SECT. IX. ofConverfrom, erTurning renteGod. 441 lion; for that is opening the gate, that is the firfi tumbling down the hill, and it is hard to flop afterwards. Laftly, toquicken thee in thy refolutions to turn unto God, though thott p often get falls, Confider. What the ¡irong appetites andpurpofes of men in natural andWorldly thingsput themupon. Theft that Will be rich, faith theApoftle, pierce themfelvesthrough with divers cares, r Tim.6.9. Their earneft define after theft things, puts them uponall labor and toil day and night; every difficulty is eafily devoured, per mare, per terras, &c. they compafsfea and land, and all td poffefs themfelves of thefe fading riches. Take the ambitious man, that bath a boundiefs andva(l defineafter honor and greatnefs, he doth not onelyrefolve and refolve, but is very induftrious tocompleat his de(igns: Take the malicious man, how unquiet inhis fleep, how reftlefs in his thoughts, till he bath vented his poyfon ! Now (hall men in finful and unlawful ways, not only imagine wickedly; but constantly and effectually pratìifeit? and (halt not thou be as a/ ive in the ways ofgodlinefs? Never then let this temptation binde thee hand and foot; and certainly if thy converfion to God could never be attained, if thy turning to him were impoffible, yetits better and more fafe todye incom- bates and confli&s with thefe tufts, then out of diffidence to give up thy felt a prifonçr to them : Its more noble togo lame to thegrave, with thy ftraglings again(' thy dear corruptions, then to become a voluntary flare to them. The next valley tobe exalted, is the greatnefsof a Wan!fins (for otherobjedti Thefecond ons will come in more feafonably elfewhere) andofthis onely very briefly : Thou difcourage- art perfwaded to turn to God, thoucouldit readily let upon the work, but thy meam5fshe a fins have Inch a gaftly look, and are of filch a bloodynature, that thou doubter', mans fns. God will never accept thee : Butthis is a vain fear ; For Firlt, The Ifraelites in the Text, Were purees inas high a degree as ordinarily I, could be : If you regard the nature and quality of their fins, if the means a- Helps gainft whichthey rebelled, the obílinacy and refra/larinefs in them ; all there things madethem bloody and crimfon tins; yet to theft how patheticallyand compaffionately doth God fpeak, Turnye, turnee ! and it is univerfal; hedoth not fay, Turnye onely, that are (inners of fuch a degree, butas for the refl,they are incureable; but he (peaks generally : Soler. 3.7. 1 [aid unto ber, after ¡bbe had down all theft things, Turnye unto me ; and in that Chapter many times,, though theywere anadulterefs anda backfliding people, yet he inviteth her to return Therefore let not that raft thee down. Secondly, Fear notacceptation becaufe thou haft been a great fiññer, for thy ä; _Acceptation and ?unification isnot founded upon thy turning unto God: Thou aft not pardoned andreceived into favor, becaufe thou art turned from thy evil ways : No, itsChrift blood, not thy tear's which maketh the atonement ; its true, without this turning to God, there is no favor to be had from him, but its not becaufe of this: So that thyConverfion and thy Ju!tification are two diflinft things, they are feveral priviledges, and thoughnever feparated, yet are always tobe difiinguifhed. Thirdly, Therefore turn unto God, even becaufe thy fins are great; for the greaterthey are, themore dangerous it is to conthine long in them. Asaman 3' lick of defperate and dangerousdifeafes, he bath a great caufé to leek out for .help: Nonehave fogreat cattle to turn, as thofe that areco far One out of the way; and thou needeft moregrace then others. Lifeof Admonition, to youwho are not yet given up to a reprobate heart, vfe, and fenfelefs fpirit, that have many ferret defires, yea, and ferious_purpofes to turn from all your evil ways i Oh take heed how you quench thefe coals; be afraid of every thing that may fuffocate and ftifle there beginings; take heeds God may never giveyou thófegood thoughts any more, the Angel may never come down to lairthe pool again. Oh ! what a fad thing is it to fatter (hip- wtack near the Very haven; tohedamned, when thou haft even been enteric; L I I into
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