Sayfadaki görseller
PDF
ePub

you

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 than to-morrow? What reason have for any longer delay? Is a state of sin, or a state of grace better? If sin be better, keep it, and make the 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 afraid 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 mayst thank thyself, if thou lose thy soul, and if thou never have another day like this. "To-day, whilst it is called to-day, therefore, hear his voice, and harden not your hearts " When David thought of his ways, he made haste and delayed not to turn to God, and keep his precepts, Psal. cxix. 60. as was aforesaid.

Hindrance 17. Another great hindrance of conversion, is, When good beginnings are not followed on, but suffered to die and come to nothing before they bring men over to God. Commonly preparing works of grace go before thorough 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 issue 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 public 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 enticing you to sin? And have not

* Heb. iii. 7, 8,

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 choked the word with the cares of this life? And so the hopeful beginnings that you once had, are turned to a relapse into your old condition.

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". Are you turned with "the dog to his vomit, and with the sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire?" What! Do you " look back when you had put your hand to the plough of God a?" 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 terrors of the Lord? O 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." 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 c." There are none of all the damned more miserable than they that were sometimes fair for heaven, and did once begin to look after godliness; for the “latter end of these men is worse than their beginning." 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 fallen 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 yourselves 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

ý Rev. iii. 19.
b Heb. x. 38.

z 2 Pet. ii. 22.

c Ver. 39.

a Luke ix. 62.

a 2 Pet. ii. 20, 21.

cause hath Christ given you? What! will the world now be a faster friend to you than before? And will you now continue with it, and never die? Or can you better be without God and his grace than before? O be awakened from this desperate folly, and once again renew your former resolutions, and consider whether you are not nearer eternity than you were; and have not as much need of Christ as ever? And sleep not on till hell awake you.

Hindrance 18. The next hindrance of conversion to be mentioned, is, A misunderstanding of Scripture, and erroneous thoughts of the ways of God. If error possess the mind, it will keep out grace from possessing the heart, so far as the error prevaileth. I shall instance in some few particulars.

(1.) Some men know not what true grace or conversion is, and therefore think they have it when they have none, and do not set themselves to look after it. They think that it is but to forsake some gross sins, and to use some outward service of God, and do no one any wrong, and then they think they have true conversion; because they have turned from many sins that once they lived in. But these must know, that conversion is the withdrawing of the soul from the world, and from carnal self, and the devoting of ourselves, and all that we have to God. If you should be never so zealous in forms, and take up never so strict principles, and stick to the strictest party; this is no proof of true conversion, if your souls do not cleave to God, as your portion, and to Christ as the only way to God.

(2.) Some there be that do not think there is any such thing as saving grace, or true conversion in the world; because they have none themselves, they do not think that any one else hath. When they hear of a hope and heart in heaven, and of loving God above all creatures, they do not think that any one doth reach to it, but that men merely talk of such things, which they never had experience of. But these men must know, that it is an arrogant madness to contradict the scope of the word of God, and the common experience of the best men in the world; and all because they are so bad themselves. Doth God talk so much of sanctifying his people, and putting the Spirit of Jesus into their hearts, and ruling them, and dwelling in them, and crucify

ing the world to them, and " purifying a peculiar people to himself, that are zealous of good works; and now dare they say there is no such thing? Whether is God or they to be believed? What! hath Christ died to procure it, and is it the office of the Holy Ghost to work it, and now is there no such thing? Are the word, and ministers, and all the ordinances to that end, and now is there no such thing? God will make them know that such a thing was offered once to them, and such a thing as grace and a heavenly life were necessary to their salvation. And if they will not believe the experience of the saints, nor will see the graces of God, as they shine in the conversation of his people, they shall be forced one day to see, and be ashamed.

(3.) Others there be that think holiness is but needless preciseness; and that to meditate on God and heaven, and make it our main business, is but more ado than needs; and that this is but to be godly overmuch, and God will accept less; and this is the way even to drive men beside themselves.

Answ. Though I have formerly answered this objection, yet because it here again falls in my way, I shall distinctly answer it in these particulars.

Quest. 1. Tell me truly, do you think that God or you are fitter to be judges of what is necessary to the salvation of a sinner? Doth God command it? and dare you say it is more ado than needs? Why, what is this, but plainly to say, that God hath set us upon a needless work? Yea, what is it but to say, you are wiser than he ? There is no master so foolish and unmerciful, as will set his servant to pick straws, and labour to no purpose: and will you impute such unmerciful folly to God? Dare you say he makes you more ado than needs?

Quest. 2. And then I ask, Is it more ado than Scripture doth require? Doth not the word of God make it necessary, which you call unnecessary call unnecessary? Read and judge." Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force "." "Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, shall

e Tit. ii. 14.
VOL. VII.

f Matt. vi. 19, 20. 23.
X

Matt. xi. 12.

66

[ocr errors]

seek to enter in, and shall not be able"." Labour not for the food which perisheth, but for that which endureth to everlasting life i." "See then that ye walk circumspectly, redeeming the time." What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" And an hundred more such places may be mentioned. So that if it be an error to require so much ado for our salvation, it is God himself that is the cause of it. And who is most likely to be in the right? The Lord that made you, or such silly, ignorant worms as you? You scarce know good from bad; and will you take on you to be wiser than God, and to control his law?

Quest. 3. Do you think indeed in your consciences, that a man can do too much for heaven, (as long as he doth but what God bids him,) and that he can be at more cost and labour for it, than it is worth? Is that man worthy or meet to see the face of God in glory, that thinks it not worth his utmost diligence? Do you set so much by your labour, or do you set so light by God and glory, as to think the everlasting enjoyment of it to be unworthy of your pains?

Quest. 4. Do you think there ever was a man that got well to heaven, that repented of coming thither at so dear a rate; or that was there of your mind, that this godliness is more ado than needs? If we could but speak with one of the glorified saints that see the face of God, and put the case to him, which is the wiser man, he that doth all that he can to be saved, or he that saith what needs all this ado? which side do you think he would be on? Cannot you easily conjecture?

Quest. 5. Is Christ, or the apostles, or any of the servants of God of your mind? Judge by their conversations whether they thought it more ado than needs. The best of his saints never had so much grace but they longed for more; they never were so holy, but they longed to be better; and do you think that you are wiser than all they, and that neither prophets, apostles, nor any saints of God did know what they did?

Quest. 6. What is it that you think is so painful a life as to be too much for God and heaven? Do you know what you talk of? Why, it is the only joyful life on earth. It is i John vi. 27. * Eph. v. 15. 12 Pet. iii. 11.

h Luke xiii. 24.

« ÖncekiDevam »