The Conversion of the Soul, Discourse 1 (3 of 5)

The Conversion of the Soul · Discourse 1 (3 of 5)

p. 145And ſhould you not be aſhamed of p. 146your own folly in being ſuch enemies to your ſelves? your Pollutions, your Perdition is really of your ſelves; Guilt ſhould make you bluſh, and becauſe Sin has ſtript you naked and bare of every thing that's good and beautiful: Oh what a loathſome Leproſie is apparent in all your Parts and Powers! your fouleſt ſpots are open to Gods eye, well therefore you may be cover'd with Confuſion; and that which ſtill ſhould make you more confounded, is your baſe ingratitude; you have deſpiſed riches of goodneſs, you have abuſed Mercy and Grace, and when a Cure has been offered in the Goſpel you would not be healed.

Be therefore truly angry at your ſelves. Let your Indignation and hatred ſpend it ſelf on your iniquities, be revenged upon them, that they being mortified and dying, you may not dye in them and for them: Humiliation is indeed grievous to Nature, but friendly to Grace. The more Humiliation Ploughs up the Fallow ground, the fruits of Righteouſneſs commonly are brought forth in greater Plenty.

4. Study the miſchief which the beloved Sin or Sins have done you. The Maſter Sin is Gods Capital Enemy, and the chief obſtacle of Converſion; this has the greateſt Intereſt in the Heart, to forſake this p. 147is indeed moſt difficult, but withall moſt neceſſary. That great Commander Hannibal, had more of Enmity againſt the Romane State, than a thouſand ordinary Carthaginians. He ſtill to his utmoſt endeavour'd to hinder peace with Rome, and to bring Rome to ruine. The commanding Sin which by reaſon of the Sinners complexion or calling, or other circumſtances, has moſt ſtrength and bears the greateſt ſway; does moſt oppoſe the turning unto God, therefore this muſt in a ſpecial manner be reſiſted, hated; for the Life and Strength of it lies in the love of it. Thy Maſter Sin is thy greateſt tranſgreſſion, Pſal. 19. 13. and has rendred thee obnoxious to the greateſt Wrath, this eſpecially provokes divine jealouſie; this has made thee moſt a ſlave, and moſt abominably defiled thee, this is thy ſtrongeſt fetter, and thy moſt deadly plague, thy love to it is altogether againſt; thy hatred of it will be with the greateſt reaſon.

The young man in the Goſpel, might have been a Convert, but Love to his great Poſſeſſions was the ſin that hindred, Mat. 19. 22. He went away from Chriſt, he was too much taken with worldly Wealth, therefore not at all taken with a Treaſure in Heaven. Herod that did many things, p. 148might have done more; but love to his Herodias was his darling Luſt, this made him inſtead of hearkning to John the Baptiſt, put him in Priſon, though John deſigned Herods ſpiritual Liberty and eternal Salvation. Let the proud man hate his Pride, the Covetous man contemn the World which he has made an Idol of, the filthy wretch abhor Fornication and all Uncleanneſs, the unrighteous become juſt, and make Reſtitution of what he has unjuſtly gained. Mortifie all the members of the Body of Sin, but eſpecially conſent, the right eye ſhould be pluckt out, the right hand cut off, and the very Heart torn out of that Body.

5. Would you become Converts in Truth, ſave your ſelves from the Society of evil doers: The Prophet who tells us, he turned his Feet unto the Teſtimonies of God; quickly after adds, I am become a Companion of them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy Precepts, Pſal. 119. 63. He that will be a true Convert, and indeed a bleſſed Man, he muſt not walk in the Counſel of the Ʋngodly, nor ſtand in the way of Sinners, nor ſit in the Seat of the Scornful, Pſal. 1. 1. David reſolving to keep the commands of God, abandons that company that were breakers of thoſe commands, p. 149and were likely to be continually perſwading him to tranſgreſs them, Pſal. 119. 115. Depart from me ye evil doers, for I will keep the Commandments of my God; he is ſo far from approbation, from imitation of them, that he beheld them with grief and with horrour. It was Counſel given to thoſe that had been prickt at the Heart, and began to turn; Save your ſelves from this untoward Generation, Act. 2. 40.

There is a great Contagion in Sin, 'tis likened to the Plague, to the Leproſie, becauſe 'tis ſuch a deadly, becauſe 'tis ſuch a catching diſeaſe. When we are needleſly Converſant with them that are dead in Sin, what deadneſs do we find ſeizing upon our own Hearts! When we are too intimate with vain Perſons, how does vanity inſinuate it ſelf into our minds, too much eſtranging them from God, and putting them out of a ſerious frame! Carnal Company are a ſort of Devils in humane ſhape, that are bound for Hell themſelves, and are drawing as many others as they can thither; they can't be contented to Sin and be damn'd alone: Have therefore no fellowſhip with the unfruitful Works of darkneſs, but rather reprove them, Eph. 5. 11. Reprove them, becauſe Deſtruction and Miſery is in their wayes, but let not p. 150them ever perſwade you out of the way of Peace.

And as you are to ſhun the Profa…, ſo you muſt take heed of being deaded, and diverted by the Erroneous. If Satan cannot draw you back to your form… ungodlineſs and unrighteouſneſs, he will endeavour to turn you aſide to ſome falſe and ſtrange Doctrine, that this may take up your time, your thoughts, your zeal; the Power of Godlineſs, and Practical Religion, being in the mean while neglected. When Errour has been embraced, and has corrupted the Mind, and made the Head giddy; 'tis uſual for it, to bring a falſe Peace into the Conſcience, and by diverting the Heart to hinder it's Converting unto God. Beware, beware of that vain Religion, which is nothing but a kind of Philoſophy of Opinions; which is a thing for a wanton fancy to play with, a ſmooth Tongue to talk of: that is made up of Brain and Mouth, without Heart to love, and Hands to work for God.

6. If you would be Converts in Truth, let your Hearts be fill'd with awful apprehenſions of the Majeſty and Holineſs of God, eſpecially conſidering he is alwaies by you, and tryes your very Hearts and Reins. The greatneſs of that God with whom you p. 151have to do, ſhould make you afriad to dally and trifle with him. If you think he will be mock't, you will find to your coſt that you deceive your ſelves: Oh ſtoop with the moſt profound Submiſſion to this glorious Sovereign of Heaven and Earth. 'Tis the heighth of Madneſs for you that are ſo infinitely below Him, and ſo wholly under his Power, to refuſe ſubjection to Him.

He is Glorious in Holineſs, Exod. 15. 11. He can as ſoon ceaſe to be himſelf, as ceaſe to be an Hater of the workers of Iniquity. A fuller Perſwaſion of Gods Holineſs, and that his Holineſs is his Glory, will make you more ſenſible of the Neceſſity of turning from Sin, and that Holineſs will be your Glory and Perfection: He that is changed and made a Convert, is made a Glorious Creature; and as this change is carried on, there is ſtill a Progreſſion from Glory to Glory by the Spirit of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3. 18. Gods Nature is pure, every Word of God is pure: He is Righteous in all his wayes, and Holy in all his Works, Pſal. 145. 17. Oh cry inceſſantly that you may partake of a nev, of the Divine Nature; that a clean heart may be created in you, that your Lips may be Pure, your Words true and Gracious; and that you may be p. 152Holy in all manner of Converſation.

Are not Gods eyes upon your wayes? does not he hear all your words? does not he weigh your very Spirits? your whole man is under his Obſervation; let there be a turning to God with your whole man. Sincerity in Converſion, and hypocriſie, are both known; and only Sincerity has Gods love and liking.

7. When you turn to God behold him as he is in Chriſt, elſe there is no acceſs to him, nor acceptance with him. After Adams fall the Mediator is preſently revealed, the Seed of the Woman that was to break the Serpents head, Gen. 3. 15. The old Serpent, by Sin had made a Rupture and breach between God and Man: Now Chriſt the Mediatour is He that makes up the breach again, and ſo deſtroyes the work, and fruſtrates the deſign of Satan. If God be lookt upon in Chriſt, there is all manner of Encouragement to return to him: He is a Rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him, Heb. 11. 6. He is good and ready to forgive, and plenteous in Mercy to all that call upon him, Pſal. 86. 5. The Prodigals Father was not more forward, who ran to embrace his returning Son, than God is to receive returning Sinners: If you would return to God indeed, you muſt p. 153take Calva…y in your way, you muſt know Jeſus Chriſt and him Crucified, 1 Cor. 2. 2. The Saints of old that were in Heaven before the Son of God was manifeſted in the Fleſh, as well as thoſe that went thither afterward, were all brought nigh to God by the Blood of his Croſs, Col. 1. 20.

You cannot know, and turn to the only true God, ſo as to be received by him, unleſs you know and receive Jeſus Chriſt whom he has ſent. But if you behold God in Chriſt, unbelief appears unreaſonable, deſpair is a monſtrous abſurdity: You may perceive Love in the Lords looks, his Juſtice fully ſatisfied, his Anger all gone, his Repentings kindled, his Bowels yearning; and you cannot ſo much deſire Mercy, as He delights in ſhewing it. The true Convert to God muſt be a Believer in Juſus, who is the way to the Father: As God will not draw nigh to Man, ſo Man cannot draw nigh to God any other way.

