of ungodly Men. The God that made them beseecheth them, and crying out to them, as Paul to the distracted Jaylor, when about to murder himself, Do thy self no harm. The Ministers of Christ forewarn them, and follow them, and fain would have them back; but alas! no Expostulations nor Obtestations will prevail, but Men will hurry themselves into Perdition, while Pity itself looketh on.

What shall I say? Would it not grieve a Person of any Humanity, if in the Time of a reigning Plague he should have a Receipt (as one said well) that would infallibly cure all the Country, and recover the most hopeless Patients, and yet his Friends and Neighbours should die by the Hundreds about him, because they would not use it? Men and Brethren, tho' you carry the certain Symptons of Death in your Faces, yet I have a Receipt that will cure you [...]ll, that will cure infallibly; follow but these few Directions, and if you do not then win Heaven, I will be content to lose it.

Hear then, O Sinner! and as ever thou wouldst be converted and saved, embrace this following Counsel.

Direct. I Set it down with thyself, as an undoubted Truth, that it is impossible for thee ever to get to Heaven in [Page 104] this thy unconverted State. Can any other but Christ save thee? And he tells thee, he will never do it, ex­cept thou be regenerated and converted, Matth. 18.3. John 3.3. Doth he not keep the Keys of Heaven? And canst thou get in without his leave? As thou must, if ever thou comest thither in thy natural Con­dition, without a sound and thorow Renovation?

Direct. II. Labour to get a thorow Sight and lively Sense and Feeling of thy Sins. Till Men are weary and heavy laden, and pricked at the Heart, and stark sick of Sin, they will not come unto Christ, in his Way, for Ease and Cure; nor to purpose enquire, What shall we do? Matth. 11.28. Acts 2.37. Matth. 9.12. They must set themselves down for dead Men before they will come unto Christ, that they may have Life, John 5.40. Labour therefore to set all thy Sins in Order before thee; never be afraid to look upon them, but let thy Spirit make diligent Search, Psal. 77.6 Enquire into thine Heart and into thy Life; enter into a thorow Examination of thy self, and of all thy Ways, Psalm 119.59. that thou mayest make a full Discovery: and call in the Help of God's Spirit, in the Sense of thine own Inability hereunto, for it is his proper Work to convince of Sin, John 16.8. Spread all before the Face of thy Conscience, till thine Heart and Eyes be set abroach. Leave not striving with God, and thine own Soul, till it cry out under the Sense of thy Sins, as the enlightned Jailor, What must I do to be saved? Acts 16.30. To this Purpose,

Meditate of the Numerousness of thy Sins. Davi [...] Heart failed when he thought of this, and considere [...] that he had more Sins than Hairs, Psalm 40.12. Thi [...] made him cry out upon the Multitude of God's ten­der Mercies, Psalm 51.1. The loathsome Carcase dot [...] not more hatefully swarm with crawling Worm [...] than an unsanctified Soul with filthy Lusts; the [...] fill the Head, the Heart, the Eyes and Mouth of him Look backward; Where was ever the place, what wa [...] ever the time, in which thou didst not sin? Lo [...] inward: What Part or Power canst thou find in Soul [...] [Page 105] body but 'tis poisoned with Sin? What Duty dost thou ever perform, into which Poison is not shed? Oh, how great is the Sum of thy Debts, who hast been all thy Life long running upon the Books, and never didst, nor canst pay off one Penny? Look over the Sin of thy Nature, and all its cursed Brood, the Sins of thy Life; call to Mind thy Omissions, Commis­sions, the Sins of thy Thoughts, of thy Words, of thine Actions, the Sins of thy Youth, the Sins of thy Years, &c. Be not like a desperate Bankrupt, that is afraid to look over his Books. Read the Re­cords of Conscience carefully. These Books must be opened sooner or later, Rev. 20.12.

Meditate upon the Aggravations of thy Sins, as they're the grand Enemies against the God of thy Life, against the Life of thy Soul: In a Word, they are the publick Enemies of all Mankind. How do David, Ezra, Daniel, and the good Levites, aggravate their Sins, from the Consideration of their Injuriousness to God, their Opposition to his good and righteous Laws, the Mercies, the Warnings that they were committed against, Neh. 9. Dan. 9. Ezra 9. O the Work that Sin hath made in the World. This is the Enemy that hath brought in Death, that hath robbed and enslaved Man, that hath blacked the Devil, that hath digged Hell, Rom. 5.12. 2 Pet. 2.4. John 8.34. This is the Enemy that hath turned the Creation upside down, and sown Dissention between Man and the Creatures, between Man and Man, yea, between Man and himself, setting the sen­sitive Part against the rational, the Will against the Judgment, Lust against Conscience; yea, worst of all, between God and Man, making the lapsed Sinner both hateful to God, and the Hater of him, Zech. 11.8. O Man! how canst thou make so light of Sin? This [...]s the Traitor that sucked the Blood of the Son of God, that sold him, that mocked him, that scourged [...]im, that spit in his Face, that digged his Hands, [...]hat pierced his Side, that pressed his Soul, that [...]angled his Body, that never left till he had bound [...]im, condemned him, nailed him, crucified him, [...]nd put him to open Shame, Isa. 53.4, 5, 6. This is [Page 106] that deadly Poison, so powerful of Operation, as that one Drop of it shed upon the Root of Mankind, hath corrupted, spoiled, and poisoned, and undone his whole Race at once, Rom. 5.18, 19. This is the common Butcher, the bloody Executioner, that hath killed the Prophets, burnt the Martyrs, murdered all the Apostles, all the Patriarchs, all the Kings and Potentates, that hath destroyed Cities, swallowed Empires, butchered and devoured whole Nations Whatever was the Weapon that 'twas done by, Sin was it that did Execution, Rom. 6.23. Dost thou yet think it but a small Thing? If Adam and all his Children could be digged out of their Graves, and their Bodies piled up to Heaven, and an Inquest were made, what matchless Murderer were guilty of a [...] this Blood; it would be all found in the Skirts of Sin. Study the Nature of Sin, till thy Heart be brought to fear and loath it. And meditate on the Aggrava­tions of thy particular Sins, how thou hast sinned against all God's Warnings, against thine own Pray­ers, against Mercies, against Corrections, against clearest Light, against freest Love, against thine [...] Resolutions, against Promises, Vows, Covenants o [...] better Obedience, &c. Charge thine Heart home wit [...] these Things, till it blush for Shame, and be brought out of all good Opinion of itself, Ezra 9.6.

Meditate upon the Desert of Sin It crieth up to Heaven: It calls for Vengeance, Gen. 18.21. Its du [...] Wages is Death and Damnation; it pulls the Curs [...] of God upon the Soul and Body, Gal. 3.10. Deut. 28 The least sinful Word or Thought lays thee unde [...] the infinite Wrath of God Almighty, Rom. 2.8, 9 Matth. 12.36. Oh, what a Load of Wrath, what [...] Weight of Curses, what Treasures of Vengeance hav [...] all the Millions of thy Sins then deserved? Rom. 2. [...] John 3.36. Oh, judge thy self, that the Lord ma [...] not judge thee, 1 Cor. 11.31.

Meditate upon the Defilement and Deformity of [...] 'Tis as black as Hell, the very Image and Likene [...] of the Devil drawn upon the Soul, 1 John 3.8, 1 [...] it would more affright thee to see thy self in t [...] [Page 107] hateful Deformity of thy Nature, than to see the Devil. There is no Mire so unclean, no Vomit so loathsom, no Carcase or Carrion to offensive, no Plague or Leprosy so noisom, as Sin, in which thou art all inrolled, and covered with its odious Filth, whereby thou art rendered more displeasing to the pure and holy Nature of the glorious God, than the most filthy Object, composed of whatever is hateful to all thy Senses, can be to thee, John 15.15, 16. Couldst thou take up a Toad into thy Bosom? Couldst thou cherish it, and take Delight in it? Why, thou art as contrary to the pure and perfect Holiness of the Divine Nature, and as loathsome as that is to thee, Matth. 3 33. till thou art purified by the Blood of Jesus, and the Power of renewing Grace.

Above all other Sins, fix the Eye of Consideration on these two, 1. The Sin of thy Nature 'Tis to little Purpose to lop the Branches, while the Root of [...]riginal Cor­ruption remains untouched In vain do Men lave out the Stream when the Fountain is running, that [...] up all again. Let the Ax of thy Repentance (with David's) go to the Root of Sin, Psalm 51.5. Study how deep, how close, how permanent is thy natural Pollution, how universal it is, till thou dost cry out, with Paul's Feeling, upon thy Body of Death, Rom. 7 2 Look into all thy Parts and Powers and see what unclean Vessels, what Styes, what Dung­hills, what Sinks they are become, Heu miser, quid sum? vas sterquilinii, concha putredentis, plenus fetore & horrore, August Solil. c. 2. The Heart is never foundly broken, till thoroughly convinced of the heinousness of Original Sin. Here fix thy Thoughts, this is that that makes thee backward to all good, proue to all Evil, Rom. 7.15. that sheds Blindness, Pride, Prejudice, Unbelief, into thy Mind. Enmity, Unconstancy, Obstinacy, into thy Will: inordinate Heats and Colds into thy Affections; Insensibleness, Benummedness, Unfaithfulness, into thy Conscience; Slipperiness into thy Memory; and, in a Word, hath put every Wheel of thy Soul out of Order, and made [Page 108] it, of an Habitation of Holiness, to become a very Hell of iniquity, James 3.6. This is that that hath defiled, corrupted, perverted all thy Members, and turned them into Weapons of Unrighteousness, and Servants of Sin, Rom. 6.19. that hath filled the Head with carnal and corrupt Designs, Mic. 2.1. the Hand with sinful Practices, Isa. 1.15. the Eye with Wan­dring and Wantonness, 2 Pet. 2.14. the Tongue with deadly Poison, James 3.8. that hath opened the Ears to Tales, Flattery, and filthy Communication, and shut them against the Instruction of Life, Zech. 7.11, 12. and hath rendered thy Heart a very Mint and Forge for Sin, and the cursed Womb of all deadly Concep­tions, Matth. 15.16. so that it poureth forth its Wic­kedness without ceasing, 2 Pet. 2.14. even as natural­ly, freely and unweariedly, as a Fountain doth pour forth its Waters, Jer. 6.7. or the raging Sea doth cast forth Mire and Dirt, Isa. 57.20. And wilt thou yet be in Love with thyself, and tell us any longer of thy good Heart? Oh, never leave meditating on this desperate Contagion of original Corruption, till, with Ephraim, thou bemoan thyself, Jer. 31.8: and with deepest Shame and Sorrow, smite on thy Breast, as the Publican, Luke [...]8.13. and with Job abhor thy self and repent in Dust and Ashes, Job 42.6, 22. The particular Evil that thou art most addicted to, find out all its Aggravations, set home upon thy Heart all God's Threatnings against it: Repentance drives before it the whole Herd, but especially sticks the Arrow in the beloved Sin, and singles this out above the rest, to run it down, Psal. 11.23. Oh, labour to make this Sin odious to thy Soul, and double thy Guards, and thy Resolutions, against it, because this hath, and doth most dishonour God, and endanger thee.

Direct. III. Strive to affect thy Heart with a deep Sense of thy present Misery. Read over the foregoing Chap­ter again and again, and get it out of the Book, into thine Heart. Remember when thou liest down, that for aught thou knowest, thou mayst awake in Flames, and when thou risest up, that by the next Night [Page 109] thou mayst make thy Bed in Hell. Is it a jesting Mat­ter to live in such a fearful Case? To stand tottering upon the Brink of the Bottomless-pit, and to live at the Mercy of every Disease, that if it will but fall upon thee, will send thee forthwith into the Burnings? Suppose thou sawest a condemned Wretch hanging over Nebuchadnezzar's burning fiery Furnace, by nothing but a Twine-Thread, which were ready to break every Moment, would not thy Heart tremble for such an One? Why, thou art the Man. This is thy very Case, O Man, Woman, that readest this, if thou be yet unconverted. What if the Thread of thy Life should break? (Why, thou knowest not but it may be the next Night, yea, the next Moment) Where wouldst thou be then? Whither wouldst thou drop? Verily upon the Crack but of this Thread, thou fallest into the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone; where thou mayest lie scalding and swel­tering in a fiery Ocean, while God hath a Being, if thou die in thy present Case. And doth not thy Soul tremble as thou readest? Doth not thy Tears bedew the Paper, and thy Heart throb in thy Bosom? Dost thou not yet begin to smite on thy Breast, and bethink thy self what Need thou hast of a Change? Oh, what is thy Heart made of? Hast thou not only lost all Regard to God, but art without any Love and Pity to thy self?

Oh, study thy Misery, till thy Heart do cry out for Christ, as earnestly as ever a drowning Man did for a Boat, or the Wounded for a Chirurgeon: Men must come to see the Danger, and feel the Smart of their deadly Sores and Sickness, or else Christ will be to them a Physician of no Value, Matth. 9.12. Then the Man-slayer hastens to the City of Refuge, when pursued by the Avenger of Blood. Men must be even forced and fired out of themselves, or else they will not come to Christ. 'Twas Distress and Extremity that made the Prodigal [...]nk of return­ing, Luke 15.16, 17. While Laodicea thinks herself rich, encreased in Goods, in need of Nothing, there is little Hope. She must be deeply convinced of [Page 110] her Wretchedness, Blindness, Poverty, Nakedness, before she will come to Christ for his Gold, Raiment, Eye salve, Rev. 3.17, 18 Therefore hold the Eyes of Conscience open, amplify thy Misery as much as possible, do not fly the Sighs of it, for fear it should fill thee with Terror. The Sense of thy Misery is but (as it were) the Supputation of the Wound, which is necessary to the Cure. Better fear the Torments that abide thee now, than feel them hereafter.

Direct. IV. Settle it upon thy Heart, that thou art under everlasting Inability ever to recover thy self. Never think thy Praying, Reading, Hearing, Confessing, Amending, will do the Cure. These must be at­tended, but thou art undone if thou restest in them, Rom. 10.3. Thou art a lost Man, if thou hopest to escape drowning upon any other Plank, but Jesus Christ, Acts 4.12. Thou must unlearn thy self, and renounce thine own Wisdom, thine own Righteous­ness, thine own Strength, and throw thy self wholly upon Christ, as a Man that swimmeth casteth him­self upon the Water, or else thou canst not escape. While Men trust in themselves, and establish their own Righteousness, and have Confidence in the Flesh, they will not come savingly to Christ, Luke 18.9. Philip 3.3. Thou must know thy Gain to be but Loss and Dung, thy Strength but Weakness, thy Righteousness Rags and Rottenness, before there will be an effectual Closure between Christ and thee, Philip. 3.7, 8, 9. 2 Cor. 3.5. Isa. 64.6. Can the lifeless Carcase shake off its Grave-cloaths, and loose the Bonds of Death? Then mayest thou recover thy self, who [...] dead in Trespasses and Sins, and under an Impossibility of serving thy Maker (acceptably) in this Condition, Rom. 8.8. Heb. 11.6. Therefore when thou goest to pray, or meditate, or to do any of the Duties to which thou art here directed, go out of thy self, call in the Help of the Spirit, as despairing to do any Thing pleasing to God, in thine own Strength: Yet neglect not thy Duty, but lie at the Pool, and wait in the Way of the Spirit. While [Page 111] the Eunuch was reading, then the Holy Ghost sent Philip to him, Acts 8.28, 29. When the Disciples were praying, Acts 4.31. when Cornelius and his Friends were hearing, Acts 10.44. then the Holy Ghost fell upon them, and filled them all. Strive to give up thy self to Christ, strive to pray, strive to meditate, strive an hundred and an hundred Times, try to do it as well as thou canst; and while thou art endeavouring in the Way of thy Duty, the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and help thee to do what of thy self thou art utterly unable unto, Prov. 1.23.

