REV 

J. HUISKEN 
861 OAKLAND AVE., S. W. 

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 

MM tO-OB»-«} 





cGhe True Wa/ 

to Happiness 

BY THE 

REV. JOSEPH ALLEINE 

" a a s f f -

J. HUISKEN 
851 OAKLAND AVE.,' S. W. 

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 





CONTENTS 

Introduction—By Dr. H. Beets 

Page 

An earnest invitation to sinners t o turn to 
God, in order to their eternal salvation 5 

Chapter I.—Showing what conversion is , 
not, and correcting some mistakes about 
it, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9 

Chapter II.—Showing positively what con-
version is, - - - 17 

Chapter III.—Of the necessity of conver-
sion, - - - - - - - - - - - - 5i 

Chapter IV.—Showing the marks of the 
unconverted, - - - - - - - - - go 

Chapter V.—Showing the miseries of the 
unconverted, - - / - - - _ - - . ioo 

Chapter VI.—Containing directions for. 
conversion, - - - - - - - - 126 

Chapter VII.—Containing the motives to 
conversion, - - - - - - - - - - 149 

The conclusion of the whole - - - - - 164 

Mr. Alleine's counsel for personal and fam-
ily godlinegg, - - - J76 





INTRODUCTION 
Joseph Alleine, the author of the volume here 

offered to the public, was a native of England. He 
was born at Devizes, some eighty miles west of 
London, in 1634, and died Nov. 17, 1668, at Taunton, 
in Somersetshire. Already as a lad he had 4 e e P 
religious impressions. At times persons who acci-
dentally came where he was, found him not alone 
engaged in prayer but so absorbed in his simple 
devotions, that he was not aware of their presence. 
When his eldest brother, a young minister of rare 
promise, died in the year 1645, Joseph implored his 
father, Tobie Alleine, a "tradesman of credit and 
renown," an humble and experienced Christian, a 
Puritan, that he might be educated to "succeed his 
brother in the work of the ministry." It was to be 
a troubled work in troublous days that Joseph 
Alleine undertook after his graduation from Oxford 
In 1653, and especially after he had served two 
years as chaplain of his college, (Corpus Christi), 
and had become assistant minister at Taunton. 

That was during the period of bitter persecution 
in England, under the reign of King Charles II, 
when ministers were forced, at the pain of eject-
ment out of their parishes, or, if persisting in 
preaching, at the pain of imprisonment, to "con-
form" to the government and rites of the Estab-
lished Church of England, which Charles used as 
the tool of a tyrant, while he himself was a Roman-
ist at heart, and a profligate in his life. That was 
the period during which John Bunyan was 
imprisoned for well nigh twelve long years, (1660-
1672) in the Bedford county jail. Alleine, one of 
the 2000 ministers who were ejected because of 
their non-conformity, in loyalty to their Presby-
terian principles, was imprisoned twice, because he 
continued to preach, and all the remaining years of 
his life were troubled by constant danger of arrest 
Like the great Baptist preacher of Bedford, Alleine 
used his pen as well as his voice to testify for 
Christ and to plead for a living, experimental Chris-
tianity. He was a learned man, engaged at times 
in scientific study and experimentation. He also 
wrote an "Explanation of the Assembly's Shorter 
Catechism," published in 1665. But it was not 
through his scientific studies, nor even through his 



larger book just named, that Alleine's name would 
live to this day. It was through the small work 
which at first was published as "An Alarm to 
Unconverted Sinners,"" (1671), and four years later 
under the title "The True Way to Happiness," the 
title under which it now appears anew. It might 
also be called "A Sure Guide to Heaven," for under 
such a name it was published in 1691. 

The book evidently contains the substance of 
various sermons preached on the very important 
subject of Conversion. Thousands upon thousands 
of copies of the volume have been published in its 
original language, as well as in Welsh, German, 
Dutch and other tongues. It has been blessed unto 
the hearts of untold numbers of anxious inquirers 
after salvation, in the New World as well as in the 
Old. Ministers might well use it to enrich their 
sermons, on the important subject of conversion to 
God, a subject, alas, we fear, neglected by tens of 
thousands of nominal Christians, and omitted, we 
are afraid, from altogether too many pulpit dis-
courses, but by our Lord Himself set forth as of 
supreme importance, for covenant people as well 
as for_ outsiders. Did He not utter in Matt. 18:3, 
the solemn and searching words: "Except ye be 
converted and become as little children, ye shall 
not enter the kingdom of heaven?" And again, in 
Luke 13:3: "I tell you, nay, but except ye repent, 
ye shall all likewise perish?" 

Convinced of the need of having a book like this 
placed into the hands of pastors and people every-
where, especially at the present time, when so little 
conviction of sin is manifest, the publisher of this 
present edition has laid it on the press, looking to 
God to bless its prayerful perusal unto many 
hearts, till sinners become alarmed about their sin 
and weepingly find their way to the Cross. Jer. 31:9. 

The work he undertakes in this, is a labor of 
love, without any looking for financial remunera-
tion. What he prayerfully hopes is that the Master 
whom he has served during many years, may 
accept it as an offering of his heart, and consecrate 
it to the increase of His blessed Kingdom. We 
trust he will not be disappointed in this expectation. 

HENRY BEETS. 
Grand Rapids, Mich., Nov. 1, 1926. 





THE TRUE WAY TO HAPPINESS, 

An Alarm to 

Unconverted Sinners 

An earnest Invitation 

Reader, I beseech you to allow friendly 
plainness and freedom with you in your 
deepest concernments. I am not playing 
the orator, to make a learned speech to 
you, nor dressing my dish with eloquence 
wherewith to please you. These lines are 
upon a weighty errand indeed, namely, to 
convince and convert, and to save you. I 
am not baiting my hook with rhetoric, nor 
fishing for your applause, but for your 
souls. My work is not to please you, but 
to save you: nor is my business with your 
fancies, but your hearts. If I have not 
your hearts, I have nothing. If I were to 
please your ears I could sing another song. 

I want to speak to you about Conver-



THE TRUE WAY TO HAPPINESS 9 

sion, as the true way to happiness. Some 
of you may not know what I mean by Con-
version, therefore, for your sakes, I shall 
show what this Conversion is. Others 
cherish secret hopes of mercy, though 
they continue as they are; and for them 
I must show the necessity of Conversion. 
Others are like-to harden themselves with 
a vain conceit tha t they are converted al-
ready; unto them I must show the marks 
of the unconverted. Others, because they 
feel no harm, fear none, and so sleep upon 
the top of the mast; to them I shall show 
the miseries of the unconverted. Others 
sit still because they see not their way out; 
to them I shall show the means of Con-
version. And finally, for the quickening of 
all, I shall close with the motives to Con-
version. 

SHOWING WHAT CONVERSION IS NOT, AND 
CORRECTING SOME MISTAKES ABOUT IT. 

Let the blind Samaritans worship they 
know not what;* let the Heathen Ath-
enians superscribe their altar, Unto the 

CHAPTER I 

* John iv. 22. 



10 MISTAKES ABOUT CONVERSION 

unknown God;* they that know man's con-
stitution, and the nature of the human 
soul's operation, cannot but know, that the 
understanding having the empire in the 
soul, he that will go rationally to work, 
must labour to let in the light here. Now, 
that I may cure the mistakes of some, who 
think they are converted when they are 
not, as well as remove the troubles and 
fears of others, who think they are not 
converted when they are ; I shall show you 
the nature of conversion, both negatively, 
or what it is not ; and positively, what it is, 

We will begin with the negative. 
1. It is not the taking upon us the pro-

fession of Christianity. Doubtless Chris-
tianity is more than a name. If we will 
hear Paul, it lies not in word, but in pow-
er, f If to cease to be Jews and Pagans, 
and to put on the Christian profession, had 
been true conversion, who better Chris-
tians than they of Sardis and Laodicea? 
These were all Christians by profession, 
and had a name to live; but because they 
had but a name, are condemned by Christ, 
and threatened to be spewed out.t Are 
there not many that mention the name of 
the Lord Jesus, and yet depart not from in-
iquity?! and profess they know God, but 
in works they deny him?|| And will God 
receive these for true converts, because 
turned to the Christian religion? What! 

* Acts xvii. 23 t 1 Cor. iv. 20. $ Rev. in. 1. 16. 
§ 2 Tim. ii. 19. || Titus i. 16. 



11 MISTAKES ABOUT CONVERSION 

converts from sin, when yet they live in 
sin ? It is a visible contradiction. Surely 
if the lamp of profession would have 
served the turn, the foolish virgins had 
never been shut out.* We find not only 
professors, but preachers. of Christ, and 
wonder-workers, turned off because evil-
workers.f 

2. It is not the being washed in the laver 
of regeneration, or putting on the badge of 
Christ in baptism. Many take the press-
money, and wear the livery of Christ, that 
yet never stand to their colours, nor fol-
low their leader. Ananias and Sapphira, 
and Simon Magus, were baptized as well 
as the rest. 

Friends and brethren, be not deceived; 
God is not mocked.! Whether it be your 
baptism, or whatever else that you pre-
tend, I tell you from the living God, that 
if any of you be prayerless persons, or un-
clean, or malicious, or covetous, or riotous, 
or a scoffer, or a lover of evil company, § 
in a word, if you are not holy, strict, and 
self-denying Christians,|| you cannot be 
saved, except you be transformed by ^ a 
fur ther work upon you, and renewed 
again by repentance. 

3. It lies not in moral righteousness. 
This exceeds not the righteousness of the 
Scribes and Pharisees, and therefore can-
not bring us to the kingdom of God.fl Paul, 

*Matt. xxv. 12. t Matt. vii. 22, 23. 
t Gal. vi. 7. § Prov. xiii. 20. 
{I Heb. xii. 14. Matt. xvi. 24. i Matt. v. 20. 



12 MISTAKES ABOUT CONVERSION 

while unconverted, touching the righteous-
ness which is in the law, was blameless.* 
None could say, Black is thine eye. The 
self-justiciary could say, I am no extor-
tioner, adulterer, unjust, etc.f Thou must 
have something more than all this to show 
or else, however thou mayest just ify thy-
self, God will condemn thee. I condemn 
not morality, but warn you not to rest 
here; piety includes morality, as Chris-
tianity doth humanity, and grace reason; 
but we must not divide the tables. 

4. It consists not in an external con-
formity to the rules of piety. It is too 
manifest men may have a form of godli-
ness without the power.! Men may pray 
long,§ and fast often, || and be very for-
ward in the service of God, though costly 
and expensive,** and yet be strangers to 
conversion: They must have more to olead 
for themselves, than that they keep their 
church, give alms, and make use of prayer, 
to prove themselves sound converts. No 
outward service but a hypocrite may do 
it, even to the giving all his goods to feed 
the poor, and his members to the f ire.ff 

5. It lies not in the chaining up of cor-
ruption by education, human laws, or the 
farce of incumbent affliction. It is too 
common and easy to mistake education 
for grace; but if this were enough, who a 

* Phil. iii. 6. t Luke xviii. 11. 
t 2 Tim. iii. 5. § Matt, xxiii. 14. 
H Luke xviii. 12. fl Mark vi. 20. 
** Isaiah i. 11. f t 1 Cor. xiii. 3. 



13 MISTAKES ABOUT CONVERSION 

better man than Joash? While Jehoiada 
his uncle lived, he was very forward in 
God's service, and calls upon him to repair 
the house- of the Lord;* but here was 
nothing more than good education all this 
while ; for when his good tutor was taken 
out of the way, he appears to have been 
but a wolf chained up, and falls away to 
idolatry. 

6. In short it consists not in illumina-
tion or conviction, not in a superficial 
change or partial reformation. An apos-
tate may be a man enlightened ;f and a 
Felix tremble under conviction;J and a 
Herod amend many things. § It is one 
thing to have sin alarmed only by 
convictions, and another to have it 
captivated and crucified by converting 
grace. Many, because they have been 
troubled in conscience for their sins, 
think well of their case, miserably 
mistaking conviction for conversion. With 
these, Cain might have passed for a con-
vert, who ran up and down the world like 
a man distracted, under the rage of a 
guilty conscience, till with building and 
business he had worn it away.|| Others 
think, that becausfe they have given over 
their riotous courses, and are broken off 
from evil company, or some particular lust, 
and reduced to sobriety and civility, they 

* 2 Kings xii. 2, 7. t Acts xxiv. 21. 
§ Mark vi. 20. H Gen. iv. 13, 14. 
t Heb. vi. 4. 



14 MISTAKES ABOUT CONVERSION 

t h a n r e a l converts; for-
getting that there is a vast difference be-
tween being sanctified and civilized; and 
that many seek to enter into the kingdom 
of heaven,* and are not f a r from it,f and 
arrive to the almost of Christianity J and 
h l , f a i S h ° i - a t I a s t W h i , s t co/science 
holds the whip over them, many pray 
hear, read and forbear delightful sins; but 
no sooner is the lion asleep but they are at 
i & f i ™ ? 1 * a g a l n " W h o more religious 
l h Z \ h e J 7 S ' W h e n G o d ' s h a n d was upon 

B l i p sooner was the affliction 
over, but they forgot God, and showed 
their religion to be a fit.§ Thou maTest 
have disgorged a troublesome sin, that 
will not sit easy on thy stomach, and have 
escaped those gross pollutions of the 
world and yet not have changed thy swin-
ish nature all the while.|| 

You may cast the lead out of the rude 
mass into the more comely proportion of a 
plant and then into the shape of a beast, 
and thence into the form and features of 
a man; yet all the while it is lead still 
bo a man may pass through divers trans-
mutations, from ignorance to knowledge 
from profaneness to civility, thence to a 
form of religion; and all this while he is 
but carnal and unregenerate, whilst his 
nature remains unchanged 

H e a r t h e n > 0 s i n n ^ s ! hear 
Lute xui. 24. t M a r k x U 3 4 

t Acts xxvi. 28. s P s a «¿SIB „. , , 
l 2 Pet. ti. 20, 22. t

§ l l / v l 



15 MISTAKES ABOUT CONVERSION 

as you would l i v e j Why would you so 
willingly deceive yourselves, or build your 
hopes upon the. sand? I know he shall 
find hard work of it, that goes to pluck 
away your hopes. I t cannot but be un-
grateful to you, and truly it is not pleas-
ing to me. I set about it as a surgeon, 
when to cut off a putrefied member from 
his well-beloved friend, which of force he 
must do, though with an aching heart, a 
pityf ul eye, and a trembling hand. But un-
derstand me, brethren, I am only taking 
down the ruinous house, (which will other-
wise speedily fall of itself, and bury you 
in the rubbish) that I may build it fair, 
firm, and strong forever. The hope of 
the-hypocrite shall perish,* if God be true 
to his word. And hadst thou not better, 
0 sinner! let the word convince thee now 
in time, and let go thy false and self-de-
luding hopes, than have death, too late to 
open thine eyes, and find thyself in hell 
before thou ar t aware? I should be a 
false and faithless 'shepherd,, if I should 
not tell you, that you, who have built your 
hopes upon no better grounds than these 
before mentioned, ¿re yet in your sins. 
Let your conscience speak. What is it 
tha t you have to plead for yourselves? 
Is it tha t you wear Christ's livery? that 
you bear his name? that you are of the 
visible church? that you have knowledge 
in the points of religion, are civilized, per-

* Prov. xi. 7. 



16 MISTAKES ABOUT CONVERSION 

form religious duties, are just in your 
dealings, have been troubled in conscience 
for your sins I tell you from the Lord! 
these pleas will never be accepted at God's 
bar. All this, though good in itself, will 
not prove you converted, and so will not 

« a I v a t i o n - 01 look about 
you, and bethink yourselves of turning 
speedily and soundly. Set to praying and 
to reading and studying your own hearts; 
rest not till God hath made thorough work 
with you, for ye must be other men, or 
else ye are lost men. 

But if these be short of conversion 
what shall I say of the profane sinner? It 
may be, he will scarce cast his eye, or lend 
ins ear to this discourse; but if there be 
any such reading, or within hearing he 
must know from the Lord that made him, 
that he is fa r from the Kingdom of God! 
May a man be civilized, and not converted? 
where then shall the drunkard and glutl 

^ a ? E 3 a r ? M a - y a m a n k e e P company 
With the wise virgins, and yet be shut 
o u t s h a l l not a companion of fools much 
more be destroyed?* May a man be true 
• • U " j dealings, and yet not be 
justified of God, what then will be-
come of thee. 0 wretched man! whose 
conscience tells thee thou ar t false in 
thy trade and false of thy word, and mak-
est thy advantage by a lying tongue ? If 
men may be enlightened, and brought to 

* Prov. xiii. 20. 



17 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

the performance of holy duties, and yet 
go down to perdition for resting in them 
and sitting down on this side of conver-
s ion; what will become of you, 0 miserable 
families! that live without God in the 
world? and of you, O wretched sintiers! 
with whom God is scarce in all your 
thoughts; that are so ignorant that you 
cannot, or so careless, that you will not 
pray? 0 repent and be converted; break 
off your sins by righteousness; away to 
Christ for pardoning and renewing grace; 
give up yourselves to him, to walk with 
him in holiness, or else you shall never 
see God. 0 that you would take the warn-
ings of God! In his name I once more 
admonish you: Turn you at my reproof.* 
Forsake the foolish, and live.f Be sober, 

i righteous, godly.t Wash your hands, ye 
sinners; purify your hearts, ye double-
minded^ Cease to do evil; learn to do 
well. 11 But if you will go on, you must 
die.H 

CHAPTER II. 
SHOWING POSITIVELY WHAT CONVERSION IS 

I may not leave you with your eyes half 
open, as he that saw men as trees walk-
ing.** The word is profitable for doctrine, 
as well as reproof.* And therefore having 
thus far conducted you by the shelves and 

* 2 Tim. iii. 16. ** Mark viii. 24. 
fl Ezek. xxxiii. 11. * Prov. i. 23 § James iv. 8. 

t Tit. ii. 12. t Ibid. ix. 6. ' il Isa. i. 16, 17. 



18 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

rocks of so many dangerous mistakes, I 
would guide you at length into the har-
bour of truth. 

Conversion then, in short, lies in the 
thorough change both of the heart and 
iile: I shall briefly describe it in its 
nature and causes. 

1. The Author is the Spirit of God, 
and therefore it is called the sanctification 
of the Spirit,f and the renewing of the 
Holy Ghost yet not excluding the other 
persons m the Trinity: for the Apostle 
teacheth us to bless the Father of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, for that he hath begot-
ten us again ;§ and Christ is said to give 
repentance unto Israel,|| and is called the 
everlasting Father,fl and we his seed, and 
the children which God hath given him ** 
O blessed birth! the whole Trinity fathers • 
the new creature. Yet this work is prin-
cipally ascribed to the Holy Ghost, and so 
we are said to be born of the Spirit.ff 

So then it is a work above man's power 
We are born, not of the will of the flesh' 
nor of the will of man, but of God.it Never 
think thou canst convert thyself; if ever 
thou wouldest be savingly converted, thou 
must despair of doing it in thy own 
strength. I t is a resurrection from the 
dead;§§ a new creation;* a work of abso-
lute Omnipotence.-}- Are these out of the 

t Tit. iii. 5. t 2 Thess. ii. 13. || Acts v. 31. 
§ 1 Pet. i. 3. ** Heb. ii. 13 Isa. liii. 10. 
§§ Rev. xx. 5. Eph. ii. 1. ]f lSa. ix. 6. 
t t John i. 13. f t John iii. 8. 



19 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

reach of human power? If thou hast no 
more than thou hadst by thy first birth, 
a good nature, a meek and chaste temper, 
&c., thou art a very stranger to true con-
version. This is a supernatural work. 

2. The moving cause is internal or 
external. The internal mover is only free 
grace. Not by works of righteousness 
which we have done, but of his own mercy 
he saved us, and by the renewing of the 
Holy Ghost.t Of his own will begat he 
us.§ We are chosen and called unto sancti-
fication, not for it. 11 How affectionately 
doth Peter lift up his hands! Blessed be 
the God and Father, of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, who of his abundant mercy hath 
begotten us again.H How feelingly doth 
Paul magnify the free mercy of God in it ! 
God who is rich in mercy, for his great 
love wherewith he loved us, hath quick-
ened us together with Christ : by grace ye 
are saved.** ' 

The external mover is the merit and in 
tercession of the blessed Jesus. He hath 
obtained gifts for the rebellious,ft and 
through him it is that God worketh in 
us what is well-pleasing' in his sight.Jt 
Through him are all spiritual blessings 
bestowed upon us in heavenly things.* He 

* Gal. vi. 15; Eph. ii. 10.t Eph. i. 19. 
t Titus iii. 5. § James i. 18. 
U Eph. i. 4. 11 1 Pet- i- 3-
** Eph. ii. 4, 5. t t Psalm lxviii. 18. 
t t Heb. xiii. 21. 



20 Ï B E NATURE ÓF CONVERSIÓN 

intercedes for the elect that believe not.f 
Every convert is the frui t of his travail, t 
O never was infant born into the world 
with that difficulty that Christ endured 
tor us ! How emphatically he groaneth in 
his travail! All the pains that he suffered 
on his cross, they were our birthpains,§ 
the pulls and throes that Christ endured 
for us. He is made sanctification to us. II 
He sanctified himself, (that is, set apart 
himself as a sacrifice) that we may be 
sanctified.^ We are sanctified through 
the offering of his body once for all.** 

3. The instrument is either personal or 
real. The personal is the ministry. I have 
begotten you in Christ, through the gos-
pel.ff Christ's ministers are they that are 
sent to open men's eyes, and to turn them 
to God4$ 

The instrument real is the word We 
were begotten by the word of t ru th ; this 
is it that enlightens the eyes, that con-
v e r t e d the soul;§§ that maketh wise to 
salvation. 111| This is the incorruptible seed, 
by which we are born again.1ffl If we are 
washed, it is by the word.*** If we are 
sanctified, it is through the t ru th . f f f This 
generates faith, and regenerates us . îJ i 

O ye saints, how should you love the 
* Eph. i. 3. II 1 COT. i. 30. f t 1 Cor. iv. 15 

f t t John xvii. 17. || H 2 Tim. ill. 15. § Acts ii 24 
M 1 Pet. i. 23. tti Rom. x. 17. James i. 18. 
t î Acts xxvi. 18. f John xvii. 20. J John xvii 19 
** Heb. x. 10. §§ Psa. xix. 7, '8. *** Eph v 2« 



21 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

word! for by this ye have been converted. 
O ye sinners, how should you ply the word! 
for by this you must be converted; no other 
ordinary means but this. You that have 
felt its renewing power, make much of it 
while you live; be forever thankful for i t ; 
tie it about your necks, write it upon your 
hands, lay it in your bosoms.* When you 
go, let it lead you; when you sleep, let it 
keep you; when you wake, let it talk with 
you. Say with holy David, "I will never 
forget thy precepts, for with them thou 
hast quickened me.f You that are uncon-
verted, read the word with diligence, flock 
to it where powerfully preached; fill the 
porches as the multitude of the impotent, 
blind, halt, withered, waiting for the mov-
ing of the water.J Pray for the coming of 
the Spirit in the word. Come off thy 
knees to the sermon, and come to thy 
knees from the sermon. The seed doth not 
prosper, because not watered by prayers 
and tears, nor covered by meditation. 

4. The final eause is man's' salvation, 
and God's glory. We are chosen through 
sanctification to salvation ;§ called, that we 
might be glorified ;|| but especially that 
God might be glorified,'fl tha t we should 
show forth his praise,** and be frui tful m 
good works.f t Oh Christian! do not forget 
the end of thy calling; let thy light shine,* 

* Prov. vi. 21, 22. t Psa. cxix. 93. 
t John v. 3. § 2 Thess. ii. 13. 
|| Rom. viii. 30. II Isa. lx. 21. 
** 1 Pet. ii. 9'. t t C.l. i- -0. 



22 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

let thy lamp burn, let thy frui ts be good, 
and many, and in season,! let all thy de-
signs fall in with God's, that he may be 
magnified in thee.J 

,, 5 ; The subject is the elect sinner, and 
that m all his parts and powers, members 
and mmd. Whom God predestinates them 
only he calls. § None are drawn to Christ 
by their calling, nor come to him by believ-
ing but his sheqp, those whom the Father 
hath given him.|| Effectual calling runs 
parallel with eternal election.fi 

Thou beginnest at the wrong end, if 
thou disputest f irst about thine election. 
Prove thy conversion, and then never 
doubt of thine election. Or canst thou not 
yet prove it ? set upon a present and thor-
ough turning. Whatever God's purposes 
be, (which are secret) I am sure his prom-
ises are plain. How desperately do rebels 
argue, If I am elected, I shall be saved, do 
what I will. If not, I shall be damned, do 
what I can. Perverse sinner, wilt thou 
begin where thou shouldest end? Is not 
the word before thee? W h a t s a i t h i t ? Re-
pent and be converted, that your sins may 
be blotted out.** If you mortify the deeds 
of the body, you shall live.ff Believe, and 
be saved.i | What can be plainer? Do not 
stand still, disputing about thine 'election, 
but set to repenting and believing. Cry to 
God for converting grace. Revealed things 
• Matt. v. 16. || John vi. 37, 44. « Acts xvi. 31 
t Phil. l. 10. , t t Rom. Viii. 13. § Rom. viii. 30. 

t Psa. i. 3. " Acts iii. 19. J .2 Pet. i. 10. 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 23 

belong to thee; in these busy thyself. 'Tis 
just (as one well said) that they that will 
not feed on the plain food of the word, 
should be choked with the bones. What-
ever God'$ purposes be, I am sure his 
promises are true. Whatever the decrees 
of heaven be, I am sure, that if I repent 
and believe, I shall be saved; and that if T 
repent not, I shall be damned. 

More particularly, this change of conver-
sion passes throughout the whole subject. 
Conversion is no repairing of the old build-
ing; but it takes all down, and erects a 
new structure: it is not the putting in a 
patch, or sewing on a list of holiiiess, but, 
with the true convert, holiness is woven 
into all his powers, principles, and practice. 
The sincere Christian is quite a new fabric, 
from the foundation to the top stone all 
new. He is a new man,* a new creature. 
All things are become new.f Conversion is 
a deep work, a heart-work;% it turns all 
upside down, and makes a man be in a new 
world. It goes throughout with men: 
throughout the mind, throughout the 
members, throughout the motions of the 
whole life. 

1. Throughout the mind. I t makes an 
universal change within. First, it turns 
the balance of the judgment, so that God 
and his glory do weigh down all carnal 
and worldly in teres ts I t opens the eye of 

* Eph. iv. 24. Phil, i 200. I, Acts xx. 24. 
$ Acts Ii. 37. Psa. lxxiii. 25. t 2 Cor. v. 17. 



24 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

the mind, and makes the scales of its 
native ignorance to fall off, and turns men 
from darkness to light.* The man that 
before saw no danger in his condition, now 
concludes himself lost, and for ever un-
done,f except renewed by the power of 
grace He that formerly thought there was 
little hurt m sin, now comes to see it to be 
the chief of evils. He sees the unreason-
ableness, the unrighteousness, the deform-
l t y ' j l n d pithiness that is in sin; so that he 
is affrighted with it, loathes it, dreads it, 
nies it, and even abhors himself for it t 

Now, according to this new light the 
man is of another mind, another judgment 
than before he was: now God is all with 

ri im 'u • 6 h n o n e i n h e aven or on earth 
like him § He prefers him truly before all 
the world; his favour is his life; the light 
of his countenance is more than corn ol-
ivine and oil, the good that formerly he 
inquired after, and set his heart upon. II 
ih is is the convert's voice; The Lord is 
my portion, saith my soul. Whom have 1 
m heaven, but thee? And there is none 
upon earth that I desire besides thee. God 
is the strength of my heart, and my por-
tion for ever.fl 

Secondly, it turns the bias of the will 
both as to means and end. 1. The inten-
tions of the will are altered.** Now the 
* Acts xxvi. 18. Eph. v. 8. 1 Pet. 2:9. f Acts ii. 37 
J[ Psa. Ixxiii. 25, 26. Lam. lii. 24. § Psa. lxxiii. 25. 

E z e k - xxxvi. 26. Jer. xxxi. 33. Isaiah xxvi. 8 9 
t Rom. vii. 15. Job xlii. 6. || Psa. iv. 6, 7. 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 25 
man hath new ends and designs. Now he 
intends God above all, and desires and 
designs nothing in all the world so much, 
as that Christ may be magnified in him.* 
He counts himself more happy in this, 
than in all that the earth could yield, that 
he may be serviceable to Christ, and bring 
him glory in his. generation. This is the 
mark he aims at, that the name of Jesus 
may be great in the world; and that all the 
sheaves of his brethren may bow to 
Christ's sheaf.f 

Reader, dost thou view this, and never 
ask thyself, whether it be thus with thee ? 
Pause a while, and breathe on this great 
concernment. 

2.. The election is also changed, so that 
he chooseth another way.J He pitcheth up--
on God as his blessedness, and upon Christ 
as the principal, and holiness, as the sub-
ordinate means to bring him to God.§ He 
chooseth Jesus for his Lord.|| He is not 
merely forced into Christ by the storm, 
nor doth he take Christ for bare necessity; 
but he deliberately resolves that Christ is 
his best choice and would rather have 
him to choose than all the good of this 
world, might he enjoy it while he would. 
Again, he takes holiness for his path; he 
doth not of mere necessity submit to it, 
but he likes and loves it. I have chosen 
the way of thy precepts. He takes God's 
testimonies, not as his bondage, but as his 

* Phil. i. 20. t Psa.' cxix. 15. t Gen. xxxvii. 7. 
§ John xiv. 6. Rom. ii. 7. fl Phil. i. 23. || Col. ii. 6. 



26 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

heritage, yea, heritage for ever** He 
counts them not his burthen, but his bliss, 
not his cords, but his cordials.* He doth 
not only bear, but takes up Christ's yoke 
lie takes not holiness as the stomach doth 
the loathed potion, which it will down with 
rather than die, but as the hungry doth 
his beloved food. No time passeth so 
sweetly with him (when he is himself) as 
that he spends in the exercises of holi-
ness; these are both his aliment, and ele-
ment, the desire of his eyes, and the joy 
of his heart.f Put thy conscience to it as 
thou goest, whether thou ar t the man O 
happy man, if this be thy case! But see 
thou be thorough and impartial in the 
search. 

M f f w ^ turns the bent of the affec-
tions.! These run all in a new channel: the 
Jordan is driven back, and the water runs 
upward, against its natural course 

Christ is his hope,§ this is his prize;II 
here his eye is, here his heart is. He is 
contented to cast all overboard (as the 
merchant in the storm ready to perish) so 
he may but keep this jewel. 

