m M- :3:?21,* # m^ --■ 5^ f « d **<► 3 2 *s> % 3 o *S a C ** o ^ E- 3 Q_ ^ I ^ . ^ c ■ 8 ; k^ ^ 5 - Ill 1 11^ <«v^ o ^ O ^ % -% s^E /o^c:)o -.■p ^ • V s'^^SfRfi^ L/C- p^'^y^ (J ■ f'A y /■ r y- ^ ^ ^/uyy^J/f ^/'^^^"^y/z^i^/r^/ /^a^^f^ 'o^///^/ ^/^v'^ yy'^y///y/'y^:ri'/.ay/y/^^/7/^y ^^/}yyy /'/T'cT^y /?^y/yy y > (' - ^ y/^/^4/y/T/'/^y' ^r./^^r/yu/y/'yyy^T'^^y/' /^^'^^^/^/^/^^^//^^ . Ly/'^yyiycr ^//^y//iyy y^y/ryWyy^^f^^y^/^yyyfy^^iy/^ \ jyar^^y^ryfy ^ryyay^'yy^y /ryyy /^ /'^//yy/cfy^r.^'7^f.y! i^ 4'f^Zf y/'fayyy/'^y^^ ^ /'yyy^ > yy^/'ir^yy^^'y^ryyyf /yyyytf /^^yr^yy^^y/^ry^ /yy/^^^f<^/'^^y/^^^^y^<^'^'^'' y^^/ya'y:ryya/a///. 'My^Z //^ >^>^^/^^ y4^r//^/vyy ://f'yyyy/ wyiy/^y^y^ryy/y^y'/ry'/y'^yy/^^^'i^^ '. ^-fwyy/y/^ /TZf^ yf/f y7rryr^y^'yy..yff7':firyr^ ^yyj^/ "^"^ ' '^ y^y^' ^a^yy^^y //'■^^ey ^y^'^'^^^ i^//^a^Yy/'//e^'yy^yi'yf/^^^^y^^y^^^yy^^^^^^ J , a^/yy^<^y r^^/f/ar^^y*/ /^t/^/'^y^ea'/ ///74'^/^/^ Y^ //y//yr/^ i^^ry/^/if/^^a//^ ///y//y/y^/'^yW//yty^ y^>i bt- pmirig mth the unconverted s and then preceed- ing to the babes in Chrijiy and then to the {Irong ; ■mi mixing Jome fecial Helps agmft the fsvemi Jis fits fns thit they Are addi^cd to. By tht fuddcn- xiji of his mmon at^urfirft co'igrefi J pa caved it rpiis h his mbd before : ^nd I told him, both that it is abundantly done by ma y alua^ dy : and that his mac quaint edntfs rvith my ypeal^nef, might mal^e him thin\ me fitter for it thai I was. But this did mot fatkfie him , but {till he made it his requefl y I confcfs i was not moved by his K cafons, nor did I appr:hend any ^reat need of doi'ig more than is done in that •way: nor that I was I^J^ly to do move. And therefore I parted from him without the Ua(i prpofe to anjwcr his dcjrre. But fince his death, bis words often same into my mind: and the great reverence I bore to him, did the more in- tline[me t$ thinly with fome complacency of hi& motion. And hazing of late intended to yrrite d Family-DireStory^^ I began to apprehend how eongrmiijly the fore-mentioned wori^ [hould lead the way ; and the fcve^-al Ctmditions of mens fouls be fpo\en of, before we (ome to the fe-ue- yal Relations, Hereupon I rcfolved by Gods af" Jfjiance to proceed in the order following. Firfi, To fpea\ to the impenitent Unconverted finmrs, who are not yet fo. much^ as puvpojing to Turn, or at leafi are not jetting about the mr\. And with thefe I thought a wakening Perfwafive was a more necefjary means, than. mcer Dire^ions. For DireHionsfuppoJe menwil^ Ung to obey them : but the perfons that we have firfi tQ deal with, are wilful and afleep in fm^ und as men that m pajl feeling , having given tbfm(elves over to fin with greedinefs , Ephef. 4. 19. 4. I'p. My next wo'i\ muji be for thofe thit have fome purpofcs to Tt^'m , aid a^-e about- tht Work^ to DhcB them for a tbro^b and tru* Cdnvirf^of, that th.y mifcany not u the birth. The third part muft fe? DmBions for the you'i- ger a:d wcakr f/rt of Chrifiiaiis , that th:y may be ftab!i%ed , buUt uj>, and pcrfvcrc Th' fourth paty Vtrc^ilons fo-' kfJ a':d backr Jll^hg Chri'iia''S for th-ir faf Recovery. Be~ fidcs th'fc, there is intended foms fhort Verfwa- fives and Diniiions aiai^ii Jomc fpc ial errors of the tim:s , aid a^aitji fame common k^li'g fins. As for BlreSftons • to Doubting troubkd Cd"fisnces , that is done already. And the Syo'^g I fhall not nrite VireSiions for, bccaafe they ae fo much taught of God already. Andthm the laji partis intended more fpecial/y for Fami-r lies as fuch, DireCiing the fveral Marions i.i thtVf D^^i^- Some of thtfe are already mitten : whether I (hall have life and Uljure for the refty God onl/ ifno'^eth. And therefore I [hall pub^ lifh the fever al parts by thew fives , as J write them : ad the rather becaufc tb y arc intended for min of different Jiat^es, and beca-fs I voould not ditcrr them by the bhlkjr frk^.^, fr2':n r:zdi^g r:bz: is written for their benefit. The uje that tbi^ Paert is published for,, is, i. for Maficrs aiut Vaifents to read often it their Families^ if they have Servants w Childrui that are yet uncon- verted. 2. For all f'.ich unconverted pcrfons to read and confidcr of them f elves. ,3. For therkhe-r (on, that have any pltty on fuch mifirablt fmls, to give to the wfanSified that need them : (if .^ A$ they. ' j t^b'.we not ft'tci athAndt9i!(e Aid^rut. ) Tint. Lfffd drn^t\e us to wor^yvbilt it U day, fsr thi, '{r-'i'^g of 9'<'i' orpn a To all unfanftified perfons that (hall read this Book , Efpccially of - my Hearers in the Burrough and PaiiQi of Kedcrntinfter, Men md Brethren^ HE Eternal Goi that made youforalifeEver- lafting J and hath Re- deemed you by his on- ly Son 5 when you had left it and your felves, being mindful of you in your fin and mifery, hath indited the Gofpel, and fealed it by his Spirit, and commanded Iiis Minifters to preach it to the world, that pardon being freely oflered you, and Heaven being fee before you^he might call you oft' from your fle(l\ly plcaiures, and from following afcer this deceitful world, and acquaint you with the Life that you were Created and Redeemed for , before you are dead and paft remedy. He fendeth not you Prophets or Apoi^les, that receive their mef- fage by immediate Revelation, but yet he cal- Jeth you by his ordinary Minifters, who are CommilTiorated by him to preach the fame A4, Gofpci The Freface. rcms : Tor long have we preached to many ot them, a^ in vain", we ftudy plahinc[s to make ihem under jiiind:, and many of them will not hndcrfiaad us : \Ve fliidy fenous piercing words, to make them fcclj but they w// ?:(}t fed. If the Grsatcft matters would work with them , weftiould awa\e them ^ If the fwectcji thirgs would work , we fhould mia them and win their hearts 3 If the mofl drt.idful tilings would work , we fliould at leaft ajf',i^ht them from their wickednefs J -l(.T,hth and Certainty would take with them , - we fhould foon c» nines them «, if the God that made them, and the Chnft that bought them mi^ht be heard, the care would foon be altered with them y if 5f even t\ve'ir own experience, and the experience of all the world, rhe matter would be mended : Yea, if the Confcicnce within them might be beard , the cafe would be better with them than it is. But if nothing can be heard, what then (ha' I we do for them ? If the dreadful God of Heaven be flighted , who then fhall be regarded ? If the ineflimable Love and 4)lood of a Redeemer be inade light of, what then fhall be valued ? If Heaven have no de- firable Glory with them , and everlading Joyes be nothing worth 3 if they can jefi at Hell 3 and dance abQUt die bwttomleis pit,, and and play with the confuting ^re , and that - when God and mm do wanvthem of it; vvhdt .ft^all we do for fach fouls as thefe ? • Once more in the Name of the God of Heaven, I fliall dothemedage to you which he hath commanded us , and leave it in thcfe ftand.ng lines to convert you or con- demn you : to change you , or rife up m Judgcm.-nt a^al'ift Jfl'^andto be a wjitncfs to your faces , that once you had a [erms Call to TH-nt. Hear all you that are the drudges of the world, and the fervants of flc{h and Sa~ .tai! That fpend your dayes in looking a'ter ' profperity on earth , and drown your confci- ences in 'drinking, and gluttony, and idkriffs, and foolifh fpcrts , and know you, fin, and yet will fin , as if you fet God at defiance, and bid him do his worft and fpare not / Hearken a'l you that mind not God , and have r.o heart to h olv tilings, and feel no favour id the Word or Worlhip of the Lord r> or in the thoughts or mention of eternal life , that arc carelefs of your immortal fouls , and never beftowed one hour in enquiring what cafe they, are in , whether fanditied or unfandifled, and \yhether you are ready to appear before the Lord/ Hearken all you that by finning in the> lijght , have finned your felves into Atheiim- and Infidelity, and do not believe the Word- of God. He that hath an ear:to hear, lethint. hear the Gracious and yet Dreadful Call of Godi His eye is all this while upon youl; Vour fills are regiiUed? and yow&ailfurcLy.; beat: / Iherrejace. .4. of chem all again : God keepeth the Book '^nfi^w : and he will write icupcn all your Coij- fciences with, his cerrors • and then you aifo fhaJl keep it your felves : O finners , thac you knew but what you are doing.! and who you are all this while offending! The Sun it fv.lf is darknefs before the glory of that Ma* jefty which you daily abufc, and carelefly pro- voke. The finning Angels were not able to ftand before him,butwere caft downto be.tor- mented with Devils. And dare, fuch Blly worms as you fo fearlefly oftend , and fer Your felves againft your Maker /. O that you did Dut a little know wliat a cafe, that wretched foul is in, that hath engaged the living God figdnfi him. The Word of his moutli that- made thee can unmake thee 3 the frown of his face will cut tliee off , and cafVf thee out into utter darknefs* How eager are the Devils lo- be doing with thee that have tempted thee, and do. but wait for the word from God , to take and ufe thee as their own ! and then in a moment thou wilt be in Hell. If God be againftthee, aii things are againftthee: this- world is but thy prifon for all that thou fay loveflit : thou arc bur referred in it to the day of wrath , ( foh zi. 50. ) The Judge is comings thy foul is even going. Yet a little while , and thy Friend fhali fay of thee. Be is dsad : and thou Ihak fee the things thac thou now doft delpife, and feel that whicK now thou wilt not believe. Death will bring fuch< an Argument a$ thou cang notanfwer : An Argument TbeTreface. Argument that ftiall effeftually confute chA Gavils againft ti he Word and wayes of God, and all thy felf-conceited dotages. And then how foon will thy mind be changed ? Then be- an unbeliever if thou canft , liandthenco aii I thy former words which thou waft wont to ' utter againft the Scriptures J or againtt a holy' j and a heavenly life. Make good that caufe ^: then before the Lord, which thou wafl wont ' to plead againft thy Teachers : and aga'nft the people that feared God. Then ftand to thy old opinions, and contemptuous thoughts " I ot the diligence of the Saints : Malc€ ready. V r^w thy lirongeft Reafons, and ftand up then I before the Judge, and plead like a man, for li thy fltfti'y , thy worldly , and ungodly life." %But know that thou muft have one to plead with , that will not be out-faced by thee : nor fo eafiiy put off" as we thy fellow Creatures. O poor deceived wretched foul / there is nothing but a ilerder vail of fltfti betwixt thee and that amazing %ht, which will ijuickly filencc thee,. and turn thy tune, and make'' thee of another mind I As foon as Death hath drawn this Curtain, thou ilia It fee that which will quickly leave thee fpeechlefs. And hovf quickly wiU that day and hour come? When thou haft had but a few more merry hours, and but a few more pleafant draughts and mor- fels , and a little more of the honours and riches of the world, thy portioit will be fpent^ and thy pleafures ended , and all is then gone that thou fetteft tby heart upon : of all that thou Jh Preface, thou foldfl thy Saviour and jaljatton for, there is nothing left but the heavy > reckoning.. As a Thief, that fics merrily drinkin^ the money in .in Ale-houfs which he hath itoln , when men are riding in pofi-hade to apprehend him 5 k it is with you. While you are drowned in cares or fleftily pleafares , and making merry with your own (hanie, Death is coming in pod-hafle to feize upon you, and carry your fouls to fuch a place, and flate, as now you hitle know or think of. Suppofe when you wjre bold and bufi: in your fin, tliAt a mellenger were but coming poft from Ld'tdon to apprehend you , and take away your Jives • though you j.nv him not , yet if you knctv that he was corning, it would m.irr your mirth , and you would be thinking of the hafb he makes , and hearkmng when he knocked at your door : O that you could but fee what haile Death makes, tliough yet it have not overtaken you I No Poft fo fwift i No mefiengcr more fure ! As fure aj> the Sun will be with you m the morning, though it hath many thoufands, and hundred thoufand miles to go in tlie night * fo fure will death be quickly with you, and ths-i where is your fport and pleafure. then will you j.efl and brave it out? Thtnm\\ you. jear atrhem that warned you > Then is^t better to be a believ- ing Saint , or a r.'nfual worldling ? Aid thm: tvhofs jhail all thofs t'oifigs b: that you have gathered ? / Lu{e 12. ip, 10,11. J Do you not obferve that dayes and weeks are quickly gone. TkeTrefacf. gone, and nights and mornings comeap3re,V and fp.eedily fucceed each other? Ton fl^ep, but yom Damimtm flmbcreth 'tiot j Ton linger,- hut yo'AY Judgement this loig time li/igCHihnot : iPet.z.jj 4> J. to which yon are nferved for pHifijhmc/it / 1 Per. 2. 8y p. ) that you were, wife to mderjLvul ihii, aid that yon did coiji- dcr your Uttir cnd^ Deut. ^z.^zp He that hath an iOifAo hear J kt him he-arth& Callof.Cod in this Day of h is Sal vat io i. O carelel's finners, that you A\i but know the Love that yon umhanlcfully neglcd, and the preciou(ii£(s oF the blood oFChrill whicli you defpile ! O that you did but know the riches of the Gofpel ! Oh that you did but know, ^ li:tk know''ihe Certainty and. the < Glory 5 and bleHcdnefs of that tveilafling. Life 5 which now you will not let your hearts upon , nor be peifwaded firR and diligently to feck. ( Heh.i\.6.&\2^2^. Matth.6.1'^.) Did you but know the cndlefs Life with God which you now negkd , how quickly would you cali away youriin I how quickly would you change your mind and life, your courfe and company 5 and turn the flreanis of your afic<5tions , and lay cut your care anoiher way ? How refolutely would you fc orn to yield to fuch temptations as now deceive yoUjand carry you away? How zcaloufly wcu:d you befiir your felves for that moft b'cfled life? How earneil would you be with God in prayer? How diligent in hearing, and learning, and euquixing ? How ferious in me- ditating The Preface, ditacing on the Laws of God ? ( P/rf/.i.2 J How fearful of inning in thoughtjWordjor deed? and how careftil to p^eafe God> and grow in Holi- nefs ^ O what a changed people you would be/ And why fliould not the certain word of God be believed by )'0u, and prevail with you, which openeth to you thefe glorious & eternal things ? Yea 5 let me tell you 5 that even here on earth , you little kaow the dift'.^rence be- t-veen the life which you refufe , and the life which you choofe ? The Sand.fieJ are converfing with God , when you dare fcarce think oi him , and when you are convert fing but with eirth and fltih* Their Con- verfation is in Heaven, when you are ut- ter ftrangers to it, and your belly is your Goi, and you are minding earthly things, Phil.^, 18,1^,2^. They are f -eking after the face of Goi J when you feck for nothing higher ihau this world. They are bufily laying out for an endlefs life , where they (hall be equal with the Angels, ( La^e 20. 35. j when you take up withalhadow, and a rranfitory thing of nought. How low and bafe is your earth* ly, fle(hly, finful life 3 in compav.fon of the noble, fpirirual life of true believers! Many a time have I looked on fuch men with grief and piity , to fee them trudge about the world, and fpend their lives, and care , and labour for nothing but a little food and rayment, cr a little fading pelf , or fleflily pleafares, or aiery Honours, as if they had no higher things to mind, What difference is there between ' "^ " ^ '-'' " " '■ tlic ^"^ ■ The Trfface, tnc lives of thcfe men, and of the beafts that perifti, that fpend their rime in working, and eating, ami -living , but that they may live? They tafte not ot the inward heavenly Plea- fiires which Believers tafte and live upon. 1 had rather have a little of thtir comfort , which the fore-thoughts of their heavenly Inheritance doth afford them , though I had all rheir Scorns and Sufferings with it, than to have all your pleafures and treacherous Pro- fperity : I would not have 6ne of your fecret gripes and pangs oi Confcienccs, and dark and oreadful thoughts of Death and the Life to come, for all that ever the world hath done for you, or all that you can reafbnably hope that it {hould do. If I were in your Uncon- verted Carnal ftate , and knew but what I know, and believed but what I now believe, methirks my life would be. a fore-talie of Hell : How oft (hould I be thinking of the terrors of the Lord 5 and of the difmal Day that is haftning on / Sure , Dearh and Hell would be ftill before me. I ftiould think of them by day, and dream of thtm by night; I (houid lie down in fear , and rife in fear, and live in fear , left Death fhould come before I were converted. I fhould have fmall felicity in any thing that I pofleflcd j and little pleafure in any Company, and lit- tle joy in any thing in the world , as long as I knewmyfelf to be under the Curfe and Wrath of God : I fhould be flill afraid of hearing that Voice, Lu{e 1 1. 20. [ thou "the preface, fooli this night (htll thy foul bi nqkiredofthsf,"} And that fearful fentence would be writtea ~ upon my Confcience, Ifa. ^^. 22. and ^y, 21, [ Tioere is no pcaccy faith my God^ to the mc\- e^* 3 O poor finners / It is a joyfuller life than this that you might live 3 if you were but mllingy but truly vpilling to heaf\t?i to Chrifi 5 and come home to God. You might then draw near to God with boldnefs , and call him your Father, and comfortably truft him with your fouls and bodies. If you look upon Vromifesy you may fay, They an all mine. If upon the Curfe , you may fay» J[From this i am delivered I] When you read the Law 5 you may fee what you are faved from ; when you read the Go^d , you may fee him that Redeemed you , and fee the courfe of his Love, and holy life, and fuffer- ings, and trace him in his temptations, tear* and blood , in the work of your falvation, lYou may fee Death conquered, and Heaven opened, and your Refurreftion and Glorificati- on provided for, in the Refmreftion and Glo- rification of your Lord. If you look on the Saint Sy you may fay 3 \_lhcy are my Brethren aid Companions, ] If on the unfan^ified, you may rejoyce to think that you are faved from that ftate. If you look upon the Heavens , the Sun, and Moon and Surs innumerable, you may think and fay, [ Mf Fathers fa_:e i^ infifiite' ly more glorioM •, ' Its higher matters thai he bath prepared for his Saints j Yonder is but the ouinvari Cmt of Hsa'.et. The blfdnejs thai he hath fromifed The Preface. pi-omifed mc is jomuchhightr^ thatficfh aitdhlood cannjt behold it. If tlK>u think oi the grave, - you may remember tliat the Glorified Spirit^ A. Livi^ Hrad, and^Loiing Father have all fo' near Relation to yotir Daft , that it cannot be forgotten or negiefted, but will more certain- ly revive , tlian the plants and flowers in the Spring J Becaufe that the foul is ftill alive j- that is the Root of the Body -^ and Chriji is alive , that is the Root of both. Even death which is the King of fears, may beremem- bred and entertained wich Joy * as being the Day of your deliverance from the Remnants of fin and forrow , and the Day which vou be- lieved, and hoped, and waited for, when you (hall fee the blefled things which you had heard of, and (hall find by pre fent joyful expe* viencc, what it was to choofe the better parti and to be a finccre believing Saint. What fay you Sirs> Is net this a more delightful life to be alTured of lalvation, and ready to die,than to live as the ungodly, that have their hearfs overcharged with furfeiting and drimi^enncfsy and the cares o( this life, a>tdfo that Day comes if^ bn them unawares ? Luke 2 1. 34, 36. Might you not live a comfortably life , if once you were made the Heirs of Heaven, and Cure to be faved when you leave the world ? O look about you then, and think what you doj and caft nor away fuch hopes as thefe for very nothing. The,flefti and world can give you no fuch Hopes or Comforts. /\nd befides all the mifery that you bring' upon ThiTreface, upon your felvcs 9 you are the trouMers of others as long as you are Llnconverted : You trouble Magiftrates to rule you by their Laws. You trouble MiniPers by refifting the Light and guidance which they o&r you: Your fin and' mifery is the greateil grief and trouble to them in the world. You trouble the Gommon- weahh, and draw tke Judgements of God up-^ on us : Its you that moft difturb the holy peace, and order of the Churchesjand hinder our Uni- on and Reformation, and are theftame and. trouble of the Churches where you intrude, and of the places where you are . Ah Lord / How heavy and fad a cafe is this, that even m JE«g/W where the Gofpel doth abound, above" any other Nation. in the world , where teaching js fo plain and common 5 and all the helps we can defire are at hand ; when the fword hath been hewing us, and Judgement hath run as a- fire through the Land : when deliverances have relieved us , and fo many admirable mercies have engaged us to God and to theGofpel, and an holy hfe : that yet after all this, our Cities and Towns, and Countreys ihaH abound with multitudes ofunfandihed men, and fwarm with fo miich fenfuality as every where to our grief we fee! One would have thought, that after all this Light, and all this experi- ence, and all thcfe Judgments and Mtrcies of God, the people of this Nation (hould have joyned together as one man to turn ?,o the Lord ; ard {hould have come to their godly Teacher , and lamented all their former /jjis, and The Friface. and defired him to joyn with them in pub- lick HumiliatioHj tp confefs them openly^ and beg pardon of them from the Lord, and fliould have craved his Inflruftion for the time to come, and be glad to be ruled by the Spirit within, and the Miniftcrs of Chriil with- out, according to the Word of God. One would think that after fuch reafon and Scripture evi- dence as they hear, and after all thefe means and Mercies, there ftiould not be an ungodly pcrfon left among us, nor a Worldling , nor a Drunkard, or a hater of Reformation, or an enemy to Holinefs be fouud in all our Towns or Countrcys. If we be not all agreed about forae Ceremonies, or Forms of Government, one would think that before this , we fhould have been all agreed to live a holy and hea- venly life ; in obedience to God jhis Word and Minifters , and in Love and Peace with one another. But, alas. How far are our people firom this courfe/ mofiofihemin moft places do fet their hearts on earthly things, and feek not firfi the ¥jfigdom efGody anatherighteouf- Kcfs thenef'y but look at Holinefs as a needjcfs thmgj their Families are prayerlefs, or elie a few heartlefs \ik\ds words muft fervc inftead of hearty fervent daily prayers j their children are not taught the knowledge of Chrift, and the Covenant of Grace, nor brought up in the Nurture of the Lord, though they falfly pro- miftd all this in their Baptifnu They in- flruft not their fervants in the matters of Sai- •vation, but fo theif woik be 4one, they care not 7he Treface. not." There are more o^ths, and CHffes, atid ribbald or railing l^eeches in their Families, than gracious words that tend to edih'cation. How tew are the Families that fear the Lord, and enquire at his Word and Miniiters how they (hould live , and what they (hould do,and are willing to be4:aught and ruled, and that heartily look after everlafting Life ! And thofe few that God hath made fo happy? are com- monly the by-word of their Neighbours : when we fee fomc live in drunkennefs , and fome in pride and worldlinefsj and moftof them have little care of their fdvationy though ihe caufe be grofs , andpaft all con* troverfie 5 yet will they hardly be convinced of their mifery, and more hardly recovered and reformed - But when we have done all that we are able tofave them from their fins, we leave the mofl of them as we find them. And if according to the Law of God, we caftthem out of the Communion of the Clmrch, when they have obftinately rejeded all our admo- nitions , they rage at us as if we were their ene- mies, and their hearts are filled with malice eiainji us, and they willfoonerfetthemfelves Mgaiufi tJie Lord and his Laws, and Church, and Minifters, than againji their deadly fins. This is the doleful cale of England, We have Magii!rates that countenance the wayes of Godlinefi : and an happy opportunity for Oni-. ty and Reformation is before us, and faithful' Minifters long to fee the right ordering of the giiuich, an4 of the Ordnances of God: but * He Freface. bur the power of (in in our people doth fru- ftrate alraoftr all. No where can almoft a faithful Minifter fet up the unoueliionable Difcipline of Chrift j or put back the mod fcandalous impenicent finners from the Com- munion of the Church, and participation of the Sacraments> but the moft of the people rail at them, and revile them *• as if thefe !g« norant carelefs fouls were wifer than their Teachers, or than God himfelf, and fitter to rule the Church than they. And thus in the day of our vifitation when God calls upon us to Reform his Church , though Magiitrates fecm willing , and faithful Minifters arc wil- ling , yet are the multitude of the people ftill unwilling, and fin hath fo blinded them and hardned their hearts , that even in thefe dayes of Light and Grace, they are the obftinate enemies of Light and Grace , and will not be brought by the Calls of God to fee their fol- ly 3 and know what is for their good. O that the people of £;/^/W {nttv at leafiin this their dA]i tk things that belong mto their peace, btfoti they are bid from their eyei! Luke ip. 42. O fooliih miferable fouls / ( Gd.^, i.J »ii9 bath bewitched ym ^inds into fuch madnefs, wjd your hearts into iiidi deadnefs, that you would be fuch mortal enemies to your felves, and go on fo obftinately towards damnation, that neither the Word of God , ftor the pcr- fwafions of men can change your minds, or hold your hands, or ftop you till you are paft fcmcd/l WeU finners, liiis, life Urill notlaft alwaycs % The Freface. alwayes; this patience will not wait upon^'ou iliU. Do not think that you ihalT abufe your Maker and Redeemer, and ferve his enemies, and debafe your foulsj and trouble the world, and wrong the Church, and reproach the god- ly, and grieve your Teachers, and hinder Re- formation , and all this upon free coft. Ygu know not yet what this muft coft you > but you muft (hortly know when the righteous God ihall take you in hand , who will handle you in another manner than the (harpeft Ma- -giftratcs , or the plaincft dealing Paftors did, unlefs you prevent the everlafting torments by a found Ccnverfion, and a fpeedy obeying of the Call of God. Hi that hath an ear to bear, litb'm hear^ while Mercy hath a voice to call/ One defperate Objeftion ( which I have after touched, but with too much brevity J I find (licks clofe to the hearts of many ungodly men. They think that Ged doth riot jo much care rvhat men thlni^ or fay , er dty, as we per- fwade thm j and thmfore tbty carefo little th'em^ [elves. For the convincing of fuch Atheiftical men as thofe, I {hall propound thefe following Queftions. " I. Doft thou think God careth whether thdu heamano-raot? If not. Who made thee and preferveth thee? If he do, then fure he careth wheth^'thou behave thy (elf as a mat. No man is fo foolifh as to make any Inftrument, build an Houle> or a Ship, and not care when he hath done, whether it be good for the • wfe Tht Prefdce. ufc lie made it for. iDo not fbr^fhaine then impute fuch foily to the God of Wif- dom 5 as if he made fo nobje a, creature as man , ^and endowed him with fuch noble faculties, and all fornoihing : and ca'rcth not what bccometh of him when he hath dcftie. Why (hould God ^ivc thee a mind that can know him , and a heart tliat can love hitn, if he cared not whether thou know hin*\ > and love him or not ? Do you net fee that h the courfe of Nature every thing is fitted to it« ufe ? the Beafts know not God, nor f re cs:- -pable of loving him , becaufe they were made for no fuch ufe j but thy Capacity (hews tliat thou waft made for God, and for a life to come. 2. Doft thou think that God i*-. ^verj vM}cf£ fi-if:n 5 and Infiniu > and AlUfaJJlcicit j If ndt ihou doft not believe that heis'Gods And it is unreafonable to imagine that God hath -made a world that is greater and more exten- 'five or compreheniive thin himfc?If! forn«»ne can communicate more than he hath. Bjit H thou art forced to confefs that God is csttf vherc, and as fufficient for every (ingle man, ajt if he had never another creature to rfgard» you muft needs confefs then that he is ncJt carelefs of the hearts and wayes of the fons of men : For they are things that are ftill beibrt liis eyes. It is bafe and blafphcmous though* o^God , as if he were limited, abfent, or in- fufficientjihat maics men think him fo regard- jc&ef ^eir hearts and wayes» The PnfjCf. 3 . Doft thou think that GoU camh T»hat he- corrKS of thy bo.^,y ? Whether thou be fick or well? Whether thou Jive or die? Ifnot^then ho 7/ cameft thou by thy life, and health, and mcf cies ? If they came from any other foun- tain, tell us from whence : Is it not to God that thou prayed for thy lite , and health ? Pareft tho« fay to him, / vp'ill iwt d^p.nci hpo>i thct? j'vpill no' be beholding tc ihec foi" the jife Add mercies of nnothir day ? If fo, then thou art a blinded AtheifK. But if thou think he cares for thy body , canfl thou think he carts nor more tor thy ibul * If he mufi: regard to iurnifli thee With Mercies^ he will fure have a regard whether thou Love and Live to Him that gave them. 4. Doft thou believe that God is the Govcrmr of the Kvorld^ fff notf If not, then there can be no rightful Gozrr/imcnt. I^or as no J uft ice of Peace can have Power but from the Sovcraign 5 To no Soveraign can have Power but from God> nor be a lawful Governour but under him. And then all the world would be turned into confufion. But if rhou muft needs confefs that God is the Governour of the worlds what an unwife , unrighteous Governour wouldft thou make him, if thou think that he regarded not the hearts , and wayes of thofe whom he doth govern ? This ftili is but to deny him to be God. J. If God do not care fo much what is in our hearts, or what we do, H'by then fhould he ma\e a. Law (or m hmts , ati "KOtfds , And wayes? Tbt Prefsce. wayes ? Would he commud us that which he" doth not care for ? IVould he fo Ihidly Jof' bid us fin , if it wcr<; indifferent whether we fin or not ? Would he fiomlt eternal life to the holy and obv^dient , if he care not whether viQ be holy and obedient or no? Would he ihtattn Hell to all tkat are ungodly,if he cared not whether we were godly or not ? Dardfl thou fay , that the Almighty Holv God is fain to rule the world by a Lyf , and to deceive men into obedience ? Yea, the very Law o( Nature it felf doth contain not only l^recepts of our duty, but the hopes and fears of a life to come J without which the world could not: be gcverned J And certainly they are no de- ceits , by which an infinite .Wifdoni, ini Power 5 and Goodnefs doA govern thir . world. 6. If God did not much regard our hearts' and lives , why doth he ma\e all the tvorld to kt our Sirz'aHs ? Doth he give us Sun, and Moon, and Stars , the Earth and all the Creatures to attend us, and ferve us with their lives ancf vertuts, and yet doth he not care for pwr hearts or feryice ? This is as foolifti as to fa/, tkat he hath made all the world in valnj and careth not for it now he hath made it. 7. If he cared not for the frame of obedient to his Laws i then methinks thatyou^ your fclves, and all the reft of your fellow-crca- turci ihould iictje care. Two Queftio^i there - B} f(K:c 7he fftface. fore r muH here propound to you. i . Do not you care what men fay of you, or do to you? Are you xronrentcd that rricn flander j'^.v, and abufe yoK^ or fet your Houfes or Towns on fire', •or def^rcy yoiir Gattel, or Wives and Childrert, and imprifon, wound or kill your felvcs?lf jou will make a ^re at matter of what men fay or do againft you., can you be fo mad ( for it is no be-t^r) as to tl-jnkthat the Omnipotent} feoly God ihouid little regard what's faid or done againft himff?if,;?nd againft his fervants, and that by fuch irAy worms as men, that are his VVorkmanfhip ? Did not fclfiflj^cfs mrjce you blind and partia', you would know that one fin againft Gott 5 defer e. more puniflimcnt rh:j« ten rhoufand thcuL^iiduraes as^much againflr •fiicK filly thin<7s as von. Do yoti make no mat- 'tbr of di fierier. 