VI. The furnace of eternal vengeance is heated ready

for thee, Hell and destruction open their mouths upon thee, they gape for thee, they groan for thee, Waiting as it were with a greedy eye, as thou stand- est upon the brink, when thou wilt drop in.. If the wrath of men be as the roaring of a lion, more hea- vy than the sand, what is the wrath of the infinite God! If the burning furnace heated in Nebuchadne3- zar’s firey rage, when he commanded it to be made yet seven times hotter, was_so fierce as to burn up even those that drew near to it to throw the three chil- dren jn, how hot is that burning oven of the Almi hty’s fury! Surely this is seventy times seven uy What thinkest thou, oh man, of being a faggot in hell to all eternity? Can thy heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the day that I shall deal with thee, saith the Lord of hosts? Canst thou abide the ever- lasting burnings; canst thou dwell with consuming fire? When thou shalt be as a glowing iron in hell, and thy whole body and soul shall be as perfectly pos- sessed by God’s burning vengeance as the fiery spark- ling iron when heated in the fiercest forge! Thou canst not bear God’s whip, how then wilt thou endure his scorpions? Thou art even crushed, and ready to wish thyself dead, under the weight of his finger, how then ‘wilt thow bear the weight of his loins? How wilt
MISERIES OF THE UNCONVERTED. 595
thou endure, when God shal] pour out’ ail his vials, and set himself against thee, to torment thee? When he shall make thy conscience the tunnel by which he will be pouring his burning wrath into thy soul for ever, and when he shall fill all thy pores as full of torment as they are now full of sin; when immorta- lity shall be thy misery, and to die the death ofa brute, and be swallowed in the gulph of annihilation, would be such a felicity, as a whole eternity of wishes and an ocean of tears shail never purchase. Now thou canst put off the evil day, and canst laugh and be merry, and forget the terror of the Lord; but how wilt thou hold out, or hold up, when God will cast thee into a bed of torments, and make thee to lie down in sorrow? When roarings and blasphemy shall be the only music, and the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, shall be thy only drink. When thou shalt draw in flames for thy breath, and the horrid stench of sulphur’ shall be thy only perfume. In a word, when the smoke of thy © torment shall ascend for ever, and thou shalt have no rest night or day, no rest in thy conscience,’ no ease in thy bones, but thou shalt be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach, for evermore! _Oh sinner, stop and consider: if thou art’a man, and not a senseless block, consider. Bethink thyself where thou standest; why, upon the very brink of this fur: nace. As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth; there is but a step between thee and this. Thow know: est not, when thou lest down, but thou mayest bein before the morning; thou knowest not, when thou risest, but thou mayest drop in before night. Darest thou make light of this? Wilt thou go on in such a dreadful condition, as if nothing ailed thee? If thou puttest it off, and sayest, This doth not belong to thee, look again over the foregoing chapter, and tell me the truth: are none of these black marks found upon thee? Do not blind thine eyes, do not deceive thyself; sée thy misery while thou mayest prevent it. Think what
: tormenting fury while he hath a being. | |.
+
596 MISERIES OF THE UNCONVERTED.
it is to be a vile cast-out, a damned reprobate, a vessel of wrath, into which the Lord will be pouring out his
Divine wrath is a fierce (Deut. xxxii. 22.) devouring (Isa. xxxiil. 14,) everlasting (Matt. xxv. 41.) unquench- able fire, (Matt. iii. 12.) and thy soul and body must be the fuel upon which it must be feeding for ever, unless thou consider thy ways, and speedily turn to the Lord
‘by asound conversion.
And is this true indeed? Is this thy misery? Yea, it is as true as God is. Better open thine eyes, and see it.now, while thou mayest remedy it; than blind and harden thyself, till (to thy eternal, sorrow), thou shalt feel what thou wouldst not believe: andiif it be true, what dost thou mean, to loiter and linger in sucha ease as this!
Alas. for thee, poor man; how effectually hath sin undone thee, and deprived thee even of thy reason, to look after thine own everlasting good! Oh miserable caitiff; what stupidity hath surprised thee! Oh let me knock up and awake this sleeper.. Who dwells with- in the walls of this flesh? Is there ever a soul, here, a rational, understanding soul? Or art thou only a walking ghost, and senseless lump? Art thou a rea-
sonable soul, and, yet: so far brutified, as to forget
thyself immortal, and to think thyself to be as the beasts that perish? Oh unhappy soul, that wast tlie glory of man; the mate of angels, and the image of God; that wast God’s representative in the world, and hast the supremacy amongst the creatures, and the dominion over thy Maker's works; art thou now become a slave to sense, a seryant to so base an idol as thy belly, for no higher felicity than to heap toge- ther a little refined earth, no more suitable toghy sept: ritual, immortal nature, than the dirt-and sticks? Oh why dost thou not bethink thee, where thou shalt be for ever? Death is at hand, the Judge is even at the door. Yeta little while, and time shall be no longer, And wilt thou run the hazard of continuing im such a state, in which if thou be overtaken, thou art irreco- verably miserable ? . 4a
MISERIES OF THE: UNCONVERTED. 597
- Come then, arise, and. attend thy nearest concern- ments: tell me whither art thou going? What! wilt thou live in such a course, wherein every act isa _ step to perdition; and thou dost not know but the next night thou mayest make thy bed in-hell? Oh, if thou hast a spark of reason, consider and turn, and hearken to thy friend; who would show thee thy present misery, that thou mightest: escapes and be eternally happy. :
. Hear what, the Lord saith: Fear ye not me, saith the Lord! Will ye not tremble at my presence? Jer. v. 22. Oh sinners! do. you make light of the wrath to come? lam sure there is.a time “coming, when you will not make light of it. \Why, the: very devils be- heve and, tremble. . What! are, you. more hardened than they? Will you run upon the edge of the rock ? Will you play at the hole of the asp? Will you put your hand upon the cockatrice-den?,, Will. you dance upon the fire till you are, burnt; or dally with devour- ing wrath, as if you were at a point of indifference whe- ther you will escape or endure it?,, There is nothing so distracted as the wilful sinner, that goeth on in his. unconverted state, as if nothing ailed him. Is it wis- dom to dally with the second death, or to venture into the lake that. burneth with fire and brimstone, as if thou wert but going to wash thee, or to swim for thy recreation? Wilt thou, as it were, jump into eternal flames, as the children through the bonfire? What shall I say? I can find out no expression, no compari- son, whereby to set forth the dreadful distraction of that soul that will go on in sin.
