A Treatise of Conversion, Chapter 4

A Treatise of Conversion · Chapter 4

p. 140CHAP. IV.

SECT. I.

THus much I have spoken to you, to make you willing to hear and know the Truth of your Condition; my next desire is, that you will lay it well to heart. You will never make out aright for the Remedy, till you feel your misery. Alas, what abundance of people are there in the world that never were Converted, and yet live as carelesly, as if all were well with them! Come among twenty that are as merry as the best, and ask them one by one, whether they are Converted, or not? And some will tell you they hope so, they cannot tell; and some will deride you, and most of them perhaps know not what Conversion is, nor ever much minded any such thing: And yet these very men do read, or hear the Word of God, that telleth them so plainly: That, except they be converted, they shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. What do you think Sirs, of such words, when you hear them, or read them? Are you never touched at the heart with them, and doth Conscience never make you cry out, Alas then, what will become of me? Well, because I would have you sensible of your Condition, lest you should rest in it to your undoing; I will tell you a little further, what it is in some particulars: And the Lord awake you to lay them to heart.

1. As long as you are unconverted, you are no true Children of God, nor members of Jesus Christ. And therefore you have no part in that Fatherly special Love, but stand still before his eyes as enemies. For your hearts are not towards him, but toward the things below, as you know, or might know if you would. The world is divided into two sorts, the Children of God, and the children of the Devil: The Converted, and they onelyonly are the Children of God, as you may see, Joh. 1. 10, 11. Rom. 8. 9. All the unconverted are the children of the Devil, as Christ himself cals some of them, John 8. 44. And so 1 John 3. 10. It is said of them all, and long ago they were called the seed of the Serpent, Gen. 3. 15.

p. 141It is by Faith in Christ Jesus that we are made the sons of God, Gal. 3. 26. Ephes. 3. 17. And the unconverted have not true Faith. When you go to God in prayer, if you cannot call him your Father, what comfort can you expect? If you look up for a blessing on your labours, and for supply of your wants, if it be not to a Fathers hand that you look, how cold will the Comfort of them be! Why, it is Conversion that turneth the heart to God, and if he have not your hearts, you are not his Children, and therefore none of the unconverted are his children. You are all by nature the children of wrath, Ephes. 2. 3. And therefore not the children of God. And by Regeneration you are New born the children of God; and it is Conversion that is this Regeneration. You may call him Father as long as you will, but he will never call you children till you are converted. You may think you have as good right in him as another, but he will never own you, till you are converted. You may call him Lord, Lord, even to the last, but he will tell you, he knoweth you not, Matth. 7. 22. It is not Nature, but Renewing Grace, that putteth upon you his Image, and putteth within you his Spirit and holy Nature. And if you have not that Image, that Spirit, that holy Nature, whatsoever you may think your selves, he will never take you for his Children, Gal. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 14. All the Children of God are somewhat like him: they are holy as he is holy, 1 Pet. 1. 16. And it is Conversion that maketh men in their places, and measure, like to God. Its plain therefore, that the Unconverted are none of his Children; And then how can they expect his Fatherly love; or his Fatherly care of them in the time of their Necessity? The goodness of God is the Foundation of all the creatures hopes, but if you will keep out of the way of his goodness, and yet expect the benefit of it, you are like to be deceived. For an enemy nor a stranger, cannot look for the Portion of a Child.

And as you are no Children of God, so you are no members of Christ without Conversion; For we are Adopted onelyonly in Christ, and therefore children of God, because members of Christ, who is his Natural Son. It is Conversion, that makes us members of Christ. I suppose you will confess, that if you were not Christia…s, you were miserable: and if you be not converted, you are not true Christians. You may have the Name, but you have not the Nature. You may keep a Room among those that profess themselves Christians: but God that knoweth the heart, will ask p. 142you, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having on a wedding Garment? Matth. 24. 12. And then you will be speechless. That man that hath no part in Christ, how sad and miserable a Condition is he in! It was the terrible Description of the Case of Simon Magus, Act. 8. 23. Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter; thou art yet in the Gall of bitterness, and the bond of Iniquity. And the proof was, because his heart was not right in the sight of God, vers. 21. He was Baptized, and had a kind of Belief, but yet he was not Converted, and therefore had no part in Christ. All the hopes and life of the world, is laid up in Jesus Christ, 1 John 5. 11, 12. He therefore that hath no part in him, hath no hope, no life, no ground of peace, or comfort. Without a Saviour, how dare you draw near to God in Prayer? How dare you think of Death, or Judgement? What a sad appearance are you there like to make? Oh! wo, and ten thousand woes to that man, that must stand at the Bar of God, without a part in the blood of Christ, and must answer there without that Advocate: Nay, he will be Judge himself, and will justifie none but those that are his members. You will sure confess your selves, That, if you have no part in Christ, you are in a most miserable Case. Why Brethren, The Case is as plain in Scripture as the high way: That if you are yet unconverted, you are no true Christians, and have no part in Christ, as to any saving Interest. You are by Nature in another stock, and it is Converting Grace that must cut you out, and plant you into Christ the living Vine. This is the very Nature of true Conversion: Therefore must men be humbled, and mortified, and broken off from themselves, and all creatures, that they may be removed, and planted into Jesus Christ; and may abide in him, and he in them, and that in him they may bring forth fruit: For out of him you are Nothing and can do Nothing. And whatsoever you may profess, you are but withered branches, and must be gathered up, and cast away, and burnt in the fire, John 15. 1, 4, 5, 6. It is all one to be a man, and not to be born; as to be a true Christian, and not to be New born: For as our Conception and birth is the passage into the life and world of Nature, so our Conversion or new birth is the passage into the life of Grace. We that know not your hearts, do call you all Christians that seem to be so: but if we Certainly knew who they be that are yet unconverted, we should tell these men to their faces, they are no Christians. Their soul… are not yet washed▪ with the blood of Christ, nor are they sanctified p. 143by his Spirit, and therefore having not his Spirit, they are none of his, Rom. 8. 9. Oh, therefore in the Name of God look about you Sirs, and you that have lived so long unconverted, Remember you have lived so long without a part in Christ. And therefore Lament that you have taken on you to be Christians so long, when it is not so, and now be such as you have seemed to be. The Union between Christ and true Christians, is Intern…l in the heart: Meer words and Ceremonies Unite not men to Christ.

SECT. II.