'c bitwecn abadfc^ant and a good ? an obedie;v' 3nd a difoc«aient child ? s Son char wcu'd Ij^v down his lifr !Oryou,and a Son ih.it lor.g^ fur your death , that he may 'have your Lan'^ ? btf^vcLn a LiithfuJ hiend and a deadly ei.e-i'y ? If you do «(9^, yu are rot men, burfbmething eifc irt humaiic ihape. If you do , rhvn you are fo-.njwhat worfe than ra.n , if yet you would have the BieHed God to make no gr^ar dille'ence between rhofe rhat love him above a.l the w.)r'd, and thofc th;it regard him not; between the holy and Unholy f-iul. ^ ! And 2. 1 \v\5ald ask you, Whether you Wouid ■%ave the Rulers of the woHdrotake n-^ care ^\^hat men fay. or do; or would you not ? If 'not, -*'' then, The PnfoiCf. thes yoii wou^d Iiave all the world tu-med -loofe , nnd • you would hive every nun ;hat is ipoowi* than t,'0U5 have leave to rob you ; and m-fy fti'Jn di:>'>t\arerh ynUjhave Ic-ue ro beat you fOi tuk:!' yoc;afid every man that likeih your ■Hoixf;, or Linrls, or Goods, or Cattle, to have leave to take thcra from you, and every man to de^ie your wives o '<^.aughcers that have a mind fo it ? And io wc mould fee whether it is that infidelity leads men. But if you like net this , tlifn you are mo!^ unreafonabic, if you would have Magif hates to be regardful cf mens aftions and not God : If Magitlrai-s niuft hang men for wronging yat^ and the Bic-,- nal Majefiy muil not pu«i{h rlKin for wionc;- '-'mg him'i and" breaking hi; Law^, which is inii- nitelj' a greater matter, Asifyou would ha^e a ConfJablc punilh men, and the King or Judge have no r^ga-d of it. For Kings are ur^ier Xjod , a$ Conflabls are* under Kings, and a thoufaDd fold lower. The truth i^ J Wicked men are fal'en f ? far from God tothcmfclves, that the>'^, are as Gods to thenifelve*:, in their cwncflecm, and befidcs ^themfelves they know no God and therefore any v/ror.g that is done agal^Ji tbcm^ or any good that is done for them, tiiey vvc.u'd have regarded , but rhe wrong ar,d difobedi- ence, that \^4cgiW:ft Cod^ they would have no- thing made of. And they have fach narrow b'al'phcmous rhough's of Go 1,, as li he were a fin Je Creature like themfelves, that can be but in cne place at once, that luakes them fo biaf- B 4 pheme 7hfTreface. fhcmz Hts Providence , and thisk he minds not Good or Evil y and will not regard the god;}'} or puni{h the ungodly, but were like the Idols of the Headien , that have eyes and fee nor 5 cars and, hear not, and hands without an executive power. B»t when the Memorial Book cf God is opened, which is written for them that fear the Lord , and think upon hi* Name, and when the Lord (hall fay of them, th'.f: art mm , as he i% making up his Jewels, -and ftareth them as a manfparcth his Son that ferverhhimj then (hall (^ thefc Infidels J return f CO their wits ) and ch« righteous ihall return frcRi their iears and I'uft'crings, and flialldif- cern between the Righteous and the Wicked, Uetwfen thofcthatfeive God, and thofe thac iVryed him not; 3/.t/. 3. id. it. 18. Another Ob]e(5i:ion I find raoft common in the mouths of the ungodly , efpecially of late years : They fay, [ we can. do nothing withoui Cod J H'e cannot have Grace , i( Cod ro'iU not ihs it us 3 and ifhetviU, nPifhall qulclfly runt : If be have notfrcdeftinatcdu^s^ and rpiUnottkrn us, how can we Turn ow fives ^ or bcfavcd : It is not hi him that wills ^ nor id him that runs j j And rims they think they are excufed. I haveanfwevei this formerly, and in this-. Book; but let me now fay this much. 1 Thought, you cannot cure your fclves , you can hurt arnd- poyfon your lelves- Its God that mufl [anfiifie yeur hearts 3 but who corrupted them? Will yoB wilfully take poyfon , becaufe you cannot «*ire your TsIvcJ?, Methinks, yoajhould the ^ ft Hiumcu^ — — - ^ ^ 7 be Preface, ^ more forbear it. Youfliould the rriorc tafe? heed of finning, if you cannot mend what Ym' dotli mar. 2. Though you cannot be converted without the ipecial Grace of God,yet you m'oft know that God giveth his Grace in the ufe of his holy means which he hath appointed to that end; and common Grace may enable you to forbear your grofs finning (^ as to the outward ad ) and to ufe thofe means. Can you truly fay that you do as much as yo6 are able to do ? Are you nor able ro 20 by an Alchoufe-door, or to (hut your mouths , and keep out the drink? or to forbear the company that hard- nerh you in fin > Are you not able to go hear the V^'orJjani think of whatyou heard wh^ yoa come home ? and to confider with your Telvcs of yoUr own condition} and of everlafting things ? Are you not able to read good Books from day to day, at leaft on the Loids day, and to converf? with thofe that fear the Lord ? You cannot fiy that you have done whatyou were able. 3, And therefore you mull know that yoa can forfeit the Grace and help of God by your wilful finning or negligence, though you cannot without Grace turn to God. If you will not do whatyou can,its juft with God 10 deny you thac Grace by which you nbight do mote. 4. And for GodsDecrecs,you muft know that they feparat^ " j not rlie end and means, but tye them togethef. . i God never decreed to fave any but the fanfti** j fied, nor to damn any but the unfandified; 1 God doth as truly decree from Everlafling vvhcthey: your lao4 tbis yesur ^]i b« barren or Bj fruii* - . the PnfMe. fruitful, and juft Low long ycu inall live in the world , as he hath decreed whether you (Ijail be fa-yed or ngr. And yet yoa would think that man but a fool that would forbear plow- ing aid fowing, and lay, // God hiivc Decreed that my gioundiljaU bear cor/ii it -n-iii bur, whe- th:r Ipl9!%handfoWi or not., if Cod hi e d> cretdtbat IjlidU. ly-ye-, ifhalllhe., whether I cut fir not ', but if he have not i it if not eating that will \e'ef me ativc 5 Do you know how to nnfwcr fiu h a man, or do you not f If you do. ihcn ycu kno-.v how to anf.vcr your felvcs •, for the cafe is a'ike : Gods Dejr^cis as pert mpicry about yjour bodies is yoiir fouls. If you do ro% then tcy fivfi chefec<5nciufionsupt.nyoiir bodies, be- fore you vcntu- e to try ihem en yt ur fouls : fee firft whether God will keep you alive withoit food or raymenc, and whether he wij give you corn without tillage and Jabojr, and whether fee wi 1 bring you to youj joui'n^ys end without your travel ot carriage : and if you fpecd well in thi>", then try whether h^ will bring ycu to Heaven Without your diligent ufe of mean*;, and fit down and fay, Wc cannot fauiftiHe our And for the point of Free-mil which you harp r# Jong upon ; Divines are not fo much dil'a- grecd aboutitjaj you imagine. Auiufiinc as well as PcUgiuSi. Calvk as well as Arrrims, the Do^ mimcMSi^ well as. the. J'^jnlts^ all do generally maintain that man hath Free-Wjll ; that the Orthodox fey. That Free-will is corrupted and di^jofed to evil, E^iphanius. condemned 0/i' ge4 lhe?rejac€. ..:. ^r faving, That mad had loa f^.e Image of God, and makes it .ponu ^^^f^J.^;^^ God on maa: the one is NxmlM ^^.^V-^V, RafonxdFyrc^vAU, and .this is rot l^lt- ^ - H,/.^«c/;, anJ rlv. is l.ft and by <-^^-' ^'^^^.^ .^ ' No man or brains, dcnyeih that a nvnham a will thats Natural V free j Its tr.e ^rom vio- lence, and jrs a ijlf-detu-nunirg PrincipU-. bu^ It is rot free from evil DiK^i;'"*V ^^ 'r'''^' biruaily avcrf: to God and Ho inifs, an4 ^-n- chned to carrhly iUVv thing.. luserfiavea cy 3 (inful byrs. This no man meihinkscir.t js a Chrift.an , iliould drry j and ot the Age^^, I fee notho'.v.anlnfdd can deny it. A^aS ^f- eafily-^ontHs to von, tha: yo-a have not the bifitual Mor*l Free-will, which i^ out ycMr rioht inclina:io« , and your haii. wal Wn.ing- nefs It W. It you had a Wiii chac wu-e irccd from wicked Incliaations,i had ■ o nted to writs fuch Books as thistoperfwadeyou tobewix- lina in a caf- which vour own falvation ]yet.A on.° To the grief of our fouls, wc perceive aftrrall our preact^r.g .and peifwalicns,that tne ungod'.y havenbtth4sfpirituaUree-wd._ But this is norhm^ but your widii^.gnefs it .eU, and inciinariantobeur.willings and therefore iRe want of itisfofarfromexcufingyou, thattue mord over to thenv and if thofe that fear God, would go now and then to their ig- twrant Neighbours, and read this or Tome ether Book to them of thisSubjeft, they might be a means of winning of ilmls. ) If we cannot fn- trcat fo fmall a Labour of men for their own lalvation, as to read i'uch {horc inftmitions as thefe 5 they fet lirtle by thcmfclves, and will moft juftly perirn. Secondly, When you have read over this Book, I would intreat yep. to go aione, and ponder a little what you have read, and bethink you as in the fight of God, vvhe* tlier k be nor true , and do not nearly touch your fou'^ 5 and whether it be n^^t time for you to look about you. And alfo I intreat you, that you will upon your knees befeech the Lord that he will open your eyes to underfland the Truth., and turn your hearts to the love of God, and beg of him all that faving Grace that you have io long negleftcd , and follow it on from day to day 9 till your hearts be changed. And withal, that you will go to your Paftors ^ that are fet •vcr you to take care of the health and fafety of yo\u fouls , as Phyfitians do for the health of ^our The Preface, your bodies) and de/Jre them to dircft vou^ whatcourC. to take, and acquaint twJ^^ your fpmtualelbte, that youmayhave th^ beneht of the. Adv.ce and M.nri/cn.l he J Or If you have not a faithful Paftorathomr Th.rdly, When by Reading, (Lucnnonl Prayer, and Mmifterial Advice, you are once -^ acquainted with jmr fin and mifery, . with your ! Duty and Remedy j delay not. but prefentjJ orfake yomr finful con.pany and couL, an^ turn to God, and oSey his Call. As you W your iouls, tnke heed that you go not on a.ainft aJ^'f ',?^^ ^^^?^^ and a.ainft%:, own Knowledge and Conicicnces , left ft go w^rfe v/ith you m the day of Tudjjemenr ihan^vith Sodo^ and G(?^ar,uy ^l^^^^"^)' ^"'^ holv : This ^vouldbe the Ua)tr, the Peace,the Safety, the Glory of our Churches : me Hapi- nefs of our N-ighb.urs , and the ^om.^ ^ our feu's. Then ho^v comfortably ihouid v. c p, e.ch Abf lution and Peace to you, and de- liver the Sacraments which ae the Sea s ot Peace tovou? And with what Love and Jcy might we live among you ? M ycur D^^th-btd how boldly muhtwe ccmfcrt ^"^^^'^f "g; Your dcDaningTou's ? and at your Burial how comfortably mi^ht we leave Yf^^''^'^'^ in exp.aarkn to mc-et your fouls m Heaven, and to fee your bodies ra fsd to that glory . But It ftiU. the mcft of you will go on in a carcler,igrorant,flelli y,wGrluly.or unholy hte, and ad our dei'rcs and iaboun cannot lo tar pre- vail as to keep you fiom the wi" ful damn:ng of your felv.s , we mull then imitaie our Lord, 'vho delightcth himfelf in thofe tew that a:.e Us Jcwels,and in the little Flock that ib.a.l re- ceive the Km^dom , when therooftlWil reap the mifery wf.ch they lowed. In nature ex- cel'ent things are tew : The world ^hath r.oc • ir.any Suns or Moons : It is bwt a Iittie ot tHe earth that is gold or filver. Princes and Nobles srebut afmaiJpaitofthefonsofinen. And ic is no great number that are Learned Judicious, ^ or Wife here in the world. And therefore if thCr gate being fti ait, and the way narrOj there be , but fc-v That find fa^vation, yet G^A wiji liave h:sGlory,and pleafure in rhofe few. Andwh^n^ Clina(h:ili come wjth his nvghry Angels m haniing fire, taking vengenncc . n them that know not Gui, and obey not the Gof^el cfotir LordJcfusChnlf, his ccmin? wi'I be g'orified jn h's Sain'-s, and admired in all trueBeiievtrs 2ntJ],i. 7,S,p,io. And for iherefl, as God the Fad.er vouch- la^-d to create them^and Cod ih? Son djCJa-r- ed not to bear the penalty of their fins upon the Crcls, anuuia not jadge fcdi fuft' rirosv^in, thorgh.heknew thit by rcfufingthe Sandifira- t^on ofthe Holy ahoft, rhcy wou d finajy de- ilroythcmrdves J fo we hat arehis A'inifter, thDigathefe be rot gathered, judge not our laooiir wholly.lod ( >cc Ifa, 40. 5,. /, Rcadr^ I hnve done wich thee, (whnthou haftpcruLd this Bock) b.4tfif;haih not yen ^<^nQ With thce/even thofe that thou rhoughteii 'had been foj^otten lore agojand S^tU'i hath not yet dor e with thee ( thx)ughnovv he be out of %htV and God hath not yet done with thee,' v^'craL'fe thou wilt not be peifwaded to have done with the dead y raigning fin. Ihave written thee this Peifwafive , as one that is going into another world, where tfce things are fcen that litre I fpe^Ic of : and asoije that knoweth thou muft be Ihortly there thy felf. As ever thou wjjt meet me with comfort before the Lord that made u« 3 rs ever thou wilt efcape th^ evcrlaftino plagues prepared for the final Neg- ktes of faivatjon and for ail that are notfcS- The Prefacf, £ltfied hy tht H<^; Ghiji j and love n^^t the am* mmon eftht Saints, as members of the holy Ca^ thalicliChmh - and as ever thou hoped to fee the face ot Chrift the Judge, and of the Majefly oi the Farher, with Peace and Comfort, and to be received into glorys when chou art turned naked out of this world, I beleech thee,I charge thee to hear and obs) the Call of God) and Re- fdlvtdly to TuT'i , that thou maiji live. But if thou tvllt 'iot , even when thou haft no true reafon for it, buibeca'/jc thouwilt ?tot; I fura- mon thee to anfsver it before the Lord, andre- qiure thee there to bear me witnefs that I ^ave thee warning:;, and that them wafi not con- den uud toi wimoUCalltonrn and Live, but becaulc • hou wouldft not bdievz it, and obey it : which a:fo maft be the Teftimony of Thy ierious Monitor Vicfmb, II. 1657. "Richard 'Baxter. Tbi THE Contents. Preface to the Unfanftl- feed 3 exhorting them to turn 5 and anfwering fonKr Objeftions. 1 he Text opened, p. t; tap. 7. , Do^. I, It is the un- changeable law of God, that wicked men niufiTurnorDie, ibid. Proved, . Cbj God will not be fo unmercifiil as to Daninus: Aijfwcred, ;.J2,i3. The life, '^ ^ ^| IVho Tbe Content T. ^lanT'dcftfufticn is of himfelf, proved, \ P- 212. The hainous ag^arati^s of ftlf-aefiroying, P- 12.1, The concluding Exhortation, p. 12^, Ten Dire(5iions for thofc tliat had rarhcr Turn than Die, ^ 2.3 5 . f « tk tud. 1^ A Cata- A Catalogue of Books written and published by the fame Author. . IaTTT^HE Aphorifmes. I ,2. The Saints Everlafting Reft,in 4*. 5. Plain Scripture-proofs of Infiint Church-membfcTftiip and Baptifm, iw 4*. 4. The right Method for a fettled Peace of Confcience and Spiritual Comfort, in thirt^r two Dirc^icns, in S*. 5. Chnflian Concord ; of the Agreement of the Afibciated Paftors and Churches of ^'or- cefierfhire, in 4«. 6. True ChriOianity , or Chrills Abiblute dominion, &c. m two Aflize Sermons prcacht at WQYuftcYy in ii*. 7. A Sermon of Judgement preached at TaulSi Land, Dec, 1 7, 1^14. and now enlarged, in u*. 8. Making light of Chrift and Salvation too oft the Iflue of Gofpcl-Invitations, manifefted in a Sermon preached at LATvrence Jwy^ in London, in b*. 9. The Agreement of diven Minifters of Chrift in the County of wvfctflsf for Cate- chizing, or perianal Inftrufting all in their fc- veral Parifties t1iat will confent thereunco : containire, i. The Articles of our agreement. 2. An Exhortation to the people to lubmit to this neceflarv Work. 3. The Profeffion of Faith and Catechilm, in 8*. 10. Guildas $AbjiAnuSy the Reformed Pi* *or flor flieflrioguae aature ©fihc Pafioralwoik> efpecially in private Infiniftion and Catechi- zing, in 8». ' II. Certain Oirputations of Ri^ht to Sacra- ments , and the True Nature of Vifiblc Chrifli- anity, in 4°. 12. Of juftification : four Dirputations clearly and amicably defending die Truth, againii the unneceflaiy Oppofitions of divers learned and Reverend Brethren, in 4°. 13. A Treatife of Converfion, preached jand nowpub]i(hed for the ufe of thofe that are ftrangers to a true Converfion, &c. in 4°- 14. One flieet for the Miniftry againft the Malignants of all forts. J^ A Winding-ftieet for Popery. 1^. One fliett againft the Quakers. I7. A fecond ftieet for the Mmiftry> &c* ■ 18. D ledions to Juftices of Peace, efpecial- Jj in Corporations, to the di (charge of their duty ro God, &c, i^. The Crucifying of the World, by the Crofs ofChrift, &q. in 4». 20. Of Saving Faith : That it is not only gradually 5 but fpecifically diftind from all Common Faith. The Agreement of Hicbard Baxter with that very Learned confenting Adverfary'^ that hath maintained his Aflcriion by a pretended Confiiution in the end of Snjeant Slnphcrds Book of Sucmty and Hy^ff- ai/? m 4». 3 J. The Qurikers Catechifm, or the (fa- kers ^ucffioned, in4». 54. An ac-ccunr Gt h-i:; priient Thouglr-s coil* ^Gerning the' Controvci'fies about the perfeve- tance of ihe Sarncs in 40. 55. His Letters CO Mr. Drw/.for Pacificati- on, in 4*. 35. The Safe Religion ^ or three Difputati- ons for the Retormed CatholickReiiigion againft Popery, ^c. in S*. 37.Cathol!ickLlnity3 Or, the only way to bring us all to be of one KeWgiop^&c, in ia». J 8, The true Catholick , i^nd Catholicfc Churchy defer ibed, &c. in ia». 5^ The Sacceflfive vifibility o)^ihe Church, ©f which Proteftants ar^ the ;foundeft mem- bers, &c. in **. 40. A Sermon of Repentance 41. Of Right Rcjqycing. 4x. A Sermon of Faith before theXing. 43' A Trcatife of Death. 44. The vain Reiicion of the Tormal Hy- pocritCi&c. in feveralSermons preached at the Abbyin mfimmftcr^ in 12*. 4^- The Mifchiet of Self-ignorance-, and the Benefits of Self-acquaintance-: Opened in di- Tcrs Sermons at l^mfiAns-mf : And published in tnfwer to the Accufations of £ofnc> and tbe Ddu-cs «f •tkera, in i*. ' A V^ Jjl JLy 1^ Un TO THE CON VE R TT RD, Eztk. 93. 1 J. Say unto them^ As / /iff, /Ix/r/j /^^ L*ird Cody I have m flcafurs in tht d-ath of the trickedy hut that the VPtcked turn from hit vpjy and live , Turn ye^ turjt ye from your evil rvayes.,jor why vciiiye die, boufe o/Ifrael ? T hath been the attoniO.- ing Wonder of many 4 Man ts well as n^e , lo read in the holy S:rip-- ture, how ferv will befa- vcd : and that the grcateft part even of thofc that are called^ will be evcrlaft- ingly Chat out of the Kingdomc of Heaven, and be tormented witti tht C Devils 2 A Call to the Devils in eternal fire. Infidels believe not this when they read it, and there- fore niuft feci it. Thofe that do be- lieve it, are forced to cry out \g\{h Vatd, Rom. 11.33 ^ ^^^ ^^?^^ •/ the riches both of the Wifd)m and ^f^nnledge cf God! Hon? unfearckftbU are hif Judgemetiti^ and his wayes paft jifiding cut ! But Nature it fclf doth tcaJA us all to lay the blame of evil works up- o.n the doers, and therefore when we ice any hainous thing done, a prin- jipie of Juftice doth provoke us to enquire after him that did it^ that the evil of the work may return the evil of (hame upon the Author. If we faw a man killed, and cut in pieces by the way, we (hould prcfcntly ask, Oh^wbo did tkif cruel deed ? If the Town were wilfully fet on fire, you would ask, What wicked wretch dtdthis ^ So when we read that the moft will be fire- brands of Hell forever, we muft needs think with our fclvesi How comes lihisto pafs? and, who is it long of? Vho is it that is fo cruel as to be thfe caufe Vitconverted. 5 caufe of fuch a thi«g as this > And wc cin meet with few that will own the guilt. It is indeed confeft by tfff that Satan is the caufe : but that doth not rcfolve the doubf, becaufc he is nor the principal caufe. He dorh not/err^r men to (in, but tempt them to it, and leave It to their own wills, whether they will do it or not. He doth not rarry men to an Alc-houfc, and force open their noouths , and pouf in the irink ; nor doth he hold them that they cannot go to Gods Service ; not Joth he force their hearts from holy thoughts. It lieth therefore between Sod hinnfclf and the (inner i one of ^hem muft needs be the principal caufe )f all this mifery, whichever it is : ?or thtrc is ro other to caft it upon : \nd Go^ difclaimeth it: He will not akc it upon him. And the mch^ddif:' ^aim it ufually,ard they will not take t upon them. And this is the Contro> crfie that is here managing in my Pext, The Lord complaineth of the Peo- C2 fU 4 A Call to the .fl€\ an^ the pfo/>/e think, it is long of God. The Tame Controvciiic is hand- led, chap. i8. wherein verp 25. they plainly fay, Ihattbervayoj the Lord if not equal. And God faith, It h their trayes that are ptottqual. So here they fay, Verfe 19. If ottr IranfuYe^imi and tur fins he upon Uf^ and vpe fine tf* tt^ay in them, bow jhaU we then live ? As if they (hould lay, If wc mutt die, land be niifcnblc, how can we help it ? As if if were not long of thtm, but God. But God in my Text doth clear himfelfof it,and tclkth them how they may help it it they will, and pcrfwaie- cth them to ufe the means ^ and if they will not be pcriwadcd, he lets them know that it is long of them* iclves i and if this will not fatisfie them, he will not therefore forbewf to punith them : It is He that will be the Judge : and he will judge them ac- cording to their wayes , they are no Judge* of him or of themfclvesi as wanting authority, and wifdom, and iropmiaiity; Nor is it their cavilling and Vnconverted, 5 land quarrelling with God , that fliill fcrvc cheir turn, or favc them from the execution of juliice which they murmur at. The words of this Verfc contain, li. God's purgation or clearing of him- felf from the blame of their Djflru <^ion. This he doth, not by dirc)"-vn ftighisLaw, that the tricked IhaU /:iye^ nor by difowning his Judgements and Execution according to tliat Lr^, or giving them any hope that the I.aw ftiall not be executed ; b'at by profc^- fing that it is not their death that he takes pleafure in, but t! «ir returnmg father, that they may live : And this he confirmeth to them by his Oath, 2 An exprcfs Exhortation to the wickv' led to Remrn ■■> wherein God doth not ionly command, but perfwade, and icondefcend alfo to reafon the cafe with them. Why will they die ? Tht direct End of this Exhortation is. That they may Turn and Live. The Secondary or referved ends, upon Suppolitian that this is not attained, C3 ar^ 6 A CM to iht are thcfc two. Firfl to convince (hem h^ the means which he ufcd, that it is not long of God if they be mifcnblc. Secondly, fo convince them from their fnanifeft vvilfulncls in re jeding all Kis commands and perfwafions, that it i$ long of thcmfclvcs :.and they die, even feecaufc they w/ff d:e. The fubttancc of the Text doth lie xn thcfe Oblcrvations following. DoA. I. h u the unebangtahU Law of Cod , that rvicksd men mttfl Juru or Vie, Do(^. 2. It is thefrmifeof God^ that the n^icksd JhaUiive, if they vptll but Turn. Djd. 3. God tak^tb pleafure in mens Convtrfinn and Salvation , but not in their Death or Vamiatian ; be had rather they toouldKeturn and Live^ than go on and Vie. ' Do^, 4. thii ie a mojl certain truth^ r^hich becavfe God would not have men to quejHon , be bath confirmed it to themfolemnly by hk Oath, VoSt. r Vnconvcrted. 7 Doift. 5. tht Lord dith redouhle hn to}7imands andferfjvafwtistdtbetviC' ked to 'turn, Dod. 6. T thy priflf^ hut of theffifelvej: thetr Q^t% mifutnep is the cavfe of their dstunation •, they therefore die^ kcaufi i. they m^die. :?" Having laid the Text open before your eyes in thcfc pUin Propofitions, I (hall next fpcak fomcwhat of each ot them in order : though very Iwicily. Do6t. 1 . TT i> the unchafigeahle Lavp X of Chd , that wkk^d tnen fiiu^ 'turn or Vie. If you will believe God, believe this : There is but one of thefe two wayes fox every wicked n)an, tither Convciiion or Damnation, 1 know, the wicked will hardly be pcrfwadcd C 4 either ^ A Call to the cithfr of the Truth or Equity of this. No wonder \f the Guilty quarrel with the Law. Few men arc apt to believe uiit which they would not have to be rine : and fewer would have that to be true, which they apprehend to be a- gainft them. But it is not quarrelling with iht Law, or with the Judgcthat will fave thg Malefador, Believing and regarding the Law might have prevented his death; but denying and accufing if, will but haficn it. If it were not fo, an hundred would bring their r f aforts againfl tht Law, for one that would bring his reafon to the Law: And rccn would rather choofe to give their reafons why they (hould not be panlfhfd, than to hear the Com- tixands and Reafons of their Gover- nours which require them to obey. The Liw was not made for you to judgr, but that you might be ruled and judj^ed byit. Bjt if there beany fo blindeas to ventujc taqutftion either the Truth or the Juftice of this Law of God, I 5 VncoHVerted. ^ fhall briefly give you that evidence o^ both, which methinks (hould fatisfic a rcafonable man. And firft , If you doubt whether this be the Word ofGodornof, be- fides an hundred other Texts , You may be (atisfied by thcfe few, Matth. 18. 3. Verily^ 1 fay untoyou^ Escceptyc he converted, mi become as little Chil» dren^ ye cannot enter into tke Kingdom tf Heaven, John ?• 3- Verily J{nily^ I fay untO' thee , Exi-eft a manhlcn again t he cannot fie the Kingdow of God. 1 Cor. 5. 17. If a Man he in Cbrifi, he if a new creature : Old things are faji arv.y^ behold aU things are be- come new. Col. :$. 9, lO. lehavefut off the old man with his deeds ^ and have jmt on the nepf man , whch is renewed tn knowledge , after the Image- of him that created him. Heb. 12. 1 4. ^tth- mt Holinefs none fhaU fee God, Rem 8, 8, 9. So then, they that are in the fiefh^ cannot fleafa God. Now if any man have not the Spirit cf Cbrifi^ ht it none of bk. G*l. 6. 15. For inChrifiJefa^ C% niithff ra A Call i$ the neither Chcumcifion avaiUtb any things mr Vncircuntc'ifiorty hut a fiew Creature^ I Pet. r. 3. According to his ahundatrt Grace be hath begotten us again to a lively Hope. Veifc 23. Being born a- gaia^ not of eorrufttblt f^edy but of in- corruftible , by the Word of God n^bkb Uvetb andahideib forever. 1 Pct.2.1,2. WberefoTre laying aftde aH rnaliie^ and alt guile , and byfocrifies^ and envies^ and evil ffeakjngs j as new born Babes de- fire the fincere mi\ of the IVofd^ that ye may £row thereby : Pfal. 9. 1 7. 7be VPickedfljaUbe itemed wto Hell y and all the Nations that fSH^ody Pfalm 1 1.5. Andthe\,ord loveth the right echs ^ but fhe VPick^dbiffo^lbateth. As I need not to ftay to open thtfc Texts which arc fo plain, fo I think I need not add any more of that multi- tude which fpeak the hkc: If thou be a man that docft believe the Word of GOD, here is already enough to fitisfie thee, that the wicked mu(l be Convcf t Will you call your Miker to the Bar ? and cxanninc his Word up- on the accufation of falfhood > Will you fit upon him and judge him by the Law of your Conceits ? Arc you wifcr, and better, and rightcoufcr than he ? Muft the God of Heaven come to School to you to learn wifdom > Muii infinite wifdom learn of folly } and in- finite Goodncfs be corre^ed by a fwi- nifh finner, that cannot keep himfclf an hour clean? Muft the Almighty ftand at the Bar of a Worm? Oh hort id arrogincy f)f fenflc(s duft ? ShaH evciy mole, or clod, or dunghill accufcthc Sun of darkncfs, and undertake to illu- minate the World ? Where were you when the Almighty nwdc chcfe Laws, that he did not call you to his Coun- fel > Surely he made them before you were bom, without defiling your ad- YJCf 5 Vnconvtrted. 15 vice* and you come into the Worl4 too late for to rcvcrfe them : if you trould have done fo great a workyyou (hould have fieptout of your Nothing* nefs , and have contradicted Chiift when he was on Earth , or Mofti be- fore him, or have favcd Adam and his [inful Progeny from the threatned Death, that fo there might have been no necdof Chrift ! And what if God withdraw his patience and fuf^entati- on , and let you drop into Hell while you are quarrelling with his Word,will you xbtn believe that there is an Hell > 4. If fin be fuch an evil that it re- quireth the Pe^rib 0/ ChrtSiiot its ex- piation , no wonder if it defcrvc our everlafting mifery. 5. And if the fin of the PmA dc- feived an endleft torment , why not alfo the fin of man } 6. And methinks you (hould per* ceivc, that it is not poffible for the beft of men, much lefs for the wicked to be competent Judges of the defeit of fin. Alas wc ace all both blind andpartiaL You 1 6 ACaUtothz , You cm ncv€f know fully thcjtfcrt of fin, till you fully know the evil of fin : and you can never fully know the €v\i offin, till you fully know i i.Thc Excellency of ihc ^oul which it dcfor^ meth. 2. And the Excellency of Hj- line^i. which it doth obliterate. 3, And the Rcafon and Excellency of the Law which it violateth. And 4. the Excel* lency of the Chry which it doth dc- fpife. And 5. the Excellency and Office of Rftf/o« which it treadcth down. 6. No nor till you know the infinite Excellency, Almghtincfs, and Holi- nefs, of that G,d againft whom it is committed. When you fully know all thefc, you (hall fully know the defcrf of fin. Befidcs, you know that the Of- fender is too partial to judge the Law, 01 the proceedings of his Judge. We judge by feeling, which blinds our rea- ibn. We fee in common worldly things that moi\ men think the Caufc is right which is their own : and that all is wrong that's done againft them : and let the moft wifc^ 6r '\^% impartial ^ Vnccnveried, 1 7 ff lends pfrfwade them to the contra- ry, and its all in vain. There's few Children, but think the Father is un- merciful, or dealt th hardly with them, jphc whip them. There's fcarce the vikft fwini(h wretch, but thinketh the Church doth wrong him if they cxx communicate him j nor fcarce a Thief 01 Murdcrw that is hanged, but would Bccufc the Law and Judge of cruelty, if thit would ferve turn. 7. Can yea think that an unholy foul is fit for Heaven ? Alafs, they cannot love God hen^ nor do him any fervicc which he can accept. They are contra^ ry to God, they loath that which he moft loveth •, and love that which he abhorrethj They arc uncapable of that imperfed Communion with him, which his Saints do hert partake of. How then can they live in that perfed love of him,and full dclighfs,and Com- munion with him, which is the blcf- fcdnefs of Heaven! You do not accufc your felves of unmercifulnefs, if you make not your Enemy your bofbmc Coun- i8 A Call to the Counfcllor \ or if you take not your Swine to bed and board with you ; no nor if you take awiy his life, though he never finned i And yet will you blame the abfclute Lord , the moft wife and gracious Sovcraign of the World i if he condemn the Unconver- ted to perpetual mifciy ? •— — - ■*.... IBefeech you now all that love your Souls, that, inftcid of quarrelling with God t&d with hii Word, you will preftntly ftoop to it,and ufe it for your good. All you that arc yet un- converted in this Affcmbly, take this as the undoubted Truth of God i You muft ere long be Converted or Condemn ned^ There is no other way,but furH or '9ie. When God that cannot he hath told you this : When you hear it from the Maker and Judge of the World,it's itoit for him that hath ears to hear By this time you may fee what you have te tfuft to. You arc but dead and damned men, Vnconverted, 19 men, except you will be conveitcd. Should I till you otherwife, I (hould deceive you with a lie. Should I hide this from you, I (hould undo you, and be guilty of your bloody astheVcrfcs before my Text afTurc me, V€r.