The first of his desires is not a f te r gold 
but graced He hungers af ter it, he seeks 
it as silver, he digs for it as for hid treas-
ure; he had rather be gracious than be 
great; he had rather be the holiest man on 

1 John v. 3. Psa. cxix. 14, 16, 17 
t Job xxiii. 12. Psa. ¡cxix. 82, 13.., 162, 174 ixiii 5 

1 I S P I VU- U - § 1 T i m " 1 II Phil. lii. I. ' ' I Phil. ui. 12. ** Psal. cxix. 1..1, 173 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 27 

earth, than the most learned, the most 
famous, the most prosperous. While car-
nal, he said, 0 ! if I were but in great es-
teem, and rolled in wealth, and swimmed 
in pleasure; if my debts were paid, and I 
and mine provided for, then I were a 
happy man. But* now the tune is changed: 
0 ! saith the convert, if I had but my cor-
ruptions subdued, if I had such measures 
of grace, such fellowship with God, though 
I were poor and despised, I should not care, 
I should account myself a blessed man. 
Reader,'is this the language of thy soul? 

His joys are changed. He rejoiceth in 
the ways of God's testimonies, as much as 
in all riches.* He delights in the law of the 
Lord; he hath no such joy as in the 
thoughts of Christ, the fruition of his 
company, the prosperity of his people. 

His cares are quite altered. He was once 
set for the world, and any scraps of by-
time were enough for his soul. Now he 
gives over caring for the asses, and sets 
his heart on the kingdom: now all the cry 
is, "What shall I do to be saved ?"t His 
great solicitude is how to secure his soul. 
O how he would bless you, if you could put 
him out of doubt of this! 

His fears take another turn.J Once he 
was afraid of nothing so much as the loss 
of his estate or esteem, the pleasure of 
friends, or the frowns of the great ; noth-
ing sounded so terrible to him, as pain, or 

* Psa. cxix. 14. f Acts xv. 30. $ Hel). xt- 25, 2«, 



28 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

poverty, or disgrace: now these are little 
to him, in comparison of God's dishonour 
or displeasure. How warily doth he walk, 
lest he should tread upon a snare! He 
feareth always; he looks before and be-
hind; he hath his eye upon his heart, and 
is often casting it over his shoulder, lest 
he should be overtaken with sin.* I t kills 
his heart to think of losing God's favour; 
this he dreads as his only undoing, f No 
thought in the world doth pinch him and 
pain him so much, as to think of parting 
with Christ. 

His love runs a new course. "My love 
was crucified," saith holy Ignatius; that is, 
my Christ. "This is my beloved," saith the 
spouse.J How doth Augustine often pour 
out his love upon Christ ? " 0 eternal bles-
sedness !" &c.—He can find no words sweet 
enough: "Let me see thee, 0 light of mine 
eyes! Come, 0 thou joy of my Spirit. Let 
me behold thee, 0 life of my soul! Appear 
unto me, 0 my great delight, my sweet 
comfort! 0 my God, my life, and the 
whole glory of my soul. Let me find thee, 
0 desire of my heart. Let me hold thee, 0 
love of my soul. Let me embrace thee, O 
heavenly bridegroom. Let me possess 
thee!" 

His sorrows have now a new vent.§ The 
view of his sins, the sight of a Christ cru-
cified, that would scarce stir him before, 
• * Psa. xxxix. 1. Prov. xxviil. 14. Eccles. ii. 14. 

t Psa. Ii. 11, 12 cxix. 8. $ Cant. V. 16. 
5 2 Cor. vii. 9, 10, 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 29 

now how much do they affect his heart ! 
His hatred boils, his anger burns against 

sin.* He hath no patience with himself; he 
calls himself fool, and thinks any name too 
good for himself, when his indignation is 
stirred up against sin.f 

Commune with thy own heart, and at-
tend the common and general current of 
thine affection, whether it be towards God 
in Christ, above all other concernments. 
Indeed, sudden and strong commotions of 
the affections and sensitive part, are often 
found in hypocrites, especially where the 
natural inclination leads thereunto: and 
contrariwise, the sanctified themselves are 
many times without sensible .stirring of the 
affections, where the temper is more slow, 
dry, and dull. The great inquiry is, whether 
the judgment and will be steadily determ-
ined for God, above all other good, real, or 
apparent; and if the affections do sincerely 
follow their choice and conduct, though it 
be not so strongly and sensibly as is to be 
desired, there is no doubt but the change 
is saving. 

2. Throughout the members. Those that 
were before the instruments of sin, are 
now become the holy utensils of Christ's 
living temple.$ The eye that was once a 
wandering eye, a wanton eye, a haughty 
and covetous eye, is now employed, as 
Mary's, in weeping over its sins,§ in be-

* Psa. cxix. 104. fPsa. lxxiii. 22. Prov. xxx. 2. 
% Rom. vi. 1?. 1 Cor. iii. 16. § Luke vii. 38-



30 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

holding God in his works,|| in reading his 
word,H in looking up and down for objects 
of mercy, and opportunities for his service. 

The ear that was once open to Satan's 
call, and that, like a vitiated palate, did 
relish nothing, so much as filthy, or at 
least frothy talk, and the fool's laughter, 
is now bored to the door of Christ's house, 
and open to his discipline: it saith, Speak, 
Lord, for thy servant heareth; and waits 
for his words as the rain, and relisheth 
them more than the appointed food,* than 
honey and the honeycomb.f 

The head, that was the shop of worldly 
designs, is now filled with other matters, 
and set on the study of God's will.t The 
thoughts and cares that fill it, are princi-
pally how he may please God, and flee sin. 

His heart, that was full of filthy lusts, is 
now become an altar of incense, where the 
fire of divine love is ever kept in; and 
whence the daily sacrifice of prayer and 
praise, and the sweet incense of holy de-
sires, ejaculations, and aspirations, are 
continually ascending. § 

The mouth is become a well of life, his 
tongue as choice silver, and his lips feed 
many. Now the salt of grace hath sea-
soned his speech, and eat out the corrup-
tion, || and cleansed the mouth from its 
filthy communication, flattery, boasting, 

|| Psa. viii. 3. ft Acts viii. 30. 
* Job xxiii. 12. fPsa. xix. 10. 
t Psa. i. 2. cxix. 97. cxxxix. 17, 18. 
J Psa. cyli. 1. cxix. 20. || Co!- iv, 6. 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 31 

lying, swearing, backbiting, that once came 
like flashes from the hell that was in the 
heart.* 

The throat, that was once an open sepul-
chre,! now sends forth the sweet breath of 
prayer and holy discourse, and the man 
speaks in another tongue, in the language 
of Canaan, and is never so well as when 
talking of God and Christ, and the matters 
of another world. His mouth bringeth 
forth wisdom, his tongue is become the 
silver trumpet of his Maker's praise, his 
glory, and the best members that he hath. 

Now here you shall have the hypocrite 
halting. He speaks, it may be, like an 
angel, but he hath a covetous eye, or the 
gain of unrighteousness in his hand; or the 
hand is white, but his heart is full of rot-
tenness ;% full of unmortified cares, a very 
oven of lust, a shop of pride, the seat of 
malice. It may be, like Nebuchadnezzar's 
image, he hath a golden head, a great deal 
of knowledge; but he hath feet of clay, his 
affections are worldly, he minds earthly 
things, and his way and walk are sensual 
and carnal: you may trace him in his secret 
haunts, and his footsteps will be found in 
some bye-paths of sin; the work is not 
throughout with him. 

3. Throughout the motions, or the life 
and practice. The new man takes a new 
course, § his conversation is in heaven. || No 

* James iii. 6, 7. t Rom. iii. 13. t Matt, xxili. 27. 
§ Eph. ii. 2, 3. II Phil. iii. 20. 



32 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

sooner doth Christ call by effectual grace, 
but he straightway becomes a follower of 
him.* When God hath given the new 
heart, and written his law in his mind, he 
forthwith walks in his statutes, and keeps 
his judgments.! 

Though sin may be in him, yet it hath 
no more dominion over him;J he hath his 
frui t unto holiness. And though he makes 
many a blot, yet the law of life and Jesus, 
is what he eyes as his copy;§ and he hath 
an unfeigned respect to all God's command-
ments, making conscience even of little 
sins and little duties.|| His very infirmities 
are his soul's burden, and are like the dust 
in a man's eye, which though but little, yet 
is not a little troublesome. (0 man! dost 
thou read this, and never turn in upon thy 
soul by self-examination?) The sincere 
convert is not one man at church, and an-
other at home; he is not a saint on his 
knees, and a cheat in his shop; he will not 
tithe mint and cummin, and neglect mercy 
and judgment, and the weightier matters 
of the law; he doth not pretend piety, and 
neglect m o r a l i t y b u t he turns from all his 
sins, and keeps all God's statutes,** though 
not perfectly, except in desire and endeav-
our, yet sincerely; not allowing himself in 
the breach of any.ff Now he delights in 
the word, and sets himself to prayer, and 

* Matt, rw 20. t Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27. 
t Rom. vi. 7, 14, 22. § Psa. cxix. 30. Heb. xii. 2. 

•|| Ps$. cxix. 113. fl Matt, xxiii. 14. 
** Ezek. xvii. 21. f t Rom. vii. 15. 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 35 

opens his hand, and draws out his soul to 
the hungry.* He breaketh off his sins by 
righteousness, and his iniquities by show-
ing mercy to the poor,f and hath a good 
conscience, willing in all things to live hon-
estly,! and to keep without offence to-
wards God and man. 

Here again you find the unsoundness of 
many professors, tha t take themselves for 
good Christians. They are partial in the 
law,§ and take up with the chief and easy 
duties of religion, but go not through with 
the work. They are as a cake not turned. 
It may be you shall have them exact in 
their words, punctual in their dealings, but 
then they do not exercise themselves, unto 
godliness; and for examining themselves, 
and governing their hearts, to this they 
are strangers. You may have them duly 
at church, but follow them to their fam-
ilies, and there you shall see little but the 
world minded; or if they have a road for 
family duties, follow them to their closets, 
and there you shall find their souls are lit-
tle looked after . It may be they seem 
otherwise religious, but bridle not their 
tongues, and so all their religion is vain.|| 
It may be they come up to closet and fam-
ily prayer; but follow them to their shops, 
and there you shall find them in a trade 
of lying, or some covert and cleanly way 
of deceit. Thus the hypocrite goes through-

* Rom. vli. 22. Psa. cix. 4. Isa. lviii. 10. 
t Daniel iv. 27. t Heb. xiii. 18. 
§ Mai. ii. 9. || James i. 26. 



34 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

out in the course of his obedience.—And 
thus much for the subject of Conversion. 

6. The terms are either from which, or 
to which. 

1. The terms from which we turn in 
this motion of Conversion, are sin, satan, 
the world, and our own righteousness. 

First, Sin. When a man is converted, he 
is forever out with sin; yea, with all sin.* 
But most of all with his own sins, and es-
pecially with his bosom sin.f Sin is now 
the butt of his indignation ;J he thirsts to 
bathe his hands in the blood of his sins. 
His sins set his sorrows abroach. It is sin 
that pierces him and wounds him; he feels 
it like a thorn in his side, like a prick in 
his eye; he groans and struggles under it, 
and not formally, but feelingly cries out, 
0 wretched man! He is not impatient of 
any burden so much as of his sin.§ If God 
should give him his choice, he would 
choose any affliction, so he might be rid of 
sin: he feels it like the cutting gravel in 
his shoes, pricking and paining him as he 
goes. 

Before conversion he had light thoughts 
of sin; he cherished it in his bosom, as 
Uriah his lamb; he nourished it up, and it 
grew up together with him; it did eat as it 
were of his own meat, and drank of his 
own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was 
unto him as a daughter. But when God 
opens his eyes by conversion, he throws it 

• Psa. cxix. 128. t Psa. xviii. 23. 
t 2 Cor. vii. 11. § Psa. xl. 12. 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 35 

away with abhorence.* When a man is 
savingly changed, he is not only deeply 
convinced of the danger, but defilement of 
sin; and 0 , how earnest is he with God to 
be purified! He loaths himself for his sins.f 
He runs to Christ, and casts himself into 
the fountain for sin and for uncleanness.| 

The sound convert is heartily engaged 
against sin; he struggles with it, he wars 
against i t ; he is too often foiled, but he 
will never yield the cause, nor lay down his 
weapons, but he will up and to it again, 
while he has breath in his body. He can 
forgive his other enemies, he can pity 
them, and pray for t hem; ! but here he is 
implacable, here he is set upon revenge; 
his eye shall not pity, his hand shall not 
spare, though it be a right hand or a right 
eye Be it a gainful sin, most delightful to 
his nature, or support to his esteem with 
carnal friends, yet he will rather throw 
away his gain, see his credit fall, or the 
flower of pleasure wither in his hand, than 
he will allow himself in any known way of 
sin. I He will grant no indulgence, he will 
give no toleration, he draws upon sm wher-
ever he meets it, and frowns upon it with 
this unwelcome salute. Have I found thee, 
0 mine enemy! , 4 » 

Reader, hath conscience been at worK 
whilst thou hast been looking over these 
lines? Hast thou pondered these things in 

• Isa. xxx. 22. t Ezek. xxxvi. 31. t Zech. xiii. 1. 
§ Acts vii. 60. II Luke xix. 8. 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 38 

thy heart? Hast thou searched the book 
within, to see if these things be so? If not, 
read it again, and make thy conscience 
speak, whether or no it be thus with thee. 

Hast thou crucified thy flesh with its af-
fections and lusts; and not only confessed, 
but forsaken thy sins—all sin in thy fer-
vent desires, and the ordinary practice of 
every deliberate and wilful sin in thy life? 
If not, thou art yet unconverted. 

Secondly, Satan. Conversion binds the 
strong man, spoils him of his armour, 
casts out his goods, and turns men from 
the power of satan unto God.* Before, the 
devil could no sooner hold up his finger to 
the sinner to call him to his wicked com-
pany, sinful games, filthy delights, but 
presently he followed, like an ox to the 
slaughter, and a fool to the correction of 
the stocks; as a bird that hasteth to the 
prey, and knoweth not that it is for his 
life. But when he is converted, he serves 
another master, and takes quite another 
course ;f he goes and comes at Christy 
beck.J Satan may sometimes catch his 
foot in a trap, but he will no longer be a 
willing captive. He watches against the 
snares and baits of satan, and studies to be 
acquainted with his devices. He is very 
suspicious of his plots, and is very jealous 
in what comes athwart him, lest satan 
should have some design upon him. He 
wrestles against principalities and pow-

•Acts xxyi. „$. f t Pet. tv. 4. t Col. Hi. 24. 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 37 

ers;* he entertains the messenger of satan 
as men do the messenger of death; he 
keeps his eye upon his enemy,f and 
watches in his duties, lest satan should 
put in his foot. 

Thirdly, the world. Before a sound faith 
a man is overcome of the world; either he 
bows down to Mammon, or idolizes his rep-
utation, or is a lover of pleasure, more 
than a lover of God.$ Here is the root of 
man's misery by the fall; he is turned 
aside to the creature instead of God, and 
gives that esteem, confidence, and affection 
to the creature, that is due to God alone.§ 

But converting grace sets all in order 
again, and puts God on the throne, and the 
world at his footstool | f Christ in the heart, 
and the world under his feet.H So Paul, I 
am crucified to the world, and the world to 
me.** Before this change, all the cry was, 
Who will show us any worldly good? But 
now he sings another tune, Lord, lift thou 
up the light of thy countenance upon me, 
and let who will take the corn and wine.ff 
Before, his heart 's delight and content was 
in the world: then the song was, Soul, take 
thine ease; eat, drink, and be merry; thou 
hast much goods laid up for many years. 
But now all this is withered, and there is 
no comeliness that he should desire i t ; and 
he tunes up, with the sweet psalmist of 

• Eph. vl. 12. 11 Pet. v. 8. t 2 Tim. iil. 4. 
§ Rom. 1. 26. Matt. x. 37. Prov. xviii. 11. Jer. xvii. 5. 
|| Psa. xxiii. 25. fl Eph. iii. 17. Rev. xii. l.r 
»* <^al, vi, 14, tf Psa, lv. 6, 7, 



38 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

Israel, The Lord is the portion of my in-
heritance. The lines are fallen to me in a 
fair place, and I have a goodly heritage. He 
blesseth himself, and boasteth himself in 
God;* nothing else can give him content. 
He has written vanity, and vexation upon 
all his worldly enjoyments;! and loss and 
dung upon all human excellencies.! He 
hath life and immortality now in chase. § 
He pursues grace and glory, and hath an 
incorruptible crown in pursuit. j| His heart 
is set in him to seek the Lord.fl He first 
seeks the kingdom of heaven and the right-
eousness thereof; and religion is no longer 
a matter by the bye with him, but the 
main of his care.** 

Well then, pause a little, and look with-
in. Doth not this nearly concern thee? 
Thou pretendest for Christ, but doth not 
the world sway thee? Dost not thou take 
more real delight and content in the world, 
than in him? Dost thou not find thyself 
better at ease when the world goes to thy 
mind, and thou ar t encompassed with car-
nal delights, than when retired to prayer 
and meditation in the closet, or attending 
upon God's word and worship? No surer 
evidene of an unconverted state, than to 
have the things of the world uppermost in 
our aim, love, and estimation.ff 

* Psa. xxxiv. 2. Lam. iii. 24. f Eel. i. 2. 
t PhiL iii. 7, 8. | Rom. ii. 7. || 1 Cor. ix. 25. 
fl 1 Chron. xxii. 19. 2 Chron. xv. 15. 
*« Matt. vi. 33. Psa. xxvii. 4. 
f t 1 John ii. 15. James iv, 4, 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 39 

I
With the sound convert Christ hath the 

supremacy. How dear is his name to him! 
How precious is his saviour!* The name of 

• Jesus is engraven upon his heart , t and lies 
like a bundle of myrrh between his 
breasts j Honour is but air, and laughter is 
but madness, and Mammon is fallen, like 
Dagon before the ark, with hands and head 
broken off* on the threshold, when once 
Christ is savingly revealed. Here is the 
pearl of great price to the. true convert, 
here is his treasure, here is hope.§ This is 
his glory,- My beloved is mine and I am 
his.|| 0 , it is sweeter to him to be able to 
say, Christ is mine, than if he could say, 
The kingdom is mine, the -Indies" are mine. 

Fourthly, your own righteousness. Be-
fore conversion, man seeks to cover him-
self with his own fig-leaves,fl and to make 
himself whole with his own duties.** He is 
apt to t rust in himself ,f t and set up his 
own righteousness, and to reckon his count-
ers for gold, and not submit to the right-
eousness of God.Jt But conversion changes 
his mind; now he casts away his own 
righteousness as a filthy rag. §§ Now he is 
brought to poverty of spirit,|||| complains 
of and condemns himself and all his in-
ventory is poor, and miserable and wretch-

* Cant, i, 3. Psa. xlv. 8. f Gal. iv. 19. 
t Cant. 1. 13, 14. § Matt. xiii. 44, 45. 
|| Gal. vi. 14. Cant. ii. 16. fl Phil. iii. 6, 7. 
»* Mic. vi. 6, 7. t t Luke xvi. 15. xviii. 9. 
t t Rom. x. 3. §§ Isa. lxiv. 6. || j; Matt. v. 3. 
Ufl Rom. vii. *** Rev. iii. 17. 



46 THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 

ed, and blind, and naked.*** He sees a 
world of iniquity in his holy things and 
calls his once idolized righteousness but 
filth and dross, and would not for a thou-
sand worlds be found in himself.* His fin-
ger is ever upon his sores,f his sins, his 
wants. Now he begins to set a high price 
upon Christ's righteousness; he sees the 
need of a Christ in every duty, to just ify 
both his person and performances. He can-
not live without him, he cannot pray with-
out him. Christ must go with him, or else 
he cannot come into the presence of God; 
he leans upon the hand of Christ, and so 
bows himself in the house of his God; he 
sets himself down for a lost, undone man 
without him; his life is hid and grows in 
Christ, as the root of a tree spreads in the 
earth for stability and nutriment. Before, 
the news of Christ was a stale and sapless 
thing; but now, how sweet is Christ! The 
voice of the convert is, with the martyr, 
None but Christ. 

The terms to which we turn are, 
First, to God the Father, Son, and Holy 

Ghost. 
Secondly, to the laws, ordinances, and 

ways of Christ. 
A man is never truly sanctified, till his 

very heart be in t ru th set upon God above 
all things, as his portion and chief good. 
These are the natural breathings of a be-
liever's heart. Thou art my portion.! My 

* Phil. iii. 4, 7, 8, 9. t Psa. Ii. 3. t Psa. cxix. 67. 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 41 

soul shall make her boast in the Lord.* My 
expectation is from h im; .he only is my 
rock and my salvation, he is my defence. 
In God is my salvation and glory; the rock 
of my strength, and my refuge is m God.T 

Would you put it to an issue, whether 
you be converted or not? Now let thy soul 
and all tha t is within thee attend. 

Hast thou taken God for thy happiness ! 
Where doth the content of thy heart lie I 
Whence doth thy choicest comfort come 
in? Come then, and with Abraham, lift up 
thine eyes eastward and westward, and 
northward, and cast about thee. What is 
it thou wouldst have in heaven, or on 
earth, to maké thee happy? If God should 
give thee thy choice, as he did to Solomon, 
or should say to thee, as Ahasuerus to 
Esther, What is thy petition, and what is 
thy request, and it shall be granted to 
thee?t what wouldst thou ask? Go into 
the gardens of pleasure, and gather all 
f ragrant flowers from thence, would these 
content thee, Go to the treasures of Mam-
mon, suppose thou mightest lade thyself 
as thou wouldst from thence. Go to the 
towers, to the trophies of honour; what 
thinkest thou of being a man of renown, 
and having a name like the name ot the 
great men of the earth? Would any of 
these, would all these suffice thee, and 
make thee count thyself a happy man ? It 
so then certainly thou art carnal and un-

* Psa. xxxiv. 2. t Psa. lxii. 1, 2, 5, 7. xviii. 1, 2. 
t Esth. v. 3. 



42 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

converted. If not, go far ther ; wade into 
the divine excellencies, the store of his 
mercies, the hiding of his power, the 
depths unfathomable of his all-sufficiency; 
doth this suit thee best and please thee 
mos t ; ' dost thou say, It is good to be 
here?* Here will I pitch, here will I live 
and die. Wilt thou let all the world go 
rather than this ? Then it is well between 
God and thee. Happy art thou, 0 man, 
happy art thou that ever thou wast born; 
if a God can make thee happy, thou must 
needs be happy; for thou hast avouched 
the Lord to be thy God.f Dost thou say to 
Christ, as he to us, Thy Father shall be my 
Father, and thy God be my God?! Here 
is the turning point. An unsound professor 
never takes up his rest in God, but convert-
ing grace does the work, and so cures the 
fatal misery of the fall, by turning the 
heart from its idols to the living God.§ 
Now, says the soul, Lord, whither shall I 
go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.11 
Here he centres, here he settles: O, it is 
as the entrance of heaven to him to see 
his interest in God. When he discovers 
this, he saith, Return unto thy rest, 0 my 
soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully 
with thee.H And he is even ready to 
breathe out Simeon's song, Lord, now let-
test thou thy servant depart in peace;** 
and saith with Jacob, when his old heart 

* Matt. xvii. 4. f Deut. xxvi. 17. | John xx. 17. 
§ 1 Thess. i. 9. || John vi. 68. J Psa. cxvi. 7. 
** Luke ii. 29. 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 43 

revived at the welcome tidings, I t is 
enough.* When he seeth he hath a God 
in covenant to go to, this is all his salva-
tion, and all his desire.f 

Man, is this thy case? hast thou experi-
enced this? why then blessed art thou of 
the Lord; God hath been at work with 
thee, he hath laid on thy heart by the pow-
er of converting grace, or else thou could-
est never have done this. 

The true convert turns to Jesus Christ, 
the only mediator between God and man.J 
His work is to bring us to God.§ He is the 
way to the Father,| | the only plank on 
which we may escape, the only door by 
which we may enter,'fl the only means of 
life, the only way, the only name given un-
der heaven:** He looks not for salvation 
in any other but him, nor in any other 
with him, but throws himself on Christ 
alone, as one that should cast himself with 
arms spread out upon the sea. 

Here, saith the convinced sinner, I will 
venture; and if I perish, I perish; if I die, 
I will die here. But, Lord, suffer me not 
to perish under the pitiful eye of thy mer-
cy Intreat me not to leave thee, or to 
turn away from following af ter thee . f t 
Here I will throw myself: if thou kick me, 
if thou kill me, I will not go from thy 
door.t i 

Thus the poor soul doth venture on 
*-Gen. xlv. 28. t 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. 11 Tim. ii. 5. 
§1 Pet. iii. 18. || John xiv. 6. fl John x. 9. 
** Acts iv.-12. f t Ruth i. 16. t t Job xiu. 15. 



14 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

Christ and resolvedly adheres to him. Be-
fore conversion the man made light of 
Christ, minded his farm, friends, merchan-
dise, more than Christ;* now Christ is to 
him as his necessary food, his daily bread, 
the life of his heart, the staff of his life.f 
His great design is, that Christ may be 
magnified in him.t His heart once said, as 
tl>ey to the spouse, What is thy beloved 
more than another ?§ He found more 
sweetness in his merry company, wicked 
games, and earthly delights, than in 
Christ. He took religion for a fancy, and 
the talk of gre^t enjoyment for an idle 
dream; but now to him to live is Christ.*' 
He sets light by all that he accounted" pre-
cious, for the excellency of the knowledge 
of Christ.I| 

All of Christ is accepted by the sincere 
convert. He loves not only the wages, 
but the work of Chr i s ty not only the 
benefits, but the burden of Christ. He is 
willing not only to tread out the corn, but 
to draw under the yoke. He takes up the 
commands of Christ, yea, and the cross of 
Christ.** 

The unsound convert closeth only by 
halves with Christ. He is all for the salva-
tion of Christ, but he is not for sanctifica-
tion; he is for the privileges, but values 
not the person of Christ. He divides the 
offices and benefits of Christ. This is an 

•Matt. xxii. 5. f Gal. ii. 20. J Phil i 20 
i Cant. v. 9. || Phil. iii. 8. fl Rom. vi'i. 12. 
** Matt. xi. 29. xvi. 24. 



THE NATURE , OF CONVERSION 45 

error in the foundation. Whoso loveth life, 
let -him beware here; it is an undoing mis-
take, of which you have been o f t e n 
warned, and yet none more common. Jesus 
is a sweet name", but men love not the Lord 
Jesus in sincerity.* They will not have him 
as God offers, to be a prince and a Savior, f 
They divide what God hath joined, the 
king and the priest. Yea, they will not ac-
cept the salvation of Christ as he intends 
i t ; they divide it here. Every man's vote, 
is for salvation from suffering; but they 
desire not to be saved from sinning. They 
would have their lives saved, but withal 
would have their lusts. Yea, many divide 
here again; they would be content to have 
some of their sins destroyed, but they can-
not leave the lap of Delilah, or divorce the 
beloved Herodias; they cannot be cruel to 
the right eye or right hand; the Lord must 
pardon them in this thing.J 

0 be infinitely tender here; your souls 
lie upon it. The sound convert takes a 
whole Christ, and takes him for all intents 
and purposes, without exceptions, without 
limitations, without reserves. He is will-
ing to have Christ, upon his own terms, 
upon any terms. He is willing to bear the 
dominion of Christ, as well as have deliv-
erance by Christ. He saith with Paul, 
Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?§ Any 
thing, Lord. He sends a blank to Christ, 
to set down his conditions. || 

* Eph. vi. 24. t Acts v. 81. t 2 Kings v. 18. 
§ Acts ix. 6. II Acts ii. 37. xvi. 30. 



46 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

Secondly, he turns to the laws, ordinanc-
es and ways of Christ. The heart that was 
once set against these, and could not en-
dure the strictness of these bonds, the se-
verity of these ways, now falls in love with 
them, and chooses them as its rule and 
guide for ever.* 

Four things, I observe, God doth work in 
every sound convert, with reference to the 
laws and ways of Christ, by which you 
may come to know your, state, if you will 
be faithful to your own soul; and there-
fore, keep your eyes upon your hearts as 
you go along. 

First, the judgment is brought to ap-
prove of them, and subscribe to them as 
most righteous and most reasonable.! The 
mind is brought to like the ways of God; 
and the corrupt prejudices that were once 
against them, as unreasonable and intoler-
able, are now removed. The understanding 
assents to them all, as holy, just, and 
good.J How is David taken up with the ex-
cellencies of God's laws! How doth he ex-
patiate in their praise, both from their in-
herent qualities and admirable effects !§ 

Secondly, the desire of the heart is to 
know the whole mind of Christ. || He would 
not have one sin undiscovered, nor be ig-
norant of one duty required. It is the nat-
ural and earnest breathing of a sanctified 
heart, Lord, if there be any way of wicked-

*Psa. cxix 111,112. f P s a . cxix: 112, 128, 137, 138. 
t Rom. vli. 12. § Psa. xix. 8—10, &c. 
|| Psa, cxix. 124, 125, 169. xxv. 4, 5. , 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 47 

ness in me, do thou discover it. What I 
know not, teach thou me, and if I have 
done iniquity, I will do it no more. The un-
sound convert is willingly ignorant ;* loves 
not to come to the light.f He is willing to 
keep such or such a sin, and therefore, is 
loath to know it to be a sin, and will not let 
in the light at tha t window. Now the gra-
cious heart is willing to know the whole 
latitude and compass of his Maker s law.J 
He receives with all acceptation the word 
that convinceth him of any duty that he 
knew not, or minded not before, or discov-
e r e d any sin that lay hid before.§ 

Thirdly the free and resolved choice of 
the will is determined for the ways of 
Christ, before all the pleasures of sin, and 
prosperities of the world. || His consent is 
not extorted by some extremity of an-
guish, nor is it only a sudden and hasty 
resolve, but he is deliberately purposed, 
and comes off freely to the choice.^ True, 
the flesh will rebel, yet the prevailing part 
of his will is for Christ's law and govern-
ment, so that he takes them not up as his 
toil or burden, but his bliss.** While the 
unsanctified go in Christ '* ways as m 
chains and fetters, he doth it naturally ; f t 
and Counts Christ's laws his liberty.* He 

* 2 Pet. iii.5. 
t P s a . cxix. 18, 19, 27, „33, 64, 68, 7«,,108,,124. 
§ Psa. cxix. 11. ll Psa. cxix. 103, ..27, 162. 
flPsa. xvii. 3. cxix. 30. 
** 1 John v. 3. Psa. cxix. 60„ 72. 
t t P s a . xl. 8. Jer. xxxi. 33. 



« . THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 

is willing in the beauties of holiness f and 

S e r t h n f i n S e P a ^ b l e m a r k " he had rattier (if he might have his choice) live a 
strict and holy life, than the most prospL-
ous and flourishing life in the world. There 

h e a r t y m e n whose nearts God had touched.! When God 
toucheth the hearts of his chosen I S 
presently follow Christ,§ and( t h1 u g 1 

i W l v n o f f i r 1 V 7 n MS h™, | and w?ll-
¥83? 1 themselves to the service of the 
Lord seeking him with their whole de-
sire.H Fear hath its use; but this s not 
the mam spring of motion with a sancti-
1 h v h f n r t Christ keeps not his subjects 
m by force but is King of a willing people 
They are, through his grace, freely r l 
solved for his service, and do it out of 
W m > 2 0 t a s s laves, but as the son or 
spouse, from a spring of love and a loyal 
mmd. In a word, the laws of Christ are 
the convert's love, his desire, his d e L h t 
and continual study.** uengnt, 

Fourthly, the bent of his course is direct-
i f f i S f e g I S statutes.ff It is the daily 
care of his life to walk with God. He seeks 
great things, he hath noble d e s i g n s 
though he falls too short. He aims at noth-
ing less than perfection; he desires it, he 

* Psa. exix. 32, 45. James i. 25. f p s a cx 3 
g g Sam. x. 26. § Matt. iv. 22. || Cant. i. 4.' 
II 2 Chron. xvii. 16. xv. 15' 

» f t 1592.163' S 5- 20' 107' 77' 92> 
t t Psa. cxix. 4 8, 167, 168. 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 49 

reaches af ter i t ; he would not -rest in any 
pitch of grace till he were quite rid of sin, 
and had perfected holiness.* 

Here the hypocrite's rottenness may be 
discovered. He desires holiness, as one well 
said, only as a bridge to heaven, and in-
quires earnestly what is the least that will 
serve his turn; and if he can get but so 
much as may bring him to heaven, this is 
all he cares for. But the sound convert de-
sires holiness for holiness' sake,t and not 
only for heaven's sake. He would not be 
satisfied with as much as might save him 
from hell, but desires the highest pitch. 
Yet desires are not enough. What is thy 
way and thy course? Is the drif t and 
scope of thy life altered? Is holiness thy 
trade, and religion thy'business ?t If not, 
thou art short of sound conversion. 

Application. And is this that we have 
described the conversion that is of abso-
lute necessity to salvation? Then be in-
formed, 1. That strait is the gate, and 
narrow is the way that leadeth unto life. 
2 That there are but few that find it. 3 
That there is need of a Divine power sav-
ingly to convert a sinner to Jesus Christ. 

Again: then be exhorted, 0 man, that 
readest, to turn in upon thine own self. 
What saith conscience? Doth it not begin 
to bite? Doth it not pain thee as thou 
goest? Is this thy judgment, this thy 
choice, and this thy way, that we have de-

* Phil. iii. 11—14 t Psa. cxix. 97. Matt, v 6 
1 Rom. viii. 1. Matt. xxv. 16. Phil. ,i. 20. 



50 'THE NATURE OP CONVERSION 

scribed? If so, then it is well. But doth 
not thy heart condemn thee, and tell thee 
there is such a sin thou livest in, against 
thy conscience? Doth it not tell thee there 
is such and such a secret way of wicked-
ness that thou ar t guilty of? such or such 
a duty that thou makest no conscience of? 

Doth not conscience carry thee to thy 
closet, and tell thee how seldom prayer and 
reading is performed there? Doth it not 
lead thee to thy family, and show thee the 
charge of God, and the souls of thy child-
ren and servants that are neglected there ? 
Doth not conscience carry thee-to thy shop 
or thy trade, and tell thee of some mystery 
of iniquity there? Doth it not carry thee 
to thy places of entertainment, and remind 
thee of the company thou keepest there; 
the precious time thou mispendest there-
the talents thou wastest there? Doth it 
not lead thee into thy secret chamber, and 
discover to thee things that are hid from 
the eyes of man, and known only to God 
and thyself? 

0 conscience! do thy duty. In the name 
of the living God, I command thee to dis-
charge thy office. Lay hold upon this sin-
ner, fall upon him, arrest him, apprehend 
him, undeceive him. What, wilt thou flat-
ter and soothe him while he lives in his 
sins! Awake! 0 conscience; what meanest 
thou, 0 sleeper? What! Hast thou never 
a reproof in thy mouth? What! shall this 
soul die in his careless neglect of God and 



THE NATURE OF CONVERSION 51 

eternity, and thou altogether hold thy 
peace? What! Shall he go on in his tres-
passes, and yet have peace? 0 rouse up 
thyself, and do thy work! Now let the 
preacher in thy bosom speak, cry aloud, 
and spare not; lift up thy. voice like a 
trumpet. Let not the blood of his soul be 
required at thy hands. 

CHAPTER III 

OP THE NECESSITY OP CONVERSION 

I t may be you are ready to say, What 
meanest this stir? And you are apt to 
wonder why I follow you with such earn-
estness, still ringing one lesson m your 
ears, that you should repent and be con-
verted.* But I must say unto you as Ruth 
to Naomi, Intreat me not to leave you, nor 
to turn aside from folowing af ter you.f 
Were it a matter of indifferency, I would 
never make so much ado. Might you be 
saved as you are, I would gladly let you 
alone. But would you not have me solicit-
ous for you, when I see you ready to per-
ish7 As the Lord liveth, before whom I 
am, I have not the least hopes to see 
one of your faces in heaven except you 
be converted. I utterly d e s p a i r of your 
salvation, except you will be prevailed with 

"* Acts iii. 19. t R u t h i. 16. 



Sâ t h e NECESSITY OP CONVERSION 

to turn thoroughly, and give up yourselves 
H> p holiness and newness of life. 
.Hath God said, Except you be-born again, 
you cannot see thé kingdom of God;* and 
yet do you wonder why your ministers do 
so plainly travail in birth with you. Think 
f not strange that I am earnest with you 
to follow af ter holiness, and long to see the 
image of God upon you. Never did any, nor 
shall any enter into heaven by any other 
way but this. The conversion described is 
not an high pitch of some taller Christians 
but every soul that is saved passeth this 
universal change. 

I t was a passage of the noble Roman 
when he was hasting with corn to the city 
m the famine, and the mariners were loath 
to set sail in foul weather, Our voyage is 
more necessary than our lives. What is 
that thou dost count necessary? Is thy 
bread necessary? Is thy breath necessary? 
I hen thy conversion is much more neces-
sary. Indeed, this is the one thing neces-
sary. lhme estate is not necessary; thou 
mayest sell all for the pearl of great price 
and yet be a gainer by the purchase.f Thy 

l s-.n® t n e c essa ry ; thou mayest part 
with it for Christ to infinite advantage. 
Ihme esteem is not necessary; thou may-
est be reproached for the name of Christ 
and yet be happy; yea, much more happv 
m reproach than in repute* But thy con-
version is necessary, thy damnation lies 

* John iii. 3. f Matt. xiii. 46. 



THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION 58 

upon it. And is it not needful, in so impor-
tant a case, to look about thee? On this 
one point depends thy making or marring 
to all eternity. 

But I shall more particularly show the 
necessity of conversion in five things; for 
without this, 

First, thy being is in vain. Is it not a 
pity that thou shouldst be good for noth-
ing, an unprofitable burden of the earth, a 
wart or wen in the body of the universe? 
Thus thou art whilst unconverted; for 
thou canst not answer the end of thy be-
ing. Is it not for the divine pleasure that 
thou ar t and wast created ?t Did he not 
make thee for himself.J Art thou a man, 
and hast thou reason? Why then bethink 
thyself why and whence thy being is. Be-
hold God's workmanship in thy body, and 
ask thyself, to what end did God rear this 
fabric? Consider the noble faculties of thy 
heaven-born soul. To what end did God 
bestow these excellencies? To no other 
than that thou shouldst please thyself, and 
gratify thy senses? Did God send meji, 
like the swallows, into the world, only to 
gather a few sticks and dirt, and build 
their nests, and breed up their young, and 
then away? The very heathens could see 
farther than this. Art thou so fearfully 
and wonderfully made,* and dost thou not 
yet think with thyself, surely it was for 

* 1 Pet. iv. 14. Matt. v. 10, 11. 
t Rev. iv. 11. 't Prov. xvi. 4. 



Sâ the NECESSITY OP CONVERSION 

some noble and high end ? 
0 man! set thy reason a little in the 

chair. Is it not pity such a goodly fabric 
should be raised in vain? Verily thou art 
in vain, except thou art for God. Better 
thou hadst no being, than not to be for 
him. Wouldst thou serve thy end? Thou 
must repent and be converted. Without 
this thou ar t to no purpose, yea to bad 
purpose. 

First, To no purpose. Man unconverted 
is like a choice instrument that hath every 
string broken or out of tune. The Spirit 
of the living God must repair and tune it 
by the grace of regeneration, and sweetly 
move it by the power of actuating grace, 
or else thy prayers will be but howlings, 
and all thy services will make no music in 
the ears of the Most High.f All thy pow-
ers and faculties are so corrupt in their 
natural state, that except thou be purged 
from dead works, thou canst not serve the 
living God.J 

An unsanctified man cannot work the 
work of God. 1. He hath no skill in i t ; he 
is altogether as unskilful in the work, as in 
the word of righteousness. § There are 
great mysteries as well in the practices as 
in the principles of godliness. Now the un-
regenerate know not the mysteries of tlie 
kingdom of heaven* You may as well ex-
pect him that never learned the alphabet 

* Psa. cxxxix. 14. 
fEph . ii. 10. Phil. ii. 13. Hos. vii. 14. Isa. i. 15 
t Heb. ix. 14. Titus i. 15. § Heb. v. 13. 



Sâ the NECESSITY OP CONVERSION 

to read, or look for good music on the lute, 
from one that never set his hand to an in-
strument, as that a natural man should do 
the Lord any pleasing service. He must 
first be taught of Godf taught to pray,J 
taught to profit,§ taught to go,J| or else he 
will be utterly at a loss. 2. He hath no 
strength for it. How weak is his heart !H 
He is presently tired. The Sabbath, what a 
w e a r i n e s s is itl** He is without 
s t r e n g t h , f t yea, dead in sins.$$ 
3. He hath no mind to it. He desires 
not the knowledge of God's ways.§§ He 
doth not know them; he doth not care to 
know them. H P He knows not, neither will 
he understand. 4. He hath neither due in-
struments, nor materials for it. A man 
may as well hew marble without tools, or 
paint without colours or instruments, or 
build without materials, as perform any 
acceptable service without the graces of 
the Spirit, which are both the materials 
and instruments in this work. Almsgiving 
is not a service of God, but of vain glory, 
if not held forth by the hand of Divme 
love. What is the prayer of the lips, with-
out grace in the heart, but the carcase 
without the life? What are all our con-
fessions, unless they be exercises of godly 
sorrow and unfeigned repentance? What 
our petitions unless animated all along 

* Matt. xiii. 11. 1 Tim. iii. i6. t John vi. 45. 
t Luke xi. 1. § Isa. xlviii. 17 || Hosea xi. 3. -

HEzek. xvi. 30. ** Mai. i. 13. f t Rom. v. 6. 
i t E p h . ii. 5. §§ Job xxi. 14. U|| Psa. lxxxu. 5. 



Sâ the NECESSITY OP CONVERSION 

holy desires, and faith in the Divine 
attributes and promises? What our prais-
es and thanksgivings, unless from the love 
ol God and a holy gratitude, and sense of 
God s mercies in the heart ? So that a man 
may as well expect the tree should speak, 
or look for logic from the brutes, or mo-
tion from the dead, as for any service holy 
and acceptable to God, from the uncon-
verted. When the tree is evil, how can the 
frui t be good?* 

Secondly, to bad purpose. The uncon-
verted soul is a very cage of unclean 
birds ;f a sepulchre full of corruption and 
rottenness ;t a loathsome carcase, full of 
crawling worms, and sending forth a hell-
ish and most noisome savour in the nos-
trils of God.§ 0 dreadful case! Dost thou 
not yet see a change to be needful ? Would 
it not have grieved one to see the golden 
consecrated vessels of God's temple turned 
mto quaffing bowls of drunkenness, and 
polluted with idol service ?|| Was it such 
an abomination to the Jews, when Antioch-
us set up a picture of a swine at the en-
trance of the temple? How much more 
abominable then it would have been to 
have had the very temple itself turned into 
a_ stable or a stye, and- to have had the 
Holy of Holies served like the house of 
Baal, and to have been turned into a 
draught-house This is the very case of 

*Matt. vii. 18. t Rev. xviii. 2. t Matt, xxiii. 27 
§ Psa. xiv. 3. || Dan. v. 2, 3. f[ 2 Kings x. 27. 



Sâ the NECESSITY OP CONVERSION 

the unregenerate. All thy members are 
turned into instruments of unrighteous-
ness,* servants of Satan, and thy inmost 
powers into receptacles of uncleanness.f 
You may see the goodly guests within by 
what comes out; for out of the heart pro-
ceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, 
fornications, thefts , false witness, blas-
phemies, etc., these discover what a hell 
there is within. O abuse insufferable to 
see a heaven-born soul abased to the fil-
thiest drudgery! To see the glory of God's 
creation, the chief of the works of God, 
the Lord of the universe, lapping with the 
prodigal at the trough, or licking up with 
greediness the most loathsome vomit! Was 
it such a lamentation, to see those that did 
feed delicately, sit desolate in the streets; 
and the precious sons of Sion, comparable 
to fine gold, esteemed but as earthen pitch-
ers, and those that were clothed in scarlet 
embrace dunghills ?J and is it not much 
more fearful to see the only thing, that 
hath immortality in this lower world, and 
carries the stamp of God, become a vessel 
wherein there is no pleasures ?§ (which is 
but a modest expression of the vessel men 
put to the most sordid use!) O indig-
nity intolerable! Better thou wert dashed 
in a thousand pieces, than continue to be 
abased to so filthy a service. 

Secondly, not only man, but the whole 
* Rom. vi. 19. f E p h . ii. 2. Titus i. 15. 
t Lam. iv. 2. 5. § Jer. xxii. 28. 



THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION 58 

visible creation is in vain, without this. 
Beloved, God hath made all visible crea-
tures in heaven and earth for the service 
of man and man only is the spokesman for 
all the rest, Man is in the universe, like 
the tongue to the body, which speaks for 
all the members. The other creatures can-
not praise their Maker, but by dumb signs 
and hints to man that he should speak for 
them. Man is as it were the high priest 
of God's creation, to offer the sacrifice of 
praise for all his fellow-creatures. The 
Lord God expecfeth a tribute of praise 
from all his works;* now all the rest do 
bring in their tribute to man, and pay it 
by his hand. So then if man be false, and 
faithless, and selfish, God is wronged of 
all, and shall have no active glory from his 
works. 

0 dreadful thought to think i t ! that God 
should build such a world as this, and lay 
out such infinite power, and wisdom, and 
goodness thereupon, and all in vain; and 
that man should be guilty at last of rob-
bing and spoiling him of the glory of all. 
0 think of this! While thou art uncon-
verted all the offices of the creatures to 
thee are in vain; thy meat nourishes thee 
in vain, the sun holds forth his light to 
thee in vain, the stars "that serve thee in 
their courses by their powerful, though 
hidden influence,f do it in vain. Thy beast 
carries thee in vain.. In a word, the un-

* Psa. ciii. 22. t Judges v. 20; Hosea ii. 21, 22. 



Sâ the NECESSITY OP CONVERSION 

wearied labour, and continued travail of 
the whole creation, as to thee, is in vain. 
The service of all the creatures that 
drudge for thee, and yield forth their 
strength unto thee, that therewith thou 
shouldst serve their Maker, is all but lost 
labour. Hence the whole creation groaneth 
under the abuse .„of this unsanctified 
world,* that perverts them to the service 
of their lusts, quite contrary to the very 
end of their being. 

Thirdly, without this thy ieligion is 
vain.f All thy religious performances will 
be but lost, for they can neither please 
God,J nor save thy soul,§ which are the 
very ends of religion. Be thy services nev-
er so specious, yet God hath no pleasure 
in them. || Is not that man's case dreadful, 
whose sacrifices are as murders, and whose 
prayers are a breath of abomination?!] 
Many under convictions think they will 
set upon mending, and that a few prayers 
and alms will salve all again; but alas! 
sirs, while your hearts remain unsancti-
fied, your duties will not pass. How punc-
tual was Jehu, and yet all was rejected, be-
cause his heart was not upright.** How 
blameless was Paul! and yet being uncon-
verted, all was but loss.f f Men think they 
do much in attending God's service, and 

* Rom. viii. 22. t James i. 26. t Rom. viii. 8. 
§ 1 Cor. xiii. 2, 3. II Isa. i. 14. Mai. i. 10. 
H Isa. lxvi. 3. Prov. xxviii. 9. 
** 2 Kings x. with Hosea i. 4. . t t Phil. iii. 6, 7 
%% Isa. lviii. 3 Matt, vii- 32. f 



THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION 58 

are ready to twit him with it,tt and set 
him down so much their debtor; whereas 
their persons being unsanctified, their du-
ties cannot be accepted. 

0 soul! do not think when thy sins pur-
sue thee, a little praying and reforming 
thy course will pacify God. Thou must be-
gin with thy heart ; if ¿ha t be not renewed, 
thou canst not please God. 

God threatens it as the greatest of tem-
poral judgments, that they should build 
and not inhabit, plant and not gather; that 
their labours should be eaten up by strang-
ers.* Is it so great a misery to lose our 
common labours, to sow in vain, and build 
in vain ? how much more to lose our pains 
in religion, to pray, and hear, and fast in 
vain? This is an undoing and eternal loss. 
Be not deceived! if thou goest. on in thy 
sinful state, though thou shouldst spread 
forth thine hands, God will hide his eyes; 
though thou make many prayers, he will 
not hear.f If a man without skill set about 
our work, and mar it in the doing, though 
he take much pains, we give him but little 
thanks. God will be worshipped af ter the 
due order.J If a servant do our work, but 
contrary to our order, he will have rather 
stripes than praise. God's work must be 
done acoording to God's mind, or he will 
not be pleased; and this cannot be, except 
it be done with a holy heart. § 

* Deut. xxviii. 30, 38, 39, 41. f Isa. i. 15. 
t 1 Chron. xv. 13. § 2 Chron. xxv. 2, 
|| Job viii. 12, 18. fl Jer. ii. 37, 



63 THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION 58 

Fourthly, without this thy hopes are in 
vain.|| The Lord hath rejected thy con-
fidence.^f 

First, thy hopes of comfort here are in 
vain. I t is not only necessary to the safe-
ty, but comfort of your condition, that you 
be converted. Without this you shall not 
know peace;* without the fear of God, you 
cannot have the comfort of the Holy 
Ghost, f God speaks peace only to his peo-
ple, and to his saints.t If you have a false 
peace, continuing in your sins, it is not of 
God's speaking, and then you may guess 
the author. Sin is a real sickness ;§ yea, 
the worst of sickness; it is a leprosy in 
the head;|| the plague in the heart;^ it is 
brokenness'in the bones; ** it pierceth, it 
woundeth, it racketh, it tormenteth.ff A 
man may as well expect ease when his dis-
tempers are in their full strength, or his 
bones out of joint, as true comfort while 
in his sins. 

O wretched man! that can have no ease 
in this case but what comes from the dead-
liness of thy disease. You shall have the 
poor sick man saying in his lightness, I am 
well; when you see death in his face, he 
will needs up and about his business, when 
the very next step is like to be in his 
grave. The unsanctified often see nothing 
amiss; they think themselves whole, and 
cry not out for a physician; but this shows 

* Isa. lix 8. t Acts ix. 31. t Psalm lxxxv. 8. 
§ Isa. i. 5. || Lev. xiii. 44. f 1 Kings viii. 38. 
** Psalm li. 8. t t 1 Tim. vi. 10. 



62 THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION 58 

the danger of their case. 
Sin doth naturally breed distempers and 

disturbances in the soul. What a continual 
tempest and commotion is there in a dis-
contented mind! What an eating evil is 
inordinate care! What is passion, but a 
fever in the mind ? What is lust, but a fire 
in the bones? What is pride but a deadly 
tympany? Or Covetousness, but an insa-
tiable and insufferable thirs t? Or malice 
and envy, but venom in the very heart? 
Spiritual sloth is but a scurvy in the mind; 
and carnal security a mortal lethargy: and 
how can that soul have true comfort that 
labours under so many diseases ? But con-
verting grace cures, and so eases the 
mind; prepares the soul for a settled, 
standing, immortal peace. Great peace 
have they that love thy commandments, 
and nothing shall offend them;* they are 
the ways of wisdom that afford pleasures 
and peace.f David had infinitely more 
pleasure in the word, than in all the de-
lights of his court.J The conscience can-
not be truly pacified till soundly purified. § 
Cursed is that peace that is maintained in 
a way of sin.|l Two sorts of peace are more 
to be dreaded than all the troubles in the 
world, peace with sin, and peace in sin. 

Secondly, thy hopes of salvation here-
af ter are in vain, yea worse than in vain; 
they are most injurious to God, most 

* Psa. cxix. 165. t Prov. iii. 17. 
t Psa. cxix. 103, 127. § Heb. x. 22. 
II Deut. xxix. 19. 20. 



63 THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION 58 

pernicious to thyself. There is death, des-
peration, blasphemy in the bowels of this 
hope h There is death in it. Thy confi-
dence shall be rooted out of thy tabernacle. 
God will up with it root and branch; it 
shall bring thee to the king of terrors.* 
Though thou mayest lean upon this house, 
it will not stand,f but will prove like, a 
ruinous building, which, when a man 
trusts to, falls down about his ears. 2. 
There is desperation in it. Where is the 
hope of the hypocrite, when God takes 
away his soul?* then there is an end for 
ever of his hope. Indeed the hope of the 
righteous hath an end, but then it is not 
a destructive but a perfective end; his 
hope ends in fruition, others' m frustra-
tion § The godly must say at death, i t is 
finished; but the wicked, I t is perished; 
and in too earnest bemoan himself, as Job 
in a mistake; Where is now my hope? He 
hath destroyed, me; I am gone^ and my 
hope is removed like a tree. || The right-
eous hath hope in his death.} When nature 
is dying, his hopes are living; when his 
body is languishing his hopes a r e f l o u n h 
ing; his hope is a living hope;** but the 
others' is a dying, a d a m m n g soul-undoing 
hope. When a wicked man dieth, his ex-
pectation shall perish, and the hope of un-
just men perisheth.f t It shall be cut off, 

* Job xviil. 14. t Job Viii. 15. t Job xxvil. 8 
§ProV. x. 28. II Job xlx. 10. H Prov. xlv. 32. 

** 1 Pet. | 3. . t t Prov. xi. 7. 



66 THE NECESSITY OF' CONVERSION 

and prove like the spider's weh,* which he 
spins out of his own bowels; but then 
comes death with the broom, and takes 
down all, and so there is an eternal end 
ot his confidence wherein he trusted For 
the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and their 
hope shall be as the giving up the ghost.t 
Wicked men are fixed in their carnal 
hope, and will not be beaten out of it-
they hold it fast, they will not let 
it go. Yea, but death will knock off 
their fingers; though we cannot undeceive 
them, death and judgment will. When 
death strikes his dart through thy liver 
it will pierce thy soul and thy hopes to-
gether. The unsanctified have hope onlv 
in this h f e ; i and therefore, are of all men 
most miserable. When death comes, it lets 
them out into the amazing gulf of endless 
desperation. 3. There is blasphemy in it 
To hope we shall be saved, though we con-
tinue unconverted, is to hope we shall 
prove God a liar. He hath told you, that 
merciful and pitiful as he is, he will never 
save you notwithstanding, if you go on in 
ignorance, or a course of unrighteousness. § 
In a word, he hath told you, that whatever 
you be or do, nothing shall avail you to 
salvation, unless you become new crea-
tures. || Now, to say God is merciful, and 
we hope will save us nevertheless, is in ef-
fect to say, We hope God will not do as he 

* Job viii. 14. t Job xi. 20. 11 Cor. xv. 19 
§ Isa. xxvii. 11. 1 Cor. vi. 9. || Gal. vi. 19. 



65 THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION 58 

says. We must not set God's attributes at 
variance; God is resolved to glorify his 
mercy, but not to the prejudice of his 
truth, as the presumptuous sinner will find 
to his everlasting sorrow. 

Objection. Why, but we hope in JesuS 
Christ, we put our whole t rust in God; and 
therefore, doubt not but we shall be saved. 

Answer, 1. This is not to hope in Christ, 
but against Christ. To hope to see the 
kingdom of God without being born again, 
to hope to find eternal life in the broad 
way, is to hope Christ will prove a false 
prophet. I t is David's plea, I hope in thy 

I word;* but this hope is against the word. 
Show me a word of Christ for thy hope, 
that he will save thee in thy ignorance or 
profane neglect of his service, and I will 
never go to shake thy confidence. 

2. God doth with abhorrence reject this 
hope. Those condemned in the prophet 
went on in their sins, Yet, saith the text, 
they will lean upon the Lord.f God will 
not endure to be made a prop to men in 
their sins. The Lord rejected those pre-
sumptuous sinners that went on still in 
their trespasses, and yet would stay them-
selves upon Israel's God,J as a man would 
shake off the briers (as one said well) that 
cleave to his garment. 

3. If thy hope be any thing worth, it 
will purify thee from thy sins;§ but cursed 

*Psa. cxix. 81. 
t Isa. xlviii. 1, 2, 

t Mic. iii. 11. 
§1 John iii. 3. 



68 THE NECESSITY OF' CONVERSION 

is that hope that cherisheth men in their 
sins. 

I H H H I W o u l d y o u h a v e us to de-opd.li : 
Answer. You must despair of ever com-

ng to heaven as you are;* that is, while 
you remain unconverted. You must de-
spair of ever seeing the face of God with-

S u i P M ! i - U t y 0 U m u s t ^ means 
despair of finding mercy, upon your tho-
rough repentance and conversion; neither 
may you despair of attaining to repentance 
and conversion in the use of God's means 

f i f th ly , without this, all that Christ 
hath done and suffered will be, as to you 
m vam;f that is, it will no way avail to 
your salvation. Many urge this as a suffi-
cient ground for their hopes, that Christ 
died for sinners But I must tell you, 
Christ never died to save impenitent and 
unconverted sinners, so continuing t A 
great divine was wont, in his private deal-

S l u f ^ t o a s k t w o Questions; 1st. 
What hath Christ done for you? 2d What 
hath Christ wrought in you? Without the 
application of the Spirit in regeneration 
we can have no saving interest in the ben-
efits of redemption. I tell you from the 
Lord, Christ himself cannot save you if 
you go on in this state. 

I. It were against his trust. The Medi-
ator is the servant of the Father;5 shows 

t 2 Tim.'ii. 19. § I s a . x m . | 
II John x. 18, 36. vi. 38. 40. 
»Acts ii. 37. f John xiii. 8. TitiUs ii. 14. 



67 THE NECESSITY OF' CONVERSION 

I his commission from him, acts in his 
I name, and pleads his command for his 
I iustification;|| and God has committed all 
I things unto him, intrusted his own glory 
I and the salvation of the elect with him. 
• Accordingly Christ gives his Father an 
I account of both parts of his t rus t before 
I he leaves the world.f Now Christ would 
I quite cross his Father 's glory, his greatest 
I trust, if he should save men m their sins; 
I for this were to overturn all his counsels, 
I and to offer violence to all his attributes. 

First, to overturn all his counsels, of 
I which this is the order, tha t men should be 
I brought through sanctification to salva-
I tion t He hath chosen them, that they 
I should be holy.§ They are elected to par-
I don and life through sanctification.|| it 
I thou canst repeal the law of God's immut-

able counsel, or corrupt him whom the 
I Father hath sealed, to go directly against 

his commission, then, and not otherwise, 
mayest thou get to heaven in this condi-
tion. To hope that Christ will save thee 
while unconverted, is to hope that Christ 

L will falsify his trust . He never did nor will 
\ save one soul, but whom the Father hath 

given him in election, and drawn to him m 
effectual calling. Be assured. Christ will 
save none in a way contrary to his f a -
ther's will.H 

• Matt. xi. 27. John xvit. 2. t John xvii. 4. 6 12. 
t 2 Thess. ii. 13. I Eph. i. 4. II1 Pet. l. 2, 
]I John vi. 35, ?7, 3?, 



68 THE NECESSITY OF' CONVERSION 

t r i b u t e s ^ ' R w B t 0 a11 his at-irioutes. 1. To his justice: for the risrht-
o f God's judgment lies i ? r £ d e £ 

ing to all according to their works.ff Now 
should men sow to the flesh, and yet of the 
Spirit reap everlasting life * where were 
the glory of Divine justice, W S it should 
be g1Ven to the wicked according to the 
If r J f t i e ^ g h t ! 0 U S ? 2" To his holiness 
11 God should not only save sinners, but 
save them m their sins, his most pure and 
strict holiness would be exceedingly de-
faced The unsanctified man is in the eyes 
ol Gods holiness worse than a swine or 
viper.f I t would be offering the extremes? 
S f i ? * * * i n f i n * e P«rity of £ 5 
nature to have such to dwell with him-
they cannot stand in his judgment, thev 
cannot abide m his presence.! If holv 
David would not endure such in his house 
wiiivn°Q 1 hu? S i g h t ; . § c a n w e t h i n k God 
will / 3 To his veracity: for God hath de-
clared from heaven, that if any shall say 
he shall have peace, though he go on in 
the imagination of his heart, his wrath 
shall smoke against that man;II that they 
m m ''hat confess and forsake their sins 
shall find mercy ;U that they that shall en-
ter into his hill, must be of clean hands 
and a pure heart.** Where were God's 
truth, if, notwithstanding all this, he 

* Gal. vi. 7, 8. • t Matt. xii. 34. 2 Pet. ii' 22 
t Psa. i. 5. v. 4, 5. § p s a . ci. 33, 7. 
II Deut. xxix. 19, 20. . II Prov. xxviii. 13 
** Psa. xxiv. 3, 4. ,ft Rom. ii. 5, 6. 



THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION 69 

should bring men to salvation without con-
version? 0 desperate sinner, that darest 
to hope that Christ will lie to his Father, 
and falsify his word to save thee. 4. To his 
wisdom: for this were to throw away the 
choicest mercies on them who would not 
value them, nor were any way suited to 
them. .. ™ 

First, they would not value them. I he 
unsanctified sinner puts but little price 
upon God's great salvation.* He sets no 
more by Christ than the whole by the phy-
sician ;t he prizes not his balm, values not 
his cure, tramples upon his blood.J Now 
would it stand with wisdom to force par-
don and life upon those who would give no 
thanks for them? Would the all-wise God 
(when he hath forbidden us to do it) 
throw his holy things to dogs, and his 
pearls to swine, that would, as it were 
but turn again and rend him ;§ this would 
make mercy t.o be despised indeed. Wis-
dom requires that eternal life be given m 
a way suitable to God's honour, and that 
God should secure his own glory as well as 
man's felicity. God would lose the praise 
and glory of his grace, if he should cast it 
away on them tha t were not only unwor-
thy but unwilling. 