2. COnsider further, I beseech you: That there is no hope of the salvation of any unconverted man, that so liveth and dieth. This is true whether you like it, or not. If you are offended at this saying, you are offended with the saying of Christ that Redeemed you. And it were better for you to be offended with your sins, then with Christ that condemneth them. If you say, it is a hard saying, I am sure, it is a true saying, for God cannot lie. I gave you the proofs of it before at large: if you forget them, remember my Text, and you need no more. What Hypocrites then are those wretches, that say they will not Believe it, and yet for all that, will take on them to be Christians, and to believe the Word of God. You read here that Christ protesteth Verily, that except ye be converted, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And when you read it, yet you say, you will not believe it. And yet you will say, that you are Christians and believe Christ. What contradictions are these? What, wilt thou worship a God, whom thou takest to be a liar? this cannot be. No man can heartily trust him, especially in so great a matter as his Salvation, whom he takes for a liar. Thou wouldst not give the lie to thy own Father, nor to any honest man; and wilt thou give God the lie? If he be not perfectly good, he is not God: and wilt thou then fain a God that is like to liars, or wicked men? No marvel then if you …eliars your selves, if you think God be one; for no man is bound to be better then God. And therefore I will never marvel to see any man do that evil which he conceits that God himself will do.

But what will sinners get by this Unbelief? It is but the way of their own self-delusion, and undoing. He that will not Believe p. 144God, I c…nnot expect he should believe me, or any man; nor can he rationally expect to be believed himself. Yet I will ask him the Question.

You that see what Christ saith, and yet say you will not believe it, but that unconverted men may be saved; What say you? Do you know any man in the world that you will Believe, if he speak to you with such Protestation as Christ here doth? If you do not, it seems you measure other men by your selves: If you do, I would fain know of you, whether you think that any man is better then God? I had rather believe that God is true, and every man a liar, then that men are true, and God is a liar, Rom. 3. 4. And I would further ask you. Would you have any man believe you, or take your words. If you say no; he is not wise that will have any thing to do with you, if he can choose: and then you openly proclaim what you are, even such liars, that you would not wish men to believe you: But if you say I. Then I would further ask you, whether you dare take on you to be better then God? Why, thou sinfull lump of clay, thou frail, imperfect, mutable wretch, wouldst thou be Believed thy self, and wilt thou not Believe God? Darest thou say, that thou art truer and better then God, and that thy word is to be taken before his Word? If thou dare, do not blame him if he shortly stop that presumptuous mouth of thine, with his confounding Indignation; and if he make that Blaspheming tongue to be speechless, when he shall say, take him, bind him hand and foot, and cast him into utter darkness, Matth. 22. 12, 13. And then thou wilt have weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Well then, If God be not to be Believed, no one is: and if God be to be Believed, then no unconverted man shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And is it not time for you then to Consider of your condition, and look about you, whether you be converted, or not? I pray you be not so silly, as to take these words as mine, and so to think that it is I, that make the matter so terrible. If I had not found them in the Bible, I had never preached them to you; and we have nothing to preach, but what we here find, and to open this to you, that you may understand it. It will be nevertheless true, if neither I, nor any preacher in England should tell you of it; or if none of us did believe it. For our Unbelief maketh not the Word of God of none effect. I do th…refore intreat you all, as you are men of reason, see that you be truly converted, because no unconverted man shall be saved; It is p. 145God that saith it, it is the Devil that denieth it, and will you Believe the Devil before God? This was it that brought Destruction first upon the World, when God told our first Parents, that if they sinned they should die; and the Devil told them, they should not die, and they Believed the Devil, rather then God. And have you this warning, and will you do so too? Is that a Christian, yea, is that a man, or worthy the name of a man, that will Considerately Believe the Devil before God? And believe his own flesh and Carnal Reason before God? Whether is God or the Devil, think you, the better, and more to be believed, and the better friend to your souls, and more to be trusted and regarded? Oh, horrible wickedness! that ever men should put us on such a Question, or make any comparison! And what are you, that you should presume to set your reason against Christ? God saith, Verily, the unconverted shall not be saved, and you say, for all this you hope they shall: And what are you, that you should be Believed before God? What! Do you know more then he? Why, where had you that knowledge? Is there any knowledge in the world, that comes not from God? And doth he give you more then he hath himself? Is a Dungeon lighter then the Sun? Or is there any light here below, but what comes from the Sun mediatly, or Immediatly? Why a Dungeon may better compare with the Sun, and say, I have more light then thou; then thou canst compare with God, and say, I have more knowledge then thou: Oh, That ever dust and ashes should be so blind, as not to know this? And that ever they should prefer their blindness, to the Infinite knowledge of him that made them! If you do not, how dare you say, you hope that will prove false which God hath spoken? But do you think that this Unbelief will make your danger ever the less? No, It is this that encreaseth your danger. What if a man in the midst of evil, will wink, or put his eyes out, is he therefore safe, because he seeth not his danger? Again, therefore I beseech you, if you be men of Reason: if you be not Resolved to be your own enemies, …d to do the worst you can against your selves, if you do not long for Damnation; Oh, then believe God, and take time while you have it, and make out for Conversion without delay. And instead of hoping to be saved against the Word of God, and as it were in Despite of him, and whether he will or no; See that you presently yield to this Word, by which he would Convert you, if you do not resist it. Believe your present misery, and look out presently p. 146to Christ for the Remedy, and thank God that you may, and that the Day of his Patience is not past. And if the Devil and sin do still so harden your hearts, that you will not Believe, nor take this Counsel, Remember that thou wast told, that the Ʋnconverted shall not enter into Heaven. Remember that this was preached to thee from the Word of God, and thou wouldst not believe it. Y…a, thou shalt remember it whether thou wilt or no.

SECT. III.

3. I Beseech you Consider further: That while a man is unconverted, he hath no sin pardoned: All the sin that ever he committed, is yet upon his own score, and he shall answer for it before God, and suffer for it for ever, if he thus continue. I do not speak this neither of my own head: I will now give you but three Texts of Scripture to prove it, which is as good as three hundred, Mar. 4. 12. When Christ speaks of those that were judicially hardened, because they had wilfully resisted Grace: he addeth, [Lest at any time they should be converted, and their sin should be forgiven them] By which you see, That till men are Converted, their sin is not forgiven them. And Act. 26. 18. I send thee to open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may Receive forgiveness of sins, and an In…eritance &c. You see then, that men Receive not forgiveness of sins, till they are turned from the power of sin to God, Rom. 8. 30. This is the Order of Gods saving Grace. Whom he calleth, (That is, Converteth) them he justifieth, and whom he justifieth, them he glorifieth. So that no man is justified▪ before he be called.

