A Treatise of Conversion, Chapter 5

A Treatise of Conversion · Chapter 5

p. 167CHAP. V.

SECT. I.

HAving said thus much to you by way of Terrour, if it may be to drive you from an Unconverted state, I shall not so leave you; but shall next say somewhat also by way of Allurement to draw you to a better state. For as there is enough in your misery to drive a sober man from it, so is there enough in the Hope that is set before you, to draw any believing heart to embrace it. The Gospel is a Joyfull Message, and bringeth glad Tidings of Salvation to all that entertain it; if you will not shut your eyes by unbelief, or Inconsiderateness, you shall see that God calls you not to your hurt, or loss. If there be not more to be had in his service then, then in the service of t…h world, the flesh, or the Devil, take your course and never regard me more. If I do not give you sufficient Reason to prove to you that you may make a better bargain by speedy Conversion, then by continuing in your carnall unconverted state, I am contented that you never more give me the hearing: For my part, I would not perswade you to your hurt or loss, nor make such a stir about an uncertain gain; nor about a small matter were it never so Certain: but my principall Arguments are yet behind: Fear is not the principall affection of a true Convert; and therefore terrifying Arguments are not the principall means: yet these must be used, or else God had never put such an affection into mans heart, nor such terrifying passages into his Word: and we all feel the need and usefulness of it; for in Reason he that is in danger should know it: But yet, it is love that must be the predominant affection, and therefore it is the discovery of the Amiableness of God, and the wonderfull gain that comes by godliness, that must be the principall Argument that we must use with you. For we know that men will not be directly affrighted into Love, though they must be affrighted from the Contrary that hindereth it: Do not think that God hath no better Argument to use with you, then to take you by the throat, and say, Love me, or I will p. 168damn thee. This he will use to wean you from the Contrary Love, and to let you know the fruit of your folly, that he may equally carry on his work upon all the affections of your souls together. But he that principally Requireth your Love, doth give you undeniable Reason why you should love him: And he that calls for your hearts, doth shew you that which might take with your hearts, and effectually win them; If your eyes were opened to see what he sheweth you. He draweth them as a Loadstone doth the Iron, by the force of his Attractive Love. If there be not more in God thats worth your Love, then in all the world, if all were yours, then hold on your present course and spare not. But why make I any comparison in such a Case? It were a dangerous unreverence in me, but that your Necessity requireth it: Because wicked men do not onelyonly make a comparison first, but also prefer the World before God, though not in their tongues, yet in their heart and lives: If I were but able to make you throughly know what that Condition is that I perswade you to, I would desire no better Argument to prevail with you, were it in my power, but to open your eyes to make you know what Conversion is, and what it doth for those that have it, I should make no doubt of your speedy Conversion: For none withdraw their hearts from God, but for want of knowing him; and none are against a holy life but those that understand not sufficiently what it is: And none do prefer this world, and the pleasures and profits of it before the glorious things that God doth offer them, but only they that are cheated and bewitched by it, and know not what it is that they dote upon. If I were but able to give you such a sight as Stephen had, Act. 7. 56. When he saw the heavens opened, and Christ standing at the right hand of God, I should have no need to call you from your fleshly vanities. Oh how contemptuously would you throw away your former pleasure, and run to see and be possesssors of that Glory! If I could but bring you with Paul, into the third heaven, to see the unutterable things that every true Believer shall possess, I would give you no thanks to cast off this world, and presently to turn to God. Nay, if you had but the light about you that Paul had at his Conversion, it would do much: But what talk I of these extraordinary things? If you did but know by a sound Belief such as all the Converted have, what a blessed life it is that we invite you to, away you would come without delay: As the Apostles when Christ p. 169called them from their Trades, and Friends, and bid them follow him, they presently left all, though they saw nothing in the world to draw them on: so would you, if you were but well Illuminated. And because all that I can do in this work is, to propound to your Understandings, the Excellency of that Condition which I perswade you to. I shall next fall upon that, and leave the issue to God, desiring him to open your eyes, to see what shall be propounded.

SECT. II.

1. VVHen a sinner is Converted, he is delivered from the power of Satan, Acts 26. 18. The bonds of your capaivity will all be broken, in your Return to Christ, as Peters chains fell off him, and the prison doors were set open, when the Angel rowsed him up, Acts 12. 7. So will it be with thy soul when God converteth thee. Ignorance and wilfulness in fleshly pleasures, and the love of this world, these are the chains that Satan holds men in; and Conversion will bring thee from darkness to light, Acts 26. 18. Even from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ, Col. 1. 13. It will bring such a marvellous light into thy mind, as thou never hadst before, which will make thee marvel at the Riches of Grace and Glory, and marvel at the wonderfull love of God, and wonder at that thy former folly that couldest Neglect it. Thus will God bring thee out of darkness into his Marvellous light, 1 Pet. 2. 9. Telling you what this light is, will not be sufficient to make you know it; till you see it your selves. You shall then have other apprehensions of things then now you have, even of the same things which you see and seem to know. You will have another knowledge of the world, and of Christ, and Grace, and Duty, and all spiritual things even of good and evil then now you have. As the first sin did open Adams eyes to know good and evil by sad Experience, as having lost the Good and felt the evil, and also to know them in a separated sense, as distinct and separated in his thoughts from God. So true Conversion will open your eyes to know good and evil by a blessed Experience, even to see God the chiefest Good, as Recovered to you for your Felicity, and sin and hell the greatest evils from which you are delivered; and to see God in all the Creatures, and the Respect and Tendency they have all to him. I cannot by bare telling you make you conceive what a Marvellous p. 170change will be in your Understanding; what an Excellent and marvellous light you will see when once Conversion hath opened your eyes. Let me endeavour by a familiar Comparison to acquaint you with somewhat of it in the General, though I cannot give you the thing it self. You know that a dog that liveth in the house with you doth see the same things, and place, and persons in the house as you do; and he hath some kind of knowledge of them; he knoweth every room, and every person in the House: Suppose now that God should turn this dog suddenly into a man; do you think there would not be a marvellous change in his Apprehension? Would he not see something in every thing, and place, and person to marvel at? Would he not know all these things in another manner then before he did? I do not say that the change which Conversion makes is just of such a kind as this: but it is very marvellous, and we may by such a similitude help our Apprehensions of it. When some of the poor naked Indians have been brought into this Land, how strange did every thing seem to them? When they came into London, with what wondering would they gaze about them, as if they had been in another world? And will not a poor Converted soul do so, when God hath newly opened his eyes, and made him see that which he never saw before? Oh, then he sees that evil in sin that maketh him wonder: that Ravishing love in Christ that makes him wonder: that Amiable Glory in the face of God, and that Truth in the promises of Eternal Blessedness, that makes him wonder: when before he could see nothing to wonder at in any of them. Oh Sirs, if you knew but the pleasure of this marvellous light that God by Conversion would let into your souls, you would never Rest till you found your selves converted. Every man hath a natural desire of knowledge, and in a Natural way they are seeking after it; and many do even in the use of these means which should be spiritual, imploy themselves but in Natural seeking. One man thinks that Common Learning can help him to this Light, and therefore he readeth and studieth day and night; and I deny not but in its place it is good: Another thinks that among this or that party it is to be found, and in the Discovery of this or that Low opinion it doth Consist; but when all is done, it is the great and Common Truths that are most wonderfull, and converting Grace that must shew men the Glory of them. It is not in Rarities of New Discoveries, nor strange principles that were never h…rd of till now, that this Light is to p. 171be found. But it is in the substance of Christian verity, I tell you Sirs, you that now use to mutter over your Creed for a Prayer, and hear the Catechism without understanding it, if your eyes were opened by Converting Grace, you would marvel at the very Doctrine of the Creed and Catechism. You would see that Excellency, and feel that weight in Common Truths, that would exceedingly take up your very hearts. You now know not what it is to Believe in God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost: But then these three Words would seem to you of greater glory then the Sun at noon day: They would find you both Work and Wonder, and yet delight, if you had no more then these to think of.

And do you love the darkness rather then such light? Have you been so long in the Dungeon, that you are fallen in Love with it? and are loath to come out? Is all this Light so small a matter in your eyes? Are you like an Owl or Bat that cannot endure the light of the Sun? Or rather like a Thief that hates the day-light, because he is affraid of being made known? Oh sinners, I beseech you come away and leave your Dungeon state of Darkness; and live in the Light of the Countenance of God. It is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the Sun, Eccl. 11. 7. Deprive not your selves of the pleasure which is offered you.

And it is not only your chains of Darkness, but also your wilfulness and blind affections that Converting Grace will turn you from: These bonds of Worldly profits and pleasure that seem so strong to others that they cannot overcome them, you will shake them off as Sampson did his bonds, and they will not be able to separate you from the Love of God: The same Tempter that so easily prevails with others, will not be able to prevail against you: The God of Peace will tread him under your feet, Rom. 16. 20. In the work of Conversion Christ layeth siege to the heart of a sinner, which Naturally is Satans Garrison, and he battereth it, and starveth it, and forceth it to yield, and bindeth that strong man that possesseth it in peace. Luk. 11. 21. So he is cast out of his possession by Converting Grace: He hath not the same power there that he had before: Once he could have commanded the man to swear, or be drunk, or neglect his soul, and he would have done it: But now he hath no such power: Once he could have turned their thoughts against Christ, and their tongues to Cavill against his Word, but now he cannot: They are now under another Government. They have now that Repentance to the Acknowledgement of the Truth, p. 172by which they are recovered out of the snares of the Devil, who formerly lead them captive at his will, 2 Tim. 25. 26. The very first day that you are converted, you are the freemen of Christ, who were the Bond-slaves of the Devil all your lives b…fore. As ever then you would partake of this Blessed Priviledge, resist no longer, but yield to the Call of Grace, that you may be Converted.

SECT. III.

