The Conversion of the Soul, Frontispiece – To the reader 1
R. White deſin… et ſculp
The true Effigies of Mr. Nathanael Vincent. Miniſter of the Goſpel:
THE Converſion OF THE SOUL: OR, A DISCOURSE EXPLAINING The Nature of that CONVERSION which is Sincere; and Directing and Perſwading all to ceaſe their loving Sin and Death, and to Turn to God and Live.
By NATHANAEL VINCENT, M. A. Miniſter of the Goſpel.
Jer. 3. 12. Go and proclaim theſe words towards the North, and ſay, Return thou backſliding▪ Iſrael, ſaith the Lord; and I will not cauſe my anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful, ſaith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever.
Dixit Deus, Fiat Lux, & facta eſt Lux: Dicit, Convertimini filii hominum, & Converſi ſunt: Ita plane Converſio animarum, opus divinae vocis eſt, non humanae, …ernard de Converſione, ad Clericos, cap. 1. pag. mihi 843.
foreign, Chryſoſt. in Epiſt. ad Coloſ.
LONDON, Printed by J. Aſtwood for Tho. Parkhurſt, at the Bible and three Crowns, at the lower end of Cheap-ſide, near Mercers-Chappel. 1688.
LICENSED,
March 5. 1687/8.
TO The Right Honourable Sir JOHN SHORTER, Lord MAIOR OF THE CITY of LONDON.
My Lord!
THis is a time in which by the Gracious Providence of God, and by the Unexpected, and therefore more Obliging Favour of his Majeſty, I enjoy a Liberty more publickly to Preach the Goſpel. I now alſo take the Boldneſs, to Preſent ſome Sermons which lately ſounded from my Mouth in the Pulpit, unto your Lordſhip, the Supream Magiſtrate in the City. I am glad that the Goſpel of Peace may now be Preached without Diſturbance; and that thoſe hands that without reaſon were once ſo Violent, are now tied up, ſo that they cannot inflict thoſe ſevere Penalties, which never were indeed deſerved.
I cordially Deſire and Pray for the Proſperity and Welfare of London: And were it but a City all of Converts, it would be the Joy and Glory of the whole Earth, and reſemble that Heavenly Jeruſalem above, where there is neither Sin nor Trouble.
Converſion is not to be Preſſed only upon Heathens and Infidels: How many that are called Chriſtians go beyond Them in Wickedneſs! and conſequently need it as much, nay, more than they? The Jews of old did make their Boaſt of God and of his Temple, yet the Prophets call them to Turn; and tell them, that Death was no other way avoidable.
The Way to Heaven and a Glorious Immortality is but One, and truly 'tis a very narrow one: You that are high, as well as they that are low, muſt tread in the ſame Path of Holineſs, or elſe your hopes of Everlaſting Life will end in a dreadful Diſappointment.
My Lord!
'Tis my Prayer for you, that you may be preſerved from Temptations; that you may exerciſe your Authority, ſo as to Reform the City over which you Preſide, from that Debauchery and Prophaneneſs which has ſo much Impoveriſhed it; which is its Shame and Diſgrace, and which cries ſo loud to Heaven for Vengeance to be inflicted upon it.
A great Truſt is repoſed in you: I wiſh you Wiſdom and holy Reſolution from above, to Improve the Price put into your Hands: You muſt be called to an Account at laſt, What ſingular thing you have done for God, and for his Truth and Intereſt, in this Year of your Maioralty: The greater Enemy you ſhew your ſelf to all ſorts of Vices, and the more Exemplary you are in fearing God and keeping his Commandments, the greater Bleſſing you will be to London, and the more truly you will Conſult your own Honour and Bleſſedneſs. I am,
Your LORDSHIPS Moſt Humble Servant, Nathanael Vincent.
THE Epiſtle to the READER.
Reader!
IF this Book by the Providence of God ſhall come into thy Hand, and thou wilt beſtow the Pains to peruſe it; I would have thee read it, as he who has the Benefit of the Clergy, reads that Verſe with Care, the reading of which well, does ſave his Life. Agitur de Magnis: Things of the greateſt Importance are here treated of. The ſubject matter of this Diſcourſe is its Commendation: Mans Converſion to God is explain'd and preſs'd. The Authour can truly ſay, He earneſtly deſired the Converſion of thoſe that heard theſe Sermons; and Hope that ſome may be turned to God by the reading of them, is the reaſon of their being Printed.
Melchior Adamus reports of that famous German Preacher Bucholſtzer, That he troubled not the Church with Polemical Divinity; his great Deſign was to draw Men to a Saviour, to turn them to the living God; that their Hearts and Lives might be pure, and their End peace, and that after Death they might enter into Everlaſting Reſt. The Pruritus Diſputandi, the Itch of Diſputing has taken away the Beauty of the Churches Face and Hands: Certainly it would be more for the Churches Health and Strength and Glory, if the great Truths of the Goſpel were more inſiſted on; namely, Faith in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and Converſion, which is the ſame with Repentance towards God.
How many ſtrange Doctrines are vented! how many quaint Notions, that pleaſe the Fancy rather than Ediſie the Soul, will be found Wood, Hay, Stubble at laſt; and be Loſt and Conſumed, as not being able to endure the Fire, a ſtrict Tryal! Diſcourſes, which out of the Scriptures of Truth have plainly declared the Myſtery of God, and of the Father, and of Chriſt; the Myſtery of Converſion and of Godlineſs, will be found to be Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, and will turn to beſt Account to thoſe who have built on the right Foundation.
Reader! Art thou Unconverted? does thy ſtupidneſs under the Guilt of Sin, and thy contentedneſs to be ſtill its Slave prove thee to be ſo? I▪ pray thee, have not leſs Faith than the very Devils, for they Believe and tremble: Thy ſtate is truly doleful, but not deſperate; but quickly it may be ſo, if thou still refuſest to be a Convert: The Door of Hope may ſoon be ſhut, that now stands open; Death may ſuddenly ſeize thee, and ſend thee with all thy Sins unto the Bar of God, who judges righteouſly. Awake, O Conſcience, before it be too late! O Heart, harden thy ſelf no longer! Wrath in the day of Wrath will be very terrible.
But if thou art indeed a Convert, and thy ſubmiſſion to God, and chuſing him above all things, is the evidence of it; this Book brings thee happy Tidings, and as true as happy. Converting Grace is the greatest benefit bestowed on Earth, and when that Grace has finiſhed its work, Eternal Glory will aſſuredly follow. That all the Hearers of theſe Sermons may be ſuch hearers, as that their Souls may live; that all the Readers of them may read with advantage to their Souls, with an advantage that may last unto Eternity; is, and ſhall be the Prayer of
Nathanael Vincent.