Awake, awake, oh sinner! arise and take thy flight : there is but one door that thou mayest flee by, and ‘that is the strait door of conversion. Unless thou turn unfeignedly from all thy sins, and come unto Jesus Christ, and take him for the Lord thy righteousness, and walk in him in holiness and newness of life,—as the Lord liveth; it is not more certain than thou art now out of hell, than that thou shalt without fail be in it but a few days or nights hence. Oh set thy heart to think of thy case. Is not thine everlasting misery or
598 MISERIES OF THE UNCONVERTRD.
welfare that which doth deserve a little consideration. Look again over the miseries of the unconverted. If the Lord hath not spoken by me, regard me not; but if it be the very word of God, that all this’ misety lies upon thee, what a case art thou in! Is it forone that hath his senses to live in such'a condition, and not! to > make all possible expedition for preventing his Utter ruin? Oh man! who hath bewitched thee, that in the matters of this present life thou shouldest be wise enough to forecast thy business, and foresee thy dan- ger; but in matters of everlasting consequence should be careless, as’ if they little concerned ‘thee { Why, is it nothing to thee to have all the attributes of God engaged against thee? Canst thou do well without his favour? Canst thou escape his hands, or endure his vengeance? Dost thou hear the creation groaning under thee, and hell groaning for thee, and yet think thy case good enough? Art thou in the paw of the lion, under the power of corruption, in the dark noi- some prison, working out thy own damnation, and is hot this worth considering? ‘Dost thou laugh at hell and destruction, or canst thou drink the envenomed cup of the Almighty’s fury, as if it were but a common potion ? ae: Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Art thou such’a Levia- than, as that the scales of thy pride should keep thee from thy Maker’s coming at thee? Wilt thou esteem his arrows as straw, and the instruments of death as rotten wood? ‘Art thou the chief of all the children of pride, even that thou shouldst count his darts as stubble, and laugh at the shaking of his spear? Art thou made without fear, and contemnest his barbed irons? Art thou like the horse that paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength? Dost thou mock at fear, and art not affrighted, neither turnest back from God’s sword, when his quiver rattleth against thee, the glittermg spear and the shield? Well, if the threats of the word will not awaken thee, lam sure death and judgment will. Oh what wilt thou do, when the Lord cometh forth against thee, and in hi
+
DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION.: 599
fury falleth upon thee? If when Daniel's enemies were castinto the den of lions, both they and their wives and their children, the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces ere ever they came at the bottom of the den; what shall be done with thee, when thou fallest into the hands of the liv- ing God, when he shall crush thee into a thousand pieces in his wrath?
Oh, do not then contend with God! Repeni, and be converted, so none of this shall come upon thee. Isa. ly. 6, 7. ‘‘ Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found; call upon him, while he is near. Let the wicked for- sake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abun- dantly pardon.”
CHAP. VI.
Containing Directions for Conversion.
Brrore thou readest these Directions, 1 charge thee before God and his holy angels, that thou resolve to follow them, (as far as conscience shall be convinced of their agreeableness to God's word,) and call in his assistance that they may succeed: and as I have sought the Lorp, and consulted his oracles, what advice to give thee, so must thou entertain it with that awe, re- verence, and purpose of obedience, which the word of the living God doth require.
Now then attend: Set thine heart unto all that I shall testify unto thee thts day ; for it 1s not a vain thing, aé is your life. This is the end of all that has been spoken hitherto, to bring you to make use of God’s means for your conversion. I would not trou- ble you, nor torment you before your time, with the thoughts of your eternal misery, but in order to your making your escape. Were you shut up under your present misery without remedy, it were but mercy to
600 DbIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION:
let you alone, that you might take that poor cdmfort you are capable of in. this word; but you may yet be happy, if you do not wilfully refuse the means of your recovery. Behold, I hold.open the door to you; arise, take your flight: [set the way of life before you; walk in it, and you shall live and not die. It grieves me to think you should be your own murderers, and throw yourselves headlong, when God. cries’ out ‘to you, spare thyself. iy wu
Would it not grieve a person of any humanity, if in the time of a raging plague he should have a receipt that would infallibly cure all the country, and recover the most hopeless patients, and yet his friends and neighbours should die by hundreds about him, because they would not use it?) Men and brethren, though you carry the certain symptoms of death, yet I have a receipt that will cure you all: follow but these direc- tions, and if you do not then win heaven, I will be contented to lose it.
