Spiritual Refining, Religious treatise · Section 9 · Sermon 68
SERMON LXVIII.
The Impediments and Obſtructions of Converſion; And what kinde of perſons are moſt unlikely ever to be converted, not to drive them to deſpair, but to awaken them out of their Security.
EZEK. 33. 11.
Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye dye O houſe of Iſrael?
THe particulars that clear the nature of converſion are diſpatched: Let us now conſider, what are the impediments and obſtructions of converſion. That converſion now adays is very rare, comparatively to former times, experience evidenceth; and yet how much reaſon, and what unanſwerable arguments may be preſſed on every mans conſcience? Therefore its worth the while to conſider, what are thoſe cauſes that make men continue in their accuſtomed ſins, when God and his Miniſters do thus importune to leave them. Now although it be true, that in every unregenerate man, there is a natural impoſſibility to turn unto God, and ſo no hopes of any man in the world, if we reſpect humane power and ſtrength; yet there are many, who beſides this natural impoſſibility, have contracted on themſelves a voluntary impoſſibility of turning unto God; ſo that their converſion, is not the taking away the ſtone of the heart, but the ſtones; for they have laid one upon another: We ſhall then examine, Who they are that have the Symptoms of difficulty to be converted. 1. Ignorant and ſtupid people.what perſons they are, that have the Symptomes and viſible Characters of difficulty to be converted, rather then other men.
And firſt, Ignorant and ſtupid people, that have no knowledge or underſtanding about God or themſelves: Theſe are notoriouſly indiſpoſed to turn to God; the reaſon is plain, becauſe underſtanding goeth before converſion, and is initial or introductory to it; as Iſa. 6. 10. So that if there be no knowledge, there is no hope of any turning to God; therefore Laodicea is counſelled to buy eye-ſalve, Rev. 3. 18. as that which would be the firſt means to help her; and this Prayer is ſtill to be continued, for thoſe whoſe converſion we deſire, That God will give them eye-ſalve: Its ordinarily ſaid, As God in the firſt Creation wrought light, before other things; ſo in man, who by nature is a miſerable Chaos and confuſion, God cauſeth light to ſhine out of darkneſs. The bruit beaſts are not capable of converſion, becauſe they have no reaſon; and although our reaſon be naturally corrupt, and ſo a great enemy to God, yet there is by it a paſſive capacity, though not an active of converſion. Hence the Goſpel at firſt did take the beſt and moſt glorious effects in cities, where men were bred up in more knowledge and underſtanding: It's true, Paul ſaith, Not many learned are called, 1 Cor. 1. and, God chooſeth the fooliſh things of the world, to confound the wiſe; and our Saviour Chriſt giveth thanks to God, That he had hid the things of ſalvation from the wiſe, but revealed them to babes: But by Wiſe and Learned, are meant ſuch, that with their learning are alſo pufft up with pride; and by babes, were not meant thoſe that have no knowledge or underſtanding, but that are lowly and weak, comparatively to others: Howſoever, where converſion comes, it giveth light and knowledge, if there were none before. The conſideration of this, ſhould much ſtartle and amaze many of you, for how woful and lamentable is the ignorance of moſt? how little is known about original and actual ſin, which is their diſeaſe? and how little about Chriſt, who is the Phyſitian? God would have all men to be ſaved, and come to the knowledge of the truth, 1 Tim 2. The knowledge of the truth muſt be firſt attained; and on the contrary, Its a people of no underſtanding, therefore he that made them, will not ſave them, Iſa. 27. 11. Chriſt told the woman, If thou hadſt known the gift of God, and who it is that ſaith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldſt have asked of him, John 4. 11. If thou hadſt known; and this we may ſay to thoſe, who lie ſtill in the dungeon of their ſins, If thou hadſt known what thy condition is, what the curſes of the Law are, how terrible God is, how few ſhall be ſaved, and ſuch like, thou would…t not ſtand idle, as thou doeſt, but like the Hart, pant after the blood of Chriſt, as that after the waters: Oh then that God at laſt would perſwade ignorant people of their damnable eſtate. To whom is the word without profit? to whom is it a ſavor of death, but to ignorant people? Where may the Miniſters make their ſad complaints, They have labored in vain, and none believe their report, ſo much, as where this darkneſs, this night is upon mens hearts? You old men then, that know nothing, that underſtand very little, why are ye not afraid, being you are in ſuch darkneſs? and you fathers, whatſoever you fail in, fail not here, about inſtructing your Children, though you cannot leave them wealth and eſtates, yet let them have the knowledge of God out of the Scriptures: How much would it affect you, to have children bodily blinde? would you not heal them, if you knew any remedy in the world? but to your childrens ignorance and ſpiritual blindeneſs, you are voluntarily acceſſary, and you willingly are the cauſe of it.