%Wh€n J fay to the tvicksd, wkh^dman^lbou fhalt furefy die j if tb9U dofi not ffeaK U warn the mck^dfrom bit wtty^ that wic\(^d man (hall die in bk iniquity, but bis blood mU 1 require at thine hand. You fee then though this be a rough unwelcome Dodrine, itsfuchas we muft preach, and you mufl hear. It is caficr to hear of Hell than feel it. If your ncceflltics did not require it, wc would not gall your tender Ears with Truths that (eem fo har(h and grie- vous. Hell would not .be fo full, if people were but willing toknow their cafe, and to hear and think of ir. The reafon why fo few efcape it, is, bccaufe they ftrive not to enter in at the ftrait gate of Converfion , and to go the narrow way of Holinefs while they have Time, and they drive notvbe- caufe :o ACallfothe ^auf. they be not awakened to a lively i Reeling of the danger they arc in : and t they be not awakened, becaufe they \ are loth to hear or think of it v and that is partly through fool i(h tender- , ncfs, and carnal felf-lovei and partly^- ! bv'caufc they do not w::!! believe the Word that threatneth it. If you will not throughly believe this Truth, methinks the weight of it fliould force you to remember it \ and it {hould follow you , and give you no reft, till you are converted. If you had but once heard this word,by the voice of an Angel. Tboumujibt Convened or Condewned: turn or Vie .♦ Would It not ftick in your mind, and haunt you night and day, Co that iii your finning, .you would remember ir, and atyour labour you would remem- ber it \ as if the voice were liill in your ears, lum or Vis ! -O happy were your fouls if it might thus work with you, and never be forgotten , or let you alone , till it have driven home your hearts to God. But if you will caft it ^ out VnconverUd. 2 1 cut by forge tfalncfs or unbelief, How can«it woik to your Converfion and Salvation > But take this with you to your forrow » though you may put this out of your minds , you cannot put itoutofthcBible;butt*^rf it will rtand as a fealcd truth which you (hall expcrimentilly know lor ever, that there is no oihci way but 7urn or O what is the matter then that the hearts of finncrs be not pierced with i fuch a weighty Truth ! A man would think now, that every Unconverted Soul t4iat hears thefe words, (hould be pricked to the Heart, and think with themfclvcs , tkis i$ my ovpn C^fc •, and never be quiet till they found themfelves Converted. Believe it* S:is, this drowfic carelcfs temper will not laft long. Converfion and Con- demnation arc both of them awaken- ing things : and one of them will make you feel ere long. I can foretell it^ as truly , as if I faw it with my Eyes , that cither Grace or Hell vwll (hoitly 2 2 A Call to tie (hortly bring thcfc matters to the quick, and make you fiy , f^hat have I done ? fVbMt a foolifi mcked courfe have I taken ^ The fcornful and the ftupid ftate of finncrs will Uft but a little while. As foon as they cither 7urn of P/r, the prefumpiuous dfc:m will be an end \ and then their wits and feeling will return. But I forefec there are two things chat arc like to harden the uncon- verted , and make melofc all my la- bour , cxccjpt they can be taken out of the way : and that is, the mifun- derftinding of thofc two words, [^7he vf^ich^d~\ and [^Turn,'] Some will think with themfelves > Its true, the vpick^d muft Turn or Die but what is that to me ? 1 am not wicksd^ though I am a pmtr^ as all men bt. Others will think , Its true thut vpt mufi turn from %ur evil vpayts \ but I sm turned htig ago ; I hope this ie not nofP to do. And thus while vplcksdrutn think Vnconverted. ^ 3 think they arc rot wick^d^ but are al- ready Converted^ we lofc all our labour in perfwading them to turn. 1 (hali therefore, before I go any further, tell you here who arc meant by [the ppickr td']ind who thty be that mult Turn or Vie : and alfo what is meant by Turn* itig y and who they be that aic truly converted : And this I have purpofcly rTcrved for. this place, preferring the Method that fits my end. And here you may obferve, that in the fenft of the Text, a wicksd many and a converted man are contraries. No man is a wicked man that is con- verted, and no man is a converted min that is wicked ^ So that to be a wick«d man, and to be an unconverted man, is all one. And therefore in opening one we (hall open both. Before I can tell you what either If^Jcksdnefi ot Converfion \Sy I muftgo to the bottom, and fetch up the matter from the beginning. It pleafed the great Creaeor of the World, to make three foits of living Creatures > 24 A Caff to the Crcatmresv Angels he made pure Spi- rits without flcfli : and therefore fic made them only for Heaven, and not for to dwell on Earth. Brutes weire made fl:(h without immortal fouls : and therefore they were made onely for Earth, and nor for Heaven. Man is of a middle nature between both, ^s partaking of both Flefh and Spirit : and therefore he was made both for Earth and Heaven. But as his Flcfli is made to be but a fcrvant to his Spirit, To is he made for Earth but as his paf- fage or way to Heaven, and not that this (hould be his home or happincfs. The blelTed (iate that roan was made for, was to behold the glorious Ma- jcfty of the Lord, and to praife him among his holy Angels : and to love him, and be filled with his love for ever. And as this was the end that man was made for, fo God did give hin> means that were fitted to the attaining of it, Thcfe means were principally two. Firft, the right Inclination and D*fpo- fition of the mind of roan. Secondly, the Vficonverted. 25 the right ordering of his life and pra- dice. For the fit li.God fuited the dif- pofirion of man unto his End i giving him fuch knowledge of God as was fit for his prefent ftatc, and an Heart di(^ pofcd and inclined to God in holy Love. But yet he did not fix or confirm him in this Condition : but, having made him a free Agent, he left him in the hands of his own free-will. For the fecond, God did that which belonged to him j that is, he gave man a perfci^ Law, requiring him to continue in the love of God,and perfedly to obey him. By the wilful breach of this Law, man did not only forfeit his hopes of ever- lafting Life , but alfo turned his heart from God J and fixed it on thefe lower fleflily things, and hereby did blot out the fpiritual Inaage of God from his Soul. So that man did both fall (hort of the Glory of God , which was his End, and puthimfelf out of the Way by which he (hould have attained iti and this both as to the frame of his i^wrr and of his /ifi?. The holylndina- r^~ . D tiom ^g A Call to tU tion and Love of his foul to God, he loft: and, inftcad ofit, h« contradcd an Inclination and love to the plcafing of his flcfh, or carnal fdf by earthly things -.growing ftrangc to God, and acqaaiptcd with the Creature : And the courfe of his life was fuitcd to the Bent and Inclination of his heart -, he lived to his carnal fclf , and not to God: he fought the creature for the pleafmg of his fledi, mftcad of fecking to pleafe the ^Lord With this N*- ture or corrupt ivicUmtion we are all now born into the world i For^fcfl €an hring a, clean thing out $f an un^ clean. Job 14. 4, A$ a Lyon hath a fierce and ciucl Nature, before ne doth devour, : and as an Adder hath a vcne- mous Nature, before (he ftingj fo in out very infancy we have thofe fmful Nrf- turesoT iHclinatms bc^otc wc think, ex fpeak , or do amifs. And hence fpringeth all the fm of our lives. And not only fo , but when GOO Rath of his mercy provided us a Re* iBcdy , even the Lord Jcfus Chrift to PC VftcoHverted. 27 be the Saviour of our fouls, and bring us back to God again,; wc naturally love our prcfcnt ftatc, and arc lofh to fee brought out of it, and therefore arc (ct againft the means of our Rcco* very ; and though ^uftom have taught lis to thank Chrift for his goodwill^ yet carnal fclf pcrfwadcth us to rcfufc nis^Kcmcdies, and to defirc to be ex- cufed wh«n wc are commanded to take the medicines which he offcrcth, and «c called to forfake all, and. Mow nim to God and Glory. I pray you read over this leaf again, and mark it i for, in thefe few words you have a true Defcription of our na-' tural ftatcrjnd confequently ofa wicked man. For every man that is in this Rate of corrupted Nature, is a. wicked mw. andina ftatcofdcatfi. ^y this .al(o you arc prepared to un» derftand what it is to be Converted ^ ^^ which end you mulf further know That the mercy of God, not willing that man (hould pcriOi in his fin, pro- vidcd a Remedy, hy caufing his Son to e i tak« 28 A Call to tik take our Nature, and being in one Per- fon God and Man, to become a Medi- ator between God and Man, and by dying for our fms on the Crofs,to lan- fbm us from the curfc of God, and the powcf of the Devil, and having thus redeemed u^the-Fathcr hath deliveied us into his hands as his ovPn. Heieupon the Father and the Mediator do make a new Law and Covenant for Man : not like the firft, which gave hfe to none but the perfeaiy obedient, and condemned man fof every fin; but- Chrift hath made a Law of Grace, or a Pfomife of Pardon, and Everlaftmg life to all that by true Repentance, and by Faith in Chrift are converted unto God. Like an A^: of Oblivion which is made by a Prince to a company of Rebels, on condition they will Uy down Atms and come in, and be loyal fubjcds for the time to come. But becaufe the Lord knowcth that thehcaft of Man is grown fo wicked, that for all this Men will not accept of the. Rcwciy, if they be left to them. fclve?, Vnconfverted, 2 9 fdvcs, therefore the Holy Ghofthath undertaken it as his Office fo infpire the Apoftks, and Seal up the Scriptmc by Miracles and Wonders, and to il- luminate and convert the Souls of the Ekd^. So that by this much you fee that as .thexe are three Peifons in the Txinity, ^he Father, the Son , aiid the Holy -Ghoft, fo each of thefcPcrfons have their.fC'Ver al wo«ks,which aK eminQnt- Il^aiaribedto them. The Fathers works were, To Gf^ate us, to Rule us as his Rational crea,'* tuiesby the Liw of.Natufe, and judge ■us thereby t And in mercy to provide 41S a Redeemer whf n weare loft,and to £cnd his Son, and accept his Ranfom, '\ The works of the .yoa for us were thcfe, To Ranfbm and Redeem us by his Sufferings^ and Righteoufntfs, to gi've out the Promife or Law of Grace, and Rule and Judge the woild as their ;RedeeiiKr, hut his'heart is infenfib^e of this^nrpesh-' able benefit, and is quifeagsinft ths healing nneans by which he (hould be lecoyersdr Titougbhemay be willing 36 A Call to the to be carnally Religious, yet he ncv^r fcfigneth up his Soul to Chrift, an4 to the motions and condud of his Word and Spirit. On the contrary, the ConveYted^nl having felt himfelf undone by (in, and perceiving that he hath loli his pcac,^ with Godj^nd hopes of Haven, and is in danger of cvcrlafting mlfery , doth thankfully entertain the tydings of Re- demption, and believing in the Lord Jefus as his only Saviour , rcfigneth up h mfclf to hun for Wifdom^ Righ- teoufnefSjSanditication, and Redtmp- f ion. He taketh Chnft as the Life of hts Seal, and livethby him, and uieth him as his falve fo^cvcry foic,admiring the Wifdom and Love of God in this wo rderful work of mans Redemption. In a word, Chnft doth even dwell in his heirt by Faith, and the Life that he now liveth is by the faith of the Son of GOP, that hath loved him, and gave himfclf for him. Yea it is not (b macfi that he liveth, as Chrift in him. f or thefc, fee Job, m i,i2..c^ 3.19,20. Rom, VmonverUd, 37 il<)w. 8.9. PM 3.7,8,9,10. Gir/.2..2o. ^ffhn ti 5 . %^ 3 j4 . , I Cor . i . 2 . and 2 1 a,, YOu fee now in plain terms from the Word of God, who are the iwicjccd, and who are the Converted. Ignorant people think that ifa man be up fwearcr, nor curfcr, nor railer, nor drun.kaid, nor fornicator, nor extor- tioner , nor wrong any body in their dealings, and if they come to Church, ard fay their prayers, thcfe cannot be wicked men. Ox if a Man that hath \ been guilty of drunkennefg, orfwear- i mg) c>r gaming, or the like Vices, I do but forbear them for the time to ! come , they think that this is a Con- ! verted man.Othcrsthink,if aman that hath been an Enemy and fcorner at godiinefs, do but approve it, and joyn himfelf withthofe that are godly, and 1 be hated for it by the wicked as the j godly are, that this muft needs be a 1 Converted nnan. And fome are fo fool- j i(h as to think they arc Converted, by i caking up fome new and falfc opinion, | audi J §€ ACailtoilSe and" falling into fome dividing party^ as Anabaptiftss, Quakers, Pjpjfis; or fuch like. And fome think;ifthty have but Becnaffrighted by the fears ofhefi, and had Convidlons and Gripes 'of Confdence, 2nd thereupon hsvc pur- pofcd and promtfed arRcndtncnr, and taken up a life of Civirbehaviour, and outward Rdigion^that this rriiift needs be true Converfion. And thcfe art the poor deluded fouls that are like to lofe the benefit of all our petfwafions : and when they hear that the wid^d xnifery, andthe neceffity Vncoftvertcd, 59 necefTiiy of a change, when the dviller fort do delude themfelv^by thinking that they arc converted already^ when 'they be not. '' O Sirs, Converfion is another kind of work than naoft are ware of : It'^s not a fmall matter to bring an earthly mind to Heaven, and to (hew man the amiable excelleiiciis of God, till he be taken up in fuch love to him, that ne- \ vcr can be quenched v to break the heart from iin.and make him liie for re- fuge unto Chrift, and thankfully em- brace him as the Life of his Soul i to have the very drrft and bent of the heart and life to be changed, fo that'a irian renbunceth that which he took fojf his felicity, and placeth his felicity where he never did before i and liveth not to the fame end, and driveth not on the famcilcfignin the woild, as for- merly he did : In a word, he that is in Chrift, is a nei^ creature :old thijigr arc faft avpoy^ behold dl things are become mtP, 2 eor.$ .17. He fiath a new lindcjr- ftanding^a ncvi^ wiP ^drcfolution,ncW forrows, 40 A Call to the forrows, and dcfircs, and love, and de- light*, new thoughts, new fpecches^new con^pany (if pofllblc) and a new Con- vcrfation. Sin that before was a jefting (matter with hirti, is now (b odious and terrible to him, that he flics from it as from Death. The World that waifo lovely in his eyes, doth now appear but as vanity and vexation, God that was before neglcded, is now the only hap- pincfs of his foul , before he was for- gotten, and every luii preferred before him > but now he is fet next the heart, and all things mutt give place to him ; and the heart is taken up in the atten- dance and obfervanceof him; and is grieved when he hides his face, and never thinks it fclf well without hirp. Chrift himfclf that was wont to be (lightly thought of, is now his ondy hope and refuge, and he liveth upon him as on his daily bread ; he cannot pray without him,nor rejoyce without him,nor think,nor fpeak,nor live with- out him. Heaven it fclf that before was looktupon but as a tokiable refer ve, •^ /9. Q\ * which c^^ Vnconntrttd. 4 1 which he hoped might fcrvetuin as Better than Hf//, when he could not ftdy any longer in the world , is now taken for his home, the place of his on- ly Hope and Reft , where he (hall See, and Love , and praife that God that hath his heart already. HJ/that before did fceoibut as a bugbear to frighten men from fin, doth now appear to be a fcalnnifery, that is not to be ventured on, nor jclied with. The works of ho- lincfs which before he was weary of, and feemedtobemoreado thanneeds, are now bothliis recreation and his bu* iinels, and the trade that he lives upon, TheBible which was before to him but almoft as a common book, is now as the Law of (jfi^, as a Letter written to him fronfi Heaven, and fubfcribcd with the name of the Eternal Majefty \ ^t is the Rule of his Thoughts, and rWords, and D^eds : the Commands arc binding, the Threats are dread- ful, and the Proaiifes of it fpeak life to his foul. The godly that feemcd to him but like other men,are now the excel- 4^ ACMlltothe' excdlcnteft and happieft on earth. And the wicked that were his play-ftllows, are now his grief: and he that could laugh at their fin, is readier now to weep for their fin and miiery, F/. 16.3. and 15.4. F/bi/.3.i8. In (hort, he hath a New End in his thoughts^and a New Way in his endeavours, and therefore his heart and life is new. Before his Carnal Self Wi$ his End; and his pica-* fure, and worldly profits, and credit were his Way : and now God and cvcrkfting glory is his lEnd: and Chrift, and the Spirit, and Wordy and Ordi- nances, Holinefs to God, and Righte* oufnefs and Mercy to men , thcfe ar« his U^ay, Before, Setf was the chiefeft Ruler,to which the matters of God and Confcicnce murt ftoop and give place : and now God in Chrift, by the .Spirit, Word, and Miniftry, is the chief Rdcr; to whom both Seif^ and iall the matters of5f//muft give pkce; So that this is not a change in one or two,or twenty points •, but in the whole Coq\ : and the very end- and bent of the ConverLiti>- OH. Vncomjericd. 45 on. A man may ftep out of one path '\ into another, and yet have his face the ; fame way, and be ftill going towards * the fame place : but 'tis another nutter, ; to turn quite back again, and takehis^, Journey the clean contrary waytoaj contrary place. So it is here. A man may turn from drunkennefs to thrifti- ncfs, and foifake his good fellowfhip, and other grds diigracefull fins, and fct upon fome duties ©f Religion, and yet be going ftill to the fame End as before, intending his carnal ^f// a* bovc all, and giving it flill the Crovern- ment of his Soul. But when he is Con- verted, this Sdf is denyed and taken down, and God is fct up, and his face is turned the contrary way v and he that before was addided to himlelf, and lived to himfclf, is now by Sandi- fication devoted to God, and liveth unfo God; before he asked himfclf, what helhoulddo with his time, his parts, and his eftate, and for himfclf he ufcd them : bit' now he asketh God what he (hall do wit-h them, and he ufcth 44 -^ Call to the ufeth them for him. Before he would rplcafe God fo far as might ft and with the plcafurc of his fleih, and Caxnal Sdfy but not to any great difpkafurie of thcofi.But now he will pleafe God,let rfjejh and Self be never fo much difplca- Xed. This is the great change that Goi Will naake upon all that (hall be faved. yf , You can (ay, that the Holy Gho(i i$ »f our San^ifier\\})xx. do you know what San^ificatipH it f Why, this is it thati have now opened to you : and evtjjy -Man and Woman in the World mu(t Jiave thisjor be condemned to cvcdaft- m^ rnifery. They muft T«r« or Die. Do you bchcve all this Sirs,or do you nat? Surely ypu dar:C not (ay, you do noti For 'tis pa(i doubt.or deniaU Thc(c arc not Con trover (ics, where, one Icir n* ed pious njan is of one mind, and ano- ther ofanothcr , where one party faith this,and the other faith that: P^ji^j and jitiabaptifts, and every Sc^ among us that defer vc to be jcallcd Ghriftians,afe ^U agreed in this that I havefaid,and if yo* will not believe the God of Truth, and Vnc$nV€rHd, 45 and that in a cafe where every $&&, and party do believe him, you are utterly unexcufable. But if you do believe thi5,how comes it to pafs that you live fo quietly in an unconverted ftatc ? Do you know thae you are Converted? andean you fin Alas,the moft do follow thciir woildly bufinefs,and little trouble their minds with fuch thoughts. And if they be bur reftraincd from fcandalous fins,and can fay, I tfw m vphormonger^ nor thief, nor curfer^nor fmarer.nortif'^^ hr^ n^r exmtmer^ I go to Church and fay wyfrayns, they think that this is tfiw Gonverfion , aft* they ftaJJ bf uvea 46 A CM to the faved as well as any. Alas,this is fooliih, cheating of your (elves. This is too much contempt of an endlefs Glory : and too grofs negU<^ of your imnnor- tal fouls. Can you make fo light of Heaven and Hell > Your Corpfes will (hortly all lie in the du(i, and Angeis or Devils will prcltntly feize upon your Souls,and every man and woman of you all, will (hortly be among other company , and in another calc than now you arc j you will dwell in thoft houfes but a bttlc longer j you will work in your (hops and heldsbut a little longer i you will fit in theft (cats, and dwell on this Earth but a httle longer \ you will fee with thofc eyes, and hear with thofc cars, and fpeak with thofc tongues but a little longer, till the Refurre(^ion-day s and can yoa ) make (hift to forget this ? O what a ^ place will you be (hortly in of Joy or Torment ! O what a fight will yuu (hortly fee in Heaven or Hell ! O what thoughts will (hortly fill your hearts with un(pcakand all this is tiuc Sirs, moft certain true: when you ha^c gone. up and down a little longer, and llpt and awakt a few times more, you'l be dead and gone , and find all true that now I tell you .• and yet can ,you now fo much forget it ! You ftiill then remember that you heard thit Sermon^ and that thii d^y^ from thit fUcfy you were remembrcd of thcfc things^ and perceive them matters a thoufand times greatei than either you 01^ could here conceive » and yet (hall they be now fo much forgotten ? Beloved friends,If {he Lord had not awakened me to believe and lay to heart thefc things my fclf , I (hould have icmained in/hc dark^ and fslfijh ftatc 48 AC^iofhe ftate, and have per xfhed for evert but if he have truly made tnc fenfible of them, it will conftrain me to corDpa{6- onate you, as vifell as my felf. If youir eyes were fo far opened as to fee Hcll^ aad you faw your neighbours , that were Unconverted ,drag'd thiche* with hideous <;ri€s, though they wcrefucha« you accounted honefl people on earth, and feared no fuch matter by them- feives ) fuch a (ight would make you go home and think of it, and think agair^ and make you warn ail about you as that damned worldling in Luks 16. 2^ would have had his Brethren warned, left they come to that place of Tor- ment. Why,Faith is a kind of fight jit \% the eye of the Soul, the Evidence of things not fecn : If I believe God,it is next to feeing : And therefore I bev feech you excufe me, if I be half a« carneft with you about thcfe matters, as if I had fcen them. If I mud dye to morrow, and it were in my power to come again from anothet world, and tell you what I had feenj would you nor not be willing to hear me ? and would you not believe, and regard, what I (hould tell you ? If I migiit preach one Sermon to you after I am dead, and have fcen what is done in the world to cbnac, would you not have me plainly Tpcak the Truth, and would you not crowd to hear me > and would yoa not lay it to heart ? Bat this muft not ■ be ;, God hath bis appointed way of Teaching you by Scripture and Mi- : niftcrs > and he will not humour Unbelievers ib far as to fend men from ' the dead to them, and to alter his efta- blilht way , if any mm <[Uarrcl with the Sun, God Will not hum©ar him f® farr as to fet him up a clearer Light. Friends, I bcfeech you regard mc iiow, as you wpuld do if I ftiould come from fhe dead to you i for I can give yoa as full affurancc of the truth of vvhat I fay to you, as if 1 had been there and fccn it with my eyes ^ For it's poffiblo ■ for one from the dca<} to deceive you s [ . j)ut Jefus Chrift can never, deceive , jou i the Word of God delivered m ^ ' "*'■'.'£■ ■ Scrifi- 50 ACaBfotht Scripture, and fcalcd up by the Miracles and holy workings of the (piric, can never deceive you. Believe this, or hc- licve nothing. Believe and obey this» ©r ybu are undone. Now as ever you believe the Word of God, and as ever you care for the falvation of your £)uL% let me beg of you this reifonablc requeli, and I bcfeech you deny roe not : that you would without any more delay, when you are gone from hence, remember what you heard, and enter into an caineft ^arch of your hearts, asd fay to your fclves, \Js itfo indeed? tMufi I turn or Vie? Mufi I be Con- verted or Condemned ? It*s time for me then to look^ about me^ before it be too hte^ Tvby did not I hol^ after this tiO now ? fVhy did I venturoujly foft \§^ or finbbet overfo great a bufinefs? Was I swakSy or in my mts i Ob blejfed God^ what a mercy it it that thou didft not cut tffmy lift aU tbie whiUy before I bad any fortain bftfe of Eternal Life ? WeH^ God forlid that I fhouldnegleSl this mrl^ any hager, V^a$ftat0 k my foul in? Am I ConveftedyOr i^ Imtf ^^ tvtr fucb M change or tPor\, dme ufm wy foulf Havi I been iUumnated by the H^ori MfidSfiritoftbtLfird, to fee the odiouf^. nefi offmjthe need of a Saviour^ the Love of Chrifly and the Excellencies of God nnd Glory ? Is my heart broken or hum^ bled mthin me for my for met life ? Have IthanhfuSy entertained my Saviour and Lord^ that cffered himfelf vpithfardon. and life to my foul ? Vo I hate my former finfallifey and the remnant of every fin that is in me f D3 1 fly from them, as my . deadly Enemies ? Do I live up ntyfilff a life of Holinef! and Obedience to -G^d ? Vo I love it and delight in h^ Can -i truly fay that I am dead to the JForld and carnal felf^ and that I live for God and the Glory which he hath fromifed? Hath Heaven more of my Ejiimation, MndRefolutiony than Earth. ^ andisGdi the Dear eft and Higbefi in my foul f Once I am fure^ Hived frincipatly to th^ florid andflefhy and god hadnpthin^ hiit fome heart lefl fervices whi$hibe mrfd HMldJ^are^ ^Hdjgbkb mrgibe leminp -5 A Call to the thhtpSh. hmyhtitrtnowlurn(dM». thtr way i Have I a new dcfign, and * «ew end, and » new trdn of holy .ffeSi. e„it Havel fit my hofes a»d^he»rt tn ' Heaven? and ii it ww the fcope, and dtfrn, and bent of n>y heart and life, to Jtwell to Heaven, andfetthegUrutu Face 4God, and live in hit evtrlajlmg Uve md Praife .? Andwh^nJ fin, u tt anainft the habitual bent and dffgn »J «y heart ? And do I confnai grf (m and ami weary, andwthngto be ,rJdlf wine infirmities ? 1hi> « thefUte ■ ,f i converted SokI. And thus mufi tt bewuhme, orlmufi prifh. LitthHS- indeedwithme, orisitnnt? In time to cet thii doubt refclved, before the dread- %l Judge refolveit. 1 in do me no goodto flatter my (out with Mfe ancein andhopes. lam refolved ■Itumrt to deceive wyfelf; hut tcendea- ,ww:». A-Ww- truly off or «h , wbtlher I ht€*twxttd, ytaer.iit, »M 9 i *^ Vnconverted, * 5 5 Injty rejoycein it^ andglorife tf^ygra^ eioM Lord^ and comfort ably g» on tiS 1/ reach the Crovpn : and if I am mt\ 1^ Way fet myfetf to beg andfe.\ after tkt ' Grace^ that fhould- convert me, a^d may tnrn without any more del ay^ For^ if 'I find in%intethatl am out of the tvayyly ^ the help of Chrift, I maytWn and he rr- » covered^ -but if IfUy till either my heart he for fallen of God inblindnefs and bard' neff^ or till I he catcht aroay by Death ^ its then too latCt Ihere is no flaee for Kepntanct and Cmverfion $bcH > I kjtotif it niuft he mw or never, ] Sirs, thisismy rcqueft toyoa, thit you will but take your hearts to task, and thus examine them, till you fee, if it may be, whcther'you are- Converted or not? and ifyou cannot hnd it out by your own endeavours , go to your MmiftcrSjifthey befaithfal and expe- rienced men, and deiire their adiftancc. ^ The matter is great, let not bafhfuN nefs nor carelefnefs hinder 5 oj. They are fet over you to advifc you, for the faviog ofyoar Souls, as PhyHtians ad- E 3 vifc f4 ACautotiH trifc you for the curing of your bodies. It undoes many thoufands that they think they arc in the way to falration, when they are not : and think that they •r« Converted, when it is no (uch thmg. And then when we call to them daily to Tw«, they go away as they same, and think that this concerns not them> for they are turned already, and hope they (hall do well enough in the way that they are in, at teaft if they do pick the ftircd path , and avoid Tome of the foulcQ fteps, when alas, aH this while they live but to the World, and He(h, and are Grangers to God and Eternal life , and are quite cut of the WAy to Heaven. And all this is much bccaufc we cannot pcrfwide them to a few fcrious thoughts of their Condi- tion, and to fpend a few hours in the •xiroining of their dates. Is there not many a felfdecciving Wretch that hear mc this day, that never beftow- «d one hour, or quirter of an hour in all their hves, to examine their fouls, asid try whc;hcr they arc truly Con- verted ^ VncoHVerUd. Jf~ verfcd or not } O mcrcifull God, that will care f(»r fuch wrct Acs that care no more for thcmfelvcs^ and that will do fo much to fave them from Hell, and help them to Heaven, who will do lo little for it thcnafc!v« 1 If all that art in the way tohclKand in a ftatc of dam* iiationj did but know it, they durft not continue in it. The greatcft hope that the devil hath of bringing you to dam- nattoii without a Refcue^tsby keeping you blindfold, and ignorant of your lilatie, and making you believe that you may do well enough in the way that you are in. If you knew that you art out of the way to Heaven, and were loft for ever if you (hould die as you are , durft you flccp another night in the ftate that you are in ? durft you lir« another day in it } Will you fall up-i on this felf examination when yotf come home? Is my rfqueft unreafon? able ? Your confcicnces know, it is not;, Rcfolvc on it'then before you ftir ; Knowing how much it conccrneth your Souls •, I befetch you for the fakt of that God that doth command you, at whofe Bar you will (hortly all ap- pear, ^that you will not deny me this r^afoiiablc Rcqwcft. For the fake of ^C Vnconverfed. 57 thofc Souls that muft turn or Die-, I- bcfeech you deny me not : even but to make it your bulihcfs to utidcidand' your own Conditions, and build upon rureground,8cknow oflfor on whether you arc Converted or no, and ventuto not your Souls on negljgent fccurity. ' ' But perhaps you'l Qy, What if we (hould hnd our felves yet unconvert- ed, what (hill we do theii? This questi- on Icideth me to my fecond Dodirine > which will ^o much to the anfwering of it, to which I fhall now proceed. Dodi. 2.Tr is ths fromife of GOD X.thAt th^ tPicked (hall Live^ if they wil hut Jurti , VftfeigHcdly andthroughly Turn, The Lord here profefTeththat this is it that he takes pleafure in, that the wicked turn and Live. Heaven is made as fure to the Converted, as RcU [% (or the Uaconvertcd. turn And:\l>'m^ is ascertain a Truth, as T«m o^ Vk. God was not hound to provide us a Saviour, nor open to us a door of Hope, nor call us to Repent and Tur.i Es when ■ 2 5^ ACaUtoIhe whenoceewth^d caQ our felves away by fin. But he hath freely done it to magRiiie his Mercy : Sinners, there are none of you fh^ll hive caufe to go liome, and fay I preach Defperation to you. Do vfc ufe to (hut up the door of Mercy againfl you ? O that you would not (hut It up againf^' your felves ! Do ^ we ufe to tell you that God will have no mercy on yoa, though you turn and be(an(^ified > When did you ever hear t Preacher fay fuch a word > You that, bark «t the Preachers of the Gofj-cl^vv for dcfiring to keep you out ofHtll, and fiy^ thattl^y preach defperation ,' fell me i( you can, when you did ever hearsay ibber man f#y y that there ii^ rjo hope for you, though you repent ■ and be Converted ? No, it is the clean contrary that we daily proclaim from, (he Lord > and whoever is born again^ - and by Faith and Repentance doth be-^ come a new Creature, (hall certainly - befavedy and To far are wefromper. fwading you to delpair of this, that we perfwade you not to make any doubt (sf i(« It i$ Life and not dcath^ that is th& -^ t^c fiffft ipirt bfour meffagc to you: our Commiffibn is to offer Salvation j ccr- tain Salvation, a fpcedy, g]otiou5,cvcr- laftingSilvarion, to evciy one of you ; to the poorcft begger as well as the greateft L')rcl : to the worft of you » even to drunkards, fwearcrs, world- lin^V (Sieves, yea to the defpifers and ff^proachcrs of the holy way of Salva* tion: We arc commanded by the Lord ouf Mifter, to o&r you a pardon for aH that's pift, if you will but now at laft return and live j wc are comtnand-> cd to befcech and intrcat yoti to ac- cept the offer and returns to tell you what preparation is made l)yCh rift, what Mercy ftayes for you V what Pati*" ence waiteth on you 5 what tjioughcs of kindnefsGod hath towards you > and how tiappy ; how certainly and un- fpeakably happy you itiay be if yoii ^ will. Wc have indeed alfoa meffage of wrath and death s yea of a twofold wrath and death : but neither of theira is our principal Mcffage : we muft tell you of the wnthr that is on you akca- 6© ACalltorhe' dy, and the death that you are borrt under, for the breach of the Law of works : but this is.but to (hew you the?