8. With great earneſtneſs implore the Spirits aid. Be ſure to grieve that you have grieved Him, and acknowledge 'tis juſt that for your grieving him, he ſhould leave you to your ſelves; but beg his preſence and his aſſiſtance, that he would p. 154help you, and make you truly, conſtantly willing to be helped. Adams Body was formed of the Duſt of the Ground, but was a lifeleſs Corps, till God breathed into it the Breath of Life. Till the Spirit of Life enters into you, you are without Life or Motion towards God, therefore with all ſeriouſneſs ask the Spirit: You come to God through the Son, as the Mediator that procures acceſs and opens the way, but 'tis by the Spirit, as by Him who both inclines and ſtrengthens you to come to Him, Eph. 2. 18.

The Promiſe of the Spirit is of ancient date, implied in the Promiſe of the Meſſiah, and very frequently expreſſed: Under the New Teſtament Diſpenſation, a more plentiful effuſion of the Spirit is Promiſed. Parents that are evil, if their Children ask bread will not give them a ſtone to hurt them, nor inſtead of a Fiſh, a Serpent to ſting them: And if they give good gifts to their Children, much more will the Father in Heaven give his Spirit to them that ask him. There is hardly a more encouraging Word to Sinners in the whole Bible, if they are inclined, or would be inclined to have the Spirit given them: And if the Holy Spirit be given you, you will have Light, and Life and Liberty. p. 155Conviction antecedent to Converſion, Converſion it ſelf, and Conſolation afterwards, are all of them, the Works of the Spirit.

And be ſure to obſerve the Acceſſes of the Spirit. Sometimes the Wind blows fair and ſtrong for Heaven, now hoiſe up thy Sail, that thou mayeſt receive the Gale; ſometimes by his Convictions, motions, ſtrivings, you may perceive the Spirit is very near you; by a clearer and more affecting Light he ſhews you, that turning to God is your Duty and Advantage, and he very much preſſes you to it.

Nunc ſunt Molliſſima fandi,

Tempora.—

Now is the time to ſpeak and ſpeed in your Supplications for the Spirit, that he may thoroughly Convert you, and conſecrate you to the Lord, and abide in you for ever.

9. Would you be Converts in Truth, give your whole Hearts to God, and never be ſatisfied till you feel you love him above all. Let the Lord have your Hearts to ſearch them, that all, even the moſt ſecret evils there, may be detected; and being detected, may be deteſted and abhorr'd. Sin p. 156ſometimes may be reſtrained from breaking out in the Life, and yet then may be regarded and reign in the Heart: Be willing to know the moſt inward ſpiritual wickedneſs, that lies quite out of the ſight of others, and being acquainted with it, conſent to have it purged away. Give your Hearts to God, that he may poſſeſs, employ, and rule them at his Pleaſure: Tell the Lord that the very Throne is for him, and that your Souls and all that is within you, are ready to be at his command; and that you conſent every Luſt ſhould be ſlain, becauſe it would not that he He ſhould reign over you.

In what a ſafe hand is the Heart, when 'tis in Gods? how pure and excellent is it made? with what Beauty does it ſhine? To turn with the whole Heart, is for the whole to turn excellent, for the whole to be ſecured.

Be never ſatisfied, till you perceive that God has your love, which is indeed the leading and commanding Affection. If Sin, if Mammons Pleaſures and Wealth have ſtill your love, your profeſſing your ſelves Converts, is all but feigned kindneſs, and you provoke the Lord to jealouſiè: Give unto God your Love which he calls for, in the firſt and great Commandment; or p. 157elſe you give him nothing: if your love be given him, you will not deny him any thing. And if as yet you can't ſhew your love by delighting in God, becauſe of your doubts, and the darkneſs of your ſtate; ſhew your love by deſiring after God, whoſe loving kindneſs is better than Life; whoſe Alſufficiency is enough and enough, and infinitely more than enough for you.

But here's the difficulty. How ſhall the Heart of Man be brought unto the love of God? The Stream of the affections runs naturally and violently downwards; and how ſhall the tide be turned? how ſhall the love be carried quite contrary to the bent of Nature? Certainly this muſt be the doing of the God of all Grace. The Apoſtle prayes for the Theſſalonians, that the Lord would direct their hearts into the love of God, 2 Theſ. 3. 5. Put up this Petition for your ſelves. 'Tis an encouraging Scripture, Deut. 30. 6. The Lord thy God will circumciſe thy heart to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy Soul, that thou mayeſt live; apply it, improve it; and if you grudge your love to every thing elſe, and are continually offering it to God; and above all things in the World, deſire to love him, and to be beloved of him; Love is already wrought, the p. 158acts of it appear; and you ſhall by degrees love more ſenſibly; and the ſtronger the love, the more ſound the Converſion.

10. Deceive not your ſelves with faint wiſhes, and half-willingneſs to be Converted. I grant that the deſire of Grace, is Grace; but if there be not Truth in the deſire, the Truth of Grace can't be concluded from it: A lazy wiſh to be Converted, where there is a prevailing reſolution to connive at and continue in Sin, what does it ſignifie but that the Heart is not right with God, notwithſtanding ſome feeble good inclinations towards him? Our Lord commands his Followers to ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait gate, becauſe many ſhall ſeek to enter in and ſhall not be able, Luk. 13. 24. Many hereafter ſhall ſeek and expect admiſſion into Heaven, who ſhall be excluded becauſe they would not ſtrive, they would not uſe an holy violence to take that Kingdom.

Many over haſtily conclude they are Converted, becauſe there is ſome little inclination to what is good, though a ſtronger inclination to what is evil, without check does bear the ſway in them. In ſpiritual, as well as natural lukewarmneſs, there is ſome mixture of heat, as well as a prevalency of cold: Can water be called p. 159hot, where heat is leaſt, and cold is moſt? Can the Heart be ſaid to be turned to God, which is leaſt inclined towards him, and moſt ſtrongly and reſolvedly bent towards Sin and Vanity? Oh, take heed of Sloth and Idleneſs! Sloth is that which has brought many a Conviction to nothing, you can hardly name a greater Impediment of Converſion: Upon thouſands of Profeſſors Tombs this may be written, Here lye thoſe who have undone themſelves by Slothfulneſs, and miſs'd of Grace and Glory, becauſe they would take Pains for neither.

If you would be Conve…s indeed, abandon Idleneſs; let your very Hearts be in every Duty, your Souls and the ſtrength of them, the fervency of your Spirits in every Ordinance of God, Rom. 12. 11. Not ſlothful in buſineſs; eſpecially not in the main buſineſs, ſervent in Spirit, ſerving the Lord. Satisfie not your ſelves in a cuſtomary and formal uſing of the means of Grace, but look to this, that life, and warmth, and ſtrength, and Grace be indeed conveyed to you in them.

11. Would you be Converts indeed, look much into another World; confine not your ſight and thoughts to the things of time and ſenſe, but take the Perſpective of the Word of God, that to the eye of your Faith, p. 160things unſeen may become evident, Heb. 11. …. Time is ſo ſhort a thing, that you may eaſily and quickly ſee to the end of it; and yet concerning this ſhort Time, it may be ſaid, that Now you muſt be turn'd or Never: At the end of Time Death ſtands, thouſands feel his ſtroke every day, before your eyes, and how ſoon may you feel his deadly Dart, and return to the duſt out of which we were all taken! where's the Man that upon good ground can ſay, He is ſure to live a Year, a Month, a VVeek, a Day to an end? Juſt behind Death is Judgment; and at the Bar of God, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkneſs, and make manifeſt the Counſels of the Heart, what will a ſhew of Grace and of Converſion ſignifie?

At that Bar all the Children of Men muſt receive their final and unalterable Doom: from that Tribunal there can be no Appeal to another; there is no higher Judge than he who ſhall judge the quick and the dead, at his Appearing and his Kingdom, 2 Tim. 4. 1. The Sentence which he will Pronounce, will ſtand good and firm for ever; and 'twill be a Sentence either to eternal Glory or everlaſting Flames: And know, that Converſion now will make the Diſcrimination then; only Converts will ſtand p. 161in Judgment, only thoſe that ſincerely …urn'd to God in this World, will be received into his Joy and Kingdom in the other World. But as for the Unconverted who would not turn from Sin, they ſhall without any Pity, or hopes of any, according as they were threatned, and have juſtly deſerved, be turned into Hell, and there will be no remedy.

You are all poſting away from hence, and ſhall ſhortly hear the Word, and be ſeen your ſelves no more. A ſerious belief and conſideration of the eternal Joyes and eternal Woes of another World, would have a mighty Influence upon the very worſt of you, to make you of another, of a better Mind.

ƲSE VI. Of Conſolation unto Converts. There is a Conſolation that has a Woe joyn'd with it, VVoe to you rich Men, for ye have received your Conſolation. The Wicked and the Hypocrite have their Peace and Joy, but their Peace is falſe, and their Joy but for a moment; but the Converts Comfort is ſtyled both ſtrong and everlaſting Conſolation.

Here I ſhall firſt give you the Converts Character, and then lay down the Grounds of his Comfort; and indeed true Comfort p. 162belongs to none in the World but true Converts.

Though I have ſpoken a great deal already, to ſhew who are Converted, yet I ſhall add theſe Signs following.

1. Converts chuſe God for their Portron; rather than the World: Thou art my Portion, O Lord, I have ſaid I will keep thy Word; this was a Converts Language, Pſal. 119. 57. So Lam. 3. 24. The Lord is my Portion, ſaith my Soul, therefore will I hope in him. A Converted Soul cannot be ſatiated with Vanity, no ſufficiency is enough for it but Gods Alſufficiency.