Secondly, Men far from converſion, are ſuch as have a Phariſaical Self-conceit 2. Men that have a Phariſaical conceit of their own righteouſneſs.of their own Righteouſneſs and good Works; by which means, they never think of going back, for none can perſwade them, but they are in the right way already: This is a generation, that will ſooner dye in their ſins, then ever turn to God; and our Congregations have ſuch, as well as the former. Obſerve our Saviours Sermons, and you ſhall finde, that he did leaſt good, upon thoſe that iuſtified themſelves; inſomuch, that he tells them, Publicans and harlots entered the kingdom of heaven, before ſuch as they were; and again, I come not to call the Righteous, but ſinners to repentance, Luke 5. 32. ſo we preach, not to convert thoſe who think themſelves Righteous already, who applaud themſelves in their good Moralities, or plauſible lives; but to thoſe who are convinced of their ſinfulneſs, and groan under it: I know it is a very unpleaſing thing for a man, to be found a ſinner, to judge himſelf and condemn himſelf upon that account; he had rather ſit down with a falſe, dawbed peace, and cozen his own ſoul, then arraign and terrifie himſelf after that maner; but it is a vain thing to hide and extenuate, when we have to do with God; we muſt judge our ſelves, elſe God will judge us. It was the Churches bold preſumption, that would at laſt deſtroy her, to ſay, She was rich, and clothed, and wanted nothing, when indeed ſhe was miſerable, and naked, and wanted all things; yet in ſuch a fooliſh Paradiſe do many place Rev. 3. 19.themſelves, They be converted, they become changed, they are as good as any others already, they have as good an heart as any other: Theſe men are moſt incureable, and are in the greateſt danger, becauſe they feel no danger: O then know, That quietneſs and ſecurity which thou haſt in thy breaſt, and all that 3. They who have been long accuſtomed to ſin.confident preſumption in thee about thy ſelf, will at laſt be like the cobweb, not ſerve to cover thee, when the tempeſts of Gods wrath ſhall ariſe.
Thirdly, They have but little hope of converſion, who have been long accuſtomed to ſin, whoſe iniquities for many years together have been taking a deep root. If a Blackamoor may change his skin, then may you do good, who have been accuſtomed to evil, Jer. 13. 23. Hoſ. 9. 9. When Iſrael had deeply corrupted themſelves, then God would remember their iniquity. A man that hath been a long while given to his luſts and ungodlineſs: Oh who can give hopes that ever he will turn to God! Take heed then of cuſtom in any ſinning, it is like a milſtone about thy neck, it will, like Pharoah, oppreſs thee, and keep thee down, that thou mayeſt never leave Egypt. The Devils that poſſeſſed a man from his youth up, were more difficultly caſt out, then any others: The husbandman hath little hope of a crop in ſowing, when the ſoil hath a continual wont to miſcarry. Cuſtom in ſin, makes men like the tall grown Oaks, which cannot be removed, they have got ſuch deep hold in the earth; whereas at firſt ſin is more timorous, and leſs impudent, the conſcience of a man is not ſo hardened: A continual uſe in ſin, takes away all the ſense and feeling of it, all the horridneſs and terror of it: Thus men that are accuſtomed to curſing and ſwearing, they minde it not: Men given to luſtful and filthy ways, have no horror upon them, after their unclean practices; and why? cuſtom is like a great ſtone laid upon a man, already dead and buried in the grave of ſin: And therefore a ſinner, habituated in an evil way, is compared to Lazarus, who was dead and buried, and even putrified ere he was raiſed again.