-, need of Mercy, and provoke you tor cfteem the Grace of the Redeemer/ And we tell you nothing but the Truth' which you muft know : for who vvilP feck out for Phylkk, that knows not that he isiick ? our telling you of your mifery, is not it that makes you mifc- rablc, but^rivcth you out to fcek for^ Mercy. Ir is you that have brought this Ekath upon your (elves. We tell you alfo ofanQthcr death, even rcmcdilefi, and much g eater torment, that will h\\ on tbofc that will not be Conver- ted. But as this is true, and muft be toM you, fo it is but the laft and fad- deft part of our McfTage. We are firft to offer you Mercy, if you will Turn ; and it is only tfiofe that will not Turn, nor hear the voice of Mtrcy, that we muft fore tell Damnation to. Will you but caft away your Tranfgref- iions , delay no longer \ but come away at the Call of Chrift , and ht Converted, Converted, and become new creatures, and we have not a word of -dannning ; wrath or death to fpcak againft you. j I xJo here in the Nannc of the Lord of Life proclaim to you all that hear me this day, to the wortt ofyou, to the greatett, to the oldett tinner, that you may have mercy and falvation, if yoa will but Turn. There is mercy in God, there is fufficjency in the fatisfadion ofChnft, the Promifc is free and full, and U liverfal : you may have Life, if you will but Turn.But then^as you love ^^our Souls, Remember what Turning: ^ it is that Scripture fpeaks of. It is not to mend the old Houfe, bvit to pull': down all, anxl build anew, on Chrift the Rock and fure Foundation.lt is not to mend fomewhat in a carnal courfc of life, but to mortific the flc(h, and l»ve after the Spirit. It is not to fcrv the fle(h and the world in a more re formed way without any fcandjlou difgraccful{ins,and with a certain kin< of Religioufnefs, but it is to change! yoiu Milkr,and your works and End, and '62 A Call H the and fct your face the contrary way,^ and do allYor the life that you never (aw, and dedicate your fdves and all you have to God* This is the change I that muft be mide, if you will live. I Your felvcs are witneffcs now, that it is falvation and not damnation that is the great Dodrmc I preach to you i and the firft part of my mcflTage to you. Accept of this, and wc (hall go no further with you v for we would not fo much as affright or trouble you wkh the name of damnation, without neccfllry. Bat if you will not be faved, there's no remedy, but Damnation mull take place. For there is no middle place be- tween the two : Yoa muii have either Life orD^ath. And we arc not only to ojf^r you Life : but to (hew you the grounds on which we do it, and call you to believe that God doth mean indeed as He fpcaks : that the Promife is true, and cxtendeth Conditionally to>o« as well ks others and that Heaven is no fancy j but a true felicity, !f Ifyou askjwherc is our Commillioa for this offer, among an hundred texts of Scripture, I will (h*w it you in thcfc few. ' Ffrft, You fee it here in my Text, and the following Ver(ts, and in the 1 8. of E^'i;. as plain as can be (pokcn. And in 2 Cor 5. 17, 18, 19, 20,21. You have the very (urn of our Commidron » [ If any man be in Chriff^ be U a ntw Cretture \ old things are pajl atfiay i he-- hold all things are become new. And aU things are of God, vehn hath reconciled W to biwfelf by Jefm Chrijt , and hat b given to vs the Miniftrynf Keconcilia^ tion , to wit^ that GodxoM in Chrif^re" concilingthe tvorldunto himfelf^mt int^ futing tbeirtre^ajfcstothem-, and both committed untow the vfordofKeconcl^ liation : Notw then rve are Atrbaffidors for Chrifi , as though God did he fetch you by Hf^ n>e fray you in Chrifif fteady be ye reconciled unto God y for he bath made him to he fin for ut vobo k^tw nofin^ that VPt might be made the Righteoufnefs of: Godinbim. 3 So M4r\i6, i5,id, {Go yi 64 A can (Of »e yi into all the tPerld and f reach the G^^ fiel to every creature v tie that belteveth ( that is, with fuch a Converting faith as is exprcffec! ) [_ and is ba-ptjzed.fhaU hefavid^ and he that belteveth not jhaU he danified.'} And Li//^^ 24. 46, 47. [^Jhiti it behoved Chriji to fpffer^ and to rif^ from the dead ths third day^ and that Repentance (which is ConverlionJ and Kemfion offins^Jhouldbefreached in. his name antongall NiitJons.~] And j4ds 5.30. $1. The God of our lathers raiffduf Jejufj rvhotn yeflevp and hang- td on a free , bins hath God exalted with his right hand^ to be a Vrince and a. Savhur^ to give Kef enta^ce to Ifrad, and forgivenefs of fins, [_ And ABs 13. 38, 39. Be ithnown unto you therefore men and brethren^ that through this man is peached unto you the forgivenefs of fins \ and by him all that believe , are juftified from all things, from n>hicb ye could n^t he )ufitfied-by the Lavp of Mo- fcs. 3 And left you think this oflfcr is rc- ftraincd to the Jews , fee Gal. 6, 15-. [ let in-Cbriji Jffuj neither Circum^ Vncfffivetted. 65' tnfion 0vaileth kny things nor unctnum^ cifm', hut a nerp creature '] And Luks i\, ly. ^[-Ceme; for fiU things are how ready v 3 ^"^ ^^^' 2 3 , 24. ' You fee by this time that we arc • cpmthandcd to offer Lifttojon aV^ and to tell you from God^ that if fou- will- ^ T'^irfiy y 6m mzy Live: -'^^ ^'/ '''^'^ » -^ Hcrfc you may fafely truft your Spuls : for the Love of God is the Fountain of this offer, John 3. 16. md thcfilood of the Son of God hatPi piir- chafcd it : the faithfulnefs and truth of God is engaged to itidke the prcmifc good ; Miracles have fealcd up the truth of it ; Preachers are fcnt through the World to Proclaim itv the Sacra- ments are inlHtuted and ufed for the (blemn Delivery of the mercy ofiered, to them that will accept it : and the Spirit doth open the heart to enter- tain it, andis itfclfthe EarncftoftHfe fall poiTcffion. So that the truth of it is paf^ controvcrfic , that the worft of> you all, and ey cry one of you, if yoii will but be Converted, may be Saved, Indeed j i ^6 ACAUtoihe Incited, if you will needs believe that you (hall be faved n>itbout converfion, then you believe ifalOiood : and if I ftiould preach that to you^ I (hojld preach a lie : this were not to believe God, but the Vevil and your owirn de- ceitful hearts. God hath his promifc of; Life, and the Devil hith hif promife of^ Life : Gods promife is, [Return ani Lm'\ The Devils promife is [XgufhaH-i live whether you turn or >f(?i.] The word r of God is as I have (hewed you£Ex- eept ye he converted and become M Uttli Children^ ye cMnottnterm&the King- dom of Heaven^ Mat. 1 8* 3: Excejt a wan he horn ngain^ ke cannot eater into the Kingdom (^God, John 5 .3^ 5^. f^ith- ent bolinefi none Jh^U fee God^Hth, J2. 14,3 The Devils word is £ Tou way he faved mtbout heing horn again and Converted^ you may do vreU enough Vf^hout being h^ly\ God doth but fright^ en you^ he is more merciful than to do as he faith i he wiU be better to you than hie vpord. 3 And aUfs, the greateft part of the World believe this word of the Devil, DcviV, before the Word of God *, juft as our fird Hn and mifcry came into the World. God faid to our firft Pa- wnts, Q If ye eat ye fiaH die.'] And the Devil contradifteth hin),and faith, ^Te fhaU not die "] and the woman believed the Devil before God. So now the Lord faith, [Turn or J)U y\ And the Devil faith, [ '^^^ >'^ *^^^ ^^^t ^f yo^ do hut ery Qod mercy st taft^ andgivt 9vertht aSs of fin when you can fn^ifr it H9 longer.'] And this is the word that the world believes, O hainous wickcd- nefs, to believe the Devil before God ! And yet that is not the word : but blafphcmoufly they call this a Believ^ ing andTrufiingGody when they pat him in the (hape of Satan , who was a Iyer from the beginning \ and when they believe that the Word of God is a lie, they call this atruflingGod^ and fay they Believe in him, and Truft o i him for falvation: Where did cverGoi fay, that the unregenerate, unconvert- ed, unfan^i tied (hall b:*vcd> Shew fuch a word in Scripture. I chiUenge you, you, if you can. Why this is the Devils word, and tobelkvc it is to believe the Pci/f/, and (he fin that is commonly called Freftirnpion : and do you call this a believing and trufii?fg God ? There is enough in the Word of God tacom- fort and- ftrfengthen the hearts of the fandificd jbut not a word to (hengthen die hands of wicktulnefs, nor to give iticn the leaft hope of bring fayed, though they be never fandified. But if you will T«rw and come iitto the way of Mercy, the Mercy of the Lord is ready to entertain you. Then Truft God for Salvation boldly and confidently, for he is engaged by his Wofd to favc you. He will be a Father to none but his Children, and he will fave none but thofc that forfake the World , the Devil, and the Flefh, and come into his Family to be members of his Son^and have Communion with his Saints. But if they will not come in, it is long of themfelves ; His doors arc opeir: He kee|is none back : He never km fMch a mc£age as this to any of you : VncoHverted, 6g you : £ 7r- is now too late: ImB nat receive thee^ though thou he Converted, l He might have done fo, and done you no wrong : but he did not : he doth not to this day ; He is iiill ready to re- ceive you, if you were but ready un- fcignedly, and with all your hearts to Turn. And the fulmfs of this Truth will yet nnorc affear in the two fol» lowing Dodrincs, which I (hall there- fore next proceed to , before I make any further Application of this. Doft. l,r^OD tak^sth Pleafure in \JM.ns ConverfioH and Sal- vatiji4^but not in their Death or Dam* nation : hs had rather tbe^,wouldKe^ turn and Live^ than go m and die. I (hall firfl; teach you how to under* ^ fland this: and then clear up the truth of it to you. And for the fir(t, you muft oWcrvc thefe following things, i. kpmfle ml- lingnefs or comflacency is the firft A(9:( 0f the v^iS^ (bllowing the fmfle ^frtA benjim 7© A Call to the benfion of Ac Vnderftanding^ before «^ procccdeth to comfarc things together* But the cboofittg atft of the wiH is a fol- lowing a^, and fuppofeth the compa- ring fraakal Ad: of the Vndtrf^and' ing \ and theft two k(k% may often be carried to contrary Objcds , without any fiiult at all in the perfon. 2. An unfeigned willingnefs miy nave divers degrees. Some things I am 10 far willing of ^ as that I will do all that lycth in my power to accomplilh it: and fomc things I am truly willing ^^mtber axo\x\d do, when yet I will not do all fhsft ever I am able to procureit, having many Reafons to di/Twade me there from i though yet I will do all that belongs to me to do. 5. The will ofaRnUr^ of fucb, is maiufeaed in ntakjng and executing Lam : but the will oiaman in his fm- tie natural capacity, or as abfolutf Lord of hi$(i' .-.ii'r. ■ :.. .? cj ;}4' And jthus w^ Tay , that the jimfU CemfUcifiC}^ WiU'^ot,Love of God it , to all that is Natura^y, or Morally goody according to the Nature and Ve- gree of its Goodnc^. And io he hath pleafurc in the Conver^on and Salva- tion of all, which yet will never coo^e (0 pafs. 5. And God as Kw/cr and Ltfir- giver of the world, hath fo far a TraGi- cal fViH for their fklvation, a$ to make them 1 free Deed of Gift of Chrifl and Life , and an Adb of Oblivion for all theif fins, fo be ir they will not un- thankful'y reject it^ and to command his McfTcngcrs to offer this Gift to all the worlds and f>€rfwade them to ac- «pt it. And fo, he doth tfC that rfi , Latf^'giver tjr Vromifer belongs to him to do for their Salv4tion. $^ But yet he refolveth as Law giver^ that they that will not turn (hall dye : And ai J^v^j^, wbca their; day of^race is VnconverUd. , 75 is paft, he will execute that Decree. y. So that he thus unfeignedly wiK Icth the Converfion of thofe that never will be Converted, but not as Ahfoluu Lord with the falU^ efficacious. Rejb^ lutien^ nor as a thing which he re(bl» veth (hall undoubtedly conne to pafSjOr would engage all his power to accom- plifli. It is in the power of a Prince to iet a guard upon a murderer to fee that he (hall not murder and be hanged* But if upon good rcafon he forbear this, and do but fend to his fubjedlg^ and warn and intreat thenci not to he murderers,! hope he may well fay tha£ he would not have them murder and be hanged 9 he takes no pleafure in it» but rather that they forbear and Hv€» And if he do more for (bme , upott (bmc fpecial reafon, he is not bound to do fo by all. The King may well fay to all the Murderers and Felons in th« Land, £ I have no pUafure in your deatky hut r^ier that you would obey nty Lawn and live: but if you mlln9ty I amre^ folvcd for all this^ that you fhall die. ][ F Tbf 74 ^ CaU te the The Judge may truly fay to (he Thief or murderer, VAhs man^ I have no de* light in thy death : / had rather thou haSfi kfp the Law^ andfaved thy life: hut feeing thou hajinot, I mufi condewft thee^ er elfe I Jhould he ur:juft, ] So though God have no Pleafure in your Vawnation, and therefore calls upon you to Keturn and Live <» yet he hath Flrafure in the Vernonfiration of hit evpn fu^ice^zr\d the executing his Larvs\znd therefore he is for all this fully refol- vcd, that, if you mil net he Converted^ you (hall be Condemned. If God were focnuch againf^ the death of the wick- ed, as that he were refolved to do all that he can to hinder it, then no roan Ihould be condemned : whereas Chrift telicth you, that few will be faved. But €ofar God is againft your Damnation, «s that he will teach you, and warn you, and fet before you life and death, and offer you yoxxt choice, and com- ■land his Miniiiers to intrcat you not to Damn your felves, but accept his Mcrcfy and Co to leave you without cxcufc i Vnf converted, 7.5 fcxcufcbiu if this will not do, and if ftiU you be Uaconverxcd, he prolciFeth to yoUy he is refol ved of your dainnacion, and hath commanded us to fay to you in his Nanie, Verfs 8. TVicksd man^ th)U jhalt furclydie i And Chnilharh little lefs than Cworn it over and over, with 2L.VerJljf^ verily^ Exceptye be .(^on- verted dnd horn agatn^ ye cannpt enter into the Kingdom oj Heaven ^ Mitt, 18.3, John 3. 5. Mark that he faith [_'Xou can" mtr\ It is in vain to hope for it, and in vain to dicam that God is willing of it j for it is a thing that cannot be. tn a word,you Tec then the meaning of the Text, that God the great LarV" giver of the world, doth take no plea- ifurc in the death of the wicked, but ra* ther that they Turn and Live v though yet he be refolf cd that none (hajl Live but thofc that Turpi and,a$ Judge^cvca delighteth in Jufticc , and roanifcfting his hatred of (in > though pot m thcif roifery which they have bropghMipoa thcmfelves, in it felf confidered: : n, 2. And for the fr^ofs of the point, I F z (hall 7'^ ACalltotht fhall be very brief in them , bccaufc I Tuppo^ you cafily believe it already. 1. The y try gracious nature of God, proclaimed , Exod. 24. 6. & 26. 6. and frce.ucntly elfcwhcrc, may aflTurcyou of thiss that he hath no plcafurc in ,your death. 2. If God had more pleafure in thy Death , than in thy Converiion and Life, he would not have fo frequently connroanded thee in his vi^ord to Turn i he would not have made thee fuch promifesofLifejif thou wilt but Turin he wauld not have pcrfwaded thee to it by fo many reafons. The tenoui of his Gr^el proveth the point. 3. And his Commiflion that he hath given to the Minifters of the Gofpel, doth fully prove it. If God had taken more pleafurc in thy damnation , than in thyConverfion and Salvation, he would never have charged us to offer you Mercy, and to teach you the Way ef Life both publickly and privately, and to ihtreat and befeech you to turn and live j to acquaint you with your fms> Vnconverted, 7 7 fins, and foretell you of your danger, and to do all that polTibly we can for your Converfion , and to continue patiently fo doing, though you fliould hate or abafe us, for our pain?. Would God have done this, and app:>int5d his Ordinances for your good, if he hath taken pleafureinyour death } 4. It IS proved alfo by the courfe of his providences. If God had rather you were dannncd than Converted and Saved , he would not fecond his word with his works, and entice you by his datly kindncfs tohimfclf, and give you all the mercies of this Life, which are his means to lead you to r^pentance^ Kom» 2.4. and bring yoa fo often under his Rod, to force you into your wits: he would not fet (b many exinnplcs before your eyes i no nor wait on you fo patiently as he doth from day today, and year to year. Thcfe be not (igns of one that taketh pleafure in your death. If r^;/ had been his de- light* how cafily coa'd he have had thcc lojig ago in H II ? How oft before F3 this 7^ A Call to the this, could he hive catcht thee away in the rrudli of thy fins with a curfe, or oith, orlye in thy mouth, in thy igno- rance, and pride , and fendiality ? When thou waft la(l in thy drunkcn- ne(s , or lift deriding the wayes of Godi howealily could he have ftopt thy breath, and tame And make x\\tc fend to beg their prayers whom thou didft dcfpife in fhy pre-" fumption ? How eatily can he lay that fl *(h under gripes and groans , and make It too weak fo hold thy fouljand make w n^ore lo^ifhrom than the dung of the Earth ? That flcfh which now muft have what it loves ar^d muft not be difpleafed though God be difpka- fcd •, but muft be humoured in meats, and drink, and clo.uhs, whatever God fay to the contrary, How quickly would the frowns of God confume it ? When thou waft paffionately defend- ing thy fin, and quarrelling with them that would have drawn thee from iti and fliewing thy fplcen againft the re- prover, and pleading for the woiks of Darkncfi-, how cafily could God have fnatcht thee away in a moment, anil fet thee bef(3re his drcadfull Mijeftyi where thou (houldft fee ten thoufand times ten thoufand \^{ glorious Angels waiting on his Throne? and have called thee there to plead thy Caufc , anil F 4 asked So. A Call to the askfth thee, IFbat kaft thoU9inmufay againjlthy Creator^ his frutb^ his Ser- vants^ or his holy ways /" Njw fkad thy caufe, and make the hefi of it thcu canfl, Norp n^hat canfi thouft^y in excufe of thy fin ? Ncvp give account cfthy tporldlynefs and flsfhly life^ cf thy time^ ^f all the Mercies thou haft bad, O how thy ftubbcrn heart wouM have nneltcd^and thy proud looks bs taken down, and' thy Countenance be appalled , and thy ftout words turned into fpcechlcfs filence, or dreadfull cries i if God had but fet thee thus at his Bar, and plea- ded his own-Caufe with thee, which thou haft here fo mahcioufly pleaded againft ! How eafily can he at any time fay to thy guilty Soul, [Conte avpay 0nd Uva in the flefh no More till the KefurreUion'] and it cannot retift ^ A word of his mouth would take off the poifeof thy prcfcnt Ufe, and then all thy parts and powers would (^and ftill : and if he fay unto thee, [ Live no long* er, or live in HelH thou couldft not 4i(bbey. Vnconverted. 8i But God hath yst done none of thisi but hath patiently forborn thee, and mcrcrfull.yitupb.eld thee i and given thee that breath -whichothoa ^-d^ breathe out againlV him, and given thofe Mer- cies which thou didit facrificeto ihy tlefli , and afforded thee that provi- fion, which thoa fp:nrtft to tatishc thy greedy throat : he gave tl'ice every minute of that time which thou didd waftc in idlcncfs, or drunkcnnefs, or worldlinefs : and doth not all his Pa- tirnce, and mercy ihew that he dc(ired not fhy damnation ? Can the Candle burn without the Oyl ? Can your hou- fes itani Without the Earth to b:ar (hem ? As well as you can live an hour without the fupport of Go«l. And why did h'; fo long fupport thy life, but to fee when thou wouldlt bethink thee of the folly of thy waycs, and return and live ? Will any man purpbfcly pat Arms into his enemies hands to retift him ? or hold a candle to a murderer that is killing his children, or to an idU fervant (hat playesox flccps the while? F 5 Surely fz A£aIItothe Surely it is fo fee whether thou wilt at IjA Return and Live , that God hath fo long waited on thee-^^,^,^^ 5. It is fuithcr. p j fovic l ed by thefuf- feringsof his Son, that God taketh no plejfure in the death of the wicked v VVould he have ranfomed thenn irona death at fo dear a ratei* Would he have aft ^ni(hed Angels and men by his condcfccr.iion ? Would God have dwelt in flcOi , and have conne in the form of af rvant , and have aiTumed Humanity into one perfon with the God-head ? And would Chrift have lived a life cffudiog, and died a cuf- fed death for Imners, if he hsd rather taken pltafure in their death ? Suppo(e you fiw him but fo bufie in praaehing and healing of them, as you find him in Mark^^, 21, or fo Icmg in fafting, as in Mat. 4, or all night in prayer, as in Luks ^' 1 2. or praying with the drops of blood trickling from him in- fteadof fweat, as Luke 22. 44. or fulle- ring a curfed death upon the Crofs, and pouring out his foul as a facrifice for Vufcomjerted, 85 for ouf fins : Would you have thought thefe the fignsofonc that delighteth in the death of the wicked? And think not to extenuate it by faying, that it was only for his Eied. For it was tky fin, and the fin of all the World that lay upon our Redeemer ^ and his (acrifije and fatisfa Not any that beat the image of God , for they muft be fikc-mindcd to him, God knows, its fmall pleafure to your faithful Teachers to fee you fcrve your deadly cnsmy, and madly venti're your eternal ftatc, and wilfully run into the flames ofHcll. Its fmall pleafure to them to fee upon your fouls ( in the fad c/Teds ) fuch blindncfs and hard-hcartednefs, and carclcfnefs, and prefumption, fuch wil- ^ fulnefs in evil, and fuch untcachable- nefs, and ftifnefs againft tbcwaycsof, life and peace j they know, thefe are marks of death , and of the wrath of God, and they know from the Word of God, what's like to be the end oi them V And therefore it is no more pleafure tothcm,than to a (cnderPhy- titian to fee the Plague-marks break •ut upon his Patient. AUs, toforefeci 88^ ACaUiothe your cv^ilafting Torments, and know not how to prevent thenn ! To fee how near you are to Hsil , and we cannot make you believe if, and conlidcr it ! Tofee how eafily, how certainly you might fcape , if we knew but how to make you wilhng ! How fair you are for everlafting falvation, if you would but Turn and do your be/t, and mikc it the care and bafincfs of your lives! but yoa will not do it. If our lives hy on it , we cannot perfwade you to it. Wc ftudy day and night what to fay to you, that may convince you and perfwade you, and yet it is undone* wc lay before you the Word of God, and (hew you the very Chapter and Verfe where it is written that you can- not be faved except you be converted » and yet we leave the mofl of you as wc find you : Wc hope you will be^ lieve the Word of God , though you believe not us, and that you will re- gard it when we (hew you the plain Scripture for it : but we hope in vain, and Ubour in vain , as to any faving Vnconveried, 89 change upon your hearts. And do you think that this is 1 plcafant thing to us .^ Many a time in fecrct prayer we arc fain to complain to God with fad hearts [.AUs Lird^ vpe have fpo\en to them in thy Name^ but they little regard us : vpe have told them vphat thou bidft us tell them concerning the danger of an unconverted ^ate^ hut they do not believe' us : vpe have told them that thou haji protefiedy that there is no pace to the vpieh^d^ Ifa, 48. 22. and 57. 2\.hut the vt>)rfl of them all tvill fcarce heliene that they aremck^ds ^^ have fh^vped them thy Word, n>here thou hafi fat d^ that if they live after the flejh they Jhall dte^ Rom. 813 but tbeyfjy^thty will believe hi thee, vehen they will not believe thee *, and that they will trufi in thee when ■ they give no credit to thy Word j dnd K^hen they hope that the threatnings of thy If^ord arefalfe^they willyet call this a hoping in God: and though we jhew , them where thou haft fat d^ that when a ppicl^ed man dieth all his hopes perijh^yet ' canmt we perfwade them from their de- ceitfuU ceitful bdpeSy Prov. 1 1 . 7. ff^i teH them ffihat a bafe unfrofitahle thing fin if > hut they love it i and therefore tt^iH not leave it. We teU them kon> dear thiy buy tbit fleafure^ and vphat they ntuji pay for itintverUfimg Tormenr^ .rndth^y bleji themfelves and rviQ not believe it i hut VPilldo as the moji do : andbr'Caup God if merciful}^ thsy vp'itl not believe him , hut VPiH venture thev fouls^ corbie on it pphat vPiH: JfetrUihem bon^ ready the Lord is to receive them <, 4*Uthii doth hut mak^thent d hy their K^penrance^ and he holder iit ihcif fi^s. Sameofibim fay they purfofe to nfent^ hut th y ar: ft til the fame ^ and fjnte fjy they do repent -already^ rvky yet they are not Converted } ^rom their fins. Wt exhort tbem^ we in- treat them^vpi offer them our help., hut p?e * cannot prevail vPtth them \ hut they that tfiere d.unki^rds , are drunkards ftiU i and they that vp^re voluptuous flfjh" pleafwg vpntches .^ are fuch ft illy and t'hey that t»cre worldlings^ are vporld- Ungs ^ill: and they that vp ere ignorant^ sndfreudy andfelj-conceited are fo (till. few L V»eonverted. JI f(VP of them mU fte and cd)ifcfs their fin, and ferver mU for fake it^ hut c^m- fort tbnnfdves that aH wen are finners : as if there were no difference between a Converted fmner and an Vneonverted: \ Some of them mU not come near «#, | when we are willing to in^ruBthem^but think^they }^dw enough already^ and need not our inftruBioni and fome of them wiU give us the bearing , and do what they liji ; and mft of them are % dead men that cannot feeh fo that when we teU them of the matters of ever lading Con- fequenee^i we cannot get a word of it to their hearts. If we do not obeythem^and humour them tn bapizin^ the children of the mofi ohfii/iately wich^d,and giving them the Lords Swpfer^ and doing aU that they would have us^ though never fo much againji theWord of (Sod, they wiU hate m and rail at w : hut if we hefeech them hm to confefs and for fake their fins and favs their fouls , they wi^ not da it. We teMthm^ ifthsywtllhutTurn we WiU deny them noneof tbs Ordinan- ees of GOD , natber Baf tifm to their chil" ^2 ACaBtothe children^ nor the Lords Supfer fd them. felves : but they mil not hear us ; they vpouldhave us to difohey God, and damn our own fouls, to fleafe thems and yet they mil not turn and fave their own Jouls tofleafeGol They are w,{er in their own eyes than all their Teachers i they rage and are confident in their own ^aj '•> and if we would never fofain, we cannot change them. Lord, this is the ^^P of our mifer able neighbours, and we fanm help it : we fee thm ready to drop tntoHeU.andwe cannot help it : we h^ow V they x9ould unfeignedly turn^ they nttght befaved , but Wf cannot perff»adc them I ifwe would beg it of them on our i^^fs^ we cannot perfwade them to it •, if ^^^ould beg it of them with tears, we cannot perfwade them : and what more ^^» vfe do? TilcCc are the fecret complaints and moans rhat niaay a poor Mmifter is taiH to make. And do you think that nc hath any Pleafure in this > Is it a fUafure to him to fee you go on in fin, afl4 caaaof dop yo« > to fee you fo m'lktit^lc Vpteonverted. 55 mifcrable, and cannot fo much as make you (cnfible of it ? (0 fee you merry, when you arc not fur e to be an hour out of HeU?to think what you muft for ever uffcr , becaufe you will not turn > and to think what an everla(iing life of Glory you wilfully defpife and caft away ? What (adder thing can you bring to their hearts? and how can you devilc to grieve them more } Who is it then that you pleafurc by your fin and death? It is none of your underftanding godly friends. Alas, it b the grief of their fouls to (ee your mi- (ery , and they lament you many a time when you give them httlc thanks for it, and when you have not hearts^ to lament yourselves. Who is it then that takes pleafure in your (in ? It is hone but the three great' enemies of God, whom you renounced HI your Baptifm, and now are turned felf«ly to ferve. I. The Devil indeed takes pleafure in your (in and death : For this is the TCiy end of all hii temptations. Fot this • 94 A Call to the tfts he watches night and day : You cannot dcvifc to plearchimb^ttcr,than to go on in fin : How glad is he whea he fees thee going to the Ale-houfe, or other fin i and when he hearcththee curfcjor fwear,or rail ? How glad is he when he hcareth t\\tt revile the Mi- ni tier that would draw thee from thy (in, and help to (avc thee ? Thcfearc his delight. a. The wicked alfo are delighted in it : For it is agreeable fo their nature. 3. But I know, for all this, that it is not che pleafing of the Devil, that you intend even when you pleafe him : but it is your own fl^Jh, the greateft and iroft dangerous enemy, that you in- tend to plcafc. It is the fle{h that would be pampered, that would be pleafed in meat, and drink, and cloathing, that would be pleafed in your company, and pleafcd m applau(eand credit with the world, and pleafed in fports, apd^ lufis, and idlenefs ^ this is the GuHf that duvoureth all. This is the very god that you £exvc, (tos the Scxipturc faitb ef VncoHvertcd, 95 offuch, flat their belies are their gods ^ Phil. 5. 18; But I befeech you flay ai little, and confidcr the bufincfs. 1. ^eft> Should your Flcfh be plcafcd before your Maker ? Will you difpleafe the Lord, and diipleafe your Teachers, and your godly friends, and all to pleafc your bruitifh Appe- tites, or fcnfual dcfires ? Is cot C^^od worthy to be the Ruler of your flcfli ? If He (ha?ll not rule it, He will not fave it : you cannot in Rea(bn cxp eft that he ftiould. 2. ^f/J. Your flejh is pleafed with your tin : but is your Conscience plea- fed ? Doth not it grudge within you, and tell you fometinaes that all is not well, and that your Cafe is not fo fafe as you make it to be ? and (hould not your foul and confcience be pleafed before that corruptible flefh ? 3. §^efi. But is not your flejh preparing for its own diffleafure alfo ? it loves the bait, but doch it love tbfi hook? It loves the firong drink an< fvrce 9$ A Call fo the fweet morfelsi it loves its eafc, ami (jports, and merriment, it loves to be f ich and well (p oken of by men, and to be fome body in the world ; but doth it love the curfe of God } Doth it love «o ftand trembling before his Bar, and to be judged to everkfting fire ? Doth it love to be tormented with the De- vils for ever ? Take all tog< ther i for there is no (cparating (in and hell, but only by Faith and true Conveifion i if you will keep one, you muft have the other. If Ekath and Hell be pleafant to you, no wonder then if you go on in fin : but if they be not fas I am fure they be not ) then what if fin were never fo pleafant, is it worth the lofs of Life Eternal ? Is a little drink , or meat, or c^fe > is the good words of finners, is the riches of this world to be valued above the Joycs of Heaven } Or are they worth the fufferings of Eter- nal fire > Sirs, thcfc qucftions (hould be confidcrcd bdfore you go any further, ^y every man that Itath reafon to con- fidcr, and that believes he hath a foul to ivcorlofe Well VfJC0»ver4ed, 97 Well, the Lord here Iwcareth that he hath- no plcafure jn your death, but rathi.? (hat you would Turn and Live ; if yet you will go on, and die rather thin Turn, remcrhbjr it was not to TUafe God that you did it; it was to pleafc the world, and to pleafe your fclves. And if meji will damn themjelves tofUafgtbemfelvejy and run into end- Icis Torments for Delight^ and have not the wit, the hearts, th« grace, to hearken to God or man, that would reclaim them, what Remedy but they muft take what they get by ir, and re- pent it in another manner, when it is too late ! Before I proceed any fur- ther in the Application, I (hall comet© the next Dor^rine i which giveth me a fuller ground for it. Dod. 5.Q(9 Earmft w God for ih J5 CoMverfioH of fmnfrs , that Isc dctuhUih his Commands and ExhQiT' \t;tions vpitb vebemencyy lurny^^Tum ye, Why mH ye die? This Dodrine is the Application d G the 9? A Call to the the forma',as by a life of Exhortation, and accordingly I (hall handle it. Is thcfc ever an Unconverted (inner that liearcth ihcfe vchcroent words of •God ? \i thtre ever a man or woman 5u this Affembly that is yet a (Granger to the renewing fandifying work of the Koly Ghoft > (It is an happy Af- fembly, if it bcnotfo wiih themoftj Hearken then to the voice of your Maker, and turn to him by Chrift without delay. Would you know ihti '^illofGod > Why this is his Will,that you preftnrly Turn. Shall the living €od fend fo earntfl a McfTagc to his Creatures, and (hould they not obey ? Hearken then 5*11 you that live after "the flclh , the Lord that gave thee thy breath and being, hath ftnt a MefTagc to thee from Heaven > and this is his M€(rage, [Turnye^Tum yf, Vfhy tpillye Vff.