2. Converts chuſe Christ for their Ruler, rather than Sin; they are weary of Sins Dominion, as well as afraid of its Damnation, and they conſent that Sin ſhould no longer reign in them; but they are willing to be the Lords in the day of his Power, Pſal. 110. 3. they yield hearty Obedience to his Commands, and are ſorry they can't, and wiſh they could yield better. When God Commanded to have his Precepts kept diligently, 'twas the Heart of a Convert that eccho'd to his Voice, Oh that my wayes were directed to keep thy Statutes! Pſal. 119. 4, 5.

3. Converts chuſe Saints for their Companions, rather than the VVicked: David p. 163though a King, counted the Saints the moſt excellent ones upon Earth, Pſal. 16. 3. and his Delight being in them, it argued he himſelf was ſanctified, and that he was good as well as great: But know, 'tis one thing to love a Saint becauſe good Natur'd, becauſe Learned, becauſe Prudent and Ingenious, becauſe of our Perſwaſion, becauſe ſerviceable to our Carnal Intereſt; and another thing to love and like the Holineſs and Image of God in him: If thus we do, we ſhall be glad of the Grace in him, though 'tis more than in our ſelves; and the more faithfully he reproves us for our Sin, and endeavours to promote Holineſs …n us, we ſhall ſtill like him ſo much …he better.

4. Converts chuſe good Works and Duties …or their employment, rather than the unfruit…ul VVorks of darkneſs; and they had ra…her have a Treaſure in Heaven, than the greateſt riches of this World; they pre…rr Heaven not only before Hell, but be…re Earth, and all the Wealth, Pleaſure …nd Glory of it; and ſowe not to the Fleſh, …ut to the Spirit, that of the Spirit they …ay reap Life everlaſting, Gal. 6. 8.

Theſe in ſhort are the Characters of Converts; the Grounds of their Comfort …re theſe.

p. 1641. When any are truly Converted, God eternal good will and purpoſe of Grace brea… forth, and he is ſavingly wrought on, wh… was choſen in Christ before the foundation of the VVorld, that he ſhould be holy, Eph. 1. 4. The Apoſtle ſpeaking of thoſe that are effectually Called and Converted, he looks both into the Eternity before the World, and into the Eternity after it, and concludes that theſe Called ones, they were predeſtinated to Life and Salvation from everlaſting, and to everlaſting they will be glorified, Rom. 8. 30. Converts in time, have been in Gods thoughts from Eternity, and in Converſion his Electing Love breaks forth, which was in his Heart ever o… old, before the World began: And Converts may conclude, that a Love which from an whole Eternity was thus fixt and ſettled upon them, in time ſhall never change: Though the diſpenſations of his Providence may vary, ſome being more ſweet, and ſome more ſmarting, like Checquer-work▪ black and white in the ſame Table, yet God and his Love are ſtill the ſame. Though there is a viciſſitude between Day and Night, between Summer and Winter▪ yet the God of Nature changes not, and the God of Grace is Immutable, and his Heart is ſtill on Converts, though they p. 165ſometimes walk in Darkneſs, and ſee not the Light of his bleſſed Countenance.

2. Converts are wiſe Builders, for they have a ſure foundation, and ſhall never be confounded. The Blood of Jeſus, which is the Blood of God, and the riches of the Grace of God in him, are the foundation of their Faith and Hope: Christ is the Rock upon which the Church, and every true Member of it, is built; and thoſe who while Militant, are thus fortified and ſecured, ſhall certainly at laſt triumph over the World and Sin, and the gates of Hell: The Convert has caſt anchor within the Vail, Heb. 6. 19. Chriſt is his Hope, 1 Tim. 1. 1. His Hope of Pardon, and ſufficient Grace, and future Glory. If Chriſt were not, or were not his, he would be all Deſpair; but Chriſt having done and ſuffer'd, and Purchaſed both him and ſo much for him, he does abound in Hope, by the Power of the Holy Ghoſt.

The Converts Hope diſtinguiſhes it ſelf from the preſumptuous Expectation of the Hypocrite; for when he Hopes for Salvation, he keeps the Commands of God, Pſal. 119. 166. In this ſenſe he is a wiſe Builder, for his Faith is effectual to good Works, his Hope makes him patiently continue in well, doing: Thoſe words are very encouraging p. 166to the obedient Convert, Mat. 7. 24, 25. Whoſoever heareth theſe ſayings of mine, and doth them, I will liken him to a wiſe man, who built his Houſe upon a rock; and the rain deſcended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that houſe; and it ſelf not, ſor it was founded upon a rock. They build well and wiſely indeed, who lay up in ſtore for themſelves a good foundation againſt the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal Life, 1 Tim. 6. 19.

3. Converts are made better by the good things of this World, and the evils they meet with work together for their good, Rom. 8. 28. If they have the Creatures in ſome Plenty and abundance, they have God with them; if they are deprived of them, they have God without them, and ſo are ſtill well, and have enough in him. No diſpenſations fall wrong to the Convert, he can fly with any wings, he can fail with any wind; nay, under water he can live, and dive, and ſwim towards Heaven, which is indeed foreign, the Fair Haven: The more of this Worlds goods he has, the more good he is forward to do; and if theſe are taken away, the more Grace and Peace from God he is deſirous, and being deſirous, he is ſure to receive.

4. Converts have the Ordinances of God, p. 167and the means of Grace bleſſed to them. The Word is the ſavour of Life unto Life unto them, 2 Cor. 2. 16. The Prayers they ſend to Heaven, come back agian with rich returns of Mercy and Grace: Sacrament dayes are dayes of Strength, and oftentimes of Solace; and not only Chriſt and his Preſent Benefits are exhibited to them, but an Eternal Inheritance is alſo made over, under the broad Seal of Heaven, and themſelves are Sealed by the Spirit unto the day of Redemption, Eph. 5. 30. David that reaped Benefit by Ordinances, pronounces the Tabernacles of God amiable, Pſal. 84. 1. A day in his Courts better than a thouſand. It was the one thing he deſired, that he might dwell in the Houſe of the Lord all the dayes of his Life, that he might ſee his Beauty, Power and Glory, and taſte his goodneſs there. That Noble Marqueſs, Galeaceus Caracciolus, need not have been preſent at a falſe worſhip; he might have had the Liberty of Religion in his Cloſet, yet he left all, that he might enjoy pure publick Ordinances: Certainly he found that of Grace, that of Chriſt in them, as was much more valuable to him than all his Pleaſant and Plentiful Eſtate, which is one of the chief Flowers in Italy, the Garden of the World.

p. 1685. God is turned unto theſe true Converts that are turned to him; and will never turn away from them to do them good, and to keep them good, and upright before Him. Regeneration and Converſion is a great Fruit and effect of the Reſurrection of Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1. 3. Believers are ſaid to be begotten again to a lively hope by the Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt from the dead. And as Chriſt being raiſed from the dead dieth no more, Death hath no more Dominion over him, Rom. 6. 9. ſo they who by Converting Grace are made ſpiritually a live, ſhall never totally relapſe under the Dominion of Sin, nor become again dead in Treſpaſſes. That God who has called theſe Converts is faithful, and therefore, as the Apoſtle ſayes, he will preſerve their whole Spirits and Souls and Bodies blameleſs unto the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Theſ. 5. 23, 24. The Lord turns to them that are turned, Zech. 1. 3. Turn to me, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, and I will turn to you, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts: he turns his Eye, his Face, his Ear, his Heart, his Hand towards them for good. And he has ſaid he will never leave them nor forſake them, neither ſhall they leave nor forſake him; for he will eſtabliſh them with his Free Spirit, he will uphold them with the right p. 169hand of his Righteouſneſs. Oh Happy Converts, who have Glory promiſed upon their Perſeverance! and have Strengthning Grace Promiſed to make them perſevere unto the end!

6. Converſion will end in Coronation. All Converts are by Adoption the Children of God, heirs of his Kingdom, and ſhall for ever wear a Crown of Life. Though the Heathens knew ſomething of future Rewards and Puniſhments, yet their Apprehenſions of theſe were low and unſuitable.

foreign,

foreign.

Who knows, ſaies Euripides, whether to live be not to dye, and to dye be not to live?

He ſeems to gueſs there was a better Life after this; yet he is not certain of it: When Ʋlyſſes imagined Achilles the braveſt among the Greeks, to have been moſt happy after Death. Homer Odyſſ. l. 11. brings in Achilles appearing to him, and ſaying,

foreign,

foreign,

foreign.

p. 170Which may be thus Engliſhed,

I'd rather ſerve a Clown on Earth for bread,

Than in thoſe Regions of the Dead

Command, and be of all the ſupream Head.

Heaven is here ſet forth as a poor and undeſirable thing: But Life and Immortality is brought to light by the Goſpel, 2 Tim. 1. 10. Here the Glory of the other World is diſplayed; here is an excellent Map of the heavenly and everlaſting Kingdom, where Knowledge and Light is compleat without Darkneſs, Holineſs perfect without the leaſt remainder of Defilement, Bleſſedneſs and Joy is full without any Grief, or Fear, or Poſſibility of Sorrow; where there is no ſuch thing as Sin, or Death, or Trouble, but God himſelf is All in All, 1 Cor. 15. 28.