Hear then, oh sinner! and, as ever thou wouldst be converted, embrace this counsel. aC a,
Direct. I. Set it down as an undoubted truth, that it is impossible for thee ever to get to heaven in this un- converted state, Can any other but Christ save thee ? And he tells thee he never will do it, except thou be converted. Doth he not keep the keys of heaven? And canst thou get in without his leave? As thou must, if ever thou come thither without a thorough renovation. . HON ohh
Direct. Il. Labour to get: a lively sense and feeling of thy sins. Till men are weary and heavy laden, and sick of sin, they will not come to Christ, for ease and "cure. They must set themselves down for dead men before they will come to Christ, that they may have life. Labour therefore to set all thy sins in order be- fore thee; never be afraid to look upon them, but let thy spirit make diligent search. Inquire into thine heart, and into thy life; enter into a thorough exami- nation of thyself, and all thy ways, that thou mayest make a full discovery; and call in the help of God's Spirit, for it is his work to convince of sin. Spread all
cya) f
DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION. 601
before the face of thy conscience, till thy heart and eyes be set abroach: leave not striving with God, and thy own soul, till it cry out under the sense of thy sins, What must I do to be saved? To this pur- ose, . Meditate on the numerousness of thy sins. David's heart failed: when he thought of this, and considered that he had more sins than hairs. This made him cry out upon the multitude of God’s tender mercies. Look backward: where was ever the place, what was ever. the time, in which thou didst not sin? - Look inward? what part or power canst thou find in soul or body, but itis poisoned with sin? What duty dost thou ever per- form, into which poison is not shed? O how great is the sum of thy debts, who hast been all thy iife running upon thy books, and never didst nor canst pay off one penny! Look over the sin of thy nature, and all its cursed brood, the sins of thy life: call to mind thy omissions, commissions, the sins of thy thoughts, | words, and actions, the sins of thy youth, and the sins of thy years. Be not like a desperate bankrupt, that. is afraid to look over his books: read the records of conscience carefully. These books must be opened sooner or later. f (1A) Meditate on the aggravations of thy sins, as they are the grand enemies of the God of thy life, and of the life of thy soul. In a word, they are the public. enemies of all mankind. O man! how canst thou make so light of sin? This is the traitor that sucked the blood of the Son of God, and sold him; that mocked him, that scourged him, that spat in his face, that digged his hands, that pierced his side, that pressed his soul, that mangled his body that never left him, till it had bound him, condemned him, nailéd him, crucified him, and put him to an open shame. This is that deadly poi- son, so powerful of operation as that one drop of it, shed on the root of mankind, hath corrupted, spoiled, poisoned, and undone his whole race at once. This is the bloody executioner, that hath killed the prophets, burnt the martyrs, murdered all the apostles, all the patriarchs, all the kings 9 eer that has de- 20.
t
602 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION.
stroyed cities, swallowed empires, butchered and de- voured whole nations. Whatever was the weapon it was done by, sin was it that did the execution. Dost thou yet think it but a small thing? If Adam and all. his children could be dug out of their graves, and their bodies piled up‘to heaven, and an inquest were made, what matchless murderer was guilty of all this blood ? it would be found in the skirts of sin. Study the na- ture of sin till thine heart inclines to fear and loathe it; and meditate on the aggravations of thy particular sins. how thou hast sinned against all God's warnings, against thy own prayers, against mercies, against cor- rection, against light, against love, against thine own resolutions, against promises, vows, and covenants of better obedience. Charge thy heart home with these things till it blush for shame, and be brought out of all good opinion of itself. i ct Meditate on the. desert of sin. It crieth to heaven; it calls for vengeance. Its due wages is death and damnation ; it pulls the curse of God upon the soul and | body. The least sinful word or thought lays thee under the infinite wrath of God Almighty. O what a load of wrath, what a weight of curses, what a treasure of vengeance, have all the millions of thy sins then de- served ! ny Above ail other sins, fix the eye of consideration on the sin of thy nature. It is to little purpose to lop off the branches, while the root of-corruption remaihs un- touched. In vain do men leave out the streams, when the fountain is running that fills up all again. Study » how deep, how close, how permanent, is thy natural pollution, how universal it is; cry out, with Paul's feeling, upon thy body as dead. Look into all thy parts and powers, and see what unclean vessels, what, dunghills, what sinks they are become. The heart ls, never soundly broken, till thoroughly convinced of the heinousness of original sin, Here fix thy thoughts: this is that which makes thee backward to all good, prone to all evil; that sheds blindness, pride, preju- dice, unbelief, into thy mind; enmity, imconstancy, obstinacy, into thy will; inordinate heats and colds mto
DIRECTIONS) FOR CONVERSION: 603
