The Way to Sound and Saving Conversion, Part 4 – Part 6
Some of the principal hinderances of Converſion.
1. The firſt Hindrance, is ignorance both of their own miſery, and Gods mercy; the kingdome of Satan is a kingdome of darkneſs, and himſelf the ruler of darkneſs, and the miſt and blackneſs of darkneſs is reſerved to him and his ſervants for ever, Jude 6, 13. compared with John. 3. 19. this is condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkneſs rather than light: So that if the Goſpel be hid, it is hid to them that are loſt, in whom the God of this world, hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, leſt the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt ſhould ſhine unto them; but thoſe that are converted, can truly ſay, we were once darkneſs, but now we are light in the Lord, Ephes 5. 8.
2. Hindrance of converſion is, men think it to be either an eaſie work, or a needleſs work.
1. It cannot be an eaſie work: Jer. 13. 23. Can the Aethiopian change his ſkin, and the Leopard his ſpots, then may they that are accuſtomed to do evil, learn to do well.
2. It is not a needleſs work, but one of the moſt needfulleſt works, without which we periſh everlaſtingly in Hell, John. 3. 3. 5. Mat. 18. 3. except a man be born again, be cannot ſee the kingdom of God, and except ye be converted and become as little children, ye ſhall not enter into the kingdome of Heaven:
3. Hindrance, is either a total neglect, or a careleſs formal uſe of thoſe ordinary meanes which God hath appointed, for the breeding and perfecting the work of converſion; if we will not eat, how can we live and grow? if we will not drink, how can we quench our thirſt? if we will not wear cloathes, how can we be warm? if vve vvill not ſovve and plant, hovv can vve reap? ſhall vve be induſtrious and neglect no means for the obteining of natural things, and altogether remiſs in the uſe of means for the obtaining of ſpiritual, that are far better? ſurely we ought to leave no means unattempted for the accompliſhing of what God hath promiſed, ſeeing we have more commands and promiſes for the latter, than we have for the former.
4. Hindrance is, mens not confidering the joyes of Heaven, and the torments of Hell, that ſo the love of the one might win them, or the fear of the other compell them to make uſe of the means, and improve their talent and time, for the obtaining of life and ſalvation, and the eſcaping of Hell and damnation; ſurely we ought to lay aſide every weight, and the ſin that doth ſo eaſily beſet us, and to run with patience, the race that is ſet before us, looking unto Jeſus the author and finiſher of our faith, who for the joy that was ſet before him, indured the croſs, and deſpiſed the ſhame, Heb. 12. 1, 2, 3.
5. Hindrance is, falſe conceits, that they are converted already; which ariſeth from ſome ſeeming change in an external conformity to the Goſpel, which ariſeth from the ſouls ſight of fin, and ſenſe of puniſhment, which leads him ſo far as to confeſs his fins, Mat. 27. 4. and vomi… it up, 2 Pet. 2. 20. and in ſome good meaſure, abſtain from the external commiſſion of it, and ſo reformeth its converſation; ignorance is taken away by illumination; pleaſure in fin is abated, by ſorrow for fin, boldneſs in finning is abated, by the fear of puniſhment: he may know the very time, …he ſermon, the book, the chapter, the verſe, that were the means of doing this work, and therefore thinks it is truly done, and that he hath a ſaving change, and yet it may be but common preparation, or ſome common works, which many partake of that periſh, &c.
6. Hindrance, is, too deep a familiarity with bad company, Oh what a dangerous thing it is to live amongſt ſuch company, as will be ſtill hindring, but never helping in the way to heaven, who can converſe with defiled ones, and not be defiled? Pſal. 106. 35. the people were mingled amongſt the heathen, and learned their works. Pſal. 119. 115. evil doers we muſt depart from, if ever we keep the commands of God, theſe are not gracebegetting, and ſoul-converting, but gracehindring, and ſoul-condemning companions.
7. Hindrance, is their ignorance of the principles of Religion, their not being Catechiſed themſelves, neither catechiſing their Families: ſo that the foundational truths, are for the moſt part Paradoxes and Riddles to them.