All Converts, their Feet are turned into the way to Heaven, their Hearts are now ſet upon it, it won't be long e're they be there, and Crown'd there themſelves. Converſion is called a Riſing from the Dead, Eph. 5. 14. for it has ſome likeneſs to, and is an earneſt of a future glorious Reſurrection: What a glorious Creature will the Convert be, when Christ has done his whole VVork upon him, and has put to him his p. 171laſt hand, in making his whole Man every way perfect! Glorified Bodies will ſhine as the Sun, glorified Souls will be pure and ſpotleſs like the Seraphim, and Wonder, Love, Joy and Praiſe, will be in Heaven the everlaſting buſineſs. I have ſpoken much to Comfort Converts, but no Tongue can tell the thouſandth part of all their Happineſs: The Heart of Man is too narrow at preſent, to comprehend what God has prepared for them that Love him, 1 Cor. 2. 9.

ƲSE VII. Of Counſel unto them that are Converted; and my Advice ſhall be in theſe particulars.

1. Thankfully admire the Grace of God which has Converted you: The beſt thing in this World, which is Grace, and Glory in the World to come, certainly do well deſerve your thanks. Sin has made you leſs than the leaſt of Mercies, by Converſion you come to partake of the greateſt: Chriſt is formed in you, and you are made New Creatures, that a New Song ſhould be in your Mouths, and that you ſhould ſhew forth the Praiſes of him who has called you out of darkneſs into his marvellous light, 1 Pet. 2. 9. Let every Convert admire, and admiring, Praiſe, and ſay, How p. 172much has God done for me! and how has he done that for me, which he has not done for thouſands and millions in the World, in the very Church, who are let alone to live and dye in Sin, and to damn themſelves for ever!

2. Labour to be more thoroughly Converted; Pray for this, that God would ſtill turn you more and more unto himſelf; follow on to know him, follow harder after him, and ſtrive ſtill more to pleaſe him; 1 Theſ. 4. 1. Furthermore then we beſeech you Brethren, and exhort you by our Lord Jeſus, that as ye have received, how ye ought to walk and to pleaſe God, ſo ye would abound more and more: The more fully you turn, the more you pleaſe him, and to pleaſe him will be pleaſant to you: The nearer you come to God, the ſafer you will be under his ſhadow, the more evidently will you ſee, and the more abundantly will you taſte his goodneſs.

3. Do nothing unbecoming Converts: Think often with your ſelves whoſe you are, and what a Price was pay'd to redeem you from all Iniquity, and to make you Zealous of good works, Tit. 2. 14. Reckon it bruitiſh to be Intemperate and Unclean, baſe to be Covetous, and Earthly-minded, helliſh to be Malicious, Envious and Proud. Be p. 173Patient under Gods Corrections, under Injuries from Man: Let your Tongues be true and kind, your Hands merciful and juſt, in your Morals be of great exactneſs: Divine Morality! without thee Religion is a vain ſhew, holy Duties are but loſt labour, and Confidence that all is well is but ſelf-deceiving: What Brutus ſaid of Vertue, may be uſed concerning Faith, O miſerable Faith, without moral Honeſty thou art nothing elſe but an empty Name! Take heed of falls, eſpecially great ones, after Converſion, leaſt you wound both Conſcience and Religion, and go ſmarting and groaning to your Graves.

4. Pity the Ʋnconverted about you: Miſery moves Bowels, and ſtirs up Mercy; who more miſerable than Sinners, who are at a diſtance from God, and under his Wrath; and who are ſo far from fearing and turning, that they are ſtill running farther from him, and provoking him to fiercer indignation? Compaſſionate theſe, Counſel theſe, Pray for theſe, and endeavour, though they are and will be without the Word, to win them by a wiſely expreſſed Love, and by a well-ordered Converſation, 1 Pet. 3. 1. Let not your Bowels be ſtraitned, but Pray for the Worlds Converſion to God, that he would return to p. 174this Earth, which for Sin he has ſo juſtly forſaken, and that he would turn the VVorld into a New One, wherein may dwell Righteouſneſs.

5. Be ſure to Love all true Converts: Love them all, becauſe God loves them, and love what you ſee of God in them: The Image of God is ſo excellent, that in whomſoever it ſhines, it ought with pure affection to be owned and reſpected. Converts I grant may differ in many things, but they agree in the main; all of them believe in Jeſus, all of them turn to God, all of them endeavour to Glorifie him here on Earth, and all of them are bound for Heaven: And Ʋniverſal Agreement thus far; is a ſtrong reaſon for Catholick and Ʋniverſal Charity. All Converts, of what Perſwaſion ſoever, of what Nation ſoever, of what Rank and Condition ſoever in this World; they are all adopted by one Father, all redeemed by one Christ Jeſus, all eſpouſed to one Husband, all members of one Body, all enlivened by one Spirit, and ſhall all meet at laſt in one Heaven, where they ſhall perfectly be joyned together in Union and in Love; and this ſhould ſtrongly move and perſwade unto Unity and Love at preſent.

6. Laſtly, (and ſo I conclude this Doctrine,) p. 175you that are Coverts, ſee that you abide with God, and be ſtedfaſt in his Covenant; they that totally, and finally depart from God, never were totally and fully turned to him. Let your Perſeverance be an evident Demonſtration, to prove the truth of your Converſation; let not the hardeſt labour, the hotteſt ſervice, that you may be put upon, the greateſt ſufferings that you may be expoſed to, in the leaſt diſcourage you, for God doth not require that you ſhould do, or that you ſhould ſuffer any thing for him, but only by the ſtrength that he himſelf hath promiſed, and doth intend to give. All you Converts have done well in turning to God, do better in following hard after him; and beſt of all in finiſhing your courſe, that you may get the Crown of Righteouſneſs.

To conclude, Let your Faith be firm, like to the Rock it is founded upon; let your hope be ſtedfaſt. Be rooted, and grounded in your love; and let your hearts be ſo united to fear the name of God, Pſal. 86. 11. that it may be as poſſible to hinder the Sun from riſing, as to hinder you from ſhining like lights in the World. That it may be as poſſible to cauſe the Moon and Stars to ceaſe their wonted courſes, as to turn p. 176you out of the way of Truth and Holineſs. That it may be as poſſible to alter the Ordinances of Heaven, as to make you neglect Heaven, and become again earthly-minded.

Thus have I done with the firſt Doctrine, that I raiſed from the words, which I have been large upon: That Converſion, is of abſolute neceſſity, and the great thing that God requires of Man.

Doct. 2. I proceed unto the ſecond Doctrine, that I raiſed from the words, and that is this. Converſion is then ſincere, when the ſoul is Converted.

The Soul of Man is the chief ſubject of Sin. It is the Soul that uſes, or rather abuſes the members of the Body, as Inſtruments of Unrighteouſneſs. The Beaſts that have no rational Soul, are not capable of committing Iniquity; and as the Soul is the chief ſubject of Sin, ſo it is the chief ſubject of Converting Grace; if this be not turned, really there is no true turning unto God. God is a Spirit, and he weighs the Spirits of Men; and he doth chiefly require the Heart and Spirit, Prov. 23. 26. and accordingly the Convert with David ſayes, Pſal. 25. 1. Ʋnto thee; O Lord, do I lift up my Soul. And Pſal. 119. p. 177129. Thy Teſtimonies are wonderful, therefore doth my Soul keep them.

In the handling this Doctrine,

1. I am to ſhew you, when the Soul may be ſaid to be Converted.

2. To prove, that till the Soul is Converted; Converſion is not ſincere.

3. To demonſtrate the neceſſity of turning to God with the very Soul.

And then in the laſt place, to make application.

1. I am to tell you, when the Soul may be ſaid truly to be Converted; the opening of this, is the chief thing that I deſign in this Doctrine.

1. When the Soul is Converted, there is a marvellous Light that ſhines into the Mind. The Tree of Knowledge was ſo called, becauſe it was a Tree of Tryal; whether Man would perſevere in goodneſs; or whether he would be tempted, and drawn away to evil: but when this Tree was once taſted, Man preſently fell under the power of darkneſs. The eyes of all underſtandings are blind, till enlightned by the Spirit of wiſdom and revelation, Eph. 1. 17, 18. All the Stars that are in the Firmament, cannot make day without the Sun; and all the works that God hath wrought, all the words that he hath ſpoken, cannot of p. 178themſelves enlighten the mind of Man without the Spirit of God. It is He that takes off the Vail, and cauſes the Light to ſhine upon, and into the very Soul.

This Light makes things manifeſt, Eph. 5. 13. For all things that are reproved are made manifeſt by the light, for whatſoever doth make manifeſt is light. This Light that ſhines into a Converted Soul, doth diſcover Sin; it ſhews the filth, the ſpots, the ſting, the poyſon, the death, the wrath, the Hell, that is in Sin, or is annexed to it. It doth diſcover the deceitfulneſs of Sin, in hiding its own bad nature, and the dreadful conſequences that follow upon it.

And as this Light doth make ſin manifeſt, ſo it doth diſcover Chriſt too; the ſufficiency of his juſtifying Righteouſneſs, the excellency of his ſanctifying Grace: and how to turn to God, is, of miſerable to become truly bleſſed.

This Light alſo is directing. It directs what Converts muſt do that they may be ſaved. It ſhews them the End, and the proper Means for the attaining of that End. It leads them out of the broad way, and from all the ſnares, and ſtumblingblocks, and the precipices that are there p. 179and it leads them into the way that is everlaſting, Pſal. 139. ult.

