A Treatise of Conversion, Chapter 7 · Section 3
SECT. III.
Direction. 1. HAving shewed you the first Hinderance of Conversion, I come to give you the first Direction which is contrary thereto: and that is, That you would presently fall upon the use of these Means that God hath appointed you to use for your conversion. Are you sensible of the Necessity of it? and are you truly willing to be converted, or are you not? If you would; let us see your willingness in the use of the Means without delay. Particularly, let me entreat of you these following things.
1. See that you be constant hearers of the Word preached, and take Delight in the publike Assembly of the Church, and let nothing but necessity keep you at home. Live under the ablest Ministry that you can; and neglect not one such Opportunity for your souls. If you be absent without necessity but from one Sermon, God may justly Deny you the blessing of the rest: and you know not which it is that is most sutable to your condition, and therefore miss not any. The Devil is aware what a Minister is studying about all the week, and when he seeth that we have provided that which is likliest to do you good, he will do all that he can to keep you away that day. He wil find one business or other, or tempt you to be negligent, because he is afraid, lest if you come, you should be converted, Miss not one Sermon therefore, lest you miss that one that should have done you good. And as you hear, so take heed how you hear, and attend to it as to a Message sent from God concerning your salvation; and set your hearts to all the words that you hear, for it is not a vain thing, but it is for your life, Deut. 32. 46▪ 47. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear, saith Christ often in cases of greatest Moment! And he that will not hear, and diligently hear a Message of free Grace for the saving of his soul, is unworthy to have ears.
2. If you would be converted by the Word, do not let it slip as soon as you have heard it; but call it to Remembrance again, and bring it home to your hearts: Ponder of what you have heard, and speak of it to those about you. And if you be not able to remember it through the weakness of your Memories, go to some of your Neighbours houses that do repeat it, that you may have the benefit of their Assistance. Have not you as much need as they? And should not you be at as much pains as they? Make the word your own before you leave it.
3. Be much in reading the word of God, and such Practical Books as will help you to apply it; and lay to heart the Truths you shall read.
4. Especially do all this on the Lords day, which is purposely set apart for such holy works. Lose none of that precious season of Grace; but when the publike worship is over, betake your selves with your Families, and in secret, to the improvement of it; and take as much pains that day for your souls, as you do on the rest of the dayes of the week for your bodies. You cannot then pretend that you have no leisure, when it is at a time that is wholly to be employed in such things. Oh make the best of that day, and seek after the knowledge of God therein, if you would be partakers of his Grace.
5. Will you go in case you want Direction, to those that are able to direct you? especially to your Teachers, and ask them what course you must take for conversion, and tell them your case, and the hinderances that you meet with, and resolve to obey the counsel that they shall give you?
6. Will you betake your selves daily to God in hearty prayer, and beg of him that he would give you converting Grace? Beseech him to open your eyes, and shew you the greatness of your sin and misery till you be unseignedly humbled and that he would shew you the need of his Grace in Christ, till you can thirst after him and his Righteousness; and that he would shew you the certainty and excellency of his glory, till your hearts be set upon it above all? Oh beg hard of God that he would not let you live unconverted any longer, lest death should find you in that miserable state▪ Beseech him to pardon all your former Rebellions and Resistance of his Spirit, and now at last to give you that Grace that you have set so light by; and bring you into the hatred of those wayes of sinfull pleasure or profit which had your hearts before.
These are the Means that God hath appointed to bring you into a state of saving Grace. What say you? Are you willing? are you resolved to use these Means, or are you not? If you think that this is too much ado, and that your salvation is not worth it, you may take your ease and go without it. But if God have not given you up to so much unreasonableness, but that you had rather be at the sweet and comfortable pains of Duty, then ensure the intollerable pains of hell: If you do not set more by the ease of your flesh for a few dayes, then the ease and peace of soul and body for ever, then take my counsell, and set upon these Means without delay. Look who doth most for God and their salvation of all that you know, and strive to do as much as they. You have the same God, and the same Law, and the same and greater necessity, then they: you are further behind hand. You have more work undone which must be done: your danger is greater, and your souls should be as precious to you, as theirs to them. Oh therefore take time while you have it, and set your selves to the work.