2. ANother Excellent Priviledge of a Converted soul, is this: As soon as ever a man is converted, he is united or joyned to Jesus Christ: This is the very Root of all the Rest. Conversion turneth men from Satan to God, it breaketh them off from their former Lovers, and uniteth them to Christ as the husband of their souls. He is the Vine, and we are the Branches, and into him we must be grafted, if we will have life, Joh. 15. He is the head, and Conversion is it that makes us his Members; Giving us that Faith, by which we Receive him to dwell in our hearts, Ephes. 3. 17. So that, as the Soveraign and subject make one Common-wealth; As the head and the body make one man, so Christ and his Church are one. Whether or no the Union be any more then Relative, taking Union in the strictest sense; yet it is wonderfull and Glorious, and a Communication of holy Qualifications doth follow it. We are one in Relation, and one in Judgement, as being of the same mind, and one in Affection, and one in Regard of the similitude of Nature, and many wayes one in a larger sense. Here is the Root of the Saints Felicity: If you were one with the Prince, you would not fear the want of honour, or Riches; you would not fear any thing that he could save you from. When Jonathan loved David as his own soul, he ventured his life to save him from his Fathers Indignation: When Lazarus whom Christ loved was sick, he raised him from the dead. If you be once so near to Christ as to be one with him, what will he not do for you? Will he Neglect his own Members? Will he hurt himself? The Apostle could use this Argument with husbands to love their wives; because they are as their own body, and who ever hated his own flesh? but nourisheth it and cherisheth it, even as Christ doth the Church. From hence doth the Apostle fetch the example of Conjugall p. 173Love; Husbands love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church; yea from this Union: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones, Eph. 5. 25, 28, 29, 30. This is a mysterie, saith the Apostle, speaking of Christ and the Church, vers 32. And a Mysterie of unspeakable Consolation to the Saints. Oh therefore, Resist not that Grace that should Convert you: If you would be united to Christ, come to him and yield to the drawings of his Love; that you may be one with him, who is one with the Father, according to your capacity, for thats his will Concerning all that are truly Converted, John 17. Judge now, whether it be not a most honourable and unconceivable felicity, that Conversion doth advance the soul into. It was the greatest Miracle of all Gods Works, that ever he revealed to the sons of men, to take the Humane Nature into union with the Divine: That Christ who was God, should condescend to be made man; And the Next is, that he will take his Church into union with himself, and will magnifie his Love, in such a wonderfull advancement of poor sinners, that without his Grace they could not well Believe it.

SECT. IV.

3. ANother Benefit that followeth Conversion▪ is this: As soon as ever a man is truly Converted, he is made a member of the true Church of Christ. For he is at once united to the head and to the Body: A man may be a member of the Visible Church, or rather, he Visibly made a member of the Church before Conversion: But that is but as a wooden Leg to the body; or as Bellarmine himself acknowledgeth, they are not living, but dead members: And as many of his friends whom he mentioneth, confess, they are but as the hair, or the nails, which are not properly members of the body, though they are in the body: Or as Austin saith, like the chaff among the corn, which is so a part of the field, as to be an Appurtenance of the corn. So that, till Conversion, even the Baptized and the most understanding men, are but as the straw and chaff in Gods Barn, and as the tares in his Field, as Christ himself compareth them. But Conversion doth effectually ingraft them into the body, and make them living members; And so, by one Spirit we are all Baptized into one body, 1 Cor. 12. 13. And so, we are the body of Christ and members in particular, vers. 27. All are not p. 174Israel that are of Israel, saith the Apostle to the Romans. And in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing, nor Ʋncircumcision, but a new Creature; and faith that worketh by love, Gal. 6. 5, 15. Col. 3. 11. For Circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the Letter, Rom. 2. 29. They are the Circumcision, that worship God in the spirit, Phil. 3. 3. And it is not the meer Baptism of water, but the Baptism of the Holy Ghost which is given in Conversion, that maketh you living members of the Body.

SECT. V.

4. AS soon as ever a sinner is truly Converted, he hath a pardon of all the sins that ever he committed; be they never so many, and never so great: though with Paul he have been a Persecutor of the Church of God: Though he have with Manasseh, been a very Sorcerer; Though he have hated godliness, and made a mock at it; Though his very heart hath been against Christ all his dayes: yet when he is onc… truly Converted, he is pardoned: Though he have spent the flower of his youth in Vanity: Though he have been a drudge for this world, and forgotten his soul, and the world to come; Though he have hindered others from Conversion and Salvation, yet when he is once truly Converted, he is forgiven; Though he have long resisted Grace, and strove against his own Salvation; Though he have stifled many convictions of Conscience, and broke many purposes and Promises, and much abused the Patience of God; yet if the Work of Conversion be true, all this shall be pardoned and done away. For the Lord Jesus hath made satisfaction for all; and thereupon hath made a conditional Promise, that all that truly Repent and Believe, shall be pardoned: And as soon as ever they perform the Condition through his Grace, the promise becomes effectual to them, and their Iniquities are therein forgiven them.

Oh, what news is this to a weary-heavy-laden sinner; to them that are bruised and broken under the sense of sin and wrath, that would give a World if they had it, for a pardon! Why, come to Christ sinner, and take it freely; he hath purchased it, and he freely offereth it, but onelyonly to them that take himself: For God hath made these Benefits Appurtenanees to himself, take Christ himself, and all is thine. Oh what comfort is it to such a sinner as Mary, p. 175that lay wiping Christs feet with the hairs of her head, and washed them with her tears, to hear him say, Thy sins are forgiven thee. Those sins that do so terrifie the Conscience, and those that lie asleep till conscience be enlightned; thy secret sins which the world knoweth not of, and thine open sins that have been thy shame, at the very hour of true conversion will be pardoned: All thy sinfull thoughts, words, and Actions: sins against knowledge, conscience, consideration; sins of Ignorance, and presumptuous sins, all shall be done away, Act. 26. 18. Mark 4. 12. Whom he calleth, them he justifieth, Rom. 8. 30. Christ is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give Repentance and forgiveness of sins, Acts 5. 32. And thus doth he bless them, in turning them from their Iniquities. Acts 3. 26. And in turning away from them the punishment of that Iniquity. He that sent John Baptist first to preach Repentance for the Remission of sins, Mark 1. 4. Luke 3. 3. And hath shed his own blood for the Remission of sin, Matth. 26. 28. And calleth men to Repent for that end, Act. 2. 38. Hath promised to give it to all that thus Repent and Believe in him▪ and are converted to him, Act. 10. 43. And commanded his Ministers to joyn these together, and that Repentance and Remission of sin be preached in his Name, Luke 24. 47. And may we not say with David, Psalm 32. 1. And after him with Paul, Rom. 4. 7. That they are blessed whose Iniquitie, are forgiven, whose sins are covered, and to whom the Lord will not Impute sin; Oh therefore receive converting Grace, that you may be made partakers of this blessedness: Take the counsell of Peter to Simon Magus, Act. 8. 22. Repent of thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhap… the thoughts of thy heart may be forgiven thee. Or as the same Peter to the Jews▪ Act. 3. 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. Oh, blessed hour that freeth the soul from such a load, that else would have sunk it as low as Hell! A day and a mercy that must never be forgotten by us.

p. 176SECT. VI.

5. ANother Benefit is this: As soon as a sinner is converted, he is Reconciled to God: the former enmity is done away: Though this be in substance the same with the former, yet doth it shew us our happiness in another Consideration. A future Reconciliation was purchased before by the blood of Christ, and a conditional Reconciliation given out in the Gospel, but the soul was never actually Reconciled till the time of Conversion. Before, a sinner did either presumptuously Intrude into the presence of God, to his own danger, or else flee back through the terrors of his conscience. Oh, the frowns of the face of God were enough to deter a guilty soul! What comfort could that man have to think of God, that lay under his continual curse and wrath? But when once they are converted, the face of God then smileth on them, and his arms are open to embrace them, as the fathers were to the Returning Prodigal, Luke 15. God cannot shew himself pleased with a Graceless carnal soul: Nor can …e choose but be Reconciled to the soul that is once possessed of his Image, and Reconciled unto him: As you are, so will he be to you. He did but stay for the turning of your hearts, that you might be fit to Receive that kindness from him, which you are not fit for in the bondage of your sins. This is the happiness of a converted soul, that he hath the love and favour of Almighty God. Therefore doth Christ call them his friends, John 15. 13, 14, 15. Jam. 2. 23. And what is it that he will not do for his friends, that did so much for us while we were enemies, Rom. 5. 10. Oh, therefore yield to the Cals of God. The Word of Conversion is a Word of Reconciliation: and this is it that he hath committed to us, that we might beseech men in his name and stead, to be Reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5. 18, 19, 20. which is onelyonly by being converted to God. Did you know the worth of Peace with God, you would quickly yield to Return unto him.

p. 177SECT. VII.

6. ANother pretious Benefit to the Converted, is: that they are the Adopted sons of God; which is a step higher, then to be barely Reconciled and his friends. When they are planted into Christ the Natural son, they become Adopted sons: For God sent his own son made of a woman, made under the Law, to them that were under the Law, that we might Receive the Adoption of sons, wherefore we are no more servants onelyonly, but sons, Gal. 4. 4, 5, 7. This is a Benefit not common to all. It is as many as are led by the Spirit of God, that are his sons, Rom. 8. 14. And they that are in their measure blameless and harmless without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation, among whom they shine as Lights in the world, Phil. 2. 15. Christians, know your own felicity, that you may rejoyce in it, and give Glory to God. You may boldly draw neer him and call him your father, and look for the love and bounty of a father at his hands. Oh wretched world, to despise so great a mercy as this is! Doth it seem a small thing to them to be the sons of God? It raised the blessed Apostle into an Admiration, 1 John 3. 1. Bohold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: And as a father tenderth a son that he delights in, so doth the Lord the poorest of his people. The World, I told you is divided into the children of God, and the children of the Devil, 1 John 3. 10. And it is by Conversion from sin to God, that men are known to be the children of God. If therefore you value this wonderfull Priviledge, yield then to the Grace of God which would convert you.

SECT. VIII.