**] He that hath cars to hear, let jhim hear. Shall the voice of the Eter- nal Ma jefly be neglcded ? If he do but terribly thunder, thou art afraid. O but this voice doth more nearly con- cern TJnconvertcd. 95; ccrn thee. Ifhe did bat tell thee, Thou ihalt die to morrow, choci wouldft not make light of ir. O but this world con- cerncth thy life or death cverlafting. It is both a Command and an Exhor^ tation. As if he had faid to thee , (^ I charge thee upnthe allegianjethat thsu evfefi to ffte thy Creator and Redremer^ that thou renounce the flcjh^ the worlds and the VevU^ and Turn to me t bat thou maifi live, I condefcend to irttreat thee^ as thou either ioveji or fearejl him that wade thee i as thou lovefi thine cwa life , even thine evirlafiing Life , Turn and Live : as ever thou tfouidji efcaf^ eternal mifny. Turn , Turn^ for tfby wilt thou die ? ~\ And is there a heart in Man, in a rcafonable creature, that can once refufe fucha Meffage, fucha G}mtnand » fuch an Exhortation a^ this ! O what a thing then is the heait of man ! Hearken then all that love your felvcs, and all that regard your own falvation \ Here is the |oyfulleft Met- fagc that evei was lent to the cars of G 2 man ICO j4 Call to the man, Turnyejurnye, wky Will ye dir ? You are not yet (hut up unaci d-fpe- tation. Here is mttcy (Crca youi Turn and you (hall have ir. OSirs, with what glad and joyful hearth (hould you receive thefc Tidings! I know this is not the hi ft tunc that you have heard it ', but how have you tc^ girded it , or how do you regard it now ? Hear all you Igroranf, cirtlefs finncrs, the Word oh he Lord ! Heat all you worldlings, you fenfual flelh- pleaftts \ you GluJtons and Drunkv ards,and Whore- mongers, and Swcair cr$ i you Railcrs and back-biters,Slan- dcrers and Lyarsv T^urn ye, 7 urn ye, whyvptllye die f' ■ ^ *- • * *'*'''[ Hear all you cold and outfidefto* fcilors, and all that^ arc (Grangers to fhclif^ofChrift, and never knew the Power of his Crofs and Rcfurrtdion , and never felt your hearts wa;mcd with his love, and live not on him as thcftrcrgth of your fouls i Jurn ye, 'turn ye, vpby vpUI ye die f ^ * r.i>; ^ Hear all that arc void of thfc* Love of VffconveriecL i o i ^ of God, whofc hearts arc not toward him, nor taken up with the Hopes of Glory, but fctmorc by your earthly profpcrity and delights, than by ihe JaycscfHsaven V all you that are Rc- ligiousbut a little on the by, and give God ro more than your fl.th can fpare » that have not denied your car- nal fe I vcs , and forfakcnall that yoa have for Chrift, in the cdimation and grounded refolution of your fouls, bat have fomeonc thing in the world fo dear to yoj, that you cannot fpare it for Chrift , if he require it, but will rather venture on his difplcafurc than forfakeitj JurnyCy Turn ye \ why Will you de? If you never heard it, orobCrved it before, Remcn.ber that you were told from the Word of God this day, chat if you will but Turn, y ">u miy Live •, and if you will no: 1 urn, you iflull r«rely die. ; , Wnat no jv will you do, Sirs ? What Will you Turn,or Will you not? Halt no: any longer be- G 3 tweea IC2 Jicalltoinie fween two opinions: If the Lord be God/ollow him.-ifyour fl.{h be God, then fcrvc ir iiill. If Heaven bw bctrtr ihan caith and fltfhly pleafures, come away then and feck a better Countrcy, and lay up your Treafurc where ruft and nnoths do not corrupt^and thieves cannot break through and fteal, and be awakened at lafi with ali your might to (lek the Kingdom that cannot be moved, Hf p. 1 2.28. ard toca^ploy your 1 vcs on an higher dtfign, and turn the (iream of your cares and labours ano- ther way than formerly yon have done. But if Eirth be better than Heaven, or will do more for you, ot laff you longer i (h.n keepk, and make your bcfl of if, and follow it ftijl. Sirs , are you refolvcd what fo do } if you be: not, I will (u a few more mo* ving Confiderations before you, to fee if reaibn will mike you rcfolvc. Conlider firit , Wh:tt frefaratms Mncy bath w^tds fit your fdlvjtion : and what pty it is that any man fh^uld be damned gfcer all this. The time Vffconvcrped. 103 time was when the Aiming fword was in the way, and the curG: of Gods Law would have kept th:e back, if thou hadft b:en never fo willing to turn to God ; The time was when thy felfand all the friends that thou haft in the world .^could never have produced thtc the pardon of thy iins paft, though thou hadft never fb much lamented and reformed them. But Chcjft hath removed this impediment by the ran- fom oftiis blood. The tim ■ was that God was wholly unreconciled, as br- ing not fatisfi.d for the violatioa of his Law : But now he is fo fir Satisfied and reconciled, as that he hath made thee a free Ad of Oblivion, and a free deed of Gift of Chrift and Life, and offcrethit to thee, and intrcateth thee to accept if, and it may bj thnc if thou wilt. For, he teas in Cbriji: reconciUng the Worid to hiwfdf^ *nd hath ccmmt- ted to m the Word of aGual recoftcilia^ tiatty 2 Or. 5. 18, 19. Sinners, we are commanded to do this Meflagc to you a(l, as from the Lord, £ Cowc O4, for 1 04 A Call to the for all th'wgs arc ready^ Lul^ 14. 17. ^ Are alhhhigs ready^ and itcyou unrea- (ly I God IS ready to entertain yotrj and pardon all that you have done againft him, if you will but ccme. A5 \wg as you hivc finned, as rvilfully as you have finned, as ha'moufly as^you have fihntd, he is ready to cait all be-»* hind h'S back, if you will but come; Tho-JgK you have been P>odigal$, and run away from God, and have ftaid (b lorgj he is ready even to meet you, and embrace you m his Arms, and re- ^^,ycc in your Conversion, if you will but Turn. Even the earthly worldling, and iwinifh drunkard, m.ay find God r.'ady to bid them wtlcome.jf they will but come. Doth nor this lum thy heart within thee ? O finncr,if thou have an heart of Pufli, and not of (tone in thee, methinhs this (houM mclr it. Shall the dreadful infinite Majefiy of Hcavtn even wait for thy returning and be ready to receive thee, who haft abuf d him, and forgotten him fo long ? fiull he delight in thy Converfion , th^t ' '^ VfJconvzrlccL 105 mig \t It any cime glorifie his Juftice in thy damnatioa , and yet doth it not mclc ihy h;;art wichm thee, and ait thoa not yet ready to come in > ^\i!\ iho J not as much reafon to bs reidy to come, a»Gjd.hatoto iavicc thee>and bid thee welcom: ? Bat that's nor all-, Chu9i\\v\\ done his pirt on the Cro^s , and mid- Tuch way for the. to the Parhcr, t:iat on h'n Eccoant thou miili be welcome it' thoa wilt come And yet art thoj not ready? A Pardo4 i reidy txprefly granted and offered thee in the G if^d. And .yet art thou nor rcidy ? Tne Mmilhrs of the Gofpel arc Ready to aHili thee, to inftrad thee, and pronou )ce the ab bl/ing words ot p:acc to thy (bul > th-y are ready to pxay for thee and to feal up thy pardoa by the adminiftration of the holy Si- crament : and yet art thoa not ready? All tbit fear God about thee,, are ready to rejoyce in thy Convetdon, and to receive thee into the Commu- nion of Siints , and to give thcc the G 5 Tiahc I GO A Call to the light hand' oF fclIow(hip, yea (hough thou hadft been one that had b.cn caft Oat oi their foriety : they dare not but forgive where God forgiveth, when it is manifc(t to them by thy couf. (lion and amendment : they dare nor fo much as hit thee in the reeth with thy former tins, b.-caufc they know that God wjil nor upbraid thee with them. If thou hadil been never fofcandalous, if thou wouLill but heartily be Con- verted and come in, they wo^Id not rcfufe thee , kt the world (ay what they would agiiiuiit. And are allthcfe ready io receive thee, and yet art thou not ready to come in ? Yea, H^^^^/i it felf J5 rcfdy : the Lord will receive thee into the glory of his Saints i as vile a bi^ft as thou h\i\ been , if thou wilt but bs cleanfed,. thou n aift have a place before his Throne: his y^^^f/i will be ready to guard thy foul to the place of joy, if thou do but unfcignedly come in. And is Gcd Ready ^ the Sacrifice of Cbriji IR^fadyy the }roniift Keady^ and Fardon Kcadj? . V^/convmed. 107 Keady? are Miniflers rtudy^ and the Ve^^U of God ready, and Heaven it felf Ready, and ^/«^e/i Keady^ and all the(c but waiting for thy C->nvcrfioni and yet art thcu not Ready > What not Ready to live, when thou h.ft been d:jd Co long ? no: ready to come to thy right vnde Haft thou hai fo many C^/'^and fo many nurcics^ and fo many Ihixs^ and fo m;ny exampUs ? Hift thou fen fo nnany laid in the grave, and ytf art thou not ready to let go thy fins and come to Chrift t Whit ! after fo many convidions, and gripes < f ConCience, aficr fo many purpofes and promifes, art thou no: yet ready to turn and live ? Oil that thy eycs, thy heart were opened to know how fair an Off r is now made to thcc ! and what a joyful fneffigc it is that we arc fent on^to bid chee Come, fjr all things arc ready. 2. Confide r alfo what CalU thou haft to/P^rn and Live, How wanyy ho^ loudy how earntfi^ how dreadful^ and yet what, encomaging joyfull Calls? For the principil Inviter, it IsG )d himfelf. He that commanJcth Heaven and Earth, comtnandcth thcc to Turn > j an4 -^ Vmonverted. lOp and prefently without delay to Turn ; he commands the Sun Co lun its couiG: and to rife upon thee every mornings and thoigh it be To glorious a creature, and mii.y iimes bj^^gcr than all the Earth, yet it obeyeth him, ard fasleth not one minute oFits appoinrtd time. He commandcth all the Planets and the Gibs of H avcn, and thty obey-, He connmandrth the Sea to tbb and fl'W, and the w' o!c Creation to keep \Cs courfe, and all obry him : The An- gels of Heaven obey his Will, when he frnds ihcm to Minirtcr to fjch fi^ly woi ms as wc on earth, Hch, 1.14. And yet it he conunand bat a finner to tvrn^ he will not obey him : He only thinks himfcif wifcr than God, and He cavils and pleads the caufe of fin, and wil not away. If the Lord Almighty fay the word, the Heavens and all therfir cbey him ; but if he ciU but a djrunkarc ouf of an Ale houfe, he wdlnotob^.y or if he call a worldly flv,(hly (inner t deny himfcif, and mortitic the fltfh and fet his heart on a better In heritance y li-o A Call iQ the I ; hsritance , he will not obey. ! - If thou hadrt any love in tnec, thou wouldft know the voic", and fay, Ob thi^ is nty Fathers Call I hot» can I find in myh^art ndifohey ? For thcy7;r-p of Ghrilt do h^-itp dfidhear hiivnccy and they foUcvP kirn , a^.d he giveih them etcrtta! Life^ John lo. 4. If thou hadft any fpirituil Life and Scnfe in thee, at leaA thou wouldlt fay, 7kis Call is the dreadfuU void oj God^ and n^ho dare d'.f- obey ? For faith t\\t Prophet, Amos 3. 8. The Lion kath r^artd^tvhj mil not fear ? Go^ is not 2s man, that thou (houldft dally and pl^y with him; Remefubrf what he (aid iQ Paul at his Convef (ion, [[/f is bard for thee to kick^agair,fi thepr/cks^ ^^^9.5.] Wdt ihou yet go on and dcfpifc his Word, and re- iift his Spirit , and ftop thins car agnr.Q his Call? Who is it that will have the worft of this? Doft thou know whom thou difobeycft and con- tended with, and what thou art do- ing He were a far wifer and eaiier task for thee to contend with the Thorns, and Vnconveriedl ji^i and fpurn them with thy bare feet, and beat them with. thy bare hands, or put thy head tnfo the burning Hre. Ee mt deceived, God xvill not he fft^ck^d , GaL 6 7. Whoever elie be mocked, God Will not ; you had berrer play with the B^c in your thatch , ihsn with the fire ot his burning wra*h. For^our Gad U a coftfunfifig fire^ Hih. 12. 2 9. O hoiv unmeet a match art thou for God ! It U afearUl thng To fall otto hti bands ^ Heb. 10.31. ^vA thcietoTC it is a fear- ful thing to contend with him or refift h m. As you love your fouls, take heed whit you do. What wjllyou fay, if hebegni in wr^thto plead with you? What vyill you do, if he rake yoa once in hand? Wjllyou thenftrive againil his Judgement, as now ye do againft his grace ? faith the Lord, Ifa. 27.4,6. Fury ii mt in we : ( that is^ I delight not to deflroy yoa : I do it as it were unwillingly : but yet ) ffbo vpouU fet the Bryan and Thortts aga'mfi nte irt battled I would go through thertt\ Ispjuldtum tbcnt together. Or let him taks *H 2 - -^ CaU to the Xa\t koU of my firer^gtb , tbxt he May ntak^ fcace tfitb tne, and hejhsllmuk^ pAce nfiithnte '] Its an uncqaal combit for the briers iud ftubblc to make Wit with the fire. And thus yoa Ccc^ TVho it ig thjt cd- ietb you^ that lliouU move you to hear his CaU and Turn: Co conflJcT aho, By nbut hilrunicnts^ a:id h^vp often, and k.tf rarr.ejUyhe doth Jt. 1. Every I af of the hlcjfed Bwk^ of God hath as it were a VVicc, aad calls out unto thee, Turn atdUvt'^ 'iarn or thou nf'lt die. How c\x\^ thou open it, and read a Leaf, or hear a Cnaprcr, and not pcrccivr God bids t'acc 7urH ? 2. It is the Voice ofeveiy Scrmm that thou heareft : For whac clfc: is the (cope and drift of all, bat to call At\d p:rrw2^«,ind intrcac thee for to turn ? 3 It is v\i^ Voice of nnany a motion o{ the Spirit ^ that fecretlyfpeaksov^r thcfe words agnn, and urgcth thee to *turH. 4.1t is hkcly (bmctime it is the Voice of thy own Confcieucc, Art thou not fome- VrtconverUd, I I 5 r^metimcs convinced that all is not well with thcc } and doth not Confci- ence tell thee that thou »ww/f be a new man, and take a new couife, a^nd offcn* call upon thee to ¥.iXurn? 5. Icis the voice of the gracious fx- nm^ln of the Godly. VVhen thou fecft them Ivc an heavenly life, and Hy frorn the fin which is thy ddight, this really Cilisonthce to T«r«. '; 6. It is the voice of all ^^ TJ^orkj of God. For they alfo arc Gods Books, that teach thcc this leflbn, by (hewing fhce his Greatnefs, and Wifdom, and Goodncfs, and calhng thee to obfervc them, and adniir© the Creator, Pfjl, 19. 1, 2. The Heavens declare the glory cf God, andthg firmament fheivetkhm handy vporkji V^y unto Day utteretb Speech,'Ntght untn Night jh.'rpeih Kwjrr- ledgr. Every time the San rife hup- on thcc, it really calleth th':c co Turn : as if it (hould fay, [ f^^at do I travtl arid con!j)(!fs J^e IVorfdfor, Lnt to declart tovnen the f^ry J>f Xhair Mak^r^ andto Ight thm to dobk ffor\? And do IjUU find 114 ACAUtothe find tbce doing the n>or\ of fm^ and Jig p* tig out thy life JH negligence? Atvak^ thou that fl^epefi , and art fa from the Vead^ andChriCt jhjll give thee Lights Ephcr5. M- T^^cf^^g^^i ^ fi^fi^^the day if at hand : it is mw high time to avpak^ out ofjleep : Let us therefore cafi off the tporkj of Darkle fiy and let us put on the Armour of Light. Let us walk^ honejily as in the daj^ not in Tf^oting and drun* k^miefi, not in cbamhetfKg and wanton* nf^y not in llrife and envying \ but put ye on the Lnd Jefus Chrift^ and ntakf no pr$vifion for the Flejh, to fulfill the lufls thereof y Rom. 13. ii, 12, 15, 14. ( This Text was the means of Auftins Convcrfion) 7. It is the voice of every M^rcy ihou doft pofTcfs. If thou couldft but hear and undcrftand them, they all cry out unto thee, Turn, Why doth the Earth bear thee, but to feck and fcrvc the Lord > Why doth it afford thee its fruits, but to fcrvc him ? JVhy doth the Air afford thee brcath,bi?to fcrvc him> Why do all the creatures fcrvc thee with Vnconverted, 115 wih their labours and their liyef, but that thou migh(eft (erve the Lord of them and thee? Why doth he give thee time, and health, and ftrcngth, but for to fcrvc him ? Why halt thou meat, and drink, and cloaths, but fox his fctvicc? Ha(t thou any thing which thou hah not received/ hxs^ if thou didft receive them \ \{% reafon thou (houldft bethink thee, fom whom, and ,totiphatcfid and ufe thou didii receive them. E^idft thou never cry to him for .help in fhy diftrcii >andf. Why haft thou Keafo^^ but tq Rule thy flcfli , and ftrve thy LorcJ ^ Why haft thou an undcrftiinding foul, but to learn and know his will ajid do it ? Why haft rhou an heart within thee, that can love.andfcar^ftiul deiire, but that thou (hould ft fear hini^, and love him, and deiiic after him ? 1 o. Yea thine own ctigcg:vsffits by promife to the Lord, do call uponthfc fo Tpin and Ccrve him.^ Thou hiift bound thy klfto him.by a, Biptifmal Covenant, and renounced the world, the flc(h, and the Devil : this thou haft H8 ACAlltothe haft confirmed by the profcffion of Chriftianiry, and renewed it at Sa rii* ments, and m timc5of afflidion : And wilt thou promife and vow, and nevci perform , and Turn to God ? Lay all thcfe together now, and fee what fhould be the liFuc. The holy Scripture calls upon thee to Turtt: the MmijUrs of Chril^ do call upon thee to 7urn : The Spirit cries I'urnl thy Co}ifcinice cries Turtt ; The g^dly ' by pcrfNV.ilions and exanriples cry iturni the wlo'e TTT/ti and all the creatures therein thif arc prcfented to thy con^ fideration cry Turn : The patient //r- hearancf of God cries Turn \ All the Mercies which thou r^-ceivcft cry T^rn: the Rod of Gods ChaftifemeHt cries ti*rn : Thy Rejfm md the franic of thy Nature be^praksrl^y Turning; and Co do all thy Fromtfrs to God ^ and yet art thou not rcfolvtd to Turn ? 3. Moreover, poor hard-htirfed (inner ! Didft thou ever confider >^dif whgt terms thou ftandefi all this tAiU tfitk bim that callitb en thte for f Turn i TJftconverted, 119 turn ? Thou art his ojr;f,and owtfi him thy ftlf and all rhou ha(ti and may he not Csfftwsnd his cvPn ? Thou art his abfb^utc fcTvant , and (houldft fcrve no orhcr Mafter. Thou ftandeii at his Merey, and thy life is in his hand : and he IS refolved tofave thee upon no other terms ; thou haft many nria- licious fpiritual enemies, that would be glad if God would but forlake thee and let (hem alone with thee , and leave thee to their will : how quickly would they deal with thee in another manner > And thou canft not be deli- vered from them, but by Turning unto God : Thou art fallen under his wrath by thy (in already ; and thou knowcft not how long his 'jf)aticncc will yet wait. Perhaps this is the laft year i per- haps the laft day : his fword is even at thy heart, while the word is in thine ear i and if thou Turn not, thou art a dead and undone man. Were thy eyes but open ro fee where thou ftandeft, even upon the brink of Hell , and to fee how many dioufends ate tbttf ilreadjr no A Call to the already thic did no: turn, rhou would'ft fee that ns time to look about thee. Well Sus, Look inwards now, and tell mc, how arc your hearts a0cd:ed with tbcfe offers of the Lord > You hear what is his tnmd \ he delighteth not in your death : he cills to you^Turji 'turn : '\Cs a fcaifull lign,if all this move thee not, or if it do but half move thc€ i and much more if it make thic more carelcfs in thy mifery , becaule thou hcarcft of the mcrcifulntfs of God. The working of the medicine will partly tell us whether there b: any hop:: of the Cure, O what glad tidings would it be to thole that uc now in Hell, if ihey had but fuch a McfTtge from God I What a joy full word woufd it be to hear this [] turn and Live f] Yea what a welcome word would it be to thy fc!f, when thou haft felt that wrath of God but an hour I Or, if afcer a thoufand, or ten thouCknd years torment, thou couldft but hear fuch a word from GOD, £7«r;f find Live'\ and yet wilt thou now \ 1 VnconvertecL lii now neglect it, and fuffcr us CO return withou; our errand? Behold iinncrs, we arc fent here as the MefTcngcrs of the Lord, to fct be- fore you Life and Death : What fay you? which of them will you choofe? Chrift ftandcth^ as it were by thee, with Heaven in one hand, and Hell in the other,and offereth chec thy choice: which Wilt thou choofc ? The voice of the Lord mah^eth the Roc\s to tremble^ Pfalm 26. and is it nothing to hcai: him threaten thee, if thou wilt not Turn > D^ft thou not undcrftand and feci this Voice , turn ye , Turn yt^ Jfhy mU ye die ? '] Why it is the voice of Lt>vey or infinite Love , of thy bcft and kindcft friend, as thoumighteft eafily perceive by the motion \ and yet canft thou negled it > It is the Voice of pitty and compaffion. The Lord fecth whether thou art going better than thou doft , which makes him call after thee, turny Turn : He feeth what will become of thee,ifchoa tmn not : He thinkcth with hiiTifelf, H ' Ah 12 2 'A Call to the Ah this foor firmer vrill caji himftlf in- to endUfs tonnefiti^ if he do r.oX 1'hrn ; I vwji in JujUce dedrviih him acarding tG n:y rightectis L(^n^ i and thercfoie he calltth atccr thee, lurn^turn^ O linneii If you did but know the ihoufandth part as well as God doth, trie danger that is near yen, and themifeiy that you arc running into, we fhould have no more need to call atter you to Turn. Moreover, this voice that callcth to thee 5 is the fame that hath prcviilcd with (hoafands already, and called all fo heaven that are now there; And they would not now for a thoufdnd Woilds that they had made light of it, end not turned to God. Mb? what are they poiTiirirg , that Turned at Gods Call ? N(.w> they perceive that it was indeed the voice of Love that meant them no more harm then their falvation. And if thou wilt obey the fame Calljthou (halt come to the fame happinefs. There bejniliionsthat muft for cvci lament thiit they Turned not, / but V^converted, i ^^ but there's never a foul in Heaven that isforry that they were Converted* Weil Sirs, are you yet rcfolvcd, 'or are you not ? Do I need to fay any more to you, What will 'you do } Wifl youTuin or not? Speak man in thy heart to God, though thou fpeak not out to tnc ; Speak, kli he take thy li- lencc for a denial. Speak fncJ^y^ left he never make thee the hke offer more. Speak refolvedly^ and nor waveringly'i for he will have no Jndifftrettis io he his followers. Say in thy • htitt-^W without any more delay, tVttihtf&T'C thou ftir hence, [ By the Grace ofGody I am refohed freferttfy to turn. And- htCAufe I hyiovp my ox»n uifufficiemy^ 'i^' affi refclved to wait en Gcd fof'hit^'. GrM^e r and to fohvp him iU ' hn . mityes^ and for fake my former courfes md Cdm- f anions^ and give ufnij-fdf to the g«i- dance of the Lord:T\l Jl V\'^ \o .t-v* Sifs , you are noc (hfiit^p in the darknefs of Hcathenifcii^ ildr in the ^c- fpcration of the damned »Lifcis bcfdrc i.you; and y(m may have it on rea-. H2 fonabk i24 A Call to the {om\A^ tcrins if you will > yea on free- coft if you will accept it. The way of God licth plain before you > the Church is open to you i the company of the Godly is open to you j you may have Chrii^, and pardon, and holinefs* if you will. What fay you? Will you, OK will you not ? If you fay nay, or fay D0thing,and Qill go on, God is witne(s, and this Congregation is witnefs, and your own ConG^icnces are witneiTcs hQW faiif^an offer you had this day.Re- member you might have had Chri(i, and would not. Remember, when you have lo(i it, that you might have had Eternal Life as well as others , and itopld jQOt : and all becaufeyou would not Turn* But let us come to the next Do< drine, and hear your Reafons. Dod. ^.'TpHE Urd condefctndtth X i,9: reafoH the Caje with Vftcmvtrtfdfinners^ and H a»K^hm tphy they will die ? k Orange Diijputation it is, both as to VncoHverted. 1-5^5 to the Controverfie j and as fo the D,f- putants. I . The Controverfie or Q^e- iiion propounded to difputc of, \sJVtjy wicked meu tvilldamn thtwfelue's ? Ok", Whji they mil rather die than turn -^ Whefhct they have any fufficicntrea- fori for io doing > < a. The DifputantsarcG^^andm^^: the moi\ Holy Gody and wkkedVncon- veriedfinners. Is it not a ftrange Thing whic'h God dofh Cam here to fuppofe r^/rr any nnan (hould be vpilitagxo die^ ai^ be damned? Yea that this fhould'^e the cafe of all the wickedv that is of the greafeft part of the worldlbut you will fay , Ihit cannot he i for Nitme dn- fireth the frefervation andfelkity'^h fdf\ and the mcked are mare fclfifij than others ^ and not lefs\ and therefore how can any man he vpilling to he dam- ned f' To which I Anrwcr, i.Itis a certain Truth, that no man can be Willing of any evil as evil, but only as it hath .fome appearance of good i ^much kfs H ^ CATX r7iS A Call i a the can any man bs willing to be eternally toufncntcd* MiLTy,as fuch, isdefirei by none. 2. BvU yet for all that, it is moft true which God here tcachcth u$> that the caufe why the wicked die and are damned, is becaufe thty vpill die andhe dav^nid. And this is traeinfc- veralrtl'^ped?. i.'.Becauft they will go the way that ^eads io Hell ', though they arc told by God and Man whither it goes, and where it ends : and though God hath fo often piofeficd in his Word, that if they hold on in that way^ ihcy (hail be ,<:ondennned : and that they (hill not f?>eravedunlcrsthey Turn, Ifa 48. 22. apdt^j. 21. [There is nc-peace (U'nh the i J^YcJ )uAtotbe Tpicked^ Ha. 59. 8. Ibe ^l^':ly^ of Peace thry l^ow mt i there is no %jM-dge7itentin their g^i^^s > I'hey bava .witiie them crooked farks: TFh.fnver goeththerein^ fhaUk^Kow Veace. j They ,have the Word and the On\\ of the •^living GOD for it, that ifchcy will not Turn, they (hall not enter into his Reft. And y^t, wicked they are, and wicitrd Vnconverted, 127' wicked they w 11 be , kt God and man fay wharthcy will i Flcfhly rhcy are, and flcfhly they will be: "Worl-iljngs they are, and worldlings they v;ill be : though God hath told fhcm fhic r ';{? LtJi/f of the rt? or UU enmity to Qod^ and that if aj^j man bvethe rvnrld ( in thic meafure ) the Love of the Father is not inhim^ ]zm. 4. 4. i Joh. 2. i 5. fo that € onfe que nti ally thefe men arc willing 10 be dannned, though not directly ; they arc willing .of the way to Hell, and love the certain caufe of thesr Torment: though they be not willing of Hell It felf, and do not love the pain which they muft endure. Is not this the Truth of your cifc Sirs ? You wo'jld nor burn in HclKB Jt you will kindle the fire by your tin, and ciftyour (elves into if, yoa would not hz tormented with D.vils for ever \ bur you will do that which will* certainly procure it , in dcfpite of all that can be faid agiinfr if. h h ju<^ as if you would Tay, / vp ill drink, thii Katr^ bane^ or other ^:yfon : Eut yet I xpill not H4 die. I 28 A Call to the die. I will cafl wy [elf headlmgfram ike tof of a Steeple , but yet I wtU not hjU my fdf: I rviUthru^ thk k^ifeittto if:y heart , hut yet Itfill ftottak^ away viy life, ImU pt this fire into th^ thatch of my houfe , hut yet I voill not lurn it Jufi fo it is with wicked men i they will be wicked, and they will live after the flc(h and the world, and yet they would not be damned. But do you rot know that the means do lead unto the end? and (hat God hath by his righteous Law concluded that ye muft repent or pcyiih? He that will take poyron, may as well fay plainly^ 1 n'ill kjllwy f^lft for it will prove no better in the end : Though perhaps he loved it for the fweetnefs of the Sugai that was mixt with it, and would not bcperfwadcd that it was poifon, bjt that he might take it and do wcU enough •, But it is not his conceits, and confidence that will fave his Life. So if you will be Drunkards,or Fornicator^ or Worldlings, or live after the fl.(h, you may as w^^cll fay plainly, w'^ fvillte dawned: Vnconverted.^ lig \ darHned : For Co youihall bcunlefs you Tumi would you not rebuke the folly of a thief or murderer , (hat would fay , [ J TPjllfieal and k^iU, but I mil not hi hanged ] when he knows that if he do fhconc, the Judge in Juliicc will fee that rhe other be done ? -If he f-y , / will fie at and murder ^ht may as well Ay plainly, I tt>,!lbe k^-ged. So if you will go on in a Carnal Lifd, you may as well fay plainly, Realons, finncrs, if you will make good your way ; You let: now with whom you have fo deal. Whatfaiii thou, U :convcTted renfual wicrch ?. Dared thou vt.n:urc upon a difpure -With God I Arc thou able to confute him } Art thou ready to enter the hfts> God askrth thee, Why wilt thou die ? Art thou furnirticd with a fuiiicient anfwei ? Wilt thou undertake to prove - that God is miiiakcn , and that thou art in the right > O whit an underta- king is that ! Why, either heor you is miftikcn, when he is for your C?>Dver- fion , and yoLi arc agamic ic i H. calls upon you to T irn, and you will not > Hebi-^syoudo it prefently^ even to day, while it iscdlcd to day, ^nd you delay j and think it time enough here- after. He faith it mud bs a total change, and you muft be holy, and new creatures , and born again j and you think that left may feivc the turn, and V^converied. 135; and that \^s enough to patch up fhc o d man, wi^oat becoming new. Who is in the right n nor his own Soul, that knoweth but little of the things which he fceth, yet that is more Ignorant than many of his neighboursjto ftt himiclf againft the wifdom of the Lord ? It is one of the fullcft difcovcries of the horiible wickednefs of Carnal men , and the ftark raadncfs of fuch as fin, that fo fd- ]y a mole dare contradi^his Maker» and call in queiiion the Word of God» Yea that tho(e people in your Farifbes, that are fo bca^Iy ignorant, that they cannot give us a reaibnab^e An* fwer concerning the very Principles of Religion, are yet fo wife in their own Vt7ConverUd. 137 own corceit , that* they dare qucftion /the plaincft Truths of God, yea contra- T^id chcra and cavil againli them, when they can fcaycc fpeak ftnfs, and will believe them no further than agrccth with their fcoliOi wifdom.. 2. And as I know that God muft needs be in the right, fo I know the Cafe is fo palpable and grofs which he pleader h againft^ that no man can have reafon for it. Is it poiliblc that a man can have any Reafon to break his Ma- tters Laws > and reafon to dishonour the Lord of Glory ? and reafon to abufc the Lord that bought him Ms it pofllble that a man can have any good reafon ro damn his own Immortal foul ? Mark the Lords qucftion [ Jurn ye^ lurnycy rvhy will ye die ?'] Is eter- nal death a thing to be deiired. Axe you in Love with hell ? What reafon have you, wilfully to perifh ? If you think you have fome reafon to /r», fhould you not remember that Death •i the tfages of fin ? 'ixom, 6. 