Direct. V. Forthwith renounce all thy Sins. If thou yield thyself to the constant Practice of any Sin, thou art undone, Rom. 6.17. In vain dost thou hope for Life by Christ, except thou depart from Iniquity, 2 Tim. 2.19. Forsake thy Sins, or else thou canst not find Mercy, Prov. 18.13. Thou canst not be married to Christ, except divorced from Sin. Give up the Traitor, or you can have no Peace with Heaven. Cast the Head of Sheba over the Wall: Keep not Dalilah in thy Lap. Thou must part with thy Sins, or with thy Soul: Spare but one Sin, and God will n [...]t spare thee: Never make Excuses, thy Sins must die, or thou must die for them, Psalm 86.21. If thou allow of one Sin, though but a little, a secret one, tho' thou mayest plead Necessity, and have a hundred Shifts and Excuses for it, the Life of thy Soul must go for the Life of that [...]in, Ezek. 18.21. And will it not be dearly bought?

O Sinner! hear and consider. If thou wilt part with thy Sins, God will give thee his Christ. I [...] not this a fair Exchange? I testify unto thee thi [...] Day, that if thou perish; it is not because there wa [...] never a Saviour provided, nor Life tendered, but because thou preferredst (with the J [...]s) thy Murderer before thy Saviour, Sin before Christ, and lovedst Darkness rather than Light, John 3.19. Search thy Heart therefore with Candles, a [...] th [...] Jews did their Houses for Leaven, bef [...] the Pass over: Labour to find out thy Sins, [...] into thy [Page 112] Closet, and consider, What Evil have I lived in? What Duty have I neglected towards God? What Sin have I lived in against my Brother? And now strike the Darts through the Heart of thy Sin, as Joah did through Absalom's, 2 Sam. 18.14 Never stand looking upon thy Sins, nor rolling the Morsel under thy Tongue, Job 20.11. but spit it out as Poison, with Fear and Detestation: Alas! What will thy Sins do for thee that thou shouldst stick at pa [...]ting with them? They will flatter thee, but they will undo thee, and cut thy Throat, while they smile upon thee, and poison thee, while they please thee, and arm the Justice and Wrath of the infinite God against thee. They will open Hell for thee, and pile up Fuel to burn thee: Behold the Gibbet that they have prepared for thee. Oh, serve them like Haman, and do upon them the Execution they would else have done upon thee: Away with them, crucify them, and let Christ only be Lord over thee.

Direct. VI. Make a solemn Choice of God for thy Portion and Blessedness, Deut. 26. With all possible Devotion and Veneration avouch the Lord for thy God. Set the World, with all its Glory, and Paint, and Gallantry, with all its Pleasures and Promotions, on the one Hand; and set God with all his infinite Excellencies and Perfections, on the other; and [...] that thou deliberately make thy Choice, Josh. [...] Take up thy Rest in God, John 6.68. Set [...] down under his Shadow, Cant 2.3. Let his [...]ses and Perfections turn the Scale against all [...] World. Settle it upon thy Heart, that the Lord [...]an all-sufficient Portion, that thou canst not be [...]iserable while thou hast a God to live upon: Take [...]im for thy Shield, and exceeding great Reward. [...]od alone is more than all the World, content thy self with him: Let others carry the Preferments and Glory of the World: place thou thy Happiness in his Favour, and the Light of his Countenance, Psal. 4.6, 7.

Poor Sinner! thou art fallen off from God, and [...]st engaged his Power and Wrath against thee: [Page 113] Yet know, that of his abundant Grace, He doth offer to be again thy God in Christ, 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. What sayest thou, Man? Wilt thou have the Lord for thy God? Why take this Counsel and thou shalt have him, come to him by his Christ, John 14.6. Renounce the Idols of thine own Pleasures, Gain, Reputation, 1 Thess. 1.9. Let those be pulled out of the Throne, and let God's Interest be upper­most in thine Heart: Take him as God, to be Chief in thine Affections, Estimations, Intentions; for he [...]ill not endure to have any set above him, P [...]m. 1.24. Psalm 73.25. In a Word, thou must take him in all his Personal Relations, and in all his Essential Perfections.

First, In all his Personal Relations. God the Father must be taken for thy Father, Jer. 3.4, 19, 22. Oh, come to him with the Prodigal, Father, I have sin­ned against Heaven, and in thy Sight, and am not worthy to be called thy Son; but since of thy wonder­ful Mercy, thou art pleased to take me, that am of myself a Dog, a Swine, a Devil, to be thy Child; I solemnly take thee for my Father, commend myself to thy Care, and trust to thy Providence, and cast my Burthen on thy Shoulders, I depend on thy Provision, and submit to thy Corrections, and trust under the Shadow of thy Wings, and hide in thy Chambers, and fly to thy Name. I renounce all Confidence in myself, I repose my Confidence in thee, I depose my Concern­ments with thee: I will be for thee, and no other. Again, God the Son must be taken for thy Saviour, for thy Redeemer and Righteousness, Joh. 1.2. He must be accepted as the only Way to the Father, and the only Means of Life, Heb. 7.25. Oh then, put off the Raiment of thy Captivity, on with the Wedding-Garment, and go and marry thyself to Jesus Christ. Lord, I am thine, and all that I have, my Body, my Soul, my Name, my Estate. I send a Bill of Divorce to my other Lovers: I give my Heart to thee, I will be thine undividedly, thine everlastingly. I will set thy Name on all I have, and use it only as thy Goods, as thy Loan during thy Leave, resigning all to thee. [Page 114] I will have no King but thee; reign thou over me. O­ther Lords have had Dominion over me; but now I will make mention of thy Name only, and do here take an Oath of Fealty to thee, promising and vowing to serve, love and fear thee, above all Competitions. I disavow mine own Righteousness, and despair of ever being pardoned and saved for mine own Duties or Graces, and le [...] only on thine all-sufficient Sacri­fice and Intercession, for Pardon, and Life, and Acceptance before God. I take thee for mine only Guide and Instructor, resolving to be led and directed by thee, and to wait for thy Counsel; and that thine shall be the casting Voice with me. Lastly, God the Spirit must be taken for thy Sanctifier, Rom. 8.9, 14. Gal. 5.16, 18. for thine Advocate, thy Counsellor, thy Comforter, the Teacher of thine Ignorance, the Pledge and Earnest of thine Inheritance, Rom. 8.26. Psalm 73.24. John 14 16. Eph. 1.14. John 14.26. Eph. 4 30. Awake thou North Wind, and come thou South, and blow upon my Garden, Cant. 4 16. Come thou Spirit of the most High; here is a House for thee, here is a Temple for thee; here do thou rest forever; dwell here, and rest here: Lo I give up the Possession to thee, full Possession. I send thee the Keys of my Heart, that all may be for thy Use, that thou mayest put thy Goods, thy Grace into every Room. I give up the Use of all to thee, that every Faculty, and every Member may be thine Instrument, to work Righteousness, and do the Will of my Father which is in Heaven.

Secondly, In all his essential Perfections. Consider how the Lord hath revealed himself to you in his Word: Will you take him as such a God? O Sinner, here's the blessedest News that ever came to the Sons of Men: The Lord will be thy God, Gen. 17.7: Rev. 21.3. if thou wilt but close with him in his Excel­lencies. Wilt thou have the merciful, the gracious, the Sin pardoning God to be thy God? Oh, yes (saith the Sinner) I am undone else But he farther tells thee, I am the holy and sin-hating God: If thou wilt be owned as one of my People, thou must be [Page 115] holy, 1 Pet. 1.16. holy in Heart, holy in Life. Thou must put away all thine Iniquities, be they ne­ver so near, never so natural, never so necessary to the maintaining thy fleshly Interest. Unless thou wilt be at Defiance with Sin, I cannot be thy God. Cast out the Leaven, put away the Evil of thy Doings, cease to do Evil, learn to do well, or else I can have nothing to do with thee, Isa. 1.16, 17.18. Bring forth mine Enemies, or there is no Peace to be had with me: What doth thine Heart answer? Lord I desire to have thee as such a God; I desire to be holy, as thou art holy, to be made Partaker of thy Holiness. I love thee, not only for thy Goodness and Mercy, but for thy Holiness and Purity I take thy Holiness for my Happiness. Oh, be to me a Fountain of Holiness, set on me the Stamp and Impress of thy Holiness, I will thankfully part with all my Sins at thy Com­mand: My wilful Sins I do forthwith forsake; and for my Infirmities that I cannot get rid of, tho' I would, I will strive against them in the Use of the Means. I detest them, and will pray and war against them, and never let them have quiet Rest in my Soul. Beloved, whosoever of you will thus accept of the Lord for his God, he shall have him.

Again, He tells you, I am the all-sufficient God, Gen 17.1. Will you lay All at my Feet, and give it up to my Dispose, and take me for thine only Porti­on? Will you own and honour mine All-sufficiency? Will you take me as your Happiness and Treasure, your Hope and Bliss? I am a Sun, and a Shield, all in one: Will you have me for your All? Gen. 15.1. Psal. 84.11. Now, what dost thou say to this? Doth thy Mouth water after the Onions and Flesh-pots of Egypt? Art thou loth to exchange the earth­ly Happiness for a Part in God; and though thou wouldst be glad to have God and the World too, yet canst thou not think of having him, and nothing but him, but hadst rather take up [...] [...]ith the Earth be­low, if God would but let thee keep it as long as thou wouldst? This is a fearful Sign. But now, if thou art willing to sell all for the Pearl of great [Page 116] Price, Mat. 13.47. If thine Heart answer, Lord, I desire no other Portion but thee. Take the Corn, and the Wine, and the Oil, whoso will, so I may have the Light of thy Countenance: I pitch upon thee for my Happiness, I gladly venture myself on thee, and trust myself with thee. I set my Hopes in thee, I take up my Rest with thee. Let me hear thee say, I am thy God, thy Salvation, and I have enough, all I wish for. I will make no Terms with thee, but for thyself: Let me but have thee sure, let me be able to make my Claim, and see my Title to thyself; and for other Things, I leave them to thee; give me more or less, any thing, or nothing, I will be satisfied in my God. Take him thus and he is thine own.

Again, He tells you, I am the sovereign Lord: If you will have me for your God, you must give me the Supremacy, Matth. 6.24. I will not be an Un­derling: You must not make me a Second to Sin, or any worldly Interest. If you will be my People, I must have the Rule over you; you must not live at your own List. Will you come under my Yoke? Will you bow to my Government? Will you sub­mit to my Discipline, to my Word, to my Rod? Sinner, What sayest thou to this? Lord, I had rather be at thy Command, than live at mine own List: I had rather have thy Will to be done, than mine: I approve of, and consent to thy Laws, and account it my Privilege to lie under them. And though the Flesh rebel, and often break over Bounds, I am resolved to take no other Lord but thee, I wil­lingly take the Oath of thy Supremacy, and acknow­ledge thee for my Liege Sovereign, and resolve all my Days to pay the Tribute of Worship, Obedien [...], and Love, and Service to thee, and to live to thee, as the End of my Life. This is a right accepting of God.

To be short, He tells you, I am the True and Faithful God. If you will have me for your God, you must be content to trust me, 2 Tim. 1 12. Prov. 3.5. Will you venture yourselves upon my Word, [Page 117] and depend on my Faithfulness, and take my Bond for your Security? Will you be content to follow me, in Poverty, and Reproach, and Affliction here, and to see much going out, and little coming in, and to tarry till the next World for your Preferment? Matth. 9.21. I deal much upon Trust: Will you be content to labour, and suffer, and to tarry for your Returns till the Resurrection of the Just? Luke 14.14. The Womb of my Promise will not presently bring forth: Will you have the Patience to wait? Heb. 10.36. Now, Beloved, What say you to this? Will you have this God for your God? Will you be content to live by Faith, and trust him for an unseen Happiness, an unseen Heaven, an unseen Glory? Do your Hearts answer, Lord, we will venture ourselves upon thee, we commit ourselves to thee, we roll upon thee, we know whom we have trusted, we are willing to take thy Word, we will prefer thy Promises before our own Possessions, and the Hopes of Heaven before all the Enjoyments of the Earth, we will wait thy Leisure: What thou wilt here, so that we may have but thy faithful Promise for Heaven hereafter? If you can in Truth, and upon Deliberation, thus accept of God, he will be yours. Thus there must be, in a right Conversion to God, a Closing with him suitable to his Excellencies. But when Men close with his Mercy, but yet love Sin, hating Holiness and Purity; or will take him for their Benefactor, but not for their Sovereign; or for their Patron, but not for their Portion; this is no thorow, and no sound Conversion.

Direct. VII. Accept of the Lord Jesus in all his Offices, with all his Inconveniencies as thine. Upon Terms Christ may be had. Sinner, thou hast undone thyself, and art plunged into the Ditch of most de­plorable Misery, out of which thou art never able to climb up: But Jesus Christ is able and ready to help thee, and he freely tenders himself to thee, Heb. 7.25. John 3. [...]6. Be thy Sins never so many, never so great, of never so long Continuance, yet thou shalt be most certainly pardoned and saved, if thou dost [Page 118] not wretchedly neglect the Offer that in the Name of God is here made unto thee. The Lord Jesus calleth unto thee, to look unto him and be saved, Isa. 45.22. to come unto him, and he will in no wise cast thee out, John 6.37. Yea, he is a Suitor to thee, and beseecheth thee to be reconciled, 2 Cor. 5.20. He crieth in the Streets, he knocketh at thy Door, he wooeth thee to accept of him, and live with him, Prov. 1.20 Rev. 2.30. If thou diest, 'tis because thou wouldst not come to him for Life, John 5.40. Now accept of an offered Christ, and thou art made up for ever: Now give up thy Consent to him, and the Match is made, all the World cannot hin­der it. Do not stand off because of thine Un­worthiness. Man, I tell thee, nothing in all the World can undo thee, but thine own Unwilling­ness Speak, Man; Art thou willing of the Match? Wilt thou have Christ in all his Relations to be thine; thy King, thy Priest, thy Prophet? Wilt thou have him with all his Inconveniencies? Take not Christ Hand over Head, but sit down first, and count the Cost. Wilt thou lay all down at his Feet? Wilt thou be content to run all Hazards with him? Wilt thou take thy Lot with him, fall where it will? Wilt thou deny thyself, take up thy Cross, and fol­low him? Art thou deliberately, understandingly, freely, fixedly, determined to cleave to him in all Times, and Conditions? If so, my Soul for thine, thou shalt never perish, John 3.16. but art passed from Death to Life. Here lies the main Point of thy Salvation, that thou be found in thy Covenant-closure with Jesus Christ: and therefore, if thou love thyself, see that thou be faithful to God and thy Soul here.