8. Hindrance, is Delay; when men intend to become new men, and to live another life, and to leave ſin, and to take another courſe, yet they delay and put off the time till the next year, and when that is come, to the laſt monethmonth of that year, and when that is come, to the laſt vveek of that monethmonth, and vvhen that is come, to the laſt day of that vveek, and when that is come, to the laſt hour of that day, and when that is come, to the laſt minute of that hour, and ſo in the mean while they are hardened through the deceitfulneſs of ſin, as Heb. 3. 13. and ſo goe on from folly to folly, until they are ripe for eternal miſery: Oh! ſay they, we are yet young, and have day-light and time enough; we are yet in health and there is no ſuch haſte: and thus many are cut off, whilſt they are purpoſing to return; and many thouſand ſouls are loſt, as it is to be feared, that once were purpoſed to have turned to God before they die, and all by delaying and continuing in ſinning, til they have ſinned themſelves into a reprobate ſenſe, and ſo they muſt periſh everlaſtingly, by delaying to make uſe of their remedie, by not calling upon God whilſt he was near, and ſeeking him whilſt he might be found: See Iſa. 55. 6. compared with Prov. 1. 24. 28. I might inſtance in many other hindrances, as hardneſs of heart, unbelief, love of this preſent evil world, the Differences amongſt Profeſſors; but I cannot ſpeak particularly to them all, leſt this Book ſhould ſvvell too bigg.
Of the ſad condition of all that are not Converted.
THe longer men or women ſtay, or go on, in an unconverted eſtate, the greater is their ſin, the harder is their cure, and the greater will be their puniſhment, &c. They make void as much as in them lyeth, the great Counſel of God, and all the thoughts of his wiſdom, in contriving ſuch a way to advance his own glory, in the ſalvation of man; Yea, they make void all the purpoſes of Gods mercy to them, in reſtoring and renewing them, and ſending Chriſt to die for them; yea they do as much as in them lyeth, make void the death of Chriſt, they make all his ſufferings, and blood-ſhed, to be to no purpoſe. You deny him that which is his own, you deny him your hearts and ſouls, that which he hath made and redeemed; you deny him that which none can lay claim to, but himſelf; again they are curſed in their going out and coming in, in their basket and in their ſtore, and in all they put their hands unto, they can do nothing truly pleaſing to God, but are ſervants, and ſlaves to Satan, and led about as his captives at his will, and ſo remain in a continual danger of damnation, there being but a breath between them and Hell.
Of the priviledges, and benefits of all that are Converted
THe Lord is their portion, and they are the Lords portion, Deut. 32. 9. what ever loſſes, croſſes, troubles and trials, they may paſs through here, all ſhall work for their good at the preſent, and they ſhall be freed from all troubles in time to come, there was joy in Heaven at their converſion, Luke 15. 10.
1. Chriſt calls them his ſervants, John 12. 26.
2. Again, he calls them his friends, John 15. 15.
3. He calls them his brethren, Mar. 3. 34.
4. He calls them his Jewels or treaſure, Mal. 3. 17.
5. He calls them his ſons and daughters, 2 Cor. 6. 18.
6. He calls them the Bride, the Lambs wife, Rev. 21. 9.
7. He calls them co-heirs with himſelf, Rom. 8. 17.
And if all this be too little to expreſs his heart to them, then he tells them, that the Father loveth them with the ſame love, (for the quality of it) wherewith he loveth Chriſt; what ſhall I ſay more? they have the glory of God to be their aime, the word to be their rule, the ſpirit to be their guide, the angels to be their guard, and the bleſſed promiſes to be their ſupport, and as by vertue of their oneneſs with the firſt Adam, his ſin was made theirs; ſo by vertue of their oneneſs with the ſecond Adam, his righteouſneſs is made theirs; nay farther, they have by vertue of converting grace, union with Chriſt, and ſo communion with the life and Spirit of Chriſt, with the death and ſufferings of Chriſt, with the merits and victories of Chriſt, with the priviledges and immunities, as Adoption, Son-ſhip, &c.