23. and think whether y 'U have any reafon to undo l^S A Call to the undo your fdves'body and foul for ever. You (hould not only ask whether you love the Adder, but whether yoa love the (^ing? It is fuchathing for a mantocaft away h'.s everlarttng hap- pinefs, and to fin agiinft God, that no good reafon can be g'ven for it : but the nrorc any one pleads for \t , the madder he (hcwethhimfelf to bet Had you a Lordfhip or a Kingdom offered you for every (in that you commit, it were noncafon, but madnefs to accept it. ' Coiild you by every fin obtain thehighciV thing on Earth that Bcfh dcfireth , it were of no confiderabk value to perfwade yi^u in reafon tO commit it. If it were to pleafc yoiVr grcatcft ordeareft fnsnds, or to obey the greatcft Prince on earth, or to fave your lives, or to efcape the greatcft earthly Mifery, all thefe are of no coa- fidcration , to draw a man in reafon to the commit'ting of one fin. If it were a right hand, or a right eye that would hinder your.filvation, it is the gainful- left way tocaft it away, rather than to VncoTiveried, IJ9 fo fo Kell tofavc ir. For there is no (avmg a parr^whcn yrtu lofc the whole. So exceeding great arc the matters of Eternijy, that nothing in this world defervcth once to be named in compa- rifon with thirm : ror can iny earthly thing, though it were life, or Crowns i or Kingdoms, be a rcafonable excufe f )r the negle^ of matters of fuch high and Evcrlafting Gonfequcnce. A man can have no rcafon to crofs his ulti- mate End. Heaven is fuch a thing.that if you lofc if, nothing can fupply the want, or make up your lofs : and Hell is fuch a thing, that if youfuffer it,no- thingcan remove your mifery, or give you eafc and comfort. And therefore nothing can be a valuable confidcrati- i)n tt) excufe you for ncgleding your own Salvation ; For^faith our Saviour, What fl} a II it frofic a man to win all ths fVorld^ andlofehis cr^nSoul ? Mark 8.36. OhSiisjhatyoudid but know what matters they are that we are now fpcakingto you of ! The Saints m Hea- ven Ho A Call to the ven have other kind of thoughts of thefc things. If the Devil could come to them that live in the fight and love of God , and fhould offer them a Cup of Ale, or a Whore, or merry compa- ny, or (ports to ticc them away from God and Glory-, I pray you tell me. How do you think they would enter- tarn (he motion > Nay, or if he fhould offer them to be Kings on the Earth i Da you think this would rice them down from Heaven! O with what hatred and holy fcorn would they dif- dain and rejed the motion ! And why fhould not you do (o, that have Hea^ vcn opened to your faith, if you had but faith to fee it? There's never a foul in Hell but knows by this time, that it was a mad exchange to let go Heaven for ficfhly pleafure j and that it is not a little mirth, or picafure, or worldly riches, or honour, or the good Will or Word of men, that will quench Hell- fire, or make him a faver that lofeth his foul. O if you had heard what I bclicve,if you had feen what I believe, and Vnconv^ted. 141 and that on the credit of tht Word of God , you would fay there can bcno rcafon to warrant a man to damn his foul : youdurftnot deep quietly ano- ther night, before you hid refolvcdto Turn and Live, Ifyoufceaman put his hand into the fire (ill it burn oif, you'l marvel at it • but this is a thing that a man may have Reafon for i as BiQiop Cranwer had when he burnt off his hand for fubfcribing to Popery. If you fee a m^n cur off a Leg or an Arm, its a fad fight i but this is a thing that a Man way have good reafon for : as many a man doth, to fave his Life, If you fee a man give his body to be burnt to Afiics, and to be tormented with ftrap- padoes and racks , and refufe delive* ranee when it is cfifcredi this is an hard cafe to iieih and blood. But this a man may have good reafon for i as you may fee in Hr^. II. 35, 54, 35, 36. and as many an hundred Martyrs have done. But for a man to foifake the Lord that made hi'm , and for a ttan to run into the 142 ACal/tothe the fire of Hd!, when he is told oi it, aad intrcated to Turn that he nrjay be favcd* this is a thing that can have ko Keafon in the world that is Kcafm in' dad^ to juiiihc or cxcufe it. For, Hea- vsn will pay for the lofsof any ching that we can lofe to get it, or for any labour which wcbeHow fonr. But no- thing can pay for the lofs of Heaven. I bcfccch you now-Lt this word come nearer to your hearts. As you are conv meed that you have no Rca- fon to deflroy your (elves, lb tell me what Rcafon have you to rtfufc to Turn, and live u^ God. What Reafon hath the vcrieft woilJling or drunk- ard, or ignorant carelcfs iinner of you all, why you fnould not be as holy as any you know, and be as careful for your f )u!s asany orhci ? Will not Hell be as hot to you as loothm ^ Should not your oxvn fouls be as dtar to yan as . xkeiYs to xhtm s Hath not God as nauch authority OS zi you /Why then willyou not become a fani^ificd peopie as well as they? 4D Vnconverlcd, 143 O Sirs, when God briBgeth the mat- ter down to the very Piincipks of na- ture, and (hews you that you have no more rcaion to be ungodly, than you have to damn your own fouls : \i yet you will rot undcrftand and Turn, it iccms a dcfperate cafe that you arein. And now tirher you have Rcafon for what you do , or you ^Ave not. If ml h will you go on agaixift Rcafon it fclf f* will you do that which you have noReafniot ? But if you thmk you have, produce (htm, and make the bcft gf your matter. Reafon thccafea little with me your fellow-creature, which IS far eaiier than to leafon the cafe with God. Tell me man here before the Lord , as if thou wert todicthis hour. Why (houldft ihou not rcfolve to Turn this day, before thou ftif from the place thou liandcit in ? What Rea- fon halt thou to deny, or to-delay ? Haft thou any Reafon that fatistieth thine crvnConfcimce for it ? Or any that thou darcft own and plead at the barcfGod? If thouhaft, let us hear them 144 A Call to the them > bring them forth , and make them good. But das, what poor ftuff, what non-fcnfe inftead of reafon do we daily hear from ungodly men> But for their neceflity 1 (hould be aOiamed td name them. I. One faith, Jjnone fkaU he fuved hut fuch Converted and SanSified ones as you talk^of^ then Heaven vpqM be but ewfty^ then God help a great many. Anfvf, What! It feems you think that God doth not know, or clfc that he is not to be behevcd ! Mcafure not all by your felvcs > God hath thoufands and millions of his Sandified ones : but yet they arc few in comparifon of the World, as Chrifthimfclf hath told U5, Matth. 7. 13, 14. Luh^ 12. 3^. It better befeems you to make that life of this Truth which Chrift tcach- eth you •, Strive to enter in at tb^ flrait Gate V for ftrait U the Gatt^ and nartovp it the way that kadeth unto Life, and few there he that find it •, hut vide U the Gate, andhroadis thevpaytbat leadetb U defiruStOH , and many they hi thatg9 in V»convcyted, 145 in tbinat, '] Luke 15. 22, 23,24. I Fear net httle Flock^J di^ ChtiH to his fandificd ones ) for it ** your Fd- thers ff^ood fUafute to give you the King" dom,'] Luke 12.32. Objcdi. 2, lam fure^ iffuch as I go r« HeS, vpefhall baveftore of company, Anfpo, And will that be any eafc or comfort to you? Or do you thiak you may not have company enough in Heaven ? Will you be uadoae fo* company ? Or will you not believe that God will execute his thrcatning?, becaufe there be fo many that are guil- ty ? All thefe arc filly uareafonabtd Conceits. Obje^.3. But are not at menfim^s^ even t be belt of ycu aU ^ Anfvp^ But all arc not Vncm'uenei finntrs. The godly live not in gtols fess and their very infirmities are thd»: I grief and burden which they daily : long, and pray, and ftiivc to be rid c^, [Sin hath not dominion over them. j Objc6t. 4. Jdomx fee that Vrofeffors \4fire any better than otbtrmen % Tbey vfiB I " 1 ' #vfr« 14^ ji Call to the Bver-reach ^ and^ffrefi^ and arc as Go- vt torn Of any, j4nfvt>. Whatcvci hypocrites arc, its not fo with thofe that are fandi^cd. God hath thoufands and ten thouCanrfs that are otherwifc : Though the mali- cious wotid doth ac€u(e them of what they can never prove, and of that which never cntred into their hearts. And commonly they charge them with heart-fins , which none can fee but God i bccaufc they can charge them with no (uch wickedncfs in (heir Vivcs^ as they are guihy of thcmfclvcs. Obj. 5. 'But 1 am no fi^borfmoftger^ nor drunker d^ nor offrcjfor^ and tbere^ fore tfihy fh^uldyou call ufon me to be Converted ? ! AnftP* As if you were not born after theflejh^ and had not lived after the llefh as well as others ! Is it not as great a fin as any of thefc , for a man to have an earthly mind, and to love the world above God, and to have an unbelieving unhumbkd heart ? Nay UttM ceU you more, that manyper'- fons Vmonverted. i4f" Tons that avoid difgraceful (ins, are as fa(l glued to the world , and as much flives to the fiefli , and as ftrangc to God , and averfe to Heaven in their more civil courfe,a$ others are in their more (hameful notorious (ins. Objeft. 6. But I mean ho body any harm , nor do no barm : and tphy then jhould God condftifH me ? Anftp^ Is it no harm to ncgled the Lord that made thee,and the work for which thou cameft into the world, and to prefer the creature before the Cre- ator, and foncgled the grace thatis daily offered thee ? It is the depth of thy (infulnefs to be fo infcnfibk of it» The dead feel not that they are dead. If once thou wert made alive , thou wouldft fee more ami(s in thy (elf, and marvel at tbyfelf for making fo light of it. Objed. 7. I thinly you would mafji men mad under pretence of Converting them: Itisenoujih to rac\ the brains of pnful people^ to mufefo much on matttrs too high for them. 148 A Call t0 the Anfpp, I . Can you be en adder than you trc already ? or at leaft can there be a more dangerous madneis, than to negled your cverlafiing welfare, and wilfolly undo your fclves ? 2. A man is never well in his wits till he be Con- verted j He never knows GOD, ncr knows fin , nor knows Chrift, nor knows the world , nor himfeir, nor what his bufincfs is on Earth, To as to let himfcif about it, till he be convert- cd.The Scripture faith that the wicked arc uHreafonMetfifKy zlhef.^.2. and ihdt the mfdom of the tp$rld UfooUjh^ nefs mxh God, i Cor, i. 20. And Lukf 1 5. V. 1 7. its (aid of the Prodigal, tha$ when he came to himfelf^ he rcfolvedto Ketum. It is a wiic world when men Will difobcy God, and run to Hell for (ear of being out of their wits. 2. What is thfre in the work that Chrift calls you to, that (hould drive a man out of his wits? Is it the Loving of God, and calling upon him, and connfortable thinking of the glory to cone , and the foriaking of our fins, and Vnconverted, 149 and loving one anothcr,and delighting our fdves in the fervicc of God > Arc the(c fach things as (hould niake uicn mad > 3, And whereas you Cry that the (c nutters are too high for u§, you accufe God him(cirCor making this our work, and giving us his Word , and com- manding all that will be blcffcd to mfdttate in it day and night. Are the matters which we are maJf for and which we livt for^ too high for us to meddle with? This is plainly to unman us , and to make beafts of us, as i(:^Q were like them that muft meddle with no higher matters than what belongs to flc(h and earth. If Heaven be too high for you to think on and provide for, it will be too high for you ever to P'^liefs. 4, If God /hould fomcfimes Caffct any weak-headed pcrfon to be diftra- dcd by thinking of Eternal things i this is b-'caufe thsy mifunderftand them , and run without a guide ; and of the two, I had rather bs in thec^fe 1 3 of 150 A Call to the of fuch an one , than of the mad un* converted world , that take their di- firadion to be their wifdom. Objed. 8. I do not think that God cares fo tnuch tphat mtn thin\or fjea\^ or do •, as to iftak^efo great a matter of it, Anjvp. Itfeems then you take the word of God to ^e falfe^and then what will you b licve ? Bat your own rca(bn m-ght tcacli you better, if you believe not the Scriptures : For you fee God fer not fo light by us , but that he vpuchfafcd to raakc L5, and ftiil prefer- vetli us, and diily uphoUeth us, and y:j.ioviJ€{h iortis : and will any wife VTiiw make a curious franne for nothing? vvj 1 you make or buy a Clock or Watch , and daily look to it, and not care whether it go true or falfc? Surely if you believe not apsrticular eyc^of PiOvidencc obferving your hearts and lives , you cannot believe or cxvt6t any particular Providence to obffrvc your wants and troubles, to relieve you. AjidifGod had fo little cared for you as you Imagine, you would never V^converted. 151 never have lived tjll now : An hundred difeafcs would have ftrivcn which fhotild firft dcftroy you : Yea the De- vils would have haunted you , and fetch you away alive , as the great fi(hes devour tht lefs , aad as ravenous Rirdsand Snails devour others. You cannot rhuiH that God made a) an (or no €nd or ufe : And if he made iiim for any^ it was fare for Himfelf. And ciw you think he cares not whether his cndsb: accomplithcdj and whether wc do thQ work that we are made for } Yea, by this Atheiiiical ObJ€tdRcUgitins that tve h^ottf not vphjch tabeof^andthcrejore rP€ n>iS be even of TPt are. AnffP. Bccaufe there are many^ will you be of that way that you miy be fure is wrong. None a?e farther out of the way, than VVorlJIy^ Fklhly^ Unconverted tinners. For they do not only err in this or that Opinion, as many Scds do^ but in the \Qty fcofe and drift of their lives. If you were going s Journey that your life by on, would you flop or turn again, bccaufe you nfitt with fonrae crofs waycs , or bccaufe you law fome travelleisgo the hoife way, and fome the foot way, and fome peihaps break over the hedge, yca^and fome tn'iCs the way ? or would you not rathtr be the more caiefui td enquire the way > I^ you have fomc fsfvants thst know not how to do your work right , and fome that are unfaithful , would you take it well at any of the reft that would therefore be Idle and do you no fcxvice, becauCc thcyfce ths reft fo bad? I 5 ^ Objcft. 15+ ACaUtotht Objcft. II. I do not fie that it goes any better voith thcfe that are fj godly than vptth othtt men. 7 key are as foor^ and in Of much trouble as others. Anffv. And perhaps in much more, when God fees it meet. They take not earthly profpcrity for their wages. They have hid up their Treafure and hopes in another World, or elfe they are not Chriftians indeed. The Ie(s they have^ the more is behind j and they arc content to wait till then. Objedl:. 12. ff^ben you have f^id aU that you can ^ I amrefolvedtohofctveV^ and truH in God^ and do as vPeU as I can^ 0nd mt maksfo much ado, jinfop, I. Is that doing at vfieU at you ian^ when you will not Turn to God » but your heart is againO his holy and diligent fervicc ? It is as well as you fi^ifl indeed : but that's your mifery, 2. My dcfireis, That you (bould Hope and Truft in God: But for what is it that you will Hope > Is it to be ikved if you turn and be fan^ificd I for this you luve Gods promire i and 1 therefoic 1 Vnconverted. I 5 5 therefore hope for it and (pare not. But if you hope to be faved without Converfion and an ho!y Life , this is not to hope in God , but in Satan^ 01 your felves. For God hath given you no fuch promifc , but told you the contrary: but it's Satan and (elf love that made you fuch promifcs , and raifcd you to fuch hopes. Well, if thefe and fuch as thefe be all you have to fay againft Conversion and an holy Life, your AR is Nothings a«d worfc than nothing: And ifthcfc and fuck as thefe feem Rea(bns fuffi- cient to perfwade you to forfake God, and caft your felvcs into hclJ, the Lord deliver you from fuch Reafons andi from fuch blind underftandings , and from fuch fcnflefs hardened hearts.' Dare you ftand to ever an one of thefe Reafons at the Barr of God ? Do you think it will then fervc yoar turn to fay, Lord I did not Turn ifecmfe I had fojpuch to do in the ifojld^ or becaufe I dtd not like the lives of fome Frofeffors • #r kt€4u{< J fw mm «f fomjfymfiids* 13 & ACdUtothe Obow cafily will the light of that clay< confoufid and (hatiic fuch rcafonin^s »s thefc ? Had you the World to look a£fei?Lct the World which you fcivcd now pay yo5 your wages, and favc you if it can. Had you not a t^ttn IF^rld to look after /irjf f And were yc not coiiimandj the fins of Profcflbrs hinder you , you (bould rather have been the more btcd[ul , and learned by their falls to bsware, artd have been the more car^-^ fw/, and not the more carekfs ^ It was the Scrifture and not their lives ^ that was your Rule, Did the many opini- ocs of the World hinder you? Why, the Scripture ^ that was your Rule, did teach you but one way, and that was the right way : If youhadfoi- iowed that, even inigicuthas was plain Vficonverted, 157 plain and ealic, you (hould never have mifcarricd. Will not fuchAnfvi^ersas i thcfc confound and filence you ? If ' thcfe will nor, GOD hath thofethat will ; when he askcih the man, Man, 2*2. 1'2, VritHd^ hbrv caw€jl thou in hi" tber^ not having m a vpsdding garment ? that is, What doll thou in my Church among profcffcd ChritTians , without an holy heart and life ? What anfwcr did he nriake ? Why the Text faith. He rspof ffccchkfs ; he liad nothing to fay. The clearnefs of th£ caft:, and the Ma- jcliy of God 3 will then caiily flop the mouths of thcmoft confident oJyou, though you .Will cot be put down by any thing that wc can fay to you now, but will make good yourcaufc, be it never fo bad. I know already that ne- vix a Rcafon that now you can give will do you any good at laft , when your cafe muli be opened before the Lord \nd all the woild. i, Nay, I ftar<:s think that yout own {Confcienccs are well fatisficd with *>your Reafons. Foi if they arc, it fccm^ \;' ' then 1 1 $8 AcaStptke then you have not fo much as a Pur- pfe U Kefent, But if you do purpofe to Repent , it feems you do not put much conBdencc in your Rcafons which you bring againft it. What fay you, yfct U.iconvcrtcd fin- nets? Have you any good Rcafon to givf , why you (hould not Turn , and ptefcntly Turn with all your hearts ? Or will you go to H^l in defpight of Reafon it felt ? Bethink you what you do in time •, for it will (hortly lie too late to bethink you. Can you find any fault with God, or his work, or wages? 1$ he a bad Maftcr > Is the Devil whom youfervc a better? oris the flc(h a better ? Is there any harm in an holy life ? is a life of worldiinefs and ungod- linefs better ? Do you think in your Confciences thatit would do you any harm to be Converted and live an ho- ly life > What harm cm it do you ? 1$ it harm to you to have the Spirit of Chrift within you } and to have a deanfcd purified heart } If it be bad to' be holy ^ why doth Cod (ay, Be ye Uly Vnconverted, i59 holy , f^r 1 am holy! i P^#. i. 15, 16. Lev, 20. 7. Is it evil to be \\ktGod? Is it not (aid, that God made man in his Image ? Why this Holinefs is his Image: This Adam loft, and this Chrift by his Wo/d and Spirit would reftore to you, as he dorh (o all that he will fave. Why were you Baptized into the HolyGhofi i and why do you Baptize your children into the holy Ghoft as your SanSifier^ if you will not be fanditicd by him, but think it an hurt to you to be fan- d:ificd ? Tell me truly as btforc the Lord •) Though you arc loth to live an holy life, had you nor rather die in the ©afe of thofc that do Co than of others ? If you were to die this day, had you not rather die in the cafe of a Convert- ed man, than of the Unconverted > of m holy and heavenly man , than of a carnal earthly man ? and would you not fay as Balaam^ Nwwt. 4.3. 10. Lit me die the death of the Kighteow^anilet fvy lajt end he Hks hk ? 3 And why will you not now be of the mind that you will be of then > fii^ or la^ you muft l66 ACaUtQtke muft come to this , cither to be Con- vcf ted, or wi(h you had been when it is tooUtc. Biit what is it that you aie sfr iid of lofmg if you Turn? Is it your Friends^ you will bat change them ; God will be your Frjm^, and cMSk^ and the -Sypirir will be your FrUnd^ and every Chri- ftian will be your Trmtd, You will get one Frisiid that will ftand you in more tkad than all the friends in the world could have done. The fn:nds you /op, would have but ticed you to Hell j but could not have dtiivercd you : Bat the Friend youg^r wiilfavc you from hell, and bring you to his own eternal reft. Is it your fUafures that you arc afraid of k iing > You think you (hall never have a merry day again, if once you be Converted. Alas that you (hould think it a greater pleafure to live in foolifh fports and merriments and pita fe yourflefii, than to live in theB;'itving choughts of Glory, and in the Love ot God , and in Righte- ouihcfs and Pcace> and Joy in the Holy Ghoft , in which the th^ of Grace confiftcth ! Ktm, 14x7- It'^^ ^^ a great- er plcafure to you to think of your La,nds and Inlintancc ( ifyou wa« Loids ofall ihcCountiy ) than it is to a child to pUy for pins : why fhould it not be a greater ]oy to you to think of the Kingdom of Heaven being yours, than of all the riches or plea- fures of the world ? As it is but foolifh Childifhneft that makes Children (b delight in Gawds,that they would not leave them for all your Lands ; fo if is bat fooliCh woildlinefs, and flc{hlinc(&, and wickednefs , that makes you fo much delight in your Houfes , and Lands, and Mcat^and DAik, and Eafe, and Honour , as that you would not part with them for the heavenly de- lights. But what will you do for plea- fure wlicn thcfe are gone ? Do you nor thin\ of that ? Wiien your flfa- fiires end in horror, and go out with a ftinking fnuff, the Pk-allires of the Saints are then attheb':ft. 1 have had my fdfbut-a little talk of. the, heaven- ly i62 ACaBtothe If pletfures in the fore-thoughts of the blcflcd approjching duy, and in the preftnt perfwafioTis of the Love of God in Chritt : but I have taken too deep a draught of earthly pleafurcs, ( Ce that you vmy fee, if I b^ paitiil,it is on your lide : ) and yet I muft pro- fefs from that httlc experimce. rhaf th^rc is no corrparifon : there is mnrc joy to be had in a day CiltheSunof Life (bine clear upon U5 ) in the ftate ofHolinef^, thia in an ivholchfeof fiofu! pleafures, F had rather he a d^or* keeper it the houf,^ of G d^ thm to dwell in the tents of wick,edHfs, VidA.S^iO, A day in bis ^ourts U better th tn a xb^t^fanditny vfher^ .//>, P 84.10. The mi. th of the wiv;k:J js hkc thcla )ghter of i mad man that knows not his own naifcry : And iheretore Solornm (i\x\\ of fucb Iaughret> 1* js mtd: ^^dif tnirtb, WbAtdtbitf EcdcC 3.2 Aid Ecdcf 7. 2 , 9 , 4, 5 , ^« l^is better to gD to tbe bouje of mourning , tban to go to tbe boufe offeajiiHg : for that is tbe end of alltaeny and tbe living will lay it to Vftconverted. 1 63 to his heart. Ssrrovf k better thdnUugb^ ter : for by the fadnefs of the counte- nance, the heart is made better. Jhe heart of the mfe U in theboufe ofntdur- HWgj but the heart of fooU is in the houfe of mirth : It is better to hear the rebuke of the wife ^ than to hear the fong of fools \ For as the crackii^7£ of thorns under a Tot , fo is the laughter of the fool, ] All the pleafurc of fle(h!y things, is but hke the fcratching of a man that hath the Irch; it is his difea(e thit makes him dsfire it : and a wife mm had rather bs without his pka- furc , than bz troubled with hi Icch. Your loudeft laughter is bat like that of a mm that is tickled ; he laughs when he hath no caufc of Joy. And it isa wifer thing for a man to give all his Eftitc and his Life to be tickled to make him laugh, than for you to part with the Love of God, and the com- forts of Holintfs and the hopes of Heaven, and to caft your felvcs into damnation , that you miy have your ^e(b tickled with the plcafures of (in for 1 64 ACaUuthe for a little while Judge as you arc men, whether this be a wife mans pait. It is but your carnal unfindtHidi nature that makes an holy life Ccctn grievous to yoa , and a courlc of (enfuality feem more delightful. If you will but Turn , the Holy Ghoft will give you another Narure ^nd Inclination •» and then it will be more plcaiant to you to^ be rid of your fin,than now it is to k^ep it : and you will then fey, that you knew not what a comfortable life was till now, and that it w«s never well with you, till God aad holine(s were your delight. Qj.eft. Ty^ 1 ^(^^ comet h it to pfi AJikat menjhould be p un- reafonahli in the tnatters offalvation ? they have tpit enough in other matters i what ma]^s thentfo loth to he converted that there Jhouldneed fo many vn^rdi in fo flain a cafe , and aS xviS not doy but themofitvtlllivi and die Unconverted? Anp^, To name them only in a few wo. ds, Vncanverted, i c 5 words , the Ctufes are thcfc. 1. Men are Datuially in Uve with earth and flcfh , they arc bom finners, and their nature hath an enmity to God and godlincG, as the Nature of the Serpent hath to a man : And when all that we can iay goes agatnO an ha- bitual inclination of their Natures, no tnarvail if it little prevail. 2. They are in Vark^efsy and know not the very things which they hear. Like a man that was born blind, and hcrrs an high commendation of the hght ; but what will Hearing do,unlc{s he fets it ? They know not what God is, nor what is the power of the GroCs ofChrift, nor what the Spirit of holi- ntCs is, nor what it is to live in love by faith : They know not the ccrtaiatf, and (uirablcnefs and excellency of the heavenly inheritance. They know not what Convcrfion , and an holy mind and Gonveriation rs, even when they hear of it. They are in a mift of igno- rance. They are loii and bewildred in (in : like a man that hath \o{\ himlclf in l66 A Call to the in the night, and knows not where he isv nor how to come to hinnlclf again, till the day light do recover him. 3 . They are wilfully confident that they need no Comet fion. but fomef jr- tial amendment ^ but that they are in the way to Heaven already, and are Converted when thty are not. And if you meet a man that is quite out of his way, you may long enough call on him to turn back again , if he will not be- lieve you that he is out of the way. 4. They arc become flavej to their flefh , and drowned in the world to make provifion for it. Their luHis and pA0ions, and appetites have diftra^ed them,and got fuch an hand over them, that they cannot tell how to deny them , or how to mind any thing cl(e. So that the drunkard faith, I kve a €uf of good drink^y and J cannot forbear it. The glutton faith , I love good cheat ^ and 1 cannot forbear. The fornicator faith , I Uve to have my luji fulpUed, and I cannot forbear. And the gamefler Iwcs to have his fports, and he cannot f«» Vnconverted, i 67 ' forbear. So that they arc become even captivated (laves to their fieih , and their very tfilfulnefs is become an iw- fotency , and what they tvould not do, they fay they eamot. And the world- ling is fo taken up with earthly things, that he hath neither heart, nor mind, nor time for Heavenly ; but as in Fba^ ttohs dttdimyGen. 41. 4, the lean kinc doth eat up the fat ones y fo this lean and barren earth doth eat up all the thoughts oi Heaven. 5. Some arc fo carried a^ay by the ftrcam of evil company, that they arc poiTeffed with hard thoughts of a god- ly life , by hearing thern fpeak againft it : or at Icaft they think they may venture to do as they fee moft do : and fothey hold on in thtir (inful wayes, and when one is cut oiF and caft into Hell , and another fuatcht away from among them to the fame condemnati- on \ it doth not much daunt them^be- caufe they fee not whether they are gone : poor wretches, they hold on in their ungodlinefs, ibr all this : for they little 1^3 ACiMtothe little know that thcif companions aie now lamenting it in torments^ In LwH^ i6.the rich man in hell would fain have had one to warn his five Brethren, left thty (hould come to that place of Torment- Irs like, he knew their minds and lives, and knew that they were hafting thither , and little dreamt that he was thc/c, ye* and would little haVc believed one thar ihould have told them fo. 1 ri:m .mbei a Paffage that a Gentltmaii yet living Mr. R liml; of ^^^^ ^g he faw upon a Shrewsbury upon , . , o a Acbam^btiio,. bridge over Scvnw. A Man was driving a flock of fat Lambes , and (bmething meeting them, a^ d hindring thdr paf- fige, one of the Lambs, leapt upon the wall of the bridge, and his legs flip- phig from under him, he fell into the ftream : the reft feeing him, did one after one leap over the bridge into the ftrcam, and were all, or almoft all drowned : Thofe that were bthind did little know what was become of them that were gone before, but thought they Vaconverted, 169 they might venture to follow their Companions : but as foon as ever they were over the wall , and failing head* long the cafe was altered. Even (0 it is with Unconverted carnal men. Ont dyethby them and drops into hell, and another follows the fime way > and yet they will go after them, b:CAu(e they think not whither they are gone. Oh but when death hath once opened their eyes, and they fee what's on the other (idc of the wall, even in another world, then what would they give to be where they were I 6. Moreover , they have a fubtilc malicious enemy , that is urXcn of them, and plaies his game in the darkx and it is his principal budnefs to hin* der their Convcrfion, and therefore to keep them where they are , by per* fwading them not to believe the Scri- ptures, or not to trouble their mindt with thcfe matters : or by perfwading them to thiivk ill of a godly life, or ta think that its more ado than necds^aadl^ fhtt they may be bvedi without Con-- ^ I/O A Call to the vcrfion , and without all ihisftif, and that God ii fo merciful , that he will not dam-n any fuch as they \ or at Icart that they raiy flay a little longer, and take their pleafure , and follow the world a iittlc longer y hut of thetnfelvti , ev(n their own ml- fulnf^. they die becaufe they is^ ill die^ that if ^ becaufe theywillmt Turn. ff you will go to hell, what rcmedy^^ God here acquits himfelf of yoiit blood , it (hall not lie on him if you be loft. A negligent Minifter may draw it upon him -, and thofe that encourage yoU(r or hinder you not in fin, may draw it uponthem\ but be fure of it» it (ball not lie upon CJod, Saith the Lord concerning his unprofitable Vineyard, Ifa, 5. 1,2, 3, 4. [ Judge 1 fray yoUy hetmxt me and my Vineyard z What could have been done mote to my Vineyturd^ that 1 have net done in i* f K2 ^^^^' A 172 A Call to the When be had fljntfd it in a fruitfpil foU, and fenced it , and gathered ovt the ftones, and f [anted it vpith thecboicefi Vine : what (hould he have done more to it ? He hath made you men, and en- dued you with Rcafons he hath fur- nilhed you with external nccfflTa- lies, all creatures are at youi fcrvice : He hath given you a righteous perftdt Law. When you had broke it, and un- done your fclvcs , he had pitty on you, and fent bis Son by a miracle of conde- fcending mercy to dye for you, and be afacrificeforyour fins, and he voatin Chrifl reconciling the vporld to himjelf. The Lord Jcfus hath made you a deed of gift of himfelf , and eternal life with him , on the condition you will but acccept it and return. He hath on this rcafonable condition offered you the free pardon of all your fins ; he hath written this in his Word , and fealed it by his Spirit, and fent it you byhisMiniftcrs: theyh^ive mide the offer to you an hundred and an huri- ini times, and called you to accept it, and Vnconveried, 175 and to turn to God. They hive in his name entreated you, and rcafoncd the cafe with you, and anfwercd all your frivolous objcdions. He hath long waited on you , and ftaid your leifure, and fufFcred you to abufc hinn to his fdce.