Secondly, they are no way suited to 
them The Divine wisdom is seen m suit-
ing things to each other; the means to the 
end; t h / o b j e c t to the facultyg the j quality 

W m « i l l 



70 THE NECESSITY OF' CONVERSION 

iMSl2 t0 Hi C a p a c i t y o f t h e receiver. Alas, what would an unsanctified creature 
do in heaven? He could take no content 
there because nothing suits him The 
place doth not suit him, he would be quite 

S O s f m m t h e ¡ S i P d o t h not 
suit mm. What communion hath dark-
I I I S c o r r uPtion with perfection, 
tanty / The employment doth not suit 
him; the anthems of Heaven fit not for 
ciSarm°?iv'hSaf H h i s ear" Canst thou cnarm thy beast with music? Or wilt thou 
bring him to thy organ, and expect that 

should make thee melody, or keep time 
with the tuneful choir? Spread thv taSp 

W 1 H 9 H a ' - ¿ S i n g J a w 
and it will give him great offence. Alas' 
if the poor man thinks a sermon long and 
says of a Sabbath, What a wearTntss is 
it!* how miserable would he think 1 to 
be held to it to all eternity? ' 
n -

5 - . T o h i s immutability, or else to his om-
niscience or- omnipotence. For this is en 
rohed t P r d a V e ° f heaven, and en-" 
none h ft S d e C r e e S ,of t h e court above, 

+ St — ?ur,e l n h e a r t shall ever see 
God.f This is laid up with him, and sealed 
« 1 8 1 ^asures. Now, if Christ bring • 
yet any to heaven unconverted, either he 
must get them in without his Father's 
knowledge, (and then where is his omni-
science?) or against his will, (and Sen 
W h * M e a . T T s e h l S

 ommP°tence,) or he must 1 3 ' t Matt. v. 8. 



THE NECESSITY 01? CONVERSION 71 
change his will, (and then where were his 
immutability?) . ,, 

Sinner, wilt thou not give up thy vain 
hope of being saved in this condition/ 
saith Bildad, Shall the earth.be forsaken 
for thee? Or the rocks moved out ol their 
place * May I not much more reason so 
with' thee? Shall the laws of Heaven, be 
reversed for thee? Shall the everlasting 
foundations be overturned for thee? Shall 
Christ put out the eye of his Father s 
omniscience, or shorten the arm of his 
eternal power for thee? Shall Divine jus-
tice be violated for thee? Or the bright-
ness of the glory of his holiness be blem-
ished for thee? 0 the impossibility, ab-
surdity, and blasphemy that is m such a 
confidence. To think Christ will ever save 
thee in this condition, is to make thy Sav-
iour to become a sinner, and to do more 
wrong to the Infinite Majesty than all the 
wicked on earth, or devils in hell ever did, 
or could do. And yet wilt thou not give up 
such a blasphemous hope? 

II. Against his word. We need not say, 
who shall ascend into heaven, to bring 
down Christ from above? Or, who shall 
descend into the deep, to bring up Christ 
from beneath? The word is nigh us.f Are 
you agreed that Christ shall end the con-
troversy? Hear then his own words.- Ex-
cept you be converted, you shall in no wise 
enter into the kingdom of heaven.| You 

* Job xviii. 4. t Rom. x. 6, 7, 8. 
t Matt.' xviii. 3. 



72 THE NECESSITY OF' CONVERSION 

must be born again. § If I wash thee not, 
thou hast no part in me.|| Repent, or per-
ish.fl One word, one would think, were 
enough from Christ; but how often and 
earnestly doth he reiterate it. Verily, ver-
ily, except a man be born again he shall 
not see the kingdom of God.* Yea, he doth 
not only assert, but prove the necessity of 
the new birth ;f without which man is no 
more fit for the kingdom of heaven, than 
a beast is for the king's presence chamber. 
And wilt thou believe thy own presumptu-
ous confidence, directly against Christ's 
words? He must go quite against the law 
of his kingdom and rule of his judgment, 
to save thee in this state. 

III. Against his oath. He hath lifted up 
his hand to heaven, he hath sworn that 
those that remain in unbelief, and know 
not his ways, that is, are ignorant of them, 
or disobedient to them, shall not enter into 
his rest.t And wilt thou not yet believe, 
0 sinner! that he is in earnest? Canst 
thou hope he will be forsworn for thee? 
The covenant of grace is confirmed by an 
oath, and sealed by blood ;§ but all must 
be made void, and another way to heaven 
found out, if thou be "saved living and dy-
ing unsanctified. Men cannot be saved 
while unconverted, except they could get 
another covenant made. 

I John iii. 7. || John xiii. 8. ff Luke xlii. 3. 
* J O H N »»• 3, 5. T J O H N IIIT G 
t Psalm xcv. 11., Heb. iii. 11. 

1 Heb. vi. 17. ix. 16, 18, 19. Matt. xxvi. 28. 



73 THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION 58 

IV. Against his honour. God will so 
«¡how his love to the sinner, as withal to 
t Z hS hatred to sin; therefore, he tha i 
names the name of Jesus must depart from 
S u T t ^ i n d d e n i a l ! h t i 5 B Q | And 
he that hath hope of life by Christ must 
purify himself as he is pure; t otherwise 
S 3 would be thought a f a v o u r e o f sm 
The Lord Jesus would have all the worm 
to know that though he pardons sm, he 
will notprotect it. If holy David M j | | 
Deoart from me all ye workers of miqui-
"v + and shall shut the doors against 
them § shall not such much more expect 
it C m Christ's holiness? Would it be for 
his S o u r to have the dogs to the table 
S lodge the sw|ne with his children, or to 
h a v e Abraham's bosom to be a nest of 

V i V r Against his o f f i c e s . God hath exalted 
him to be a Prince and a Saviour. || He 
wouldact against both should he. save 
men in their sins. I t is the off iceofaking, 
to be a terror to evil doers, and a praise to 
them that do well . l He is a mimster ^ 
God a revenger, to execute wrath on him 
that doth evif. Now, ^ o u l d Chnst favour 
the ungodly, (so continuing) and taKe 
'those t? r d g n with him that would no 
that he should reign over them, this 
would be quite against his o f f i ceHethere 
fore reigns, tha t he may put his. enemies 

• 2 Tim. 1 1 m m 1 7
3 - M U S 31. 

t P sa lm VI. 8. § Feaim ci. . H 
J Rom. xiii. 3, 4. ** I^&e xix. 27. 



74 ' T H E NECESSITY OF CONVERSION 

under his feet .ff Now, should he lay them 
in his bosom, he would cross the end of his 
regal power. It belongs to Christ, as a king 
to subdue the hearts and slay the lusts of 
his chosen.* What king would take rebels 
m open hostility into his court? What 
were this but to betray life, kingdom, gov-
ernment, and all together? If Christ be a 
king, he must have honour, homage, sub-
jection, &tc.f Now to save men while in 
their natural enmity, were to obscure his 
dignity, lose his authority, bring contempt 
on his government, and sell his dear ' 
bought rights for nought. 

Again; as Christ would not be a Prince 
so neither a Saviour, if he should do this ; 
tor his salvation is spiritual. He is called 
Jesus because he saves his people from 
their sins;i so that should he save them in 
their sins, he would, be neither Lord nor 
Jesus. To save men from the punishment 
and not from the power of sin, were to do 
his work by halves, and be an imperfect 
baviour. His office, as -the Deliverer is to 
turn away ungodliness from Jacob. § He is 
sent to bless men in turning them from 
their iniquities;|l to make an end of sin-If 
so that he would destroy his own designs' 
and nullify his offices, to save men abiding -
m their unconverted state. 

Application. Arise then. What meanest 
thou, 0 sleeper? Awake, 0 secure sinner, 

* Psa. xly. 5. ex. 3. t Mai. i. 6. J Matt. i. 21. ' 
§ Rom. XI. 26 || Acts U i . 26. |j Dan. 24. 
TT 1 Cor. xv. 24. 



THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION I 

lest thou be consumed in thine iniquities 
lest I f w e s i t here we shall 
die Verily, it is not more certain that 
thou art now out of hell, than that thou 
§ i speedily be in it except thou repent 
and be converted; there is Ju t this one 
door for thee to escape by. Arise then, u 
sluggard! and shake off thine excuses 
S o l long wilt thou slumber, and fold thy 
hands t o W * Wilt thou j i ^ S 
midst of the sea, or sleep on the top oi 
the mast.f There is no remedy b^t thou 
must either turn or burn. There is an un 
diangeable necessity of the change of thy 

E n except thou O H H M M 
the worst of it, and try_ it out with | g g g 
miffhtv If thou lovest thy lite, U man, 
a r f s e and come away. Methinks I see the 
Lord Jesus laying the of 
an holy violence upon thee g j g g g he 
carries it like the angels to Lot.? M ® 
anJels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, lest 
th?u be consumed. And while he lingered 
the men laW hold upon his hand, the Lord 
beLg merciful unto h i m a n d ^ e y b r o u g h 
Viim without the city, and said, Escape 101 
i r life stay not in all the plains, escape 
to the mountains, lest thou be consumed. 

0 how wilful Will thy destruction be if 
thou shouldst yet harden thyself u,.thy 
sinful state? But none of you can say but 
you have had f a i r warnmg. Yet methmks 
I cannot tell how to leave you so; I t is not 

* Prov. vi. 10, 11. t Prov. xxm. 34. t Gen. xix. 

** 2 Kings vii. 3, 4. 



76 THE NECESSITY OF' CONVERSION 

soTwt t f sVaJ lS dGlivered H own 
errand ? Wiii „ I / ° away without my 
me ? Have I been & W a n d f o l I o i 

to the wind havp i h l u w h i l e I B S 
adder, I f S f e ^ t e ^ S S t h e H 
arguments? Do I s o L k ? ? l o c ! a n W l t h 

N H m R M I 

flames, ga„d 5 ' t a t o M ^ t h ™ ™ " 4 0 t h e 

reason, and yet daSv f f e f ^ H I w i t h 

and the p S S S ^ ^ S hA
e]1' 

K e s e S f S P ^ l M R K X g m 
And will you not h L f i R ? * S t o come? 
eternal t o m e n t s ? O" S f e y ° U r e s c a p e f r o m 

and let r e E T preva y 0 U r s T ^
e s m e n > 

sonable thing E p f f i ® I * a r e a ' 
the Lord your M a S * I W a g r a i n s t 

selves against h?s w L + t 0 h ? , r d e n 

«trength of I s r a e f w Z d lie ? T « ^ t h e 

able that an understand in«. ; . 8 J t re,ason-
lose, yea 
of his being, 

* I s a ' x ' v - 9 " ! - , 1 S a m . x v . 2 9 . ' 



T H E NECESSITY OP CONVERSION 77 

only fit for the dunghill? Is | U k f l H | 
that the only thing in this world that God 

B H 
M H I yea, should be engaged 

B m M B 

s S m f»r i i S m H I 
• H H P 

s a v T h i s i s not reason, or surely the eye 
of reason is quite put out. And if this be 
not S o n , then there is no reason that 
m M i C ° n 1 r t h f w l d a r y U shouW all the reason m the worm .yuu 

M S S l i p 1 1 » 
in this argument. 0 that you would but 
hearken to me! That you 
set upon a new course ! Will g f c O T r W 
made dean? When shall J once be? What 

x M H r n ^ m 
1 s T t o turn. Come, and let us reason to-

* Isaiah i. 2. t Isaiah xxvii . 4. 



78 THE NECESSITY OP CONVERSION 

• r f e l ^ f e t o b e h - e I Wilt 
t L y the tide come in upon 
mm 1 1 good for thee to try whethe? 
harde^ thvseif in a S 1 M W ^ 
with thee wMlpnf^ C O n c e i t - t h a t a 1 1 1 well 
fied ? ' t h o u r e mainest unsancti-

3 1 1 1 k n o f f o u K not be persuaded 

H n M the deceiver to his deceit again a S f S f c 
M f m m t 0 M s d a l l i - c f a g a i n n A l a s ' 
m M S t ] f a v e y o u w h ere you were in 
ignorance or looseness, or in your l S ^ 

B m w B S S f i ^ O distracted sinners! What win • 

f S i S S l t l 
s S t f R r a M H i l 

have their sins, say w h a f l S V h o ' u g h l 

* Isaiah x. 8. 



T H E NECESSITY OF CONVERSION 1» 

I tell them there is death to | | g W | g 
they Will t a k e it up; though I gg. m 

I f S t o s T G d wi . m » and Ma 
S t o v i t a t l o n a 

I O p ^ s l i ^ i 
yet neither w.11 this do 
p r o v e ^ w o r d h t e t h ^ a e n n o ^ | t h e y 

I S m r mmmm 
1 W m m . iove i rS and will be ready to 

my life, 1 cannot p company, m H H n 

l l P R B f l f l i on t Job xxxvi. 12-* Matt. xxi. 30. ' 



80 „, 

I f T fo i l MARKS OF 

s § 1 tSr^aiyi iXm m 
judge me censorious- | b a d ' ^ e y will 
present a little awakened ' t h ? y be at 
asleep by Satan™iSPn u Q m c k l y 

1 sense of all g ' a n d have lost the 

must they 
woud so fain saie t h e m S i i

 m i n i s t « - s 
J use with them, that'T h * C°Urse sha" 
What shall I do for t L 5 a v e , n o t tried? 
people?* o Lord ¡ K i l l ,dau«rhter of mv 
leave them thus? 1 1 1 helP" A l a s i shalTl 
jvet do t h o u t a r m i ' t e ^ 0 ' h e a r ™ 
hve l n t h sight .'Lord saw ¿

e y m a y M 
Jhey perish. My heart o r e , s e 
their houses on fire abonT ̂  m e l t t o s«e 
they were fast asleep ,? fe i l l w h e n 

shall not my sonl W i beds; and 
?ee them fallinT ; . l m o v e d ^thin me to 
Lord, have compassion Q f

e s s Perdition' 
of the burnin?P p u t f

a u n l s a v e them out 
er, and the w o k Jm ? A t h y d i v i ™ Pow-
me> I cannot prevail d ° n e ; b u t as for 

i l f l M 

awakened by the p r o p f e , D a v i d I not 
distance in P a r a b o E ] in s i n, i n °r

e n n g : a t a 

forced to close w i t h V ^ a t J ° n s ; h e is 
plainly, Thou art the i ^ I B 

•Jer fx ™ F e w will in 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

1 words deny the necessity of the new birth, 
but they have a self-deluding confidence 
that the work is not now to do. And be-
cause they know themselves free from that 
gross hypocrisy which takes up religion 

M merely for a colour to deceive others, and 
for covering of wicked designs, they are 
confident of their sincerity, and suspect 

I n o t that more close hypocrisy (wherein 
J the greatest danger lies) by which a man 

deceiveth his own soul.* But man's deceit-
ful heart is such a matchless cheat, and 
self-delusion so reigning and so fatal a dis-
ease, t h a t ' I know not whether be the 
greater, the difficulty, disagreeableness, or 
the necessity, of the undeceiving work tha t 
I am now upon. Alas, for my unconverted 
hearers! They must be undeceived or un-
done. But how shall this be effected? 

Help, 0 all-searching Light! and let thy 
discerning eye discover the rotten founda-
tion of the self-deceiver; and lead me, 0 
Lord God, as thou didst the prophet, into 
the chambers of imagery, and dig through 
the wall of sinners' hearts, and discover 
the hidden abominations that are lurking 
out of sight in the dark. 0 send thy angel 
before me, to open the sundry wards of 
their hearts, as thou didst before Peter, 
and make even the iron gates to fly open 
of their own accord. And, as Jonathan no 
sooner tasted the honey but his eyes were 
enlightened; so grant, 0 Lord, that when 

* James i. 26. 



82 THE MARKS OF 

the poor deceived souls, with whom I have 
to do, shall cast their eyes upon these 
lines, their minds may be illuminated, and 
their consciences convinced and awakened, 
that they may see with their eyes, and 
hear with their ears, and be converted, 
and that thou mayest heal them. 

This must be promised before we pro-
ceed to the discovery, that it is most cer-
tain men may have a confident persuasion 
that their hearts and states are good, and 
yet be unsound. Hear the Truth himself, 
who shows in Laodicea's case, that men 
may be wretched and miserable, and poor, 
and blind, and naked, and yet not know it ; 
yea, they may be confident they are rich, 
and increased in grace.* There is a gener-
ation that are pure in their own eyes, and 
yet are not washed from their filthiness.f 
Who better persuaded of his case than 
Paul, while he yet remained unconverted ?J 
So that they are miserably deceived that 
take a strong confidence for a sufficient 
evidence. They that have no better proof 
than barely a strong persuasion that they 
are converted, are certainly as yet strang-
ers to conversion. 

But to come more close. As it was said 
of 'the adherents to Antichrist, so here; 
some of the unconverted carry their marks 
in their foreheads, more openly, and some 
in their hands more covertly. The apostle 
reckons up some upon whom he writes the 
sentence of death; as in these dreadful 

* Rev. iii. 17. t Prov. xxx. 12. t Rom. vii. 9. 



THE UNCONVERTED 
|PJ? 

catalogues; which I beseech you to attend 
to with all diligence.* For this ye know, 
that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, 
nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath 
any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, 
and of God. Let no man deceive you with 
vain words, for because of these things 
cometh the wrath of God upon the chil-
dren of disobedience.f But the fearful and 
unbelieving, and abominable, and murder-
ers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and 
idolaters, and all liars, shall have their 
part in the lake that burns with fire and 
brimstone, which is the second death.J 
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall 
not inherit the kingdom of God ? Be not de-
ceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, 
nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers 
of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, 
nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, 
nor extortioners, shall inherit the king-
dom of God.§ Woe to them that have their 
names written in these rolls; such may 
know as certainly as if God had told them 
from heaven, that they are unsanctified, 
and under an impossibility of being saved 
in this condition. 

There are then these several sorts that 
(past all dispute) are unconverted; they 
carry their marks in their forehead. 

1. The unclean. These are ever reck-
oned among the goats and have their 

* Eph. v. 5, 6. 
t Rev. xxi. 8. 

t 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. 
§ Gal. v. 19, 21. 



u t h e m a r k s o f 

names, who ever is left out, in all the be-
fore mentioned catalogues.* 

2. The covetous. These men are ever 
branded as idolaters, and the doors of the 
kingdom are shut against them by name.f 

3. Drunkards. Not only such as drink 
away their reason, but withal (yea above 
all) such as are too strong even for strong 
drink. The Lord fills his mouth with woes 
against these, and declares they have no 
inheritance in the kingdom of God.J 

4. Liars. The God that cannot lie has 
told them, that there is no place for them 
in his kingdom, no entrance into his hill; 
but their portion is with the father of lies, 
whose children they are, in the lake of 
burnings. § 

5. Swearers. The end, of these without 
deep and speedy repentance, is swift de-
struction, and most certain and unavoid-
able condemnation.!].* 

6. Railers and backbiters, that love to 
take up a reproach against their neighbor, 
and fling all the dirt they can in his face, 
else wound him secretly behind his back.TJ 

7. Thieves, extortioners, and oppres-
sors, tha t grind the poor, overreach their 
brethren, when they have them at an ad-
vantage, these must know that God is the 

* Eph. v. 5. Rev. xxi. 8. 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. 
tEph. v. 5. Col. iii. 5. 1 Cor. v i .9 , 10. 
t l s a . v. 11, 12, -22. Gal. v. 21. 
§ Psalm xv. 1, 2. Rev. xxi. 8, -27. John viii. 44. 

Prov. vi. 17. 
|| James v. 12. Zech. v. 1, 2, 3. 
5 Psalm xv. 1, 3. 1 Cor. vi. 10. v. 11. 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

avenger of all such.* Hear, 0 ye false and 
purloining, and wasteful servants! Hear, O 
ye deceitful tradesmen! hear your sen-
tence; God will certainly hold his door 
against you, and turn your treasures of 

-J unrighteousness into treasures of wrath, 
and make your ill-gotten silver and gold to 
torment you, like burning metal in your 
bowels.f 

8. All that do ordinarily live in the pro-
fane neglect of God's worship; that hear 
not his word» that call not on his name, 
that restrain prayer before God, that mind 
not their own nor their families' souls, but, 
live without God in the world.t 

9. Those that are frequenters and lov-
ers of evil, company. God hath declared he 
will be the destroyer of all such, and that 
they shall never, enter into the hill of his 
rest.§ 

10. Scoffers at religion, that make a 
scorn of precise walking, and mock at the 
messengers and diligent - servants of the 
Lord, and at their holy profession, and 
make themselves merry with the weakness 
and failings of professors. Hear, you de-
spisers, your dreadful doom.|| 

Sinner, consider diligently whether thou 
art not to be found in one of these ranks; 
lor if this be thy case, thou art in the gall 
of bitterness and bond of iniquity; for all 

* 1 Thess. iv. 6. 11 Cor. vi. 9, 1Q. James v. 2, 3. 
t John viii. 47. Job xv. 4. Psa. xiv. 4. lxxix. 6. 

Eph. ii. 12, iv. 18. § Prov. xiii. 20, ix, 6. Psa. xv 4 
II Prov. xix. 29. iii. 34. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 16. 



8 6 THE MARKS OF 

these do carry their marks in their fore-
heads, and are undoubtedly the sons of 
death. And if so, the Lord pity our poor 
congregations! O, how small a number will 
be left, when these ten sorts are taken out! 
Alas! on how many doors, on how many 
faces must we write, Lord, have mercy up-
on us! Sirs, what shift do you make to 
keep up your confidence of your good state, 
when God from heaven declares against 
you, and pronounces you in a state of dam-
nation? I would reason with you as God 
with them, How canst thou say, I am not 
polluted?* See thy way in the valley, 
know what thou hast done. Man, is not thy 
conscience privy to thy tricks of deceit, to 
thy chamber pranks, to thy way of lying? 
Yea are not thy friends, thy family, thy 
neighbours, witnesses to thy profane ne-
glect of God's worship, to thy covetous 
practices, to thy envious and malicious 
carriage? May not tHey point at thee as 
thou goest, There goes a gaming prodigal? 
There goes a drunken Nabal, a companion 
of evil doers? There goes a railer, or a 
scoffer, or a loose liver? Beloved, God hath 
written it as with a sunbeam in the book 
by which you must be judged, that these 
are not the spots of his children, and that 
none such, except renewed by converting 
grace, shall ever escape the damnation of 
hell. 

O that such as you would now be per-
* Jer. ii. 23. 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

suaded to repent, and turn from all your 
transgressions, or else iniquity will be 
your ruin!* Alas, poor hardened sinners! 
Must I leave you at last where you were? 
Must I leave the tippler still at the ale 
bench ? Must I leave the wanton still at his 
dalliance? Must I leave the malicious still 
in his venom, and the drunkard still at his 
vomit ? However, you must know that you 
have been warned, and that I am clear of 
your blood. And whether meji will hear, or 
whether they will forbear, I will leave the 
Scriptures with them, either as thunder-
bolts to awaken them, or as searing irons 
to harden them to a reprobate sense, f God 
shall wound the head of his enemies, and 
the hairy scalp of such an one as goes on 
still in his trespasses. He that being often 
reproved hardeneth his neck, shall sud-
denly be destroyed^ and that without rem-
edy.J Because I have called, and ye re-
fused, I have stretched out my hand, and 
no man regarded, &c. I will mock at your 
calamity, when your destruction cometh 
as a whirlwind. 

And now I imagine many will begin to 
bless themselves, and think all is well, be-
cause they cannot be charged with the 
grosser evils before mentioned [ but I must 
fur ther tell you, that there are another 
sort of unsanctified persons, that carry not 
their marks in their foreheads, but more 
secretly and covertly, in their hands; these 

*Ezek. xviii. 30.- t Psa. lxviii. 21. 
t Prov. xxix. 1. i, 24, &c. 



88 THE MARKS OF 

do frequently deceive themselves and oth-
ers, and pass for good Christians, when 
they are all the while unsound at bottom. 
Many pass undiscovered till death and 
judgment bring all to light. Those self-de-
ceivers seem to come even to heaven's gate 
with full confidence of their admission, and 
yet are shut out at last.* 

Brethren beloved, I beseech you deeply 
to lay to heart, and firmly retain this a-
wakening consideration, that multitudes 
miscarry by cherishing some secret sin, 
that is not only hidden from others, but 
for want of searching their own hearts, 
even from themselves. A man may be free 
from open pollutions, and yet perish at last 
by some secret unobserved iniquity. And 
there are these twelve hidden sins, through 
which souls go down by numbers into the 
chambers of death; these you must search 
carefully for, and note them as black 
marks, wherever they be found, discover-
ing a graceless and unconverted state. And 
as you love your lives, read carefully, with 
a holy jealousy of yourselves, lest you 
should be the persons concerned. 

1. Gross ignorance. 0 how many poor 
souls doth this sin kill in the dark f t while 
they , think verily they have good hearts, 
and are in the ready way to heaven. This 
is the murderer that dispatches thousands 
m a silent manner, when, poor hearts ! they 
suspect nothing, and see not the hand that 

* M a k Vli. 22. tHos. iv. 6. 



THE u n c o n v e r t e d 

destroys them. You shall find, whatever 
excuses you have for ignorance, that it is 
a soul-undoing evil.* Ah! would it not have 
grieved a man's heart to have seen that 
woeful spectacle, when the poor Protest-
ants were shut up, a multitude together in 
a barn and a butcher comes with cruel 
hands, warmed in human blood, and leads 
them one by one, blindfold, to a block 
where he slew them,.poor innocents! one 
af ter another by scores in cold blood ? But 
how much more should our hearts bleed, to 
think of the hundreds in great congrega-
tions that ignorance doth butcher in se--
cret, and lead blindfold to the block ? Be-
ware this be none of your case. Make no 
plea for ignorance; if you spare that sin, 
know that it will not spare you. And would 
a man take a murderer to his bosom ? 

2. Secret reserves in closing with Christ. 
-»-To forsake all for Christ, to hate father 
and mother, yea, a man's own life for him; 
this is a hard saying, f Some will do much, 
but they will not be of the religion that 
will undo them; they never come to be en-
tirely devoted to Christ, nor fully to resign 
to him; they must have the sweet sin; 
they mean to do themselves no harm; they 
have secret exceptions for life, liberty, or 
estate. Many take Christ thus, hand over-
head, and never consider his self-denying 
terms, nor cast up the cost. And this error 

* Isa. xxvii. 11. 2 Thess. i. 8. 2 Cor. iv. 3. 
t Luke xiv. 26. 



9 0 THE MARKS OF 

in the foundation mars all, and secretly 
rums them for ever.* 

3 Formality in religion. Many stick in 
the bark, and rest in the outside of religion 
and in the external performances of holy 
duties ;f and this oftentimes doth most ef-
fectually deceive men, and doth more cer-
tainly undo them than open looseness, as 
it was m the Pharisee's case.J They hear, 
they fast, they pray, they give alms, and 
therefore, will not believe but their case is 
good;§ whereas resting in the work done, 
and coming short of heart-work, and the 
inward power and life of religion,' they fall 
at last into the burning, from the flatter-
ing hopes and confident persuasions of 
their being in the ready way to heaven.II 
O dreadful case, when a man's religion 
shall serve only to harden him, and effect-
ually to delude and deceive his own soul' 

4. The prevalence of false ends in holy 
auties.Tf This was the bane of the Phari-
sees. 0 how many poor souls are undone 
by this, and drop into hell before they dis-
cern their mistake! They perform good 
duties, and so think all is well; but per-
ceive not that they are actuated by carnal 
motives all the while. It is too true, that 
even with the truly sanctified many carnal 
ends will frequently creep in; but they are 
the matter of his hatred and humiliation,, 
and never come to be habitually prevalent 

I ¡ P S X i v- P M a t t - x v i i i i - 21- t Matt, xxiii. 25. 
f ^ a t t . xxiii. 31. § L u k e x v i i i . M 
II Matt. vii. 22, 23. J Matt, xxiii. 25. 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

with him, and hear the greatest sway;* 
but now, when the main thing that doth 
ordinarily carry a man out to religious du-
ties shall be really some carnal end, as to 
satisfy his conscience, to get thè repute of 
being religious, to be seen of men, to show 
his own gifts and parts, to avoid the re-
proach of being a profane and irreligious 
person, or the like; this discovers an un-
sound heart.f 0 professor ! if you would 
avoid self-deceit, see that you mind not on-
ly your acts, but withal, yea, above all, 
your ends. 

5. Trusting in their own righteousness.Î 
This is a .soul-undoing mischief.§ When 
men do trust in their own righteousness, 
they do indeed reject Christ's. Beloved, 
you had need be watchful on every hand ; 
for not only your sins, but your duties may 
undo you. It may be you never thought of 
this ; but so it is, tha t man may as certain-
ly miscarry by his seeming righteousness 
and supposed graces, as by gross sins ; and 
that is, when a man doth t rust in these as 
his righteousness before God, for the satis-
fying his justice, appeasing his wrath, pro-
curing his favour, and obtaining of his 
own pardon; for this is to put Christ out 
of office, and make a saviour of our own 
duties and graces. Beware of this, 0 pro-
fessors! you are much in duties, but this 
one fly will spoil all thé ointment. When 

* Rom. xiv. 7. t Hos. x. 1. Zech. vii. 5, 6. 
Î Luke xviii. 9. § Rom- x. 3, 



92 THE MARKS OF 

you have done most and best, be sure to go 
out of yourselves to Christ, reckon your 
own righteousness but rags.* 

6. A secret enmity against the strictness 
of religion.' Many moral persons, punctual 
in their formal devotions, have a bitter en-
mity against preciseness, and hate the life 
and power of religion.f They like not this 
forwardness, nor that men should keep 
such a stir in religion; they condemn the 
strictness of religion as singularity, indis-
cretion, and intemperate zeal; and with 
them a lively preacher, or a lively Chris-
tian, is but a heady fellow. These men love 
not holiness as holiness (for then they 
would love the height of holiness) and 
therefore, are undoubtedly rotten at heart, 
whatever good opinion they have of them-
selves. 

7. The resting in a certain pitch of reli-
gion. When they have so much as will save 
them, as they suppose, they look no far-
ther and so show themselves short of true 
grace, which will ever put men upon aspir-
ing to far ther perfecting.J . 

8. The predominant love of the world. 
This is the sure evidence of an unsancti-
fied heart. § . , , ^ 

But how close doth this sm lurk oftenr 
times under the fair covert of outward pro-
fession !|| Yea, such power of deceit is there 
in this sin, that many times when every-

* Psa. cxliii. 2. Phil. iii. 9. Isa. lxiv. 6. Neh. xiii. 22. 
t Phil. iii. 6. Acts ix. 1. t Phil. iii. 13. 
| Mark x. 22. 1 John ii. 15. II Luke viii. 14. 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

body else can see the man's worldliness 
and covetousness, he cannot see it himself , 
but hath so many colours and excuses, and 
pretences for his eagerness on the world, 
that he doth blind his own eyes, and perish 
in his self-deceit. How many professors 
are there, with whom the world hath more 
of their hearts and affections than Christ, 
who mind earthly things, and thereby are 
evidently af ter the flesh, and likely to end 
in destruction!* Yet ask these men, and 
they will telL you confidently, they prize 
Christ above all; God forbid else! and see 
not their own earthly-mindedness, for want 
of a narrow observation of the workings 
of their own hearts. Did they but careful-
ly search, they would find that their great-
est content is in the world,f and the great-
est care and main endeavour is to get and 
secure the world, which are the certain 
discoveries of an unconverted sinner. May 
the professing part of the world take earn-
est heed that they perish not by the hand 
of this sin unobserved. Men may be, and 
often are, kept off from Christ as effectual-
ly by the inordinate love of lawful com-
forts, as by the most unlawful courses.!- . 

