Coteverftorr, Or Turning unto God. S a c andchangings of things have been, thismightprevail. God hath turnedpeace into war, quietnefs into trouble why then fhouldit not thouturn prophanenefs into holiness; fecurity, intogodly fear and trembling? Oh turn from fin,before God turnthee intohell ; and the longer a.d further thou haltgone on inwicked ways, know it is the highertime thou fhouldit return. Hegoeth far that never turneth (we fay) andwhy then is it thy obstinacy to do fo ? SERMON LXVIII, 7he Impediments and ObftruF1ions of Conversion and ivhat Lindeofper¡ons aremoll unbkel ever to beconverted, not to drive them todespair, but to awaken them out of their Security, Ez n x.33.11. Turnye, turn ye, 'whywillye dye 0 boufe ofIfrael t THe particulars that clear the nature of converfion aredifpatched : Let us now confider, what are the impediments and obftrudions of converfion. Thatconverfion now adays is very rare, comparatively to former times, experience evidenceth ç and yet howmuch reafon, and what unanfwerable ar- guments may be preffed on every mans confcience? Therefore its worth the while to confider;what are thufe caufes that make men continue in their at- cuflomed fins, whenGodand his Miniflers do thus importune to leave them. Now although it betrue, that in every unregeneráte man, there is a natural im- poffrbility to turn unto God, and fo no hopes of any manin the world, if we refped humane power and ftrength ;yet there are many, who betides this natural .impossibility, have contracted on themfelves a voluntary impoflrbilityof turn- Who they are ingunto God fo that their converfion, is not the taking away the floue of the that have the heart, but the Rones; for theyhave laid Mae upon another: We shall then ex- Symptoms of amine, what perlons they are, that have the Symptomes andvifible Charaders difficulty [o be of difficulty to beconverted, rather then other men. converted. And firít, Ignorant and flxpid people, that have ma knowledge or underflanding about Godorthemfelves: Thcfe -arenotorioutlyindifpofed to turn to God; the Ignorant id reafon is lain, becaufe undedtandin goeth before converfion, and is initial fupid people. p g g or introdudoryto it ; as lfa 6.eo. So that if there be no knowledge, there is no, hope of any turning to God ; therefore Laodirea is counfelled tobuy eye- falve,Rev.3.18.as that which would be the fiat means tohelp her; and this Prayer is Rill to be continued, for thofe whole converfion we defire, Thot God will give thorn eyefalve : Its ordinarily raid, As God inthe firfe Creation wrought light, beforeother things ; fo in man, who by nature is a miferableChaos and conflation, God caufeth light to thine out of darkness. The bruit beafis are not capable of converfion, because theyhave no reason ; and although our rea- fon be naturally corrupt,and fo a great enemy toGod, yet there is by ita paffive capacity, though notan adiveof converfion. Hence the Gospel at firli did take the heftand molt glorious effects in cities, where men were bred up in more knowledge andunderfanding : It's true,Paul faith, Not many learnedare called, t Cor. r. and, Godchop/eth thefoolish things ofthe world, to confound the wife; and our Saviour Christ giveth thanks to God, That he had hidthe things of salvation from the Wife, but revealed them to babes: But by Wife andLearned, are meant fuch
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