Direct. VIII. Resign up all thy Powers and Facul­ties, and thy whole Interest to be his: They ga [...] their own selves unto the Lord, 2 Cor. 8.5. Present your Bodies as a living Sacrifice, Rom. 12.1. The Lord seeks not yours, but you: Resign therefore thy Body with all its Members, to him; and thy Soul, with all its Powers, that it may be glorified [Page 119] in thy Body, and in thy Spirit, which are his, 2 Cor. 6 20. In a right Closure with Christ, all thy Faculties give up to him. The Judgment sub­scribes, Lord, thou art worthy of all Acceptation, chief of Ten Thousand: Happy is the Man that findeth thee. All the Things that are to be desired, are not to be compared with thee, Prov. 3.13, 14, 15. The Understanding lays aside its corrupt Reason­ings and Cavils, and its Prejudices against Christ, and his Ways. It it now past questioning and dis­puting, and casts it for Christ against all the World. It concludes, 'tis good to be here; and sees such a Treasure in this Field, such a Value in this Pearl, as is worth all, Matth. 13.44. Oh, here is the richest Bargain that ever I made, here is the richest Prize that ever Man was offered, here is the sovereignest Remedy that ever Mercy prepared; He is worthy of my Esteem, worthy of my Choice, worthy of my Love, worthy to be em­braced, adored, admired for evermore, Rev. 5.12. I approve of his Articles, his Terms are righteous and reasonable, full of Equity and Mercy. Again, the Will resigns: It stands no longer wavering, nor wishing and woulding, but it is peremptorily de­termined: Lord, thy Love hath overcome me, thou h [...] won me, and thou shalt have me: Come in, Lord; to thee I freely open, I consent to be saved in thine own Way, thou shalt have any Thing, thou shalt have all, let me have but thee. The Memory gives up to Christ [...], here is a Store-house for thee; out with this Trash, lay in thy Treasure: Let me be a Granary, a Repository of thy Truth; thy Promises, thy Providences. The Conscience comes in: Lord, I will ever side with thee, I will be thy faithful Register, I will warn when the Sinner is tempted, and smite when thou art offended. I will witness for thee, and judge for thee, and guide into thy Ways, I will never let Sin have quiet in this Soul. The Affections also come unto Christ: Oh, saith Love, I am sick of thee: Oh, saith Desire, now I have my longing: Here is the Satisfaction I sought [Page 120] for; here is the Desire of Nations; here is Bread for me, and Balm for me, all that I want. Fear bows the Knee with Awe and Veneration: Welcome Lord, to thee will I pay my Homage, thy Word and thy Red shall command my Motions; Thee will I reverence and adore, before Thee will I fall down and worship: Grief likewise puts in: Lord, thy Displeasure and thy Dishonour, thy Peoples Calamities and mine own Iniquities shall be that that shall set me abroach: I will mourn when thou art offended, I will weep when thy Cause is wounded. Anger likewise comes in for Christ: Lord, nothing so enrages me as my Folly against thee; that I should be so befooled and bewitched as to hearken to the Flatteries of Sin and Temptations of Satan against thee. Hatred too will side with Christ: I protest mortal Enmity with thine Enemies, that I will never be Friends with thy Foes; I vow an immortal Quarrel with every Sin, I will give no Quarter, I will make no Peace. Thus let all thy Powers give up to Jesus Christ.

Again, Thou must give up thy whole Interest to him: If there be any Thing that thou keepest back from Christ, it will he thine undoing, Luke 14.33. Unless thou wilt forsake all, (in Preparation and Resolution of thy Heart) thou canst not be his Disciple. Thou must hate Father and Mother, yea and thing own Life [...] in Comparison of him, and as far as it stands in Com­petition with him. Matth. 10.37. Luke 14 26, 27. &c. In a Word, Thou must give him thy self and all that thou hast without Reservation, or else thou canst have no Part in him.

Direct. IX. Make Choice of the Laws of Christ, as the Rule of thy Words, Thoughts and Actions, Ps. 119.30. This is [...]he true Convert's Choice. But here remem­ber these three Rules, 1. You must chuse them all. There is no coming to Heaven by a partial Obedience; read Psal. 11.6.128.160. Ezek. 18.21. None may think it enough to take up with the cheap and easy Part of Religion, and let alone the Duties that are costly and self denying, and grate upon the Interest of the Flesh: You must take all or none. A sincere [Page 121] Convert, tho' he makes most Conscience of the great­est Sins, and weightiest Duties, yet he makes true Conscience of little Sins, and of all Duties, Psal. 119.6, 113. Matth. 23.23. 2. For all Times: For Prospe­rity and for Adversity; whether it rain or shine. A true Convert is resolved in his Way, he will stand to his Choice, and will not set his Back to the Wind, and be of the Religion of the Times. I have stuck to thy Testimonies, I have enclined my Heart to perform thy Statutes alway, even to the End. Thy Testimonies have I taken, as an Heritage for ever, Psalm 119.31, 111.117, 44, 93. I will have respect unto thy Statutes con­tinually. This must not be done Hand over Head, but deliberately and understandingly. That disobedient Son said, I go, Sir; but he went not. Matth. 24.30. How fairly did they promise; All that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee, we will do it: And 'tis like they spake as they meant; but when it came to Trial, it was found that there was not such a Heart in them, as to do what they had promised, Deut. 5.27, 29. If you would be sincere in closing with the Laws and Ways of Christ, First, Study the Meaning, and Latitude, and Compass of them: Remember that they are very spiritual, they reach the very Thoughts and Inclinations of the Heart; so that if you will walk by this Rule, your very Thoughts, and in­ward Motions must be under Government. Again, That they are very strict and self-denying, quite contrary to the Grain of your natural Inclinations, Matth. 16.24. You must take the Strait-Gate, the Narrow-way, and be content to have the Flesh curb'd from the Liberty it desires, Matth 7.14. In a Word, That they are very large: For thy Commandment is exceeding bread, Psal. 119.96. Secondly, Rest not in generals, (for there is much Deceit in that) but bring down thy Heart to the particular Commands of Christ: Those Jews in the Prophet seemed as well resolved as any in the World, and called God to Witness, that they meant as they said: But they stuck in generals. When God's Command crosseth their Inclination, [Page 122] they will not obey, Jer. 41.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. compa­red with Ch. 43. v. 3 Take the Assembly's larger Catechism, and see their excellent and most compen­dious Exposition of the Commandments, and put thy Heart to it. Art thou resolved, in the Strength of Christ, to set upon the conscientious Practice of every Duty that thou findest to be there required of thee, and to set against every Sin that thou findest there forbidden? This is the Way to be found in God's Statutes, that thou mayest never be ashamed, Psalm 119.80. 3dly, Observe the special Duties that thy Heart is most against, and the special Sins it is most inclined to; and see whether it be truly resolved to perform the one, and forego the other. What sayest thou to thy Bosom-sin, thy gainful Sin? What sayest thou to costly and hazardous, and Flesh displeasing Duties? If thou haltest here, and dost not resolve, by the Grace of God, to cross thy Flesh, and put to it, thou art unsound, Psal. 18.23. and 119.6.

Direct. X. Let all this be compleated in a solemn Covenant between God and thy Soul, Psalm 119.10 [...]. Nch. 10.29. For thy better Help therein, take these following Directions.

First, Set apart some time, more than once, to be spent in secret before the Lord.

1. In seeking earnestly his special Assistance, and gra­tious Acceptance of thee.

2. In considering distinctly all the Terms or Conditi­ons of the Covenant, expressed in the Form hereafter proposed.

3. In searching thine Heart, whether thou art sincerely willing to forsake all thy Sins, and resign up thy [...] Body and Soul, unto God and his Service, to serve him in Holiness and Righteousness, all the Days of thy Life.

Secondly, Compose thy Spirit into the most serious Frame possible, suitable to a Transaction of so high Importance.

Thirdly, Lay hold on the Covenant of God, and [...]ly upon the Promise of giving Grace and Strength, [Page 123] whereby thou mayest be enabled to perform thy Promise. Trust not to thine own Strength, to the Strength of thine own Resolutions, but take hold on his Strength.

Fourthly, Resolve to be faithful; having engaged thine Heart, opened thy Mouth, and subscribed with my Hand unto the Lord, resolve in his Strength never to go back.

Lastly, Being thus prepared, on some convenient Time set apart for that Purpose, set upon the Work, and in the most solemn Manner possible, as if the Lord were visibly present before thine Eyes, fall down on thy Knees, and spreading forth thine Hands toward Heaven, open thine Heart to the Lord in these, or the like Words.

O Most dreadful God! For the Passion of Thy Son, I beseech Thee accept of thy poor Pro­digal, now prostrating himself at thy Door: I have fallen from Thee by mine Iniquity, and am by Na­ture a Son of Death, and a Thousand-fold more the Child of Hell, by my wicked Practice; but of thine Infinite Grace, thou hast promised Grace to me in Christ, if I will but turn to thee with all my Heart: The Terms of our Communion are either from which, or to which. therefore up­on the Call of thy Gospel, I am now come in; and, throwing down my Weapons, submit my self to thy Mercy.

And because thou requirest, as the Condition of my Peace with thee, that I should put away mine Idols, and be at Defiance with all thine Enemies, The Terms from which we must turn: Sin, Satan, the World, and our own Righte­ousness, which must be thus renounced. which I acknowledge I have wickedly sided with, against thee; I here from the Bottom of my Heart, renounce them all, firmly covenanting with thee not to allow my self in any known Sin, but conscientiously to use all the Means that I know thou hast prescribed for the Death and utter [Page 124] Destruction of all my Corruptions. And whereas I have formerly inordinately and idolatrously let out my Affection upon the World, I do here resign up my Heart to thee that madest it, humbly protesting before thy glorious Majesty, that it is the firm Resolution of my Heart; and that I do unfeignedly desire Grace from thee, that when thou shall call me hereunto, I may practise this my Resolution, through thy Assistance, to forsake all that is dear unto me in this World, rather than to turn from thee, to the Ways of Sin; and that I will watch against all its Temptations, whether of Prosperity, or Adversity, left they should withdraw my Heart from thee; beseeching thee also to help me against the Temptations of Satan, to whose wicked Suggestions I resolve by thy Grace, never to yield my self a Servant. And because my own Righteousness is but menstruous Rags, I renounce all Confidence therein, and acknowledge that I am of my self a hopeless, helpless, undone Creature, without Righteousness or Strength.

The Terms to which we must turn, are either ultimate, or me­diate.And for as much as thou hast of thy bottomless Mercy offered most graciously to me wretched Sinner, to be again my GOD, through Christ, if I would accept of thee; I call Heaven and Earth to record this Day, that I do here solemnly avouch thee for the Lord my God; and with all possible Veneration, bowing the Neck of my Soul under the Feet of thy most sacred Majesty, I do here take thee, Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for my Portion, and chief Good; The ultimate is God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, who must be thus accepted. and to give up my self, Body and Soul for thy Servant, promising and vowing to serve thee in Holiness and Righteousness all the Days of my Life.

[Page 125]And since thou hast appointed the Lord Jesus Christ, The medate Terms are either principal, or less principal. The principal is Christ the Medi­ator who must be thus embrac'd. the only Means of coming unto thee, I do here, upon the bended Knees of my Soul, accept of him, as the only new and living Way, by which Sinners may have Access to thee; and do hereby solemnly join my self in Marriage-Covenant to him.

O blessed Jesus, I come to thee hungry and hard­ly bestead, poor and wretched, and miserable, and blind and naked, a most loathsom polluted Wretch; a guilty, condemned Malefactor, unworthy for ever to wash the Feet of the Servants of my Lord, much more to be solemnly married to the King of Glory: But such is thine unparallel'd Love, I do here with all my Power accept thee, and do take thee for my Head and Husband; for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; for all Times and Conditions, to love, honour and obey thee before all others; and this to the Death. I embrace thee in all thy Offices: I renounce mine own Unworthiness, and do here avow thee to be the Lord my Righteousness: I renounce mine own Wisdom, and do here take thee for mine only Guide. I renounce mine own Will, and take thy Will for my Law.

And since thou hast told me that I must suffer if I will reign, I do here covenant with thee to take my Lot, as it falls, with thee: and, by thy Grace assisting, to run all Hazards with thee; verily sup­posing that neither Life nor Death shall part be­tween thee and me.

And because thou hast been pleased to give me thy Holy Laws as the Rule of my Life, The least princi­pal are the Laws, of Christ, which must be thus ob­served. and the Way in which I should walk to thy Kingdom, I do here willingly put my Neck under thy Yoke, and set my Shoulder to thy Burden; and subscribing to all thy Laws, as holy, just, and [Page 126] good, I solemnly take them as the Rule of my Words, Thoughts and Actions, promising, that tho' my Flesh contradict and rebel, yet I will endeavour to order and govern my whole Life according to thy Direction, and will not allow my self in the Neglect of any Thing that I know to be my Duty.

Only because, through the Frailty of my Flesh, I am subject to many Failings, I am bold humbly to protest, that unallowed Miscarriages, contrary to the settled Bent and Resolution of my Heart, shall not make void this Covenant; for so thou hast said.

Now, Almighty God, Searcher of Hearts, thou knowest that I make this Covenant with thee this Day, without any known Guile or Reservation, beseeching thee, that if thou espiest any Flaw or Falshood therein, thou wouldst discover it to me, and help me to do it aright.

And now, Glory be to thee, O God the Father, whom I shall be bold from this Day forward, to look upon as my God and Father, that ever thou shouldst find out such a Way for the Recovery of undone Sinners. Glory be to Thee, O God the Son, who hast loved me, and washed me from my Sins, in thine own Blood, and art now become my Saviour and Redeemer. Glory be to Thee, O God the Holy Ghost, who by the Finger of thine Almighty Power, hast turned about my Heart from Sin to God.

O dreadful Jehovah, the Lord God Omnipotent, Father, Son and Holy Ghost! Thou art now be­come my Covenant Friend, and I, through thine infinite Grace, am become thy Covenant Servant, Amen, So be it. And the Covenant which I have made on Earth, let it be ratified in Heaven.

Chap. VIII. Containing the Motives to Conversion.

THO' what is already said of the Necessity of Conversion, and of the Miseries of the Un­converted, might be sufficient to induce any consi­dering Mind to resolve upon a present Turning, or Conversion unto God; yet knowing what a Piece of desperate Obstinacy and Untractableness the Heart of Man naturally is, I have thought it necessary to add to the Means of Conversion, and Directions for a Covenant closure with God in Christ, some Motives to persuade you hereunto

‘O Lord, fail me not now, at my last Attempts. If any Soul have read hitherto, and be yet un­touched, now, Lord, fasten in him, and do thy Work. Now take him by the Heart, overcome [Page 139] him, perswade him, till he say, Thou hast pre­vailed, for thou wert stronger than I. Lord, didst thou not make me a Fisher of Men? And have I toiled all this while, and caught nothing? Alas, that I should have spent my Strength for nought! And now I am casting my last; Lord Jesus, stand thou upon the Shore, and direct how and where I shall spread my Net; and let me so inclose with Arguments the Souls I seek for, that that may not be able to get out.’ Now, Lord, for a Multitude of Souls! Now for a full Draught! O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me this once, O God.

