S n c T. IX. ÖfCónverfion, orTrsrnin,; tante God. s}áry was or fhall beconverted, of whom if we had certainty, we migIt no more preach to their converfion, then to the Devils and damned in hell. But wtiencç' comes this impo11ibilityof turning to God ?it árofe at fir(tfrom rebelling againft light, living in thofe fins, which the fpirit of God convinced thee of by the word, and fo in forte meafure, Doing de/pite untotheSpirit ofGrace : This makes' thee at lair infenfible ; even as frequent walking barefoot, brings a fenfelefnefs of painupon the feet. Now whetherthis light be natural, ingrafted in thy con- fcience ; or fupernatural, revealed by thegrace of God, it is a woful hardnefs, to refill any of them : This indifpofit ion toconverfion, is very common ; for what man is there, that liveth in grofs palpable fins, that dotti not rebel againft his confcience,and rebel again(' the light of Gods word : O!i ! this mull ar- gue,thouhaft devilifhwickednefs in thce,that thou doe(' the th ings,thou know- eft are fins : I fay, Devilifh, becaufe the Devils have great light in their under- [landings, but malicious enmity again(' God in their *ills : If therefore thod wouldit prepare theway for God in thy heart; and have the gates of thy foul unbolted, that the King of Glory may come in be fure, let thy converfation anfwer thy convidtion ; let thy heart inaffeetious and pradtice, be proportion- able to thy light and judgement ; be fo bleffed, that when thou knoweff, thod doeft alfo': Therefore you that live under much preaching, are often in hearing, andminifterial admonitions, you had peed take heed to your felves, for as often asthou finneft, thou goeft againft the inftrudions of thy own heart : Tht.it knowefotherwife, thou haft been tau_ht otherwife, thon haft heard other- wife; Tith it kickingagainfl the prick,: This daily ufe to the noife and found of confcience, willat lair take awaythe tettiblenefs thereof. Sixthly, Thofe alfa are very far from turning unto G'od, cren lteithattt any hope, -6, that areby Sodsjuff judgement,forfaken andgiven up to the porter of theirfins , to Thofe that by fin with all greedinefs, wilfulnefs, and without any remorfeat all. There are Godaregivert fuch who have this incurable difeafe upen them ; and which is more terrible, it iiP to tt,e is tobe foundchieflyinthe Church of God, and amonglithem, that have en- P °Wfr °fdreis joyed the beft means : Thus Ifa.6.1o. Many or the people of Ifreel are to have their eyes [hut, and their ears made deaf, and their hearts fenfelefs or far, heft they should underftand and beconverted. To make the heartfat, is a metaphor from beaks, that by the fatteft palliates, are foone[t prepared for the Shambles ; fo manypeople by thechoicelland moll means ofgrace, are ripened for this heavy judgement of a fenfelefs fpirit. Wo be it to thofe perlons, that are (mitten with this fp ritual blindenefs : Behold then the feverity and ter- cor of God, tofeveral perlons, who for a long while receive his grace invain; andref(' his fpirit ; God in his anger fweareth, Thu peoplefball never entor into his refl,give them blinde eyes, a deceived heart, a limpidconfcicnce, let no M:- niRry trouble them , let no judgement awaken them : Therefore howfoever thou boaffell-in thy boldnefs and impudency in finning, and braveft it towards God and man, yet thou art more terribly curled then Cain, for he went trembling about under his curie, and thou goefl fecurely in all jollity and mirth. Seventhly, Apeople offrequent refolves andpurpofes to amend,While judáe rents /. are upon them, but When they are removed, returning to their former fnsagain : Thofe that af- Such difcover their inconliancy and hypocrifie fooften,that theygive little hopes ree lodgements ofatrue and right turning to God. Pharaoh, while the hand of God washeavy ale rem ved on him, how ready then for his duty I then he will let the people go, then he ;exit refoluti- cryeth out of his fin ; but no fooner is the rod taken off his back, but he is in ors, return ro themire as before. The peopleof Ifrael are alfo a pregnant inftance forthis,while their former they were in fears of enemies, or under anyof Gods fore judgements, that they fns á;ä;n; fought and cryed mightily to God; but let them have refpit, they fall from God again; Henceare theyfo often condemned for hypocrifie andback('iding, and luth whom God would wholly forlàke at lafl; this is too often to be found; H h h
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