thy affections; insensibleness, benumbédness, unfaith- fulness, into thy conscience ; and, in a‘word, hath put every wheel, in thyjsoul out of order,,and made it, of a habitation of holiness, to become a very hell of imi- quity. Thisis what hath defiled, corrupted, perverted, all. thy members, and turned them into weapons: of unrighteousness, and servants of sin. And wilt) thou yet be in love with thyself, and tell us any longer of thy good heart? Oh never leave meditation on the desperate contagion of original ‘corruption, till with the deepest shame and sorrow thou smite on thy breast, and, with Job, abhor thyself, and repent in dust and ashes. pony daisy
Direct. IIL. Strive to affect thy heart with a deep sense of thy present misery. Read over the foregomg chapter again and again, and get it into thy heart. Remember, when thou hest down, that for ought thou knowest thou mayest awake im flames; and when thou risest up, that by the next night thow mayest make thy bed in hell. Is it a trifling matter to hve in such a fearful case? to stand tottermg upon the brink of the bottomless pit, and to live at the mercy of every disease, that if it will but fall upon thee, will send thee forthwith into the burnings? Suppose thou sawest a condemned wretch hanging over WVe- buchadnezzar's burning fiery furnace by nothing’ but a thread, which was ready to break every moment, would not thy heart tremble for such.a one?» Why, thou art the man. This is thy very case,,O man, Q woman, that readest this, if thou be yet uncon- verted. What if the thread of thy life should break? (why, thou. knowest not but it may be the next night, yea, the next moment,) where wouldst thou be then? Whither wouldst thou drop? » Verily into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; where thou must lie scalding and sweltering in a fiery ocean while God hath a being, if thow die in thy present case. ;
Direct. IV. Settle wt upon thy heart, that thow art under everlasting inability ever to recover thyself.— Never think thy praying, reading, hearing, confessing,.
604 DIRECTIONS FOR! CONVERSIONL
amending, will:do the cure; these must be ‘attended to, but thou art undone if thou restest in them. ~ Thou art a lost man, if thow hopest to escape drowning on any other plank but Jesus Christ.. Thou must unlearn thyself, and renounce thine own wisdom; thine own righteousness, thine own strength, and throw thyself wholly. upon Christ, asa man that swims casts himself upon the water, or else thou canst not escape. While men trust in themselves, and esta- blish their own righteousness, and have confidence in the flesh, they'll not come savingly to Christ. Can the lifeless carcase loose the bands of death? Then mayest thou recover thyself, who art dead in trespasses and sins, and under an impossibility of serving thy Maker acceptably in this condition. Therefore when thou goest to pray, or meditate, or to do any of the duties to which thou art here directed, call in the help of the Spirit, as despairing to do any thing pleasing to God in thine own strength; yet neglect not thy duty, but lie at the pool, and wait in the way of the Spirit: Strive) to give up thyself to Christ; strive to pray, strive. to meditate, strive.a: hundred and a hundred times, try to do it as wellas thou canst; and whilst thou art endeavouring in the way of thy duty, the Spi- rit of the Lord will come upon thee, and help thee to do what of thyself thou art utterly unable to perform, Prov. 1. 23. iv Dag
Direct. V..Forthwith renounce all thy sins. If thou yield thyself to the practice of any sin; thou art: un+ done. In vain dost thou hope for life by Christ, ex- cept thou depart from iniquity. Forsake thy sins, or else thou canst not find mercy. Thou canst not be married to Christ, except divorced from sin: give up the traitor, or you can have no peace in heaven. | Cast the head of Sheba over the wa'l: keep not Delilah m thy Jap. ‘Thou must part with thy sins or with thy soul: spare but one sin, and God will not spare thee. Never make excuses; thy sins must die, or thou must die for them. Ifthou allow of one sin, though but a little, a secret one, though thou mayest plead necessity, and have a hundred shifts and excuses for it, the life of thy
DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION. 605
soul must go for the life of that sin. And will it not be dearly bought ? ' -.O sinner! hear and consider: If thou wilt part with thy sins, God will give thee his Christ. Is not this a fair exchange? I testify unto thee this day, that if thou perish, ‘tis not because there was never a Saviour provided, nor life tendered, but because thou preferedst (with the Jews) the murderer before thy Saviour, sin before Curist, and lovest darkness rather than light. Labour therefore to find out thy sins, enter into thy clo- . set, and consider, What evil have [lived in? What duty have I neglected towards God? What sin have I liv- ed in against my brother? And now strike the dart through the heart of thy sin, as Joab did through Ab- salom’s. Never stand looking upon thy sin, nor roll- ing the morsel under thy tongue; but spit it up as poison, with fear and detestation. Alas! what will thy sins do for thee, that thou shouldst stagger at parting with them? They will flatter thee; but they'll undo and cut thy throat while they smile upon thee, and poison thee while they please thee, and arm the justice and wrath of the infinite God against thee. They will open hell for thee, and pile up fuel to burn thee. Away with them, crucify them, and let Christ only be Lord over thee.