But I turn unto you.

Men and Brethren, Heaven and Earth doth call upon you; yea, Hell itself doth preach the Doctrine of Repentance unto you: the Angels of the Churches travail with you, Gal. 4.19. the Angels of Heaven wait for you, for your repenting, and turning unto God. O Sinner, why should the Devil make merry with thee? Why should thou be a Morsel for that devouring Leviathan? Why should Harpies and Hell­hounds tear thee, and make a Feast upon thee; and when they have got thee into the Snare, and have lastned their Talons in thee, laugh at thy Destruction, and deride thy Misery, and sport themselves with thy damnable Folly? This must be thy Case, except thou turn. And were it not better thou shouldst be a Joy to Angels, than a Laughing-stock and Sport for Devils? Verily, if thou wouldst but come in, the heavenly Host would take up their Anthems, and sing, Glory be to God in the Highest; the Morning-Stars would sing together, and all the Sons of God shout for Joy, and celebrate this new Creation as they did the first. Thy Repentance would, as it were, make Holy-day in Heaven, and the glorious Spirits would rejoice in that there was a new Brother added to their Society, Rev. 22.9. another Heir born to their Lord, and the lost Son received safe and sound. [Page 140] The true Penitent's Tears, are indeed the Wine that cheareth both God and Man.

If it be little, that Men and Angels would rejoice at thy Conversion, know that God himself would rejoice over thee, even with singing, and rest in his Love, Luke 15.9. Isa. 62.5. Never did Jacob with such Joy weep over the Neck of his Joseph, as thy heavenly Father would rejoice over thee, upon thy coming in to him. Look over the Story of the Prodigal; methinks I see how the aged Father lays aside his Estate, and forgets his Years. Behold how he runneth, Luke 15.20. Oh the Haste that Mercy makes! the Sinner makes not half that Speed. Methinks I see how his Bowels turn, how his Compassions yearn. (How quick-sighted is Love!) Mercy spies him a great Way off, forgets his riotous Courses, unnatural Rebellion, horrid Unthankfulness, debauched Practice (not a Word of these) but receives him with open Arms, clasps about his Neck, forgets the Nastiness of his Rags, kisseth the Lips that deserve to be loathed, the Lips that had been joined to Harlots, that had been Commoners with the Swine; calls for the fatted Calf, the best Robe, the Ring, the Shoes, the best Chear in Heaven's Store, the best Attire in Heaven's Wardrobe, Luke 15.6, 9, 23. Yea, the Joy cannot be held in one Breast, &c. others must be called to participate; the Friends must meet, and make merry: Angels must wait, but the Prodigal must be set at the Table, under his Father's Wing: He is the Joy of the Feast; he is the sweet Subject of the Father's Delight: The Friends sympathize, but none knows the Felicity the Father takes in his new-born Son, whom he hath received from the Dead. Methinks I hear the Musick and the Dancing at a Distance. Oh the Melody of the heavenly Choristers! I cannot learn the Song, Rev. 14.3. but methinks I over-hear the Burden, at which all the Harmonious Quire with one Consent strike sweetly in; for thus goes the Round at Heaven's Table, For this my Son was dead, and [Page 141] is alive again, was lost, and is found, Luke 15.23, 24, 32. I need further explain the Parable; God is the Father, Christ is the Chear, his Righteousness the Robe, his Graces the Ornaments, Ministers, Saints, Angels, the Friends and Servants, and thou that readest (if thou wilt but unfeignedly repent and turn) the welcome Prodigal, the happy Instance of this Grace, and blessed Subject of this Joy and Love.

O Rock! O Adamant! What! Not moved yet? Nor yet resolved to turn forthwith, and to close with Mercy; I will try thee yet once again: If one were sent to thee from the Dead, wouldst thou be perswaded? Why, hear the Voice from the Dead, from the Damned, crying to thee that thou shouldst repent. I pray thee, that thou wouldst send him to my Father's House; for I have five Brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this Place of Torment. If one went unto them from the Dead, they will repent, Luke 16.27, 28, &c. Hear, O Man! thy Predecessors in Impenitence preach to thee from the infernal Gibbets, from the Flames, from the Rack, that thou shouldst repent. Oh, look down in the Bottomless pit: Seest thou how the Smoke of their Torment ascendeth for ever and ever? Rev. 14.11. How black are the Fiends? How furious are their Torments! 'Tis their only Musick to hear how their miserable Patients roar, to hear their Bones crack: 'Tis their Meat and Drink to see how their Flesh frieth, and their Fat droppeth; to drench them with burning Metal, and to rip open their Bodies, and to pour in the fierce burning Brass into their Bowels, and the Recesses and Ventricles of their Hearts. What thinkest thou of those Chains of Darkness, of those Instruments of Cruelty? Canst thou be content to burn? Seest thou how the Worm gnaweth, how the Oven gloweth, how the Fire rageth? What sayest thou to that River of Brimstone, that dark and horrible Vault, that Gulf of Perdition? Wilt thou take up thy Habitation here? Oh, lay [Page 142] [...]hine Ear to the Door of Hell: Hearest thou the Curses and Blasphemies, the Weepings and the Wailings; how they lament their Folly, and curse their Day? Mat. 22.13. Rev. 16.9. How do they [...]oar and yell, and gnash their Teeth? How deep are their Groans? How feeling are their Moans? How unconceivable are their Miseries? If the Shrieks of Corah, Dathan and Abiram, were so terrible (when the Earth clave asunder, and opened her Mouth, and swallowed them up, and all that apper­tained to them) that all Israel fled at the Cry of them, Numb. 19.33, 34. Oh, how fearful would the Cry be, if God should take off the Covering from the Mouth of Hell, and let the Cry of the Damned ascend in all its Terror amongst the Children of Men? And of all their Moans and Miseries, this is the piercing, killing Emphasis and Burden, For ever, for ever.

Why, as God liveth, that made thy Soul, thou art but a few Hours distant from all this, except thou repent, and be converted.

Oh! I am even lost and swallowed up in the Abundance of these Arguments that I might suggest: If there be any Point of Wisdom in all the World, it is to repent, and come in; if there be any Thing righteous, any Thing reasonable, that is it: If there be any Thing in the World that may be called Mad­ness and Folly, and any Thing that may be counted sottish, absurd, brutish, unreasonable, it is this, to go on in thine unconverted Estate. Let me beg of thee, as thou wouldst not wilfully destroy thy self, to sit down and weigh, besides what hath been said, these following Motives, and let Conscience speak, if it be not Reason that thou shouldst repent and turn.

I. The God that made thee doth most graciously invite thee.

1. His most sweet and merciful Nature doth in­vite thee. O the Kindness of God, his working Bowels, his tender Mercies! They are infinitely above our Thoughts: Higher than Heaven, what can [Page 143] we do? Deeper than Hell, what can we know? Job 11. [...], 8, 9. He is full of Compassion, and gracious; long-suffering, and plenteous in Mercy, Psalm 86.15. This is a great Argument to persuade Sinners to come in, ‘Turn unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to Anger, and of great Kindness, and repenteth him of the Evil.’ If God would not repent him of the Evil, it were some Discourage­ment to us, why we should not repent. If there were no Hope of Mercy, it were no such Wonder if Rebels should stand out; But never had Subject such a gracious Prince, such Piety, Patience, Clemency, Pity, to deal with, as you have. Who is a God like unto him that pardoneth Iniquity, &c. Micah 7.18. O Sinners, see what a God you have to deal with! If you will but turn, ‘He will turn again, and will have Compassion on you; He will subdue your Iniquities, and cast all your Sins into the Depth of the Sea, Verse 19. Return unto me, saith the Lord of Hosts, and I will return unto you, Mal. 2.17. Zeth. 1.3.’ Sinners do not fail in that they have [...]oo high Thoughts of God's Mercies, but in that, [...]. They overlook his Justice. 2. They promise themselves Mercy out of God's Way. His Mercy is beyond all Imagination, Isa. 55.9. great Mercies, 1 Chron. 21.13. manifold Mercies, Neh. 9.19. tender Mercies, Psalm 25.6. sure Mercies, Isa 55.3. everlasting Mercies, Psalm 103.17. Isa. 54.8. and all thine own, if thou wilt but turn. Art thou willing to come in? Why the Lord hath laid aside his Terror, erected a Throne of Grace, holds forth the Golden Scepter: Touch, and live. Would a merciful Man slay his Enemy, when prostrate at his Feet, acknow­ledging his Wrong, begging Pardon, and offering to enter with him into a Covenant of Peace? Much less will the merciful God. Study his Name, Exod. 34.7. Read their Experience, Neh. 9.17.

2. His Soul encouraging Calls and Promises do invite thee. Ah, what an earnest Suitor is Mercy to thee! How lovingly, how instantly it calleth after thee! [Page 144] How passionately it wooeth thee: ‘Return, thou back-sliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine Anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep Anger for ever: Only acknowledge thine Iniquity. Turn, O back-sliding Children, saith the Lord, for I am married unto you: Return, and I will heal your Back-slidings. Thou hast play'd with many Lovers, yet return unto me, saith the Lord, Jer. 3 11, 12, 13, 14, 22. As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked, but that he turn from his Way, and live: Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil Ways; for why will ye die, O House of Israel? Ezek. 33.11. If the Wicked will turn from all his Sins that he hath committed, and keep all my Statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his Transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: In his Righteousness that he hath done, shall he live. Repent and turn yourselves from all your Transgressions, so Iniquity shall not be your Ruin. Cast away from you all your Transgressions, and make you a clean Heart, and a new Spirit; for why will ye die, O House of Israel? For I have no Pleasure in the Death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye, Ezek. 18.21, 23, 30, 31, 32.’

O melting, gracious Words! The Voice of a God, and not of a Man! This is not the Manner of Men, for the offended Sovereign to sue the offending, traitorous Varlet. Oh, how doth Mercy follow thee, and plead with thee! Is not thy Heart broken yet? Oh, that to Day you would hear his Voice!

2. The Doors of Heaven are thrown open to thee, the Everlasting Gates are set wide for thee, and an abundant Entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven administred to thee. Christ now speaks to thee, (as she her Husband) Arise, and take Possession, 1 Kings 21.15. View the Glory of the other World, as set forth in the Man [Page 145] of the Gospel. Get thee up into Pisgah of the Promises, and lift up thine Eyes Westward, North­ward, Southward, and Eastward, and see the good Land that is beyond Jordan, and that goodly Moun­tain. Behold the Paradise of God, watered with the Streams of Glory. Arise, and walk through the Land, in the Length of it, and in the Breadth of it; for the Land which thou seest, the Lord will give it to thee for ever, if thou wilt but return, Gen. 13.14, 15, 17. Let me say to thee, as Paul to Agrippa, believest thou the Prophets? If thou believest indeed, do but view what glorious Things are spoken of the City of God, Psalm 87.3. and know that all this is here tendred in the Name of God to thee: As verily as God is true, it shall be for ever thine, if thou wilt but thorowly turn.

Behold the City of pure transparent Gold, whose Foundations are garnished with all Manner of precious Sones, whose Gates are Pearls, whose Light is Glory, whose Temple is God. Believest thou this? If thou dost, art thou not worse than distracted, that wilt not take Possession, when the Gates are flung open to thee, and thou art bid to enter? O ye Sons of Folly, will ye embrace the Dunghills, and refuse the Kingdom? Behold, the Lord God taketh you up into the Mountain, shews you the Kingdom of Heaven, and all the Glory thereof; and tells you, All this will I give you, if you will fall down and worship [...]e: If you will submit to Mercy, accept my Son, and serve me in Righteousness and Holiness. O Fools, and slow of Heart to believe! Will you court the Harlot? Will you seek and serve the World, and neglect the Eternal Glory? What! Not enter into Paradise, when the Flaming-Sword that was once set to keep you out, is now used to drive you in: But you will say, I am uncharitable to think you Infidels and Unbelievers. Why, what shall I think you? Either you are desperate Unbelievers, that do not credit it, or stark distracted, that you know and believe the Excellency and Eternity of his Glory, [Page 146] and yet do so [...]ea [...]u [...]y neglect it. Surely you have no Faith, or no Reason; and I had almost said, Conscience should tell you so, before I leave you

Do but attend what is offered you: O blessed Kingdom! A Kingdom of Glory, 1 Thess. 2.1. A Kingdom of Righteousness, 2 Pet. 3.13. A Kingdom of Peace, Rom 14.17. An everlasting Kingdom, 2 Pet. 1.11. Here thou shalt dwell, here thou shalt reign for ever, and the Lord shall set thee in a Throne of Glory, Matth 19.18. and with his own Hand shall he set the Royal Diadem upon thine Head, and give thee a Crown, not of Thorns (for there shall be no sinning nor suffering there, Rev. 21.27.23. 3, 4, 5) not of Gold (for this shall be viler than the Dirt in that Day) but a Crown of Life, James 1.12. A Crown of Righteousness, 2 Tim. 4.8 A Crown of Glory, 1 Peter 5 4. Yea, thou shalt put on Glory as a Robe, 1 Cor. 15.53. and shalt shine like the Sun in the Firmament, in the Glory of thy Father, Matth. 13.43. Look now upon thy dirty Flesh, thy Clay, thy Worms Meat: This very Flesh this Lump, this Carcase shall be brighter than the Stars, Dan. 12.3. In short, thou shalt be made like unto the Angels of God, Luke 26.36. and behold his Face in Righteousness, Psalm 17.15. Look in now, and tell me, Dost thou yet believe? If not Conscience must pronounce thee an Infidel; for it i [...] the very Word of God that I speak.

But if thou say thou believest, let me next kno [...] thy Resolutions. Wilt thou embrace this for th [...] Happiness? Wilt thou forego thy sinful Gains, th [...] forbidden Pleasures? Wilt thou trample on th [...] World's Esteem, and spit in the Harlot's Face, an [...] stop thine Ears at her Flatteries, and wrest thee o [...] of her Embraces? Wilt thou be content to take u [...] with present Reproach and Poverty, if it lie in th [...] Way to Heaven, and follow the Lord with humb [...] Self-denial, in a mortified and Flesh-displeasing Lif [...] If so, all is thine, and that for ever. And art n [...] thou fairly offered? Is it not Pity but he should [...] [Page 147] damned, that will needs go on and perish, when all this may be had for the taking? In a Word, Wilt thou now close with these Proffers? Wilt thou take God at his Word? Wilt thou let go thy Hold-fast of the World, and rid thy Hands of thy Sins, and lay hold on eternal Life? If not, let Conscience tell thee, whether thou art not distracted or bewitched, that thou shouldst neglect so happy a Choice, by which thou mightest be made up for ever.

3. God will se [...]le unspeakable Privileges at present upon thee, 1 Cor. 3.2. Heb. 12.22, 23, 24. Tho' the full of your Blessedness shall be deferred till hereafter, yet God will give you no little Things in Hand.

