462 of.Converfan, or Turning untoGod. Suçr.IX heatts40 molt rife and (well with an hohe indignation againft them, NDW the groundsare thefe Firlt, Tks'betaved bane tear theffrengthand power ofall other linnet,. They all runne into this: iThis,is a kinde of an original mother ,finne, that bred and nourifhed all other :tranigreffions. As Sampfout ftrength lay in his hair, fo all the power and efficacie of fin in a man, ran into that Channel of his beloved fin. That was the prinium mobile which carried all the reft with it ; fo that as it wasgiven id command to theSouldíers, chatthey should not fight with little, or great,: butawith.thc.King.of Ifiaelt fo grace in the heart of a man doth not fo much affault leffefinnes as this great one. Come, faith grace, fetus deftroy this, and ail is,oursi This is theftrong man that muffbe bound ere thehoufç can be taken :.This- is- the Dam that mutt fi:ft be deftroyed. No wonder thm, that a.man intangledin.any clofe beloved fin, canpromife himfelf any true comfort or hope, for be-is undo' the thongpower of fin and Satan, as long as this is upon, him,., á 2. Secondly, Thereforea manwaftforfake this beloved flame, becaufe ìn true-sonves. Pion nuco God, we are to leave finne upon filch fpirituall and Scriprure grounds which areruntyevery finite, aswell as inany. The grounds of turning from:finne are, becaufe its contrarie to anholyGod, it oppofech an heavenly and pureLaw, it grievechGods Spirit, its the noifome filthinefte and dung of the foul.: Why then if this be thy ground thenall this true ofthy beloved fin as much as any; for that is againffGods holywill, that is oppolce to a fpirituall Law that is contrary topurity and the beauty of the foul. Its an hypocritical Converfion, when men leave fome fins, and not others ; they can part with fome Kind of corruptions;. but then there are others of which they fay, aswas of Gelieh's fword, Nona like that. Now allthis is but deceit and froWardnrffe of heart, this is but halting beforeGod ; for -if thy beloved loft be finne, if an enemy to God, if an adver- farie tohis glorie , how cant' thou:lodge it in thy foul ? On that people would attend more to the true: fpiritual and acceptable ground of leaving a- ny finne, for that would fweep all away, it would not leave an Hoof iiI4 H- Thirdly, Therefore in Connerfon, a man Mil be fore to leave his peculiar bin, becaufo all repentance and humiliation ie a kinde of revenge, andfpirituall' judg- ing and contemning ofour felves. If we would judge our (elves we Mould not be judgedof the Lord; fo the Corinthians, that had been coo conniving at the inceftuous perfon, notindeavouring topurgeout the old Leaven as they fhould: when they began toturn from this fin, then faith the Apoflle, whatfsar ? yea what zeal, ';bat indignation and revenge ? a Corinth, y. if. In all thingsye have la- boured to clear your felves in this matter. Thus it is with a godly man; of all Genes, that which was his greateft delight, hisgreateft praetice, now his greateft zeal and indignation is againft: Was uncleanneffe his beloved finne? Now he doth efpecially abound in purity; that fo all the world, yea and God alto may fee him clear. Was pride his darling Gnne? thenof all graces he is molt cloathed with Hamiiitie. Yang great finne was perfecuting and deftroying the Church of Godonce: but when converted, who bad fuch Fatherlie bowels? whohad the Church in his heart fo much as he ? As Cranmer, that had fubfcribed with his right hand to that which was againft his Confcience, afterwards withre- venge put that fiat into the Flames ; So Both the true Convert ; Of all fins I Will-be revenged molt of that, by which I molt difhonoured God. Thus et..Wary (Magdalen cakes that hair of hers which had been sled to allure others , and wafhes Chritts Feet with it. And thofe eyes that had been wanton Snares, doe now (land beblubbered.with Water. Thusthegodlyman will beavenged upon hisfpiritual tufts. ' Fourthly, Converfion to God to the bringing of a man to trueandfoldWife- dome
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=