Direct. VI.- Make a solemn choice of God for thy blessedness. With all possible devotion and veneration _avouch the Lord for thy God. Set the world, with all its glory, with all its pleasures and promotions, on the one hand; and set God, with all his infinite ex- cellencies on the other; and see that thou deliberately make thy choice. Take up thy rest in God; sit thee under his shadow; let his promises and perfections ~ turn the scale against all the world. Settle it upon thy heart, that the Lord is an all-sufficient portion, that thou canst not be miserable whilst thou hast God to live upon: take him for thy shield, and exceeding _ great reward. GOD alone is more than all the world: Content thyself with him; let others carry the prefer- ments, the riches, and glory, of the world; place thou thy happiness in his favour, and the light of his coun-
606 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION.
tenance. Take him as God. to be the chief. im | thy affections, estimations, intentions, for he will’ not enr dure to have any set above him. In a word; thou must take him in all his personal relations, and in. all Als essential perfections. nig. arn
First, Jn all his personal relationss.,. Gridythies Father must be taken. for thy Father. O come ta him. with the prodigal: Futher, I have sinned against \heaven, and in thy sight, and am not worthy to be called thy son: but since of thy wonderful mercy thow drt: pleased to take me, that am of myself a dog, @ swine, a devil, to’ be a child, I solemnly take thee for my Father, com: mend myself to thy care, and trust to thy: promdence, and cast ‘muy burden on thy shoulders. I) renounce alt confidence in myself, I repose my confidence in thee.— Again, God the Son must be-taken for thy Saviour, for thy Redeemer, and Righteousness. He must. be ac- cepted as the only way of the Father, and the only means of life. Lastly, God the Spirit must be taken for thy Sanctifier, for thy Advocate, thy Counsellor, thy Coniforter, the Teacher of thy 1 1guoraniey the pledge and earnest of thy inheritance.
Secondly, In all his essential perfections. Gonsidet how the Lord hath revealed himself to you in his word: will you take him as such a God? O sinner, here's the most blessed news that ever came to ie sons of men, Zhe Lord will be thy God, Gen. xvii..7. Rey, xxi. 3. if thou wilt but close with him im his cidbedions cies. Wilt thou have the merciful, the gracious, the sin-pardoning God, to be thy God? r 0 yes, (saith the sinner) J am undone else. But the Father tells thee, I am the holy and sin-hating God; if thou wilt be owned as one of my people, thou must be holy, 1 Pet. i. 16. holy in heart, holy im life, thou must put away all thy imiquities, be they ever so near, ever so natural, - ever so necessary to the maintaining thy fleshly lusts, Unless thou wilt be at defiance with sin, I cannot. be thy God. What doth thine heart answer? “ Lord, I desire to have thee as such a God: I desire to’be‘holy _ as thou art holy, to be made partaker of thy hohness. I love thee not only for thy goodness and merey; but
DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION. 607
for thy holiness and purity. I take thy holiness for my happiness; O be to me a fountain of holiness; set on me the stamp and impress of thy holiness; I will thankfully part with all my sins at thy command: my wilful sins I do forthwith forsake; and for mine infir+ mities, I will strive against them in the use of the means; I detest them, and will pray against them, and never let them have quiet rest in my soul.” Beloved, whosoever of you will thus accept of the Lord for his God, shall have him.
Again he tells you, I am the all-sufficient God, Gen. xvii. J. Will’you lay all at my feet, and give it up to my disposal, and take me for your only portion? Will you own and honour my All-sufficiency ? Will you take me as your happiness and treasure, your hope and bliss? Tam a sun and a shield; all in one: will you have me for your all? Gen. vi. 1. If thou art willing to sell all for the pearl of great price—if thine heart answer, “Lord, I desire no other portion but thee; take the corn and the wine, and the ol, whosoever will, so I may have the light of thy countenance; I pitch upon thee for my happiness, I gladly venture myself on thee, and trust myself with thee; I set my hopes in thee, I take up my rest with thee: let me hear thee say, IJ am thy God, thy salvation, and I have enough, all I wish for; I will make no terms with thee, but for thyself: let me but have thee sure, let me be-able to make my claim, and see my title to thy- self, and for other things I leave them to thee; give me more or less, any thing or nothing. I will be satisfied in my God.” Take him thus, and see he is thy own.
_ Direct. VII. Accept of the Lord Jesus in all his of- fices, with all his inconveniences, as thine. Upon these terms Christ may be had. Sinner, thou hast undone thyself, and art plunged into the most deplorable mi- sery, out of which thou art never able to climb up; but Jesus Christ is able and ready to help thee, and he freely tenders himself to thee. Be thy sms ever ‘so many, ever so great, or of ever so long continuance, yet thou shalt be certainly pardoned and saved, if thou
608 DIRECTIONS: FOR CONVERSION.
dost not wretchedly neglect the offer that in the name of God is here made to thee. \The Lord Jesus calleth to thee, look to him, and be saved. Yea, he is a sultor to thee, and bescecheth thee to be recon- ciled. He. crieth in the. streets, he knocketh at thy door, he wooeth thee to accept.of him, and live with him. If thou diest, ‘tis because thou would not come to him for life.