He will redeem you from your Thraldom, John 8.36. He will pluck you from the Paw of the Lion, Col. 1.13. The Serpent shall bruise your Heel, but you shall bruise his Head, Gen. 3.15. He shall deliver you from the present evil World, Gal. 1.4. Prosperity shall not destroy you: Adversity shall not separate between him and you, Rom. 8.35, 37, 38. He will redeem you from the Power of the Grave, Psalm 49.15. and make the King of Terrors a Passenger of Peace to you. He will take out the Curse from the Cross, Psalm 119.71. and make Affliction the Fining-pot, the Fan, the Physick, to blow off the Chaff, purify the Metal, and purge the Mind, Dan. 12.10. Isa. 27.9. He will save you from the Arrest of the Law, and turn the Curse into a Blessing to you, Rom. 6.14. Gal. 3.24. He hath the Keys of Hell and Death, and shutteth that no Man openeth, Rev. 3.7. and 1.18. and he will shut its Mouth, as once he did the Lions, Dan. 6.21, that you shall not be hurt of the second Death, Rev. 2.11.

But he will not only save you from Misery, but instal you into unspeakable Prerogatives: He will bestow himself upon you, he will be a Friend unto you, and a Father to you, 2 Cor. 6.18. He will be a Sun and a Shield to you, Psalm 84.11. In a [Page 148] Word, He will be a God to you, Gen. 17.7. And what can be said more? What may you expect that a God should do for you, and be to you, that he will not be, and will not do? She that marries a Prince, expects he should do for her like a Prince, that she may live in a suitable State, and have an answerable Dowry. He that hath a King for his Father, or Friend, expects he should do for him like a King. Alas! the Kings and Monarchs of the Earth, so much above you, are but like the painted Butter-flies amongst the rest of their Kind, or the fair-coloured Palmer-Worm amongst the rest of the Worms, if compared with God. As he doth infinitely exceed the Glory and Power of his glitter­ing Dust, so he will, beyond all Proportion, exceed in doing for his Favourites, whatever Princes can do for theirs. He will give you Grace and Glory, and withhold no good Thing from you, Psalm 84.11. He will take you for his Sons and Daughters, and make you Heirs of his Promises, Heb. 6.17. and establish his Everlasting Covenant with you, Jer. 32.40. He will justify you from all that Law, Conscience, Satan, can charge upon you, Rom. 8.33, 34. He will give you free Access into his Presence, and accept your Person, and receive your Prayers, Eph. 3.12: and 1.6. 1 John 5.14. He will abide in you, and make you the Men of his Secrets, and hold a constant and friendly Commu­nion with you, John 14.23. and 15.15. 1 John 1.3. His Ear shall be open, his Door open, his Store open at all Times to you. His Blessing shall rest upon you, and he will make your Enemies to serve you, and work about all Things for good unto you, Psalm 115.13. Rom. 8.28.

4. The Terms of Mercy are brought as low as possible to you. God hath stooped as low to Sinners, as with Honour he can. He will not be thought a Fauto [...] of Sin, nor strain the Glory of his Holiness: And whither could he come lower than he hath, unles [...] he should do this? He hath abated the impossible [Page 149] Terms of the first Covenant, Jer. 3.13. Mark 5.36. Acts 16.31. and 3.19 Prov. 28.13. He doth not impose any Thing unreasonable or impossible, as a Condition of Life upon you. Two Things were necessary to be done, according to the Tenour of the first Covenant, by you: 1. That you should fully satisfy the Demands of Justice for past Offences. 2. That you should perform personally, perfectly and perpetually the whole Law for the Time to come. Both these are to us impossible, Rom. 8.3. But behold God's gracious Abatement in both: He doth not stand upon Satisfaction, he is content to take of the Surety (and he of his own providing too) what he might have exacted from you, 2 Cor. 5.19. He declares himself to have received a Ransom, Job 33.24. 1 Tim. 2.6. and that he expects nothing but that you should accept his Son, and he shall be Righ­teousness and Redemption to you, John 1.12. 1 Cor. 1.30. And for the future Obedience, here he is content to yield to your Weakness, and omit the Rigour. He doth not stand upon Perfection (as a Condition of Life, tho' he still insists upon it as due) but is content to accept of Sincerity, Gen. 17.1. Prov. 11.20. Tho' you cannot pay the full Debt, he will accept you according to that which you have, and take willing for doing, and the Purpose for the Performance, 2 Cor. 8.12. 2 Chron. 6.8. Heb. 11.17. And if you come in his Christ, and set your Hearts to please him, and make it the Chief of your Cares, he will approve and reward you, tho' the Vessel be marred in your Hands.

Oh, consider your Maker's Condescension. Let me say to you, as Naaman's Servant to him, My Father, if the Prophet had bid thee do some great Thing, wouldst thou not have done it? How much rather when he saith unto thee, wash and he clean? 2 Kings 5 13. If God had demanded some terrible, some severe and rigorous Thing of you, to escape eternal Damnation, would you not have done it? Suppose [Page 150] it had been to spend all your Days in Sorrow in some howling Wilderness, or pine your selves with Famine, or to offer the Fruit of your Bodies for the Sin of your Souls, would you not have thank­fully accepted Eternal Redemption, tho' these had been the Conditions? Yea, further, if God should have told you, you should have fried in the Fire for Millions of Ages, or been so long tormented in Hell, would you not have gladly accepted it? Alas! all these are not so much as one Sand in the Glass of Eternity. If your offended Creator should have had you but one Year upon the Rack, and then bid you come and forsake your Sins, accept of Christ, and serve him a few Years in Self-denial, or lie in this Case for ever and ever: Do you think you should have stuck at the Offer, and disputed the Terms, and have been unresolved whether you were best to accept of the Motion? O Sinner, return and live: Why shouldst thou die, when Life is to be had for the Taking, and Mercy should be beholding to thee (as it were) to be saved? Couldst thou say indeed, Lord, I knew that thou wast an hard Man, Matth. 25.24. thou hadst some little Excuse: But when the God of Heaven had stooped so low, and bated so far, i [...] now thou shouldst stand off, who shall plead fo [...] thee?

Object. Notwithstanding all these Abatements I am no more able to perform those Condition (in themselves so easy) of Faith and Repentance and sincere Obedience, than to satisfy and fulfil the Law.

Answ. These you may perform, by God's Grac [...] enabling, whereas the others are naturally impossible in this State, even to Believers themselve [...] But let the next Consideration serve for a fulle Answer.

5. Wherein you are impotent, God doth offer Gra [...] to enable you. I have stretched out my Hand, and no Ma [...] regarded, Prov. 1.24. What tho' you are plunge [Page 151] into the Ditch of that Misery, from which you can never get out? Christ offereth to help you out: He stretcheth his Hand to you, and if you perish, it is for refusing his Help. Behold, I stand at the Door, and knock: If any Man open to me, I will come in, Rev. 3.20. What tho' you are poor, and wretched, and blind, and naked, Christ offereth a Cure for your Blindness, a Cover for your Naked­ness, a Remedy for your Poverty, he tendereth you his Righteousness, his Graces: I counsel thee to buy [...] me Gold, that thou mayest be rich; and white Raiment, that thou mayest be cloathed; and anoint thine Eyes with Eye-salve that thou mayest see, Rev. 3.17.18. Do you say, The Condition is impossible, for I have not wherewith to buy? You must know, that this buying is without Money, and without Price, Isa. 55.1. this buying is by begging, and seeking with Diligence and Constancy in the Use of God's Means, Prov. 2.3, 4. God commandeth thee to know him, and to fear him. Dost thou say, Yea, but my Mind is blinded, and my Heart is hardned from this Fear? I answer, God doth offer to enlighten thy Mind, and to teach thee his Fear, that is presented to thy Choice, Prov. 1.29. For that [...]ey hated Knowledge, and did not chuse the Fear of the Lord. So that now, if Men live in Ignorance and Estrangement from the Lord, it is because they will not understand, and desire not the Knowledge of his Ways, Job 21.14. If thou criest after Knowledge, if thou seekest her as Silver, &c. Then shalt thou understand the Fear of the Lord, and find the Knowledge of God, Prov. 2.3, 4, 5. Is not here a fair Offer? Turn you at my Reproof: Behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, Prov. 1.23. Tho' of your selves you cannot do nothing, yet you may do all through his Spirit enabling you; and he doth offer Assistance to you. God bids you wash, and make you clean, Isa. 1.16. You say, you are unable, as much as the Leopard to wash out his Spots, Jer. 13.23. Yea, but the Lord doth offer to purge you; so that if you be [Page 152] filthy still, it is through your own Wilfulness, Ezek. 24.13. I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged. Jer. 13.27. O Jerusalem, wilt thou not be made clean, when shall it once be? God doth wait when you will be made clean, when you will yield to his Motions, and accept of his Offers, and let him do for and in you, what you cannot do for your selves. You do not know how much God will do upon your Impor­tunity, if you will be restless, and instant with him, Luke 11.8. and 18.5.

If God hath not bound himself by express Pro­mise to wicked Men, to give them Grace in the diligent Use of the Means, yet he hath given then abundant Encouragement to expect it from him, if they seek it earnestly in his Way. His mo [...] gracious Nature is abundant Encouragement. I [...] a rich and most bountiful Man should see thee in Misery, and bid thee come to his Door; wouldst thou not, with Confidence, expect, at thy coming, to find some Relief? Thou art not able to believe, nor repent; God appoints thee to use such and such Means in order to thy obtaining Faith and Repentance: Doth not this argue that God will bestow these upon thee, if thou dost ply him diligently in Prayer, Meditation, Reading, Hearing, Self-Examination, and the rest of his Means▪ Otherwise God should but mock his poor Creatures, to put them upon these Self-denying Endeavours and then, when they have put hard to it, and continued waiting upon him for Grace, deny them at last. Surely if a sweet natured Man would not deal thus, much less will the most merciful and gracious God.

I intended to have added many other Arguments, but these have swoln under my Hands; and I hope the judicious Reader will rather look upon th [...] Weight, than Number.

CHAP. I. The singular Duties of Christians.

CHAP. II. A third Case of Conscience, grounded upon the Words of our SAVIOUR.

Qu. 1. IS any Man able in this Life to [...] up to the Example of Christ in this, to do always those things that please God?

Answ. In Regard there is none that doth good and sinneth not, and God is not, not can be pleased with Sin, no not in his own People, but most of all hates it in them, it cannot be that any Man in this Life should fully come up to Christ's Example in this; yet may we come on so far towards it as that not only in our immediate Addresses to God, but in the general course of our Lives, we may come to please God. Thus Enoch and Noah walked with God, i. e. in their general Course they walked so as to please God, and approve themselves in his Sight: Thus the meanest of Actions, if done by us unto the Lord as the Servants of Christ, have a Promise of Acceptance and Reward, Col. 3.22.23.24.

Q. II How may we come in our Measure to be followers of Christ, in this, to do always those things that please God?

Answ. In order to this, there is something ne­cessary, [Page 26] with reference, 1. To our Persons. 2. To our Principles. 3. To our Practices. 1. With Reference to our Persons. And here it is necessary, 1. That there be an Alteration of our Natures by renewing Grace, for they that are in the Flesh cannot please God, Rom. 8.8.

These wild Vines must needs bring forth sower Grapes, Isa. 5.4. The Fruit that they bear (how specious and fair soever to the Eye) is evil Fruit, Matth. 7, 16. Where there is not a good Treasure of Grace in the Heart, a Man cannot in his Actions bring forth good things, Matth. 12.36.

Many enlightned Sinners think by Reading and Praying, and forsaking some gross and foul Sins, to pacify God, and set all Right: Mistaken Souls, [...]t me undeceive you; you begin at the wrong End, your first and greatest Care must be to get your Hearts and Natures changed, and renewed by the Power of converting Grace; you labour in vain at the Streams, while the Fountain of Corruption in the Heart remains in its Strength: You must not think it is with you, as it is with a ruinous House, where the mending of here and there a little will make up all again; but the old Building must be quite taken down, and the Foundation Stone laid a-new in a sound Repentance from dead Works, and thorough Conversion unto God. Till this be done, you must know, that God hath no Pleasure in you, neither will accept an Offering at your Hand, Malachy 1.10. as he doth from those that are Friends.

2. That there be the Acceptation of your Persons through Faith in Christ Jesus. For in him alone it is that God is well pleased, Matth. 3. last. So that without Faith interesting us in him, it is impossible to please God, Heb. 11.6.

For the better understanding both these Particu­lars, know that there are two Attributes of God to which you must bear a Conformity, or else you cannot please him.

[Page 27]1. The Holiness of God: For he is not a God that hath pleasure in Iniquity: He heareth no Sinner: The Foolish shall not stand in his Sight. He ha­teth all the workers of Iniquity, Psal. 5.4, 5. John 9.31. God can no more take Pleasure in the un­sanctified, than we in Swine or Serpents.

2. The Justice of God: For he will by no means clear the Guilty, Exod. 34, 7. Could we have in­herent Holiness in us; in our unpardoned State, yet Justice could not but be infinitely offended while Guilt lieth unremoved; as you may see in Christ, for tho' he were perfectly holy, yet being under the Guilt of our Sins imputed to him, the severity of God's Justice broke out against him.

Now, Man being naturally an Offence both to the Holiness and Justice of God, there must of ne­cessity pass upon him in order to his pleasing God, this two fold Change.

1. The real change of Sanctification: I call this a real change, because by this there is a real change ensuing of new Qualities and Dispositions, making him of proud, humble, of carnal, spiritual and hea­venly, &c.

2. The Relative Change of Justification: I call this a relative Change, because there is not a real Change in a Man's Nature, but in his Condition, making him to stand in a new Relation to the Law, with Reference to which he was before guilty and condemned, but now the Law pronounces the same Man clear and acquitted, and this not for any Righ­teousness infused into him, but for the Satis­faction and Payment of another laid down for him; Satisfaction there must be, and Righteousness must be tendered, or else God cannot be at Peace. We have nothing to pay, Luke 7.49. Oh Sinner, away to Christ for it; hide thee in the Clifts of that Rock; run to the Fountain opened for Sin and Uncleanness. Appear not before God, but in the Robe of Christ's Righteousness. He sends you to [Page 28] Jesus, as he did them to Job, Chap, 42. last. Go to my Servant Job. be shall pray for you, him will I accept: Get out of yourselves: Flee to Christ, labour to be found in him, else all your Endeavours in rinsing and washing yourselves will be to no Effect.

2. With Reference to our Principles. And here it is necessary that some corrupt Principles be un­learned, and some holy Principles be received and retained.

Some corrupt Principles must be unlearned. As 1. That it is enough if we serve God on the Lord's Day, and we may serve ourselves all the rest of the Week. Tho' God hath reserved one Day in seven wholly for his immediate Service, which is therefore in a peculiar Sense called the Lord's Day, yet we must know that every Day is His, and that he hath not allowed us one Hour nor Inch of Time, but only for His Service. Indeed he hath Service of more sorts than one; but we must know that the Business of our ordinary Affairs, if rightly done, is a Serving of the Lord Christ, Col. 3, 24 God is as truly served by you in the working Days Labour, as the Sabbath-days rest, if you do it in a right Manner, and to holy Ends.

There is a Generation whose Religion is but a Sunday's Religion, which they put on and off with their Sunday's Clothes, and then they think God is fairly served for the Week; altho' God knows, that little they do then is but poorly done neither. Never think God will accept it at thy Hands, when thou livest six Days to the World and thyself, for One that thou spendest for him. This shews thee to be under the mortified Power of Self-love, and not to be the Lord's, for none of us liveth to himself, Rom. 14.7. You must remember, that you are but to learn upon the Sabbath, how to serve God all the Week; and not think when the Lord's Day is ended, his Work is done.