Finally, This Light that ſhines into the Converted Soul, hath Heat and Influence; like the Light of the Sun in the Spring-ſeaſon, that cauſeth the Trees and Plants to be flouriſhing, and to be fruitful. The Light of the Converts, hath a mighty influence upon them. The things that are freely given of God, are ſo ſeen, as that the heart is taken with them, as the principal things of all; and undervalues other things in compariſon of thoſe. Thus the wiſe Merchant that ſought goodly Pearls, when he had found one Pearl of great price, he went and ſold all that he had, and bought it, Matth. 13. 46.

2. When the Soul is Converted, the Judgment is rectified. The Judgment of the natural Man is wofully perverted. He judges aright of nothing, he judges amiſs of every thing: Wo to him, he calls evil good, and good evil; he puts darkneſs for Light, and Light for darkneſs; bitter for ſweet, and ſweet for bitter; as the Prophet ſpeaks, Iſa. 5. 20. The Wiſdom of God he ealls by the Name of fooliſhneſs, and the folly of the VVorld, he will needs have to be the ſhrewdeſt and beſt ſort of wiſdom. He errs on both hands, valuing what is p. 180vile, and ſleighting what is excellent.

But the Apoſtle in 1 Cor. 2. 15. telleth us, That he that is ſpiritual judgeth all things, yet he himſelf is judged of no Man. The Convert hath a faculty of ſpiritual diſcerning, and can paſs a right judgment upon things. One Angel can ſee another, though the bodily Eye can ſee neither. One that is a Convert, having a ſpiritual faculty of diſcerning, can ſee the excellency of ſpiritual things, which the natural Man cannot behold. And when it is ſaid, that the Spiritual Man is judged of no Man, the meaning is this; that no natural Man is a competent judge concerning him. Cenſure him, he may; as if he were regardleſs of, and beſide himſelf, but really this Cenſure is without reaſon. Not judging, but miſsjudging this is to be called.

The Converts judgment is very ſound, he takes the right ballance, even thoſe of the Sanctuary, to weigh all things in. He compares God and the Creature together, the righteouſneſs and ſtrength of Man, and the righteouſneſs and ſtrength of Chriſt together; things temporal, and things eternal together; and weighing theſe things together, the difference between them is apparent. He writes Takel upon what is Mammons, and upon what is Mans; and the p. 181weightieſt and moſt excellent things he doth approve as ſuch; eſpecially a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17.

And as the Converts Judgment is ſound, ſo let me tell you, it is very grave and ſerious, in propounding what is good unto the Will. It is deliberate in its determination what is good; and then with greateſt evidence and ſtrength of Reaſon, nay, with Demonſtration of the Spirit, it urges the Soul, that this which is ſo good may be followed and embraced. My beloved, a Judgment thus rectified, and ſet right, it is one of the greateſt Bleſſings from Heaven, and comes down from the Father of Lights, who manifeſts himſelf to be the Father of Mercies in beſtowing ſuch a Gift. Now the Soul is Light when the Judgment is rectified, and the whole Man is under better conduct; and this Light proves Armour and Defence againſt the Works of Darkneſs: Rom. 13. 12, 13, 14. Let us caſt off the works of darkneſs, and put on the armour of light: Let us walk honeſtly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenneſs, not in chambering and wantonneſs, not in strife and envying, but put ye on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and make not proviſion for the fleſh to fulfill the lusts thereof.

p. 1823. When the Soul is converted, the Conſcience is made very faithful, and very tender. The Soul of Man is endued with a Power of Self-reflection; it can with a great deal of delight take notice of what of God, and what of good is in it ſelf; and it can terribly recoyl upon it ſelf, and prove a ſelfpuniſher, at the commiſſion of what is evil. The Conſcience of an unconverted Sinner, is uſually in a dead ſleep. How many ſleepy Conſciences are here, God awaken them to day: Uſually the Conſcience of an unconverted Sinner is in a dead ſleep. He takes little or no notice at all of that God that is by him, of his Preſence, of the Purity of his Law, and of the Sinners obligation to obey it. And Conſcience being thus aſleep, talks in its ſleep; and what doth it talk? in its ſleep it doth ſay, Peace, and it doth dream of Safety; and thus it goes on crying Peace, and dreaming of Safety, untill ſuddain destruction doth prove that Peace and that Safety to be nothing elſe but a meer deluſion. 1 Theſſ. 5. 3. When men ſhall ſay, Peace and Safety, then ſuddain destruction cometh upon them as travel upon a woman with Child, and they ſhall not eſcape.

But the Convert, his Conſcience is awakened; it is awakened ſo thoroughly, that it keeps more or leſs awake ever after.

p. 183The Conſcience doth underſtand the Authority that it hath from God.

And it doth improve that Authority for God.

The Conſcience of a Convert doth underſtand the Authority that it hath from God. The God of Heaven hath allowed the Conſcience a Negative Voice. To ſin contrary to the Light, and to the Dictates of Conſcience, it is to ſin with a great Aggravation, and it is to incurr great danger. 1 Joh. 3. 20. If our ▪ hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knows all things. Nay, ſuppoſing that Conſcience doth but doubt concerning an Action, that Action muſt not be ventured upon untill Conſcience be fully ſatisfied about it, Rom. 14. ult. He that doubts of the lawfulneſs of a Meat, is damned if he eats, becauſe he eateth not of Faith; that is, being not fully perſwaded of the lawfulneſs of what he eats; he eats not of Faith, and that which is not of Faith, is ſin.

And as Conſcience knows the Authority it hath of God, ſo it doth improve and exerciſe this Authority that it hath from God, for Him. The Converts Conſcience urges that the Will of God may be done ſtill, tho' it never ſo much thwarts the inclination and grain of mans; it urges that God may p. 184be alwayes pleaſed, whoever is offended, and herein it does conſult the Converts trueſt Intereſt. The ſharper the Sight, the clearer the Light, the greater the force of Conſcience is, there will be a departing from evil with the greater fear, and care, and hatred, and there will be a doing of good with the greater diligence, exactneſs and perſeverance; and all this is for the good of Converts in more Worlds than one. Pſal. 37. 27. Depart from evil, and do good, and dwell for evermore.

4. When the Soul is Converted, the Thoughts have not a lawleſs Liberty allowed them, but there is a Conflict with them, and great care to govern them well. The Mind of Man is a buſie and an Active thing, thoughts are continually iſſuing from it, as Sparks from a Furnace, or Waters from a Fountain; and naturally all theſe are evil, Gen. 6. 5. God ſaw that the wickedneſs of Man was great upon the Earth, and every Imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. When the Soul is converted, the nature of the Thoughts is changed; vain and ſinful thoughts preſently become burthenſome. The Heart is made new, and a new heart will have new kind of thoughts. The thoughts will be pure and clean, if the Heart be ſanctified and cleanſed. Jeruſalem p. 185did ſhew her ſelf a Stranger to Converſion, that ſhe was ſtill indeed in her wickedneſs, as long as ſinful and vain thoughts had entertainment given to them; Jer. 4. 14. O Jeruſalem, waſh thine heart from wickedneſs, that thou mayeſt be ſaved, how long ſhall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

A converted Soul may be likened unto a Houſe that formerly had very bad, but now hath other and better Inhabitants. The Hectors, the Ranters, the Swearers, the Whoremongers, the Drunkards; they come and knock at the Door of this Houſe, and ſay, that formerly none were more welcome there than themſelves; but the door is kept faſt lockt, bolted, barr'd againſt them; and the anſwer is, that there is no room for ſuch as they. The Houſe hath now another owner, that don't like ſuch company, but another, a better ſort of Society. Thus it is with the Heart of the Convert; proud, luſtfull, covetous, malicious, revengefull thoughts plead for admiſſion; and ſay we uſed to be very welcome, and formerly there was a great deal of pleaſure, and delight taken in us, and muſt we now be turned out of doors? The anſwer is, the Heart hath another Inhabitant: Sin dwelt there before, and then ſinful thoughts were welcom thoughts; Ay, but now Grace reigns there, therefore p. 186theſe ſinful Thoughts as faſt as they endeavour to Croud in, there are endeavours uſed to extrude them.

And as ſinful thoughts are burthenſome to a Converted Soul, ſo good thoughts are welcome gueſts.

Indulge Hoſpitio cauſaſque innecte morandi.

A Converted Soul Indulges to ſuch Thoughts, and earneſtly deſires their conſtant abode and ſtay. The Convert is truly troubled that he can hardly joyn three or four good thoughts together without ſome Interruption: The Convert wiſhes, that God were more, and with more delight his Meditation; and that his Law were meditated on, and delighted in as well as himſelf. Saith David, Pſal. 104. 34. My Meditation of him ſhall be ſweet, I will be glad in the Lord. And in Pſal. 1. 2. It is ſaid of the bleſſed man, His delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law doth he meditate day and Night. And the Convert whoſe Soul is indeed turned unto God, he ſpeaks thus; ſuch and ſo delightful let my thoughts ever be.