Consider then, what a fearfull Case it is to have a load of unpardoned sin upon your souls. One unpardoned sin would as sure condemn a man for ever, as one stab at the heart would kill a man. What then will so many thousands do? Poor sinne…, if Christianity, and if Humanity did not bind me to compassionate thy soul, I would not tell thee these things to trouble thee. But I cannot forbear, unless I would be cruel to thee. It seemeth an easie matter to a fellow to think of his crime, while he is not apprehended, because he lives in hope to escape, and therefore he can laugh when he talks of the Gallows: but when he comes to it, p. 147the case is altered: Offenders may escape the Justice of men, but no man can so escape the hand of God. It may now seem a small and an easie matter to you, to think and talk of unpardoned sin, but the Day is coming when you would give all the World if you had it, for a pardon; as light as you do now make of it: All are sinners, but all are not unpardoned sinners: It is not all sinners that shall perish, for then we should all perish; but all unpardoned sinners shall perish; and all unconverted sinners are unpardoned. When sin is pardoned, the terrour of it is gone; then a man hath a sure Refuge against the Accusation: He can say at Judgement, if he be accused of his sin, that he hath a pardon of all through the blood of Christ, and then there is no more to be done against him: But so cannot the unpardoned. Oh, heavy case for a poor trembling sinner to hear [at such a time thou didst abuse Gods creature, and his Name, and his Word, and his Ordinances; at such a time thou didst neglect Duty, and mispend thy time, even the Lords Day] and to have nothing to say against the Accusation. What a sight will it be for him, to have all his sins set in Order before him, Psalm 50. 21. All the sins of his youth, and his riper age of ignorance, and of knowledge, and have no Remedy against the Justice and the wrath of God! Once there was a Remedy offered them, but being finally Neglected, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but a Certain looking for of Judgement, and fiery Indignation that shall devour the Adversary, Heb. 10. 26. Tell me, I beseech you Sirs, what do you think to do by the sins that you are guilty of? Do you believe that you shall come to Judgement for them, or not? If not; what do you here among Christians? If you do; will you tell me what you mean to say, or how do you think to come off, and to escape? Either you must have a pardon, or not? If you have not pardon, what do you think will become of you? There is no question of it, but an unpardoned sinner must be damned, as sure as the Devils themselves are damned: For Christ telleth you this will be the Sentence, Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels, Matth. 25. 41. Oh, wo to that man that ever he was born, that shall stand at Gods Bar with unpardoned sin. It will be heavier upon thy soul, then a Mountain upon thy body, and press thee down to everlasting misery. Unpardoned sin is the very fuel of Hell. If Angels and men should all joyn together to save an unpardoned sinner at Judgement, they could not do it. What hope have you then to escape, or to see the face of God with Comfort? I beseech you, bethink you what you mean to say, or how you t…ink to come off? Should a wise man be going to such a Judgement, and never once think what to say for himself, or how to escape when he comes thither? Will you then plead, that [you hope you are pardoned by the blood of Christ?] Why, Alas, that will be utterly vain; for there is no hope that God will be false of his Word: and God hath assured you, that the blood of Christ, and the Mercy of God shall never pardon any sinner, but he that repenteth and is converted from his sin. Will you say, [Though I am not pardoned now, yet I hope I may beg pardon then] And do you think to cry loud, and perswade the Judge? Oh, if that would do; what a cry would there then be! How many thousand and thousand souls would cry Mercy, mercy Lord on a poor miserabl… wretch! Oh pity a lost sinner, Oh do not condemn they Creature▪ do not deliver me up to the Tormentor; do not send me away fro… thy presence into those flames: Oh, as ever thou hadst pitty on a sinner, have pitty on me. If crying, and praying would then serve turn, how would they ring in the ears of Christ! Oh, but its then too late; too late sinners; you should have done this sooner. The Day of Grace is now past, and there is no Remedy. N… Prayer might do good (with forsaking sin through the Blood of Christ) and men will not use it; but then it will do no good at all.

Do not say, that I make this terrible Doctrine of my self, the Scripture is full of it. Christ hath told you over, and over of it: That if you are then found without the oyl of saving Grace in your Lamps, you shall in vain cry, Lord, Lord, open to us; and long enough may you knock, before you can have any hearing; but Christ will say, Verily, I know you not, Matth. 25. 11, 12. It is not they that will cry, Lord, Lord, that shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but they that do the will of our Father which i… in Heaven. For, many in that day will plead acquaintance with Christ, to whom he will profess, I n…ver k… you, Depart fro… me all ye that work iniquity. They are his own words in M…. 7. 21, 22, 23. I tell you again, if all the Angels in Heaven should fall down before the Lord Jesus Christ, and beg for you (which they will never do) and beseech him to pardon your sins, he … not do it. For it is in this life that pardon must be gotten, or never. We have no hope to be wholly free from sin, but we …y p. 149procure the pardon of it through Christ, and if it be not done now, it will never be done. Now must the pardon be procured, and sued out, and then it must be brought forth that you may not be condemned.

Now, As ever you would stand with boldness in Judgement: Sinners, Repent and be Converted, that you may have the pardon of all your sins. As ever you would stand then at Christs right Hand, and not be sent into everlasting Torment, look about you now for the pardon of your sins: For there was never man that got a pardon after he was dead, who died unpardoned. I give you but the same counsel which Peter gave the Jews, Act. 3. 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. I pray you mark these words; you see there, no mans sins will then be blotted out, but those that now Repent and are Converted.

SECT. IV.

4 THe next thing that I would entreat you to Consider, is this: That as long as you are unconverted, you are the servants and slaves of Satan, and under his Power, and led about as his Captives, at his will. It may be you do not think so much, nor believe this, but perhaps would take it ill to be told so: But God hath told us that so it is. There is but two sorts of men in the world, the slaves of sin, and the servants of Christ. All the world is in two Armies: Satan is the General of one, and Christ of the other, and these two are in continual conflict with one another. In his first assault of Adam our first Father, Satan overcame him by drawing him to sin, and thereby got him and his Posterity into his power: The Lord Jesus comes of purpose to rescue us out of his hands, and this he doth by Converting Grace, and Justification thereupon. So that, till a man be converted, he remaineth in the bondage, and slavery of the Devil; and when he is converted, he is entred among the freemen and sons of God.