2. That if God be served Morning and Evening, it [Page 29] is enough, tho' we serve ourselves the rest of the Day; God must be served every Day, and all the Day, Prov. 23.17. You must be serving him not only in your Feasts, but at your Meals; not only on your Knees, but in your Callings.

Some think that if they keep up Religious Duties, [...]hey may do what they list at other times; that if [...]hey be Intemperate, Lascivious, Unrighteous, it [...] but to make even again with God at Night, and [...]l will he well: Like the Whore in the Proverbs, [...]hat having made her Offering, was presently ready of new Wickedness, Prov. 7.14. as if she had paid [...]ff the old Score, and might now boldly run upon [...]new.

Others think, that tho' they may not serve the [...]evil at any time, yet giving God his Dues Morn­ [...]g and Evening, they may serve themselves the [...]est of the Time. But in vain do they lay claim to [...]od, who live more to themselves than they do to [...]im. This will be found horrible Sacrilege to put [...]ff God but with the Tenth. God is to be eyed, [...]nd served in all that you do; and this is that I [...]rive at, that we may not divide ourselves between [...]od and the World; between his Service and our [...]wn Ends, and so put him off with a Partial [...]ervice; but that we may do all in Obedience to [...]m, and we may be entirely the Lord's. That he [...] all Things may be glorified by us, and that we may [...]ot lose our Reward.

2. Some Holy Principles must be received and re­ [...]ined. As,

Pr. 1. That the pleasing of God is our only Business, [...]d our highest Blessedness. First. our only Business, [...]hat is it that we call or count our Business?

1. That is a Man's Business which his Liveli­ [...]od and Subsistence depends upon: The Lawyer [...]unts his Law his Business, and the Tradesman [...]unts his Trade his Business; because upon this [...]ir Livelihood and Subsistence depends: Bre­thren, [Page 30] our Whole depends upon the Pleasing of God. Do this, and do all: Miss in this, and you marr all; please him, and you are made up for ever. If he be not pleased, you are undone for ever. How careful is the Selfish-Courtier to please his Prince? How will he crouch and Flatter? and if he can but divine what will gratify and please him, he thinks himself happy: And why? But because all his Dependance is upon his Prince's Fa­vour; much more do we depend upon the Favour of God. Blessed is the Man whom he chooseth, Psalm 65.4. In his Favour is Life, Psalm 30.5. But wo to them that have God against them, these are per­fectly miserable: Reprobate Silver shall Men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them, Jer. 6.30. If the Lord do but say to a Man as he did to Moses, Thou hast found Grace in my Sight, and I know thee by Name, Happy is that Man. But if he thus say, I have no Pleasure in thee, you may cover the Face of that Man, as they did Haman's, and carry him away: Miserable must his End be, if he continue.

2. That is a Man's Business which he hath his Stock and Talents for. If a Man be intrusted as a Stew­ard or a Factor, his Business is to buy in the Com­modities that are useful. Beloved, all our Time, Parts, Interest, Food, Raiment, and whatever Mercies, Spiritual or Temporal, are the Stock wherewith God hath intrusted us, and all for his own Use and Service, And is it not a sad and fear­ful case, that God should have so great a Stock go­ing, as lies in the Hands of all the Sons of Men, and yet have (if I may so speak) so little profit of it? I mean so little Glory by it: That he should sow so much, and reap so little? straw so much, and gather so little: Is it not sad, that Men should have so much in vain? Hast thou Health and Wealth, and dost not use it for God? It is all in vain. Hast thou understanding, and yet improvest it but for contriving thine own Affairs, and [Page 31] worldly Designs? thy Reason and Understanding are become vain. Oh, how wilt thou answer it, that thou hast had so great Stock in thine Hands, and made so little Improvement of it? It had been good for some Men, if they had never had a Foot of Land, or an Hour's Ease, if they never had the Understanding of Men, because they have not used their Talents for God, and for the Ends for which they were put into their Hands.

3. That is a Man's Business which his Capacities do call for, It is a Man's Business if in the Capa­city of a Judge, to do Justice, or of a Servant, to do his Master's Will: Brethren, all your Capaci­ties do evidence it to be your Business to please God you are his Friends, you are his Servants, therefore you must please him well in all Things, Titus 2.9. His Children, and therefore must set yourselves to honour him. Malachi 1.6. His Spouse, and therefore it is your Business to please your Husbands, 1 Cor. 7.34.

4. That is a Man's Business which he hath his Maintenance for. If a Man be maintained in the Place of a School master, it is his Business to teach; If of a Soldier, it is his Business to fight. Belov [...] do you not know at whose Feeding you are: And do you think God keeps so many Servants to be idle, or to mind their own Designs and Pleasures? God hath cut you out every one his Work, every Man his Hands full: So much work is to be done within Doors, and so much without Doors: So much towards God, towards your Neighbour, towards your own selves, that you have no Time to be idle in. And you shall dearly reckon for it, if you will eat his Bread, and will not do his Work. And as pleasing God is our chiefest Business,

Secondly, So it is also our highest Blessedness: For Man's Happiness lies in God's Favour, Psalm 4.6. Our Happiness is in attaining the End of our Being, and therefore the great Query amongst [Page 32] the Philosophers still was, What was the End or the Happiness of Man? now the true End of our Be­ing is, that we may please God: for his Pleasure we are and were created Rev. 4.11. And for this End also we are new created, that we should yield ourselves unto God, Rom. 6.13. and being built up a spiritual House, should offer up to him spi­ritual Sacrifice acceptable through Christ, 1 Peter 2.5. This is the End of our Redemption, that we should serve not ourselves, but him in Holiness and Righ­teousness all the Days of our Lives. Luke 2.75. And that we should not henceforth live to ourselves, but to him that died for us, 2 Cor 5.15. 'T [...] the End likewise of our Justification, that our Consciences being purged, we should acceptably serve the liv­ing God. In a word, 'tis the End of our Glorifica­tion, that being translated into Heaven, we should perfectly please God, and serve him Night and Day in his Temple, Rev. 7.15. and 22.3. So that the Pleasing of God, is the whole End or whole Happi­ness of Man, Eccles. 12. And this will be clear, be­cause we do then promote ourselves most, when we please God best. For by this you shall have this two-fold Advantage.

First, You shall be the Favourite of God. O glo­rious Promotion! Haman thought himself no lit­tle Man when he was on Ahafuerus Right-Hand, and yet he was at length but preferred to the Gal­lows, Esther 5.11. and 7.10. But what shall be done to the Man whom God delights to honour? O blessed is that Man! wo be to him that toucheth him: It had been better for him that a Milstone had been hanged about his Neck, and drowned in the midst of the Sea, than that he should offend such a one, Luke 17.2. God is infinitely chary of his Favourites. The Apple of his Eye is touched when they are injured, Zech. 2.8. Whosoever touch­eth them shall not be innocent, Psal. 107.15. God hath a Blessing for these that shew them Kindness, Gen. 12.3. He will render Vengeance upon the un­godly [Page 33] for every hard Speech they utter against them, Jude 15.

O Man, doth not thy Soul say, Happy is the Peo­ple that is in such a Case; Will not thy Condition be most blessed, when God shall be thus infinitely tender of thee, to take all the Kindnesses done to thee, as done to himself? Matth 25.45. And all the Injuries done to thee, as Affronts to himself, Acts 2.4. This is the happy Case of his Favou­rites.

Secondly, Every thing you do shall be found upon your Account with God. Brethren, are you Belie­vers, or are you not? Do you believe the Im­mortality of the Soul, and the Life to come, or do you not? the Ways of the most do de­clare them to be real Infidels, tho' professed Chris­tians. If you think there be an Eternal State to come, will it not be your highest Wisdo [...] to be providing for it, and laying up what possible you can, that you may inherit it in the other World. Will not every wise Man, that knows, he is shortly to be removed into ano­ther Country, be careful to transport all that he can, that he may enjoy it at his coming? Belov­ed, if you do believe indeed, that you must be for­ever in another World, will it not be your best course to be doing that, the Fruit whereof you shall enjoy forever? Were not he a Mad man, that having but a very short Term upon a Living, should yet go to building and planting there, when he had Land of Inheritance to build upon? Infi­nite is the Mischief that comes of Self [...]eeking and Self-pleasing.

You are eternal Losers by it: God will say, You have your Reward, Matth. 6.5. Something you may have in Hand, but the Eternal Reward is lost. Brethren, I am ambitious for you that what you do, you should do for ever, that all should meet you in the other World, and that there you should reap the Everlasting Fruit of what [Page 34] you are doing now. A wise Builder will build forever, and not only that which shall last for a Day, o [...] for a Year. O that you would be wise Builders. Do all for God, and you shall have eter­nal Advantage. Learn but this Lesson, To set your selves in all things to please God, and you will be promoting and advancing yourselves in all that ever you do, always laying up a Treasure in Heaven, still adding to the Heap. And O what Riches will you come to, when by every Day and every Hour, and every Action you are Gainers? For God will not let the least thing that is done for him, no not a Cup of cold Water, go without an everlasting Reward, Matth. 10.42. nor your Labour be in vain, 1 Cor. 15.58.

Pr. [...]. That when you have done all, if God be not pleased, you have done nothing. Settle it upon your Hearts, that all is in vain that is not done for God: when you do not please God, you do not profit yourselves. When Men offer never so richly and freely, if not in such a manner as is pleasing to God, all is but a vain Oblation, Isa. 1.13. If Men will do more than ever God required, and be zealous in Things that God hath not com­manded, 'tis but in vain that they Worship him, Matth. 15.9. Beloved, so much time as you have lived to yourselves, you have lived in vain, be­cause it was quite besides your End. O it is a Heart-cutting Consideration to a tender Christian to think of this, that when his Life is so short, and Time so little in all, yet he must be fain to cut off so much! Why Man, so many Hours must thou cut off from thy Days, and so many Years from thy Life, as thou hast lived not to God, but to thyself; they are all lost as to the Ends of Life and Time. If on Repentance thou be forgiven, thou art not rewarded for them.

Beloved, you must count that you have lived no longer than you have lived unto God, Philip. 1.21. To me to live is Christ, I should account I did not [Page 35] live, if I did not live to him! 'Tis the only Em­ployment of my Life to serve him. I should not tell what to do with my Life, unless it were to spend it for him.

Christian, Thus thou must reckon: So much Time as I have li [...]ed to Christ, so much have I lived; and so much as I have lived to myself, so much I have lost. 'Tis not the Man but the Beast that lives, while we live below our Reason, which distinguishes the Human Life from that of B [...]tes. Now while we live not to God, we live utterly below our Reason it self, which is sufficiently discovered, in that God is the Author and End of Man. Doth not Reason dictate that GOD should have the Glory of his own Work, and the Vessel should be to the Potter's Use? Doth any plant a Vineyard, or keep a Flock, and not expect the Fruits or Milk? 1 Cor. 9.7. GOD hath made thee, O Man, for himself. Prov. 16.4. And hast thou the Face of a Man, and dost not blush at this, to think that God should make and maintain thee in vain? If thou hast one Grain of Ingenuity, thou wilt abhor the thought of this, that thou shouldst be in vain. Why, so much as thou art for thy self, thou art for nothing. It may be thou livest a very busy Life; but thou actest not for God, thou art all this while but busily doing nothing. Thou mayest set down in the Evening, and say, I have been all this Day doing nothing. Thou wilt find a blank in God's Book for that Day, nothing upon thine Account: on this sad Record such a Day spent and nothing done. God hath his Day-book, and takes Notice of all your Carriages, how you rise, and how you go forth to your Labours: how you speak, how you eat, and whether you eye him and his Glory, in all, or look no higher than yourselves, Luke 5.5. We have been toiling all Night, and caught no­thing. May not this be the sad Cōmplaint of many a Man? I have been toiling all my Life, and ye [Page 36] I have done nothing, because what I did was not done unto the Lord. How would you take it of your Servants, if coming home in the Evening, you should find every one of them minding their own Business and Pleasure, and your Work left un­done. Is it not sad, Sirs, that so many Hours and Days should pass over us, and we no nearer our End than ever we were before? Your little Chil­dren are busie from Morning to Night, and yet all the while have been doing nothing: And so are you, when you are but seeking your carnal Selves, and not serving and pleasing God in what you undertake.

Pr. That the Favour of all the World can no­thing stead you, if God be not pleased with you, and by you. If there were any that could save you from his Wrath, you need not be so so licitous to please him, but if he be not pleased, we are all undone. Thou, even thou, art to be feared, and who shall stand when once thou art angry? Psalm 79.7. Isa. 43.13. When Men have flight thoughts of God's anger, and the Fear and Dread of him is not upon their Hearts, no wonder if they be not, careful to please him. You must be convincede that the displeasure of God is the most formidabln thing in the World, or else you will never leare this great Lesson. Beloved, if you should pleas, Men, and all the World should be on your side what would this avail while God is your Enemy? If all Men should bless you, and speak well of you, what would this profit, when God should rise up in Judgment against you, and condemn you? It is nor at Man's Bar, but God's that you must stand: It is not at Men's Votes that you must be cast or quitted: It will not go by most Voices, but God himself is the Judge, Psal. 75.7. In his Breast it is, whether you shall live or die: If a Man were upon a Trial for his Life, what would it avail him, that all his Fellow-prisoners, and the whole Croud about him, were for him, when the [Page 37] whole Bench and Jury were against him? If your Lives and Estates were in Question, to whom would you go to make your Friend? The Judge of the People? Sirs, be convinced, that if God be against you, it's as bad as if God and all the World were against you, for all signifies nothing without him. Oh, whatever you do, study to get in, and keep in with him; I tell you, the Time is coming, when the Breath of Men will signify nothing; when their Condemnation will do you no good, O Man! though all the World should give thee their Hands, and subscribe thy Certificate, it should signify nothing in God's Ac­count, or his Court. Many build their Hopes for Heaven upon the good Opinion that others have of them; But I tell thee, Man, though thou couldst carry Letters of Commendation with thee when thou diest, and all the Ministers of the Gospel should give thee their Bene decessit, all would be no more than a Blank-paper, and he would not save thee a Jot the sooner, if he should find thee to have been but a secret Hypocrite, a rotten hearted Professor all the while.

P [...]. 5 That God would not be pleased with you in any Thing, except you make it your Care to please him well in every Thing. You will be one Day ashamed, except you have Respect to all God's Commandments, Psalm 119.6. You have not a good Conscience, except it be your Care in all Things to live honestly, Heb. 13.18. If Naaman must be excused in one Thing, to bow in the House of Rimmon, that he might not displease his Master, this is enough to spoil every thing, 2 Kings 5.18. Some will needs keep God's Good-will, and the World's too, and so will give both their turn; they will serve God at home, and conform to the World abroad; and it shall be a great thing indeed that they will not swallow, rather than lose the Good-will of Men, especially great Men. These Men have two Faces, and two Tongues; the one of [Page 38] the Good and the other for the bad Company that they come into. Some held two first Principles, the one the common Fountain of all Good (which is God) and the other the Cause of all Evil, and they worshipped both, the good Principle for Love, and the evil for Fear. Just such a Religion are many among us now of. But let them know, who­ever they are, that while they grasp all, they lose all: For God will never own Time-servers, nor Men-pleasers, for the Servants of Christ, Eph. 6.6. Gal. 1.10.

