A Treatise of Conversion, Chapter 7 · Section 33 – Section 35
SECT. XXXIII.
Direction 16. OH consider therefore sinners, that Conversion is not a work to be delayed. Would a man lie under the wrath and curse of God one day, that knew what it is? Me thinks he should not. Are you loath to come out of the bondage of the Devil? Why, your delay doth shew that your heart is false, and that you be not willing truly to be converted: He that is loath to leave his sin this day or hour, would never leave it if he knew how to keep it: If he did not love it, he would be willing to be rid of it without delay. He that loveth God had rather return and be reconciled to him, and partake of the Joy of his Spirit to day, then to morrow: Did you but know what God is, you would not delay your conversion to him: Did you but know what the Glory is that he offereth you, you would not delay to make sure of it any longer: Did you but see the Nature of sin, and know the miserable effects of it, Oh how hastily would you endeavour to be rid of it? If you had so many …oads or Serpents in your bosoms, you would not say, I will cast them out to morrow, but how quickly would you shake them from you? If you had but felt the sting of sin, it would appear another matter to you then now it doth. It is one kind of face that sin hath in an Alehouse, or in the height of your filthy lust, or in the seeming gain of your covetous practices; and it is another kind of face that it hath when God will reckon for it with the guilty soul. Should a man trifle in such a course, wherein if he die, he is lost for ever? Why poor wretched sinner; how long wilt thou delay? And why wilt thou delay? Wilt thou delay till Death shall seize upon thee, and thou drop into Hell before thou art aware? Dost thou not know that sin gets advantage by thy delay? God hath not promised thee that ever his Spirit shall be offered to thee more; if thou refuse his Assistance, and delay thy conversion but one day longer. And wo be to thee if he depart from thee, Hos. 9. 12. Jer. 6. 8. When people will have none of God, nor will hearken to his voyce, he often giveth them up to their own hearts lusts, to walk in their own counsels, Psalm 81. 11, 12. Oh unworthy wretch, if thou hadst any of the Ingenuity of a Christian within thy breast, thou wouldst say, I have abused Christ and his Grace so long that I am utterly ashamed of it, and will abuse him no more: I have too long sleighted Christ already, and too long hearkned to his enemies voyce. If thy dead heart were but well awakened to consider and feel thy own condition, thou wouldst be quickly affrighted out of thy delay, and run as hastily from thy state of sin, as thou wouldst out of a house that were all on fire over thy head, or out of a boat that were sinking under thee. What, hast thou not yet served the Devil long enough? Hast thou not yet sufficiently abused▪ Christ, nor oft enough rejected the Grace of God? Hast thou not yet wallowed long enough in the filth of sin? but must thou needs have more of it? Hast thou not yet done enough to the destruction of thy soul? nor drunk in enough of that deadly Poyson? nor stabbed thy self sufficiently by thy wickedness, but thou must needs have more? Will sin come up easier when it is deeper rooted? And canst thou easilier be converted when thou hast driven away the Spirit of God that should convert thee? Wilt thou travel out of thy way till night, before thou wilt turn back again? And wilt thou drive the nail yet faster to the head, which thou knowest must be drawn out again? Oh be not wilfully befooled by sin. Wilt thou be converted, or wilt thou not? If not, thou art a lost man: If thou know thou must, why not to day rather then to morrow? What reason have you for any longer delay? Is a state of sin, or a state of Grace better? If sin be better, keep it and make thy best of it: But if Grace, and holiness, and happiness be better, why then should you delay? If you were sick you would not care how soon you were well; and if you had a bone broken, you care not how soon it were set; and when your souls are in a state of sin and misery, are you affraid of being safe and happy too soon? Remember another day, that a day, and many a day of Grace thou hadst; and if thou lose this day, thou maist thank thy self, if thou lose thy soul, and if thou never have another day like this. To day whiles it is called to day, therefore hear his voice, and harden not your hearts, Heb. 3. 7, 8. When David thought of his waies, he made haste and delayed not to turn to God and keep his Precepts, Psalm 119. 60. As was aforesaid.
SECT. XXXIV.
Hinderance. 17. ANother great Hinderance of Conversion, is: When good beginnings are not followed on, but suffered to die and come to nothing before they bring men …ver to God. Commonly preparing works of Grace go before through sanctifying works; and men have many convictions and half-reformations and troubles of mind, before they come to close with Christ upon the terms that he is offered: These common Preparatory works are the way to more: If men would but cherish these, and follow them on, and improve the light and motions which they have, they know not what a blessed Iss…e they might see: but when they will forget the Truth that once did move them, and lose the purposes that once they had, and turn back again to the sins they were in before; no wonder if these be left in their Iniquities: Is not this the case of you that hear me this day? You have been convinced that God and your souls must be regarded, whatsoever else be neglected; and did you not thereupon begin to pray, and to use means, and take the helps in publike and private that are Necessary for your Salvation? And have not some of you fallen into company that have taken you off, by foolish cavils or vain objections, and evil examples, and ticing you to sin? And have not others of you grown cold and lost your feeling, as if you were not the same men, and had never heard or felt such things? And others of you turned to this present world, and choaked the Word, with the cares of this life? And so the hopefull beginnings that you once had, are turned to a Relapse into your old condition.
SECT. XXXV.
Direct. 17. IF there be any such sinners that hear me this day (as I fear there be too many) consider whence you are fallen, and be zealous and amend, Rev. 3. 19. Are you turned with the dog to his vomit, and with the sow that was washed, to wallow in the mire? 2 Pet. 2. 22. What! Do you look back when you had put your hand to the plough of God? Luke 9 62. Did Christ give you any cause to repent of his service, or to forsake him? Have you▪ found indeed that the Devil is the better Master, and that the way of sin is the better way, and the wages of sin the better wages? What, Did the thoughts of everlasting life once move you, and will they not move you now? Is Heaven become as no Heaven to you, and God as no God, and Christ as no Christ, and the Promises as no Promises? And are you grown abler to resist the terrours of the Lord? Oh poor souls, that you did but know the misery of Apostates! The Lord hath professed, that if any draw back, his soul shall have no pleasure in him, Heb. 10. 38 And they that draw back, shall find they do it to their own Perdition; when they should have Believed and persevered to the saving of their souls, ver. 39. There are none of all the damned more miserable▪ then they that were sometimes fair for Heaven, and once begin to look after godliness; for the latter end of these …n is worse then their beginning, 2 Pet. 2. 20, 21. Alas! How sad will it be to see the faces of such among the wicked and condemned at the last, and to think that once we saw the faces of these men among the godly, and once they seemed to set themselves for Heaven, and are they faln off to this! And is this the end of them! In the name of God Sirs, I warn and charge every one of you that ever had a thought of returning to God, and giving up your selves to a holy life▪ that you presently bethink you, what is gone with these thoughts, and purposes, and why did you turn from these beginnings? What reason had you for it? and what cause hath Christ given you? What! Will the world now be a faster friend to you then before? And will you now continue with it▪ and never die? Or can you better be without God and his Grace then before? Oh be awakened from this desperate folly, and once again renew your former Resolutions, and consider whether you are not nearer Eternity then you were; and have not as much need of Christ as ever? And sleep not on till hell awake you.