Fourthly, Thoſe that have enjoyed the means of grace for a long ſeaſon, and yet are bryars and thorns: Theſe give little hopes of converſion. The ground that 4. Thoſe that have had the means of grace a long ſeaſon, and yet continue ungodly.hath often received rain, and brings forth nothing but weeds, is nigh unto curſing, Heb. 6. 7. Thoſe that refuſed the Prophets, The duſt of their feet was to be ſhaken off, in teſtimony againſt them, Mat. 10. 14. The word of God doeth moſt good, and hath the greateſt effects, at its firſt coming to a place; as you may read in the ſeveral plantations of the Church at firſt, whereas the longer men live under it, the authority and majeſty of the word is abated: Ye did for a …aſon rejoyce in his light, as our Saviour told the Jews concerning John Baptiſt, John 15. 35. When God hath ſent his Miniſters and Prophets one after another, admoniſhing, inſtructing, and vehemently exhorting and charging you, to part with your luſts, ſaying, You cannot have them and Chriſt too; you cannot hold them an heaven too: Its a ſad preſage, (and yet thou hardeneſt the neck againſt all theſe reproofs) that Chriſt hath ſaid of thee, as of that fig-tree, Never fruit grow more on thee. As there are ears of corn that are blaſted, that never thrive, or come to any good; ſo there are many blaſted ſinners, impenitent and obſtinate, which after many remedies applied, yet continue under the power of their diſeaſe: O then, conſider how much this concerneth you! you may by your unfruitfulneſs and barrenneſs under the means of grace, make your converſion leſs poſſible, then that of Pagans and Heathens. Did not our Saviour ſay? Mat. 11. 21. That the Tyrians and Sodonians would have ſhewed more effects of a converſion, then the Jews to whom there had been ſo much preaching, if God would have vouchſafed the Goſpel to them? Certainly you are in a more dangerous eſtate, then any people that ſit in darkneſs, and have no light: If ſo many Sermons, ſo many Sabbaths, ſo many Exhortations, have done no good? who can but think it is in vain to plant and water any more?
Fifthly, Thoſe that have accuſtomed themſelves to rebel againſt the light, and to live againſt the convictions of their conſcience: As the Mariner uſed to ſtorms and 5. Thoſe that have accuſtomed themſelves to rebel againſt the light.tempeſts, is not afraid; ſo theſe continually uſed to the whips and ſcourges of their conſcience, at laſt are not afraid at all, yea, quite put it out: The Apoſtle calls this A cankered conſcience, ſeared with an hot iron, 1 Tim. 4. 2. or Quite cut off, as ſome expound it; and certainly, this muſt be a deſperate preſage: for ſeeing converſion is let into the ſoul, by that needle of conviction; if this be reſiſted, and continually beaten back, what hope is left at the bottom? Therefore this is the inlet to the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, from which never any was, or ſhall be converted, of whom if we had certainty, we might no more preach to their converſion, then to the Devils and damned in hell. But whence comes this impoſſibility of turning to God? it aroſe at firſt from rebelling againſt light, living in thoſe ſins, which the ſpirit of God convinced thee of by the word, and ſo in ſome meaſure, Doing deſpite unto the Spirit of Grace: This makes thee at laſt inſenſible; even as frequent walking barefoot, brings a ſenſeleſneſs of pain upon the feet: Now whether this light be natural, ingrafted in thy conſcience; or ſupernatural, revealed by the grace of God, it is a woful hardneſs, to reſiſt any of them: This indiſpoſition to converſion, is very common; for what man is there, that liveth in groſs palpable ſins, that doth not rebel againſt his conſcience, and rebel againſt the light of Gods word: Oh! this muſt argue, thou haſt deviliſh wickedneſs in thee, that thou doeſt the things, thou knoweſt are ſins: I ſay, Deviliſh, becauſe the Devils have great light in their underſtandings, but malicious enmity againſt God in their wills: If therefore thou wouldſt prepare the way for God in thy heart, and have the gates of thy ſoul unbolted, that the King of Glory may come in, be ſure, let thy converſation anſwer thy conviction; let thy heart in affections and practice, be proportionable to thy light and judgement; be ſo bleſſed, that when thou knoweſt, thou doeſt alſo: Therefore you that live under much preaching, are often in hearing, and miniſterial admonitions, you had need take heed to your ſelves, for as often as thou ſinneſt, thou goeſt againſt the inſtructions of thy own heart: Thou knoweſt otherwiſe, thou haſt been taught otherwiſe, thou haſt heard otherwiſe; This is kicking againſt the prick: This daily uſe to the noiſe and ſound of conſcience, will at laſt take away the terribleneſs thereof.
