466 Of Conver¡sone or Turning unto God. S fi C T. IX. though it hath a glittering, glorious skin, yet is full of poyfon and venom within. Thirdly, He is. hill in hisfins; and foneedeth turning to God, ihatdothcon- And force live Rantly and daily live in the committing ofgrofs and known fins : This is as clear in the conftant as that thou livenand breathell ; and to this man properly the Text (peaks, Re- and dailycon- torn fromhis evil Way. Anevil way, is the trade, talon), and ordinary prattice oún, d of orlsan of aman : Oh then if we behold the lives of moll men, who is there that dota known fins. not need converfion ? who Both not walk in one evil way or other ? who Both not live in thepraftice of one known inor ocher ? Then what an heavy judge- ment is this of God, that nomore are converted ? that fo few ever turn from their wicked way, but live and dye in it ? How often, as the Scripture cryeth out, Return, O Shunamite, Return,Return,have the MiniftersofGod.cryed aloud to luch, Return, O return, and yet mengo on defperately in pathsof rebellion againfl God ! Oh why is it, that when fo many in our Congregations need this grace of converfion, fofew obtain it I Know, thou that livefi in the cuflomary commillionof any known grols tin, thou art fpeedily to get out from it, as Lot wasoutof Sodom, when fire and brimflone were ready from heaven to de- ftroy him. 4 Laflly, They live Rill in theitfin,and fo need converfion to God,Who though Or if they ne- never yet re- now theydo not commit their fins they once did,yet never bane truly and unfeign_ pemedof them. ed lyrepentedof than : Oh its again and again to beconfidered, upon what terms men leave their fins ; Thouwaft fuch and fuch a prophane wretch once, but noti, thou art not; How comes this forbearance of time ? if it be not from godly for- row; anda true apprehenfion of Gods difpleafure, thou art !till in thy fins, though they werecommitted many years ago. Its one thingnot to commit fin again, andanother thing to turn fromfin: The former may bedone upon many grounds that are not heavenly and gracious ; but the latter isonely' upon pure grounds: But of this more inthe counterfeit workof converfion. Thus you fee how every Auditor is not to let thefe fermons pats as general things, likea tale that is told, wherein they are not concerned; but to confi- der, Is not all this fpoken to me ? am not I in the number of thofe, whoyet need converfion? was it ever done upon me? when did God ever make this change upon me ? Oh thisundoeth you 1 notwithftandingall preaching, and all your hearing, noman faith, What have I done ? am I turned to God? you fee every man bynature isa jilackamore, that muft be made white: If thou haft not outward wickednefs to turn from, thou haft that inbred pollution, yea, thy own fell ro turnfrom. Thus you feewho are to turn from fin. Secondly, Which is thequinteffence of this point, Let us confider what are Theacceptable themotives and grounds which are acceptable with God, when we turn from motives and fin for, as you heard, Men have left their fins, they have not fo much turn- arounds of re- ed from them, but even run from them. Ahab, the Ifraelires, iedaa, thole pentane. turned from their fins; would do fo no more, at leaf( as their prefent condition was; yet tl.ey nevertruly turned from any one fin: Therefore confider, that every kinde offorfaking fin, is not prefently a turningunto God. That you may underfland this, confiderwhat are the right motives with a true convert to leave fin ; he will never do or live ashe bath done, no, not for all the world ; And a Fiat, There are inferier er lefe principal motives, Which do lawfully Workupona rnan,tomake him turnfrem f n, fo long as they are in thefecondplace;: And that is the Argument in the Text, Cads framing' and bringing,evil uponmenfor, theirftns When God complaineth that he had thus and thus fcourged them, yet they did not return unto him ; this argueth, That its lawful. to turnfrom fn, becanfe of the fear of punifbmene, and Gods judgements accompanying it And coninionly this is the firft motive in place, though the lafk indignity andworth: Let then all the threatnings,alfthe wrathof God denounced again(} fin,make thee fpeedi- ly turn fromit, for God (asthe Magiftrate) doth not bear his fword in vain neither
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