5. When the Soul is Converted there is a Conformity of the Will of man, unto the Holy and bleſſed Will of God. This was p. 187the ground of the firſt controverſie between the Lord and thoſe Angels that revolted from him; they would needs oppoſe their wills to his: God would have them to keep humble, their Wills were to become proud, and pride was both the fault and fall of the Devil and his Followers, 1 Tim. 3. 6. Not a Novice, leſt being lifted up with Pride, he fall into the Condemnation of the Devil. God would have theſe Angels to abide in Truth, but their will was to let go their Primitive Integrity, and they turned falſe and rebellious Spirits: And the natural man is too much like theſe evil Angels. God calls, but man will not hear; God commands, but man will not obey; and in ſome ſort evil men out-do the Apoſtate Angels; becauſe when God doth offer to ſanctifie, and to cure, and to ſave the Children of men, they chuſe death and damning, rather than they will conſent to be healed. But when the Soul is Converted, the Will is changed; and indeed the great turning change is here: In the Will of man there is the great turning change wrought; as long as that remains perverſe, and ſtubborn, and refractory, to be ſure there is nothing of Converting Grace; and when once the Will is changed, and ſet right, and inclined ſteddily towards p. 188God, all remaining infirmities and the Truth of Grace, may very well ſtand together.

There are theſe three things that the Will of the Convert doth.

1. It doth make choice of that which God propounds as moſt eligible.

2. It is Subject unto Gods Laws, and Commandments.

3. It ſubmits to Correction and the Croſs.

1. The Will of the Convert makes choice of that which God propounds as moſt eligible; and above all it makes choice of God himſelf. It is taken with the exceeding Riches of his Grace: It is taken with his Wiſdom, Truth, Faithfulneſs; Alſufficiency, Ʋnchangeableneſs, and Eternity. To enjoy the higheſt and chiefeſt good, and to enjoy this good for ever, and for ever: What is more, what is ſo worthy to be choſen? The bent of Davids Will was thus towards God when he ſaid, Pſal. 42. 2. My Soul thirſteth for God, for the living God, when ſhall I come and appear before God? and though David was advanced to a Throne, yet that doth not divert him from ſeeking after God, and ſaying to him, O when wilt thou come to me! Pſal. 101. 2. I will behave my ſelf wiſely, in a perfect way, O when wilt thou come to me! p. 189I will walk within my houſe with a perfect Heart. Though my Houſe be a Palace, and though my Chair be a Throne; I ſhall be uneaſie in my Seat, I ſhall look upon my Crown as uncomfortable, unleſs I have thy Preſence in this Palace of mine: and therefore, O when wilt thou come unto me!

The Converted Soul refuſes, what God informs it is evil; what God informs it is abominable; and Sin doth very well deſerve the Name of Abomination: The Converted Soul doth ſleight that, which the Word of God tells him is but contemptible Vanity.

And as the Will of the Convert does chuſe God above all, ſo it chuſes other things with reference unto God: It chuſes the Word, becauſe it declares the Will of God, and what it is that will indeed pleaſe him. It chuſes Chriſt, becauſe he is the way to God as Mediator: It chuſes-Prayer, becauſe it is pouring out the Soul before God. Pſal. 62. 18. It chuſes the Ordinances of God, becauſe God hath appointed them, and is to be found in them. The more Converts have of God in any thing, upon that thing is put the higher eſteem.

p. 1902. The Will of the Converts is ſubject unto Gods Laws and Commandments. The Heart of Fleſh, why do you think it is ſo called? I will take away the Heart of Stone, out of their Fleſh, and I will give them a Heart of Fleſh. Why is it called a Heart of Fleſh? Partly, becauſe it is ſenſible and troubled at Tranſgreſſion; and partly becauſe it is ſoft, and doth receive the impreſſion of the Word, and of the Law of God. It is indeed a fleſhly Table on which the Law of God is written by the Finger of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3. 3. God hath written according to his new Covenant Promiſe, his own Law in the Hearts of Converts, and there is a voluntary and delightful Obedience yielded, Pſal. 40. 8. I delight to do thy Will, O my God, yea thy Law is within my Heart.

God ſaies, I Command: The Convert anſwers, I Conſent; and Lord! help me to pleaſe thee ſtill more and more; for I am never better pleaſed my ſelf, than when I beſt pleaſe thee? Thus the Wills of Converts yield to the Will of God; and in this harmony that is between the Humane and the Divine Will, there is a great deal of Sweetneſs: there is really that inward Peace, in compariſon of which all the delights p. 191of Sence are but inconſiderable.

3. The Converts Will ſubmits unto Correction and the Croſs: Where is there a School without a Rod? The Saints do ſtand in need of Diſcipline, and it is well they have it: Afflictions wean us from this VVorld, they help forward the work of Mortification, they quicken us in our ſeeking after God, and the more we … the more we find. Luther ſaid, Cr… est noſtra Theologia: That the Croſs alone is … Divinity: To improve Chriſts Croſs and our own, is the way to be truly wiſe. The Convert ſees reaſon for ſubmiſſion, for Gods Corrections are all ſtreams that iſſue from the Fountain of Love that is in him, and they do end in the Souls greater Holineſs, which is its greateſt Profit; and they cauſe the peaceable fruits of Righteouſneſs to be brought forth in greater plenty and abundance.

I grant indeed, That Converts may have Temptations to, and not only Temptations to, but alſo great fits of Impatience; but they do ſtrive, and they are helped in ſtriving, to allay the Storm, and to be calmed into a ſubmiſſion to the will of God. The Converted Soul may ſometimes be too much blinded by the prevalency of Paſſion, and forgetting it ſelf, may complain after ſuch a manner as this.

p. 192Though my daies are few on Earth, yet how are they filled with trouble and ſorrow! No ſooner have I got my head from under one wave, but another Billow is juſt ready to overwhelm me. Affliction ſeems to be my Lot and Portion, and while the wicked of the VVorld proſper and increaſe in Wealth, and have more than Heart can wiſh, all the day long have I been plagued, and chaſtened every Morning. If I ſet my heart upon any temporal injoyment, preſently it is ſtruck at, and like the Gourd of Jonah, withers away. And if I am full of Expectation from the Creature, my Expectation is ever fruſtrated, and that which I expected comfort from, proves Vanity and Vexation of Spirit. VVhichWhich way ſoever I look, I ſee things viſible enough to caſt me down; nothing viſible to ſupport me. O wretched Life! to be always thus under the Croſs! to be troubled, and bowed down greatly, and to go mourning all the day.

Thus the Converted Soul, in its ſits of impatience, is ready to complain: But unto theſe ravings, (I call them no other) the Lord is pleaſed in a ſtill Voice thus to anſwer.

Ʋnreaſonable and ſilly Soul! doſt thou well to be angry? and by thy needleſs and exceſſive ſorrow to help forward thine own Affliction? haſt thou been a Learner ſo long in p. 193my School, and doſt thou not underſtand the Method that I uſe in training up my Children? I give thee little in the World, but it is that thou mayeſt not dye of a ſurfeit, as thouſands and millions do; I croſs thee in thy expectation from the Creatures, that from my ſelf thou mayeſt expect and receive the more: Thou talkeſt of trouble, but am not I thy preſent help? Thou art in the waves, but theſe waters ſhall not drown thee, they ſhall only waſh and cleanſe thee, and out of them thou ſhalt come forth much more purified. Soul, Ceaſe thy diſcompoſure, I command the Tempeſt to be ſtill: Whatever my Wiſdom, and my Love ſees convenient for thee, thou ſhalt not want; and to give thee more than is convenient, would be to injure thee. Thò all viſible ſupports fail, I the inviſible and eternal God am always by thee, and ready to ſhew my ſelf ſtrong on thy behalf: My Care ſhall protect thee and provide for thee, and this may be enough and enough to ſuffice.

Hereupon the Converted Soul is quieted, it is ſatisfied, and as to its Complaints ſilenced, and it replys in Job's language,

Behold I am vile, what ſhall I anſwer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth: Once have I ſpoken, but I won't anſwer; yea twice, but I will proceed no further: Now I ſee more fully who and what thou art, and that p. 194my impatience and diſtruſt in ſuch a God, was only the effect of my ignorance, unbelief and …olly; from henceforth, Lord, I will ſee with … …ther Eyes but thine; and what thou ſeeſt to be beſt, as beſt ſhall always be acknowledged. My VVill I renounce, and whatever thy VVill is, I willingly aſſent unto: I am ſatisfied that thy Goodneſs and VViſdom will order all things for me the very beſt and wiſeſt way.

Thus the Will of the Convert is brought to a ſubmiſſion to the Will of God; and as the Convert does ſpeak thus to God, ſo he ſpeaks likewiſe unto his own Soul, Pſal. 43. ult. Why art thou caſt down, O my Soul? and why art thou diſquieted within me? hope in God; for I ſhall yet praiſe him, who is the health of my Countenance, and my God.

So much for the fifth particular: When the Soul is Converted, there is a conformity in the Will of Man unto the Will of God. The Will chuſes what God propounds as moſt eligible, is ſubject unto Gods Commands, ſubmits to Correction and the Croſs.

6. When the Soul is Converted, thoſe Affections that have evil for their object, do ſpend themſelves on ſin, which is of all the greateſt evil: Here I ſhall inſtance in four Affections that have evil for their Object, p. 195and when the Soul is indeed turned, theſe Affections ſpend themſelves on Sin.

1. Sin is the Converted Souls Sorrow; Tears here are very well beſtowed, God hath a bottle to put them in; whereas Tears that flow from worldly ſorrow, are but as common water. The Unconverted Sinner is never more merry than when doing evil; When thou doſt evil, then thou rejoycest: O how glad is he of an opportunity to commit a pleaſing and gainful Tranſgreſſion? but the Convert hath been made ſo ſenſible of the evil that is in Sin, that he can never make light of it more; he hath been made ſo ſenſible of the evil that is in Sin, that he is really inwardly afflicted, becauſe ſo guilty and defiled.

