47$ OfConverfron,orTarntngunto God. S B c r. IX ineveryvein ; therefore till a man beno longer himfelf, till he be converted and turned from himfelf, what a changefoever maybe in his life, yet he is not turned to God. This you fee, that feveral ways men may turnfrom their fins, and yet not dolewith God ; they are removed from their former life, as the dove was fent out of the Ark, but they havenot found any place to reft their fouls upon. Oh howmuch Both this concern you,whohave made Tomemotion from fin 1 youwill not, youcannot, you darenot live asyou have done : Oh 1 but uponwhat terms is all this?Thou mayeft turn from Gn,andyet goround and round about,till thou haft fallen into the fame fins or worfe again: AsCome wan. dringtraveller, that hath loft his way, goeth direftly to that place at night from whencehe came in the morning : Oh take heedof beinga broken Bow, tohave all thy teeming turnings co God prove fruftrated. In the next place,let us confider,What it is to turn to God,eventohim : And 1. Firft, it is, Becaufehendifpleafedand offendedby fn: This is the veryquin- What it is to tell-eliteand differential mark of converlion. David bewailed this confideration turn to God. in his fin ; and theProdigal, whenhe became a convert, this wounded his heart, Father, lhave finned again/I heaven, and agairfl thee, and am no more Worthyto be calleda(on : All is but forced and counterfeit inconverfion, till this be the great motive to let all on work: This will hold for all fin, and at all times, whether inprofperity or adverfity, life and death. a. Secondly, To tarn even unto God, fie to be unquiet andref left infoul, till We do enjoy hiefavor, and thelight cf his countenance : So that if all judgements for fia beremoved, if all outward comforts and abundance overflow,yet all is nothing, till Godbe reconciled : Thus it was wich David, Reftore joy (faithhe) andheal the broken bones, Pfal.y r. This is a lure Touch -(toneof grace, when honors,riches, andall outward accommodationsare nothing, unlefs God fpeak peace : As Ha. man raid, when he fpake of all the honor and greatnefs he had, yet all availed him nothing, as long as Mordecai lived: Oh fay thou much rather, All health, friends, children, comfort me nothing, till God caufe his face to thineupon me 1 Oh delire to bathe thy foul in this meditation 1 this will manifeft the up- rightnefs and fincerity of thy converGon : O Lord, in thy light it life, comfort, happinefs,and all things elfe. 3' Thirdly, To tarn tohim, evenunto him, is When the font being Wearyof'info/ delights,and earthlypleafures,dethWholly repofe it felf,and refs on Godas its true and propercenter :: t was the fpeechofa trueConvert,Lord,Whom have l in heavenbut thee, andWhom in the earth but thee ? it was the fpeech ofthe converted Church, 1 Will leave allmy lovers, andgoto my firft husband, for then Was it better With me then now: Thus in true converGon, the foul forfaketh all, and cleaveth to him onely, 7er.3.14. Return, O Ifrael, for I ammarried toyou : No conset ion; as long as God isnot the onely center of thy foul ; if thou haft other objefts, be- fideshim, if other lovers beh les him, thou art not turnedeven to him. 4e Lafily, To turn to God, is obedientially to reign upour felves unto him as a Lord,& our Soveraign, wholecommands wewil faithfullyobey,whofe Laws we will readily fubmit unto : ThusPaul, when converted, Lord, What Wilt thon have me to do ? and the Church cryeth, when converted, Come, let to return unto the Lerd;as if fiewould fay,Beheld,here Iam,doWhat thou pleafeft : So that to turnto him,is tobe like wax before the fire,melted into what form God wouldhave it. VI; Fife ofExamination, Haft thou forfaken thy fms? art thou no more the beaft, the Devil thou waft once? Oh Confider, and again confider, upon what termsebou and fin did part : How haft thoudoledwith God? is he thy center, thy fulnefs? doeft not thou take a pifture for the true perfon? doeRnot thou lodge in tome thing onthis fide God? Oh what fad íhipwrack is that which is near thevery haven 1 To turn fo far andyet at laft to be turned into hell I To get fofar out of Egypt, andyet to have Pharaohrecover theeagain: Fear imper feel and inhncere convection, as much as prophanenefe. S H it b
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