7. ANother Benefit of the Converted, is: that they have the Spirit of Christ within them: By it doth Christ possess and govern them; by it doth he make them like to himself, and work out all that is contrary to his holiness. For it is a cleansing Spirit, and a Spirit of holiness, Rom. 1. 4. By this he helpeth them against the flesh, and effectually mortifieth it, Gal. 5. 16, 17. Rom. 8. 1, 2, 14. By this doth he quicken them to newness of life, for p. 178it is a quickning Spirit, Rom. 8. 11. By this it is that he helpeth their Infirmities, and teacheth them to pray, Rom. 8. 26. Eph. 6. 18. By this he teacheth them his Law, and writeth it in their hearts, 2 Cor. 3. 3. By this he possesseth them with Filial affection, and causeth them to cry to him Abba Father, Gal. 4. 6. By this one Spirit all his people have Access to him, Eph. 2. 18. And by this they are made his habitation, Eph. 2. 22. And in the Unity of this Spirit they are one with the Lord, and among themselves, 1 Cor. 6. 17. & 12. 12, 13. This Spirit is the Earnest of their future Glory, 2 Cor. 1. 22. & 5. 5. And where this Spirit is, there is liberty from former slavery, 2 Cor. 3. 17. So that, you see how great a mercy it is to have the Spirit of Jesus Christ within us; and this is the Case of all that are converted, and none but them. For if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, the same is none of his, Rom. 8. 9. If you did but know what it is to be possessed by the Holy Ghost, when ungodly men have the Spirit of uncleanness; you would not rest without this Blessedness.

SECT. IX.

8. ANother part of the happiness of the Converted, is: that All the promises of Grace are theirs: They are the children of the promise, and God is, as it were, obliged to them, and hath engaged his word for their security, Gal. 4. 28. & 3 22. Eph. 3. 6. All the Promises are in Christ yea, and Amen, 2 Cor. 1. 20. They therefore that are in Christ must needs have part in them. Oh how full is the Book of God, of free and pretious promises to his people! And all belong to thee that art converted. There hast thou promises for Remission, and promises for Assistance against Temptation; and promises for Acceptance of thy person, and Duties, and Promises for protection and Deliverance from Evil; and when thou readest them, thou mayest say, all these are mine. He that knoweth that God is true, will not take a promise as an Inconsiderable Mercy. If men account it such a matter to have a Lease or Deed of Gift of Land, and Worldly Riches, how should we value that Covenant and Testament of our Lord. In a word, Godliness is profitable to all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come, 1 Tim. 4. 8. And what can any man desire more.

p. 179Yield therefore to the voice of Grace that you may be converted, and all the promises of Grace will be yours: and then it will be an unspeakable comfort to you, that whatsoever condition you are in, you have a promise of God that you shall be better. If you be in Poverty, if in sickness, if at the hour of Death, yet you have a promise which is enough to support a believing soul. As one saith, I bad had rather be at the bottom of the sea with a promise, then in Paradise without it. For there is no misery so deep, but we shall certainly be delivered from it, if we have but a promise: but without it Adam was not safe in innocency.

SECT. X.

9. ANother Benefit of the Converted, is: that all their duties are pleasing of God. I mean not, their sins, nor the failings of their Duties, for God will never be reconciled to these, when he is reconciled to the sinner: But the failings of all their Duties are forgiven them, through the blood of Christ, and the failing being forgiven, the Duty is accepted, and well pleasing to God. By Faith Abel offered a more Excellent sacrifice then Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was Righteous, God testifying of his gifts. By faith Henock had this Testimony, that he pleased God, Heb. 11. 4, 5. The sacrifice of their good works is pleasing to him, Heb. 13. 16. Their Prayers and Almsdeeds come up before him: for in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him, Acts 10 4, 35. And it is their study and work to do those things that please him, and walk in all well pleasingness before him, Heb. 3. 21. Phil. 4. 18. 1 John 3. 22. Col. 1. 10. And all this is through Christ in whom the Father was first well pleased, Matth. 3. 17. & 17. 5. Oh how great a consolation is this to the Saints! See that you be truly converted, and go to God, and fear not lest he reject you, further then is necessary to reverence and caution. When he abhorreth the guilded sacrifice of the Hypocrite, he will Accept that which seemeth weaker from thee. He will hear thy very groans, and tears, and broken expressions. Lament over thy weaknesses and see that thou disown them, and then thou shalt find, that God will not disown thy services for them. Oh what a comfort is this in a time of extremity, in trouble p. 180of conscience, in sickness and at Death, to have God to be well pleased with all our Duties, and to know that he will not abhor our prayer. The time is near Christian, when thou wilt find this priviledge more worth to thee then a thousand worlds, that God will let thee come near him with Acceptance, and bid thee welcome, and hear thy prayers; and the time is coming when unconverted sinners would give a world if they had it, for such a priviledge, and say: Oh that I could go to God, and have a gracious hearing as well as they: but it will not be, because they knew not the day of their visitation.

SECT. XI.

10. ANother Benefit of the Converted, is this: The Angels of God have a special Order and commission to attend them. They are all Ministring Spirits sent forth to Minister for them, who shall be heirs of salvation, Heb. 1. 14. Note here, that Angels are servants, not to us, but to God for us; and that it is in a special manner for the heirs of Salvation; and that it seems it is all the Angels, that are designed to this office. I say not, all the glorous Spirits, that are before the Throne of God: For, I presume not to determine whether there be not other spirits besides the Angels; For the word Angel signifieth a Messenger, and therefore it is onelyonly these that are employed as Gods Messengers, that are called by that name; and those that believe in Christ, are said to have their own Angels alwayes beholding the face of God, Matth. 18. 10. These doth he send to deliver his servants in distress, as they did, Dan. 3. 28 & 6. 22. And Peter Acts 12. For, he giveth his Angels charge over them to keep them in all their wayes, they shall bear them up in their hands, lest they dash their foot against a stone, Psalm 91. 11, 12. Yea, they have their office also for the good of souls: An Angel appeared to Christ himself and strengthened him in his Agony, Luke 22. 43. And as evil spirits can hurt the souls of the wicked, so no doubt but the good can help the souls of the Righteous; and therefore when Satan comes to Deceive, he is said to be transformed into an Angel of light, 2 Cor. 11. 14. Yea, when the soul goeth out of the body, these Angels are the Conductors of it into the presence of God, Luke 16. 22. Where we shall be made equal to the Angels themselves, Luke 20. 36. p. 181Oh, if the eyes of true Christians were but opened to see their glorious attendance, they would be more sensible of this Priviledge, and more thankful for it, then now they be. God could do all things for us without Instruments if he pleased; but as he rather chooseth to work by Instruments and second causes for our bodies, so also by these invisible Instruments both for body and soul When Saul had sinned against God, and was forsaken by him, the Good Spirit was taken from him, and an evil spirit given him. Some common Benefits even common men may have by these Angels while they forfeit not their helps, but not that special benefit as the Saints. The world cannot distinguish the Righteous from the wicked, but the Angels of God can; for the must needs know their own charge, and who it is that Christ hath especially committed to their trust.

SECT XII.

11. ANother excellent Benefit of the Converted, is this: As they are true members of the Catholick Church (whatsoever any Schismaticks may say to the contrary, that would confine the Catholick Church to their own party) so have they communion with the whole Church, and many spiritual advantages by that communion. Besides that external communion in Church order and Ordinances, which he ungodly may have as well as they; there is a spiritual internal communion and communication, which is proper …o the living converted members. All the Saints have one spirit of holiness to animate them, Rom 8. 9. 1 Cor. 12. And they all intend the same End, and conspire in the same way for the accomplishment: God is their common end, as he is their common Original, Rom. 11. 36. 1 Cor. 8. 6, 11, 12. They have all one God, one Christ, one Faith, (though they may differ in many smaller opinions) and to every one of them is given Grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ, Eph. 4. 5, 6, 7. And so they are all one body and one spirit, and must endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of Peace verse 3, 4. They are all members of one heavenly City, even Jerusalem which is above, the mother of us all; where they shall be perfected, Heb. 12. 22, 23. And of the Militant Church the City of God, while they are here on Earth. It is the Design of God in the fulness of time to gather them all p. 182into one, in Christ, yea to make them and the Angels in heaven to be one body, Eph. 1. 10. They have here the same officers and means, even Apostles, and Prophets, and their holy writings, Pastors and Teachers, and the use of Ordinances, and this for the edifying and perfection of the body, till they all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, to a perfect Man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, Eph. 4. 12, 13. That speaking the truth in love, they may grow up into him in all things which is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplyeth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh encrease of the body, to the edifying of it self in love, vers. 15, 16.