Sin doth provoke divine Anger, and the Wrath of the Almighty is terrible: Sin breaks the Law of God, and the Curſe hereby deſerved is intolerable: Sin cauſes the only Saviour to be neglected, and the Spirit of God to be reſiſted, who ſtrives to draw the Children of men to this Redeemer: Sin does weaken and wound the Soul, makes it exceeding vile, doth it an inexpreſſible miſchief, and therefore well may Sin be ſorrowed for: Take notice how David doth pour out his ſorrow here, Pſal. 38. 4, 6. My Iniquities are gone over p. 196my head, as an heavy burthen they are too heavy for me; I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly, I go mourning all the day long.

2. As Sin is the Converted Souls Sorrow, ſo it is his Fear too; the Convert is afraid of contracting freſh Guilt, and being overcome by new Temptations. The Convert is afraid of the very firſt riſings of Sin; for Sin is an Enemy, and if once this Enemy be riſen, really it may much diſturb the Peace, and give many a painful blow before it is quell'd again: The Convert is afraid of Sins conceiving, leaſt being conceived, it ſhould be finiſhed, and at laſt bring forth Death, Jam. 1. 15. The Convert flies from great Sins, and won't connive at ſmall ones: The Converted Soul is afraid of known and preſumptuous Tranſgreſſions, and it is jealous leaſt any ſhould paſs unknown, and be harboured unſuſpected, therefore the Convert Prayes with David, Pſal. 19. 12. VVho can underſtand his Errors? Cleanſe thou me from ſecret Sins.

The Convert is ſo afraid of Sin, that he will venture upon other evils rather than upon Sin; he will venture upon Poverty, he will venture upon a Priſon, he will venture upon Flames of Martyrdom, rather than venture upon Sin. Moſes was ſo afraid of Sin, though it was attended p. 197with the Pleaſures and Preferments of Egypt, that he did preferr the enduring of Afflictions with the People of God before it, Heb. 11. 25.

3. The Converted Soul hates and abhorrs Sin: I wiſh there was no other hatred in the World but the hatred of Sin; here the moſt fixed and ſettled hatred would be very commendable. Hatred is an Affection that doth aim at the deſtruction of the thing hated; he that hateth his Brother, in Scripture is ſaid to be a Murderer; and he that hateth Sin, nothing ſhort of the death of Sin will ſatisfie him. It is the Converts buſineſs, from the day of his Converſion unto the hour of his Diſſolution, ſtill to be killing and mortifying of Sin, and he doth endeavour to advance in doing of this work daily; he labours and ſtrives to kill Pride, Covetouſneſs, Concupiſence and Senſuality more dead; and being ſenſible that Sin is much above his Match to deal with, he calls in the help of the Spirit of God, that the more effectually he may mortifie the Works of the Fleſh, Rom. 8. 13. For if ye live after the fleſh, ye ſhall dye; but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body, ye ſhall live.

4. Sin is the Converted Souls ſhame: p. 198Iſrael that refuſed to turn, they are charged with Impudence and hardneſs of Heart, Ezek. 3. 7. They will not hearken unto thee, O ſon of Man, (ſaith God) for they will not hearken unto me; for all the houſe of Iſrael are impudent and hard-hearted: So Jer. 8. 12. VVere they aſhamed when they had committed abomination? No; they were not at all aſhamed, neither could they bluſh: But now Converts are aſhamed of Sin, they are confounded before God, becauſe they have ſo much and ſo inexcuſably offended: Heark to Ephraim, Converted Ephraim, Jer. 31. 19. Surely after I was turned I repented, after I was inſtructed I ſmote upon my thigh; I was aſhamed, yea, even confounded, becauſe I did bear the reproach of my youth.

This Shame in thoſe that are Converts is of great Ʋſe, for it makes them to lye low before God; it makes them in honour to prefer others before themſelves: The chief of Sinners, ſaith the Apoſtle, being aſhamed, becauſe he Perſecuted the Saints; and leſs than the leaſt of all Saints. And it makes Converts to admire the rich and the Free Grace of God, in advancing them to ſuch a dignity, as to become the Children of God, who did ſo juſtly deſerve everlaſting Contempt and Ruine.

7. When the Soul is Converted, thoſe p. 199Affections that have good for their Object, are placed upon God, who is the higheſt and chiefeſt good of all: Doers of evil have not ſeen God, 3 John 11. He that doth good is of God, he that doth evil hath not ſeen God. The Unconverted Sinner, either ſaith in his Heart there is no God, or if there be one, the Creatures are better and more deſirable than he: This is the Language of every Unconverted Sinners Heart. But the Converted Soul hath ſeen God, and hath ſeen that in God that he loves God beſt, and ſtill deſires to love him better: How ſtrong are his deſires after God, and when he is pleaſed to manifeſt his Love, to communicate his Grace with a liberal hand, now the Soul hath the greateſt Joy and Delight on Earth. The Converts Hope is in God, his expectation of help is from him, and his hope of Happineſs is in him; he is Zealous for the Glory of God, and he is Zealous of thoſe Works that are good in his ſight; and whatever a Convert ſees that hath the Image and Stamp of God upon it, that thing is loved for Gods ſake.

8. When the Soul is Converted, the Memory is put to good and holy Ʋſes; before it was like a den of Thieves, like a Cage full of unclean and hateful Birds; but now p. 200the Memory is a Treaſury, where the beſt things are laid up ſafeſt. Here I ſhall tell you of four things that the Convert doth remember.

1. The Convert remembers his Creator, and indeed no New Creature doth forget him; he remembers his Duty towards him, and the obligations and encouragements unto a faithful Performance of it. Wicked Men forget God; trifles they can think of, but God is not in all their thoughts, Jer: 2. 32. Can a Maid forget her Ornaments, or a Bride her Attire? yet ye have forgot me days without number: Thoſe that by Profeſſion are my People, and yet really are eſtranged from me, they have forgotten me days without number; but the Convert remembers God, and deſires to be in his Love and Fear all his days.

2. The Convert remembers the Redeemer, and his death. The benefits that were purchaſed by ſo great a price, and how the work of Redemption was compleat, when Chriſt roſe from the dead. A ſpecial memento is put upon the Reſurrection of Chriſt, 2 Tim. 2. 8. Remember that Jeſus Christ, of the Seed of David, was raiſed from the dead, according to my Goſpel.

3. The Convert remembers the VVord, p. 201and that effectually and ſeaſonably; he remembers it, ſo as that he is caſt into the mould of it. His heart doth ſtand in a we of the Oracles of God, and they are an excellent preſervative againſt temptation, Pſal. 119. 11. Thy VVord have I hid in my heart, that I might not ſin against thee. Joſeph he did ſeaſonably and effectually remember that command, Thou ſhalt not commit Adultery. When he had that impure and immodeſt motion made by a Creature that forgot the preſence of God, and her own Duty; and though he was a ſervant, and though he was a young Man, and an uamarried Man; yet he was ſo far from complying with the temptation, that he reproves the concupiſence and ventures upon the revenge of his impure Miſtriſs.

4. Laſtly, The Convert remembers his latter end, and the judgment that will follow after. O Brethren, methinks I ſee my ſelf and all you, holding up our hands at the Bar of God. As ſure as you are here, ſo certainly you ſhall ſtand there. The Convert thinks of this at preſent, and he lives and acts as one that is under continual obſervation, Prov. 5. 21. The wayes of Man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings. He lives and acts p. 202as one that is perſwaded he muſt give account of himſelf to God, and is exceeding diligent that he may be found of him in peace without ſpot and blameleſs. That's the Eighth particular. When the Soul is Converted, the Memory is imployed to good and holy uſes.

9. When the Soul is Converted, there is a deſire to be turned to God, still more and more. That Converſion is not right where there is not a deſire of progreſſion. As there is an inſatiableneſs in Sin, ſo there is an inſatiableneſs in Grace too, until there is a compleat Sanctification and Satisfaction in Glory. The Convert in ſome reſpects may be compared unto the Horſeleeches daughter, ſtill he is crying, Give, give; Give more Wiſdom: Give more Grace: Give more ſtrength: Give more of thoſe riches, and treaſures that are durable. It was a ſaying, of one of the Ancient Fathers, who certainly had as great experience of his own Heart, as any of them all, and that was St. Auſtin, Si dixeris ſufficit, periiſti; If thou ſayeſt, I have Grace enough, thou haſt none at all, and art an undone wretch. He that with Laodicea ſays, I am rich and increaſed with good things, and have need of nothing; what a wretched caſe is that Man in? He knows not that he is poor, p. 203and miſerable, and blind, and naked.

True Converts are ſenſible of their defects, and have recourſe for ſupplies unto the inexhauſtible fulneſs that dwells in our Lord Jeſus; and it is their continual work to be cleanſing themſelves from all filthineſs of the Fleſh and Spirit, and to perfect holineſs in Gods fear. The true Convert he is not, and he is ſenſible that he ought not to be content with any meaſure of Grace that he hath already received, but he is ſtill longing and crying for more. He wiſhes that the New Creature were better ſhaped in him, and that Chriſt were more perfectly formed in him; and being in ſome meaſure emulous of Heaven, he doth endeavour to do ſomething for God here, that may reſemble that which is done for him above in Glory.