^ He hath mercifully Curtained you m the midft oF your (ins : he hith compaiTcd you about with all (ort$ of mercies : He hath alfo intcimixt af- fl.dions, to mind you ofyour folly and call you to your wirs : And his Sjprit hath been often iiriving with your hearts, and fiying there, [ turnfinner^ 7urn to him that calleth thee : Whithet art thou going / IVhat art thou doing f T>o(i thou k^OTPVphat vpiU he the end? H^w long r^Ut thou hate thy friends^ and love thine enemies ? When wilt thou let go'aVjtnd Tur>t , arJ deliver uf thy felf to God ^ and give thy Redeemer the fojffgiifi of thy foul? fVhenJhaO it once be? ~\ Thefc pleadings have been ufcd with thee. And when rhou haft delayed thou haft been urged to make hafte and Gcd hath called to thee^ [ To day K. 3, vpkile 174 A Call ta the n-kihit H called to day , harden mt thy h^art : Why n Chriii hith b:en a$ itwercrct forth crucified before your eyes, Qil^' I. You have b:en an hun- dred times told that you are but lofl men till you come unto him •, As oft as you have been told of the evil of fin, of the vanity of fin, the w^orld, and aU thcplcafarcs and w:alth it csn aff )id > of the (hortneG and urccrtainiy of your lives , and the endlcfs duration of the Joy and Torment of the life to come. All this, and mori: than this have you been told , and told again , even till you were aweary of hearfng it, and till you could m^.ke the lighter of ir . bccaufc yoa had {o often ht.'ard it, like the Smiths dog, th*r is broaghr by cuftom to llscp under the noiic of the hamxicrs, and when the fparks do fly about his ears \ and though all this have not converted you , yet you arc alive , and might have mercy to this d*y, if you had bi>t hearts to enferfaln it. And now let Rcifoa it (elf bs Juige i whether it be long of Goi or you, rf after all this you be unconvert-' cd and be dimned ? If yoj die mw^ it is bfcaufe you will die. What fliould, be faid more to yoa I Or what courfe (hould be taken , that is liker to p/c-^ viil } Are you able to fay and make it g >od, IVt tvmldfaiH hive been anven- td d>:d become uerv creatHres , but ws could not \ rvitPovld [dm have forfih^sn Offr ffim i, ; kit could not •, rve wculdhave' changed our com ^ Any ^ andour thmghts^ a id 6ur dif.ourfe , h.ut n^s could not , Why, could you not if you would > What hindrcd you but the wickednefs of your hcari's? Whp frrcsd you to (in > or w 10 did hold you back from Djtf > Had not you the fame teach- K 4 ing. I 7 <5 A Call to the ing, and time, and liberty to be godlf as your godly Neighbour had > Why then could you not have been godly as well as they ? Were the Church-doors (hutagainft you ? or did you not keep away your fclves } or {\t. and flecp , or hear as if you did not heat I Did God put in any exceptions agaiuft you ift his Word, when he invited tinners to return i. and when he promifed mercy to rhofe (hat do return ? Did he fay, \^ I will fardm aU that refmt^ except tbee ? 3 ^^^ he (hut you out from the liberty of his holy Worfhip } Did he forbid you to pray to him any more th,an others > You know he did nor* God did not drive you away from hinr?, butyoa forfook him, and run away your fclves. And when he called you to him, you vpould not come. If God had excefted you out of the general promifc and offer of mercy , or had (aid to you ; \_ Stand iff , I tciU have nothing to do with fuch at you : ?ray not to nis^ for I Tvill not bear you : If you recent .ftmr fo ntuchy and cry for mercy WV(t ^ Vnconmrted! 177 titvn fo wuch^ Ivp'tllnotregardyjuy} If God had left you nothing to tru^t to but dtiperation , then you had a fair cxcule. You might have faid, Q To ti>hat endpould I repent and turn, vphen it ivilldo no good? ~] But this was not your cafe. You niight have had Chrft to be your Lord and Siviour, yout Head and Husband as well as o:hers, and you would not : becaafe you felt not your (elves fick cnoug^h for the Phyftiian , and becaufe you could not fparc your difeafe ; In your hearts you faid as thofc Rebels, Luke 19. 14. [ JF^g that thou hjfl Urfuk^fn tn,.? Jrr a, 19. Whatiniquhy have yau fund m Ttie^ r hat you havt f Ihived oftnva- Ttiiy ^ndfjrfak^nm? Jer. 2. y 6. [He caDith out as St wcrt to the biuccs to hcarlhcQoiKroi^ttik he h^sh againfi you, M.c.3.34, 5. ^i'^T^ Oy^^nmn- tains the Loras Conlrover.fie ,' and ys firong fomddtiom of the earth ^ for the Lord hath a Controverfie with hisfeo- \fle, and he mllfhadmth Krael. wy [people what have I dom unto thee , and l^hfrcm have I vpenrud tkee .ohfii, 1 have murijhedatid bro light i8o A Call to the hrought up children , and they have n^ belled again'l me. 7he Ox kf^on^ah hk owner , and the Aji hk M4^rs crib : hutUt^dd'jthnotkitQtVy ^y V¥^ ^^^^ not confider ! Ah fmful Nation, a feo. pie ladenmth iniquity, a Seed of evil doersl &c.ira. i.*2, 3,4 [.Voyouthm requite the L:rd, jooltjh people and vnwife ? Is not he thy Father that bought thee ? Hath he not made thee and ejia^ hlifl^ed thee? DM. 32. 6. ] When he faw that you forfook him even for no- thing , and returned away from your L^td and U(c, to hunt after the chaff and feathers ofthe World he tolJ you of your folly , and calkd you to « raorc profitable employment, I/tf. 55, I, 2, 2. r JFherefore do you fpend your money for that t^hicb is not hre ad and your' labour , f9r that vphich fatifietb: nA? H.arkpn diligently mtom, and cat y^ that rphich is gcoA , and Ut your foul delight it felf m fatnep. Enclmc^ your tar, and come unto m : htarjmd your fouljhali live, and I mil ma)^ an evnlafiifig Covenant mth you , (venjhe ' ° fnre Vnconvtrted, 581 Cure mercies of Divid ~ — ^ee\ ye the Lord tfbtle he way he found : call ye nf* ' on him while he m mar. Let the voided \ for fake hia rvay^ and the unrighteous wan hii thoughts^ and let him return unto the Lord^ and he t^ill have mercy upon him : and to our God^ for he rvill , abundantly pardon^ ver.6 7. J And fo Ifa.i. 16, 17, 18. And \vhcn you would not hear, what complaints have you put him to, charging it on you as i your wilfuinefs andftubbornncG I Jer, \ 2. 1 2, 13. [_Be ahni/hed heavens at \ thi§ ^ and be horribly ^frdid. For wy people have comntitted itfo evih : they i have forfaken me the fountain of living \ waters , aud hepped thent out cijlerns i hrokjK cijierns that can hold no water. '\ Miny a time hath Chrill prodamid , thatffcc invitation to you, Kev, 22.17- 1^ Let him that U a thirfl come : and whc^ e^erwill^ let him ta}^ the water of life} fred)-'] But you put him to complain 1 after all his offers : [ Ihey willnot come to we that they may have life , John 5.40.3 He hathinviccd you tofcaft' with ■A r82 A Call to the with him in the Kingdom ofhi^ grace i and you hive had excu(es from, your grounds, and your cattle, and y.our worldly bufinci? \ ^vA when you watdd not come, you have faid you cquU net : and provoked him to refolvc that you (houid never tajh of hU S^ppgr^ Li-ks 14. 1 5, to 25. And who is ir kng of now but your feives ? and what c-n you fay is the chiefcaufc of your dam- nation , bjt your own JVilh /* You would be damned. The whole c^fc is Ifidopcn by Chrift hitnfclf, Prjv.i. from the 20. to the end. [_ l^ifdom cry- etb mthojt^ fie utter exh her voice in tki ,ftr(ets , fl^e cryith m the chief fUa of CoKCcurfe'^ - HjTp long ye fmfJe cnesw-fHye l^ve fimflkiiy^ andthefcor- fieri delight tn their fcorniftg , and fools hate k^otf ledge ? Turn ye at my re- frocfs behold I will four out my fpirit unto you^ I vpill vftakskyiovpuryiy t^ordf unto you. Becaufe 1 have called am ye refufed^-I havejiretcbed out my hands^ and no man regarded^ but ye have fet at mtigbtallnty counfel ^ and tvould nope Vruonverted. 185 of «?J' reproof : I alfo rcul high at your calamity , I tc'ill woch^ nhen ycur fear Cometh : n^h-.n y^hr fear coweth a$ defUticn^ ami your d jlruSiOif Cometh as a nh'nlvpjnd --i rvken dijhefs and. an- gv.'ifh Cometh ufon you \ thtn (hall they tAl upon me^ Ut Tv^Vl mt anfvP^r\xhty fiitllf^ih^t^ce^ly^ but they fhallmt fi^iJ me. For that they hated k^owlet/gf^ and di/in'A cho'-^fe the {ear of the Ltrd. They would Htne of my courfc! : they defpi^ fed all rr-y refrocf: Thtrefore Jhalltkey eat of tht fruit sf thiir ewn vpiy , fnd hi filled rvith their ctvtt devtfes. For the turning nrvay ofthi fiytifU fhallfl^ thettty and the frcfl>erity of fools fljoll d.firoy tbent. B'^t vohofo hi'arli^ntth /o n?f flj till dap ell fafely^^ and jhjll ht quat frm the fear of tvll. 3 I thought belt CO recite the whole Text at large to you , becaufcit doth fo fully (hew the caufe of the dcrirudion of the wicked. It is not bicaufc God would not (each them i but bccaufe they would not learn. It is not becaufc God would not Callthcna, but bccaufe they would not Turn 184 A Call to the Turn at his reproof. Their mljulnefi is their undoing. FRom what hath been (aid, you may further learn thefc following whings. 1. From hence you may fee, not only what blafphemy and impiety it is, to hy t^ic bUme of mens deftrudion upon God ■-, but alfo how unht thtfc wicked wretches arc to bring in fuch a charge againlV their Mikcr. They cry out upon God , and fay, He gives them not grace, and his threitning? arc feverc , and God forbid thit all (hould be damned that be not Con- verted and fandiiHcd : and they think it hard meafure that a (hort (in (hould have an endlcfs fuffering > and if they be damned, they fay rhey cannot help it % When in the mean timc^ they arc bufie about their own dciirudtion » even cutting the throat of Chcir own op Vficonveried. 185 fouls i and will not be peifwadcd to hold their hands. They think God were crud^ if he (hould damn thcnn •, and yet they are fo cruel to tbewftlves^ that they n>iU run into the fire of Hc4] i when God hath told thcni it is a little before thenn, and neither infrcaties^nor rhrcatnings, nor any thing that can be laid, will flop. them. We fee them al- inoft undone : Their carclefs, world- !y, flcfhly lives do tell us that they arc in the power of the Devil > wc know if they dye before they are Converted, all the world cannot favc them > and knowing the uncertainty of their lives, we are afraid every day left they drop into the fire. And therefore weintreat them to pitty their own fouls, and not to undo themfclves when mercy is at hand, and they iri// wot hear us. We intrcat them to caftaway their fin, and come to Chrift without delay, and to have fome mercy on themfclves, but they will have none. And yet they think that God muft be cruel, if he condemn chcm» O wilful wretched fia- nc/s jS6 a Call to the tiers \ It IS not God that Wcruel to you » if is yM that arc cri/r/ to your fclvcs* You are told you muftTwrjt er ^«r^i> and yet you Jurn not. You art told that if you Will needs keep your fins, you (hall keep the Curfe of God with them : anJ yet you will keep them. You are told that there is no way to H^fpnff but by Holinc^^ and yet you trill not be Holy. What would you have God fay more to you } What would you have him do with his Mer- cy ? He oifercth it you , and you wiM not have it. You are in the ditch of fin and nniftry, and he would give yoii his hand to help you out , and yott rcfufe his help : he would clcanfc yoj of your fins , and you had rather keep them. You/ Why that's an impo(Iibili':y i you may as well l>fi converted. i §7 well cxprd he (ho aid turn the Sun intoDarknef?.. What, an unfan- tftificd ftefhly heart be i^i Heaven \ it cannot hr. 7kcre er.tnth nothing thit H Unclean, Pvf v. 2 1. 27. For vphat Com- wunion k^-th light vfith darhiiff!^ or Cbrifl vPith Bdul ? 2 Gor. 6. 14. 15. All the djy to)fg hath he ftr etched cut hit hands to a difobcdi:nt' and gainfaying pcfle^Kom. 10. 25. What will you^o now ? Will you cry to God for wercy ! why , God calleth upon you to. have mercy upon your (elves, and you will not. MiniOers fee the poyfoned Cup in the drunkards hand, and tell him , There is foyfun in it , and defire him to have M/rcy on his foul, and forbear, and ht; trill «!?rhearus; drink it her wpft and fvill: he loves it, and there- fore though Hell comes next, he faith, hc^amot help it. What (hould one fay^ to fuch men as thcfc ? We tell the un- godly Circlef^ worldling, Jt is not Juch alife'that tvill f and prcfervcth them •, for the fake of Chrift that died for them j for the fake of their own poor fouls , to pitty Vficonverfed, 1 89 pitty themfelvesandgono further in the way to Hell, but come toChrift while his armes are open, and enter in- fo the ftate of Life while the Door ftands open, and now take mercy while mercy may be had \ they mH not be perfwadcd. If we (hould die for it, we cannot get them fo much as now and then to confider with rhemfclvcs of the matter, and to Turn. And yet they can fay , I ^ofe God mU be mrcifuL Did you ever confider what he faith , Jfa, 27. 1 1. [_It it apople of no undtr- landing , therefore he that made them rviU not have mercy on them j and he that formed thtm vPiU Jhitp them no favour, ] If anothtr man will not cloath you when you are naked , and feed you when you are hungry, you will fay, he is unmerciful, li he (hould caft you into prifon, or beat and torment you, you would fay he is unmerciful. And yet you will do a thoufand times more againlt your felves, even caft away both foul and body for ever, and never complain of your own unmcrcifulnefi. Yea ,J$0 A CaUto the Yea and God that waited upon you all "the while with his mercy, muli be ta- \zn to bt unmerciful, if he puni(h you aficr all this. Unlefs i\it holy God of Heaven will g^ivc thefe wrcfchts leave io trample upon his Sons blood , and with the Jcw5^ as it w^re again to fpit in his face , and do defpife to the Spi- rit of Grace , and make a je^ of fm , and a mock at holineft , and fet more light by faving mercy, than by the filth of their fl.fhly pleafurcs , and unlefs after all this he will fave them by the mercy which they caft away, and would none of, Ood himielf muft be called unmerciful by them. But he will be jufiified when he judgeth j and he will not ftand or fall at' the bar of a fmfal worm. I know there are many particular cavils that are brought by them againft the Lord \ but I (hall not here ftay to anfwer them particularly, having done ft already in my Treatife cf Judg^^ ment^to which I (hall refcrr them. Had ~ the difputing pwt of the world bec« as Vfi converted, ^ 9 r as canful to avoid fin and dcftrudi- on , as they have been bulie in Cczi£\ - ing after the caufe of them , and fvoi- ward indirc^ly to impute it to God,| they might have cxcercifed their w.ts more profitably, and havcleG wrong- ed God, and fped better thcmfclvc?, Whtnfouglya Monfter as fin is with- in us, and (o heavy a thing aspunifh- ment is on us , and fo dreadful a thing as Hell is before us, one would think it Ihould be an eafic qucftion , who is in the fault, and whether God or man be the principal or culpable caufe ? Some men are fuch favourable )udges of thcmfclvcs, that they are prontr to accufe the Infinite Perfedion and Goodnefs it felf , than their own heartsi and imitate their firft Parents that faid, [ Ike Serfent temftedme^and the tfoman that thou garvefl me ^ gavt unto we , andl did efit^ ] fccretJy im* plying that God was the caufe. So fay they , 1^ The HfiderS^and'mg that thm givefi me , vpm unable to difcern i the mUtkat thougitvefl me ^ n>as unable to mfike 1^2 A Call to the maks 4 heiter choia^ the ohyBs which thou didfi fit before vne^ did ettuce mCy the temp ution which thou didji permit to ajfault mi , frevailtd againfi me. 1 And (bme are fb loth to think that God can make afcif determining crea- ture, that they dare not deny him that which they take to be his prerogative, to he the determiner of the WjH in every fin, as the firft efficient immedi> ate phyfical cau(e. And many could be content to acquit God from fo much caufing of evil, if they could but reconcile it with his being the chief ctule of good i as if truths would be no longer truths ,. than we arc able to fee them in their perfcd order and co- herence : b.caafe our ravelled Wits cannot ft t them right together, nor affigneach truth its proper place, we predimc to conclude that fomc mud; bccaft away. This is the fruit of proud felf-conceitedneft , when men receive not Gods truth as a child his lefTon, in an holy fubmifOon to the omniftience of our Teacher, but as Ccnfurcrs that are too wife to learn. Obj. Vsf converted, 19.3 Obfidl. But vpe cannot Convert our felves tiS God Convert us z vpe can da nothing tvithout his grace: It is net in him ihit wiUnh^ Kor in hint that run-' eth, but in God thatjhevpeth wercy, [ Anfw. I. God bith two degrees of mercy to (hew ; the mercy of Con- veifion fiift> and the mercy of Salva- tion lift.* the latter he will give to noi:c b:at thofethat r^iU^n6.run^ and hith picmifed it to them only. The former is to make them vpiling that vitxtunvpiHing ; and though your own willing and endeavours dcferve not this grace i yet your »?///«/ refufal d^- fcrveth that it (hould be dcnytd to you. Your dlfahility is your very un- n^iUingmfs k felf, which excufeth not your fin , but maketh it the greater. You co?//^ Turn if you were but truly willing: and if your wiUs themfclves are fo corrupted , that nothing but cffe6iual Grace will move them, you have the more caufe to feck for that Grace.and yield to it, and do what you ^in in the ufc of means, and not ncg- L htk 1^4 ACdltothe hdc M, or fet againd ir. D ) what you are able firft , and then complain of God for denying you grace if you have caufe. Objed. But ym [eeni to intinfatf aU thy tPhiletbAt rum hash free-vpiU. Anfrp, The dtfputc about free-will is beyond your capacity , 1 fball there- fore noAv trouble you with no more but this about it. Your will is naturally '^f-ce, that IS, a felf-diterwinirg facpl- ^y , but it is vitioify inclinU^ and hack^ tvardtodogood; and therefore we fee by fad experience that it hath not a t'ertims tnoral freecioifJ. But that is the vpick^dnefs of It, which dcfervcfh the punifhment. And I pray you let us not btfoolour felves with opinions. Ltt the cafe be your own. If you had an enemy fo mahcious, that he falls upon you,3nd beiti you every time he meets you , and takes away the lives ofyour children, will you excufe him, bscaufc he faith, [ I havs not frec-vPiU, it ii my nature-', IcamA choofe, unlefs God give mgrnQS ^ 1 If you have a fcrvant that Vxfconvertcd, 195 robbeth you, will you take (uch an an- Twer from him? Might not every T.iitf and Murderer that is haoged at the Aflize givcfuch an anlwt'i, [/ bai^ mt .fret will , / cannot change my own heart : what can I do without Gods grace ? ]] and (hall they ther 1. TT^Rom hence alfo you may ob- J7 fcrve thcfe three things togc^ thtr. I. What a fubtile tempter Satan is. 2. What a deceitful thing Sjn is. 3. What a fo oh (h creature corrupted Man is. A fuht tie tempter indeed, that can perfwade the greateft part of the world to go wilfully into everlafting fire, when they have fo many warnings and diiTwafivcs as they have, k deceit ^ Jul thing is fin indeed , that can be- witch fo many thoufands to part with cvcrlafling life, for a thing fo bafe and utterly unworthy ! A fooltjh creature is Man indeed, that will be fo cheated Tg6 AC.dltotke of his Hi' vat ion for rothing-, yea for a kno^n Hothiyig \ and t\ut by an enemy, and a known enemy. You would think it impodible that any man in his wits (houM be pcrfwaded for a trifle to cart liimfdf into the tire, or water, or mto a coal pit, to the deftiudiionof his hfe. And yet men will be enticed to cart rhtmfclves into Hell. If your natural lives were in your own hands^that you fhould not die till you would kill your illves , how lorg would moft of you live? And yet when your eveihiiing life is To far in your own hands under God, that you cannot be undone till you undo your felves, how few of ycu will forbear your own undoing? Ah what a filly thing is Man ! and what a bcvyitching and befoolirg thing is Sin? 3. Tn^Rom hence alfoyou may learn, Jr that it is no great wonder if wicked nncn be hinderers of others in the way to heaven, and would have as many Unconverted as they can, and would Z) 93 convert e'cl, 197 would liraw them inro fin, and keep fheminir! Can you cxpcd that they (hnuld'havcany mrcy onother?, that have none upon themfdves? and chat they (hauld muJi ilick at the de(iru- dion of others, that ftick n.)C to de- ftroy thcmfclves? Th^y do noworfe by others, than they do by thcnafelves. 4. T Aftly : you miy hence learn, _Ly!hat the grcatcft enemy to Man IS himfelfi and the greatell ja^gc- ment in this hfc that can befall him, is to be left to himfelfj and that the great work thit Grace hath to do, is to favc'us from our fclves \ and the greateft accufation? and compla ntsof M.n (hould b: againfi thcmfclves •, and that the greiteft work thic ws have to doourJclves, ij to refill our fclves •, and the greateft enemy that we (hould daily pray , and watch , and Ihive againit, is, our own carnal hearts and wills, and the greatcrt part of your work, if you would do go:d to others,, and help them to heaven, is ro L 3 fjLve igS ACMiothe ftv€ them fVomthemfclve?, c/cnfiom their own blind undcrftandingj, ar!4 corrupted wills, and perverfc afiTcfti- -ons, and violent paffions, and unruly fenfes. I only name all thefe for bre- vity fike^ and kavc them to your fur- ther confidcration. WEli Sirs, Now wc have found out the great Delinquent and Muidcfcr of fouls, ( even mens Selves^ their own wills ) what remains but that you judge according to the evi- dence , and confcfs this great iniquity before the Lord , and be humbled for it, and do fo no more > To thefc three cndsdiftindly, 1 fhall add a few words more. i. Further to convince yoa. 2 . To humble you. And 3. To reform you, if there be yet any hope. I. We know fomuch of the exceed- ing gracious nature of God^ who is wil- ling to do good , and delightcth to (hew mercy, thitwchave noreafon to fufpcd him of being the culpable, caufe, of GUI death , or to call him. ciud i. VnconvertecL 199 crueU He made all good, anci he pnv fcrvech and majncaiactball i the eyes of all things do w&it upon him, and he givetf:! them their meat in due fca- fon •, he openethhishand, and fitisfi- cth the dclircs of all the living, Pp/;a 145. 15, 16. He is not only rij^btecus i« aS his rv^ycs^ ( and therefore will deal juftly ) and holy in aU hn rrorks^ ( and therefore not the author of fin ) but \_Hi is alfo gjod to ^F, dnd hjs tender mercies are ovu aU his works. "] Ffalrtt 145. 17, 19. But as for ntaa^ we know his mind is dark, his will pcrverfc, his affedions carry him fo headlong, that he is fitted by his folly and corruption to fuch * work as the deftjroying of himfclf. If you faw a Lamb lie killed in the way, would you foonerfufped thej^ffp, Of the d^g or rtfjslf^ to be the aurhorot it , if they both Ihnd by ? Or if you fee an houfe broken and the people murthercd, would you fooncr fufpcvft thzFrince or Judge ^ thst is wife and juft, and. hid no need > or a h^norvn h 4, rbief , 200 A Cju to the Ibief or Murtherer f I Gy therefore as James i . 13,14 1 5 • [_Let noman fuy Tphen heh te^'.pcd, tba bt is tiWpted of God ^ for God cannthe tewp^ed mth. evil, neither tnupt ah he ar/y wan^ (to flra^v him to (in ) but every wan is TfrriPted when he is draJx>K away of his twH /#, and enticed. Then rpben luji bdth ei'HCeived , it hrif^gtth fcrtb fiyi\ axdUn ti^hen it if finijhed, bringeth forth death. 3 You fee here, that tin is the brat ot your own concupifcencc, and not to bs hihered on God i and iliaC dczih IS the oii-rpriKg of your own tin, and the fruit which it v/ill yield you as ,.foon as it is ripe. You have a Treafure of evil in your fclves as a Spider hath of poyfon , from whence you arc bringing forth hurt to your feJves, and fpinnirg iuch wcb5 as entangle your own fouls. Your Nature (hews, its you that are the caufc, 2. Its evident that .you are your own dcftroyerSjin that you are Co Kea-- dy to eniertain arty Temptation ^\'moi\ that IS Oifcrcd you. Satan is fcarcc ^/~ Vftconvirted. 0.0% readier (oiDove y^ou to any evil, than you are r.ady ro hcir, and ro do as he would have you. It he Would tempt your unftriUnding to error and pre- judice, you yeild. If he would hinder you fiom good Tcfolutions, it is fcoi done. If he would cool any good de- ^ firc5 or affedions, it is foon done. If he would kindle any luft or vile aff^^- <5}ions and defircs in you, it is loon done : If he will put you on to evil thoughts, or words, or deeds, you arc fi) free that he needs not rod or fpur-, if he would keep you fi om holy thoughts, and wqrJs, and wayes, a lit- tle do h it , you reed no cuib. You examine not his fuggcftions, nor rc- (ift them with any rtfolution, nor c^fl: them out as he cafts them in , nor quench the fparks which he cndca- voureth to kindle : bat yoii fet in with him, and mccl him half way, and em- brace his motions, and tempt him to tempt you. An^ its cufic to catch fuch greedy fi(h that are ranging for a bait,, and- will Cake the bare hook, L5 2,Y6\3 2C2. ACaUtoihe^ 3. Tout' dcftru(^ion 1$ evidently. long of your ftlvcs , in that you Re- fifi all that would help to favyrou,and- would do*yougood, or hinder you. from undoing your fclvcs. God would help and fave you by his Word, and you rtfift if, it is too (iridt For you. He would fanditie you by his Sfint^ and you retift and quench it. If any miii rtprove you for your fin, you fiy in his fice with evil words i and if he would draw you to tn holy life, and tell you of your prefent danger, and give him little thanks , but either bid hira look Co himfdf, he (hill not anfwcr for you , or elfe at bcft , you put him off with an heartkfs thanks, and will not Turn when you are pcrfwadcd. IfMinidctS-. would privately indrudt and help you, you will not come at them i your ,un- humbled Soulsdo feel but \\ii\c need of their h&p. If they would Cate- chize you , you arc too old to be Qi^ tcchizcd, though you are not too old. fo be ignorant and unholy. Whatever they Gin fay to yoa for your gcod, you you arc fo felf conceited and wife in your own eyes, ( even in thedv'*pch of ignorance ) that you will regard no- thing tlTat agrecth not with your prc- fcnc conceits : but contrartly rclift, as it -would lead you lo Repenrarce, and partly abufc CO the (trcrgrhning of y^cur fin i as if yourr.ight the frcelicr fm, bccaufe God js Merciful, and becaufc his Grace doth To much abound. 5. Yea you U^ch dej\ruVion froryt the hifj'rd E-edeewer^ ayJ Death jrom the Lord of life hinfclf. And nothing more cmboldneth you in (in, than that Chrtlt hath died for you i as if now ihc danger of death, were ovfr, and you might boldly venture: As if Chnft were become a (Irvjnt to Satan and your liiis,ar.d muit wait upin you while you are abuiing him : and becaule he is be- come the Phylitian of fouls, and is able to fave to the utmoft all that come to God by him j you think he muft fiiffcr you to icfufc his help, and throw away hisMcdicin^nd mu ft fave you whe- ther you wiPlome to God by him or no : fo thit a great part of your fins are occafioncd by your bold prefump rionupon the death ofChrift. Not Vnconverted, ^^AL^ Not confidering that he came to' Redeem his people from their fins, and to fandihe them a pecuhar people to himfclf, and to conform them in Ho- lincfs to the Image of their Heavenly Fither, and to their Head, Mttt.i, ii. Ivvs 1, 14. I P«r.i.i5,i6.Ca/.j.io,ii. ThiL 3 9,10. ^ 6. Yuu alfb fetch your crvn deftru-' B'ton jrom dU the Providences and workj of God When you think of his Eternal fore knowledge and Dccrets^ it IS to harden you hi your Ciriy or pofTcfs your minds in quarrelling thoughts, as if his Decrees might fpare you I he libour of Repcntanc« and an holy life , or elfc were the caufc of your iin and death. If he affi.d you,- you repine i if he profper you, you the more forget him, and are the back- warder to the thoughts of the life to I come. If the wicked profpij^you tor- get the end that will fct all reckonings (irait i and arc ready to think , its as good be wicked as godly. And thus, yoadriw your death from $11. 7. And 1o6 A Call to the J. And the like you do from eU the ^reatHtes and vtercies of God to you. Hegivcth them to you a$ the Tokens of his Love, tnd furniture for his fcr- vice, and you turn them aga^nli him, to the p^cafing of your Sicih. You eat and drink to pkafc your appetite, and not for the Gloiy of God , and to enable you for his Work. Your Cloaihcs you abufe to pride. Your R ches draw your hearts from Heavai, ?^//. 3 18. Your Honors and applaufc do puli^you up : If you have health and ilrength, it makes you rrorc fecure, and forget your end. Yea, o'her mens m.r.ies are abufed by you to your hur*. If you fee their Honors and Dignity, you are provoked to envy them. \( you fee their riches, you arc ready to covet them, if you look upon beau- ty, you ar^irred uptoluft. And its well, if C5fllir.cfs be not an eye-fore to you. 8. The very gifts that Godheficvpeth on you , and the Ordinances of Grace which he hath irUiituccd for his Church, Vnconverted. 207^ Church , you turn to (in. If you have ' better parts than others, you grow proud and i^lf conceited \ Ifyou have but common gifts, you take them for (fecial Grace. You take the bare hear- ing of your Duty for fo good a work^ as li It would cxcuft you for not obcy- irg it. Your Prayers are turned info (in, htc^\Ji*xyoyJi regard iniquity in ^Qur b tarts, Pfal. 66. 18. and depart mtjrova iniquity when you call on the Name of the Lord, 2 Tim 2.1 9, Xoutfraycri are ttbowittahle y becaufeyou turn arpay your (i:r from hearing the Lavp . ?rov,2^.<^. And are more ready to off>r the Sa- crifice of fools, f thinking you do God fome fprcial fervice J than to hear his Word and obsy it, EccUf 5. i. You, examine not your felves before you receive the Supper of the Lord, but rot difcerningthc Lords Body, do C4t and drink Judgement tJ|fowr felves, I Cor. II. 28, 29. p. Yea, the ferfons that you converfi mitk^ and all their aUions , you make the occifions of your (in anddcftru- dior 208 A Call to the dion. If they live in the fear of God, you hate them. If they hvc ungodhly, you imitate them; H the wicked arc many , you think you may the more boldly follow thtm \ If the gndly be few, you are the more cmboldned to defpife them. If they walk exa(^ly, you think they are too precifej If one of t^itrnfall in i particular tcrrprati- on, you ftu.Tiblc upon them, and turn away from holmcfs , becau(c that others arc imperftdly holy \ as if you were warranted to break your necks i becaufc fome others have by their hecdUfnefs fprained a linew , or put out a bone. If a hypocrite difcover himfdf , you fay , T^h^ are all aJth^, and think your fclvcs as honcli as the bed A PfofcflTor can (carcc flip into any mifcirriage , but bcctufehc cuts his finger, mi think you may boldly cut your tfl^ats. IF Miniftcrs deal pliialy with you, you fay they rail. If they fpeak gently or coldly, you cither flcep under thtm, or arc little more, ^ffedtcd than the feats you (it upon. If /Ti.^.^A A Ql if*^^ Vneonveried, 209 L i. If any errors creep into the Church,, fomc greedily entertain them , and others reproach the Chriftian Do- ditine Tor them, which is moft againft them. And ifwc would draw you from, any anr:ent rooted error , which can but plead two, or three, or (ix, or fe- ven hundred years cuftom, you are as much offended with a motion for re- i^irmation, as if you were tolofeyour lives by it , and hold faft oU errors, while you cry out againft nevp ores. Scarce a difFcrencc can arife among the Miniftcrs of thcGolpcl, but you will fetch your own dtath from it. And you will not hear, or at leaft not obey the unqueftionabic Do^rinc of any of thofe that jump not with your conceits : One will not hear a Minifter, ' bcciufe he readcthhis Sermons i and ' another will not hear him, becaufc he doth not read them. One will not hear him, becaufe he faith the l!brds Pray- er : and another will not hear him,be- caufe he doth not ufe it. One will not bear them that are for Epifcopacy, and 2 ID j4 Call to the and another will not hear them that are againfi if. And thus I might (hew iryouin many other cafcs> how you turn all that comes near you to your own deftru6tion s fo clear is it that the ungodly are fclf-dcftroycrs, and that their perdition is of themfclvcs* MEthinks, now upon the confide- ration of what is faid , and the f cview of your own waic», you fhould bethink you what you have done,and b: aftamed and deeply humbled tore* member if. If you be not, I pray you confidcr thefe following Truths. I. To be your own dtftroyers, is to fin againft the dccpcft Principle in your Natures , even the Principle of fdf- prefervation. Every thing naturally defireth or cnclineth to its own felici- ty, wclfai^or perfection. And will you ^tt your felves to your own de- Oru(f^:on > when you arc commanded to love your Neighbours as your felves ; it is fuppofed chat you natural- ly VnconverUd. 2 n ly love your fdvcs. But if you love your Neighbours no better than youi ivivcs^it fecms you would have all the world be damned. 