Moreover, all the whole Church doth constantly pray for every member; not onelyonly as for those that are yet unconverted, that they may have Grace, because they have no Absolute promise to be heard in that, and that they shall not be heard for all men in General, they are certain, and therefore may not so ask it. But when they pray for the Godly, it is as for those, for whom they have a promise. As they live in the constant love of one another, which is the Mark by which the world must know them, and an effect of the Spirit which doth animate the whole body (1 Pet. 1. 22 1 John 4. 7, 8. John 13. 34, 35.) so doth this love express it self in the breathings forth of constant desires for the Prosperity of the whole, and each part. Oh Christians, what an excellent Priviledge is this, that the poorest man or woman of you that is converted, hath thousands and thousands of the prayers of the Saints going for you to God from day to day: which way ever you are going, or whatsoever you are doing, this stock is improving for you, this work is going on. When you are about other matters, and think not of it, there are thousands of holy people praying for you: when you grow cold and faint in prayer, there are thousands of servent Christians at prayer for you. When you have catcht a fall, and conscience is troubled, and you dare scarce go to God again, there are thousands of Christians that are at prayer for you, that have clearer consciences, and boldness with God. Is not this a comfort when your graces are weak, when temptations are strong, and troubles, and fears, and doubts are many, to remember you have thousands of the people of God at prayer for you? Is not this a great comfort in p. 183the greatest dangers, when you are afraid of your salvation, to remember how many thousands are at prayer for your salvation? Nay, it is even all the whole Church of God: and you may well think that God will not easily deny the prayer of his whole Church: He that hath promised to hear two or three, yea every single person that asketh any thing in the Name of Christ according to his will, is unlikely to deny his whole Church when they joyn together for any such thing: and this is a matter that is according to his will, that his truly converted people should persevere, and be preserved in his love, and safely brought on to his heavenly Kingdom, 2 Tim. 4. 18. Oh remember this in your doubts and troubles, that all the Church of Christ is daily at prayer with God for your salvation. And is not this a great comfort to you! in time of sickness, or at the hour of Death, to remember, that now the whole Church of God is at prayer for you. You send to this friend and that friend which you think have Interest in God, and you are glad if you can but get them to pray for you: How glad then should you be, that all the Church prayeth for you, who most certainly have so great an Interest in him. The Spirit of Prayer which teacheth the people of God to pray, will not forget you, nor suffer them to forget you, but will make them pray for all the body, and every member of it; as the very Tenure of the Lords Prayer sheweth you: and Col. 1. 3. Eph. 6. 18. Col. 4. 3. 1 Tim. 2. 1. Rom. 1. 9 & 15. 30. Oh then Sirs, if you he wise, yield to that Grace of Christ that would convert you, that you may be members of this body, and live in the spiritual communion of it: For alas, to joyn externally in the communion of the Church, when you have not communion with them in the Spirit, will but encrease your condemnation at the last. You are every day among the Saints of God, but you know them not, nor the Spirit by which they live, nor the spiritual part of the work which they do. Such a communion as the dead corps have together which you tread upon (whose bones and dust lie mingled in the Earth) in comparison of our communion that are here together in the presence of God among the living; even such a communion have the unconverted in the visible Church, in comparison of that spiritual communion of the people that are converted.

p. 184SECT XIII.

12. ANother excellent Benefit to the Converted, is: that they have the constant Intercession of Jesus Christ, God and man, in his heavenly Priesthood, at his Fathers right hand in the heavenly Glory. Their head is not insensible of their wants, nor doth he disregard them; the wrong that is done you, he takes as done to himself. Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? said he, to one that trod upon his foot, Acts 9. 4. And the good that is done to you or denied to you by others, he takes as done or denied to himself, as may be seen in Matth. 25. 40, 45. Surely then he doth not forget us, though he be exalted to his Glory. He is not like the poor silly creature, that cannot bear exaltation without being puffed up, and forgetting themselves: yea, their friends and their God No; his exaltation is spiritual and heavenly, perfecting his humane Nature to the greatest height that it is capable of: He liveth in the face of God who is love; nay, into the personal Union with the Godhead which is Love, hath he assumed our nature long ago; He was never more tender of Jerusalem, when he wept over them, Luke 19. 41. or of his people when he wept, and bled, and died for them, then he is now of them in his Glory. Though he cannot weep or grieve now as he did on earth, yet he can love now as much as ever he loved: and therefore his eye is still upon our wants, his heart is set upon us for our good; he looks down from heaven upon every particular member; he seeth that this man wants this Grace, and that man wants that, and the other is in danger of this or that corruption or Temptation; and he is daily carrying on the Cure. Tis he that sends this Minister and the other Minister as his Apothecaries, with his Medicines, and perswadeth you to take them for your good; It is he that directeth this or that affliction to be a Purge for some dangerous Disease, when he seeth that easier means prevail not. You see not your chief Physitian, he standeth out of your sight; but he seeth you, and it is he that doth all for you that is done: As he prepared a Medicine of his own blood to cure sick souls, while he was here upon Earth so is he now continually applying it to them for their Cure: Do not think that all his love was shewed upon the Cross, or that all that he doth for you by his blood, was then done: No; he is still pleading p. 185as it were, that blood on your hehalf unto his Father, and offering the Sacrifice for you again in the Holiest, which he once offered for you on the Cross; and is there a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedeck, Heb. 8. 1, 2, 3, 4. & 7. 3, 11, 15. And because he continueth ever, he hath an unchangeable Priesthood, wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make Interecession for them, Heb. 7. 24, 25. For as by his own blood he entred once into the Holy Place, having obtained Eternal Redemption, so shall this blood of Christ, who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge our consciences from dead works to serve the living God, Heb. 9. 11, 14. For Christ is not entred into the Holy place made with hands, which is the figure of the True, but into Heaven it self, now to appear in the presence of God for us, Heb. 9. 24. For after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever, he is sat down on the right hand of God, from henceforth expecting, till his (and our) enemies be made his foot-stool; for by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified, Heb. 10. 12, 13, 14. So that, we have a perfect high Priest that perfectly loveth us, who is Representing our Case before his Father, and pleading a Perfect sacrifice for us; and through him it is that we our selves have boldness to enter into the Holiest, even by his blood, by the New and living Way which he hath consecrated for us, through the Vail, even his flesh: For, having such an High Priest over the house of God, we may draw near in full Assurance of Faith, if we have a true heart sprinkled from an evil conscience, as our bodies are washed with his Baptismal water, Heb. 10, 19, 20, 21, 22. Oh what an unspeakable comfort is this, to every truly converted soul! The son of God is at prayer for thee Christian, If thou think that God will not hear thy own Prayers: no, nor hear the whole Churches Prayers, Dost thou think he will hear his Sons Prayers, or not? The poor man that is born blind, John 9. 31. could tell that God heareth not sinners, that is, unconverted sinners; but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doth his will, him he heareth. How then can he chuse but hear him that had no sin? and hear him that taketh away the sins of the world? He that said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear him; will sure hear him himself, because he is so. He telleth his Father, John 11. 42. I know that thou hearest me alwayes; and it is not onelyonly his common Intercession for his common Salvation, which he p. 186giveth to the World; for so, when he poured out his soul to Death, and was numbred among the Transgressors, and bare the sins of many, he made Intercession for the Transgressors, Isa. 53. 12. And said, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. And so he procureth them a conditional Pardon and salvation, with the Means and Mercies that have a tendency thereto. But it is the special Intercession for that special Grace which he Communicateth to none but his living members. Read that Excellent Prayer, John 17. which he putteth up to the Father for his own; and remember that these Requests are for you, and that it is for all that shall Believe in him through the World, that he thus Intercedeth, ver. 20. Oh what a comfort is it to a poor Christian, that in his greatest Infirmities, and deepest sense of unworthiness; he hath the beloved of the Father, to take his Prayers and present them to God, and to plead his Cause more effectually then he can do his own. What say you then to this, you that are yet in the flesh, and unacquainted with the life of Grace, would you have a Saviour to speak for you to the Father: yea, one who hath all Power in Heaven and earth committed to him, and is able to save to the uttermost all those that come to God by him? Oh yield then speedily to converting Grace, and rest not till this work be wrought upon your souls: This blessed state may be yours as well as other mens, if you do not now neglect it and refuse it.

SECT. XIV.

13. ANother Excellent Benefit to the Converted, is: That God hath assured them that all things are theirs, and shall work to their good. The Promise is exprest, 2 Cor. 4. 15. 1 Cor. 3. 21. Rom 8 28. Not that they have a Propriety in other mens Possessions, in civil Respects; But Finally, other men, and their Possessions, and all the world are for their good. As the world at first was made for Adam, and his off-spring, so is it Redeemed from ruine for the second Adam and his off-spring, in a special manner: the earthly Proprietaries shall have it in Possession, and many of them not have a thousand part of the Benefit by it, as others that possess it not: The Physitian hath his skill in his own Possession, but the Patient thats Recovered by it, may have more benefit by it then he that Possesseth it: The whole frame of p. 187Heaven and Earth are in perpetual motion for the glory of the Saints: All are conjoyned by the over-ruling Providence, and are carrying on the same design of God, when they seem at the greatest odds among themselves. When the Instruments themselves are unacquainted with their own employment, and know not what it is that they are doing, yet God knoweth, who seeth, and ruleth them all. The business that God hath in hand is to build the Heavenly Jerusalem, to gather to himself the whole number of his Elect, that are scattered through the world, Matth. 24. 31. John 11. 52. And to make them a City for his own Habitation, and a People for his everlasting Praise; and the very Persecutors of the Church are but now hewing them and squaring them, and fitting them for the building: When God seeth us sick a Pleurisie, he often useth the sword of an enemy to set us blood, which shall as certainly do the cure as the tenderest hand. The Medicine knoweth not that it is healing a mans Disease; the Lance knoweth not that it is saving a mans life by taking away his blood, but he that useth them knoweth what he is doing. Herod and Pilate, and the people of the Jews thought they had been securing their own seats, and the Liberty of their Nation, by crucifying one that called himself King of the Jews: they little knew that they were shedding that blood, that was to be a sacrifice for the sins of the World, and crucifying that flesh that was given for the life of the world, John 6. 51. but God knew what he was doing by them: For, they did nothing but what his Counsel had determined should come to pass, Act. 4. 28. Pharaoh thought he was securing his Interest; but God knew he was getting himself Glory, and his people a wonderfull Deliverance by his Obstinacy. And even Satan himself is as much over-reached in his Devices and Enterprizes against the Saints, as their earthly enemies are. He is but exercising their Graces, and driving them to Christ, and honouring the Power of his blood and Spirit eventually, when he seeketh to devour them; his Temptations do but make them the more watchfull; or if they fall, they rise with the greater hatred of sin, and love to Christ, and thankfulness for his blood, and pardoning Grace; and renewed Resolution, to walk more carefully for the time to come: Oh blessed state, where all the World, both good and bad, both friends and foes, both Angels and Devils are all carrying on the Work of our salvation, some with Delight, and some unwillingly, p. 188some with understanding, and some not knowing what they do! What a state of comfort hath that man, that may be assured that whatsoever befalleth him, shall be for his good, and that all things do work together for the best. I confess, I have had my self so much comfort from that one Promise, Rom. 8. 28. that I would not have been without it for a world. When I have had no particular Discovery of the tendency of a Providence, and under affliction, and the appearance of Death, have had nothing from below to support me, that one Promise hath appeared so full, that I thought if there were no more, it might abundantly supply my soul with Consolation What fear should we have of want, or enemies, of sickness, or Death, or any thing that may be terrible to the flesh, as long as we know that all things do but conspire our salvation? And though none of the Wheels in the Chariot of Providence should know which way or whither they are moving themselves: yet do they all serve to convey us to our Glory: It is a matter that is past the Belief of the Carnall World, but it is a certain sealed truth; that when the Persecutor is treading down and tormenting the poor despised Saints, it is the Saint that is the gainer, and all this is for his good, and his Ignorant enemy is scouring off his Rust, and preparing him for his Masters use, and for his glory, and is himself the loser, and the miserable wretch, when he is highest in his honour, and deepest in his cruelty, and proudest in his Triumphs. Why poor sinners, do not your hearts within you long to be partakers of this blessed state? Is it not worth all that you can do or suffer, yea worth ten thousand worlds, to be such a one as I have now described to you? Why, you may be such if your own folly and neglect exclude you not. God hath not shut you out of the Promise; Oh do not shut out your selves by refusing his converting Grace.

p. 189SECT. XV.