9. Reigning malice and envy against 
those that disrespect them, and are injur-
ious to them.§ 0 how do many, that seem 
to be religious remember injuries and car-
ry grudges, and will return men as good as 

* Rom. viii. 5. Phil. iii. 19. t Luke xii. 19. 
t Matt. xxi. 5. Luke xiv. 18, 24. § 1 John ii. 9, 11. 



94 THE MARKS OF 

they bring, rendering evil for evil, loving 
to take revenge, wishing evil to them that 
wrong them, directly against the rule of 
the gospel, the pattern of Christ, and the 
nature of God I* Doubtless where this evil 
is kept boiling in the heart and is not hat-
ed, resisted, mortified, but doth habitually 
prevail, that person is in the very gall of 
bitterness, and in a state of death.f 

Reader, doth nothing of this touch thee? 
Art thou in none of the forementioned 
ranks! 0 search and search again; take 
thy heart solemnly to task. Woe unto thee, 
if af ter all thy profession thou shouldst 
be found under the power of ignorance, 
lost in formality, drowned in earthly-
mindedness, envenomed with malice, exalt-
ed in an opinion of thine own righteous-
ness, leavened with hypocrisy and carnal 
ends in God's service, imbittered against 
strictness; this would be a sad discovery 
that all thy religion were in vain. But I 
must proceed. 

10. Unmortified pride. When men love 
the praise of men more than the praise of 
God, and set their hearts upon men's es-
teem, applause, and approbation, it is most 
certain they are yet in their sins, and 
strangers to true conversion.$ When men 
see not nor complain, nor groan under the 
pride of their own hearts, it is a sign they 
are quite dead in sin. O, how secretly doth 

•Rom. xii. 14, 17. 1 Pet. ii. 21, 23. Neh. ix. 17. 
t Matt, xviii. 34, 35. 1 John iii. 14, 15. 
j John xii. 4?.' GfLl. i. J9T 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

this sin live and reign in many hearts, and 
they know it not, but are very strangers 
to themselves !* 

11. The prevailing love of pleasure.! 
This is a black mark. When men give the 
flesh the liberty that it craves, and pamper 
and please it, and do riot deny and restrain 
it, when their great delight is in gratify-
ing their bellies, and pleasing their sens-
es; whatever appearances they may have 
of religion, all is unsound.J A flesh-pleas-
ing life cannot be pleasing to. God. They 
that are Christs'- have crucified the flesh, 
and are careful to cross it, and keep it 
under as their enemy.§ 

12. Carnal security, or a presumptuous 
ungrounded confidence that their condi-
tion is already good.|| Many cry, peace and 
safety, when sudden destruction is coming 
upon them ;ïf. this was that which kept the 
foolish virgins sleeping, when they should 
have been working; upon their beds, when 
they should have been at the markets.** 
They perceived not their want of oil till 
the bridegroom was come; and while they 
went to buy, thé door was shut, and,J 0 
that these foolish virgins had no success-
ors ! Where is the place, yea, where is the 
house almost, where these do not dwell? 
Men are willing to cherish in themselves, 
upon ever so slight grounds, a hope that 

* John xi. 40. t 2 Tim. iii. 4. 
t Rom. xvi. 18. Titus iii. 3. 
§ Gal. v. 24. 1 Cor. ix. 25, 27. II Rev. iii. 17. 
J 1 Thess. v. 3. ** Matt. xxv. 5, 10. Prov. x. 5. 



96 THE MARKS OF 

their condition is good, and so look out af-
ter a change, and by this means perish m 
their sins. Are you at peace? Show me 
upon what grounds your peace is main-
tained. Is it Scripture peace? Can you 
show the distinguishing marks of a sound 
believer? Can you evidence that you have 
something more than any hypocrite m the 
world ever had? If not, fear this peace 
more than any trouble; and know, that a 
carnal peace doth commonly prove the 
most mortal enemy of the poor soul; and 
whilst it smiles, and kisses, and speaks it 
fair, doth fatally smite it, as it were, un-
der the fifth rib. 

By this time, methinks, I hear my read-
ers crying out with the disciples, Who 
then shall be saved? Set out from among 
our congregations all those ten ranks of 
profane on the one hand, and then besides 
take out all the twelve sorts of close and 
self-deceiving hypocrites on the o t h e r 
hand, and tell me then whether it be not 
a remnant that shall be saved. How few 
will be the sheep that shall be left when 
all these shall be separated and set among 
the goats? For my part, of all my numer-
ous hearers, I have no hope to see any oi 
them in heaven, that are to be found 
among these two and twenty sorts that 
are here mentioned, except by sound con-
version they are brought into another con-
dition. §1 

Application. And now, conscience, do thy 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

office; speak out, and speak home to him 
that heareth or readeth these lines. It 
thou find any of these marks upon him, 

' thou must pronounce him utterly unclean. 
Take not up a lie into thy mouth, speak 
not peace to him to whom God speaks no 
peace Let not lust bribe thee, or self-love 
or carnal prejudice blind thee. I subpoena 
thee from the court of Heaven to come and 
give in evidence. I require thee m the 
name of God to go with me to the search 
of the suspected house. As thou wilt an-
swer it at thy peril, give in a true report 
of the state and case of him that readeth 
this book. Conscience, wilt thou altogether 
hold thy peace at such a time as this? 1 
adjure thee by the living God that thou 
tell us the truth.f Is the man converted, 
or is he not? Doth he allow himself m any 
way of sin, or doth he not? Doth he truly 
love, and please, and prize, and delight in 
God above all other things, or not? Come, 
put it to an issue. 

How long shall this soul live at uncer-
tainties? 0 conscience, bring in thy: ver-
dict. Is this man a new man, or is he not? 
How dost thou find it? Hath there passed 
a thorough and mighty change upon him. 
or not? When was the time, where was the 
place, or what were the means by which 
this thorough change in the new birth was 
wrought in his soul? Speak, conscience; 
or if thou canst not tell time and place, 

* Lev. xiii. 44. t Matt. xxvi. 63. 



98 THE MARKS OF 

canst thou show Scripture evidence that 
the work is done ? Hath the man been ever 
taken off from his false bottom, from the 
false hopes, and false peace wherein once 
he t rusted? Hath he been deeply con-
vinced of sin, and of his lost and undone 
condition and brought out of himself, and 
off from his sins, to give up himself entire-
ly to Jesus Christ? Or, dost thou not find 
him to this day under the power of ignor-
ance, or in the mire of profaneness ? Hast 
thou not found upon him the gains of un-
righteousness ? Dost thou not find him a 
stranger to prayer, a neglecter of the 
word, a lover of this present world? Dost 
thou not often catch him in a lie? Dost 
thou not find his heart fermented with 
malice, or burning with lust, or going a f t 
er his covetousness ? Speak plainly to all 
the forementioned particulars. Canst thou 
acquit this man, this woman, from being 
any of the two and twenty sorts here de-
scribed ? If he be found with any of them, 
set him aside, his portion is not with the 
saints; he must be converted, and made a 
new creature, or else he cannot enter into 
the kingdom of God. 

Beloved, be not your own betrayers, do 
not deceive your own hearts, nor set your 
hands to your own ruin, by a wilful blind-
ing of yourselves. Set up a tribunal in 
you own breasts, bring the word of con-
science together. To the law and to the 
testimony;* hear what the word concludes 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

of your estates. 0 follow the search till 
you have found how the case stands; mis-
take here and perish. And such is the 
treachery of the heart, the subtilty of the 
tempter, and the deceitfulness of sin;* all 
conspire to flatter and deceive the poor 
soul, and withal, so common and easy it is 
to be mistaken, that it is a thousand to 
one but you will be deceived, unless you be 
very careful, and thorough, and impartial 
in the inquiry into your spiritual condi-
tion. 0 , therefore, ply your work, go to 
the bottom, search with candles, weigh 
you in the balance, come to the standard 
of the sanctuary, bring your coin to the 
touchstone. You have the archest cheats 
in the world to deal with, a world of coun-
terfeit coin is going; happy is he that 
takes no counters for gold. Satan is mas-
ter of deceit; he can draw to the life, he 
is perfect in the trade, there is nothing 
but he can imitate. 

You cannot wish for any grace, but he 
can fit you to an hair with counterfeit. 
Trade warily, look on every piece you take, 
be jealous, t rust not so much as your own 
hearts. Run to God to search you and t ry 
you; to examine you, and prove your 
reins.f If other helps suffice not to bring 
all to an issue, but you are still at a loss, 
opeh your cases faithfully to some godly 

* Jeft xvii. 9. 2 Cor. xi. 3. Heb. in. 13. 
tPsa . xxvi. 2. cxxxix. 23, 24. 
§ 2 Pet. i. 10. 

* yiii. ?0. 



102 'THE MISERIES OP 

and faithful minister;J rest not till you 
have put the business of your eternal wel-
fare out of question. § 0 searcher of hearts, 
put thou this soul upon, and help him in 
the search! 

CHAPTER V. 
SHOWING THE MISERIES OP THE 

UNCONVERTED 

So unspeakably dreadful is the case of 
every unconverted soul, tha t I have some-
times thought, if I could but convince men 
that they are yet unregenerate, the work 
were upon the matter done. 

But I sadly experience, that such a spir-
it of sloth and slumber,* possesseth the 
unsanctified, that though they be con-
vinced that they are yet unconverted, yet 
they oftentimes carelessly sit still; and 
what through the avocation of sensual 
pleasures, or hurry of worldly business, or 
noise and clamour of earthly cares, and 
lusts, and affections,f the voice of con-
science is drowned, and men go no fur ther 
than some cold wishes, and general pur-
poses of repenting and amending. J 

It is, therefore, of high necessity that I 
do not only convince men that they are-un-
converted, but that I also endeavour to 
bring them to a sense of the fearful mis-
ery of this state. 

But here I find myself aground at first 
putting forth. What tongue can tell the 

•Rom. xi. 8. Matt. xiii. 15. t Luke viii. 14. 
JMal. ii. 7. § 2 Pet. i. 10. % Acts xxiv. 25. 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

heirs of hell sufficiently of their misery 
I unless it were the rich man's in that 
I flame?* Where is the ready writer whose 
I pen can decypher their misery that are 
I without God in the world?! This cannot 
I fully be done, unless we know the infinite 
I ocean of that bliss and perfection which is 
I in that God, which a state of sin doth ex-
I elude men from. Who knoweth (saith 
I Moses) the power of thine anger I t And 
I how shall I tell men that which I do not 
I know? Yet so much we know, as one 
I would think would shake the Jieart of that 
I man that had the least degree of spiritual 
I life and sense. . 

But this is yet the more posing diffi-
I culty, tha t I am to speak to them that are 
I without sense. Alas I this is not the least 
I part of man's misery upon him, that he is 

dead, stark dead in trespasses and sins.§ 
Could I bring paradise into view, or rep-

resent the kingdom of heaven to as much 
advantage as the tempter did the king-
doms of the world, and all the glory there-
of, to our Saviour; or could I uncover the 
face of the deep and devouring gulf of 
Tophet, in all its terrors, and open the 
gates of the infernal furnace, alas! he 
hath no eyes to see it. Could I point out 
the beauties of holiness or glory of the 
gospel, to the life; or could I bring above 
board the more than diabolical deformity 
and ugliness of sin, he can no more judge 

• L u k e x v i . 24. t Eph. ii. 12. tPsa. ,xc . 11. 
§ Eph. ii. 1. II Matt. xiii. 14, 15. 



102 'THE MISERIES OP 

of the loveliness and beauty of the one, and 
the filthiness and hatefulness of the other, 
than a blind man of colours. He is alienated 
from the life of God through the ignorance 
that is in him, because of the blindness 
of his heart;* he neither doth nor can 
know the things of God, because they are 
spiritually discerned;! his eyes cannot be 
savingly opened but by converting grace;% 
he is a child of darkness, and walks in 
darkness ;§ yea, the light in him is dark-
ness. ||. 

Shall I ring his knell, or read his sen-
tence, or sound in his ear the terrible 
trump of God's judgments, that one would 
think should make both his ears to tingle, 
and strike him into Belshazzar's fit, even 
to pale his countenance, and loosen his 
joints, and make his knees smite one 
against another? Yet, alas! he-perceives 
me not, he hath no ears to hear. Or shall 
I call up the daughters of music, and sing 
the song of Moses and of the Lamb? Yet 
he will not be stirred. Shall I allure him 
with the joyful sound, and lovely song, and 
glad tidings of the gospel;.with the most 
sweet and inviting calls, comforts, and cor-
dials of the divine promises, so exceeding 
great and precious ? It will not affect him 
savingly, unless I could find him ears.fi as 
well as tell him the news. 

Which way shall I come at the miserable 
* Eph. iv. 18. f l Cor. ii. 14. | Acts xxvi. 18. 
§ 1 John 1, 6. || Matt. vi. 23. 1! Matt. xiii. 15. 



M l E UNCONVERTED 103 

objects that I have to deal with? Who 
shall make the heart of stone "to relent,* 
or the lifeless carcase to feel and move ? 
That God alone who is able of stones to 
raise up children unto Abraham ;f that rais-
eth the dead,$ and melteth the mountains,§ 
and strikes water out of the flints ;|l that 
loves to work like himself, beyond the 
hope and belief of man; that peopleth his 
church with dry bones, and planteth his 
orchard with dry sticks; he is able to do 
this. Therefore, I bow my knee to the 
most high God,11 and as our Saviour pray-
ed at the sepulchre of Lazarus,** and the 
Shunammite ran to the man of God for 
her dead child ;ff so doth your mourning 
minister kneel about your graves, and car-
ry you in the arms of prayer to that God 
in whom your help is found. 

0 thou all-powerful Jehovah, that work-
est and none can hinder thee; that hast 
the keys of death and hell, pity thou the 
poor souls that lie here entombed, and roll 
away the gravestone, and say, as to Laz-
arus, Come for th; lighten thou this dark-
ness, 0 Inaccessible Light, and let the day-
spring from on high visit the dark regions 
of the dead, to whom I speak, for thou 
canst open the eyes that death itself hath 
closed. Thou that formedst the ear, canst 
restore the hearing. Say thou to these 

* Zech. vii. 11, 12. f Matt. iii. 9. t 2 COP. i. 9. 
§ Neh. i. 5. || Deut. viii. 15. fl Eph. iii. 14. 
** John xi. 38, 41. f t 2 Kings iv. 25. 



104 'THE MISERIES OP 

ears, Ephphatha, and they shall be opened. 
Give thou eyes to see thine excellencies, a 
taste that may relish thy sweetness, a 
scent that may savour thy ointments, a 
feeling that may discern the privilege of 
thy favour, the burden of thy wrath, the 
intolerable weight of unpardoned sin; and 
give thy servants order to prophesy to the 
dry bones; and let the effects of this 
prophecy be as those of thy prophet, when 
he prophesied the valley of dry bones into 
a living army, exceeding great.* 

But I must proceed, as I am able, to un-
fold that mystery which, I confess, no 
tongue can fully unfold, no heart can thor-
oughly comprehend. Know, therefore, tha t 
while thou ar t unconverted, 

1st. The infinite God is engaged against 
thee. It is no small part of thy misery that 
thou art without God.f How doth Micah 
run crying af ter the Danites, Ye have tak-
en away my gods, and what have I more ?t 
O what a mourning then must thou lift up 
that ar t without God, that canst lay no 
claim to him without daring usurpation! 
Thou mayest say of God as Sheba of Dav-
id, We have no part in David, neither have 
we inheritance in the son of Jesse. § How 
painful and piercing, a moan is that of 
Saul in his extremity! The Philistines are 
upon me, and God is departed from me!|| 
But what will ye do, 0 sinners, in your day 

* Ezejk. xxxvii. 1, &c. t Eph. ii. 12. 
t Judges xviii. 23, 24. § 2 Sam. xx. 1. 
|| 1 Sam. xxviii. 15. 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

I of visitation! Whither will ye flee for help? 
I where will you leave your glory?* What 
I will ye do when the Philistines are upon 
I you; when the world shall take its eternal 

leave of you; when you must bid your 
friends, houses, and lands farewell for 
evermore? What will ye do then, I say, 

I that have no God to go to? Will you call 
I on him? Will you cry to him for help? 
I Alas! he will not own you;f he will not 
I take any notice of you, but send you away 
I with, I never knew you.J They that know 
I what it is to have a God to go to, a God to 
I live upon, they know a little what a fear-
I ful misery it is to be without God. This 
I made that holy man cry out, Let me have 
I a God, or nothing. Let me know him and 
I his will, and what will please him, and how 
I I may come to enjoy him; or would I had 
I never had an understanding to know any 
I thing, &c. 

But.thou art jiot only without God, but 
God is against tfree.§ 0 ! if God would but 
stand neuter, though he did not own or 
help the poor sinner, his case were not so 

I deeply miserable, though God should give 
up the poor creature to the will of his ene-

I mies, to do their worst with him; though 
he should deliver him over to the torment-
ors ;|| that devils should tear and torture 
him to their utmost power and skill, yet 
this were not half so fearful. But God 

* Isa. x. 3. t Prov. i. 28, 29. t Matt. vii. 23. 
§ Ezek. v. 8, 9. Nahum ii. 13. ¡fl Matt. xviii. 34. 



106 'THE MISERIES OP 

will set himself against the sinner; and, 
believe it, it is a fearful thing to fall into 
the hands of the living God;* there is no 
friend like him, no enemy like him. As 
much as heaven is above the earth—om-
nipotence above impotence—infinity above 
nullity—so much more horrible is it to fall 
into the hands of the living God, than into 
the paws of bears or lions, yea furies or 
devils. God himself will be thy tormentor; 
thy destruction shall come from the pres-
ence of the Lord.f Tophet is deep and 
large, and the wrath of the Lord, like a 
river of brimstone, doth kindle it.J If God 
be against thee who shall be for thee ? If 
one man sin against another, the judge 
shall judge him; but if a man sin against 
the Lord, who shall intreat for him?§ 
Thou, even thou ar t to be feared; and who 
shall stand in thy sight when once thou 
ar t angry TH'Who is that god that shall de-
liver you out of his hands f | Can Mam-
mon? Riches profit not in the day of 
wrath?** Can kings or warriors? No. 
They shall cry to the mountains and rocks 
to fall on them, and hide them from the 
face of him that sitteth on the throne, and 
from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great 
day of his wrath is come, and who shall be. 
able to stand ? f t 

Sinner! Methinks this should go like a 
dagger to thy heart, to know that God is 

* Heb. x. 9. f 2 Thess. i. 9. t l s a . xxx. 33. 
§1 Sam. x. 15. - || Psa. lxxvi. 7. || Dan. iii. 15. 
** Proy. xi. 1. f t Rey, yi. 5, 17. 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

thine enemy. 0 , whither wilt thou go? 
Where wilt thou shelter thee ? There is no 
hope for thee, unless thou lay down thy 
weapons, and sue out thy pardon, and get 
Christ to stand thy friend, and make thy 
peace. If it were not for this, thou «light-
est go into some howling wilderness, and 
there pine in sorrow, and run mad for 
anguish of heart and horrible despair. But 
in Christ there is a possibility of mercy 
for thee; yea, a proffer of mercy to thee, 
that thou mayest have God to be more for 
thee, than he is now against thee; but if 
thou wilt not forsake thy sins, nor turn 
thoroughly and to some purpose to God, by 
a sound conversion, the wrath of God abid-
eth on'thee, and he proclaimeth himself to 
be against thee, as in the prophet.*- There-
fore, thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I, 
even I am against thee. 

I. His face is against thee.f The face of 
the Lord is against them that do evil, to 
cut off the remembrance of them. Woe 
unto them whom God shall set his .face 
against. When he did but look on the host 
of the Egyptians, how terrible was ,the 
consequence! I will set my face against 
that man, and will make him a sign and a 
proverb, and will cut him off from the 
midst of my people, and you shall know 
that I am the Lord.J 

II. His heart is against thee. He hateth 
all the workers of iniquity; man, doth not 

* Ezek. v. 8. f P s a . xxxiv. 16. | Ezek. xiv. 8. 



108 'THE MISERIES OP 

thy heart tremble to think of thy being an 
object of God's hatred ? Though Moses and 
Samuel stood before me, yet my mind 
could not be towards this people; cast 
them out of my sight.* My soul loatheth 
them, and their souls also abhorred me.f 

III. His hand is against thee.J All his 
attributes are against thee. 

First, his justice is like a flaming sword 
unsheathed against thee. If I whet my 
glittering sword, and my hand take hold 
on judgment, I will render vengeance to 
mine adversaries, and will reward them 
that hate me. I will make mine arrows 
drunk with blood. § 

So exact is justice, that it will by no 
means clear the guilty. || God will not dis-
charge thee, he will not hold thee guilt-
less ;tr "but will require the whole debt in 
person of thee; unless thou canst make a 
Scripture claim to Christ, and his satisfac-
tion. When the enlightened sinner looks 
on justice, and sees the balance in which 
he is to be weighed, and the sword by 
which he must be executed, he feels an 
earthquake in his breast. But Satan keeps 
this out of sight, and persuades the soul, 
while he can, that the Lord is all made up 
of mercy, and so lulls it asleep in sin. Di-
vine justice is very strict, it must have 
satisfaction to the utmost farthing, it de-
nounced indignation and wrath, tribula-

* Jer. XV. 1. t Zech. xi. 8. 
11 Sam. xil. 14, 15. § Deut. xxxii. 41, 42. 
II Ex. xxxiv. 7. J Ex. xx. 7. 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

tion and anguish, to every soul that doeth 
evil.* It curseth1 every one that continueth 
not in every thing that is written in the 
law, to do i t . j The justice of God to the 
unpardoned sinner, that hath a sense of 
his misery, is more terrible than the sight 
of the bailiff or creditor to the bankrupt 
debtor, or than the sight of the judge and 
bench to the robber, or of the irons and 
gibbet to the guilty murderer. When jus-
tice sits upon life and death, 0 what a 
dreadful work doth it make with the 
wretched sinner! Bind him hand and foot, 
cast him into utter darkness; there shall 
be weeping and gnashing of teeth.J De-
part from me, ye cursed, into everlasting 
fire.§ This is the terrible sentence that 
justice pronounceth. Why sinner, by this 
severe justice must thou be tried! And, as 
God liveth, this killing sentence shalt thou 
bear, unless thou repent and be converted. 

Secondly, the holiness of God is full of 
antipathy against thee.|| He is not only 
angry with thee, (so he may be with his 
own children) but he hath a fixed, rooted, 
habitual displeasure against thee. He 
loathes thee,H and what is done by thee, 
though for substance commanded by 
him.** God's nature is infinitely contrary 
to sin, and so he cannot but hate a sinner 
out of Christ. 

0 , what misery is this, to be out of the 
* Rom. ii. 8, 9. fGal. Iii. 10. t Matt. xxii. 13. 
§ Matt. xxv. 41. || Psa. v. 4, 5. I Zech. xi. 8. 
** Isa. i. 14. Mai. 1. 10. 



110 ' T H E MISERIES OP 

favour, yea, under the hatred of God,* 
that God who can as easily lay" aside his 
nature, and cease to be God, as not be con-
trary to thee, and detest thee, except thou 
be changed and renewed by grace. O sin-
ner! how darest thou to think of the 
bright and radiant sun of purity, of the 
beauties, the glory of holiness that is in 
God! The stars are not pure in his sight.f 
He humbles himself to behold things that 
are done in heaven.J O those light and 
sparkling eyes of his! What do they spy 
in thee? And thou hast no interest in 
Christ neither, tha t he should plead for 
thee. Methinks I should hear thee crying 
out, astonished, with the Bethshemites, 
Who shall stand before this Lord God!§ 

Thirdly, the power of God is mounted 
like a mighty cannon against thee. The 
glory of God's power is to be displayed in 
the wonderful confusion and destruction 
of them that obey not the gospel. || He will 
make his power known in them.fi 1 How 
mightily he can torment them! For this 
end he raised them up that he may make 
his power known.** 0 man! art thou able 
to make thy part good with thy Maker? 
No more than a silly reed against the ced-
ars of God, or a little cock-boat against 
the tumbling ocean, or the children's bub-
bles against the blustering winds. Sinner 

* Eccles. v. 6. Hos. ix. 15. f Job. xxv. 5 ' 
I Psa. cxiii; 6. § 1 Sam. vi. 20. 
II 2 Thess. i. 8, 9. IRom. ix. 22. 
** Rom. ix. 17. 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

the power of God's anger is against thee;* 
and power and anger together make fear-
ful work. It were better thou hadst all the 
world in arms against thee, than to have 
the power of God against thee. There is no 
escaping his hands, no breaking his prison. 
The thunder of his power who can under-
s tand?! Unhappy man tha t shall under-
stand it by feeling i t ! If he will contend 
with him, he cannot answer him one of a 
thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty 
in strength; who hath hardened himself 
against him and prospered ! Which remov-
eth the mountains, and they know it not; 
which overturneth them in his anger; 
which shaketh the earth out of her place, 
and the pillars thereof tremble; which 
commandeth the sun, and it nse th not, 
and sealeth up the stars. Behold he tak-
eth away, who can hinder him ? Who will 
say unto him, What doest thou? If God 
will not withdraw his anger, the proud 
helpers do stoop under him.J And art thou 
a fit match for such an antagonist? 0 ! 
consider this, you that forget God, lest he 
tear you in pieces and there be none to 
deliver you.§ Submit to mercy; let not 
dust and stubble stand out against the Al-
mighty; set not briers and thorns against 
him in battle, Jest he go through them, and 
consume them together; but lay hold on 
his strength, that you may make peace 
with him. II Woe unto him that striveth 

• Psa. xc. 11. t Job. xxvl. 14. t Job. ix. 5, &c. 
§ Psa. 1. 22. ' || Isa. xxvii. 4, 5. 



1 1 2 THE MISERIES OP 
with his Maker.ff 

Fourthly, the wisdom of God is set to 
rum thee. He hath ordained his arrows 
and prepared instruments of death, and 
made all things ready.* His counsels are 
against thee, to contrive thy destruction.! 
He laughs to see how thou wilt be taken 
and ensnared in the evil day.J The Lord 
shall laugh at him, for he seeth that his 
day is coming. He sees how thou wilt come 
down mightily in a moment; how thou wilt 
wring thy hands, tear thy hair, eat thy 
flesh, and gnash thy teeth for anguish 
and astonishment of heart, when tfiou 
seest thou art fallen remedylessly into the 
pit oi destruction. 

Fifthly the truth of God is sworn 
against thee.§ If he be true and faithful 
thou must perish if thou go on.|| Unless 
he be false to his word, thou must die, ex-
cept thou repent.1I If we believe not, yet 

^ f a i t , h f u l> he cannot deny him-
self,** that is, he is faithful to his threat-

,We11 a-S p r o m i s e s ' a n d will show 
his faithfulness m our confusion, if we be-
heve not. God hath told thee, as plain as 
it can be spoken, that if he wash thee not 
thou hast no part in h i m j f t that if thou 

ex V c P t
a ^ e r ¥ fleSh t h 0 U 1 1 1 thai except thou be converted thou shalt in no 

l f i e S a e n x i v r 9 m t 0
 t h e k i n ^ d o m of heaven ;§§ . 

* Psa. vli. 12, 13. t Tpr vT/iii 11 + t>„ 
§ Psa. xcv. 11 . I s l S S f f i M S l 
** 2 Tim. ii. 13. " ' 6 XUJ- 3 : W H 
i t Rom. viii. i s 5 S M ^

n Xi"' P -
§S Matt. xviii. 3. 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

and he abideth faithful, he cannot deny 
himself. Beloved as the immutable faith-
fulness of God in his promise and oath af-
fords believers strong consolation,* so they 
are to unbelievers for strong consternation 
and confusion. 0- sinner, tell me, what 
shift dost thou make to think of all the 
threatenings of God's word, that stand 
upon record against thee? Dost thou be-
lieve they are t ru th or not? If not, thou 
art a wretched infidel, and not a Christian; 
and therefore give over the name and 
hopes of a Christian. But if thou dost 
believe them, 0 heart of steel that thou 
hast, that canst walk up and down m 
quiet, when the t ru th and faithfulness ot 
God is engaged to destroy thee! So that 
if the Almighty can do it, thou shalt sure-
ly perish and be damned. Why, man! the 
whole book of God doth testify against 
thee, while thou remainest unsanctified. I t 
condemns thee in every leaf, and is to thee 
like Ezekiel's roll, written within and with-
out with lamentation, and mourning, and 
woe ;t and all this shall surely come upon 
thee, and overtake t hee j except thou re-
pent. Heaven' and earth shall pass away, 
but one jot or tittle of this word shall nev-
er pass away.§ 

Now put all this together, and tell me 
if the case of the unconverted be not de-
plorably miserable. As we read of some 
persons that had bound themselves in an 
oath, and in a curse, to kill Paul; so thou 

* Heb. vi. 18. t Ezek. ii. 10. 
t Deut. xxviii. 15. i Matt. v. 18. 



114 THE MISERIES OF 

must know, 0 sinner, to thy terror, that 
all the attributes of the infinite God are 
bound in an oath to destroy thee.* 0 man ' 
what wilt thou do? Whither wilt thou flee? 
If God's omniscience can find thee, thou 
shalt not escape. If the true and faithful 
God will save his oath, perish thou must, 
except thou believe and repent. If the Al-
mighty hath power to torment thee, thou 
shalt be perfectly miserable in soul and 
body to all eternity, unless it be prevented 
by speedy conversion. 