What think you of th…s? Is it not a miserable state to be the Devils bond-slaves? Why, if you will Believe God, it is the Case of all that are unconverted: Nay, you may feel it in your selves. Do you not feel th…t your wills are to do evil? that …e leadeth p. 150you to Worldliness, to Drunkenness, or wickedness at his will? If he bid you rail of swear, you do it. If he bid you neglect everlasting life, you do it, and you have no heart to God and the Life to come: why, these are the Marks of Satans bondage. Hear whether the Scripture speaks it not plainly, Rom. 6. 16. Know ye not that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto Death, or of obedience unto Righteousness, 1 John 3. 8, 10. He that committeth sin is of the Devil. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the Devil, whosoever doth not Righteousness, is not of God. The meaning of both is, That he that hath the main bent of his heart and life for sin, that is, for the flesh and the world, is of the Devil; and he that hath the main bent of his heart and life for God, that is, for Righteousness, is a converted child of God. So 2 Pet. 2. 19. For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. And 2 Tim. 2. 26. They are said to be in the snare of the Devil, taken captive of him at his will. And in Act. 26. 18. It is expresly said, that Conversion turneth men from the power of Satan unto God. So that you see, the case is plain in Scripture: That, till men are converted, they are in the power of Satan.

It may be you perceive not the misery of your Condition; and no marvel, for Satans servants are all Voluntiers, and he useth to keep his possession in peace, till a stronger then he shall come upon him and cast him out, Luke 11. 21. Oh! that the eyes of poor sinners were but opened to see who it is that leadeth them about. Poor soul, didst thou but see that the Devil is thy Ruler, that he standeth by thee, and puts thee on in all thy wickedness, it would sure make thee desire to change thy Master. You are affraid of seeing him appear to you in any shape, and if you should but see him, it would make your Joynts to tremble. Oh! why are you not more affraid to be ruled by him? and to follow him to your Destruction? Why are you not more affraid, lest you should dwell with him for ever? A man that is in the favour of God, were not much the worse: if he should see all the Devils in Hell, no more then a Souldier to see the enemies when they are Conquered: But a man that is unconverted, whether he see them or not, should tremble to think that he is yet in their snares. Oh, that you did but know, and well consider, that it is the Devil himself within you, that cavilleth against the Word of God, and contradicteth p. 151the Truth, and draweth you to doubt, and ticeth you to sin. If you did hear the Devil say to you with a Voice, come, follow me to the Alehouse, it would sure frighten you from going. Or if you heard him speak out, and say against the Gospel, It is not true, Do not believe it, how would this affect you? Why, it is he that speaks this in you, whenever you have these thoughts in your hearts. Your own corrupt hearts are the mother, but he is the father of them all. When you feel such thoughts as these within you, that sin is a small matter, and that God doth not hate it so much as preachers talk of, and that God will not condemn all the unconverted, that so live and die, and that men may be saved without a holy life, and that this is but preciseness, and more ado then needs, all this is as truly the very inward perswasions and motions of the Devil▪ as if you heard him speak it openly in a voice. It is he that bids you go on in sin and fear not, and yet at least take a little more of your fleshly pleasure, and if you must turn, let it not be yet. It is he that bids you hate them that endeavour your Conversion, and make a scorn of those that fear God. Its he that bids you lose your time, especially on the Lords Day, and talk of filthiness or vanity, and rail, or lie, or back-bite, or hate your Brother, as truly as if you saw and heard him, this is he: The Scripture telleth us so, that this is his work, which Christ did come into the world to destroy, 1 John 3. 8. We can certainly know the workman by his work. So bad a work hath no better an Author. I beseech you therefore in the Name of God, bethink you where you are, and what a case you are in. Have you known all this while, that you were in the power and captivity of the Devil? What, and yet be so merry or careless as you have been? What, sleep quietly, and live quietly, and yet be in such a Case? Why, if a man be taken prisoner by the Turks, and laid in a Dungeon, or put into their Gallies, how sadly doth he take it▪ How many a sigh and groan comes from him, to think where he is, and what a Case he is in, in comparison of other men! And many a time he cries; Oh that I were free. And yet all the servants of Satan, are willing of their bondage. This is it that makes you deserve the less pity, because its your own doing, and you will not be delivered. A Turkish slave would be delivered if he could, and would give a thousand thanks to him that would deliver him: but you might be delivered, and will not. Christ hath provided a Remedy in his blood, he offereth it to you, and entreateth you p. 152to accept it, and yet you will not. He hath commanded us to e… treat you, and you will not be entreated. God would have all … saved, and come to the knowledge of his Truth, and many will not be saved. Christ would gather them as a Hen gathers her chick… under her wing, and they will not, 1 Tim. 2. 4. Matth. 23. 37. When God offers you help, and Ministers offer you help, and godly friends offer you help, and fain they would have you delivered, and you will not; What pity do you deserve, if you perish everlastingly? Its a strange thing to see how people hate the Devil, and yet love his service! How they speak ill of him, and yet obey him! How they even spit at his Name, as men that ab…or him, and yet will not be perswaded by any means that we can use, to come out of this Captivity, when the doors are set open by Christ that bought them. Not that I suspect, that any of you … really love him; for I know that God hath put an enmity in the beginning, even between the Nature of Satan, and of man, Gen. 3. 15. I know you hate him, even while you wilfully serve him. But the matter lieth here, though you hate him, you love the sin, because it is pleasant to flesh and blood, and you do not know, or will not consider that it is he indeed that leadeth you to it: or else you durst not continue in that Case. Well Sir…, lay this to heart, and believe that all men are slaves to Satan, till they be Converted, and if you are not willing to live and die his slaves, and to be used for ever as his slaves, delay not your Conversion.

SECT. V.