Sixthly, Thoſe alſo are very far from turning unto God, even without any hope, 6. Thoſe that by God are given up to the power of their ſins.that are by Gods just judgement, forſaken and given up to the power of their ſins, to ſin with all greedineſs, wilfulneſs, and without any remorſe at all. There are ſuch who have this incurable diſeaſe upon them; and which is more terrible, it is to be found chiefly in the Church of God, and amongſt them, that have enjoyed the beſt means: Thus Iſa. 6. 10. Many of the people of Iſrael are to have their eyes ſhut, and their ears made deaf, and their hearts ſenſeleſs or fat, leſt they ſhould underſtand and be converted. To make the heart fat, is a metaphor from beaſts, that by the fatteſt paſtures, are ſooneſt prepared for the Shambles; ſo many people by the choiceſt and moſt excellent means of grace, are ripened for this heavy judgement of a ſenſeleſs ſpirit. Wo be it to thoſe perſons, that are ſmitten with this ſpiritual blindeneſs: Behold then the ſeverity and terror of God, to ſeveral perſons, who for a long while receive his grace in vain, and reſiſt his ſpirit; God in his anger ſweareth, This people ſhall never enter into his reſt, give them blinde eyes, a deceived heart, a ſtupid conſcience, let no Miniſtry trouble them, let no judgement awaken them: Therefore howſoever thou boaſteſt in thy boldneſs and impudency in ſinning, and braveſt it towards God and man, yet thou art more terribly curſed then Cain, for he went trembling about under his curſe, and thou goeſt ſecurely in all jollity and mirth.
Seventhly, A people of frequent reſolves and purpoſes to amend, while judgements 7. Thoſe that after judgements are removed, againſt frequent reſolutions, return to their former ſins again.are upon them, but when they are removed, returning to their former ſins again: Such diſcover their inconſtancy and hypocriſie ſo often, that they give little hopes of a true and right turning to God. Pharaoh, while the hand of God was heavy on him, how ready then for his duty! then he will let the people go, then he cryeth out of his ſin; but no ſooner is the rod taken off his back, but he is in the mire as before. The people of Iſrael are alſo a pregnant inſtance for this, while they were in fears of enemies, or under any of Gods ſore judgements, that they ſought and cryed mightily to God; but let them have reſpit, they fall from God again: Hence are they ſo often condemned for hypocriſie and backſliding, … ſuch whom God would wholly forſake at laſt; this is too often to be found. There are many people in times of fear, and dangers of death, are as ſoft as wax; but when recovered, as hard as iron: Men of aguiſh diſpoſitions, ſometimes very hot, and again very cold; ſometimes in great fears, ſtraights and troubles of ſoul, ready to roar out like Bears, for the anguiſh upon their ſouls, becauſe they have ſinned againſt God; and other times as bold, and ready for the ſame ſins they complained of, as if they were not the ſame men. As they ſay of long ague fits, they end at laſt in a conſumption; ſo theſe changes and viciſſitudes upon thy ſoul, will at laſt end in final Apoſtacy: O then be ſure to keep up all thoſe Engagements and Obligations thou haſt taken upon thy ſelf: Be the ſame in health, as ſickneſs; in joy, as fear; after a ſermon, as when thou art hearing one, that fills thy heart with fears.
Eighthly, Such alſo ſeem remote from converſion, that are ſcorners and deriders 8. Deriders of holineſs.at godly and holy things: The prophane ſcoffer, is ſeldom turned an humble lover of the things he ſo deſpiſed: Hence he is a bleſſed man, That ſitteth not in the ſeat of ſcorners, Pſal. 1. 1 that hath nothing to do with them: The Apoſtle Peter ſpeaks of ſome men, 2 Pet. 3. 3. whoſe damnation is of old ordained for them, and they are ſcoffers and deriders at the day of judgement, and Chriſts coming. Solomon doth often ſentence a ſcorner, for a man that ſhall periſh in his wickedneſs. I know not why it is, but it falls out, that godlineſs and true holineſs is the object of ſcorn, deriſion and contempt to carnal and wicked men: Thus David was the ſong of drunkards; and what is more ordinary, then to deſpiſe and deride the practical power of godlineſs? Now what hopes can ſuch give of turning to God? wilt thou come and be in the number of thoſe, whom thou mockeſt and deſpiſeſt? wilt thou eagerly purſue that way, thou didſt ſo deride? though this be too common, yet it argueth high prophaneneſs. Many wicked men, as Herod, though they did not turn godly themſelves, yet they reverenced and honored it in others; And wilt thou be ſo arrogantly wicked, as to ſcorn at that, which thou ſhouldſt renown and imbrace? Who can think that theſe Dogs and Swine (for ſo the Scripture calls ſuch prophane wretches) ſhould ever be turned into Lambs?
