S s C T. IX. of Converfion, or `furningunro God. 4t3 Ín thenext place, let usconfider, what goeth co the making upof this Convec fien,or turning toGod. And first, There muff bea true andfound undrflanding out 'of Gods Word, that the way me Whàt gòeth tii are in is 1 wrong way : That if we turn toot at Off theend of thole paths is inhell ai à themaking up damnation. Ablind man, or he that wa;keth in the darkneffe can fee no neceflity to öt con"vc.ron. turn out of theway he is in. Therefore ifthis Text maydoany good torhee, pray t. for illumination of mind Say, Lord,open my eyes, that lmay fee the cra,..gie, and flippery,and dangerous placesI walkupon. Thus Efay6. Left theyhear with thtir cares,andunderftand, and beconverted. That underftandingisantecedent tocon- verfion; fo that ignorant, foccifh and brutish people,who know nothing of God, or of their own corruption,arevery remote from Converfion: till thou come to know &underhand the danger thou art in,thou wilt not be willing togoout of theway. Secondly, The *ayes of fin muff adminifter Pine wearinefs and trouble ; elfe the d foul will never think of returning : Come tomete that are heavy laden. When the Prodigal is almoft funned, then he thinkethof going to his Father. When If rockway is hedged in with thorns, then (he willgo back co her firth husband,Hof. 3. So that if thou wouldft ever turn to God, pray thoumails feel the weight, and burdenof fn in fome mea(ure, not tobreak thee, but to drive theeout of the way thou waft in, when thou belicveftlyons and all curies tobe in thy way, then ihcu Wilt quickly go back ; whereas wicked men that live in jollity and profpericy;, that haveno trouble, no exercifes, nor cro(Tes in their fins , they are far from Converfion ; theynever think of going oút of that broadway as long as they find it fo tweet andpleafant : and henceGod in mercy aids, grieveth, and corn clonally troubleth that firmer whomhe intends to convertr. This Converfion cannot be, tillCod bathfi ft infefed a fupernatura1life inaman; for feeingthis turning is a fpiritual motion of the foul, there cannot be any motion, if there benot life firft : and in this refpe&, no man in the world hash any a&ive fitnetfe, or wotthineffe inhim tobeconverted,no more than thorns have tobecome grapes,or (hones children. The lietihep that muff be taken towards heaven,muft be after Chrift bath laid unto thee, Arife and walk. Iter ad gratiameft per gratiam, per venituradideam, Profp. Fourthly, Its not enough to have this life infafed, bait there muff be the alivating of it. Forto turn is an ae ion, is a Motion; and therefore though a man be renewed paffivelybyGod, yet till alhively hemoveunto God again , he is not Paid to turn tohim: fo that this converfion doth denotemore thanregeneration,or a new crea- Lion; for in them its enough if God bath wrought a fpiritual change ; but here he Bothnot onelywork towill, giving the ability andpower, but todoe alto, giving the exercifeof this power. Fiftly, This turning unto god le to belooked for in the confiant anddiluent aiten dance:wonrhepreaching of Çods Wood; for that IS inftitated as an inftrument tò. changeand turnus.You have many exam 'leSof the greatand glorious cònvecfions; that have been upon the moft indifpoted and unlikely fubje&s. And how fo ? By the plain and powerful preaching ofGods Word. Itsnot humane Oratory, or arty- ficial eloquence bathdone this,'fomuchas the autoritative arid fpirrual eiplicatión and application of Gods Word ; and therefore all thote who carcletly negle@, or defpife the Minillryappointed for this end,no wonder they rejeti the good counfell of God and its no wonder why Satan doth fo rageand let againft the Ministry of Jelin Chrift ; for this is the only Engine and Battery that detfroyethhis i4ingdoine, and refcueth poor captives that were taken inhis loares. Vfe of Aoferntl.on. See and underhand now the necefiity ofthy conberfion. It is vfl that which unduech mot{; y ;u bye the fame,corne to Church,and go homethe tame, and youDever think ofa turn & a change that ought tobeupon you. Dothnot God fay to thee, Turn from this and that evil way of finning, why wilt thou dye and be damned is it? but thou like the Serpenthoppeft thy care, if there were no other loneto snake trice tutu than this, that thou 'Weft in an age, Where many turnings Ggg 3 and
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