Direct. VIII. Resign up all thy powers ae ‘faculties, and thy whole interest, to be his. They gave their own selves unto the Lord, 2 Cor. viii. 5. Present your bo- dies as a living sacrifice. The Lord seeks not yours, but you; resign therefore thy body, with all its mem- bers, to him; and thy soul, with all its powers; that he may be glorified in thy body, and in, thy spirit, which are his, 1 Cor. vi. 20. In a right closure with Christ, all thy faculties give up tohim. The judg- ment subscribes, Lord, thou art worthy of all accep- - tation, chief of ten thousand ; happy is the man that finds thee. All the things that are to be desired, are not to be compared with thee, Prov. iii. 13, 15. The under- standing lays aside its corrupt reasonings and cavils, and its * prejudices against Christ and his ways. . “Tis now past questioning, and carries it for Christ against all the world. It concludes ’tis good to be here; and sees such a treasure in his field, such a value in his pearl, as it is worth all, Matt. viii. 44.. “ O here’s the best bargain that ever I made, here is the richest prize that ever man was offered; here is the most so- vereign remedy that ever mercy prepared; he’s wor- thy of my esteem, worthy of my choice, worthy of my love, worthy to be embraced, adored, admired, for evermore, Rev. v. 12. . l approve of his articles; his terms are righteous and reasonable, full of. equity and - mercy.’ Again, the will resigns: it stands no longer wavering, nor wishing, and. woulding, but is peremp- torily determined: “ Lord, thy love hath overcome me, thou hast won me, and thou shalt have me: come in, Lord; to thee I freely open, I consent to be saved in thine own way. Thou shalt have any thing, nay, have all, let me have but thee.” The memory gives |
DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION. 609
up to Christ: ‘Lord, here is a storehouse for thee ; out with this trash, lay in the treasure, let me be a granary, a repository of thy truth, thy promises, thy -providences.” The Conscience comes in: “ Lord, - I will ever side with thee, I will ever be thy faithful register, I will warn when the sinner is tempted, and smite when thou art offended. Ill witness for thee, and judge for thee, and guide into thy ways, and will never let sin have quiet in this soul.” The Affections also come into Christ: ‘‘O! saith Love, I am sick for thee. O! saith Desire, now I have my longing: here's the satisfaction I sought for, here’s the desire of nations, here is bread for me, and balm for me, all that I want.” Fear bows the knee with awe and veneration: ‘‘ Welcome, Lord; to thee will I pay ho- mage, thy word and rod shall command my motions; thee will I reverence -and adore; before thee will I fall down and worship.” Grief likewise puts in: “ Lord, thy displeasure, and thy dishonour, thy people’s cala- mities, and my own iniquities, shall be my only cause of lamentation. I will mourn when thou art offended, I will. weep when thy cause is wounded.” Anger likewise comes in for Christ: “ Lord, nothing so en- rages me as my folly against thee, that I should be so besotted and bewitched as to hearken to the flatteries of sin, and temptations of Satan against thee.” Ha- ‘tred too will side with Christ: ‘ I protest mortal enmity against thine enemies, that I never will be friends with thy foes; I vow an immortal quarrel. with ‘every sin, I will give no quarter, I will make no peace.” Thus let all thy powers give up to Jesus Christ.
Again; thou must give up thy whole interest to him: if there be any thing that thou keepest back from Christ, “twill be thy undoing, Luke xiv. 33. Unless thou wilt forsake all, thou canst not be his disciple. Thou must hate father and mother, yea, and thine own life also, in comparison of him, and as far as it stands in competition with him, Matt. x. 37. Luke xiv. 26, 27. Ina — thou must give him
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thyself, and all that thou hast, without reservation, or else thou canst have no part in him.
Direct. IX. Make choice of the laws of Christ as the
rule of thy words, thoughts, and actions. This is the true convert’s choice: but here remember these three rules: 1. You must choose them all; there’s no getting to heaven bya partial obedience. Read Psal. exix. 6. exix. 160. Ezek. xvii. 21. None may think it enough to take up with the cheap and easy part of religion, and let alone the duties that are costly, and self-deny- ing, and grate upon the interest of the flesh: you must take all, or none. A sincere convert, though he makes most conscience of the greatest sins and weightiest duties, yet he makes true conscience of little sins, and of all duties, Matt. xxiii. 23. For all times, for prosperity, and for adversity, whether it rain or shine. - A true convert is resolved in his way, he will stand to his choice, and will not set his back to the wind, and be of the religion of the times. J have stuck to thy testemonies, I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes always, even to the end. \ Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever, Psal. exix. 31. I will have respect to thy ‘statutes continually Psal. exix. 117.
Direct. X. Let all this be completed in a solemn cove- nant between God and thy soul, Psal. cxix. 106. Neh. x. 29. For thy better help therein, take these few Directions.
First, Set apart some time, more than once, to be spent in secret before the Lord ;
1. In seeking earnestly his ‘special assistance, and aie acceptance of thee.’
. In considering distinctly all the terms of the co- vidi expressed in the form hereafter proposed.
3. In searching thy heart, whether thou art sin- cerely willing to forsake all thy sins, and to resign up thyself body and soul unto God, and his service; to serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of thy life.
Secondly, x erie thy spirit into the most serious frame possible.
DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION. 61L
Thirdly, Lay hold on the covenant of God, and rely on his promise of giving grace and strength, whereby thou mayest be enabled to perform thy promise.
Fourthly, Resolve to be faithful; having engaged ' thy heart, opened thy mouth, and subscribed with thy hand unto the Lord, resolve in his strength never to go back.