Ninthly, As ſcorners are far off from this priviledge, ſo proud and haughty men, th…y ſeldom are converted: The humble and meek he will teach his way Pſal. 15. 9. Proud and haughty men.Theſe high Mountains are always barren of good: God reſiſteth the proud; How is that? By not giving grace to them. Pride is a divers ſhapen ſin, it emptieth it ſelf into many channels: There is pride of Parts and Abilities, pride about Birth, Eſtate, and External Greatneſs; which way ſoever pride vents it ſelf, commonly Chriſt will not come into that heart, and dwell there: They were the proud perſons, that did not care what Jeremy told them from the Lord: The Humble, the Meek, the Poor, the Hungry, the Empty, the Naked, theſe are drawn home to Chriſt; but the proud and the full are ſent empty away: Take heed therefore of any kinde of pride, for this will always make thee at diſtance with God: This will make thee contemn the Word of God, and the voice of his Meſſengers. Oh! think the mountain of thy heart muſt be made a plain, ere Chriſt will own thee.
Tenthly, Apoſtates and Revolters from former zeal and forwardneſs in the ways of God: when theſe fall away, there is little hopes for ſuch to turn unto God: The 10. Revolters.Scripture is clear, Heb. 6. and Peter compareth ſuch, To the Dog returning to his vomit, and the Sow to the mire; and that their latter end is worſe then their beginning; yea, that it had been better they had never known the way of Righteouſneſs, 2 Pet 2. 21. yet ſuch inſtances of Apoſtacy and Backſliding, all times do ſadly afford; and truly, ſuch Prodigals, ſeldom go home to their fathers houſe again: Its true, the work of grace was never ſound and right in them, no, not when they moſt flouriſhed; for if they had been of us, they had not gone from us: Oh then! take heed how you abate of your former love and zeal; you once were more forward for God, once you delighted in holy duties, and holy companions; now thy heart is become like a dryed wilderneſs; the world, and thoughts of the world hath choaked all: Oh ſit and tremble, leſt this be but the beginning of thy ſorrows.
Laſtly, Thoſe are difficultly brought home to God, who are inſnared and intangled 11. Thoſe that are intangled in wicked company.in wicked and ungodly company, who have ungodly relations, live in ungodly families: For whenſoever ſuch are invited to turn to God, then their carnal friends become impediments in their way. Paul conſulted not with fleſh and blood in his converſion; if ſo, he had not turned to Chriſt: And this undoeth you, God and your conſcience calls upon thee, Turn to God, why wilt thou dye and be damned in theſe ſins? but then thou conſulteſt with fleſh and blood, ſome ungodly friends and acquaintance, and thus they hinder thee: Oh thou ſhouldſt ſay to the deareſt friend in the world that ſtops thee in this courſe, Get thee behinde me Satan, for thou ſavoreſt not the things of God: Hence our Saviour is ſo peremptory, He that loveth not me, more then father or mother, cannot be my diſciple; neither would our Saviour have one that would follow him; ſo much as go back to bid his friends farewel, or bury his dead father: Oh then conſider, that when a right eye, or a right hand offends thee, theſe muſt be parted with: The Queens daughter muſt forget her fathers houſe; when thy ſoul is eſpouſed to Chriſt, thou muſt forſake all thy former lovers.
Uſe of Examination, put thy ſelf upon this ſevere and impartial tryal, whether Uſe.thy name be not in one of theſe black ſcrols or no: Art thou not to be found among the ignorant and ſtupid, or proud and prophane ſcoffers? or among thoſe that rebel againſt their conſcience, or change in their reſolution, as good or evil floweth upon them? Haſt not thou a long while accuſtomed thy ſelf to an evil haunt or cuſtom of ſinning? If theſe, or any of theſe; Satan and ſin hath bound thee in ſuch ſtrong cords, that are not eaſily broken: while therefore there is any hope, though there be not ſo much probability; yet while God hath not declared an utter impoſſibility, Go and commune with your own hearts, and ſtand in awe; yea, cry out, Lord turn me, and I ſhall be turned; ſay, I am weary of my former courſes, they are a ſhame, a torment, an heavy burthen upon me: Oh! (ſay) I dare not go one ſtep further in the way I was in, I ſee Hell gaping to devour me; and never let that trouble thee, to think how the world will wonder and laugh to ſee thee become a new convert: Thou hadſt better have frowns from men then God; thou wilt leave the company of wicked and ungodly wretches, to enjoy God and good men: There is a neceſſity of this turning, that wickedneſs thou liveſt in, muſt be turned from, or elſe wo unto thee that ever thou waſt born: If death and judgement finde thee with them, no mountains or hills can cover thee from the wrath of God: Hearken what thy own conſcience ſayeth, It is high time to leave off from being ſuch a beaſt any longer; take Manaſſes, take Mary Magdalen, take Paul for examples, they ran far in a foul and dangerous way, but at laſt they turned: Oh this was there happineſs, they turned from their evil ways. Why do ye not take off all your cares and thoughts from other things, and fix them upon this buſineſs?