II. The whole creation of God is against 
thee. The whole creation (saith Paul) 
groaneth and travaileth in pain.f But what 
is it the creation groaneth under? Why 
the fearful abuse that it is subject to, in 
serving the lusts of unsanctified men. And 
what is it that the creation groaneth for? 
Why, for freedom and liberty from this 
abuse; for the creature is very unwillingly 
subject to this bondage.! If the unreason-
able and inanimate creatures had speech 
and reason, they would cry out under it as 
a bondage unsufferable to be abused by 
the ungodly, contrary to their natures and 
the ends that the great Creator made them 
for. While the Lord of hosts is. against 
thee, be cure the host of the Lord is 
against thee, and all the creatures as it 
were up in arms, till upon a man's con-
version the controversy being taken up be-
tween God and him, he makes a covenant 
of peace with the creatures for him § 

* Heb. iii. 18. t Rom. viii. 22. t Rom. viii. 19-21 
§ Job v. 22—24. Hosea ii. 18—20. 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

III The roaring lion hath his full power 
upon'thee.* Thou art fast in the paw_ol 
that lion that is greedy to devour; m the 
snare of the devil, led captive by him at 
his will.t This is the spirit that worketh 
in the children of disobedience ;J his 
drudges they are, and his lusts they do 
He is ruler of the darkness of this worlds 
that is, of ignorant sinners that live m 
darkness. You pity the poor Indians that 
worship the devil for their God, but little 
think it is your own case. Why it is the 
common misery of all the unsanctified, that 
the devil is their God.|| Not that they do 
intend to do him homage and worship; 
they will be ready to defy him, and him 
that should say so of them; but all this 
while they serve him, and come and go at 
his beck, and live under his government; 
his servants ye are to whom ye yield your-
selves to obey.H Doubtless the liar intends 
not a service to satan, but his own advant-
age* yet it is he that stands in the corner 
unobserved, and putteth the things into 
his heart.** Questionless, Judas when he 
sold his master for money, and the Chal-
deans and Sabeans, when they plundered 
Job, intended not to do the devil a pleas-
ure but to satisfy their own covetous 
thirst- yet it was he that actuated them 
in their wickedness,tt Men may be very 

* 1 Pet v 8 t 2 Tim. ii. 26. t Eph. ii. 2. 
§ Eph. vi. 12. 11.2 Cor. iv. 4.. . n Rom. vi. 16. 
** Acts. v. 3. John viii. 44. 
t t John xiii. 27. Job. i. 12, 15, 17. 



116 'THE MISERIES OP 

slaves and drudges for the devil, and nev-
er know it ; nay, they may please them-
selves in the thoughts of a happy liberty.* 

Art thou yet in ignorance, and not turn-
ed from darkness to light ? Why, thou ar t 
under the power of satan.f Dost thou live 
in the ordinary and wilful practice of any 
known sin? Know that thou art of the 
devil.J Dost thou live in strife, or envy, or 
malice? Verily, he is thy father.§ 0 dread-
ful case! However satan may provide his 
slaves with divers pleasures ;|| yet it is but 
to draw them into endless perdition. The 
serpent comes with the apple in his mouth, 
0 ! but, with Eve, thou seest not the dead- . I 
ly sting in his tail. He that is now thy 
tempter, will one day be thy tormentor. 0 , 
that I could but give thee to see how black 
a master thou servest, how filthy a drudg-
ery thou dost, how merciless a tyrant thou 
gratifiest, all whose pleasure is to set thee 
on work to make thy perdition and damna-
tion sure, and to heat the furnace hotter 
and hotter, in which thou must burn for 
millions and millions of ages. 

IV. The guilt of all thy sins lies like a 
mountain upon thee. Poor soul! thou feel-
est it not, but this is that which seals thy 
misery upon thee. While unconverted none 
of thy sins are blotted out;fl they are all 
upon the score against thee. Regeneration 
and remission are never separated; the un-
sanctified are unquestionably unjustified 

* 2 Pet. ii. 19. t Acts. xxvi. 18. t 1 John iii. 8. 
I John viii. 40, 41. || Titus iii. 3. -fl Acts iii. 19. 

* 1 Cor. vi. 11. 1 Pet. i. 2. Heb. ix. 14. 



T H E U N C O N V E R T E D 1 1 7 

and unpardoned.* Beloved, it is a fearful 
thing to be in debt, but above all m God s 
debt • for there is no arrest so formidable 
as his no prison so horrible as his. Look 
u p o n an enlightened sinner, who feels the 
weight of his own guilt, 0 how fr ightful 
I r e his looks, how fearful are his com-
plaints! his comforts are turned into 
wormwood, and his moisture into drought, 
and his sleep is departed from his eyes 

How light soever you may make ol it 
now^ you will one day find the guilt of un-
pardoned sin to be a heavy burden It m 
a millstone; whoever falleth upon it shall 
be broken; but upon whomsoever it shall 
fall, it shall grind him to powder.f What 
work did it make with our blessed Sav-
iour' I t pressed the very blood out of his 
veins, and broke all his bones; and if it 
did this in the green tree, what will it do 

" t h f n k of thy case in time! Canst thou 
think of that threat without trembling, Ye 
shall die in. your sins?! 1 b e t t e r ¡ w e « g | 
for thee to die in a 3 ail, m a ditch m a 
dungeon, than to die in thy sms. If death 
as it will take away all thy other comforts, 
would take away thy sins too, it were some 
mitigation; but thy sms will follow thee 
when thy friends leave thee, and all world-
ly enjoyments shake hands with thee. Thy 
sins will not die with thee,§ as a prisoner s 
other debts will, but they will to judgment 

+ Matt. xxi. 44. i J°hn ¡ p 
§ 2 Cor. v. 10. Rev. xx. 12. 



120 'THE MISERIES OP 

with thee, there to be thy accusers; and 
they will to hell with thee, there to .be thy 
tormentors. Better to have so many 
friends and furies about thee, than thy 
sms to fall upon thee and fasten on thee 
0 the Work that these will make thee! 0 
look over thy debts in time, how much 
thou ar t in the books of every one of God's 
laws; how is every one of God's command-
ments ready to arrest thee, and seize thee 
by the throat, for the innumerable bonds 
it hath upon thee. What wilt thou do then, 
when they shall all together come in 
against thee ? Hold open the eyes of con-
science to consider this, that thou mayest 
despair of thyself, and be driven to Christ 
and fly for refuge to lay hold of the hope 
that is set before thee.* 

V. Thy raging lusts do miserably en-
slave thee. While unconverted thou art a 
very servant of sin, it reigns over thee 
and holds thee under its dominion, till 
thou ar t brought within the bonds of 
God s covenant, f Now there is not such 
another tryant as sin. 0 the filthy and 
fearful work that it doth engage its serv-
ants in! Would it not pierce a man's heart 
to see a company of poor creatures drudg-
ing and toiling, only to heap up faggots to 
burn themselves! Why this is the constant 
employment of all sin's drudges. Even 
while they bless themselves in their un-

* Heb. vi. 18. 
t John viii. 34, 36 Titus iii. 3. Rom. vi 12 14 

Ifi 17 ' 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

righteous gains, while they sing ¿nd swill 
in pleasures, they are but treasuring up 
wrath and vengeance for their eternal 
burning; they are but laying m powder 
and bullet, and adding to the p i l e o f T o -
phet, and flinging m oil to make the flame 
rage the fiercer. Who would serve such a 
master, whose work is drudgery, and 
whose wages is death?* 

What a woful spectacle was the poor 
wretch who was possessed with the legion! 
Would it not have grieved thy heart to 
have seen him among the tombs cutting 
and wounding himself ?t This is thy case, 
such is thy work, every stroke is a thrust 
at thy heart.* Conscience indeed is now 
asleep, but when death and judgment shall 
bring thee to thy senses, then wilt thou 
feel the raging smart and anguish of every 
wound. 

VI The furnace of eternal vengeance is 
heated ready for thee.§ Hell and destruc-
tion open their mouths upon thee, they 
gape and groan for thee;| | waiting as it 
were with a greedy eye, as thou standest 
on the brink, when thou wilt drop m. It 
the wrath of man be as the roaring of a 
lion,H more heavy than the sand;** what 
is the wrath of the infinite God? H the 
burning furnace, heated m Nebuchadnez-
zar's fiery rage, when he commanded it to 

* Rom. vi. 23. t Mark v. 5 t 1 Tim. vl. 10 
| i s * XXX. 33. II Isa. v. m « P r o v " x x - 2-
** Prov. Xxvii. 3. 



120 'THE MISERIES OP 
be made yet seven times hotter, was so 
fierce as to burn up even those that drew 
near it to throw the . three children in;* 
how hot is that burning oven of the Al-
mighty's fury !ft Surely this is seventy 
times seven more fierce. Can thy heart 
endure, or can thy hands be strong in the 
day that I shall deal with thee, saith the 
Lord of Hosts?! Canst thou abide ever-
lasting burnings? Canst thou dwell with 
consuming fire?§ 

0 sinner! stop here and consider if thou 
art a man, and not a senseless block, con-
sider: bethink thyself where thou stand-
est. Why upon the very brink of this 
furnace. As the Lord liveth, and as thy 
soul liveth, there is but one step between 
thee and it.|| Thou knowest not when thou 
liest down, but thou mayest be in it before 
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 condi-
tion as if nothing ailed thee ? If thou put-
test it off, and sayest, This doth, not be-
long to me; look again over the foregoing 
chapter, and tell me the t ru th ; are none of 
these black marks found upon thee ? Do not 
blind thine eyes; do not deceive thyself; 
see thy misery whilst thou mayest prevent 
it. Think what it is to be a vile outcast, 
a damned reprobate, a vessel of wrath, 
into which the Lord will pour out his tor-

* Dan. iii. 19, 22. t Mai. iv. 1. J Ezek. xxii. 14. 
§ Isa. xxxiii. 14. 1 1 Sam. xx. 3. 'If Rom. ix. 22. 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

menting fury while he hath a being.} 
VII. The law discharges all its threats 

and curses at thee.* 0 how dreadfully doth 
it thunder! I t spits fire and brimstone in 
thy face; its words are as drawn swords, 
and as the sharp arrows of the mighty; it 
demands satisfaction to the utmost, and 
cries Justice! Justice! It speaks blood, and 
war, and wounds and death against thee. 
0 the execrations, and plagues, and deaths 
that this murdering piece is loaded with !f 
and thou ar t the mark at which this , shot 
is levelled O man, away to the strong-
hold ;J away from thy sins; haste to the 
sanctuary, the city of refuge,§ even the 
Lord Jesus Christ; hide thee m him, or 
else thou art lost without any hope of re-
covery. 

VIII. The gospel itself bindeth the sen-
tence of eternal damnation upon thee.|| If 
thou continuest in thine impenitent and 
unconverted state, know that the gospel 
denounceth a much sorer condemnation 
than ever would have been for the trans-
gression only of the fir^t covenant. Is it 
not a dreadful case, to have the gospel 
itself thunder out threats of damnation? 
To have the Lord roar from mount Sion 
against thee?H Hear the terror of the 
Lord. He that believeth not shall be 
damned. Except ye repent ye shall all 
perish.** This is the condemnation, that 

* Gal. iii. 10. Rom. vii. , t Deut. xxviii. 15. 
t Zech. ix. 12. § Heb. xiii. 13. i II Mark xvi. 16. 
fl Joel iii. 16. ** Luke xiii. 3. 



122 'THE MISERIES OP 

light is come into the world, and men love 
darkness rather than light.ff He that be-
lieveth not, the wrath of God abideth on 
him.* If the word spoken by angels was 
steadfast, and every transgression and dis-
obedience received a just recompense of 
reward, how shall we escape if we neglect 
so great salvation ?f He that despised 
Moses's law, died without mercy. Of how 
much sorer punishment shall he be thought 
worthy, tha t hath trampled under foot the 
Son of God 

Application. 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 sor-
row, thou shalt feel what thou wouldst not 
believe. And if it be true, what dost thou 
mean to loiter and linger in such a case 
as this ? 

Hear what the Lord saith. Fear ye not 
me ? saith the Lord, will ye not tremble at 
my presence ?§ O sinners, do you make 
light of the wrath to come?|| I am sure 
there is a time coming when you will not 
make light of it. Why, the very devils do 
believe 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.cock-atrice's den?.Will you dance 

t t John iii. 19. 
* John iii. 36. t Heb. ii. 2, 3. t Heb'. x. 28, 29. 
§ Jer. v. 22. || Matt. iii. 7. J James ii. 19. 



THE UNCONVERTED |PJ? 

upon the fire till you are burnt? Or dally 
with devouring wrath, as if you were in-
different whether you did escape or endure 
it? 0 madness of folly! Solomon's madr 
man, that casteth firebrands, arrows, and 
death, and saith, Am I not in jest?* is 
nothing so distracted as the wilful sinner ;f 
that goeth on in his unconverted state, 
without sense, as if nothing ailed him. The 
man that runs on the cannon's mouth, and 
sports with his blood, or lets out his life 
in a frolic, is sensible, sober, and serious, 
to him that goeth on still in his tres-
passes;! for he stretcheth out his hand 
against God, and strengthens himself 
against the Almighty: he runneth upon 
him, even upon his neck, upon the thick 
bosses of his buckler.§ Is it wisdom to 
dally with the second death, or to venture 
into the lake that burneth with fire and 
br imstone* as if thou wert but going to 
wash thee, or to swim for thy recreation ? 
What shall I say? I can find out no expres-
sion, no comparison, whereby to set forth 
the dreadful distraction of that soul that 
continues to go on in sin. 

Awake, awake,If 0 sinner! arise, and 
thy flight. There is but one door that thou 
mayest flee by, and that is the strait door 
of conversion and the new birth. Unless 
thou turn unfeignedly from all thy sins, 
and come to Jesus Christ, and take him 

* Prov. xxvi. 18. t Luke xv. 17. 4 Psa. lxviii. 21. 
§ Job. xv. 25, 26. || Rev. xxi. 8. fl Eph. v. 14, 

11 



124 THE MISERIES OF 
for the Lord thy righteousness, and walk 
in him in holiness and newness of life; as 
the Lord liveth, it is not more certain that 
thou art now out of hell, than that thou 
shalt without fail be in it, but a few days 
or nights from hence. 0 set thy heart to 
think of thy case. Is not thine everlasting 
misery or welfare tha t 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 
his misery lies upon thee, what a case ar t 
thou in? Is it for one that hath his senses, 
to live in such a condition, and not to 
make all possible expedition for preventing 
his ut ter ruin? 0 man! who hath be-
witched thee?* that in the present life 
thou shouldst be wise enough to forecast 
thy business, foresee thy danger, and pre-
vent thy mischief; but in matters of ever-
lasting consequence shouldst be slight and 
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 noisome 
prison, fettered with lusts, working out 
thy own damnation; and is not this worth 

* Gal. iii. i 



THE UNCONVERTED 125 
the considering? Wilt thou make light of 
all the terrors of the law, of all its curses 
and thunderbolts, as if they were but the 
report of children's pop-guns, or thou wast 
to war with their paper pellets? Dost thou 
laugh at hell and destruction, or canst 
thou drink the envenomed cup of the Al-
mighty's fury, as it were but a common 
potion? _ 

Gird up now thy loins like a man, tor 1 
will demand of thee, and answer thou me.* 
Art thou such a leviathan 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 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 ?t Art thou like the horse 
that paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth 
in his strength, who goeth out to meet the 
armed men? Dost thou mock at fear, and 
are not affrighted, neither turnest back 
from God's sword, when his quiver rattleth 
against thee, the glistering spear and the 
shield ?t Well, if the threats and calls of 
the word will not frighten "thee, nor awak-
en thee, I am sure death and judgment 
will. 0 ! what wilt thou do when the Lord 
cometh forth against thee, and in his fury 
falleth upon thee, and thou shalt feel what 
thou readest? If, when Daniel's enemies 

* Job. xl. 7. t Job. xli. t Job xxxix. 21—23. 



126 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

were cast into the den of lions, both they 
and their wives and their children, the 
lions had the mastery of them, and broke 
their bones in pieces or ever they came at 
the bottom of the den,* what shall be done 
with thee when thou fallest into the hands 
of the living God, when he shall gripe thee 
in his iron arms, and grind and crush thee 
into a thousand pieces in his wrath ? 

0 do not then contend with God ! Repent 
and be converted so none of this shall come 
upon thee.f Seek ye the Lord while he may 
be found, call upon him while he is near. 
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the 
unrighteous man his thoughts ; let him re-
turn unto the Lord, and he will have mer-
cy on him, and to our God, for he will 
abundantly pardon. 

CHAPTER VI 
CONTAINING DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION 

Mark x. 17. And there came one and kneeled to him, 
and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that 
I may inherit eternal life? 

Before thou readest these Directions, I 
advise they, yea, I 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 thy state) and call in his assist-
ance and blessing, that they may succeed. 
And as I have sought the Lord, and con-

* Pan. Yi, 24. f Isaial} lv, 6, 7, 



DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION 12? 

suited his oracles what advice to give thee, 
so must thou entertain it with that awe, 
reverence, and purpose of obedience, that 
the word of the living God doth require. 

Now then attend; set thine heart unto 
all that I shall testify unto thee this day; 
for i t is not a vain thing, it is your life.* 
This is the end of all tha t has been spoken 
hitherto, to bring you to set upon turning, 
and making use of God's means for your 
conversion. I would not trouble you nor 
torment you before your time, with the 
forethought 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, as one 
speaks, to let you alone, that you might 
take in that little poor comfort that you 
are capable of in this world; 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; I set the way of life before you, 
walk in it, and you shall live, and not die.f 
It grieves me to think you should be your 
own murderers, and throw yourself head-
long, when God and man cries out to you, 
as Peter in another case to his master, 0 
spare thyself. 

Hear, then, 0 sinner! and as ever thou 
wouldst be converted and saved, embrace 
the following counsel. 

* Deut. xxxii. 46. t Deut. xxx. 19. Jer. vi. 16. 



128 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

Direct. 1. Set it down with thyself as an 
undoubted t ruth, that it is impossible for 
thee ever to get to heaven in this thy un-
converted state. Can any other but Christ 
save thee? and he tells thee he never will 
do it, except thou be regenerated and con-
verted.* Doth he not keep the keys of 
heaven? and canst thou get in without his 
leave? As thou must, if ever thou come 
thither in thy natural condition, without a 
sound and thorough renovation. 
• Direct. II. Labour to get a thorough 
sight and lively sense and feeling of thy 
sins. Till men are weary and heavy laden, 
and pricked at the heart, and quite sick of 
sin, they will not come unto Christ, in his 
way, for ease and cure; nor to purpose in-
quire, What shall we do?f They must set 
themselves down for dead men before they 
will come unto Christ tha t they may have 
life.J Labour, therefore, to set all thy sins 
in order before 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 ex-
amination of thyself, and all thy ways;|| 
that thou mayest make a full discovery, 
and call in the help of God's Spirit, and a 
sense of thine own inability hereunto for 
it is his proper work to convince of sin;* 
spread all before the face of thy conscience 

•Matt, xvili. 3. John iii. 3. 
•t Matt. xi. 28. Acts. ii. 37. Matt. ix. 12. 
j John v. 40. § Psalm Ixxvii. 6. || Psalm cxix. 59. 

* John xvi. 8. 



129 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

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, as the enlightened jailer, What must 
I do to be saved ?f To this purpose. 

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.J This made him cry out 
upon the multitude of God's tender mer-
cies^ The loathsome carcass doth not 
more hatefully swarm with crawling 
worms, than an unsanctified soul with fil-
thy lusts; they fill the head, the heart, the 
eyes, the mouth of him. 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 it is poisoned 
with sin? What duty dost thou ever per-
form, into which poison is not shed? 0, 
how great is the sum of thy debts, who 
hast been all thy life running behind hand, 
and never didst nor canst pay off one pen-
ny ! 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 ae-r 
tions, the sins of thy youth, and those of 
thy riper 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 

t Psalm xl. 12. § Psalm 11. 1. 
t Acts xvi. 30. 



130 d i r e c t i o n s FOR CONVERSION 

sooner or la ter* 
Meditate on the aggravations ot 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. How do David, Ezra, Daniel, 
and the good Levites, aggravate their sins, 
from the consideration of their mjurious-
ness to God, their opposition to his good 
and righteous laws, the mercies, the warn-
ings they were committed against ?t O the 
work that sin hath made in the world! 
This is the enemy that hath brought m 
death, and hath robbed and enslaved man, 
that hath backed the devil, that hath dig-
ged hell.$ This is the enemy that hath 
turned the world upside down, and soweth 
dissension between man and the creatures; 
between man and man; yea, between man 
and himself, setting the sensitive part 
against the rational, the will against the 
judgment, lust against conscience; yea, 
worst of all, between God and man; mak-
ing the lapsed sinner both hateful to God, 
and the hater of him.§ 0 man Miow canst 
thou make so light of sin? This is the 
traitor that shed the blood of the Son of 
God; that sold him, that mocked him, that 
scourged him, that spit in his face, that 
nailed his hands; that pierced his side, 
tha t pressed his soul, that mangled his 
bodv that never left him till he had bound 

* Rev. xx. 12 t Neh. ix. Dan. ix. Ezra ix. 
t Roni. v. 12. 2 Peter ii. 4. John viii. 34. 
| Zech. xi. 8. 



131 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

him, condemned him, nailed him, crucified 
him, and put him to an open shame.* This 
is that deadly poison, so powerful of opera-

I tion, as that one drop of it shed on the root 
of mankind, hath corrupted, spoiled, poi-I s o n e d , and undone his whole race at once.f 
This is the common butcher, the bloody 
executioner, tha t hath killed the prophets, 
burnt the martyrs, murdered all the apos-
tles, all the patriarchs, all the kings and 
potentates; tha t has destroyed cities, swal-
lowed empires, butchered and devoured 
whole nations. Whatever was the weapon 
it was done by, sin was it that did the ex-
ecution.! 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 all 
found in the skirts of sin. Study the na-
ture of sin till thy heart inclines to fear 
and loathe i t ; and meditate on the aggra-
vations of thy particular sins, how thou 
hast sinned against all God's warnings, 
against thy own prayers, against mercies, 
against correction, against the clearest 
light, against the freest love, against thine 
own resolutions, against promises, vows, 
covenants of better obedience, &c. Charge 
thy heart home with these things, till it 
blush for shame, and be brought out of all 
good opinion of itself. § 

* Isa. liii. 4—6 t Rom. v. 18, 19.- -
% Rom. vi. 23. I Ezra, ix, 6, 



132 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

Meditate on the desert of sin. I t crieth 
up to heaven; it calls for vengeance.* Its 
due wages is death and damnation; it pulls 
the curse of God upon the soul and body.f 
The least sinful word or thought lays thee 
under the infinite wrath of God Almighty. J 
0 what a load of wrath, what a weight of 
curses; what a treasure of vengeance have 
all the millions of thy sins then deserved !§ 
0 judge thyself that the Lord may not 
judge thee.|| 

Meditate upon the deformity and defile-
ment of sin. It is as black as hell, the very 
image and likeness of the devil drawn upon 
the soul.lj It would more affright thee to 
see thyself in the hateful deformity of thy 
nature, than to see the devil. There is no 
mire so unclean, no vomit so loathsome, no 
carcase or carrion so offensive, no plague 
or leprosy so noisome as sin, in which thou 
art rolled, and covered with its odious filth, 
whereby thou art rendered more displeas-
ing to the pure and holy nature of the 
glorious God than the most filthy object, 
composed of whatever is hateful to all thy 
senses, can be to thee.** Couldest thou 
take up a toad into thy bosom? Couldest 
thou cherish it, and take delight in i t? 
Why, thou ar t as contrary to the pure and 
perfect holiness of the divine natute, anil 
as loathsome as that is to thee;* till thou 
ar t purified by the blood of Jesus, and the 
power of renewing grace. 

* Gen. xviii. 21. f Gal. u p 10. Deut, xxviii. 
t Rom. ii. 8, 9. Matt. xii. 36. t i Matt, xxl i. 33, 

¿5 ROTO. ii. 5. John iii. 36 . || 1 Cor. xi. 31. 



133 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

Above all other sins, fix the eye of thy 
I consideration on these two. 1. The sin of 
I thy nature. It is to little purpose to lop the 

branches, while the root of original corrup-
tion remains untouched. In vain do men 
lave out the streams, when the fountain is 
running that fills up all again. Let the acts 
of thy repentance (with David's) go to the 
root of sin.f The heart is 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;t 
that sheds blindness, pride, prejudice, un-
belief into thy mind; enmity, inconstancy, 
obstinacy, into thy will; inordinate heats 
and colds into thy affections; insensible-
ness, benumbedness, unfaithfulness, into 
thy conscience; slipperiness into thy mem-
ory; and in a word, hath put every wheel 
of thy soul out of order, and made it of an 
habitation of holiness, to become a very 
hell of iniquity. § This is what has defiled, 
corrupted, perverted all thy members, and 
turned them into weapons of unrighteous-
ness, and servants of sin,|| tha t hath filled 
the head with carnal and corrupt de-
signs ;H the hand with sinful practices;** 
the eyes with wandering and wanton-
ness ; t t the tongue with deadly poison )tt 
that hath opened the ear to tales, flattery 
and filthy communication, and shut them 

§ James iii. 6. II Rom. vi. 19. fl Mic. ii. 1. 
** Isa. i. 13. t t 2 Pet. ii. 14. t t James iii. 8, 

t Psa. Ii. 5. $ Rom. vii. 16, 



134 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

against the instructions of life;* and hath 
rendered thy heart a very mint and forge 
for sin, and the cursed womb of all dead-
ly conceptions ;f so that it poureth forth 
its wickedness without ceasing;J even as 
naturally, freely, and unweariedly, as a 
fountain doth pour forth its waters ;§ or 
the raging sea doth cast forth mire and 
dirt.jr And wilt thou yet be in love with 
thyself, and tell us any longer of thy good 
heart? 0, never leave meditating on the 
desperate contagion of original corruption, 
till, with Ephraim, thou bemoan thyself ;1j 
and with the deepest shame and sorrow 
smite on thy breast, as the publican,** and 
with Job, abhor thyself, and repent in dust 
and ashes.ff 2. The particular evil that 
thou ar t most addicted to. Find out all its 
aggravations, set home upon thy heart all 
God's threats against it. Repentance drives 
before it the whole herd, but especially 
sticks the arrow in the beloved sin, and 
singles this out above the rest, to run it 
down.Ji 0 labour to make this sin odious 
to thy soul, and double thy guards and res-1 

olutions against it, because this hath and 
doth most dishonour God and endanger 
thee. 

Direct. III. Strive to affect thy heart 
with a due sense of thy present misery. 
Read over the foregoing chapter again and 
again, and get it out of the book into thy 
* Zech. vii. 11, 12. t Matt. xv. 19. t 2 Pet. .ii. 14. 

§ Jer. vi. 7. || Isa. lvii. 20. ff Jer. xxxi. 18. 
** Luke xviii. 13. t t Job. xlii. 6. i t Psa, xviii. 23 



DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION 135 
heart. 0 , study thy misery till thy heart 
cries out for Christ, as earnestly as ever a 
drowning man did for a boat, or the wound-
ed for a surgeon. Men must come to See 
the danger and feel the smart of their 
deadly sores and sickness, or else Christ 
will be to them a physician of no value.* 
Then the manslayer hastens to the city of 
refuge, when pursued by the avenger of 
blood. Men must be even forced and fired 
out of themselves, or else they will not 
come to Christ. I t was distress and ex-
tremity that made the prodigal think of 
returning.! While Laodicea thinks herself 
rich, increased in goods, in need of nothing, 
there is little hope. She must be deeply 
convinced of her wretchedness, blindness, 
poverty, and nakedness, before she will 
come to Christ for his gold, raiment, and 
eye salve therefore, hold the eyes of con-
science open, amplify thy misery as much 
as possible, do not flee the sight of it for 
fear it should fill thee with terror. The 
sense of thy misery is but as it were the 
suppuration of the wound, which is neces-
sary to the cure. Better fear the torments 
that abide thee now, than feel them here-
after. 

Direct. IV. Settle it upon thy heart, that 
thou art under everlasting inability ever 
to recover thyself. Never think thy pray-
ing, reading, hearing, confessing, amend-
ing will work the cure; these must be at-

* Matt. ix. 12. t Luke xv. 16, 17. t Rev. iii. 18, 19. 
12 



138 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

tended to, but thou art undone if thou rest-
est in them.* Thou art a lost man if thou 
hopest to escape drowning on any other 
plank but Jesus Christ.f Thou must un-
learn thyself, and renounce thy own wis-
dom, thy own righteousness, thy own 
strength, and throw thyself wholly upon 
Christ, as a man that swims casts himself 
upon the water, or else thou canst not es-
cape. While men trust in themselves, and 
establish their own righteousness, and 
have confidence in the flesh, they will not 
come savingly to Christ.J Thou must know 
thy gain to be but loss and dung, thy 
strength but weakness, thy righteousness 
rags and rottenness, before there will be 
an effectual closure between Christ and 
thee.§ Can the lifeless carcase shake off its 
grave-clothes and 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 accept-
ably in this condition.|| Therefore, when 
thou goest to pray or meditate, or to do 
any of the duties to which thou art here 
directed, go out of thyself, and call in the 
help of the Spirit, as despairing to do any 
thing pleasing to God in thy own strength;; 
yet neglect not thy duty, but lie at the 
pool, and wait in the way of the Spirit. 
While the eunuch was reading, then the 
Holy Ghost did send Philip to him; when 

t Luke xviii. 9. Phil. iii. 3. t Acts. iv. 12. 
|| Rom. viii 8. Heb. xi. 6. * Rom. x. 3. 
§ Phil. iii. 7, 8, 9. 2 Cor. iii. 5. Isa. lxiv. 6. 



137 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

the disciples were praying; when Cornelius 
and his friends were hearing;* then the 
Holy Ghost fell upon them and filled them 
all. Strive to give up thyself to Christ; 
strive to pray, strive to meditate, strive an 
hundred and an hundred times, strive to 
do it as well as thou canst; and while thou 
ar t endeavouring in the way of thy duty, 
the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, 
and help thee to do, what of thyself thou 
ar t utterly unable to perform.f 

Direct V. Forthwith renounce ail thy 
sins. If thou yield thyself to the practice 
of any sin, thou* ar t undone.^ In vain dost 
thou hope for life by Christ, except thou 
depart from iriiquity.§ Forsake thy sins, 
or else thou canst not find mercy.|| Thou 
canst not be married to Christ, except thou 
be divorced from sin; give up that traitor, 
or you can have no peace with heaven; cast 
thè head of Sheba over the wall; keep not 
Delilah in thy lap. Thou must part with 
thy sins or with thy soul; if thou spare 
even one sin, God will not spare thee. Nev-
er make excuses; thy sins must die, .or 
thou must die for them.U If thou allow ot 
one sin, though but a little, a secret one, 
though thou mayest- plead necessity, and 
have an hundred shifts and excuses for it, 
the life of thy soul must go for the life of 
that sin;** and will it not be dearly 
bought? 
* Acts vili. 28, 29. iv. 31 x. 44. t Prov. i. 23. 
t Rom. vi. 19. § 2 Tim. ii. 19. II Prov. xxvm 13. 
II-Psa. lxviii. 21. *•*• Ezek. xviii. 21. 