3. With Reference to your Practices. And here as ever you desire to come to this blessed Life of doing always those Things that please God, you must carefully follow these six Rules.

Rule 1. Look round about you to the whole Lati­tude and Compass of your Duty. Great is the La­titude of Christianity: the Commandment is exceed­ing broad, Psalm 119.96. And many Professors do scarce look more than one Way, but while they intensly mind one Thing, they neglect another. It may be while they are taken up with the Care of religious Duties, they forget relative Duties: or they are careful of personal Duties, but very remiss in the Duties that they owe to the Souls of their Families; or they complain and mourn over their own Sins, but lay not to heart other Sins: It may be they are more punctual in their more immediate Duties towards God, but are very negligent in their Duties towards Men; or they will spend much time for their Souls, but do little lay to heart the Case of the Church, and the Misery of perishing Souls that are round about them; possibly they keep the Sabbath strictly, and pray and hear, and fear an Oath, but in the mean Time make little Conscience of breaking their Promises, passing hasty and uncharitable Censures, spending time vainly, being unprofitable in their Discourse, close-handed to godly uses; suffering Sin to go unreproved; let­ting out their Passion at every petty Cross. Many [Page 39] will mind their Duty to them that are within, and in the the mean Time are very short in their Duties to them that are without: This is too common a Case. Where is the Christian almost that seriously bethinks himself, what might I do to win Souls? It may be you will go on in the Company of the Godly where you may be edified, but when do you go to your poor Neighbour, whom you see to live in a sinful State, and tell him of his Danger, and Labour to gain him to Christ, Yea, so much is this great Duty neglected and out of Fashion, that I am afraid, many question whether it be a Duty or no. As if you might let Sin lye upon the Soul of your Brother, and yet be innocent, Lev 19.17. If it were but his Ox or Ass that lay ready to perish, you would make no question but it were your Duty to help him out of the Ditch: And do you think in earnest that you owe more to these than you do to his Soul? Is it to Ministers only, or to all Believers that Scripture belongs Prov. 11.30. The Fruit of the Righteous is a Tree of Life, and he that winneth Souls is wise. Surely the Lives of too many Christians do speak the same Language that Cain spake with his Mouth. Am I my Brother's Keeper? Gen. 4.9. 'Tis true, God will have you keep every one within the Bounds of your proper Stations, but so as to take Occasions, yea, to seek Occasions, as you are able, to be doing good to others. Do you not know how to get within your poor Neighbours? carry an Alms with you, do him a Kindness. oblige him by your courteous and wi [...]ning Carriage. Then I shall look to see the Kingdom of Christ flourish gloriously, when every one [...]at professeth Godliness, shall arise and take ho [...] of the Skirt of his Neighbour. Oh see [...]our Night [...] in this, do not think it enough to keep your [...]wn Vineyard; Let your Friends and Neighbours have no quiet for you, till you see them setting in good earnest to seek after Heaven. Oh if you might bring in but every [Page 40] one his Man to Christ, what a blessed thing were this, I lose myself in this A [...]gument, but I am content to do so, this Duty being so miserably ne­glected.

Too many live as if Religion lay all in praying and hearing, holy Conference, and the like, for­getting that pure Religion and undefiled is this, To visit the Fatherless and the Widow in their af­flictions, James 1.17. The other should be so done, as that this should not be left undone. You make Conscience of being just and true, and faith­ful, but do you not forget to win upon others by your Kindness and Affableness? As if it were not written in your BIBLES: Be pitiful, be courteous, having Compassion one of another, 1 Peter 3.8. Say not, it is not my Nature? What doth Grace serve for, but to correct the Evils of your Temper? Is not ours a Religion of Self-denial? Do not the Rules of our Religion enjoyn us to be followers of whatsoever is lovely and of good Report, and may render Religion amiable to the World? Phil 4.8.

Rule II. Use a wise Fore cast, that every Duty may fall in its Time and Order, and every Work may have its Room. It is not enough to do God's Work, but it must be done in his Order. That which in itself is good and necessary, may be so ill-timed, as to become a Sin: It is a Duty to tell your Bro­ther of his Sin: But to rip up in your Passion, or to be retorting upon him when he is Christianly admonishing you, is a Sin. Your worldly Business must not shut out Religion, nor religious Duties take you so up, as to neglect your Callings, but every Duty must have its Place. But for the doing all in God's Order, take these five Direc­tions.

Direct. I. Begin at Home in provoking to good. Why should God plead with you? Thou that teachest another, Teacheth thou not thyself? Rom. 2.21. Be an Example of thine own Rule, else the [Page 41] Hypocrites Charge will come in against thee, Mat. 23.4. They bind heavy Burdens, but evill not touch them with one of their Fingers. Observe God's Order, Deut 6.6, 7. These Words which I command thee, shall be in thine Heart. That must be our first Care. And then having got our Lesson well ourselves, we must then teach it to others. And thou shalt teach them diligently to thy Children, and tell of them what thou, &c. At least if thou hast not already attained it, be sure to learn with the first; and when thou pressest a Duty, intend thyself first, and speak most to thine own Heart.

2. In reproving Evil; otherwise thou wilt be branded for an Hypocrite, Matth. 7 5. First cast the Beam out of thine own Eye. We may not think, as many do mistakenly, that we must not reprove another when we are guilty of the same Sin: But we must in such a Case be sure to cast the first Stone at ourselves. Be soonest angry with thyself, and more severe to thine own Sins, than any others. 'Tis strange to see the great Censoriousness of Pro­fessors to others, and how tender they are of their own Corruptions, and impatient of Reproof. Rea­der, fear and avoid this Sin.

Direct. 2 Let God be first served. L [...]t God have the first of thy Thoughts, the first of the Day, the first of thy Strength: How heavily is God displeased with the prophane Priests, because they will serve themselves first with Sacrifices be­fore him, 2 Sam. 2.15, 16. And it is the Holy Council that one gives, hold the Door of thy Heart fast against the World in the Morning, till thy Heart hath been first in Heaven, and seasoned and fortified from thence, against the Temptations that thou art like to meet with as soon as thou comest down below. Indeed, all must be done as God's Service, but so as that his immediate Service must be done first. It is the Council of several Hea­thens, That all undertakings should be begun with Prayer. Saith Arra [...]s, let us begin with God. And [Page 42] the very Mahometons began their Books always as Men do use to do their Wills, In the Name of GOD.

Direct. III. First, cleanse the Inside, Matth. 23.26 Cleanse first that which is within the Cup. Tho' they are much out that live as if all their Work were within Door, yet remember that it lies chiefly here. It's a most preposterous Course in Religion, to begin first with the Outside, Jer. 4.14. O Jerusalem, wash thine Heart! When once this is done, Reformation will soon follow in the Life: but not otherwise: Many are careful that all that appears to Men should be beautiful, but their Hearts are neglected. These carry upon them the Marks of the Hypocrite, Matth. 23.27.28. And what will it profit thee, O vain Man, to have all kept secret from Men, since God knows and detects thee? And hath appointed a Day wherein he will rip open thy Pack, and anatomize thy Heart before the World, 1 Cor. 4.5. Eccles. 12.23. Rom. 2 16.

Direct. IV. Eye those Duties most that are of most Importance, Matth 22.23. The Hypocrite is very punctual in lesser Matters, but neglects the weightiest Things of the Law, Judgment and Mercy, and Faith. He is for a Religion, that will cost him little: And therefore Words being good cheap, he will be forward in talk as a mighty Zealot in Circumstantials of Religion, and marve­lous censorious of others that come not up to his Mind, as Men of wide Principles and large Con­sciences: But in the mean time he is very negligent in secret Duties, a great Stranger to Self-denial, and walking humbly with God. He strains won­derfully at a Ceremony? But it may be he can swallow the Gains of Unrighteousness, or the Baits of Intemperance fast enough. It may be he will decry Superstition, and never want a Stone to fling at a prophane Church-man: But in the mean time walks loosly in his Family, makes little Conscience [Page 43] of his Dealings, or will take up his Cups as freely as another, so he be not drunk. Or if he will not take a Penny of his Neighbour's Estate, he is most unmerciful to his good Name, and will take up any Report that is going. Brethren, you must make Conscience of the least Sin and of the least Duty. But it is a fearful Sign when Men are zealous against lesser Sins, and yet connive at greater, as these are, Matth. 20.24.

Direct. V. Take the first Opportunity when God gives a fit season for any Duty. Let not Satan be­guile you, by telling you of another or better Time. It may be thou hast a Purpose to reprove thy Bro­ther for his Sin, but how long wilt thou be a Pur­posing? Now God gives thee an Opportunity, it may be thy backward Heart saith, [not now, but another time.] And so it is put off, till he or thy­self are removed, or he is hardned, or at least thou art guilty of the Sin that he commits in the mean while; because thou hast not done thy Duty to prevent it. It is in thine Heart to deal with thine unconverted Friend or Neighbour about his spiritual Estate, but it may be while thou art delaying, Death comes and snatches him away in his Sins, or takes thee off, and so farewell for ever to any Op­portunity for doing the Soul of thy Brother any good. How often are our Closet Duties hindred or miserably disturbed, for want of Care to lay hold on the first Opportunity? We think another Hour in the Day may do as well, but then one thing or another unexpectedly falls in, that nothing is done, or nothing to purpose. Therefore beware of this Cheat. A Man scarce peeps into the World, but one Briar or Thorn, or another will catch him. Therefore, take Opportunity by the Fore-top. Our Saviour would take his Season for Prayer before Day, when his other Work was pressing, Mark 1.35.

Rule III. Do nothing of Things Sacred without [Page 44] GOD's Command: Nothing in Things civil without God's Allowance. Offer not with strange Fire; In God's Worship you must see you be well able to answer that Question, Who hath required these Things at your Hands? Here the Command must be observed, without adding or diminishing, Deut. 12.32, yet understanding this with Two Cautions.

1. Tho' Men may not stamp their invented Cere­monies with a moral Signification, nor impose, nor use them, tho' with good Intentions of edifying the People by devised Means, Mat. 15.2. as if Christ had not sufficiently provided for the edyfying his People without their Devises. And tho' nothing may be used as a Part of Worship that God hath not commanded, Col. 2.23. (for it is enough to make any thing rejected of the Lord of divine Worship, if he shall say, I commanded it not, spake it not, neither came it into my Mind,) Jeremiah 7.31 and 19.5. Yet nevertheless those things that are merely circumstantial, and are in their general kind necessary, and not intended as any Part or Means of Worship, may be determined of by humane Prudence, according to the general Rules of the Word) which must always be observed, 1 Cor. 14.26 42. And for want of Understand­ing, many have ignorantly condemned Preaching by an Hour-glass, in a high Place, in Churches, by way of Doctrine and Use, &c. running from the one Extream to another.

2. We may not think that God's Ordinanee re­maining for substance may be forsaken, because of some Faults of the Administrators, or in the Way of their Administration. The Administring of God's Ordinanees belong not to the People, but to the Minister:: And if he fail in his Duty by Ad­ministering them in a way that is not, and is less edyfying, N. B. it is my Grief, but his Sin. Hophni and Phineas were corrupt in their Lives, and brought in much Corruption [Page 45] and Rudeness into the Service of God. Yet El­kannah and Hannah, with others of the Godly, did nevertheless attend God's Worship and Sanctuary, 1 Samuel 1.2 much Corruption was crept in, both into the Doctrine and Worship, and Lives of the Administrators of the Church of the Jews. N. B. Yet our Saviour (though he still cry'd down the Corruptions, and would not join in them) never prohibited Communion with them in God's Worship, but enjoins it, Matthew 5.24. Mark 4. Luke 5 4. and practise it, both he, and his Parents, and Apostles, Luke 2.21, 22, 24, 39, 41, 46 Acts 21.23, 24, 26

But now, in Things civil, it is sufficient, that you have the Allowance of the Word, though not the Commands, always provided, that the general Rules he here observed, to do all to the Glory of God, 1 Cor. 10.31. And not to abuse our lawful Li­berty to the Offence of others, Rom. 14.2. Now your Actions being thus justifiable, as to the Mat­ter of them (without which it is impossible, had you never so good Intentions to please God) the Influence and Virtue of holy Ends into them will be effectual, as to turn all into religious Duties, as the Touch of the Philosophers-Stone turns the baser Metal into Gold.

Rule IV. In every Action let God be uppermost, but in religious Actions, let God be All. Let none of your Actions terminate in yourselves, but labour to be able in Sincerity, to give this Account of any Thing you set [...], that this you do, because it is pleasing un [...] [...] [...]cause this is his Will concern­ing you. S [...] upon this Caution. Beware in [...]se Actions wherein Self may bear a Part, lest it should sweep Stakes and carry all. You may in you common Actions have an Eye to your outward Commodity, and comfortable Being in the World; but this must not be the chief Thing, much less the All that you design herein: For by looking no higher than Self, you incur this double [Page 46] Mischief. 1. You lose so much from your own Account. 2. You usurp upon the great Preroga­tives of God. I fear we are not aware of the fear­ful Evil that is in Self-seeking; It is no less than jostling God beside the Throne, and setting our­selves in his Room. It is God's great Prerogative, and the proper Worship that is due to Him as GOD, that he should be the last End of all the Operations of us his Creatures, and that all our Motions should terminate in him. Now, when we eye our own Commodity, and not God, and look to this more than unto GOD, we arrogate the Divine Prerogative to ourselves, and set ourselves above him, which is no less than heinous Idolatry. And if it be such an heinous Sin to bow down to an Image, which is but the giving God's outward Worship to the Creature, how much more to seek and honour ourselves before GOD, which is to give his inward Worship? which of all is the Prin­cipal, to the Creature: Oh! how many, that pass for good Christians, will be found heinous Idola­ters? Because they have sought their own carnal Ends more than God and his Glory. And many real Christians, tho' they mainly design GOD and his Glory; yet, in many particular Actions, contract great Guilt, by looking no higher than themselves in what they do. I know you cannot be always thinking of God, yet I would have you never to forget what you have been taught; in the En­trance of every solemn Action, to remember. GOD, and make him your End. Lie down in the Name of GOD every Evening: Go f [...] in his Name every Morning, resolving to [...]rtake All for him. When you enter upon your Callings, sit down at your Meals, make any Journey or Visit, do it as unto the LORD, with Design to please him therein. This you may come to, with Care and Watchfulness.

Again, In religious Actions let God be All. Here Self (I meane carnal Self) must be shut out, otherwise [Page 47] this dead Fly will spoil the Box of most precious Ointment. 'Tis true, self will be crowding in, but you must knock it down carefully; otherwise, if this be the predominant Ingredient, all your Du­ties will be but lost Labour. What is more pleasing to God than Prayer? This is Incense before him, Psalm 1.1, 2. What more delightful than Alms? This is a Sacrifice acceptable and well pleasing unto him, Phil. 4.8. How happy a Testimony had Conelius? Thy Prayers and Alms are come up as a Memorial before God, Acts 10.4. Yet when Self is predominant in those Duties, Prayers, Alms, &c. are all Lost, Matth. 6.7. and 23.5.