Lastly, Being thus prepared, on some convenient time set apart for that purpose, set upon the work ; and in the most solemn manner possible (as if the Lord. were visibly present before thine eyes) fall down on thy knees, and spreading forth thine hands toward heaven, open thine heart to the Lord in these or the hike words:
_ Oh most dreadful God! for the passion of thy dear Son, I beseech thee, accept of thy poor prodigal, now prostrating himself at thy door; I have fallen from thee by mine iniquity, and am by nature a son of death, and ‘a thousand-fold more the child of hell by my wicked practice: but of thine infinite grace thou’ hast promised grace to me in Christ, if 1 will but turn to thee with all my heart: therefore upon the call of thy gospel, [am now come in; and throwing down my weapons, submit myself to thy mercy.
«« And because thou requirest, as the condition of my peace with thee, that I should put away mine idols, and be at defiance with all thine enemies, which I acknowledge I have wickedly sided with against thee, I here, from the bottom of my heart, renounce them all, firmly covenanting with thee, not to allow myself in any known sin, but conscientiously to use all the means that I know thou hast prescribed for the death and utter destruction of all my corruptions. And whereas I have formerly inordinately and idolatrously let out my affections upon the world, I do here resign up my heart to thee, that madest it; humbly protesting before thy glorious Majesty, that it is the firm resolu- tion of my heart, and that | unfeignedly desire grace from thee, that when thou shalt call me hereunto, I may practise this my. resolution through thy assistance, to forsake all that is dear to me in this world, rather
612 DIRECTIONS FOR \CONVERSION.
than to turn from thee to the ways of sim; and that I will watch against all its temptations, whether of prosperity or adversity, lest they should withdraw my heart from thee ; beseeching thee also to help me against all the temptations of Satan, to whose wicked suggestions I resolve, by thy grace, never. to yield my- self a servant. And I renounce all confidence in my own righteousness, and acknowledge that I am myself a hopeless, helpless, undone creature, without. righte- ousness or strength.
«“ And forasmuch as thou hast, of thy bottomless mercy, offered most graciously to me, wretched sin- ner, to be again accepted by God, through Christ, if I will accept of thee; I call heaven and earth to re- cord this day, that I do here solemnly avouch thee for the Lord my God; and with all possible veneration, bowing the neck of my soul under the feet of thy most sacred Majesty, I do here take thee the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for my portion and chief good: and so give up myself, body and soul, to thy service, promising and vowing to serve thee in holi- ness and righteousness all the days of my life.
** And since thou hast appointed the Lord Jesus Christ, the only means of coming unto thee, I do here, upon the bended knees of my soul, accept of him as the only, new, and living way, by which sinners may _ have access to thee; and do hereby solemnly join my- - self in marriage-covenant to him.
** O blessed Jesus! I come to thee hungry and poor, and wretched, and miserable, and blind, and naked ; -a most loathsome, polluted wretch, a guilty and con- demned malefactor, unworthy for ever to wash the feet of the servants of my Lord, much more to be so- lemnly married to the King of glory: but since such is ~ thme unparalleled love, I do here with all my power accept thee, and do take thee for my head and hus- band, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, for all times and conditions, to love, honour, and obey thee before all others, and this to the death; L embrace - thee in all thy offices, | renounce my own worthiness, and do here avow thee to be the Lord my righteous;
‘
DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION. 613
ness: I renounce my own wisdom, and do here take thee for my only guide; I renounce my own will, and take thy will for my law.
** And since thou hast told me that I must suffer, if I will reign, I do here covenant with thee to take my lot as it falls with thee; and, by thy grace assisting, _ to run all hazards with thee, verily supposing that
-neither life nor death shall part between thee and me.
** And because thou hast been pleased to give me thy holy laws as the rule of my life, and the way in which I should walk to thy kingdom, I do here wil- lingly put my neck in thy yoke, and set my shoulder to thy burden; and subscribing to all thy laws, as holy just, and good, I solemnly take them as the rule of my thoughts, words, and actions ; promising that though my flesh contradict and rebel, yet I will endeavour to order and govern my whole life according to thy direc- tion, and will not allow myself in the neglect of any thing that I know to be my duty. ‘
** Only because (through the frailty of my flesh,) I am subject to so many failings, I am bold humbly to protest, that unallowed miscarriages, contrary to the settled bent and resolution of my heart, shall not make void this covenant; for so thou hast said.
*“ Now, Almighty God, searcher of hearts, thou knowest that I make this covenant with thee this day without any known guile or reservation; beseeching thee, that if thou spiest any flaw or falsehood therein, thou wouldst discover it to me, and help me to do it aright. . '
“And now, glory be to thee, O,God the Father, whom I shall be* bold from this day forward to look upon as my God and Father, that ever thou shouldst find out such a way for the recovery of undone sinners. Glory be to thee, O God the Son, who hast loved me, and washed me from my sins in thine own blood, and art now become my Saviour and Redeemer. Glory be to thee, O God the Holy Ghost, who, by the finger of thine almighty power, hast turned about my heart
' from sin to God.
“O dreadful Jehovah! the Lord God omnipotent, —
614 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION.
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! thou art now!become my covenant friend ; and, | through thy infinite grace, am become thy covenant servant, Amen, So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.” . .