138 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

0 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 per-
ish, it is not because there was not a Sav-
iour provided, nor life tendered, but be-
cause thou preferedst (with the Jews) the 
murdered before the Saviour, sin before 
Christ, and lovedst darkness rather than 
light.* Search thy heart, therefore, with 
candles, as the Jews did their houses for 
leaven before the passover; labour to find 
out thy sins; enter into thy closet, and 
consider, What evil have I lived in? What 
dutv have I neglected towards God ? What 
sin have I lived in against my brother? 
And now strike the darts through the 
heart of thy sin, as Joab did through Ab-
salom's.! Never stand looking upon thy 
sin, nor rolling the sweet morsel under thy 
tongue ; i but spit it out as poison, with 
fear and detestation. Alas! what will thv 
sins do for thee, that thou shouldst stick 
at parting with them? They will flatter 
thee, but they will undo thee, 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. Behold 
the gibbet that they have prepared for 
thee. 0 serve them like Haman, and exe-
cute them as they would have done thee; 

f John lii. p. t 2 gam- xviii. 14. t Job. xx. 12. 



139 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

away with them, crucify them, and let 
Christ only be Lord over thee. 

Direct VI. Make a solemn choice of God 
for thy portion and blessedness.* With all 
possible devotion and veneration avouch 
the Lord for thy God;, set the world, with 
all its glory, and paint, and gallantry, with 
all its pleasures and promotions, on the 
one hand; and set God, with all his excel-
lencies and perfections, on the other, and 
see that thou do deliberately make thy 
choice.f Take up thy rest in God sit thee 
down 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 
preferments and glory of the world, place' 
thou thy happiness in his favour,' and in 
the light of his- countenance. || 

Poor sinner! thou art fallen off from 
God, and hast provoked his power and 
wrath against thee; yet know, that of his 
abundant grace he doth offer to be thy 
God in Christ.^ What sayst thou, man? 
Wilt thou have the Lord for- thy God? 
Why, take this counsel, and thou shalt 

* Deut. xxvi. t Josh. xxiv. 15. t John vi. 68. 
§ Cant. ii. 3- fl Psa. iv. 6, 7. ' ' fl 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18. 



140 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

have him; come to him by his Christ;* re-
nounce the idols of thy own pleasures, 
gain, and reputation;! let these be pulled 
out of the throne, and set God's interest 
uppermost in thy heart. Take him as God, 
to be chief in thy affections, estimations, 
intentions, for he will not endure to have 
any set above him.J 

Direct. VII. Accept of the Lord Jesus in 
all his offices, with all his inconveniences, 
as thine. Upon these terms Christ may be 
had. Sinner, thou hast undone thyself, and 
art plunged into a state of most deplorable 
misery, out of which thou art unable to 
get; but Jesus Christ is able and ready to 
help thee, and freely tenders himself to 
thee.§ Be thy sins ever so many, ever so 
great, or of ever so long continuance, yet 
thou shalt be most certainly pardoned and 
saved, if thou dost not wretchedly neglect 
the offer that, in the name of God, is here 

'made to thee. The Lord Jesus calleth to 
thee to look to him and be saved,|| to come 
unto him, and he will in no wise cast tliee 
out;fl yea, he is a suitor to thee, and be-
seeches thee to be reconciled;** he crieth 
in the streets, he knocketh at thy door, he 
wooeth thee to accept of him, and live with 
him.ff If thou die, it is because thou 
wouldst not come to him for life.tJ 

* John xiv. 6. . f l Thess. i. 9. 
t Rom. i. 24. Psa. lxxiii. 25. 
§ Heb. vii. 25. John iii. 36. " || Isa. xlv. 22. 

H John vi. 37. ** 2 Cor. v. 20. 
t t Prov. i. 20. Rev. ii. 30. +t John v. 40. 



D IRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION H I 

Now accept of an offered Christ, and 
thou ar t made for ever; now give up thy 
consent to him, and the match is made; all 
the world cannot hinder it. Do not stand 
off because of thy unworthiness, man; I 
tell thee, nothing in the world can undo 
thee but thy unwillingness. Speak, man, 
ar t thou desirous of the match ? Wilt thou 
have Christ in all his relations to be thine; 
thy King, thy Priest, thy Prophet? Wilt 
thou have him wi th ' all his inconvenien-
cies ? Take not Christ hand over head, but 
sit down first and count the cost. Wilt 
thou lay all at his feet? Wilt thou be con-
tent to run all hazards with him? Wilt 
thou take thy lot with him, fall where it 
will? Wilt thou deny thyself, and take up 
thy cross, and follow him? Art thou de-
liberately, understanding^, freely, fixedly 
determined to cleave to him in all times 
and conditions?- If so, my soul for thine 
thou shalt never perish, but art passed 
from death unto life.* Here lies the main 
point of thy.salvation, that thou be found 
in thy covenant-closure with Jesus Christ; 
and therefore, if thou love thyself, see that 
thou be fai thful to God and thy soul here. 

Direct. VIII. Resign up all thy powers 
and faculties, and thy whole interest to be 
his. They gave their own selves unto the 
Lord.f Present your bodies a living sacri-
fice.! The Lord seeks not yours, but you. 
Resign therefore thy body with all its 

* John iii. 16. 1 1 2 Cor. viii. 5. t Rom. xii. 1. 



142 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION 
members to him, and thy soul with all its 
powers, that he may be glorified in thy 
body, and in thy spirit, which are his.* 

Again; thou must give up thy whole in-
terest to him. If there be any thing that 
thou keepest back from Christ, it will be 
thy undoing.f Unless thou wilt forsake all 
(in preparation and resolution of thy 
heart) thou canst not be his disciple. Thou 
must hate father and mother, yea, and thy 
own life also in comparison of him, and as 
far as it stands in competition with him. J 
Iffl a word, thou must give him 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 
is no getting to heaven by a partial obedi-
ence. |[ None must think it enough to take 
up with the cheap and easy part of re-
ligion, and let alone the duties that are 
costly and self-denying, that 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.fi 
2. For all times, for prosperity and adver-
sity, whether it rain or shine. A true con-

* * C ° r - v i - 20. t Luke xiv. 33. 
t Matt. x. 37. Luke xiv. 26. &c. § p s a . cxix. 30. 
II Psa. xcix. 6. 128, 160. Ezek. xviii. 21. 
If Rsa. cxix. 6, 113. Matt, xxiii. 2, 23 



145 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

vert is resolved in his way, he will stand 
to his fchoice; he will not set his back to 
the wind, and be of the religion of the 
times:. I have stuck to thy testimomes; I 
have inclined my heart to thy statutes al-
ways, even unto the end. Thy testimonies 
have I taken as an heritage for ever. I will 
have respect to thy statutes continually. 
3 This must not be done hand over head, 
but deliberately and understandingly. The 
disobedient son said, I go, sir, but he went 
not.f How fairly did they promise, All tha t 
the Lord our God shall speak unto thee, we 
will do i t! And it is likely they spoke as 
they meant; but when it came to the trial, 
it was found that there was not such a 
heart in them as to do what they had 
promised.t 

Observe the special duties that thy heart 
is most against, and the special sins that 
it is most inclined to; and see whether it 
be truly resolved to perform the one, and 
forego the other. What sayest thou to thy 
bosom sin, thy gainful sin?' What sayest 
thou to costly, hazardous, flesh-displeasing 
duties? If thou haltest here, and dost not 
resolve, by the grace of God, to cross the 
flesh, and go on, thou ar t unsound. § 

Direct. X. Take heed of delaying thy 
conversion ,and set about a speedy and 
present turning; I made haste and de-
layed not. || Remember and tremble at the 

* Psa. cxix. 31, 44,-93, 111, 117. t Matt. xxi. 30. 
t Deut. v. 27, 29. § Psa. xviii. 23. cxix. 6 
|| Psa. Cxix. 60. 



144 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

sad instance of the foolish virgins, that 
came not till the door of mercy was shut;* 
and of a convinced Felix, who put off Paul 
to another season, which we do not find 
ever came.f 0 come in while it is called to-
day, lest thou shouldest be hardened 
through the deceitfulness of sin, lest the 
day of grace should be over, and the things 
that belong to thy peace should be hid 
from thine éyes. Now mercy is wooing 
thee, now Christ is waiting to be gracious 
to thee, and the Spirit of God is striving 
with thee. Now ministers are calling. Now 
conscience is stirring. Now the market is 
open, and thou mayest buy oil. Now Christ 
is offered for thy acceptance. 0 strike in 
with the offers of grace ; 0 ! now or never. 
If thou make light of this offer, God may 
swear-in his wrath thou shalt not taste of 
his supper.J 

Direct. XL Attend conscientiously upon 
the word as the means appointed for thy 
conversion. § Attend, I say, not customar-
ily, but conscientiously; with this desire, 
design, hope, and expectation, that thou 
mayest be converted by it. To every ser-
mon thou shouldest come with this 
thought—0, I hope God will now come in; 
I hope this day may be the time, this may 
be the man by whom God will bring me 
home. When thou ar t coming to the or-
dinances, lift up thy heart thus to God; 
Lord, let this be thé sabbath, let this be 

* Matt, xxv, 11 . . . f Acts xxiv. 25. 
Î L u k e xiv. 24. § James i. 19. -1-Gor. iv. 15. 



145 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

the season wherein I may receive renew-
ing grace. 0 let it be said, that to-day 
such a one was born unto thee! 

Direct. XII. Strike in with the Spirit 
when he begins to work upon thy heart. 
When he works convictions, 0 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 outstrive 
him, do not resist him. Beware of stifling 
convictions with evil company or worldly 
business. When thou findest any troubles 
for sin, and fears about thy eternal state, 
beg of God that they may never leave thee 
till they have wrought off thy heart thor-
oughly from sin, and brought 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, 0 go to the bottom of 
my corruption, and let out the life-blood 
of my sins. Thus yield up thyself to the 
workings of the Spirit, and spread thy 
sails to his gusts. 

Direct. XIII. Set upon the constant and 
diligent use of serious and fervent prayer. 
He that neglects prayer is a profane and 
unsanctified sinner;* he that is not con-
stant in prayer is but an hypocrite.f This 
is one of the first things conversion ap-
pears in, tha t it sets men on praying ;£ 
therefore, set to this duty. Let never a day 

* Job. X V . -4. f' Job xxvii."10. t "Acts. Ix.; 11 



146 DIRECTIONS FOR CONVERSION-

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 and duly, to 
worship God with thee. Woe be unto thee, 
if thine be found among the families that 
call not on God's name.* But cold and life-
less devotions will not reach half way to 
heaven. Be fervent and importunate; im-
portunity will carry i t ; but, without vio-
lence, the kingdom of heaven will not be 
taken, f Thou must strive to enter ;$ and 
wrestle with tears and supplications, as 
Jacob, if thou meanest to carry the bless-
ing.^ Thou art undone for ever without 
grace, and therefore, thou must set to it, 
and resolve to take no denial. That man 
who is fixed in this resolution, Well, I must 
have grace, and I will never give over till 
I have grace; I will never leave seeking, 
waiting, and striving with God and my 
own heart, till he do renew me by the 
power of his grace—this man is in the 
likeliest way to win grace. 

Direct. XIV. Forsake thy evil company,|| 
and forbear the occasions of sin.jf Thou 
wilt never be turned from sin, till thou 
wilt decline and forego temptations of sin. 

I never expect thy conversion from sin, 
unless thou art brought to some self-denial 
as to flee the occasions. If thou wilt be 
nibbling at the bait, and playing on the 
brink, and tampering and meddling with 

* Jer. x. 25. t Matt. xi. 12. } Luke xiii. 24. 
§ Gen. fcxxii. 24. compared with Hosea xii. 4. 
II' Prov. ix. 6. f Prov. xxiii. 31. 



DIRECTIONS POR CONVERSION 147 

the snare, thy soul will surely be taken. 
Where God doth expose men in his provi-
dence unavoidably to temptation, and the 
occasions are such as we cannot remove, 
we may expect special assistance in the use 
of his means; but when, we tempt God by 
running into danger, he will not engage to 
support us when we are tempted. And of 
all temptations, one of the most fatal and 
pernicious is evil company. 0, what hope-
ful beginnings have these often stifled! 0 , 
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 children of hell ? In a word, 
I have no hopes of thee, except thou wilt 
shake off thy evil company. Christ speak-
eth to thee as to then \ in another case, If 
thou seek me, then let these go their way.* 
Thy life lies upon i t ; forsake these, or else 
thou canst not live.f Wilt thou be worse 
than the beast, to run on when thou seest 
the Lord with á drawn sword in the way ? | 
Let this sentence be written in capitals 
upon thy conscience, A COMPANION OF 
FOOLS SHALL BE DESTROYED.§ The 
Lord hath spoken it, and who shall reverse 
it? And wilt thou run upon destruction 

* John xviii. 8. t Prov. Ix. 6. 
t Num. xxii. 33. § Prov. xiii. 20. 

13 



14$ D I R E C T I O N S F O R C O N V E R S I O N 

when God himself doth forewarn thee? If 
God do ever change thy heart, it will ap-
pear in the change of thy company. 0 fear 
and flee the gulf, by which so many thou-
sand souls have been swallowed up in per-
dition. I t will be hard for thee, indeed, to 
make thy escape; thy companions will mock 
th§e out of thy religion, and will study 
to fill thee with prejudices against strict-
ness, as ridiculous and comfortless. "They 
will be flattering thee, and alluring thee, 
but remember the warning of the Holy 
Ghost; My son, if sinners entice thee, con-
sent thou not. If they say, come with us, 
cast in thy lot among us; walk thou not in 
the way with them, refrain thy foot from 
their path, avoid it, pass not by it, turn 
from it and pass away; for the way of the 
wicked is darkness, they know not at what 
they stumble. They lay wait for their own 
blood, they lurk privily for their own lives.* 

Thus have I told thee what thou must 
do to be saved. Wilt thou not now obey the 
voice of the Lord ? Wilt thou not arise, and 
set to thy work ? 0 man, what answer wilt 
thou make, what excuse wilt thou have, if 
thou shouldst perish at last through very 
wilfulness, when thou hast known the way 
of life! I do not fear thy miscarrying, if 
thine own idleness do not at last undo thee, 
in neglecting the use of the means that are 
so plainly here prescribed. Rouse up, 0 
sluggard; and ply thy work; be doing, and 
the Lord will be with thee. 

*Prov. i. 10—18. iv. 14. 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 149 

CHAPTER VII. 

C O N T A I N I N G T H E MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 

Though what is already said of the ne-
cessity of Conversion, and of the miseries 
of the unconverted, might.be sufficient to 
induce any considering mind to resolve 
upon a present turning or conversion unto 
God, yet knowing what a piece of desper-
ate obstinacy and untractableness the 
heart of man naturally is, I have thought 
it necessary to add to the means of conver-
sion, and directions for a covenant-closure 
with God in Christ, some motives to per-
suade you hereunto. 

Lord, fail me not now, at my last at-
tempt. If any soul hath read hitherto, and 
is yet untouched, now, Lord, fasten on 
him, and do thyLwork; now take him by 
the heart, overcome him, persuade him, 
till he say, Thou hast prevailed, for thou 
wast stronger than I. Lord, didst thou not 
make me a fisher of men, and have I toiled 
all this while and caught nothing? Alas! 
that I should have spent my strength for 
nought. And now I am casting my last, 
Lord Jesus, stand thou upon the shore, 
and direct how and where I shall spread 
my net; and let me so inclose with argu-
ments the souls I seek for, that they may 
not be able to get out. Now, Lord for a 
multitude of souls! Now for a full draught. 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 1511 

0 Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, 
and strengthen me this once, 0 God. 

0 ! I am even lost and swallowed up in 
the abundance of those arguments that I 
might suggest. If there be any point of 
wisdom in all the world, it is to repent and 
come on. If there be any thing righteous, 
any thing reasonable, this is it. If there 
be any thing in the world that may be 
called madness and folly, and any thing 
that may be counted sottish, absurd, brut-
ish, unreasonable, it is this, to go on in 
thine unconverted state. Let me beg of 
thee as thou wouldst not wilfully destroy 
thyself, to sit down and weigh, besides 
what has been said, these following mo-
tives, and let conscience speak, if it be not 
reasonable thou shouldst repent and turn. 

1. The God that made thee, does most 
graciously invite thee. 

First. His most sweet and merciful na-
ture doth invite thee. 0 the kindness of 
God, his yearning bowels, his tender 
mercies. They are infinitely above our 
thoughts, higher than heaven, what can 
we do? Deeper than hell what can we 
know?* He is full of compassion, and gra-
cious; long suffering, and plenteous in 
mercy.f This is a great argument to per-
suade sinners to come in. Turn unto the 
Lord your God, for he is gracious and 
merciful, slow to anger, of great kindness, 
and repenteth him of the evil. If God 

* Job xi. 7, 8, 9. t Psalm lxxxvi. 15. 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 1511 

would not repent of the evil, it were some 
discouragement to us, why we should not 
repent. If there were no.hopes of mercy, • 
it were no wonder why rebels should stand 
out; but never had subjects such a gra-
cious prince; such.pity, patience, clemency, 
piety, to deal with as you have. Who is a 
God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniqui-
ty?* O sinners! see what a God you have 
to deal with ;if you will but turn, he will 
turn again and have compassion on you. 
He will subdue your iniquities, and cast all 
your sins into the depths of the sea.f Re-
turn unto me, saith the Lord of Hosts, and 
I will return unto you.| Sinners do not fail 
because they have too high thoughts of 
God's mercies, but because : 1. They over-
look his justice. 2. They promise them-
selves mercy out of God's way ; his mercy 
is beyond all imagination;! great mer-
cies ;|| manifold mercies ¡¡j tender mer-
cies;** sure mercies ;ff everlasting mer-
cies ;tt and are all thy own, if thou wilt 
but turn. Art thou willing to come in? 
Why the Lord hath laid aside his terror 
erected, a throne of grace, holds forth the 
golden sceptre; touch and live. Would a 
merciful man slay his enemy when pros-
trate at his feet, acknowledging his wrong, 
begging pardon, and offering to enter with 
him into a covenant of peace? Much less 

* Mic. vii. 18. ' t Mic. Vil. 19. 
X Mai. iii. 7. Zech. i. 3. I Isa. lv. 9. 
|| 1 Chron. xxî. 13. H Neh. ix. 19. ** Psa. xxv. 6. 
f t Isa. IV. 3. t t Psa. ciii. 17. Isa. liv. 8. 

13* 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 1511 

will the merciful God. Study his name;* 
read their experience.! 

Secondly, his Soul-encouraging calls and 
promises to invite thee. Ah! what an earn-
est suitor is mercy to thee. How lovingly, 
how instantly it calleth' af ter thee! how 
passionately it wooeth thee! Return, thou 
backsliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I 
will not cause my anger to fall upon you; 
for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and will 
not keep anger for ever; only acknowledge 
thine iniquity. Turn, 0 backsliding children, 
saith the Lord, for I am married unto you; 
return, and I will heal your backslidings. 
Thou hast played the harlot with many 
lovers, yet return unto me, saith the Lord.J 
As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no 
pleasure in the death of the wicked, but 
that he turn from his way and live. Turn 
ye, turn ye, from your evil ways, for why 
Will ye die, 0 house of Israel ?§ If the 
wicked will turn from all his sins that he 
hath committed, and keep all my statutes, 
and do that which is lawful and right, he 
shall surely live, he shall not die.—All his 
transgressions that he hath committed 
shall not be mentioned to him. In his 
righteousness that he hath done, shall he 
live. Repent, and turn you from all your 
transgressions, so iniquity shall not be 
your ruin. Cast away all your transgres-
sions) and make you a clean heart and a 

* Exod. xxxiv. 7'. t-Neh. ix." 17. 

J Jer. iii".' 11—14, 22. " § Ezek. xxxin . ' l l . 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 1511 

new spirit, for why will ye die, 0 house of 
Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death 
of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; 
wherefore, turn yourselves, and live ye.* 

O melting gracious words! the voice of 
a God, and not of a man! This is not the 
manner of men, for the offended sovereign 
to sue to the offending traitorous varlet. 0 
how doth mercy follow thee, and plead 
with thee! Is not thy heart broken yet? 0 
that to-day thou wouldst hear his voice! 

2. The doors of heaven are thrown open 
to thee, the everlasting gates are set wide 
for thee, and an abundant entrance into 
the kingdom of heaven administered to 
thee. Christ now bespeaks thee, as Jeze-
bel did Ahab, Arise and take possession, f 
View the glory of "the other world, as set 
forth in the map of the' gospel, get thee 
up into Pisgah of the promises, and lift up 
thine eyes northward and southward, and 
eastward and westward, and see the good 
land that is beyond Jordan, and that good-
ly mountain. Behold the paradise of God, 
watered with the streams of glory. Arise, 
and walk through the land in the length of 
it, and in the breadth of i t ; for the land 
which thou seest, the Lord will give it thee 
for ever, if thou wilt but return.J Let me 
say to thee as Paul to Agrippa, Believest 
thou the prophets? If thou believest in-
deed, do but view what glorious things are 

* E!zek..xviii 21, 22, $0-~32. f 1 .Kings xxi. 15. 
t Gen. xiii. 14, 15,-17. 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 1511 

spoken of the city of God;* and know, 
that all this is here tendered in the name 
of God to thee. As verily as God is true, 
it shall be for ever thine, if thou wilt but 
thoroughly turn and be converted. 

Behold the city of pure transparent gold, 
whose foundations are garnished with all 
manner of precious stones, whose gates 
are pearls, whose light is glory, whose 
temple is God. Believest thou this? If 
thou dost, ar t thou not worse than dis-
tracted, that wilt not take possession when 
the gates are flung open to thee, and thou 
art bid to enter? 0 ye sons of folly, will 
you embrace the dunghill, and refuse the 
kingdom? Behold the Lord takes you up 
into the mountain, shows you the kingdom 
of heaven, and all the' glory thereof, and 
tells you, All this will I give you, if you 
will fall down and worship me; if you will 
submit to mercy, accept my Son, and serve 
me in righteousness and holiness. 0 fools, 
and slow of heart to believe! Will you 
court the harlot? will you seek and serve 
the world, and neglect eternal glory ? 
What! not enter into Paradise, when the 
flaming sword, which was once set to keep 
you out, is now used to drive you in! But 
you will say, I am uncharitable to think 
you infidels and unbelievers. Why, what 
shall I think you? Either you are desper-
ate unbelievers, that do not credit it, or 
stark distracted, that you know and be-
lieve the excellency and eternity of this 

* Psalm lxxxvii. 3. 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 1511 

glory, and yet do so fearfully neglect it. 
Surely you have either no faith, or no rea-
son, and I had almost said, conscience shall 
téli you so before I leave you. 

Do but attend to what is offered you. O 
blessed kingdom! a kingdom of glory;* a 
kingdom of righteousness ;t a kingdom of 
peace ;J and an everlasting kingdom ;§ here 
thou shalt dwell, here thou shalt reign for 
ever, and the Lord shall seat thee on a 
throne of glory ;|| and with his own hand 
shall set the royal diadem upon thy head, 
and give thee a crown, not of thorns, for 
there shall be no sinning nor suffering 
there not of gold, (for that shall be viler 
than the dirt in that day,) but a crown.of 
life;** a crown of righteousness;f+ a 
crown of glory ¡ i t yea, thou shalt put on 
glory as a robe,§§ and shalt shine like the 
sun in the firmament, in the glory of thy 
Father.| | || Look now upon thy dirty flesh, 
thy clay, the worms' meat. This very flesh, 
this lump, this carcase, shall be brighter 
than the s t a r s . ^ In short, thou shalt be 
made like unto the angels of God,*** and 
behold his face in righteousness.fft Look 
in now and tell me, Dost thou yet believe ? 
If not, conscience must pronounce thee an 
infidel ; for it is the very word òf God that 
I speak. 

* 1 Thess. ii. 12. t 2 Pet. iii. 13. + Rom. xiv. 17. 
§ 2 Pet. i. 11. ||: Matt. xix. 28. 
J Rev. xxi. 27. xxii. 3, 5. **James i. 12. 
t t 2 Tim. iv. 8. i t 1 Pet. v. 4. §§ 1 Cor. xv. 43. 
Ill Matt. xiii. 43. jfl Dan. xii. 3: *** Luke xx. 36. 
t t t Psalm xvii. 15. 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 1511 

But if thou say thou believest, let me 
next know thy resolutions. Wilt thou em-
brace this for thy happiness? Wilt thou 
forego thy sinful gains, thy forbidden 
pleasures? Wilt thou trample on the 
world's esteem, and spit in the harlot's 
face, and stop thy ears at her flatteries, 
and wrest thee out of her embraces? Wilt 
thou be content to take up with reproach 
and poverty, if it lie in thy way to heaven, 
and follow the Lord with humble self-
denial in a mortified and flesh-displeasing 
life? If go, all is thine, and that for ever. 

And art thou not fairly offered? Is it 
not pity but he should be damned that will 
needs go on and perish, when all this may 
be had for the taking? Wilt thou take God 
at his word? Wilt thou let go thy holdfast 
of the world, and rid thy hands of thy 
sins, and lay hold on eternal life? If not, 
let conscience tell thee whether thou art 
not distracted or bewitched, that thou 
shouldst neglect so happy a choice, by 
which thou mightest be made blessed for 
ever. 

3. God will settle unspeakable privileges 
upon thee.* Though the full of your bless-
edness be deferred till hereafter, yet God 
will give you no little things in hand. 

He will redeem you from your thral-
dom ;f he will pluek you from the paw of 
the lion;% the serpent shall bruise your 

* 1 Cor. iii. 22. Heb. xii, 22, 24. 
t John viii. 36, | Col. i. 13. 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 1511 

heel, but you shall bruise his head;* he 
shall deliver you from the present evil 
world ;f prosperity shall not destroy you, 
adversity shall not separate between him 
and you;t he will redeem you from the 
power of the grave, § and make the king of 
terrors a messenger of peace to you. He 
will take out the curse from the cross ;|| 
and make affliction the fining-pot, the fan, 
the physic, to blow off the chaff, purify 
the metal, and purge the mind.if He will 
save you from the arrest of the law, and 
turn the curse into a blessing to you.** He 
hath the keys of hell and -death, and shut-
teth that no man openeth,ft and he will 
shut its mouth, as once he did the lions ;J$ 
that you shall not be hurt of the second 
death.§§ 

But he will not only save you from mis-
ery, but install you into unspeakable pre-
rogatives! He will bestow himself upon 
you, he will be a friend unto you, and a 
father to you; 
shield to you I 

he will be a sun and a 
in a word, he will be a 

God to you,*** and what can be said 
more? What you may expect that a God 
should do for you, and be to you; that he 
will be, tha t he will do. She that marries 
a prince, expects that he should do for her 

* Gen. ill, 15. t Gal. i. 4. t Rom. vili. 25, 38. 
§ Psalm xlix. 15. || Psalm cxix. 71. 
K Dan. xii. 10. Isa. xxvii. 9. 
** Rom. vi. 10. Isa. xxvii. 9. 
t t Rev. iii. 7. i. 18. t t Dan. vi. 22. 
§§ Rev. ii. 11. Illl 2 Cor. vi. 18. 

Ill Psa. lxxxiv. 11. *** Gen. xvji. 7. 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 1511 

like a prince that she may live in a suit-
able state, and have an answerable dowry. 
He that hath a king for his father, or 
friend expects that he should do for him 
like a king. Alas! the kings and monarchs 
of the earth, so much above you, are but 
like the painted butterflies among the rest 
of their kind ,or the fair coloured palmer-
worm, among the rest of the worms, if 
compared with God. As he doth infinitely 
exceed the glory and power of his glitter-
ing dust, so he will, beyond all proportion, 
exceed in doing for his favourites what-
ever princes can' do for theirs. He will 
give you grace and glory, and withhold no 
good thing from you.* He will take you for 
his sons and daughters, and make you 
heirs of his promises;! and establish his 
everlasting covenant with you.$ He will 
just ify you from all that law, conscience 
and satan can charge upon you.§ He will 
give you free access into his presence, and 
accept your person, and receive your pray-
ers. j| He will abide in you, and make you 
the man of his secrets, and hold a constant 
and friendly communion with you.fl His 
ear shall be open, his door open, his store 
open at all times to you. His blessing shall 
rest upon you, and he will make your ene-
mies to serve you, and work out all things 
for good unto you.** 

* Psa. Ixxxiv. 11. f Heb. vi. 17. 
t Jer. xxxii. 40. § Rom. viii. 33, 34. 
|| Eph. iii. 12. i. 6. 1 John v. 14. 
K John xiv. 23. xv. 15. 1 John i. 3. 
** Psalm cxv. 13. Rom. viii. 28, 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION IS9 
4. The terms of mercy are brought as 

low as possible to you. God has stooped as 
low to sinners as with honour he can. He 
will not be thought the author of sin, nor 
stain the glory of his holiness* And whith-
er could he come lower than he hath, un-
less he should do this ? He hath abated the 
impossible terms of the first covenant.* He 
doth not impose any thing unreasonable or 
impossible as a condition of life upon you. 
Two things were necessary to be done, ac-
cording to the tenor of the first covenant. 
1. That you should fully satisfy the de-
mands of justice for past offences. 2. That 
you should perform personally, perfectly 
and perpetually, the whole law for the 
time to come. Both these are to us im-
possible;! but behold God's gracious abate-
ment in both. He doth not stand upon sat-
isfaction ; he is content to take of the sure-
ty (and him of his own providing too) 
what he might have exacted from you.j 
He declares himself to have received a ran-
som^ and that he expects nothing but that 
you should accept his Son, and he shall be 
righteousness and redemption to you.|| 
And for the future obedience, here he is 
content to yield to your weakness and 
omit the rigour. He doth not stand upon 
perfection as a condition of life, though he 

* Jer. iii. 23. Mark v. 36/ Acts. xvi. 81. ili. 19 
Prov. xxviii. 13. 

t Rom. viii. 3. t 2 Cor. v. 19. 
§ Job xxxiii. 24. 1 Tim. ii. 6. 
II John i. 12 1 Cor. 1. 30. 

14' 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 1511 

still insists upon it as his due, but is con-
tent to accept of sincerity.* And if you 
come in his Christ, and set your hearts to 
please him, and make it the chief of your 
care, he will approve and reward you, 
though the vessel be marred in your hands. 

0 , consider your Makers' condescension! 
Let me say to you as Naaman's servant to 
him, My father, if the prophet had bid 
thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not 
have done it ?—How much rather when he 
saith to thee, Wash and be clean ?J If God 
had demanded some terrible, some severe 
and rigorous thing of you, to escape etern-
al damnation, would you not have done it ? 
Suppose it had been to spend all your days 
in sorrow in some howling wilderness, or 
pine yourselves with famine, or to offer 
the f ru i t of your bodies for the sin of your 
souls, would you not have thankfully ac-
cepted eternal redemption, though these 
had been the conditions? If your offended 
Creator should have held you but one year 
upon the rack, and then bid you come and 
forsake your sins, accept Christ, and serve 
him a few years in self-denial, or lie in 
this case for ever and ever, do you think 
you should have stuck at the offer, and 
disputed the terms, and have been unre-
solved whether you were to accept of the 

* Gen. xvii. 1. Prov. xi. 20. 
t 2 Cor. viil. 12. 2 Chron. vi. 8. Heb. xi. 17. 
J 2 Kings v. 13. 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 1511 

motion? 0 sinner, return and live; why 
shouldst thou die when life is to be had 
for the taking, and mercy seems beholden 
to thee (as it were), to be saved? Couldst 
thou say, indeed, Lord, I knew that thou 
wast an hard man,* thou hadst some little 
excuse; but-when the God of heaven.has 
stooped so low, and condescended so. far, 
if now thou shouldst stand off, who shall 
plead for thee? „. Ji 

Objection. Notwithstanding all these 
abatements, I am no more able to perform 
these conditions (in themselves so easy) 
of Faith, Repentance, and .sincere Obedi-
ence, than to satisfy and fulfil the law. 