14. ANother most Excellent Benefit to the Converted, is: that they are past their greatest danger, and have done the greatest business of their lives, and now are ready for Death and Judgement, whensoever it shall come. Now that all danger is over, or all enemies yet overcome, or all their work done, nor that they are yet perfectly ready to die: But the main Work is done, and the main Conquest of the enemy is over, and the main danger is past, and in the main they are prepared for their change. What had we to do here but to prepare for glory, and in this short and troublesome life to get Interest in a better, that shall never End: and with all that are truly converted, this is done: At the very hour that God converted them, he made them his sons, he pardoned their sins, and gave them Right to everlasting Glory: When he gives you Christ, he gives you all things, or puts you into a condition, wherein you may well think he will give you all things, Rom. 8. 32. Oh happy day, may that man or woman say, as long as they live, when God did translate them out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son! Many keep their birth dayes, as a day of Rejoycing, or feasting while they live, when Solomon saith, the day of Death is better then the day of Birth, Eccl. 7. 1. But they that know the day of their New-birth, may well make that a day of Rejoycing while they live. Oh Sirs, what a blessed change doth that one day or hour make, when God shall presently bring up the heart of a sinner to himself, and Joyn them truly to Jesus Christ, and forgive all the sins that ever they did, and give them Right to everlasting Glory! You are like a man that is pursued by his enemies▪ and as soon as ever he can but get into such a Castle or Garrison he is safe: So, when you first get into Christ by a living effectual Faith, that very hour were you out of the reach of the prevailing commanding power of Hell: Then was the strong man cast out of your souls: then were you brought from under the curse of the Law, and the wrath of God: If Death had found you one hour before that change, you had been Damned wretches in Hell for ever: and if Death should come but one hour after that change, you will certainly be glorified Saints with Christ. This is true Sirs, how strange soever it may seem to you: And p. 190the Reason is at hand, because that the hour before your conversion, you were the members of Satan, you were in the flesh, and had no saving Interest in Christ or in the Promise: and the hour after true conversion, you are members of Christ and children of the Promise, and have part in him who is Lord of all. I deny not but you must still watch and pray, that you enter not into Temptation, and for all the Promise that is left you of entring into rest, you must fear lest you should seem to come short of it, Heb. 4. 1. And you must still stand on your guard in all the spiritual Armour, and work and fight out your salvation, and quit your selves like men to the end: but yet I may well say that the main brunt is over: the enemy is dispossessed of his chiefest hold: he that ruled you is now cast out, and though he be not quite under your feet, yet he shortly will be: and your greatest business now is to keep him out, and to stand on your Defence; and keep that you have, that none may take your Crown from you, and to follow on the conquered enemy, in the pursuit, till none remain; and to grow in Grace, and perfect your holiness in the fear of God, and cast out the Remnants of your former filthiness, 2 Pet. 3. last. 2 Cor. 7. 1. & 13. 9. Heb. 6. 1. Hearken therefore poor sinners, and as ever you are friends to your own souls, neglect not that Grace that would bring you into this condition. Would you not think your selves happy, if it were thus with you?

SECT. XVI.

15. ANother most Excellent Benefit of the Converted, is: that they are the Rightfull heirs of Everlasting Glory, and as soon as the soul is gone out of the body, they shall have Possession of it: and at the day of Judgement they shall have a blessed Resurrection, and shall themselves be justified in Judgement, and also with Christ shall Judge the world; and so shall be fully possessed of that Glory in soul and body, and shall live in the everlasting Praise of their Redeemer: Here are many particular benefits, which for brevity I joyn together. First, They are now the heirs of glory; for being the sons of God, they are co-heirs with Christ, though they must follow him in sufferings, before they come to the possession of their Inheritance, Rom. 8. 16, 17. The Spirit witnesseth with our spirits that we are the children of God, and if children, then p. 191heirs, heirs of God, and joynt-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together. Though now in our Minority we differ not from servants, yet being sons we are heirs of all, Gal. 4. 1, 7. When moved with holy fear we prepare the Ark, and hide our selves in Christ by faith, and become the heirs of the Righteousness of Faith, even then also do we become heirs of the end of that Righteousness, Heb. 11. 7. When we receive our Interest in the Promise, that Promise makes us heirs, Gal. 3. 29. Oh brethren, that you could but conceive the greatness of this blessedness, which even the poorest beggar in the world may have, that is rich in Faith, for even they are heirs of that Kingdom which God hath promised to them that Love him, Jam. 2. 5. How certainly shall th…se be partakers of that glory, when they have finished their course, and fought the good fight? 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. For God hath laid up a Crown of salvation, for all such as love his Appearing. And it is conversion that bringeth us into this blessed state, and the unconverted have no part or fellowship in it. See Tit. 3 4, 5, 6, 7. But after that the kindness and Love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of Righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of Regeneration and Renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed o… us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour: That being justified by his Grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of Eternal life. So that, it is conversion that bringeth us into this happy condition: Oh therefore bless God if you find he hath wrought this work upon your souls. Yet be not careless for th… time to come, but let every one of you shew the same Diligence to the full Assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothfull, but followers of them that through Faith and Patience inherit the Promise, Heb 6. 11, 12. And then doubt not; for God …ath confirmed your salvation by his Oath▪ For God being willing abundantly to shew to the heirs of Promise the Immutability of his counsell, confirmed it by an Oath; saith the Apostle, Heb. 6 17, 18. That by two Immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for Refuge, to lay hold on th… hope set before us, which hope we have as an Anchor of the soul, …th sure and stedfast, and which entreth into that which is within … Vail; Whither Jesus Christ the fore-runner, is for us entered, …e…s. 19, 20.

2. Hereupon it follows, that whensoever the Righteous die, their p. 192souls are conveyed by Angels into that Glory, Luke 16. 22. And when they depart, they are with Christ, Phil. 1 23. And when they are absent from the body, they are present with the Lord, 2 Cor. 5. 8. Of which they may be confident as walking by Faith, and not by sight; and knowing, that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens; and therefore may groan earnestly, desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from Heaven, 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7. And when we die, we may say with Steven, Lord Jesus Receive my spirit, Acts 7. 59. And were our Death as Ignominious as the thiefs on the cross, yet that day should we be with Christ in Paradise, Luke 23. 43. Oh blessed people that live in such a Case, so near the door of a more blessed life! How can you indure to be out of this condition of hope and peace, one day or hour? Oh that you did but know the blessedness that you Neglect!

3. But yet, this is not all, but the greatest part of the blessedness remains till the day of Judgement, and then there are these four benefits to be Received. 1. The Righteous shall have a blessed Resurrection: not the Resurrection of Damnation, which will be the Lot of all the Rest, but the Resurrection of life, as Christ distinguisheth them, Iohn 5. 28, 29. The graves shall be no longer able to detain them, but he that conquered Death by his own Resurrection, will by the same Divine power again overcome it by the Resurrection of his people. And as his Natural body hath already triumphed over it, so shall his Mystical body at that day: he that made Heaven and Earth of Nothing, will by the same Almightiness accomplish this: Read 1 Cor. 15. throughout. 2. And being raised and brought to Judgement, the next benefit will be their Final Iustification. They have now the Justificacation and pardon of the Gospel, and then they shall have the finall Justification of the Judge▪ For he will give to every man according to Right, and his Promise made this their Right through the blood of Christ. For, there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, Rom. 8. 1. Whatsoever sin can then be charged on them, they can answer all by shewing the Gospel Pardon in the blood of Christ, and if their Title be questioned, they can prove it by their faith and sincere obedience. So all that Repent and are converted, will then have their sin blotted out, when that time of refreshing p. 193shall come from that presence of the Lord, Acts 3. 19. It is not possible that Christ should condemn his own body, and condemn those that have believed in him, and sincerely loved him: so dear a friend, so tender-hearted a Saviour that hath bought us so dearly, and sanctified us, and cleansed us, and given us a Right to that Justification by his Promise, cannot possibly condemn us after all this. As certainly as Christ himself is justified, and his Promise true, and his love unchangeable, so certainly shall all the converted be then absolute. 3. And not onelyonly so, but also with Christ they shall Iudge the world: for so is the plain word of Promise, 1 Cor. 6. 2. Yea, they shall Judge the Angels themselves, verse 3.

4. And lastly, they shall take possession of their glory, and enter into the Joy of their Lord, Matth. 25. 21, 23. Then shall the Righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father, when the wicked are cast into that Fornace of fire, where shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth, Mat. 13. 42, 43. He that hath ears to hear let him hear, saith Christ, when he had spoken these words: and he that will not hear such things as these, and regard them, will one day wish, that he had never had ears, and never had a heart in his breast, or else that it had been better.

