A Treatise of Conversion, Chapter 1 · Section 30
SECT. XXX.
6. ANother part of the change of the life, is this: True Conversion makes a man Compassionate to those that are unconverted, and very desirous of their Conversion, and therefore sets men upon such endeavours as they can use to bring it to pass, yea, it makes men zealous of good works, Tit. 2. 19. and very careful and studious to do what good they can. It is the disposition of wicked men to draw others with them into wickedness, and to make others as bad as themselves: they not onelyonly do that which is evil, but have pleasure in them that do it, Rom. 1. 32. They would have others as loos as they, and as careless of their own souls as they, and to make as light a matter of sin as they do. The drunkard would have companions, and the gamester would have companions: every one that hates and derides a godly life, would have all others do so too. Men are loath to go to hell alone, but like men that are running violently down a hill, they draw one another with them. It somewhat comforts them to see most of the world as bad as themselves, because they think then God will not condemn so many: as if the number of sinners did extenuate the wrong: And those unconverted men that are not so bad as to wish others as bad as themselves, yet have little zeal for mens recovery; for how can they love other men better then themselves?
But when Conversion hath given a man a sight and sense of the evil of sin, it makes him pity all that are missd; and earnestly desire their conversion and Recovery. Oh, how fain would the gracious soul have others to see the folly of sin, as he hath seen it! How fain would he have them see the need of Christ, that Glory above, that Felicity that lieth in the favour of God, as he hath seen them! It doth him good to have companions in Good: He hath no mind to be happy alone. The Number of Partakers he knows will not at all diminish his Joyes. If he could tell how, he would have all the world to be as happy as himself, the more the better. And therefore he prayeth heartily for the conversion of other men: He pleadeth with them, and perswadeth them, and fain he would have their eyes to be opened, and their hearts to be softned and turned to God. He remembreth that their case was once his own, and how foolish and froward he was, even as they now are: He remembreth how miserable he then was, though he knew it not, and would not for all the world be in the same case again; and therefore he cannot chuse but pitty those that he hath left behind him; and long for their Deliverance.
Truly Sinners, it is from hence, that men fearing God do trouble you so much in your sins, and make such a stir with you about matters of your souls; and tell you of your danger, and perswade you to turn and take another course: It is, because they are loth to see you perish if they could help it. You would have them let you alone, but they are loth to let you alone, in such a case and way as that. If some that are running to drown themselves, or do any mischief to themselves, should bid you let them alone, and meddle with your selves, and take no care for them, you would not let them alone for all that, but would hinder them if you could from making away themselves. So, if you are angry with men that would keep you out of hell, and bid them let you alone, and take no care for you, because you shall answer for your selves, this will not satisfie them to stand still, and see you run into damnation, if they knew how to help it. Alas! It is not because they love to be medling with other folks matters, or take pleasure in reproving and controuling other men: If it were not for your sakes and the glory of God, it is easier for us to let you alone. We have work enough of our own to do, and dangers enough of our own to prevent. It is small pleasure to any man that is well in his wits to meddle needlesly with other mens matters, and to contradict wilfull sinners, when he knows how little thanks he is like to have for it. What do you think we long to have men hate us and fly in our faces? Is it a pleasure to us to vex men, and make them our enemies? No alas, it is so great a displeasure, that it becomes a strong temptation to us to be unfaithful or negligent in our duty. Many a Minister is so loath to get the ill will of his people, that he lets them alone in their sins, or onelyonly telleth them of it in Publike, or at the most but in an easie uneffectual way, and so fals in danger of perishing with them for company. Nothing makes more negligent unconscionable Ministers (next the unfaithfulness of their own hearts) then peoples hating their Instructions and Reproofs, and impatient hearing the means that should recover them. Carnal Ministers will not cast themselves upon the peoples displeasure, but rather let them alone and venture them. They that dare venture their own souls to escape the ill will of men, will venture other mens too: And so it is also with private Christians. The reason why so few will be brought to deal