Answer. These you may perform by 
God's grace enabling, whereas the other is 
naturally impossible in this state, even to 
believers themselves. But let the next 
consideration serve for a fuller answer. 

5. Wherein you are impotent, God doth 
offer grace to enable you. I have stretched 
out my hand, and no man regarded.! What 
though you are plunged into the ditch of 
that misery, from which you can never get 
out, Christ offereth to help you out; he 
reacheth out his hand to you, and if you 
perish, it is for refusing his help. Behold, 
I stand at the door and knock, if any man 
open to me I will come in.$ What though 
you are poor, and wretched, and blind and 
naked! Christ offereth a cure for your 
blindness, a covering for your nakedness, 

* Matt. xxv. 24. t Prov. i. 24. t Rev. iii. 20. 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 1511 

a remedy for your poverty; he tenders you 
his righteousness, his grace. I counsel 
thee to buy of me .gold, that thou mayest 
be rich; and white raiment, that thou may-
est be clothed; and anoint thine eyes with 
eye-salve, that thou mayest see.* Do you 
say, The condition is impossible, for I have 
not wherewith to buy! You must know 
that this buying is without money and 
without price ; t this buying is by begging 
and seeking with diligence and constancy 
in the use of Gods' means. J God command-
eth thee to know him and to fear him. 
Dost thou say, Yea, but my mind is blind-
ed, and my heart is hardened from his 
fear! I answer, God doth offer to enlighten 
thy mind, and to teach thee his fear, that 
is presented to thy choice; for that they 
hated knowledge, and did not choose the 
fear of the Lord.§ So that now if men live 
in ignorance, and estrangement from the 
Lord, it is because they will not under-
stand and desire the knowledge of his 
ways. || If thou criest af ter knowledge, if 
thou seekest her as silver, &c. then shalt 
thou understand the fear of the Lord, and 
find the knowledge of God.fl Is not here a 
fair offer? Turn ye at jny reproof; behold 
I will pour out my Spirit unto you.** 
Though of yourselves you can do nothing, 
yet you may do all through his Spirit en-
abling you, and he doth offer assistance to 

* Rev. iii. 17, 18. flsa. lv. 1. t Prov. ii. 3, 4. 
§ Prov. i. 29. ¡1 Job. xxi. 14. • fl Prov. ii. 3—6 
** Prov. i. 23. 



MOTIVES TO CONVERSION 1511 

you. God bids you wash and make you 
clean.* You say you are unable, as much 
as the leopard to wash out his spots,t yea, 
but the Lord doth offer to purge you, so 
that if you will be filthy still, it is through 
your own wilfulness. I have purged thee, 
and thou wast not purged.J 0 Jerusalem, 
wilt thou not be made clean? When shall it 
once be.§ God doth wait, when you will be 
made clean, when you will yield to his mo-
tions, accept of his offers, and let him do 
for you and in you, what you cannot do 
for yourselves. You do not know how 
much God will do upon your importunity, 
if you will be but restless and instant with 

h i Though God hath not bound himself by 
express promise to wicked men, to give 
them grace in the diligent use of the 
means, yet he hath given them abundance 
of encouragement to expect it from him, 
if they seek it earnestly in his way. His 
most gracious nature is abundant encour-
agement. If a rich and most bountiful 
man should see thee in misery, and bid 
thee come to his door, wouldst thou not 
with confidence expect at thy coming to 
find some relief? Thou art not able to be-
lieve, nor repent. God appoints thee to use 
such and such means, in order to thy ob-
taining faith and repentance; doth not 
this argue, t ha t ' God will bestow these 
upon thee, if thou dost ply him diligently 

* Isa. i. 16. t Jer. xiii. 23. t Ezek. xxiv 13. 
I Jer. xiii, 27. || Luke xi. 8. xviii. 5. 



164 THE CONCLUSION8 

in prayer, meditation, reading, hearing, , 
self-examination ,and the rest of his, 
means ? Otherwise God should- but mock 
his poor creatures, to put them upon these * 
self-denying endeavours, and then when ' 
they have been hard put to it, and con-
tinued waiting upon him for grace, deny» 
them at last. Surely if a good natured 
man would not deal thus, much less will 
the most merciful and gracious God. 

THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE 

And now, my brethren, let me know 
your minds. What do you intend to do? 
Will you go on and die? or, will you set 
upon a thorough and speedy conversion, 
and lay hold on eternal life? How long will 
ye linger in Sodom ? How long will ye halt 
between two opinions?* Are you not yet 
resolved whether Christ or Barabbas, 
whether bliss or torment, whether the land 
of Cabul,f or the paradise of God be the 
better choice ? Is it a disputable case, 
whether the Abana and Pharpar of Damas-
cus, be better than all the streams of 
Eden; or whether the vile puddle of sin, 
is to be preferred before the water of life, 
clear as crystal, proceeding out of the 
throne of God, and of the Lamb ? Can the 
world, in good earnest, do that for you, 
which Christ can ? Will it stand by you to 
eternity? Will pleasures, lands, titles, or 

* 1 Kings xvitt. 21. t 1 Kings, ix. . 13, 



THE CONCLUSION 165 

treasures descend with you?* If not, had 
you not need look af ter somewhat that 
will? What mean you to stand wavering? 
to be off and on? Foolish c h i l d r e n h o w 
long will ye stick between the womb and 
the world? Shall I leave you at last no 
far ther than Agrippa, but "almost per-
suaded?" Why, you are forever lost it left 
there; as good not at all, as not altogether 
Christians. You are half m the mind to 
give over your former negligent life, and 
set to a strict and holy course; you could 
wish you were as some others are, and 
could do as they can do. How ong will 
you rest in idle wishes and fruitless pur-
poses ' When will you come to a fixed, firm, 
and full resolve? Do not you see how 
Satan gulls you, by tempting you to de-
l avs ' How long hath he drawn you on m 
the way of perdition! How many years 
have you been purposing to mend! What 
if God should have taken you off this 

WlWell, put me not off with a dilatory an-
swer. Tell me not of hereafter, I must 
have your immediate consent. If you be 
not now resolved, while the Lord is treat-
ing with you, and courting you, much less 
are you likely to be hereafter, when these 
impressions are worn out, and you are 
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 

•Psalm xlix. 17. 1 Tim. vi. 7. 
* Luke xix. 42. t John iv. 4. 
t Luke x. 42. xvi. 25. Prov, i. 27—29. 
§ Deut. xxx. 19. 



166 THE CONCLUSION8 

Will you give me your hands ? Will you set 
open the doors, and give the Lord Jesus 
the full and ready possession? Will you 
put your names into his covenant? Will 
you subscribe ? What do you resolve upon ? 
If you are still upon your delays, my labour 
is lost, and all is like to come to nothing. 
Fain I would that you should now put in 
your adventures. Come, cast in your lot, 
make your choice. Now is the accepted time, 
now is the day of salvation ;—to-day if you 
will hear his voice. Why should not this 
be the day from whence thou shouldst be 
able to date thy happiness? Why shouldst 
thou venture a day longer in this danger-
ous and dreadful condition? What if God 
should this night require thy soul? 0 that 
thou mightest know in this thy day, the 
things that belong to thy peace, before 
they be hid from thine eyes.* This is thy 
day, and it is but a day.f Others have had 
their day, and hâve received their doom, 
and now art thou brought upon the stage 
of this world, here to act thy part for the 
whole eternity. Remember thou ar t now 
upon thy good behaviour for everlasting; 
if thou make not a wise choice now, thou 
art undone for ever. Look, what thy pres-
ent choice is, such must thine eternal con-
ditions be.J 

And is it true, indeed? Is life and death 
at thy choice ? Yea it is as true as t ruth is.§ 

* Luke xix. 42. t John ix. 4. 
J Luke x. 42. xvi. 25. Prov. 1. 27—29. 
§ Deut. xxx. 19. 



169 THE CONCLUSION8 

Why then, what hinders but that thou 
shouldst be happy? Nothing doth or can 
hinder but thine own wilful neglect or re-
fusal. I t was the speech of the eunuch to 
Philip, See here is water, what doth hin-
der me to be baptized? So I may say to 
thee, See here is Christ, here is mercy, 
pardon, and life; what hinders but that 
thou shouldst be pardoned, and saved .' 
One of the martyrs, as he was praying at 
the stake, had his pardon set by him in a 
box (which indeed he refused deservedly, 
because upon unworthy terms) but here 
the terms are most honourable and easy. 
O sinner! wilt thou burn with thy pardon 
by thee? Why, do but forthwith give up 
thy consent to Christ, to renounce thy sins, 
deny thyself, take up the yoke and the 
cross, and thou carriest the day. Christ is 
thine, pardon, peace, life, and blessedness, 
all are thine. And is not this an offer 
worth embracing? Why shouldst thou hes-
itate, or doubtfully dispute about the 
case? Is it not past controversy, whether 
God, be better than sin, and glory than 
vanity? Why shouldst thou forsake thy 
own mercies, and sin against thy own 
life? When wilt thou shake off thy sloth, 
and lay by thine excuses ? Boast not thy-
self of to-morrow, thou knowest not where 
this night may lodge thee.* 

Beloved, now the Holy Spirti is striving 
with you; he will not always strive. Hast 
thou not felt thine heart warmed by the 

* Prov. xxvii. 1. 



16$ THE CONCLUSION 
word, and been almost persuaded to leave 
off thy sins and come unto God! Hast thou 
not felt some good motions in thy mind, 
wherein thou hast been warned of thy 
danger, and told what thy careless course 
would end in? It may be thou ar t like 
young Samuel, who, when the Lord called 
once and again, knew not the voice of the 
Lord;* but these motions and items are 
the offers, and essays, and callings, and 
strivings of the Spirit. O, take the ad-
vantage of the tide, and know the day of 
thy visitation. 

Now the Lord Jesus stretcheth wide his 
arms to receive you; he beseecheth you by 
us. How movingly, how meltingly, how 
pitifully, how compassionately he calleth! 
The church is put into a sudden ecstasy 
upon the sound 'of his voice, The voice of 
my beloved !f 0 , wilt thou turn a deaf ear 
to his voice ? It is not the voice that break-
eth the cedars, and maketh the mountains 
skip like a calf; tha t shaketh the wilder-
ness, and divideth the flames of fire; it is 
not Sinai's thunder, but a soft and still 
voice. It is not the voice of Mount Ebal, 
a voice of cursing and terror, but the voice 
of Mount Gerizim, the voice of blessing, 
and of glad tidings of good things. It is 
not the voice of the trumpet, nor the voice 
of war, but a message of peace from the 
King of Peace.J Methinks it should be 

"with thee as with the spouse, My soul 
failed when he spake. § I may say unto 

* 1 Sam. iii. 6, 7. t Cant. ii. 8. 
' t Eph. vi. 15. 2 Cor. v. 18, 20. § Cant. v. 6. 



THE CONCLUSION 169 

thee, 0 sinner! as Martha to her sister, 
The Master is come and he calleth for 
thee.* 0 , now with Mary arise quickly, and 
come unto him! How sweet are his invi -
tations ! He crieth in the open concourse, 
If any man -thirst, let him.come unto me 
and drink.f He broaches his own. body for 
thee, O come and lay thy mouth to his 
side! How free is he! he exeludeth none. 
Whosoever will, let him come and take the 
water of life freely.t Whoso is simple, let 
him turn-in hither. Come eat of my bread, 
drink of the wine that I have mingled. 
Forsake the foolish and live.§ Come unto 
me, &c., take my yoke upon you, and learn 
of me, and ye shall find rest to your souls.|| 
Him that cometh to me I will in no wise 
cast out.If How doth he bemoan the ob-
stinate refuser. 0 Jerusalem! Jerusalem! 
how often would I have gathered thy chil-
dren, as a hen gathereth her chickens un-
der her wings, and ye would not!** Be-
hold me, behold me; I have stretched out 
my hands all the day to a rebellious peo-
ple.ff 0 be persuaded now at last to throw 
yourselves into the arms of love. 

Behold, 0 ye sons of men, the Lord 
Jesus hath thrown open the prison, and 
now he cometh | S you, as the magistrates 
once to them, i t and beseeches you to come 
out. If it were from a palace or paradise 

* John xi. 28. t John vii. 37. Prov. i. 21. 
t Rev. XXii. 17. i Prov. ix. 4—6 || Matt. xi. 28, 29 
fl John vi. 37. ** Matt, xxiii. 37.- t t Isa. lxv. 1, 2. 
t t Acts. xvi. 39. 



170 THE CONCLUSION8 

tha t Christ did call you, it were no wonder 
if you were unwilling; (and yet how easily 
was Adam deluded thence!) but it is from 
your prison, sirs; from your chains, from 
the dungeon, from darkness, that he call-
eth you;* and will you not come? He calls 
you unto liberty,! and will you not heark-
en? His yoke is easy, his laws are liberty, 
his service freedom;J and whatever preju-
dices you may have against his ways, if 
a God may be believed, you shall find them 
all pleasure and peace, and shall taste 
sweetness and joy unutterable, and take 
infinite delight and felicity in them.§ 

Beloved, I am loath to leave you; I can 
not tell how to give you over. I am now 
ready to shut up, but would fain strike 
this bargain between Christ and you before 
I end. What! shall I leave you as I found 
you at last? Have you read hitherto, and 
are you not yet resolved upon a present 
abandoning all your sins, and closing with 
Jesus Christ? Alas! what shall I say? 
What shall I do? Will you resist all my 
importunity? Have I run in vain? Have I 
used so many arguments, and spent so 
much time to persuade you, and will you 
at last disappoint me? But it is a small 
matter that you reject me; you put a 
slight upon the God that made you; you 
reject the bowels and beseeching of a Sav-
iour and will be found resisters of the Holy 

* Isa. xlii. 6, 7. ' f Gal. v. 13. 
t Matt. xi. 30. James i, „25. 1 Cor. vii. 22. 
§ Prov. iii. 17-. Psa. cxix. 103, 111, 165. 1 Pet. i. 8. 



THE CONCLUSION 171 

Ghost,* if you will not now be prevailed 
with to repent and be converted. 

Well, though I have called you long, and 
you have refused, I shall yet this once 
more lift up my voice like a trumpet. Once 
more I shall call regardless sinners, that , 
if it be possible, I may awaken them; 0 
earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the 
Lord.f Unless you be resolved to die, lend 
your ears to the last calls of mercy. Be-
hold, in the name of God I make op6n 
proclamation to you. Hearken unto me, 0 
ye children, hear instruction, and be wise, 
and refuse it not.J 

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to 
the waters; and he that hath no money, 
come ye, buy and eat. Yea, come, buy 
wine and milk without money and, without 
price. Wherefore do ye spend your money 
for that which is not bread, and your la-
bour for that which satisfieth not? Heark-
en diligently unto me, and eat ye that 
which is good, and let your soul delight 
itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and 
come unto me; hear, and your soul shall 
live; and I will make an everlasting coven-
ant with you, even the sure mercies of 
David. § 

Ho, every one that is sick of any man-
ner of disease or torment, || or is possessed 

* Acts. vii. 51. t Jer. xxii. 29. 
t Prov. viii. 32, 33. I Isa. lv. 1—3. 
|| Matt. iv. 23, 24. 

15 



172 THE CONCLUSION 
, with an evil spirit, whether of pride, or 

fury, or lust, or covetousness, come ye to 
the Physician; bring away your sick. Lo, 
here is he that healeth all manner of sick-
nesses, and all manner of diseases among 
the people. 

Ho, every one that is in debt, and every 
one that is in distress, and every one that 
is discontented, gather yourselves unto 
Christ, and he will become a captain over 
you, he will be your protection from the 
arrests of the law, he will save you from 
the hand of justice. Behold he is an open 
sanctuary to you, he is a known refuge.* 
Away with your sins, and come in unto 
him, lest the avenger of blood seize you, 
lest devouring wrath overtake you. 

Ho, every ignorant sinner, come and buy 
eye-salve that thou mayest see.f Away 
with thy excuses; for thou ar t forever lost 
if thou continuest in this state ;t but ac-
cept of Christ for thy prophet, and he will 
be a light unto thee.§ Cry unto him "for 
knowledge, study his word, take pains 
about the principles of religion, humble 
thyself before him, and he will teach thee 
his way, and make thee wise unto salva-
tion. 11 But if thou wilt not follow him in 
the diligent use of his means, but idly sit 
down because thou hast but one talent, he 
will condemn thee for a wicked and sloth-
ful servant.il 

* Heb. vi. 18. Psalm xlviii. 3. 
t Rev. iii. 18. t 2 Cor. iv. 3. 
§ Isa. xlii. 6. Eph. v. 14. 
|| Matt. xiii. 36. Luke viil. 9. John v. 39. 
11 Matt. xxv. 24—26. 



THE CONCLUSION 173 

Ho, every profane sinner, come in and 
live. Return unto the Lord, and he will 
have mercy on thee. 0 be entreated, re-
turn and come, thou that hast defiled thy 
mouth with oaths and execrations. All 
manner of sins and blasphemies shall be 
forgiven thee,-* if thou wilt but thoroughly 
turn unto Christ, and come in. Give up 
thyself unto Christ as a vessel of holiness, 
alone for his use; and then, though thy 
sins be as scarlet, they shall be as wool; 
and though they be as crimson, they shall 
be as white as snow.f 

Hear, 0 ye drunkards, how long will you 
be drunken? Put away your wine.J Give 
up yourselves to Christ, to live soberly, 
righteously, and godly; embrace his right-
eousness, accept his government, and 
though you have been swine, he will wash 
you.§ 

Hear, 0 ye loose companions, whose de-
light is in vain and wicked society, to sport 
away your time in carnal mirth and jollity 
with them. Come in at Wisdom's call, and 
choose her and her ways, and you shall 
live.jj 

Hear, 0 ye scorners, hear the word of 
the Lord; though you have made a sport 
at godliness and the professors thereof, 
though you have made a scorn of Christ 
and of his ways, yet even to you doth he 
call, to gather you under the wings* of his 
mercy.fl Upon your thorough conversion 

* Matt. iii. 28. t Luke vli. 47. Isa. 1. 18. 
t 1 Sam. i. 14. I Rev. i. 5. 
|| Prov. ix. 5, 6. H Prov. i. 22, 23. 



174 THE CONCLUSION8 

you shall be washed, you shall be justified, 
you shall be sanctified in the name of the 
Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.* 

Ho, every formal professor, that ar t but 
a lukewarm dough-baked Christian, and 
restest in the form of godliness, give over 
thy halving and thy halting, be a Christian 
throughout, be zealous and repent; and 
then, though thou hast been an offence to 
Christ's stomach, thou shalt be the joy of 
his heart, f 

And now bear witness that mercy hath 
been offered you. I call heaven and earth 
to record against you this day, that I have 
set before you life and death, blessing and 
cursing; therefore choose life that you 
may live.J I can but woo and warn you; I 
cannot compel you to be happy. If I could 
I would. What answer will you send me 
with to my Master? Let me speak to you 
as Abraham's servant to them, And now 
if you will deal kindly and truly with my 
master, tell me. § 0 for such an happy an-
swer as Rebecca gave them.|| And they 
said, We will call the damsel, and inquire 
at her mouth. And they called Rebecca, 
and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this 
man? And she said, I will go. 0 that I 
had but this from you! Why should I be 
your a c c u s e r , w h o thirst for your salva-
tion? Why should the passionate pleadings 
and wooings of mercy be turned into the 

* 1 Cor. vi. 11. f Rev. iii. 16, 19, 20. 
t Deut. xxx. 19. § Gen. xxiv. 49. 
II Gen. xxiv. 57, 58. ' fl Matt. x. 14, 15. 



THE CONCLUSION 175 

horrid aggravation of your obstinacy, and 
additions to your misery? Judge in your-
selves. Do you not think their condemna-
tion will be doubly dreadful, that shall go 
on in their sins, after all endeavors to re-
call them? Doubtless it shall be more tol-
erable for Tyre and Sidon, yea, for Sodom 
and Gomorrah, in the day of judgment, 
than for you.* 

Beloved, if you have any pity for your 
perishing souls, close with the present of-
fers of mercy. If the God that made you 
have any authority with you, obey his 
command, and come in. If you are not the 
despisers of grace, and would not shut up 
the doors of mercy against yourselves, re-
pent and be converted; let not heaven 
stand open for you in vain. Let not the 
Lord Jesus open his wares, and bid you 
buy without money and without price, in 
vain. Let not his ministers and his Spirit 
strive with you in vain, and leave you now 
at last unpersuaded, lest the sentence go 
forth against you. The bellows are burnt, 
the lead is consumed of the fire, the found-
er melteth in vain, reprobate silver shall 
men call them, because the Lord hath re-
jected them.f 

Father of Spirits! take the heart in 
hand that is too hard for my weakness. Do 
not thou end, though, I have done; half a 
word from thy effectual power will do the 
work. Othou that hast the key of David, 
that openest and no man shutteth, open 

• Matt. xi . 22—24. ; ' . t Jer. vi. 29, 30. 



176 THE CONCLUSION8 

thou this heart as thou didst Lydia's, and 
let the King of Glory enter in, and make 
this soul thy captive! Let not the tempter 
harden him in delays; let him not: stir 
from this place, nor take his eyes from 
these lines, till he be resolved to forego 
his sins, and accept of life on thy self*, 
denying terms. In thy name, 0 Lord God, 
did I go forth to these labours; in t h y . 
name do I shut them up. Let not all the 
time they have cost be lost hours; let.not 
all the thoughts of heart, and all the pains 
that have been about them, be but lost 
labour. Lord, put in thy hand into .the 
heart of this reader, and send thy Spirit, 
as once thou didst Philip, to join himself 
to the chariot of the eunuch, while he was 
reading the word. And though I should 
never know it while I live, yet I beseech 
thee, 0 Lord God, let it be found at that 
day that some souls are converted by: 
these labours; and let some be able to 
stand forth and say, that by these persua-
sions: they were won unto thee. Amen, 
Amen. Let him that readeth say, Amen. 

MR. ALLEINE'S COUNCIL FOR PER-
SONAL AND FAMILY GODLINESS 
Beloved, I despair of ever bringing you 

to salvation without sanctification, or 
possessing you of happiness without per-
suading you to holiness. God knows, I 
have not the least hope ever to see one of 
ypur faces in heaven except you be con-
verted, and sanctified, and exercise your-



MR. ALLEINE'S COUNSEL, ETC., 177 

selves unto godliness. I beseech you, study 
personal godliness and family godliness. 

1. Personal godliness. Let it be your 
first care to set up Christ in your hearts. 
See that you make all your worldly inter-
ests to stoop to him, that you be entirely 
and unreservedly devoted unto him. It 
you wilfully, and deliberately, and ordinar-
ily harbour any sin, you are undone, bee 
that you unfeignedly take the law ot 
Christ as the rule of your words, thoughts, 
and actions; and subject your whole man, 
members, and minds, faithfully to him. It 
you have not a true respect to all God s 
commandments» you are unsound at hea r t 
0 study to get the image and impress of 
Christ upon you within. Begin with your 
hearts, else you build without any founda-
tion. Labor to get a saving change within, 
or else all external performances will be to 
no purpose. And then study to show forth 
the power of godliness in the life. Let 
piety be your first and great business: » 
is the highest point of justice to give God 
his due. Beware that none of you be a 
prayerless person; for that is a most cer-
tain discovery that you are a Christless 
and graceless person; or one that is a very 
stranger to the fear of God. Suffer not 
your Bibles to gather dust; see that you 
converse daily with the word. That man 
can never lay claim to blessedness, whose 
delight is not in the law of the Lord- Let 
meditation and self-examination be your, 
daily exercise. . . .. .. — -



178 MR. ALLEINE'S COUNSEL FOR 
But piety without charity is but the half 

of Christianity; or- rather impious hy-
pocrisy. We may not divide the tables; 
see, therefore, that you do justly and love 
mercy, and let equity and charity run like 
an even thread throughout all your deal-
ings. Be you temperate in all things, and 
let chastity and sobriety be your undivided 
companions. Let t ruth and purity,- serious-
ness and modesty, heavenliness and grav-
ity, be the constant ornaments of your 
speech. Let patience and humility, sim-
plicity and sincerity, shine out in all the 
parts, of your conversation. See that vou 
forget and forgive wrongs, and requite 
them with kindness, as you would be 
found the children of . the Most High. Be 
merciful in your censures, and put the 
most favourable construction upon your 
brethren's carriage, that their actions will 
reasonably hear. Be slow in promising, 
punctual in fulfilling. Let meekness and in-
nocence, affability, yieldingness, and sim-
plicity, commend your conversation to all 
men. Let hone of your relations want that 
love and reverence, that tenderness, care, 
and vigilance, which their; several places' 
and capacitéis cáll for. This is thorough 

I charge you before the most 
high God, that none of you be found a 
swearer, or a liar, or a lover of evil com-
pany, or a scoffer, or malicious, or covet-
ous, or a.drunkard, or a glutton, unright-
eous in his dealings, unclean in his living 
or a .quarreler,- -or- a-thief, or a backbiter 

or a railer.; for I denounce unto-you, -from 



PERSONAL AND FAMILY GODLINESS 179 

the living God, that destruction and dam-
nation is the end of all such. 

2. Family godliness. He that hath set 
up Christ in his heart, will be sure to 
study to set him up in his house. Let every 
family with you be a Christian church; 
every house a house of prayer. Let every 
householder say with Joshua, I and my 
house will serve the Lord, and resolve with 
David, I will walk in my house with a per-
feet heart. 

First, let religion be in your families, 
not as a matter to be minded at leisure, 
but the standing business of the house. Let 
them have your prayers as duly as their 
meals. Is there any of your families but 
have time for taking their food? Wretched 
man! canst thou not as well find time to 
pray in? ... , 

; Secondly, settle it upon your hearts, that 
your souls are bound up in the souls of 
your family; they are committed unto you, 
and if they he lost through your neglect, 
they will be required at your hands. If you 
do not, you shall know that the charge of 
souls is a heavy charge, and that the blood 
of souls is a heavy guilt. 0 man, hast thou 
a Charge of souls to answer for, and wilt 
thou not bestir thyself, that their, blood 
be not found in thy skirts? 

1. Let the solemn reading of the word, 
and singing of psalms, be your family ex-
ercises. See Christ singing with his fam-
ily, namely, his disciples.* , 

2. Let every person in your families be 
as duly called to an account of their profit-

* Matt. xxvi. 30. 



180 MR. ALLEINE'S COUNSEL FOR 

ing by the word heard or read, as they be 
about doing your own business. This is a 
duty of consequence unspeakable, and 
would be a means to bring those under 
your charge to remember and profit by 
what they receive. See Christ's example.* 

3. Often take an account of the souls 
under your care, concerning their spiritual 
states, (herein you must be followers of 

.Christ.f) Make inquiry into their condi-
tion, insist much upon the sinfulness and 
misery of their natural state, and upon the 
necessity of regeneration and conversion, 
in order to their salvation. Admonish 
them gravely of their sins, encourage their 
beginnings, follow them earnestly, and let 
them have no quiet from you, until you 
see in them a saving change. This is a 
duty of very great consequence, but, I am 
afraid, most fearfully neglected. Doth not 
conscience say, Thou art the man? 

4. Look to the strict sanctifying of the 
Sabbath by all your household. Many poor 
families have little time else. 0 improve 
but your Sabbath days as diligently in la-
bouring for knowledge, and doing your 
Maker's work, as you do the other days in 
doing your own work, and I doubt not but 
you may come to some proficiency. 

5. Let the morning and evening sacri 
fice of solemn prayer be daily offered up 
m all your families. Beware you be not 
found among the families that call not UD-

* Matt. xvi. 11, 13, 15. 
f Matt. xiii. 10, 36, 51. Mark iv. 10, 11. 



PERSONAL AND FAMILY GODLINESS 181 

on God's name; for why should there be 
wrath from the Lord upon your families I 
0 miserable families, without God in the 
world, that are without family prayer! 
What, have you so many family sins, fam-
ily wants, family mercies; what, and yet 
no family prayers? How do you pray with 
all prayer and supplication, if you do not 
with family prayer? Say not, I have no 
time. What, hast thou not all thy time on 
purpose to' serve God and save thy soul] 
And yet is this it for which thou canst find 
no time? Find but an heart, and you will 
find time. Say not, My business will not 
leave me. This is the greatest business, to 
save thyself, and the souls committed to 
thee. Say not, I am not able; use the one 
talent, and God will increase it. 

6. Put every one in your families upon 
private prayer. Observe whether they per-
form it. Get them the help of a form, if 
they need it, till they are able to prav 
without it. Direct them how to pray, by 
reminding them of their sins, wants, and 
mercies, the materials of prayer. This was 
the practice of John and Jesus.* 

7. Set up catechising in your families, 
at the least once every week. Have you no 
dread of the Almighty's charge, that you 
should teach these things diligently to 
your children, and talk to them as you sit 
in your houses, and train them up in the 
way wherein they should go? Hath God so 
commended Abraham, that he would teach 

» Luke xl. 1, &c. 



182 MR. ALLEINE'S COUNSEL, ETC.. 

his children and household, and that he 
had many instructed servants, and given 
such a promise to him thereupon, and will 
you not put in for a share, neither in the 
praise nor the promise? Hath Christ hon-
oured catechising with his presence, (Luke 
ii 46) and will you not own it with your 
practice? Say not, They are careless, and 
will not learn. What have you your author-
ity for, if not to use it for God, and the 
good of their souls ? You will call them up, 
and force them to do your work. And 
should you not at least be as zealous in 
putting them upon God's work? Say not, 
They are dull, and are not capable. If they 
be dull, God requires of you the more pains 
and patience. 

Will you answer the calls of divine Prov-
idence ? Would you remove the incumbent, 
or prevent the impending calamities ? 
Would you plant nurseries for the church 
of God? Would you that God should build 
your houses, and bless your substance? 
Would you that your children should bless 
you? O then set up piety in your families, 
as ever you would be blessed, or be a 
blessing. Let your hearts and your houses 
be the temples of the living God, in which 
his worship (according to all the aforemen-
tioned directions) may be with constancy 
reverently performed. He that being often 
reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall sud-
denly be destroyed, and that without rem-
edy. O be wise in time that you may not 
be miserable to eternity. 

THE E N D