5. MOreover, the Misery of the Unconverted doth further appear in this: That, while men are unconverted, nothing that they do can truly please God. There are many works, which for the matter of them are commanded, which such men may do, but yet there are so many defects, and so much of the venom of their Corruption mixt in them, that God hath no delight in them, but doth abhor them. I would not be misunderstood in this, as if I said or thought, that therefore all that the unconverted can do, is to no purpose, in Order to their Salvation: And that therefore it is as good for them let all alone, and sit still and be careless till God shall convert them; or as if it were better, or … good for them not to pray, as to pray, and not to hear or read, p. 153or ask advice, as to do it, because that all is displeasing to God. But I mean, and say, that there is more in their best Duties to displease God, then to please him, and that they are such as he hath made them no promise of accepting, so far as to give them any special Grace, or Reward thereupon▪ Or if this please not any, yet this much is out of Controversie, that the Duties of no unconverted man are pleasing to God, so as to prove their persons pleasing to him, as his own servants are; and that God takes no such Delight in their Duties, as he doth in those that are performed by the Righteous. And thus at least you may take it as beyond all Question, that God is comparatively displeased with, and abhors even the best works that are performed by the unconverted. The works of wicked men are of four sorts. Some are such as have no Tendency to their Conversion and Recovery, nor to the good of any others; but are either plainly wicked for the substance, or but indifferent for the matter, and wicked in the ends and manner: These God abhors in the highest Degree. 2. And there are some that are common Civil actions in themselves, neither good nor evil, nor yet Designed to any special wicked end; but yet because the Common ends of such is wrong, and the manner sinful, these therefore are said to be abomination to the Lord. 3. And then there are their best works which are done by them with evil intents, to settle them in their present state, without any thoughts of turning from it, as their Alms-deeds which are done to merit, or to quiet their Consciences in a sinful state, or the like. These also God abhorreth, for all the Good thats in them: For these they do as wicked men, wickedly, for all the goodness that is in the Action. 4. But then, there are some Actions of the unconverted, that are in Order to their Conversion, and these God accepteth not, so as to accept their persons, as of one Reconciled to him in Christ, nor as he accepteth the works of his people, nor so as to be engaged by promise for their Reward. But yet he so far accepteth them, that they are ordinarily the way in which he will be found; and in which he will give them greater things: They are means of his appointing for the Conversion of their souls, which he hath not appointed them to use in vain. So that by this time you may see my meaning here in this Particular: The three first sorts of the works of wicked men, God doth plainly abhor, even their wicked works that are both such, for matter and end; and their Civil and natural works, that are wicked for the p. 154end; and their Religious works, that are wicked for the End: But the fourth sort, which are works that are done in Order to their Conversion, though they please not God as the works of the Regenerate do, yet he abhorreth them not as he doth the rest: For as they come from a Common faith, though not from a special faith, so they may please God in a Common manner, though not in a special: And as they have an end that is good in its place: that is, the saving of their souls by turning from their sins, though they have not the true ultimate end of the Saints, that is, the glory and pleasing of God everlastingly, and the enjoyment of him therein, so are they proportionably acceptable to God. So that it is the first three sorts of Actions that I mean in this Application. And in regard of them, I say it is a matter of great terrour to the unconverted, that God abhorreth all that they do.

I will first prove it to you, and then shew you the terrour of it. As for their wicked works there is no Question, they are abominable to God, and he hateth them. See Jerem. 44. 4. Psalm 53. 1. & 14. 1. Ezek. 16. 52. Tit. 1. 16. Prov. 8. 16. & 11. 1, 20. & 12. 22. And the very thoughts of the wicked are abominable to him: as Prov. 15. 26. But the Question is of their better works: And we find in Scripture, that their very Trades, and works of their callings, is sin, Prov. 21. 4. The plowing of the wicked is sin, or if perhaps the sense of that Text may be that their Preparations and Contrivances are sinfull, which are Metaphorically called plowing, yet of their best works the Scripture is plain, Prov. 15. 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight: Note, that he saith not, the Humiliation or the Repentance, Or thoughts of Conversion that may be in a wicked man, but his sacrifice, which is somewhat that he thinketh God should accept, as a matter of worth: And therefore it was that Cains Sacrifice was abhorred, when Abels was accepted. And that you may see that it is not onelyonly because of the wicked Designs, that they may have in it, the Spirit of God speaketh of both, Prov. 21. 27. The sacrifice of the wicked is an Abomination, how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked mind: Yea, the very prayer of wicked men is abominable. Yet do not say that God is a respecter of persons, and will take that well from one, which he hateth from another without any just cause. For there is just cause. If you will not do the main things that God requireth, he careth not for p. 155the Rest, Prov. 28. 9. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer shall be Abomination. The Law of God commandeth you to take another course, and condemneth your wicked Life, and if you will turn away your ear from this Law, that would turn away your heart from sin, God will not accept your prayer, Psalm 66. 18. If I regard Iniquity in my heart, God will not hear my prayer, 2 Tim. 2. 19. He that calleth on the name of the Lord, must depart from Iniquity. Yea, the fasting and self-afflicting of the wicked, is dis-regarded, Isa. 58. 2, 3. Little doth a poor blind sinner think when he is boasting of his praying and Religious Duties, that God abhorreth them; but if they be unconverted, they will find it so, Luke 16. 15. Ye are they that justifie your selves before men, but God knoweth your hearts: For that which is highly esteemed among men, is Abomination in the sight of God: And one Reason is, because that the person himself is such as Goddoth hate: and therefore no wonder if he hate his work: For a Fig-tree beareth not Thorns and Thistles, nor the Bramble Grapes, but as the tree is, so is the fruit, Psal. 5. 5. Thou hatest all the workers of Iniquity, The wicked is made for the day of evil, and every one that is proud in heart, is an Abomination to the Lord, Prov. 4. 5. Though men bless, yet the Lord abhoreth them, Psalm. 10. 3. When he seeth their wickedness, he abhors, even those that profess themselves his people, Deut. 32. 19. Yea, and his own Sanctuary, and the very place of his worship, Lament. 2. 7. Especially when they often deal falsly with him, Psal. 78. 59. And no wonder when wicked men do loath the Lord and his Service, if he do also loath them, Zach. 11. 8. My soul loatheth them, and their soul also abhorreth me. Sinners, The Case in a word is this: God is a spirit, and will be worshipped in spirit and in Truth, and such worshippers onelyonly doth he chuse: And wicked men can give him but the shel, and the shadow of his Service: God made all things for himself, and will accept of nothing but what is Intended for himself: but wicked men are turned from God, and do all for their carnal selves, even when they pretend to do it for God. It is your hearts that God hath lost, and your hearts that he regardeth, and your hearts he will have again, or he will have Nothing; but you may even keep all to your selves if you will, except you will give him this. What Need hath God of your Prayers, or other services, or what good can you do him by all? It is your selves that he desireth; and then he will accept your service, though he need p. 156it not, and will make it good to you, though it can do no good to him. Therefore this is his first Demand, Prov. 23. 26. My son, give me thine heart; and if you deny him this, you deny him all. He careth not for your Lips, nor your Religious Duties, without it. If you will not first give him your selves, he will not accept of any thing that you offer him. And indeed, when it is not in a returning way, but in an offering way that wicked men will serve him, he plainly telleth them it is in vain, and telleth them he hateth it, and bids them keep it with them, for he will have none of it till they leave their sins, and give up themselves to him, Isa. 1. 11, 12, 13, 14. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me, saith the Lord: I am full of your burnt-offerings, when you come to appear before me: who hath required this at your hands, to tread in my Courts: Bring no more vain Oblations: Incense is an Abomination to me, the new Moons, and Sabbaths, and solemn Assemblies, I cannot away with, it is Iniquity, even the solemn meetings, your new Moons and appointed feasts, my soul hateth, they are a trouble to me, I am weary to bear them: And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when you make many Prayers, I will not hear, your hands are full of blood. Wash ye, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; Cease to do evil: learn to do well: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord. If a Prince have Subjects that are in rebellion, he will not take any gift at their hands. There is no true Minister of the Gospel, but feeleth some exposition of this in his own heart. If the people would send us any tokens of their Love, and expressions of kindness, if it were not for exasperating them, who would not return it them with contempt, as long as they refuse to be reformed; and will not yield to the Word of the Gospel: To let go their goods, if it were all they have, for us, is a matter that we regard not, if they will not let go their sins; because we seek not theirs, but them: And much more is it so with Jesus Christ. If you should be as punctual in his worship as any, and give him never so much of your knees or tongues: yea, or your goods, and all you have, he will not take it as a thing that pleaseth him, unless withall, you give him your selves. If I suffer my body to be burnt, saith Paul, and have not love, it availeth nothing, 1 Cor. 13. 3. Many a poor unconverted wretch considereth not this, that comes constantly to p. 157Church, and receiveth the Sacrament, and useth some kind of praying every day, and thinks, that if God should not accept of such as them, there should almost no body be saved; and therefore they make no question of his acceptance. Oh, but one thing is Necessary, and that is yet wanting. If God had your hearts first, then he would take the rest in good part: But when the World hath your hearts, and though you sit and hear with some delight, as if you were his people, yet your heart goeth after your Covetousness, Ezek. 33. 31. When your fleshly pleasure, and profit have your hearts, God will not regard your service, were it much more.