Oh dear friends! That I were but able to make you know the Difference, between the Righteous and the wicked at that day. Surely I should not need then to say any more to you to make you apprehensive of the Necessity of conversion, and to make haste to entertain that Grace that is offered you. If the Crown of glory be worth seeking, then must converting Grace be sought: If an everlasting blessedness with Christ and his holy Angels, be worth the having, Renewing Grace is worth the having. Lift up your heads then Christians, and rejoyce in the hope that is set before you. Oh bless the Lord that ever he brought you into the Kingdom of Grace, which is but the beginning of the Kingdom of Glory. As sure as your Natural birth was your entrance into this Natural world, so sure was your New birth the entrance into a better world. For your life Eternal was begun when you began to have the saving knowledge of God, and his Son Jesus Christ. He that hath given you the earnest of his Spirit, 2 Cor. 1. 22. & 5. 5. who hath sealed us with the holy Spirit of Promise, which i… the …nest of our Inheritance, till the Redemption of the purchased Poss…ssion, will doubtless give us the Inheritance it self. Fear not Christian, the Lord that hath promised will not deceive thee; p. 194for he never yet deceived any. But as sure as the Sun doth shine in the firmament, so sure shalt thou live in the heavenly Jerusalem, and he joyned with the holy Angels of God in his everlasting Praises, and then thou wilt better know, then now thou canst do, what God did for thee that Day that he did convert thee. I know it is the business of the enemy of thy Salvation, if it might be, to draw thee back into thy former state of Death and Darkness; and when he cannot do that to rob thee at least, of the comfort of thy Felicity, that thou mightest-doubt, and fear, and live in perplexity, as if thou wert not the heir of Glory. Because as he is loath to be tormented before the time, so is he loth that thou shouldst be comforted before the time; but do not thou believe him: suffer him not to hide thy blessedness from thine eyes. Oh, Remember it cannot be loved, if it be not …lieved; thou wilt lose thy joy and God his Praise, if the Tempter prevail with the… to deny thy Mercy. Believe the…, and give God the glory by Believing.

SECT. XVII.

16. ANother of the blessings of a Converted man, is: That New life which he hath begun, is a life of …alth, and peace, and comfort, and the very beginning of his everlasting peace and …, and the more he hath of it, the more happy will his life be. It is not onelyonly our suffering that is the way to Reigning, and our Tribulation by which we must enter into the Kingdom of God; but …e have also Peace, the way to Peace; and Life, the way to Life; and Jo…, the way to Joy and Glory. Our Tribulation and suff…ring… a… but some accidental Attendants of this our Militant state, but the l… it self consists of other kind of Matter. How blessed a life is it to live in so near Relation to God as is above mentioned? and ho… pleasant a thing is the believing exercise of his Graces! O…, h… sweet is it to live here in any lively beginnings of the love of God! How pleasant is it to know that we are Beloved of him▪ How sweet is it to draw neer him, and plead our Cause with … in faith; and to call him Father in confidence through Christ▪ How sweet is it to live under the power of his Ordinances▪ … by his Spirit he blesseth them to our souls! What a Joy … i… … lievingly to think before-hand of their Et…n… blessedness▪ … p. 195what comfortable Communion have the people of God together, and what good doth it do them to hear & speak of the Glory that they shall possess! Oh poor deceived sinners, that think the way of the Lord to be so grievous, and flie from it as if it were an insufferable toyl. Did you but know the safety and the comfort which the life of godliness doth afford, you would be of another mind, and take another course then you do. I do profess to you all in the name of the Lord, that you will never have a safe, nor truly peaceable and comfortable life, till you are converted and live a spiritual and heavenly life: the joy of the world is sorrow in comparison of that you might have from Christ. The laughter of a fool doth not so much differ from the highest content of the greatest Prince on earth; as your carnal mirth and peace doth differ from that which is fetched by true faith, from the face of God, and the life to come. You flie from godliness for fear of sorrow and trouble, and I tell you it is Joyo and Peace that you flie from, and sorrow and trouble that you continue in, and that you are preparing for. Believe the Lord Jesus himself, if you will not believe those that have tried, Matth. 11. 27, 28. Come to me all you that are weary and heavey laden, and I will give you rest; take …y yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls: for my yoke is easie, and my burden is light, 1 John 5. 3. For, this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commands are not grievous, Rom. 5. 1, 2, 3. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this Grace wherein we stand, and rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God; and not onelyonly so, but we glory in tribulation, 1 Pet. 1. 8, 9. Whom having not seen, ye love, though now you see him not, yet believing, ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the Salvation of your soul…. Phil. 3. 3. We are the circumcision, that worship God in the Spirit, and rejoyce in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 1 Thes. 5. 16. Rejoyce evermore, Phil. 4. 4. Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes, and again I say, Rejoyce, Psalm 33. 1. Rejoyce in the Lord ye Righteous, for praise is comely for the upright, Psalm 79. 10, 11, 12. Ye that love the Lord, hate evil, he preserveth the souls of his Saints, …e delivereth them out of the hands of the wicked: Light … sown for the Righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart: Rejoyce in the Lord, Oh ye righteous, and shout for joy all ye that …e upright in heart. p. 196What say you to all this now? Is it a life of Trouble and Misery, that God hath prescribed for his people to live in? Is this a burdensome grievous life? Will you not believe him concerning his own way? I tell you again, and declare to you from the Lord, that you shall never have true peace and comfort till you are converted, and lead a holy life: And you that say you shall never have a merry day more if you leave your sins, and give up your selves to a life of holiness, I do profess and proclaim to you, that you shall never have a merry life indeed till you do it: I mean, you shall never have that solid and lasting Joy which beseemeth a man of wisdom to regard: Believe the Lord himself that hath told you it twice over, Isa. 48. 22. There is no Peace saith the Lord to the wicked, Isa. 51. 21. There is no Peace saith my God to the wicked, Isa. 59. 8. The way of Peace they know not, there is no Iudgement in their goings: they have made them crooked paths, whosoever goeth therein, shall not know peace. I confess a carnall peace you may a while maintain, and for a time may have a merry dream, but the day is neer when you will have a terrible awakening. And you may think that the godly have no such Joy, because you see it not, or because you see them sad and heavy. But their Ioy is such as strangers meddle not with, Prov. 14. 10. I know the Righteous have many troubles, and are oftner in tears and groans then others; but that is from the Remnants of their sins, which as it consisteth with prevailing Grace, so doth that sorrow with prevailing Joy, or may do at least. A dead man groaneth not, when a sick man doth: and yet that is no disparagement to life: what is sweeter then life, and yet sickness may make it grievous; but we do not therefore prefer death before life, because some are sick: so what is sweeter then the life of Grace, and yet spiritual sickness may make us walk heavily, and yet we do not therefore prefer a death in sin before it. Oh, come and try sinners the pleasures that be in the wayes of God, and do not for shame speak against them, till you have throughly tryed them. The Lord himself doth testifie of them, Prov. 3. 13. & 21. 20. Happy is the man that findeth Wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding, for the Merchandize of it is better then the Merchandize of silver, and the gain thereof then fine gold: she is more precious then Ru…ies, all the things thou ca…st desire are not to be compared to her: Length of daies is in her right hand, and in her left hand Riches and Honour: her waies are waies p. 197of pleasantness, and all her paths are Peace: she is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is every one that retaineth her. You see then that Conversion is the beginning of Consolation.

SECT. XVIII.

17. ANother of the Priviledges of the Converted, is this; As he hath cause of continual Ioy, so no evil that can befall him, is a sufficient reason to lay by these Ioys, as to the habit at least, and the prevailing Degree: I know that so far as we have sin, we may, we shall, we must have sorrow; but then, so far as we have that sin pardoned and mortified, we may, we should have greater joy: and because a converted man hath no unmortified, unpardoned sin, therefore his cause of Joy is greater then his cause of sorrow. Though yet I must say, that there are seasons when sorrow must be most expressed as in dayes of humiliation, and in great falls, and some afflictions, yet habitually then our joy should be the greater, though it be not the season to express it. But my special meaning here is about the evil of Affliction, which is sanctified to the godly, and hath lost its sting, and is turned by a hand of Grace to their Advantage; should not that man live in continual Joy, that is the heir of Heaven, and a friend of God, and a member of Christ, and doth but wait for the hour of Death to be possessed of that unspeakable endless Glory? What should trouble the heart of him that is escaped out of the power of Satan, and the greatest trouble, which is the wrath of God, and the danger of everlasting misery? that which may torment the heart of another day and night, even the thoughts of the endless flames of hell: this is not onelyonly taken out of his way, but turned into the matter of his Joy and Praise; to think but of the fearfull misery that he hath escaped. Oh, what heart that hath received a pardon of all sins, and is saved thereby from the Everlasting Torments, can chase but daily rejoyce in that Salvation? Would not a Iudas have been glad while he was hanging himself in despair, if any one would have given him assurance, yea or but hope of that Salvation? Go to any despairing sinner, or any one under the terrors of the Lord, and ask them whether or no they would be glad, if they could but be assured that they should escape that misery which they fear? you need not doubt what answer they would give you. p. 198They would be glad, and a thousand times glad, much more if you could assure them of an everlasting glory, instead of that deserved misery. Oh then, what a blessed state are all those in, that are truly converted? How many times doth the mouth of Christ prenounce them blessed? Matth 5. 3, 6, 8 10. Blessed are the poor … spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God: Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness, for they shall be filled: Blessed are they that are persecuted for Righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of God. What case soever that man be in, that is the heir of Heaven, he cannot chuse but be a blessed man. If any thing might make him seem miserable, it would be to be persecuted and hated, and made the scorn of the world; and yet Christ saith, that even then he is blessed: and biddeth them even th… Rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for great is your Reward in Heaven; for so persecuted they the Prephets that were before you. That man that hath a Reward in Heaven, may be exceeding glad▪ whatsoever befall him here on earth. Will a Prince be troubled for the loss of a farthing, or the barking of a dog? that man that hath not clothes to his back nor a house to put his head in, nor a good word from any about him, and yet hath Assurance of living in glory with God and his holy Angels, as soon as ever he is gone out of the flesh, I think is a happy man in the eye of Reason it self. And he that professeth to have assurance of such a glory, and yet liveth not comfortably in every condition, I will not believe him, whatsoever he profess. Sure I am, the great Monarchs and Princes of the world, when they are parting with their Crowns, would be glad to have assurance of the everlasting Crown, on condition they had lived as poor as the vilest beggar on the earth. Theres not the stoutest gallant, and proudest sinner, but would be glad to change states with the poorest Saint, when he seeth the End: Oh, but they must be wise in time that will be ever the better for their wisdom. Balaam could say▪ Oh, that I may die the death of the Righteous, and that my last and may be like his, Num. 23. 10. All the world would say at last as the foolish Virgins, if it would do any good, Matth. 25. 8. Give … of your oyl, for our Lamps are out. Who would not be a Saint when he is past the pleasure of his sin; and cast off by the world which deceived him in his Prosperity?

