463 Of Converfion, or Turningunto God. SE c r.IX. breaking the ice, orkindely by the thawings and meltings of the Sun: Thus it is here, when men and their fins are congealed together, theDevil hath mar- ried them together; now thefe may be feparated violently by force forcible judgements of God, that they cannot fin, though they would, as they have done ; or elfe in a kindely, gracious manner , and that is by the love of God (bed abroad in their hearts ; for whatfoever is not done out of love to God, is not thank- worthy, neither doch God accept it : But thehypocrite, when he is forced to leave his fin, it is with him, as it was with the Devils that poffeffed bodies, they cameout indeed when Chrift commanded, for they coulddo no otherwife, but fore again[ their wills, therefore theywere vexed, and toreand rent the poffeffed party as they went out ; thus they leave fin as unwillingly: Therefore let the love of God bekindled like a fire in thy breaft, and that will feparate thee from fin. 4. Fourthly, Heturnethfromfin, b.ecaufeof theuu1indonefa and ingratitude that is in every vs:If: re117on : All fin hash rebellion in it, againf God as our Soveraign, and unkindenefs againli him, as a merciful father, and the fountain of all the good we have : Nowhe that doch truly turn from fin, is much moved thereunto, becaufe of theunkindenefs therein to all Gods mercies, becaufe God was fo ill recompenfed after his love to us : Thus Gld aggravates David, fins, by enume- rating the fevera l mercies that were bellowed on him, Ifall this had been too little would have given thee more ,faith God ; fo many mercies, fomany hot coals of fire, and this makes a man el-cape from his fin'. We might altothew, that be- caufe thefe grounds of turning from fin, hold inevery particular rranfgreflìon, therefore their converfcon is univerfal ; but of that hereafter. III. Now let us infante in thofe things that hinder this motion or turningOnto The hinder- God : And antes of it. Firft, Want of fpirituallife: You wonder not if the dead carcafs lie always a. in the fame place, and do not fir it Pelf; neither is it frange to fee mendead in fin, and buried in the grave of it, never takingone flep forward to heaven. 2. Secondly. As incorporal motion, there are two things requifite, the eye to direft, and the feet to walk; fo for the foul to turn from fin, there muflbea right and pure eye, and there mutt be found andgood feet. The eye is under- ¡landing, efpecial ly faith, which is thepupil of the eye ; that difcovers the dan- ger we are in,the judgements imminentover us, and this will makeus rife up and walk. When that thick Egyptian darknrRwas, the people fate fhll, anddid not fir out of their places for teveral days together ; and thus men in darknefs of minde, that know nothingof God, Heaven, or their own damnation, they fit fill and fee none of this evil coming on them. 3, Again, Affections are often called the feet of the foul ; by thefe we turn from fin, when we are converted, love to God grief for fin, andhatred ofit,. defire and hope of pardon, andenjoyment of tiods favor : But the natural man is like the poor Cripple, that lay thirty years by the pool of flethefda, he cannot move himfelf to be healed : As the poor bed - ridden man., he cannot fir or move himfelf; fo neither can fach, who lie fin ridden, under the power and pommandof all foul iniquities. UfeofinUruélion, howmuch this Text, and this point of Converfion, con- cerneth mof of our hearers ; for who is not in one evil way or other? Con- verfionis not onely tobe preached to thole that are in the High-ways, Gentiles And Heathens, but toyou who frequentthe folemn affembfies; yet what hear- er goeth home, andthinketh with himfelf; Iam yet to be converted, f ámyet to turn frommyevil way? Donor cattily perfwade yourfelves, that thework is dottealready; to fuch a change as this would make morenoi.fe in thy ço(cience; it would makemore alterations in thy life; thy foul tvopid'have been in travel and pangsere this manchilde had been brought forth: How art thou turned from that, which thou art committing every day ? how art thou turned from
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