Now it is the work of Conversion to bring the heart to God, that was never brought to him, and set upon him before: Therefore till this work be done, all is but abominable. For without Faith it is impossible to please God, Heb. 11. 7. You think to live to the flesh, and then to please God by your good praying and meanings, or by being of the Right Religion, or by some good works: But remember what God himself hath told you, who best knoweth what it is that pleaseth him, Rom. 8. 8. They that are in the flesh, cannot please God, and all that are unconverted are said to be in the flesh, because they mind the things of the flesh, and live according to their carnal inclinations, and for carnal ends. Oh, what a sad consideration would this be to your hearts, if you did but understand and feel your own condition! You talk against this man, and that man for being of a wrong Religion, and you think you are better then this party or that, when as you are miserable whatsoever your Religion be, because you are heartily of no Religion. You think God will be pleased with your service, and it doth but add to the load of your sin: You read the Word, and think you do God service by it, when you do but read your own condemnation, because you have your hearts against the Doctrine that you read: You think you serve God by coming to Church, but if you refuse to let the Word convert you, how should God be pleased with such a service as this? It is as if you should tell your servant what you have for him to do, and because he hath given you the hearing, he thinks he should have his wages, though he do nothing of that which you set him to do: were not this an unreasonable servant? or would you give him according to his expectation? It is a strange thing that men should think that God will save them for dissembling p. 158with him: And save them for abusing his Name and Ordinances: Every time you hear, or pray, or praise God, or receive the Sacrament, while you deny God your heart, and remain unconverted, you do but despise him, and shew more of your Rebellion then your obedience. Would you take him for a good Tenant that at every Rent day would duly wait on you, and put off his Hat to you, but bring you never a penny of Rent? Or would you take him for a good Debtor, that brings you nothing but an empty purse, and expects you should take that for payment? God biddeth you come to Church, and hear the Word, and so you do, and so far you do well: but withall he chargeth you to suffer the Word to work upon your hearts, and to take it home and consider of it, and obey it, and cast away your former courses, and give up your hearts and lives to him, and this you will not do: And yet you think that he will accept of your service. Dare you plead such services with God for a reward, and say, Lord, though we shut thee out of our hearts, yet we gave thee the hearing.

Sirs, I beseech you lay this well to heart, what will you do in a day of affliction? What will you do at an hour of Death? will you not fall a praying? Will you not call to God for Mercy, when you see that nothing but his mercy can relieve you? Why, if you be unconverted, God will not hear your prayers; he abhorreth them, because he hath not your hearts. Oh, sad case for a man in misery to look about him and see no hope in Heaven or Earth, but God alone, and when he begins to cry for help to him, he will loath their prayers, and turn away his ears, and will not hear! Hear his own word, Prov. 1. 26, 27, 28, 29. Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched forth my hands, and no man regarded, &c. to the end of that Chapter. For my part, I foresee the day is coming, when I would not take all the world to be without a God to pray to. Oh then, to have a mans prayers themselves though but Iniquity, and charged on him as his sin, when he must have present help or perish, what sadder case can there be? For a man that is going into another world, and cals to God to receive his soul, to have prayers and soul cast out together, how sad a case is it? Sir, do not mistake me, as if I took you off from prayers or other holy Duties by this, but I tell you, that if you go on in any kind of Duty, and remain unconverted, you cannot look that God should take any kind of p. 159pleasure in them, or in you. If you say then, its as good never a whit, as never the better: I answer. Do your great Duty first, and then all the rest will be accepted; yield to the Word and Spirit, resist not the Grace of God any longer; give him your hearts, and give them no longer to this deceitful world, and then come and welcome. And for the Duties that tend to Conversion, as hearing the Word, and begging true Grace of God which may Convert you, and considering of those Truths that must be the Instruments to do it: These are the very beginnings of the Work, and therefore tis not these that we discourage you from: It is time for you to use these, that the rest may be accepted.

SECT. VI.