Me thinks the greatest men on earth should tremble in the … of all their glory, to remember the everlasting misery that they p. 199are near, if they be not living members of Christ, as B…lsh… did in the midst of his Jovialty, Dan. 5 6. And me thinks the poorest true believer should have his heart abound with Joy, to remember the things that God hath promised him, and he must certainly ere long possess. Oh, think not what you are Christian…, onelyonly, but what you shall be. Yet a little while, and you shall groan, and weep, and complain no more▪ you shall not know what poverty, or trouble, or any other sufferings do mean. You are almost past all your sorrow, as the unconverted are almost past their Joy. Oh, what difference is between their part and your…; between the good things which they have here, and the portion which you have there. Is it not better go by the dunghill to the Everlasting Crown; then by a fading Crown to everlasting Torments? They will forget their Honour and Delicious fare, when they want a drop of water to cool their tongues; And you will forget your present sorrow, when your are in Abrahams bosom, or in the presence of the Lamb. If one day in the courts of God on earth seemed better to David, then a thousand …lswhere, what will an endless life in glory seem to a believing soul? Oh Sirs, we want nothing but soundness of faith, and spiritual life, and seriousness to make our hearts to leap within us, and to make our lives a foretaste of Heaven, and to make us pitty poor worldlings in the height of their vain glory. What should be a terrour to that man that hath overcome the Prince of Terrours? That hath God on hi… side, that hath a Promise of everlasting life, and that hath Evidence to shew for his Interest in the Promise, and a lively faith to improve it and live upon it. Me thinks if the Devils should appear to him in his way: if they should walk before him in the ugliest shape▪ he should but look upon them as conquered miscreants. Me thinks, If he were passing by Death from this world, it would be a joyfull hour to him, that is presently to step into a world of glory. And now dearly beloved Neighbours and friends, I beseech you for the Lords sake hear these things, as men that believe the Word of God. Is it not a thousand pitties that God should offer you such Consolations as these and you refuse them? I… it not a thousand follies that you should Neglect such a blessed state as this, when it is set before you? God hath made you for high and excellent things, even to live with Angels in the Heavens i… glory. Yield but to the work of Converting Grace, and see that Christ be formed in you once, and all i… yours. Th…se things p. 200are far off you, and out of sight, and therefore seem strange to flesh and blood, and carnal hearts will not believe them; but they are true as the living God is true. The souls of all the Converted that are dead in Christ from the beginning to this day, are now in the possession of that glory that I am speaking of. They see it, though we do not; and we shall see it, if Unbelief and Neglect do not hinder us: Believing is the onelyonly way to seeing and possessing. I told you before what a miserable case it is that every unconverted sinner is in, that he is not sure to be safe an hour, and would you not be out of that state? Would it not be a blessed state for you to be sure that you shall live with Christ an endless life? Then you may challenge Death with Paul, 1 Cor. 15. 55. Oh death where is thy sting, Oh grave, where is thy Victory? Then you may challenge all the world, even earth and Hell as he did, Rom. 8. 31, 33, 38. If God be for us, who shall be against us? It is God that justifieth, who shall condemn? Who shall separate us from the love of God, shall life or Death, &c. I do here proclaim to you in the Name of the Lord, that you may have this blessedness if you will be converted; and that without Conversion it will never be had. Get once into this state, and you may have cause to Joy as long as you live, and far greater Cause when your present life is ended. I tell you a true converted man is never in so sad or low a Case, but still he hath more matter for his Joy then for his sorrow. Oh therefore do not set light by such a happiness, and chuse not to your selves a life of Terrour, when you may have better if you will.

SECT. XIX.

18. ANother great Benefit of the Converted, is thi…. The longer they go on, and the further they proceed, the greater will be their Felicity: The Case of the wicked is, the longer the worse▪ but the Case of the converted is, the longer the better: When … wicked man hath had the sweetness, it may kill his heart to think what a bitter cup is kept for the last; but when the godly have had the bitterest here, it may sweeten all to think of what remaineth. If a wicked man should have never so much trouble in the … there is another kind of trouble to be endured hereafter, the … of their condition is still behinde; but the best is still behinde … p. 201the converted: you shall have what is good for you here; you shall have pardon of sin, and peace with God through Jesus Christ, …nd access to him in peace when other men are shut out; and help in your distress, and strength against Temptation: But all this is as nothing in comparison of that which is yet to come. You know partly what you have, but you know not what you shall be, but onelyonly in General, that when Christ appeareth, you shall be like him, John 3. 2. Your glory is not within the sight of flesh and blood. You walk here as other men in the same frail flesh, and compassed with Infirmities, and as men of sorrows; and the world knoweth not that you are the children of the God of Heaven, and that you shall reign with him in glory: For the Heir in his Minority differeth not to outward appearance from a servant, Gal. 4. 1. but yet by Right he is Lord of all: No wonder if it be thus with you, for so it was with your Head the Lord of all: He was found in shape as a man, and there appeared no worldly glory or Comeliness in him for which he should be desired, but was despised, and became a man of sorrows, bearing our iniquity, and the chastisement of our peace, Phil. 2. 7, 8. Isa. 53. 2, 3, 4. But he that was among men, of no Reputation, was worshipt by Angels, and dearly beloved by the Father, and for his Humiliation is highly exalted, and hath a Name given him above every Name, and hath seen of the Travel of his soul and been satisfied, Phil. 2. 7, 9, 10. Isa. 53. 11, 12. And so it is also in their measure with his members; For if you s…ffer with him, you shall also reign with him; and if you be made conformable to him in his Death, so shall you also be in his Resurrection, and Glorification, Rom. 8. 17. & 6. 5. Phil. 3. 10, 11. Though your way to Heaven may seem uneven and trublesome, yet still the further you go, the nearer you are to it; and though sometimes you must pass through the Valley of the shadow of Death, where the place of your happiness may seem out of sight, yet still you are going on towards it, and the foul way as well as the fair, is the way to Heaven, and the waves and storms shall help you to the Harbour. Though you be delivered to death for Jesus sake, it is that the life of Jesus might be manifested in you. And though you alwayes bear about in the body, the dying of the Lord Jesus, it is that his life may be manifested in your bodies, 2 Cor. 10. 11. For we know that he which raised up the Lord Jesus, will also raise us up by Jesus; for which cause we faint not, for though our outward man perish, yet our Inward man is renewed p. 202day by day: For our light affliction which is but for a Moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and Eternal weight of glory▪ while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things▪ which are not seen are Eternal, 2 Cor. 4 14. 16 17, 18. Great cause therefore have we to groan earnestly, desiring to be clothed with our House which is from Heaven, that Immortality may be swallowed up of life, 2 Cor. 5. 2, 4 7. As Christ was nearer his Glory on the Cross and in the grave then before, when no man laid hands on him; so are his members in the last of their Afflictions: For though the last Enemy, Death, must yet be encountred with, yet he also shall be overcome, through the strength of him that hath conquered him for us; and who through Death destroyed him that had the power of Death, Heb. 2. 14.

Oh Sirs, If there were but this one thing to shew you the difference between a Converted and Unconverted state, me thinks it should sink down into your hearts; that the last day of the ungodly is still the worst, because that all Endeth in their Eternal misery; and the last state of converted souls is still the best, because all will End in everlasting Glory. Careless sinners do seem to have some Merry dayes for a while, but Oh, how will they Answer that Question of Peters, 1 Epist. 4 17, 18. Judgement must begin at the House of God▪ and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God? And if the Righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinners appear? Their wayes do now seem right in their own eyes, but the end thereof are the wayes of Death, Prov. 14 12 & 16. 25. Oh that they were wise to consider this, and that they would remember their latter end, Deut▪ 32▪ 29▪ The not considering of their end is the cause that it proveth so miserable, Isa. 47. 7. Lam. 1. 9. But the end of a Believing holy life is another kind of end, Psalm 7 37, 38. Mark the upright man, and behold the just, for the end of that man is peace. But transgressors shall be destroyed together, the end of the wicked shall be out off. For eye hath not seen, nor …ar heard, nor hath it entred into the heart of man, what God hath prepared for them that love hi… 1 Cor. 2. 9. And this end is not far off. We have but a little while to wait, and we shall see the Lord upon the Throne of his glory, and see the accomplishment of his Promise to his Saints. For yet a little while, and he that cometh will come, and will not tarry, Heb. 10. 37▪ Its many Ages since the Apostle said, the end of all p. 203things is at hand, 1 Pet. 4. 7. Seeing therefore all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy Conversation and godliness? 2 Pet. 3. 11. Oh therefore yield to that Grace that would Convert you. Conversion is the first ga…e, and an holy life the way to Heaven: Though this gate be strait, and this way be narrow, and few find it, yet the End is it that will pay for all: As ever you would have this blessed end, see that you make this happy beginning.

SECT. XX.