This Covenant 1 advise you to make, not only in heart, but in word: not only in word, but in writing! and that you would with all possible reverence spread the writing before the Lord, as if you would present it to him as your act and deed; and when you have done ‘this, set your hand to it, keep it as a memorial of the solemn transactions that have passed between God and you, that you may have recourse to it in doubts and temptations. : j pbihea
Direct. XI. Take heed of delaying thy conversion, and set upon a speedy and present turning. Remember and tremble, at the sad instance of the foolish virgins, that came not till the door of mercy was shut, Matt. xxv. and of Feliz, who put off Paul to another season ; and we never find that he had such another season, O come in while it is called to-day, lest thou shouldst be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin; lest thy day of grace should be over, and the things that belong to thy peace should be hid from thine eyes. Now mercy is wooing of thee ; now Christ is waiting to be gracious, and the Spirit of God is striving with thee; now con- science is stirring; now Christ is to be had for the tak- ing. O strike in with the offers of grace: O now or never! If thou make light of this offer, God may swear in his wrath thou shalt not taste of his supper.
Direct. XII. Attend conscientiously upon the word, as the means appointed for thy conversion, 1 Cor. iv. 15. Attend not customarily, but conscientiously; with this desire, design, hope, and expectation, that thou mayest be converted by it. To every sermon thou hearest, come with this thought: ‘‘O! I hope God will now come in: I hope this day may be the time, this may be the man by whom God may bring me home.” When thou art coming to the ordinances, lift up thy heart thus to God: ‘ Lord let this be the sab- bath, let this be the season, wherein I may receive re- newing grace; O let it be said, that to-day such a one was born unto thee.”
DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION. 615
Direct. XIII. Strike in with the Spirit, when he be- gins to work upon thy heart. When he works convic- tions, O do not stifle them, but join in with him, and beg the Lord to carry on conviction to conversion., Quench not the Spirit. Do not out-strive him, do not resist him. Beware of putting ont convictions with evil company or worldly business. When thou findest any trouble for sin, and fear about thy eternal state, beg of God that they may never leave thee till they have wrought off thy heart thoroughly from sin, and ' wrought it over to Jesus Christ. Say to him, Strike home, Lord; leave not the work in the midst. If thou seest that I am not wounded enough, that I am not troubled enough, wound me yet deeper, Lord: O go to the bottom of my corruption, and let out the life- blood of my sins. Thus yield thyself up to the work- ings of the Spirit, and hoist thy sails to his gales.
Direct. XIV. Set upon the constant and diligent use of serious and fervent prayer. This is one of the first things conversion appears in: it sets men on praying.
Therefore set to this duty; let never a day pass over ’ thee, wherein thou hast not, morning and evening, set _ apart some time for set and solemn prayer in secret. Call thy family also together daily to worship God with thee. Woe be unto thee, if thine be found among the families that call not on God’s name, Jer. x. 25. But cold and lifeless devotions will not reach half way to heaven. Be fervent and importunate; importunity will carry it, but without violence the kingdom of hea- ven will not be taken. Thou must strive to enter, and wrestle with tears and supplications, as Jacob, if thou meanest to carry the blessing. Thou art undone for ever without grace, and therefore thou must set to it, and resolve to take no denial.
Direct. XV. Forsake evil company, and forbear the occasion of sin. Thou wilt never be turned from sin, till thou avoidest the temptation to sin.
I never expect thy conversion from sin, unless thou flee the occasions. If thou wilt be playing on the brink, and tampering with the snare, thy soul will surely be taken. Where God doth expose men in his
- — * 616 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION. ~
* providence to temptation, and the occasions are such », | as we cannot remove, we may expect special assist- /ance; but when we tempt God by running into dan- ~ _ger, he will not engage to support us. And of all temptations, one of the most fatal and pernicious is evil company. ‘O what'hopeful beginnings have these often stifled! O the souls, the estates, the families, the towns, that these have ruined! how many poor’sinners have been enlightened and convinced, and been just ready to give the devil the slip, and have even escaped the snare, and yet wicked company have pulled them back at last, and made them seven fold more the chil- dren ofshell! I have no hopes of thee, except thou wilt shake off thy evil company. Christ speaketh to thee as to them i:another case: If thou seek me, then let these go their way. Thy life lies upon it: forsake these, or else thou canst not live. Wilt thou be worse than the beast, to run on when thou seest the Lord with a drawn sword in the way? Numb. xxii. 53. Let this sentence be written upon thy conscience, A COMPANION OF FOOLS SHALL BE DE- STROYED. The Lord. hath spoken it, and who shall reverse it?- And wilt thou run upon destruction, © when God himself hath forewarned thee? If God doth ever change thy heart, ’twill appear in the change of thy. company. . O fear and flee the gulph, by which so many thousand souls have been swallowed up in perdition. REE Direct. XVI. Lastly, Set apart a day to humble thy soul in secret by fasting and prayer, to work a sense — of thy sins and miseries upon thy heart. Make’a cata- logue of thy sins, and with shame and sorrow spread them before the Lord; and if thy heart be truly willing to the terms, join thyself solemnly to the Lord in the covenant before-mentioned: and the Lord grant thee ~ mercy in his sight! 3 ast ie
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PRINTED BY HENRY FISHER, CAXTON PRESS, LONDON. .
DEMCO 38-297
Div.S. 237.4 B355SI
For Reference
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