A Treatise of Conversion, Chapter 7 · Section 41
SECT. XLI.
I Have preached now, many Sermons to you of Conversion, and whether any souls be converted by it, the Lord knows, I know not. But the sad observation of the state of the world, and the uneffectualness of such endeavours, doth justly make me fear the Issue. I know that both I and this Congregation shall shortly appear before our Judge, to give a strict account of our lives, and if I have not preached these Sermons in sincerity, with a true desire after the saving of your souls, then how shall I stand before the Lord, if the blood of Christ through Faith and Repentance prevail not for Remission? And if any man or woman in this Town or Parish shall there appear in an unconverted state, what will they be able to say for themselves? or how will they escape the threatned Damnation? I am not out of hope that I shall meet some souls there, though yet I know not of them, that will be able to say, they were converted by these Sermons: But I am so much affraid lest I shall meet Abundance of you in an Unconverted state, that I could even find in my heart to sit down and weep over these Sermons now I have preached them. Alas! That you should be condemned by that which was intended to further your Salvation. Have I studied and preached all this to be a witness against you? I know, as true as you sit in these seats, that every soul of you shall be for ever in Hell, that passeth out of the body in an unconverted state. And I know when you have heard so much of it, and been so often warned, and now are left without excuse, you will have a double condemnation. For now it is your meer wilfulness that must keep you unconverted. If you say you cannot convert your selves; I ask you in a word, will you do what you can? Tell me, will you, or will you not? If you will not, what Remedy? If you will, look over the Directions I have given you, and set upon the faithful practice of them. Particularly, see that you presently search the Scriptures, and read good books, and forsake your evil company, and come not neer them, but get among those that fear the Lord, and take all Opportunities Publike and private, and enquire of your Teachers and Neighbours that can help you, what you shall do to be saved? And sin no more wilfully, but avoid the very Temptations and appearances of evil, and be much with God in secret and open Prayer: and dwell in the consideration of your own estate, of your own sin and danger, of Christ and Duty, of Grace and Glory, and think not any pains too much for your Salvation. What say you? Will you do but thus much, or will you not? If you will, you shall find no cause to Repent of it, and God will not be wanting to that soul that doth not wilfully forsake him, but is willing to be conformed to the Image of his Son; and to be what God would have him be. But alas! It is this wilfulness, and obstinacy that undoes men: this is that which shuts up the heart of God and man from compassionating the wicked in their everlasting Misery. They did it wilfully; they would take no warning; they would hear no Counsel: no saying would serve them: they chose their own destruction; it was their own doing; they were told of it an hundred times; they were entreated to consider, but they would not be entreated. What could have been said more to them? what could we do more for them? Oh that any one of you could tell me what I should say more, or what I should do now to save the souls of ignorant, fleshly, worldly sinners from damnation! and to convert the unconverted, and turn the hearts of men to God! Oh that you could but tell me how I might accomplish it? Would I not do it? The Lord knows, if any Lawfull and honest means would accomplish it, I would do it, if I know my own heart. But if Christ could not be heard, why should I wonder if many will make light of what is said by such a one as I. If they will not hear the Lord that made them speaking in his Word, why should I wonder if they will not hear him speaking by such a worm as I? Sinners, what shall I say more to you? I have told you of an Everlasting glory which you might have; if you will set light by it, and prefer your worldly things before it, who can help it? I have told you of Eternal misery that you are in danger of: if …u will venture on it, and not believe it till you feel it, and … past Remedy, who can help it? I have proved to you from the Word of God, that without conversion there is no Salvation: if you dare go on in an unconverted state, and keep your sin, and follow your fleshly desires, and delights, and your worldly vanities, and wicked company, if you will not be drawn to the waies of God, what Remedy? I have delivered my Message, and I hope God will not require your blood at my hands. You shall all be forced to bear me witness that I told you there was no Salvation without Conversion; and that I manifested to you the reasonableness of the offers of God: and if you be not converted, it is because you would not: And what a Torment it will be everlastingly to your Consciences to think that you wilfully damned your selves, and to think that you wilfully refused your Salvation; and that you might have been in Heaven as well as others, if you had not wilfully and obstinately rejected it; I say, what Tormenting thoughts these will prove to you everlastingly, you cannot possibly now conceive, but then you shall know and feel it, if true Conversion do not prevent it. Which that it may do, as it hath been the end of all these Sermons, so shall it now, and as long as I have life and strength, be the matter of my prayers for you.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Baxter, A Treatise of Conversion (1657)