19. YEt this is not all; but besides all these Benefits to your selves, Conversion will make you usefull to others: It will make you become a blessing to the place where you live: As a wicked man hath a curse upon him, so usually he is a curse to others; and Judgements many times follow him, and those about him may fare the worse for his sake. And as a true Christian hath a heart full of the blessing of Gods right hand, and is himself a blessed man, so is he usually a blessing to others, and many fare the better for his sake. As you may see in the Case of Joseph, Gen. 39. 3, 5. While you are Ignorant and ungodly, what are you but hinderers of other mens Salvation? and Temptations to those about you? But when God hath Illuminated you, and changed your hearts, you will be forward to do good to others, and to help them to that life and hope which you have Received. If they want Instruction, you will be more able to instruct them: If they are ignorant or careless, you will have some words to say to them for the awakening of their souls: If they be in danger you can tell them of it; and you can go to God and pray for them in their Distress: you have a Spirit of prayer which you had not before; and you have interest in God which you had not before and therefore you may speed better for others, though not so certainly as for your selves. I tell you sinners, the stoutest of you all, may be glad of the fellowship of a godly man, if it be but for the benefit of his prayers. Ieroboam that did stretch forth his hand against the Prophet, was glad to beg his prayers, for the restoring of that hand, 1 King. 13. 6 And Simon Magus was glad to crave the prayer of Peter, Acts 8. 24. A few more such as Lot was might have saved Sodom from the …ames, when his ungodly Neighbours were p. 204the Cause of that heavy Judgement. You are made fitter for to do God service when you are converted, for that is it that maketh you his servants: This is it that bendeth your hearts and thoughts to God, and causeth you to devote your selves, and all that you have to him, and therefore you can never do him acceptable service till this work be wrought. That is the most happy and honourable Nation that hath most of these Converted people in it. Let the world think of them as basely as they please, it is these that are the Honour and safety of your Countrey, and of your Towns, and Parishes, and of the Families where they live. If England be any better then the Nations of Infidels, it is by the godly. If the Lord would make this Town to Abound more with true Converts and Godliness then any other, I dare say, it would be a happier Town then any other. I tell you that is the best place where there is most of the fear of God; that is the best Family in the Town that hath most true Converted persons in it; or where those that are, are the most Eminent in Holiness. Were there but such hearts within you, that you would all agree together to yield to the saving work of the Gospel, and set your selves in good earnest to the work of your Salvation, this would make you the happiest, the most honourable place in the world. Every good man is a common good: their light shines abroad to others, and such light will not be hid…: The heat of their Graces do help to warm others, and happy are they that live near them, and have but the Opportunity of Conversing with them, so they have but hearts to improve such Opportunities.

SECT. XXI.

20. IF all this be not enough to shew you the Blessedness of the truly Converted; consider in the last place, that it is not onelyonly to themselves, nor onelyonly to the world about them, that the comfort doth redound, but the Heavenly …ost of God do in s…me sort partake of it. For the Lord Jesus telleth us, there is joy in Heaven at the conversion of a sinner that Repenteth, Luke 15. 10. Hearken to this all you that live a wordly fleshly life; it would be the very joy of Angels to see your true Conversion; and will you rob them of their joy? They know what good this charge▪ p. 205would do you, when you do not know it; and therefore they have compassion of you in your misery, and it would rejoyce them to see your recovery. Oh that you did believe this, and that you did Consider it. Can you find in your hearts to stand out any longer, when you consider how many would be glad of your conversion? Turn then, Oh turn to Christ poor sinners: and make glad the very Angels of God by your Returning.

Yea, more then so. 2. The Son of God himself would rejoyce at your Conversion. For the Recovery of sinners is the fruit of his blood; and when he seeth the travel of his soul, he will be satisfied: He that came into the Wilderness of this world to seek such lost and scattered sheep, doth bring them home with joy when he findeth them▪ Luke 15. He came to seek and save that which is lost, Luke 19. 10▪ He came not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved, John 3. 17. Though he must and will condemn them if they reject his Salvation. Nothing pleaseth him better then the Conversion and Salvation of straying souls: or else he would never have done so much to accomplish it as he hath done: He would never have sent abroad the Doctrine of Salvation, and stablished a Ministry in the Church, to that end, if a Returning sinner were not his Delight. Oh that you knew Sirs▪ how welcome you would be to Christ after all the wrong that you have done him, if you would but speedily and heartily return. Those arms that were nailed open upon the Cross▪ are still ready to embrace a returning soul: He that had tears to weep over his enemies in their obstinacy, Luke 19. 41. hath joy for them that return from their Impenitency. He that would have gathered Jerusalem, as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wing, if they would have been gathered, Matth 23. 37. Doth shew what kind and tender welcome repenting sinners should find with him: If you had but hearts to Repent, you would find that Christ hath a heart to receive you: I have formerly told you how tenderly he would meet a poor sinner half way, and fall upon his neck, and comfort his broken heart, and forget his miscarriages, and never hit him in the teeth with his sin; as the father did by the returning Prodigall, Luke 15. If you did but know the worth of Christs Embracements, and tender Love that he hath to shew toward you, you could not find in your heart to stand out so long▪ You would rather be in your Saviours arms, then among the swine, where you have nothing but the husks. Can you find in your hearts p. 206to delay your return, and to despise this Love? In the Name of God take heed what you do; for I must tell you, if you are so barbarous, and will so abuse that Grace that would save you, you will find that he hath wrath as well as Grace and the Lamb of God is a Lion to his enemies, and will slay those without Mercy, that would not have him rule over them, nor Accept of his Mercy, Luke 19. 27. Abuse not Mercy too much, lest it turn to unavoidable Indignation. For our God is also a consuming fire, Heb. 12. last. And if his wrath be kindled, yea but a little, then blessed are they that put their trust in him: then blessed are they that were converted by his Grace; for onelyonly they shall be saved from his burning Indignation, and be made partakers of the Kingdom of his Glory.

SECT. XXII.

BY this time you may see, if you be not wilfully blinded, that when we perswade you to be converted, we are not drawing you into a miserable life; and that it is no ill bargain which we offer you from the Lord. If I had nothing to plead with you but the danger of damnation, I might justly expect you should believe and Tremble, and yield such obedience as fear alone can cause: but I could not expect that you should receive it with Love, nor yield the delightful obedience of the Saints: But now you may see that we move you not to your loss. I dare say I have shewn you enough to win the heart of any man, that is not obstinately blind and wicked. If you would be rich, I have shewed you the onelyonly Riches; if you would be honourable, it is onelyonly Conversion that can make you so; if you would have pleasure, I have shewed you the way to pleasure, and how you may be possessed even of your Masters Joy. In a word, if you would be happy, I have shewed you the only way to happiness: a life of peace and safety hath been offered you; a life of honour and pleasure hath been offered you; and remember that it was offered you. If you refuse it, remember you might have been happy if you would: you might have lived with the Image of God upon your souls, and the Holy Ghost within you, and the everlasting Kingdom a little before you, and with the eye of faith upon the Promise of it in the Word, and the eye of hope upon the Glory that is promised: with the Love of God in your hearts, now breathing after him in holy desires, which, p. 207when you have reacht him, and are come to him, will turn into those endless and unconceivable enjoyments. You might haved lived here in the spiritual Communion of the Saints, in the spiritual and fruitful use of Gods Ordinances, the Chariots to convey your souls to life, and that Glass in which you may see the Lord, you might have been much freed from the terrible gripes of Conscience, which the guilty feel, or certainly shall feel; and secured from that sin, that lieth at the door, Gen. 4. 7. and from all the everlasting misery that now waiteth for you. In a word, instead of a life of bruitish sensuality, and folly, and slavery to Satan, and preparation to eternal Torment, you were offered that life which consisteth in Righteousness and Peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, Rom. 14 17. Beloved Hearers, I now beseech you in the Name of the Lord, that you would not wilfully refuse to be happy; and that you would no… neglect so great Salvation: Our Office obligeth us to invite you, and to be earnest with you, and Oh that we were able even to compel you to come in, Luke 14 23. The Nature of Christian Charity obligeth us to desire that you might partake of that Felicity that is offered you. We know that you may live everlastingly in glory, if you prefer not the world and your flesh before it. Through the great mercy of God we have tasted somewhat of this felicity our selves, and cannot chuse but wish that you might be companions of our joy. Me thinks I should be of so much credit with you my self, as that you should take my word in a matter that I have tryed: Why, if you will take my word Sirs, I do profess to you before the searcher of hearts, that the safety, and peace, and comfort of a converted state is such, that I would not be without it for all the world: shall I say I would not change it for a life of Drunkenness, or filthiness, or fleshly pleasure, or for all the gains of a covetous worldling? I am ashamed of the comparison. As bad as we know our own hearts to be, I will confidently say, through the Grace of God, if the Kingdoms of the world were offered us in exchange, we should scorn them, and tread them under foot. I give you my word and experience, but to perswade you to come near and try. But alas, If you will not believe God, how can I expect my words should be believed▪ Oh that you would but come and try, and when you have tryed the way of Holiness, but a quarter as much as you have done the waies of the world and the flesh, then if you like it not take your course. If you find by experience that the way p. 208of sin is safer and better, when you have tried both, then turn back again and spare not; I would trouble you no more, would you but come and try, it is all that I now desire of you But to think hardly of a state that you never tried; to draw back from a life that you never tried; this is not equal dealing with God, nor impartial faithful dealing for your souls. I know some that have forborn some outward sins a while and stept into an outward Profession, and into the company of the godly, have fallen back again. But if you will but try the inward Nature, and spiritual life of a Saint; the Love, the Trust, the Zeal, the Joy, the Endeavours, and the hopes of a Saint, then judge and spare not, as experience shall direct you, and forsake God if you really find that the flesh and the world are better. Remember what I say to you▪ It will leave you unexcusable, and be the confusion of your faces, when you shall answer this another day, that when your everlasting Joy or Torment did lie upon it, you would not be perswaded by all that we could say, so much as to leave your sins a while, and come, and make trial of a godly life. Oh wretches! you will one day be ready to eat your own hearts, to think that you refused, and wilfully refused, and impenitently and obstinately refused so fair, so necessary, so good a Motion.