6. ANother sad consideration concerning the state of an Unconverted man, is this, as long as they remain in that Condition, They live in continual danger of Damnation; They are under the wrath of God; and though Patience have long forborn them, to try whether they will Repent, yet are they not sure whether it will stay for them one day longer: They are under the Curse of the Law, and when it will be executed they cannot tell. I have told you already from the Word of God, that an unconverted man cannot be saved, and I need not tell you sure, that he is uncertain how long he shall continue in this world: And me thinks a man that is sure to go to Hell if he dieth, and knoweth not whether it may not be this day, should have little comfort in his life till he were changed. Now the Lord have mercy on poor hard hearted sinners, what do they mean then that they look no more about them? Why will not the Word of the living God awaken them, which telleth them how neer they are to perdition? I do here make known to you from the word of Truth, That if there be any unconverted souls in this Assembly, they are not certain to be out of hell an hour. God knows Sirs, I would not tell you of this if it were needless; But alas, what do you mean to continue in such a Case as this? As sure as the Word of God is true, every soul that goeth unconverted out of the Body, is shut out of all hope of mercy for ever, and entreth into a Remediless misery. Remember then man in the name of God, every morning thou p. 160arisest, and every night thou liest down, that thou art uncertain to be out of hell till the next day. Alas, its enough to amaze a poor Christian that is indeed Converted, when he doth but find himself in doubt of it; how much more should it awaken them that are yet in the flesh. Many a one that truly feareth God, having wanted Assurance at the time of Death, Oh, how terrible hath it made Death to them! To look before them and think they must be gone, and they know not whether! To think that it is but one day or two more, and my soul will be among Angels or Devils, and I know not which of the two it will be! Oh, what a dreadfull thought is this, even to many that are converted, for want of Assurance at the time of Death! But alas, this is but a small matter in Comparison of the Case of the Unconverted: For as soon as the soul is out of the flesh, all the fears of the godly are at an end, and they shall never more have a doubting thought: but for the rest, if you should die with never so great Confidence, death would dispel it all; And as soon as you were out of the body, your eyes would be opened to see that which would never let you have a thought of hope or comfort more. I speak none of this of my self, Prov. 11. 7. When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish; and the hope of the unjust man perisheth, Job 27. 8. For what is the hope of the wicked, though he have gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? Job 8. 13, 14. So are the paths of all that forget God, and the Hypocrites hope shall perish, whose hope shall be cut off, and whose Trust shall be a spiders w…b. He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand, he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure, Job 11. 20. The eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the Ghost. Take this home with you then, and let it cause you to have no rest till you are truly converted, that till then you are never Certain to be one day or hour more in safety.

p. 161SECT. VII.

7. FRom all this you may see another sad consideration, which is, That as long as a man is unconverted, he hath no ground for one hours true Peace and Comfort, but hath reason to live in continuall terror, and to be the grief of all that know his misery. For should a man be merry that is in such a Case as this? Oh no, if his eyes were opened, it would certainly affrighten him, either out of his sins, or out of his wits. Many worldly vanities, and sensuall delights such men may have, to delight their thoughts; but this is their weakness, and not their happiness. Some Malefactors when they are to be hanged, will make themselves drunk before hand, that death may not be terrible to them; but this is but a medicine against Repentance, and not against Hell. So do thousands of poor sinners make themselves drunk with merry Company, and false conceits, and worldly businesses, and fleshly pleasures: but, though this do ease their hearts a while, and keep away the feeling of their misery, it will not do so long, but onelyonly till the hope of be cure past, Brethren, the desire of my soul is, to advance the Consolation of the Saints, and to take from you no Peace or Hope, but what death will take from you, if it be not done before; and if I had any hopes that your merry daies would last after death, and would not end in everlasting sorrow, I would not be one that should interrupt your mirth. Truly, you should hold on in your careless drowsie course for me, if I did not see the after-Reckoning: But seeing the case is such as I have proved, with all that are unconverted, I must say to all in that Condition, that mirth is very unsuitable to your state, and laughter dot ill bebecome you. And if ever a man might say of it, as Solomon, Thou art mad, it is when it appeareth in the face of such a man, that stands all the while on the very brink of hell. What! be merry in the power of Satan, under the wrath of God, before you are pardoned, and before you know whether ever you shall be saved, or escape the everlasting pains of hell? Oh dolefull mirth! What wise man would be partner with you in such pleasure? Now Sirs, I beseech you that are in this Case, for your poor souls-sake, when you are next among your merry Companions, let this thought come into your mind: Oh, but I am not yet converted. p. 162When you are next in your worldly cares and businesses, or careless for your souls, bethink you then, Oh, but I am not yet converted. And every day and night wherever you are, whatever you do, Oh think still, I am yet unconverted, that so you may look about you, and come to your selves, and get into that condition wherein you may have cause indeed to be merry. Me thinks every time you hear the bell toll, it should frighten you. Every time you go among the sick, or see any brought to the grave, it should frighten you: Yea, every thing that you look on should be matter of terrour to you till you are out of this Condition. Sure there is no believing friend that you have that knows your case, but must needs pity you. They are bound to lament you. OnelyOnly this comfort doth yet remain, that a sufficient Remedy is provided in the blood of Christ, which will Recover you, if you do not proceed to make light of it: This is all your comfort, that your case is not remediless, as long as you are under the cals of Grave. Take heed, in the name of God take heed of going on any longer in that condition, lest you make it Remediless: There is yet a possibility of your Salvation, but not without your Conversion: You have to do with a merciful God, and that you find by experience, or else you had not been here now. But Oh, go not out of the reach of mercy: Never did Gods mercy save one unconverted soul, any other way then by Converting them. And the greater are your possibilities now, and the freelier the blood of Christ is offered you, the greater will be your sorrow if you lose all this, and by neglecting it, do make your Case Remediless.

SECT. VIII.