10. Laſtly, When the Soul is Converted, it doth act the Body for God, and cauſeth the Members of it to be yielded as Inſtruments of Righteouſneſs unto Holineſs. The Convert takes care of his Senſes, that at thoſe Gates nothing may en…er that may betray and inſnare his Soul; and he ſets a watch before the door of his Lips, that out of that door nothing may proceed which may be diſhonouring …o God, injurious to himſelf or unto any p. 204other. It is but reaſon that care ſhould be taken of the body of a Man that is Converted; And that none of the Members ſhould be prophaned, ſince the Body is the member of Chriſt, ſince it is the Temple of the Spirit, ſince there is ſuch a ſure promiſe made of a Glorious and Happy Reſurrection.

Thus have I done with the firſt particular propounded to be ſpoken to. I have told you when the Soul may be ſaid to be truly Converted.

In the ſecond place, I am to prove, that till the Soul be Converted, Converſion cannot be ſincere. And there are theſe two or three Arguments that I ſhall produce to make this evident.

1. While the Soul is unconverted, Sin reigns. The Dominion of Sin lies in the affection that the Soul hath to it: If the Heart regard iniquity, iniquity is certainly in the Throne, and there muſt needs be an abſence of true Grace. The Pſalmiſt ſaies, Pſal. 97. 10. Ye that love the Lord hate evil, and the Words may be inverted, Ye that love evil, certainly are haters of the Lord.

2. While the Soul is unconverted, Sathan ſtill keeps Poſſeſſion, for his ſtrong holds p. 205are in the Soul. The unreaſonable Prejudices, the bad Reſolutions, the wicked Inclinations that are there, theſe, theſe are the ſtrong holds of the ſtrong man armed; and therefore, if the Soul be not turned, Sathan hath his Forts ſtanding undemoliſhed; and as Sathan hath Poſſeſſion, ſo Mammon is chief, if the Soul be not turned; and where Mammon is chief, Mammon is an Idol. And to be turned to God, and to have Mammon the great Idol; theſe two things cannot ſtand together, Mat. 6. 24. No man can ſerve two Maſters, for either he will hate the One and love the other, or elſe he will hold to the one and deſpiſe the other; ye cannot ſerve God and Mammon.

3. While the Soul is unconverted, all external Righteouſneſs is but a meer ſhew: If the Soul be not Religious, the Soul of Religion is wanting. All the works of the hands though never ſo ſpecious, though never ſo good as to the matter of them, are but dead works, if the Heart and the Soul of the doer is not in them: Thus it is plain that Converſion cannot be ſincere unleſs the Soul be Converted.

3. I am to demonſtrate the Neceſſity of the Souls Converſion unto God. In the p. 206former Doctrine by many Arguments, I demonſtrated the Neceſſity of Converſion; now I am to demonſtrate the neceſſity of turning to God with the very Soul, and there are theſe three or four things that I ſhall produce to make this evident.

1. The Soul muſt turn, becauſe God is Allſeeing. He doth not judge of things according to the outward appearance, but the inward man is open and naked to his view: The Heart may deceive the byſtanders; Ay, and it may deceive it ſelf; but all the ſecrets of the Heart are open unto that God whoſe Prerogative it is to ſearch the Heart, and try the reins. Unleſs the Heart be right with God, all Religion, all ſeeking of him, is nothing elſe but lies and flatteries, Pſal. 78. 36, 37. Nevertheleſs, they did flatter him with their Mouth, and they lyed unto him with their Tongues. For their Heart was not right with him, neither were they ſtedfaſt in his Covenant.

2. The Soul muſt turn to God, becauſe by the acts of the Soul God is Principally honoured. Obſerve it, how is God glorified? when the Soul admires his greatneſs and his Majeſty, and is in a manner overwhelmed with it, Pſal. 104. 1. Bleſs the Lord, O my Soul, O Lord my God thou art p. 207very great, thou art clothed with Honour and with Majeſty, who covereſt thy ſelf with light as with a Garment. How is God honoured? When the Soul is ſweetly aſtoniſhed and raviſhed with his goodneſs, Pſal. 31. 19. O how great is thy goodneſs which thou haſt laid up for them that fear thee, which thou haſt wrought for them that truſt in thee before the Sons of Men. When the Soul ſees that in God, that is to be found in none elſe; when in its choice it doth preferr God before Pleaſure, God before Wealth; I had rather have God to be mine though alone, than to have all things in the World, and be without him. O now the Soul honours God above all. By theſe and ſuch like acts of the Soul God is chiefly honoured, therefore turning muſt of neceſſity be with the Soul.

3. The Soul muſt turn, becauſe it is the Soul that yields Obedience to the great commands both of the Law and Goſpel. There is not ſo much as one Precept either in the Law or in the Goſpel kept aright, unleſs the Soul keeps it: The ſumm of the Law is Love, but Love muſt be with the Heart and Soul; nay it muſt be with all the Heart and with all the Soul; or elſe it is but a meer ſhadow and appearance; p. 208it is but like the Picture of Fire, that hath no more heat in it than the Picture of Snow. Heark what our Lord ſaies to him that asked Him: Which is the great Commandment in the Law? Jeſus anſwered, Mat. 22. 37, 38. Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, and with all thy Soul, and with all thy Mind. And as the Law calls for Love, ſo it requires Spiritual Worſhip; God is jealous of his Worſhip, and he will accept of none but that which is worſhip in Truth, John 4. 24. God is a Spirit, and he will be worſhipped in Spirit and in Truth. Now there cannot be worſhip in Truth unleſs it be worſhip in Spirit: All worſhip is but falſe, and if it be falſe it muſt needs be vain, that doth not proceed from the Spirit of the Worſhipper. If you ſhould imploy many hours in a day in pattering over a great many Words that either you don't underſtand, or if you do, you don't mind, all this would be unacceptable; nay, it would be abominable. Then for the Goſpel.

The two great commands of the Goſpel are Faith and Repentance, neither of theſe can be obeyed without the Heart: It is the Soul and Heart that believes, Rom. 10. 10. With the Heart man believeth unto Righteouſneſs, and with the Mouth Confeſſion p. 209is made unto Salvation: And as for Repentance, it is impoſſible that ſhould be true, unleſs the Spirit be contrite, unleſs the very Heart be broken: Tears, Complaints, walking ſoftly, rending the Garments, wallowing in Aſhes, this will not prove the truth of Repentance; the Heart muſt be broken, or elſe you have not truly repented, Pſal. 51. 17. The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit; a broken and a contrite Heart, O God, thou wilt not deſpiſe: And ſo in Pſal. 34. 18. The Lord is nigh to them that are of a broken Heart, and ſaveth ſuch as be of a conitite Spirit.

4. Laſtly, The Soul muſt turn to God, becauſe Judgment at the great day will be according to Truth: Then the Secrets of all Men will be made manifeſt; when the Lord appears, he will bring to light the hidden things of darkneſs, and will make manifeſt the Counſels of the Heart, and then ſhall every man have Praiſe of God, 1 Cor. 4. 5. At the great Day, all things, all Perſons will be called by their proper Names; Hypocriſie will be called Hypocriſie, and Saints will be called Saints: No Hypocrite will be owned for a Saint at that day, nothing that is counterfeit will paſs for currant; the Judgment of God will be according to Truth. In the p. 210day of Judgment, only Converſion with the Heart, Converſion with the Soul will paſs for true Converſion: Sincerity will be owned, and it will be Crowned; Hypocriſie will be unmasked; and, which ſhould exceedingly ſtartle all unſound Profeſſors of Religion, Hell is in a ſpecial manner called, The Portion of the Hypocrite, as it is ſaid, to be prepared for the Devil and his Angels.

I have ſhewed you when the Soul may be ſaid to be converted unto God: I have proved till then Converſion can never be ſincere: I have demonſtrated the Neceſſity of Converſion with the Soul.

The Application of this Doctrine remains, I ſhall be but brief upon it. There are two Uſes that I ſhall make.

By way of Information in the firſt place.

And by way of Exhortation in the ſecond place.

From this Doctrine we may be informed concerning ſeveral particulars.

1. If ſincere Converſion be with the Soul, hence we may inferr the Souls Capacity. The Soul is chiefly receptive of the Grace of God. It is the Soul of Man that doth principally partake of the divine Nature. The Soul of Man hath a natural reſemblance p. 211of God, becauſe as God is a Spirit, ſo, the Soul of Man is a ſpiritual and an immortal Subſtance: And then the Soul doth ſpiritually reſemble God, when it is renewed in the ſpirit of the Mind, and when true Holineſs by the Spirit of the Lord is wrought in it. Eph. 4. 23, 24.

2. Hence I inferr, the Souls great worth and value. Gods Eye is upon your Souls all the while you are in his preſence, and though you do never ſo much, if you deny him your Hearts and Souls, you do nothing that he will accept at your hands. Thouſands of Rams, ten thouſand rivers of Oyl, the firſt-born for the tranſgreſſion, the fruit of the body for the ſin of the Soul, as the Prophet ſpeaks, Micah 6. 7. What doth all this ſignifie? All this is nothing; nay, let me tell you, it is worſe than nothing. Souls are of great account with the Father of Spirits. How much was done, how much was paid, that Souls might be redeemed! And therefore in all your Services, your Souls muſt be ingaged, or elſe the ingaging is to no purpoſe. The Converſion of one ſingle Soul to God, is more pleaſing to him, than the moſt laborious and heartleſs ſervices of all the Hypocrites from the beginning of the World to the very end of it; theſe Services are ſo far from being pleaſing, that p. 212they are expreſly affirmed to be an abomination unto God.