plainly and faithfully for the saving of others, is, because it is commonly so ill taken. Alas, Sinners! What ease, what profit, what good is it, think you to other men to trouble you in your sins, if it were not for your good, and for the Command and glory of God? But what man that is not a Tyger, or hath not a heart of stone within him, can see men within a little of damnation and let them alone? Who can be so cruel as to hold his tongue, while he seeth men in the high-way to Hell? If we were yet in our unbelief, and did not believe that the Word of God is true, or that unconverted men shall certainly perish, then we might well be silent, For who would go to make men sad with Melancholly Fancies or fearful dreams that have no Truth in them? But Oh, do not blame a man that hath been in the same condition himself, and is mercifully delivered by Converting Grace, if he look back to those he hath left behind, and tell them of their danger! Do not blame a man that hath his eyes opened by Faith, and seeth hell fire a little before you, if he should call to you, and call again, and call with tears, and greatest earnestness, to entreat you to stop, and go no further. I dare say, if you did see what he seeth, you would be of the same mind, and would be as loth to go on in an unconverted condition, as any one would be to suffer you. When the eyes of Sinners are shut that they see not their own condition, nor what a storm is rising in Heaven against them, they are content and quiet at the gates of Hell! but when either Grace or Torments have opened their eyes, the case will be quite changed with thm. Well, this is certain, that when ever God converteth the soul, he maketh men very desirous of other mens conversion, and very compassionate to them that are yet in darkness and in bondage by their sins. Not onelyonly Paul and the Preachers of the Gospel say: Necessity is laid upon me, and wo unto me if I preach not the Gospel: But every Christian in his place doth find a necessity upon him to endeavour the good of others; and he findeth an earnest desire to it, and a delight in that which God hath made so necessary. And it is not in this matter of Conversion onelyonly, but in all other things also, that a true Christian hath a special inclination to do good. As he that is evil delighteth to do evil, so he that is good, delighteth to do good: though he be not perfectly good, for so is none till he come to heaven: much less primitively and of himself good, for so there is none good but God, Matth. 19. 17. Yet hath he a derived and imperfect goodness, and in that measure as he is good, he must needs be prone to do good: For every thing will work according to its Nature. It is a death to wicked men to do that which is a godly mans delight. A man or beast connot fly in the ayr, but a bird can do it as easily as we can walk on the earth. A good man is never in his own Element, but when he is doing some good: his mind runneth on it. He studieth how he may effect it; and he is not content to do good, unless he do much good. He knoweth what Christ hath said: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bring forth much fruit, Joh. 15. 8. He findeth by experience that which others will not believe, that doing good, is either a receiving of good, or inseparably conjunct with it. The more a man giveth to the poor, or to other good uses, with right Intents, the more he receiveth. Whatever others receive by his endeavours, he is sure that he shall not lose his labour, or cost, as to himself. He that giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord, and look what he layeth out, it shall be paid him again. A carnal man is ever selfish, and draws all to him, as if there were no one but himself that he cared for: But a gracious man is in his place and measure like God, a Communicative Good. As God is good and doth good, Psalm 119. 68. So is he. That which a mans Nature inclineth him to, he cannot forget. A good man forgets not in the main to do good, for he knoweth that with such sacrifice God is well pleased, Heb. 13. 16. Mark this all you that profess more zeal for God then others: Believe it, true Conversion will appear in good works. The true servants of Christ do as much exceed the world in a contempt of earthly things, and in compassion to the miserable, and in readiness and bounty, according to their ability to those that want: as they do exceed them in praying, or other duties. Other men part with the world as their treasure, and almost as their blood, but the heavenly Christian parteth with it as his superfluity, or at least as that which he can spare. Faith teacheth men to do good; and good works are part of the Riches of a Saint, 1 Tim. 6. 18. Doing good is so excellent and Necessary a thing, that even an enemy must be made partaker of it, Matth. 5. 44. And want of thankfulness or requital from men, is no excuse to them that neglect it, Luk. 6. 35. Some works of Piety may be forborn for doing good to others, Mar. 3. 4.
So much for that part of the Change.