8. COnsider further, The warnings that the unconverted have of their danger, are so many; and so great, that if they be neglected, they will multiply their misery. To be an unconverted man among the Turks or Heathens, is no wonder, no more then to be in the dark at midnight. To be unconverted among Papists, is not so much wonder, no more then to miss your way by Moonshine: But to be unconverted in the midst of Gospel-light, this is a sin that hath no excuse, and a misery that liveth in despight of the Remedy. All the Preachers that have told you of your misery, p. 163and perswaded you to turn, shall be witnesses against you. Yea, all the examples of the wicked that have gone before you, that were set forth for your bettering, shall be witnesses against you. The way to hell is a beaten Road, and most of the world do tread it continually; and therefore you might have known and avoided it, when God had told you how to know it. God hath not left you in darkness, but you shut your eyes: The light shines round about you and you will not see: You have Bibles, and you have other good Books, and you have Teachers, and you may have Neighbours that are able and willing to help you, but you will not make use of them. Oh Sirs, consider I beseech you, to get well to heaven, is a business and not a play. It is a matter to be enquired after, and prayed for, and learned with all Diligence and care, and not to be put off with heartless shews. Hear then, Oh hear the call of God that soundeth in thine ears, to bring thee to Conversion: wilt thou run on when God is calling after thee? He calleth by his Word; he calleth by his Ministers; he calleth by his Judgements, and by his Mercies, by Conscience, and by his Spirit, and will you stop your ears and sleight them all? Many a one hath come in at the first call that ever they had by the preaching of the Gospel, and you have had an hundred and an hundred, and yet will you not Return? Believe it Sirs, The Calls of God will Convert you or confound you: His Word will not Return in vain: You cannot resist his Grace after all this warning, at such easie and cheap Rates as many others in the world may do. Your impenitency and wilfulness hath the more obstinacy in it, by how much the greater light you do resist. If the Gospel do not convert you, you will wish you had never heard or Read it. Hear what Christ himself saith of those that were not Converted by his Word, Matth. 10. 14, 15. Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your word, when you depart out of that house or City, shake off the dust of your feet, verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of Judgement then for that City, Matth. 11. 20, 21, 22, 23. Christ did upbraid the Cities where his works were done, because they Repented not: Wo to thee Corazin, wo to thee Bethsaida, for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they had repented long ago, in sackcloth and ashes: but I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of Judgement then for you. And thou Capernaum which art exalted to heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works which have been done p. 164in thee, &c. The Lord grant that I may never hear Christ upbraiding any of this Congregation with the warnings that they did neglect: It is a heavy Case, that when Christ sendeth to men the Gospel of Salvation, they must be upbraided with it, because they would not be saved by it. And that Sodom and Gomorrha, Those places of abomination that bore the most remarkable plagues of God, being consumed with fire and brimstone from the Lord, should yet speed better in the day of Judgement, then many of our poor people that sit under our teaching from day to day. In a word Sirs, Remember this. All unconverted sinners that so lived and died shall be condemned, but those that had the greatest means and warnings, shall have the greatest Condemnation.

SECT. IX.

9. COnsider further, That the further men go on in an unconverted state, the deeper is their sin, the harder is their Cure, and the greater will be their punishment. It is not a state wherein you may safely abide, no not a day, if you were sure to have time for Repentance. Is it a small thing to go on in sin, and to add to that heap that is so great already; and to encrease that mountain which is so unsupportable? As long as you are unconverted, you live in the continual abuse of God, and all his Mercies: You abuse him most unworthily, for you prefer the Unworthy Creature before him, as if he and his Glory were no better then this Earth; nor so Good neither: You abuse him by denying him that which is his own: You deny him your hearts, you deny him your service: that which he hath made and Redeemed, you deny him that which none can lay claim to but himself. You abuse his Word by Rejecting it; you abuse his Sabbaths by profaning them: you abuse his Image in his servants, by contemning it: You abuse his Name by taking it in vain: You abuse his Mercy, and all his Creatures, by beholding them in vain, and Receiving them in vain, and by advancing them into the Throne, and giving them that which is not their due: Though you worship not Sun and Moon, yet you worship meat, and drink, and ease, and money: And thus you live in the abuse of all things. And besides the rest, you abuse your own souls. They were made for the high God, and fitted to love him, and honour him, and live to him here, and to see his face in p. 165Glory hereafter; and all unconverted men do abuse them to the basest drudgery of the Devil: They make them sinks of sin, and dunghils to Receive the excrements of the Earth. God hath advanced you above the beasts that perish, and made you for a life with Angels in his Glory, if you would but believe it, and set your hearts upon it: and you debase your own souls, and make the bruitish, as if they had no better a happiness then a swine; or as if you were worms that live in the earth; or rather Beetles that live in dung. Who can marvell if a Carnal man abuse God, and the godly, and all things else, when he wilfully and delightfully doth so abuse himself? It may turn the passion of those they abuse into compassion, when they consider, whatsoever they do against others, they do an hundred times more against themselves: They scorn us, and they would themselves: They tempt others to sin, but they cast themselves into it: They wrong our names, or estates, or bodies, and they damn their own souls. Alas poor wretches, who would have thoughts of Revenge on such men that are the cruellest persecutors and destroyers of themselves? Oh, what a base indignity do they put upon a noble and Immortal soul, to make it like the body, inclining unto earth, as if it had been taken hence as the body was, to take it down from living upon God, and engage it in a life of meer vanity.

Moreover consider, that all the while you continue unconverted, you grow hardened in your sin, and as you forsake God more, so doth his Spirit withdraw from you; and custom will make you still worse and worse. Your Recovery will be harder the next week then this, and therefore it is not a state to be continued in: But of this we shall speak, when we come to the particular Exhortation.

SECT. X.

10. AS long as you Remain in an unconverted state, you Deprive your selves of a world of happiness, that God doth offer you, and you might possess. You might have God instead of th… Creature; and Christ instead of a Carnal self; and the Spirit instead of the Devil that doth deceive you: you might have holiness instead of the filth of wickedness; and Justification for Condemnation; and a Blessing for the Curse; and the state of: Reconciledness, p. 166instead of the enmity that you are in to God: You might have peace of Conscience, instead of terrours or groundless security: You might serve a better master now, and in better company; and have better wages both here and hereafter. You do not know what you lose every day that you Remain unconverted; more then all the pleasures of sin can afford you. Ask any of them that have escaped out of that condition that you are in, whether they are willing to Return? You see not perhaps that they have got any thing by the Change, and therefore you think you lose nothing by continuing as you are; but their gains are out of sight: It is most out of their own sight, and therefore it may well be out of yours. But if themselves should deny it, it is not therefore one Uncertain or contemptible thing; For the Foundation of God standeth sure: he knoweth who are his. If it were but to be Employed upon higher things, and to escape the deadly wounds of Conscience which you give your selves, or else prepare for, it is no small gain to be a true Believer; and if they found themselves in no better a Case then they were before, they would be tempted to Return to their former state; but that they will not do for a world. I dare say, if you did know but the danger and horrible misery of the life that you now live, you would make as much haste out of it, as a man would do out of a house that were a fire over his head; or as a man that were at sea in a leaking Vessel, that if he did not bestir himself, as for his life to get it to the shore, would sink and drown him. And if you knew but the Case of a Converted soul, even of those that walk most heavily, and most bewail their own Condition, you would not be out of it one day longer, if you could possibly help it. Well, I have shewed you what it is to be unconverted; if any of you dare yet go on in such a Case, and unbelievingly Cavill at the Word of God, or carelesly trample it under your feet; if God do forsake you and leave you to your selves, and if Death do find you in that sad estate, you may thank your selves.