Rule V. When you have done all, be careful to deny all, Luke 7.10. or not deny God's Mercy in en­abling and assisting you. This must be with all Thankfulness observed: But attributing Nothing to yourselves, and giving God all the Glory. Take the Pattern of holy David, 1 Chron. 29.14. But who am I, and what is my People, that we should offer so willingly? Of thine own have [...] given thee, [And of blessed Paul, 1 Cor. 15.10. Not I, but the Grace of God which was with me.] And of good Nehemiah, who when he had done most eminent Service for God, flies at last for pardoning Mercy, Nehem. 13.22. Remember me, O God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the Greatness of thy Mercy.

Rule VI. Do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Col. 3.17. Having carefully set out for God in the Morning, and directed your common Actions to Him as your End throughout the Day, doing all in his Sight, and with a Desire to please him there­in, bring all to Christ in the Evening, and present all unto God by him, confidently expecting God's Acceptance and Reward for all that you have done. For this he hath promised, be your Actions never so mean, because they were done as his Service, Col. 5 21, 23, 24. Eph. 6.6, 7, 8. If you neglect this, you lose all at last: For God will accept of no [Page 48] Sacrifice but from the hand of the Priest, and therefore you must look for no Acceptance with God, nor any reward from him, but only through, Christ, 1 Pet. 2.5 John 14.6. You must be sure therefore not only to make a formal Mention of Christ's Name, but to build all your Hope of Suc­cess only upon him, and to come to GOD, with an actual and lively dependance upon him.

Thus I have resolved the Case propounded, I will but answer an Objection, and briefly press your Duty by some Motives, and so con­clude.

Object. You bind heavy Burdens; What must we be always in the traces? Surely this Severity of Religion is more than needs.

Answ. 1. Burden Man! why, it is thy Happi­ness. If Holiness and pleasing God be a Burden, Health is a Burden, Heaven and Happiness are Burdens.

Ans. 2. This is no other Burden than what God himself hath bound upon your Consciences, Rom. 9.20. Who art thou, O Man, that replyest against God! Have I put upon you a devised and unneces­sary strictness? Or bound that Burden upon you which I will not touch with one of my Fingers? 1 Cor. 9.8. Say I this as a Man, or saith not the Law the same also? I pray you, whose words is this? Be thou in the Fear of the Lord all the Day long, 10.3. Exercise thy [...]f unto God, [...] Tim. 4.7. What have I pressed but wh [...] [...] Saints have practised, Philip. 3.13, 14 [...] [...]ing I do, I press towards the Mark. Psalm. 27.4. One th [...] have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, And Psal. 119.38. Thy Servant that is devoted to thy Fear. Gen. 5 22 Enoch walked with God Three Hundred Years, What is this, but what the Scripture [...]ath foretold shall be? They shall walk up and down in the Name of the Lord. Zach. 10 12. Then shall be upon the Bells of the Horses, and on [Page 49] every P [...]t in Jerusalem, Holiness to the Lord, Zech. 14. 20, 11. Dispute not against God, but up and be doing It is an ill Sign when the Heart rises against the Strictness of the Duty: You utterly mistake in thinking this Life of Strictness to be a Bondage. Who have Joy unspeakable and full of Glory? Who do know the Peace that passeth all Understanding, if not those that do thus walk with GOD?

Now, my Brethren, let me beseech you to be the conscientious Practitioners of this great Lesson. Study to do always those Things that are pleasing unto God. Oh that I knew, how but to engage you; that I co [...] but get you to set these Rules before you, all the Days of your Lives, for your Practice! 'Tis not enough that you give the Hearing, and [...] the Preacher, and approve the Doctrine. B [...] [...] what will you do? Too many of my Hea [...] [...] Ezekiel's, Chapter 33.32. What say you Bre [...], will you learn with me? O that I might [...]ad you on to a thorough Acquaintance with the St [...]tness and Power of Religion, and that holy Frame that will be God's Delight, and your Felicity. Brethren, what seek I for? God knows this is my Ambition, that I may but help you on in the way of Holiness. I would not that you should be such bad Proficients as to be always of the lower Form, and keep on merely in a dull and barren Course: My Desire for you is, that you should not be Shrubs, but Cedars of tall Growth, choice Experience, singular Com­munion, walking with God, shining to the Con­viction of the World. Will you let me but prevail with you in so good a Design? Why should you mourn at the last and say, How have I hated Instruc­tion and my Heart despised Reproof? I have not obeyed the Voice of my Teachers, nor inclined mine Ears to them that instructed me, Prov. 4.11, 12, 13. That I may invite you to this holy Cou [...] consider,

I. It is very possible: [...] God is very easy to be pleased: He is not [...] [...]ward Master that [Page 50] cannot, that will not be pleased. If you do but make it your Study and your Care to please him, and throughly set your Hearts to it, you [...] willing Mind shall be accepted, 2 Cor. 8.12. And tho' you should not go through with the Work, God will say, Thou didst well that it was in thy Heart, 2 Chr. 6.8. When the Heart is set to please the Lord, and we do unfeignedly put to it, tho' there be very many Failings, God will overlook them, 2 Cor. 30.18, 19, 20.

Secondly, God hath told you what will please him, and hath cut out your Work to your Hand. You need not say, Wherewith shall we come before the Lord? He hath shewed you what is good, and what he requireth of you, Mic 6.6, 7, 8. You need not say, Who shall ascend into Heaven to bring down the Mind of God from Heaven? No, the Word is nigh you, Rom. 10.6, 7, 8. God hath set before you in his Law, as in a Table, on one Side the Things that please; on the other, those that displease him. Oh, that ye may [...]e [...]ound among those that chuse the Things that please him, Isa. 56.4, 5. Otherwise since you know your Master's Will, and do it not, you will be found worthy of many Stripes, Luke 12.47.

Thirdly, God hath given particular Rules for the doing of all your Work in that manner that will please him. Had God told you only what must be done, and not how it must be done, you might have been at a Loss: But he hath prescribed the very Manner how every Thing must be done, that you might have full Directio [...] [...] Romans 12.8. 1 Peter 4.1. He hath shewed yo [...] [...] [...]ou must pray, and hear, and give Alms: How y [...] must carry it in all your Relations. He hath told you not only how you must fast, but how you must ear, to wit, with Watchfulness and Temperance, not as those who have Nothing to do, but to fill their Paunches; but with an Eye to his Glory, as those that are feeding and refreshing the Servants of JESUS CHRIST. He hath shewed you, not only how you should rest [Page 51] on the Lord's Day, but how you must follow your Calling on the rest, to wit, with Diligence and Discretion, minding him as your End, as those that herein serve the LORD CHRIST. He hath [...]old you, how you must manage your Dealings [...] Equity and Charity, doing the very same to others, that your Consciences tell you, you would have them in the like Case to do unto you: How you must sleep, even as those that know he compasseth your Path, and your lying down, and how you must awake, to wit, so as to be still with him.

Fourthly, God hath given you special Helps to this End. You have the Mind of Christ, 1 Corinthians 2.16. And you have the Spirit of Christ, 1 Cor. 2.12. Indeed, they that are in the F [...]h cannot please GOD. But you are not in the Flesh, but in the Spirit, Rom. 8.8, 9. You that are Believers, have not the Law only in your Bibles, but in your Hearts, Heb. 8.16.

II. It is very profitable Glorious Advantages shall you have by this Course. First, This is the most speedy and certain Way to Assurance, for Want of which many of you complain; but henceforth you most complain no more: For either you will follow this Course, and then you will have it: Or you will not, and then cease your hypocritical Complaints, when it is through your own wilful Disobedience that you are without. When once you are habituated to this Course, and do find it to be the Chief of your Care, and that which your very Hearts are set upon above all Things else, to glorify and please God, and approve your selves in his Sight, you cannot want Assu­rance, unless through your own Ignorance: For this is the most undoubted Evidence in the World, that you are the Children of God, whatever unallowed Failings you may be guilty of.

Secondly, Hereby you shall be certain of God's gracious and favourable Presence always with you: See the Text, H [...] that sent me is with me, for I do always those Things that please him.

[Page 52] Thirdly, By this means you shall be always laying up a Treasure in Heaven. Brethren, What are you for? Are you Men for Eternity, or are you for present Things? Is your Design for Glory, Honour and Immortality? Are you for Riches in the other World? Or, of Dung hill Spirit, preferring your Part in Paris, before your Part in Paradise: If you are for True Riches, here is your Way: By this you shall be daily and hourly increasing the Stock of your own Glory. My Vehemency is only that Fruit may abound to your account, that all you do might meet you in Heaven, and CHRIST may shew your good Works another Day, as the Widows did Dorcas her Garments, Acts 9.39.

CHAP. III. A Fourth Case of Conscience.

WHat Weariness in, and Unwillingness to Duties, may stand with Grace, and what not? For the Resolving this, some Distinctions must be premised, and then some Conclusions elicited.

Distinction. This Weariness and Unwillingness must be distinguished, 1. According to the Degrees of it, and so it is either Partial and Gradual, or else Prevalent and Plenary. 2. According to the Subject of it: And so this Weariness is either of the Mem­bers, or else of the Mind. 3. According to the Prevalency of it; and so it is either transient and occasional, or else settled and habitual. 4. According to the Sense we have of it; and so it is either Matter of Allowance to us, or Matter of Annoyance. 5. According to the Cause of it; and so it is either from a fixed Dislike of Food, or else from an accidental Distemper of the Stomach. 6. According to the [Page 53] Effects of it; for it is either victorious, and makes us give ove [...] Duties [...] el [...] abhorred, and repulsed by Grace, the Christian still holding on in the Way of Duty.

Conclusion 1. Where his Weariness is only in the Members (or at least chie [...]) but there is still a Wil­lingness of the Mind; this is no Matter of questioning our Estate. Where the Mind o [...]goes and outdoes the Body, and the Appetite [...]o Duties continues in Vigour, tho' there be a languishing of the natural Strength, and weariness of the bodily Organs; this is not our Sin, but Affliction. But too commonly the Body hath so much Influence upon the Mind, and causeth a Listlesness and Sluggishness there, and makes it negligent in its Office: Yet when this doth proceed from the failing of the Spirits, tired with bodily Labour and Exercise, and from the Distempers of the Parts, our most pitiful Father considers our Frame, and remembers we are but Dust: And our merciful High Priest, that is not untouched with the Sense of our Infirmities, is ready to frame our Excuse, That the Spirit is willing, but the Flesh is weak.

2. Where our Weariness in and Unwillingness to Duties, is only gradual and partial, not plenary and prevalent, it is not sufficient to conclude our selves graceless: While the Twins are together in the Womb, and two Nations within our Bowels, there will be contrary Inclinations. The Flesh will never say Amen, to a good Motion as such, but will be lusting against the Spirit, and will hang back when the Spirit puts forward, and pulls down when the Spirit bends upwards: So that while Corruption remaineth, there will be always a dissenting Party, and continual Conflicts; from whence it is no Wonder there should arise some Weariness: Yet the Spirit is the prevailing Interest, and tho' oft times foiled, yet hath mostly the Mastery in the Combat, and carries it against the Flesh, though not [Page 54] without much Resistance and Reluctancy from the Rebel Opponent.

3. When this Weariness is only transient, during the present Temptation or Defection, which as soon as the tired Soul can get out of it, returns to its former Temper and Pleasure in Holy Duties, there is only Matter of Humiliation. But when it is the settled permanent and habitual Frame of the Mind, it is a Matter of questioning our Condition. The Holy Psalmist under a Desertion, was even almost perswaded to give over with Religion; but when he is himself, nothing is so sweet, nothing is so lovely and desirable to him, as the Duties of Holiness. But for them who have in their ordinary settled Course and Frame, no Mind of Duties, but are called to them by Conscience, or engaged by Company, as Custom or the like, their Case is fearful in that mea­sure, that Duty is unpleasing and not loved.

4. Where this Weariness of and Unwillingness to Duties is painful and grievous, as a Sore in the Eye, as a Sickness in the Heart, the State is good, but where it is naturally allowed, and meets with little or no Resistance, it is a black Mark. For this argues there is nothing but Flesh, that there is no contrary Principle in such a Heart. For if there were, the Spirit would at least make Opposition: This was the very Frame of those unsanctified Sinners that counted the Sabbaths and Services of God an unprofitable Burden, a very Weariness, a Bondage not to be born, Mal. 1.13. A gracious Heart, when under such a Distemper, as that God's Service seems a Weariness, is even weary of himself, whiles this is burdensome, he is a Burden to himself. He cannot enjoy himself while in such a Frame wherein he cannot enjoy God: and if this be the Case, our State is good, though the Frame be bad.

5. Where this Weariness and Unwillingness is not from a rooted Dislike of the Food, but an accidental and pre [...]ematural Indisposition of the Stomach, or being disappointed of God's Presence in Duties, the [Page 55] main State is safe. You know under a Distemper, the Appetite may disgust, and nauseate the Food that a Man doth love above all other Meats when he is well, and so it is here. Do you when you are your selves relish more Sweetness in God's Service than in your Meats and Drinks? Are no Sweets so delight­ful to you as Fellowship and Communion with God, when you can attain to it in Duties? Do you come away discontented, because you cannot meet with God? Is the Ground why your Countenances fall, and your Hearts be discouraged, because you have (with them) toiled and spread the Net, and have not caught what you went for: because you have no Answer nor Income from God? If it be thus, it is a Sign your Hearts be set upon God; and that you place the Happiness and Comfort of your Lives in God; and so that your State is safe: Otherwise when there is a fixed Antipathy to Duties, and an habitual Dislike of them, and Contrariety to them, the Case is very sad.

6. Where our Weariness and Unwillingness is such as makes us to give over our Duties, so as to live in the ordinary Neglect of them, it is a fearful Sign: But where notwithstanding present Discouragements, we hold on in the Performance of our Duties, and a humble waiting upon God, for Removal of our Difficulties, till we are brought to a better Frame; this argues well The Church herself may be greatly deserted, but then she gives not over Duties, but seeks after her Beloved, and makes diligent Enquir­ing, and will not be at rest until she hath found him, but the Hypocrite gives up, and will not wait upon the Lord any longer. Not but that a deserted Soul, may under the Violence of Temptations omit Duties for a time; but his Condition this while is most pain­ful, restless and grievous to him, and he quickly returns again, and never comes to live quiet, in the ordinary Omission of known Duties.

Conclu 7. When our Weariness and Unwillingness is such as makes us fall out with the Service of Christ, [Page 56] and willing to ease ourselves of his Yoke, and to throw off his Burden: This is a bad Sign: But when we fall out with ourselves, and justly and approve Christ's Ways and Service, it is well. Thus it was with Paul: He doth not quarrel with the Law, as too strict and too severe, nor think of breaking off his Bonds, and taking his Liberty, but he pleads for the Law, and greatly approves it, and commends it, and condemns the Backwardness of his own Nature, Rom, 7.12, 25. When Men are more willing to be rid of CHRIST's Burden, than of the Distemper that makes it grievous, and cast about for Ease, by winding their Bonds, and not by bringing their Minds to them, it is a woful Discovery of an unsound [...] And thus much for this Case.