2. How extrcamly do you crofs your own intentions ! I know you in- tend not your own damnation, even when you are procuring it » you think you are but doing good to your (lives, by gratifying the dcfircs of your ^c(b. But alas , it is but as a draught of cold water in a burning Feavcr, or as the fcratching of an itching wild -fife, whick encrcafeth the difcafc and pain. If indeed you would have pleafurc, or profit, or honour, fcek them where they are to be found, and do not hunt after them in the way to Hell. 5; What pitty is it, that you (hould do that againft your felves , which none elfc in Earth or Hell can do 1. If all the world were combined againft you, or all the Devils in Hell were combined againft you , they could not dedroy. you without your fclvcs, nor snake 2 12 A Call to the raake you fin but by your own con- fent. And will you ^o that agamlt your fclves which no one clfe can do ^ You have hatefulfhoughtsoftlic De- vil, brcaufc l:e is your enenny, and cn- dcavoureth your deftru«J^f p. 54. But it is the pre- venting ©f the Eternal nre that I have been all this while endeavouring : And O (hat it had been a ncedlefs work ! That God and Con(cience might have been as willing to fparc me this la- bour, as fome of you could have been. D^ar friends ! I amfo loth you (hould lie in everlafting fire, and be (hut out of Heaven, if It bepolfible to prevent it, that I (hall once more ask you^ What do you now refolvc? Will you - Tura 2j6 A Call to the Turn or die ? I look upon you as a Phyfitian on his Patient in a dangerous difcafe : that faith ro him, [ 'though you are far gone , r^^^ but xha Medt' cine ^ and forbear but thefe ferv things that are hurtful toycu^ and I dare vp ar- rant your life \ hut if you niUnct do this, you are hut a dead wan. ~] What would you think cf fuch a man, if the •Phyfitian and all the friends he hath, cannot perfwade him to take one Me- dicine to favc his Life, or to forbear one or two poyfonous things that would kill him? This is your caie. A$ far as you are gone m fm, do but now Turn and Come to Chnft, and take his Rtmcdies,and your (ouls (hall live. Caft up your deadly fms by Rcpen- f mcc , and feturn not to the poyfon- ous vomit any more, and you (hall do well. But yet if it were your bodies that we had to deal wirh, wc nr\ight partly know what to do for you. Though you would not confent, you ' might be held or bound, while the Medicine were poured down your throats. Vtf converted. 217 throats, andhurrful things might be kept from you. But about your fouls h cannot be Co i we cannot Convert you againfl your wills.Therc is no car- rying mad men to Heaven in Fetters. You may be Con^iwned againft your wjTj , becauft you finned mthyour vpiHi ; but you cannot ht faved agsinfi your vpth. The wifdom of Gcjd hath thought meet to lay mans falvation 01 dcrtrudion cxcet^ding much upon the chotcc of their own wills : that no man (hill come to Hcivcn, that choft not the way to Heavm \ and no man fliill come to Hill , but (hall be forced (O fay , I have the thing I cbofe ■, my otph ifill didbrJnz me hither. Now if I could but get you to be willing to bf: thrmghr^. lyy ^ndrefolvedly, and Hahiiu^wn^ liytg , the work were more than half done. And alas ^ we muft lofe our 'friends , and rouft they lofc their God., their Hapfinefs^ their Souls (ot want of this > O God forbid ! It is a ftrange thing to me, that men ircfo inhumane and ftupid in thcgreateft 2i8 A cM to the matter, that in Icffer things are very civil and courteous, and good N-igh-- bouts. For ought I know, I have the Love of all, or almoft all niy Neigh- bours, To far, that in (houia fend to ever a man in the Town, or Pinih, or Country , and requcll a rcafonablc courtcfie of them, they would grant it mev and yet when I come to rtquclt o£ them the grcatcft matters in the world, for themfelvcs, and not for me, lean have nothing of . many of them, but a piticnt hearing. I know not whether people think a man in the Pulpit is in good fadntfs or not, and »c3ns *s he tpeaks : Tor I ihink-I have few Najghbouis, but if I were fitting fe«iiliarly- with them, and tilling them ©f what I have fecn,or done, or known b the Wotld 5 they would believe me, and regard what I fay: But when I Iclhhcm from the infallible Word, of God, what they thcmfelvcs iiallicc and know in the World to ooroc, th«y (hew by their Lives that ihcy do eithci fk)1 b«li If fo, may I not fay. Thou art an unmticiful monacf, and not annan> If I came hungry or naked to one ol your doors, would you not part with niorc thanacup o( Drink to ' chcve mc > I am confident you would : H it were to favc my Hfe I know you would ( fome of you ) hazird your own. And yet will you not be entreated to part with your fcnfutl plcafurcs for your own falvation > Wouldrt thou forbear an hundred Cups of Drink, man, to fave my life if it were m thy power,and wilt thou not doit tofavc thy ofTK Soul ? I proftfs to you Sirs, I im as hearty a beggar with you this dayforthcfaving of your own louls, as I would be for my own fupply , i^ I were forced to come a bcggmg to your doors. And therefore if you would hear me then, hear me now. If you would pitty mc then, be entreated now to pitty your felvcs. I do again bcfeech you, as if it|frere on my bend- cd knees, that yott would hearken to your Redeemer , and Ikm ^^^^ J** Dnconverted. ' 2 3 i wayljve. All you thaf have lived in ig- norance , and carelcfncfs, and prc- fumpfion to this day : all you that have been drowned in the car^s of the world, and hive no mind of God and Eternal Glory ; all you that are end *• vcd to your flcfhiy defircs, of meats, and drinks, fports, andlufis: and all you that know not the ncccffity of Holinefs, and never were acqjiinred with the Sin^ifying Works o! the Ho- ly Gholl upon yoar fouls i that never embraced your bkfTcd Rcdtcmtr by a lively Filth', and with admiring and thankful Apprthenlio.n of his Love, and that never felt an higher E(]jma- tion of GOD and H:aven, and an heartier Love to them, than to your fl.th^ profperity and (he things bs- low : I rarncftly befcech you. nor only for my fake , but for the Lords Take , and f)r your r>uls fikes, that you go not one day l,)nger in your former Condi ion, bat, look about you, and cry to G O D for convcrtitg Grace, that you may be made n:w Cicafurcs| M 3 and 2 22 • A Call ie the ard may (.(cjpe the- Pbgues thaf are a li tic before you. And if ever you will do any thing for me, grant m • this rs- qudi , to Turn fTorn your cv;l vviycs and live. Deny m': any thiiig that ever I lliali ask you for iiiy fcK, ifyou W)ll but orant mc this. An i if yo-i deny me fhi?5 \ cut not for any thing clH: that you would grant me. Nay, as ever you Will do any thing at the rcqueft of the Lord that made you and redeemed you, deny him nor this , For if you- deny him this, he cares for nothing that you (hall grant him. As ever you would have him hear your praycrs,and grint your rcqueils, and do For you at the hour of djath and day of judge- ment , or in any of your extremities, deny not his requcft now in the day of your profperity. O Sirs believe it, DatK, and Judgement, and Heaven, and Hell arc other matters when you come near them , than they fecm to carnal eyes afir oiT. Then you would h«ar fuch a MrfTage as I bring you With more avsrakned rjcgirdful hearts. Vficonverted, 213 WEll, (hojgnl cannot hope fo vvtiiof all , I will hope that feme of you are by this ume parpofing to Tarn andLivcvand that you arc rea- dy to askme , as the Jews did feter^ j^&sz,^-;. when they were pricked in their hetrts, and faid, [Mc» and Bre- thren n>hat jhaHvPt dc ? H,n? mi^ht wi come to he truly converted ? IFe are vriHing^ if tee did hut kncvo our ViHy. God forbid that rr/ Jh:uld choofe dtjiru* Ohrf^ hyrefufinzConverfion^as hithirt9 n>e kave done. ] If thefe be the thoughts and purpo- fcs of your hearts, I (ay of yoi as God did of a prnmifing p;:ople, ViUr. 5. 28, 29. [ Ihey have WfU faid, t^Hthat they have ff.\fns that there rveft fuih an heart in them that th'y rvcvld fear wf, andk^ep aVwy Commandmenrs altvayes I ~\ Your pjr poles arc good: O that there were but an heart my ;U to pLiform thxfjpurpoicsl And in hope hereof, I (hall gladly give you dite-. ^.on what todO;and that bat biicfly^ M 4 that 2 3 4 ^ Call to the that you may the eaficr Remember it for your pudice. DIRECTION I. IF you would be Converted and la- ved, labour to u/tderft and the nccjjjty &nd true Nature cf Convttfijft : Ft^r what, zm from vvhat> and to what, and hy what ir is that you muft-Turn. Contidcr in ^hit a laraentabt con- dition you arc till the hour of your Converh'oii, that you may Tec it is not a fiare robe «t tied in. You ate under the guilt of all the (Ins that ever you commi ttd , and under the wrath of God, and the cuife cf his Law i you arc bon 2 26 ACalltoihe of Satan^ and the Dominion of fm, and be juftificd fronn the curfc of the Liw, and have the pardon of all the fins of your wht/lc hves, and be accepted of God, and made hisSons, and have li- berty With boldners to call him Fa- ther, and go to him by prayer in all yourneeds, whh a promifc of accept- since i you (hill have the Holy Ghofl to dwell in you, to fan^ihc and guide you : You (hall have pirt in the bro* ther hood, communion and prayers of the Siinfs : You Ihall be fitted far Gods fervice i and be freed from the Dominion of fin, and be ufcful and a- bkiling to the plice where you livev^ and (hall have the promifc of this life, and that which is to come. You (hall want riOlhing that is truly good foi yo4 , and your neccffary afflidions you w ill be enabled ro bear \ you may have ^me tafie of Communion with God ' in the Spirit ', cfp:cially,in all ho- \y Ordinances ^ where God prcparsfh t Feaft /or your fouls > (hall be Heirs ©f Heaven wfeilfr y^u live onEarrfi and Z)ficM^frted. ' 227 and mty forefcc by faith the cvcrlaft-- ing glory , and fo may live and die i a peicci and you will never be fo low, bat your happ'incfs will be incompari- bly greater than your nufcry. How precious is every one of thcfe Wcffings , which I do but briefly name, and which m this hfe you rtiay receive ! And then 2. at Death your Souls (hai go oChnli, and at the day of Judg ment bo^h Soul and-Body IhaU , be juftificd and Glorified, and cntciff^ into your Mafters Joy : where your Happir.cQ Will conlili in thcfc pani- culars. I. You Ml be perfc(^ed your fclvcs ; your immortal bodies (hall be made immortal , and the corruptible (ball put on ineorruption , you (hall no more be hungry, orthirfty, orwcary^ or fick : nor (hall you need to fcarci* ther (hame,or forro w, or death,or hell. Your fouls (hall be pcrfedly freed, i from fm, and pcifcdly fitted for the knowledge, and love, aftd praifcs of the Lord, a.YeM.. '218 A Call to the . 2. Your imploymcnr ftall be fo hthold your glonhtrd Redeemer, with aJlyour holy fellow Cumm of Hca- vcn : and to fcc the Glory of the mcft bleflTcd God, and to Lvc him perfcd.'y, and be beloved by him/amd lo prailc him cvcrlaflingly. ^ 5 Your Glory will contribute to the O oy of the New J frufakm ^ theCiry (fthc Living God, which IS more than to have a private felicity to your klvcs. 4- Your Glory will contribute to the Glorifying of your Redeemer, who Will EverUihngly be magnified and pjcafed in you that are. the travail of. h's Soui: and this is moic than the Glorifying of your fdvcs. , 5. And (he Eternal Mijc(\y , the Oving God , will be glorilied in 'you'r Glory: both as he is msgniiicd by your praics, and as hecommunicatcth of his glory and goodncfs to you, and ishe is pka(ed inyou , and in the ac- compl.Oimcnt of his glorious work, in the^ glory.i jhc: newjm^falcm ; and ©l.hii.gonc . A« i Unconverted, 220 All this the pooreft htfz%t of » 2. You r Vftconverted, 7^^ DIRECTION vr. PRefcHtiy , if foffihle , change your Company-^ if it hav^ hitherto been hjid. Nor by forfaking your ncceffary Relations, bat your unncceirury fmful corDparnonsi ^xi^L pyn your felves tvitb thofe tlmfear the Lord, and enquire of thtm the way to Havtn,w4(55 9.19,26. DIRECTION VII. DFJiver up your fdves to the Lord JefiM at the Fkyfitia» of your fulSy (hat he tnay pardon you by his blood , and faiKi^jfte you by his Spirit, by his Word and Mjnifttrs, the in- ftiumcnfs of the Spirit, He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life > there is no coming to the Father but by hiro, John 14 6. Nor is there any other nanrie u*idcr Heaven, by which you can bs favcd, >^i?5 4. 12. Study there- fore his Pcrfon and Natures, and what he hath done and fuiFcred for you and. ,234 ^ ^^^^ ^^ '/^^ and what he is to yoa : and what he will be, and how he is ficted to the full full fupply of all your neailkics. DIRECTION VII I. IF you mean indeed to Turn and Live , Vo it fpeedily rvitkout dday, \i)o\x be not willing ro Turn today, you be not willing to do it at all. Re* member you arc all this while in your blojd , undct the guilt of many thou- fand tins, and under Gods wrath, and yon ftand at the very brink of Hell i there is but a ftep between you and death. And this is not a cafe for a man that is well in his wits to b; quiet in. Up therefore prefcntly, and fly as for your lives : as you would bt: gone out of your Houfe \i it were all o \ fire over your head. O, if you did but know what continual danger yo« live"^ in , and what daily unfpcakablc lofs you dofuftain, and what a Gfcr and fweeter life you mjghtlivcyyou would not iiand trifling, but prcfently Turn. Mulci- Vpsconverted. 235 Multitudes mifcarry that wilfully de- lay when they are convinced thai it mu(i b- done Your lives are (hort and uncertain v and what a Cafr are you in, if you dye before you throughly turn ! You have ftaid too long alrcadyj and wronged God too long, lln gcr- teth iirength and rooting while yon delay. Your Converfion will grow more hard and doubtful. You have much to do i and therefore put not all offio thelafr, kit Godforfakc you, and give you up to your felvcs^ and then you arc undone for ever^ DIR ECTION IX. IF you will Turn and L^ve, do it m- rejirvediy ^ ahfoluiely ^ and 'mmr- fafy. Think not to capitulave widb , Chrift, and divide your heart betwixt him and the world v and to part with fomc fins, and keep the reli : and to ler go that which your ficfh can fpare. This IS but fcif deluding: you "muft in heart and rcfolution foifakc all that you 23 6 A Call to the you have , orclfc you cannot be his Difcipks, Luke 14. 26, 33. If you will not tike God 2nd Heaven for year portion, and hy all below at the feet of Chfiftjbut you muft needs alfo have your good thbgs here, and have an earthly portion , and God and Glory is not enough for you » it is in vain to dream of Salvation on thefc terms : Font mllmthe. If you fccm never fo Religious , if yet it be bat a Carnal Rcljgioufnefs y and the flcOies profpc- rity, or plcafure, or f f.ty bcftilWx- cepttd in your dcvoiedncfs to G O D i This is as certain a way to Death, as open prophancfj, though it be more plaufiblc. _^^__^ ■■ ■ DIRECTION X. IF you will T irn and Lwc,do it Kf- jolvedly , and ftand not Hill dclibc- rafirg , as if it were a doubtful cafe. Stand not wavering, as if you were yet uncertain, whether GOD, or the flcOi be the b:tter Matter, or whether Heaven Vpfcoftverted. 237 Heaven or Hell be the better End i or whether (in or holinefs be the better way. But away with your fortner lulh, and prcfcntly, habitually,fixedly Rcfolve ; Be not one day of one mind, ' and the next of another; l)utbcat a point with all the woild , and Rcfol^ Vidly gjvc up yourfclves and all you have to God. Now while you arc reading or hearing this, Rcfolve. Bc« fore youflccp another night, Rcfolve. Before you ftir from the place , Re- fblvc. Before Satan have time to take you off Rcfolve. You never turn in- deed till you do Refolvc \ and that with a firm unchangeable Rcfolution. So much for the Dircdions. AN D now I have done my part in this work, that you may Turn at the Call of God and Live. What will become of it, I cannot tell. I have caftthe feed at Gods command j but it is not in my power to give the in- creafe. 238 A Call to the creifc.- I can go no further wiih my \ MtiTige : i cannot br:i g it to your hearts, nor rndkc it work ; I cannot do ycur p^itsi or you, ro enter am it and contidcr oi it : Nor I cannot do Gods part, by opening your heaits to caufe you to enter: ain it : Nor cai. I lliew you Heaven or Hell to your eye i^ghr, nor give you new and tender hearts If I knew what more to do for your Convcrfion, I hope I (hould do it. '. . But thou that art the gracicm : 'father cf Spirits, thou haji fwomthou' ifligbtefi: not in the death of the u?i:ksJy hvt rather that they turn and Liv€\^ deny not thy hlejfing to thefe FerfoPafions ^nd Vire^'icns , and [uffer not thinr Enemies to triumph m thy fight y and the great deceiver of Souls to prevail a^amli thy Son, thy Spirit , and thy fTord. pitty poor unconverttd fin- ners^ that have not hearts to pitty tr he If thew fives: Command the blind to fef ^ and the deaf to hear, and the dead to Hvc ; and let mt fin and death be ahU t$ Vficonvened, 239 torefiitheff. AnPak^^n tb^fecure^ Refolve theunrefolvedy Confirm tke vraveri}tg\ and Ut the (yes oifmnenthat read thefe lines, be next ewfLyed tn f3pfepn;g ..yer their fins ^ at^d tritjgthem to themfelves and to shy Son, btfore then fin hays brought them to perdition. If thou fay hut thervord, thef foor endeaiours fiad frofper to the winnirg ojfMany a fouly to th.ireverUflittg Joy^ and thine everlaft^ iyig Glory^ Amen. Firn'rwr, 1656. Veeewh.^i. CO ^i5ili^i>rj^® ®^ ji^j ***** Three Prayers . One for Families: another fora Peni- tent S'nner : And another, for the Lords Day. For the ufeofthofe only who need fuch helps. Reader, TU^O Reafons moved me to anntx thefe frayers : i. / obfnvc that ! ahnndance of pecfle who havcfms good 4^res ^ do forbear through difahility to vporjhif God in their families , who I hope would do it , ,/ tkey bad fome fuch hflfs. And though there be many, fuch txiam, yet few of thefe poor families have the -Bjo}^ : And I can give them my €WH at a ittile cheaper rate^ than I can buy others to give them, 2. Some that f,em U have heen Irtwght to true Rep fKtatice and newnefs of life ^ hy Gods bleftng on the uadtng CO ^frlty Bccki^ havg ti^rne^ly intreated wr, 10 mne xhm a form of ffMyer for ihtir families, hec^vfe lorn difufc baib left them vnabU to fray before others. For the (ttvice of God, and the good sfmifty im contented to hear the cen- fares of thcfe, uho account aU form or Enok^frayers tobe fitts. For inantge when Pride ( the Father ) and Igno- jincc ( the Mother ) have bred Supcr- ftition f th9 Daughter, ) and tavght tnen to thinK ^^^^ ^^^ ^^ i^^^^y '"^^ lueth their feveral Modes of fft^^k^g tohim^ as they dothemfelves, andthinkc (th as eontewftuoujly of the contrary at they i the que f ion vphether form or no form, Book or no Book, bath been re- folved into fuch tragical and direful effeas, that Iff ere too tender 'if a cen- furejhouiddtfcourageme. ifllrve to mite aFamily-Dinaory^ ferhafs totbefe J may add many ntore. (3) A Prayer for Mcrrting andEvtnmg in Fmtlies, OG O D , the Infinite Eternal Spirit, moft Perfcft in Power, Wifdom and Good ncfs/ thoagh mor- tal eyes cannot behold thee, nor any created undcrftanding comprehend thee i thou art prefcnt with u$, and feft all the fccrets of our hearts; Our fins and^wants arc known f& thee / But thou rcquireft our confcf- fions as the cxercilc of our repentance, and pur petitions as the exercife of our dcfires and filial dcpendancc up- on (hce 1 And O that our fodls were* more fit for thy Holy prcfcncc, and for this great and holy work .' O thou whofe mercy invitcth miferablc fin* nets to come unto thee, by the new and living way, meet us not in thy ju* fticc as a confian^ing fire, but accept us in thy righteous and beloved Son, in whofc Mediation is our truft. N.2 Thoa C4) Thou who art the Grtat Cr ator of all things, d'dft make us m thine Ini^ge , to krow ihcc , to love thee, ard 10 ftrvethce: But fin hah corruptid all cur poweis, and tunitd thtm fi'cm thee, and eginft thi fei^Or ly ends and ufts, ft r which thou didij create us - In fin we were conceived, and in (in wc h^ve lived, ircreafing our original guilt and mifiry. Though uc knew that thcu art our Ovpnr^ we have lived as if wc were st our own di^pofal ; we have called thee our K;ng and Rulers Blit we have re- belled againft ihec, ard obeyed our carnal wills and gppcrites : Thcu art Goodness and Love it (i\(\ and the author of all that js good and ami- able, in all the world. Ard our fouls fliould have loved ihec, with fervency and dchghe : But our hearts have been eftrangcd from fhee , and have (ought delight in worldly vmitics, and in the pleafing of our fitfhly minds and lufts. This deceitful world , haih had our love, our care, our CO out thoughts, our word?, our time. Our labour, as if it had bitnour home and porti m , and wc had been to con- tinue here for ever, whilft our G d and our imiiortil fouls have been nfglcd^cd. Thou hift made us capa- ble oi cndlcfs Glory, and called us to fcek it, and co fee our hearts above on thee : But wc have lived as if we be- lieved not thy word, and have dcfp fed the jiycs of Heaven which thouhaft oiFcrcd us *, and preferred thcCe (hort and (c-nfual pleafurcs. We have (rifled in thy Worfhip , and ferved thee hy- pocritically wifh our lips alone: wi have taken chy dreadful name in vain : we have mifpent thy holy day : vrc have diOi^nourcd o ir fapcriors, and neg.led^c:d'oar infciiors : our family ^w lich (hould have bea ordered in holincfs as a Church of God, bith htcn a houfc of vanity , worldhncfs and difconfent : Oar thoughts hive beca guilcy not only ofvani y , folly and confulion , but of malicr, a!id of un- clean and til thy lufts. Our tongues have N 3 beco (6) been guilty, rot*ODly of idle ar.d fooT- \(h calk *, but alfo of wrathful words and railing?, of filthy and innmodeft rptech , and of evil fpcaking and bick- bifing others, and of many a lie. Wc have not Lovtd our neighbours as our CcUcs i nor done by all others, as we would have had ihem done by us : But we have been all for our carnal fclves , Proudly defiring bur own exaltation and eikcm : and Co- vctoufly defiring our own commo- dity j and fcnfually defiring fUafure to cur felvcs i whilft wc have too little cared for the corporal or fpiritual gr^od of others. Wc have bctn very backward to love our enemies; and hcarnly to forgive a wrong : Wc have been unprofitable abuftrs of thy talents, and have wafted our precious times in vanity , and done but little good in the world. And though thy wonderful mercy hath given us a Rcdeoner, and in him a fufficient remedy for our fins > and thou, haii pofed the underdandings of C7:> of mai and Angels , in this ftrange cxprcdion of thy IVt^dm ind thy Love\ yet have ^t daggered at thy word in Unbehef , and (hipidly ncgl J<^cd this grsatfalvuion. How cardcily have we heard and read thy Gofpcl ? How littljp have we been affsded with all t\\c L^vt and Siffrinzi of our Sivioar? We ould have been thankful to one that hid laved our hvcs, or enriched us in th^ world : Bat how unthank- ful have we been to him, who hath done fomnchto faveoar fouls fronfi cnHcfs mfcry : Alas our hard un- humbled hearts, do make light of oar fins and of thy jaft difpleafurc, and therefore make Light of Chrilt and Grace. And it i? juft with thee t^ deny as for ever, the mercy which wc fit fo light by. Bitdeal with us O Lord according' to thy G:>odi:rrs arid according to our great neceifi y > and not vc and mtr- <^yi by fhe advanfagc of our great un- worrhfLcfs and mitcry , and ro for- gave much , ^hat we may love thee iriuch. And ififfcr all this wc (hould d'^aibf of thy Will.ngncfs, to forgive bcracvfng ptnifcnt fouls, wc fhould grearly wiong the lidies of thy ^T2cc. Thou foughtefi lu, when wc io^ghc nor after thcc I And it is by thirc own command that wc fcek thee, and beg thy mercy : And thou- g!Viftus the voy ddircs, which wc pour out before thcc : Thou befccch- td us to be reconciled , and to re- ceivc thy grace: And (hall wcqacaion then whether thou art wiling to give it > There is enough in the i>^crihcc and Merits of thy Son, to- expiate our fms , and juftific penitent bJicvers in thj fight Thoa haft made him the ir.blliWc Teacher of thy Church : He is a King moft fit to Rule us ^ to detend and julHHeus: Thy Spirit is the fand-ifier of fouls : And thy Lo/e is fufficicnt ro be our cveihlting fchciiy and reft/ Wc therefore humbly give up our (live?, to Thee our GOD: To thee our Father, ourSiviour, and our Sant^i- tier i B-fecching thee to receive us upm the terms of thy Covenant of Grice. Remember not igain^us our youthful fo ly , igiorance and lufts ; Forgive our fccrci and our open ims : Oar (i:i$ of negligence, radincfs and prefumption : Etpecialiy thofe fins, which we hivc deliberately and wil- fully committed, againft our Jknow- ledge , and the rtr vings of thy grac% Renew tnd findific us throughly by thy Spirit : T«kef»om us the old and ftv)ny hearts, and give u$ heartsmorc tender and contrice, more teachable and tradable: And give us the Di- vine and heavenly nature i and make US Holy in the Image of thy Holincfs : . N 5 • Caufe Caufe tisr to rctlgn and dtvofe our fclvcsand all that thou gi vcft us, entire- ly to thcc as b ring thine own. Bring ail the powtrs of our fouls and bodies, into a full fubjcdion to thy Govtrtt- went. G {hew us thine infinite Good- nefs and perfc6iions, and the wondei- ful mercy which thou hall g.ven us in Chrirt i and (bed abroid thy Love up- on our hearts by the Holy Gho(i, that wc may be conrtrained by thy Love, .to Love Thee above all things, with all our heart, and f^u), and nnight. Lctthebcjms of thy Love fo hrc our hearts, that wc may Love thcc f^r- vendy, and dtlight to love thee, and taHe thcL beginning of (he heavenly felicity and pleafures in thy Love, and may perceive that we can nevci Love (hcc enough^ but may Hill be longing to Love thee more/ wc dare not fay .£ O that wc could Love thcc; as thou art worthy ] for that is above both men and Angels : But O that w« could Love thee as much as we would Love thee / till wc come to that moft . " bkf- (ivy bkflTcd ft ite, where wc (hiH %ovc thct , more than now wc can dcfia ! H wc had never finned m word or deed, the want and wcakncfs pi our Love to thee, is a fm which we can never fuf- ficicntly lament i and the very ihanne of our corrupted niturcs i and a bur- den that wc cannorbCir/ Wc crave no other fclicify in this life, than ro know thee better , and Love thee more. Give us the Spirit of adoption^ which may polTcfs us with all childlike aflFe<^ions to thee, as our Reconciled God and Father in Chrift. Caufe us to make thee our Ultimate End, and to fcrk thy Glory in all that we do. Let it be our chtefcft ftudy , in all thing* to plcifc fhcc, to promote thy Kingdom, and to do thy will Set up thy Glory above the Heavens, and let thy name be (andified in all the earth. Convert the Heathen and In- fidel world , and let their Kmgdoms become the Kingdoms of thy Son. Give wife and holy Rulers to the Nations > and let the Golpel of Jcfus, go po for'h as the Sun, to the er light- ning of all the qaartcrs of the Eai th. G that (he world , which is ruled by the iralicious Prince of darfenefs , iT^ight receive and obey thy holy Laws , and m the beauty and harnno- ny othclincfs, be trade rr.cre like the Saints in Heaven. Rcfoim the Churches which are daikncd and de- filed , and cali down that tyranny,un- godlincfs, heretic and fchifnT), which keep out Knowledge , Kohncfs and Peace. Prcfcrve and blcfs ihc Rfe- tormcd Churches*, cfpecially in theie Kingdoms where we live. Blcfs the Kng and all in authority : Teach ogr Teachers i and give both able and faithful Paftors , to all the Congicga- - tions of thcfc Lands. And givcchc people obedient, pious and peaceable minds. Caufc us to feek firli thy K'ngdonn and lightcoufncfs-j ar diet all other thing? be added to us. G^v-e us all nece^Taries for the fuflaining of our natures ; and make us contented with our dally bread > and patient, if (I3> if for o^^T fins we want it. Teach us to improve our precious lime, and not tc> rpcnd it in id lends or fin ; but to difpitch rhe work upon which our cndlcfs hfe dcpcndcth i ai d tohve as wc (hjill wi(h at hit that We had ltved« Let our daily fins be daily and unfu^ncdly repented of> and be dai- ly pardoned through Jcfus Chrifr: And let us live in the btlitf of his mediation , according to our conti- j nual ncccfJitics. Lee thy exceeding Love and pardoning mercy teach u$ , to Love our neighbouis as our fclvcsi i and to Love our enemies , and to ' pardon wrongs ^ and to do good to all-according to our power. Sircngthcn j us m our warfire agamft the flcfb, the world and the Devil i that we may not only rcfift , but overcome. Keep us from the baits and fnarcs of fin > and let us not thruft ourfelves into temptations. Save us from Ig- , norance and unbelief, from ungodli- ■ nefs and hypocrilic^ from pride and worldlincrs ,> and ilothfulncfs , and all finful J finful picafing of rhe flcfli. Ctufc us to worfliip thcc, in holincfs , and rcvcrjcntty to ui'c thy dreadful name » and to renncfDbcr the keeping holy of thy day. Keep us from (inful difobrying our Suptriours » and all unfaithful nc^kding our inferiours i and from injuring any in thought, word or deed : Kctp us from finful wrath and pafiions ; from all unchafti- ty in thought, dellrc, words or adi- ons. Keep us from dealing and de- frauding others ; from lying, flandcr- ing and backbiting i and mortifie that fclfiftinefs, which would Cet us againrt our neighbours welfare : Keep us from the judgements which we defcrvci and let all affli(fiions work together for our good. O help us to fpend this tranfi- tory life , in a faithful preparation for pur death ; And let our hetrts and converfation be in Heaven : And for- fake us not in the time of our extre* mityv bat tike ouc departing fouls to Chr.ft. A^4 (. I5J AM U the Morm^* Pfotcd, Dirtd and blcfs us this day , m all our lawful waycs and libourSjthat mthe Evening we may return thee j ^yful thanks, through Jcfus Chri(i our only StViOur: In whole wofds we funnnn up all our prayers : Our fa- ther which Art in Add in the Evening, i Prefcrvc us this night, and give us fuch reft of bo- dy and mind , as may fit us for the labours of the following day, for the fake of Jcfus Chriii our Savi- our , In whole words we fumoQ up our requcft*. Our Father which Art in HefivcHy dcc. Heaven, HaUotved he rhyNan/e ; Jhy Kingdom comc\ Ihy TFiH be done \ on Earth at it U in Hea^ Give m tbii day our daily bread ven And forgive m our treffaffts, as i»e for- give the^n that trcffafs againfi us. And lead us not int9 tentptation : but deliver us from evil: for thine *r the Kingdom^ tht F^mr and tht Ghrj-tfor ever. Amen. (i6) A ConjejJtoH and Prayer for a PeniUnt Sinner, OMoii Great, nvnft Wife an^ Giacious G d , though thou haicii all (he workers of iniquity, and canft nor bs reconciled unto fin j yet through the medidcion of thy bklTcd Son, with pity behold this mifcrablc (inner, who c^fteth himfLlf down at the fooiftool of (hy grace : Hid I lived to thole high and holy ends, for which I was created and redcmi- cd , I mi^ht now have come to thee in the bolancfs and confidence of a Ghild, in ahurancc of ?lsy Love and favour ; f>jt I have p' ycd the (oo\ and the rebel againft thee. I have Wilfully forgotten the- God that made me, and the Siviour that Redeemed roc , and the Endlcfs Glory which thoudidft f*:t b.forcmie: I forgot the bufincfs which I was lent for inro the world > and have iivcd as if I (17 ) had been made for nothing, but fo pik a few dayes in fltfiily plcifurf, and pamper a carkafs for the worms '; 1 wilfully forgo% what it is to be a man, whohathRcAfon given him to ruk his flclh , and ta know his God , and ro forcfee his death , and the ftitc of immortality : And I made my Reafon a f^rvant to my (xnfcs , and hvcd too like the hearts that pcrifti. O the precious time which I have loft, which ^11 the world eapnot call back / O the calls of grace which I have neglc^ed / and the teachings of God , whjch I have re- fiiicd / The wonderful Love which I untbankfally rejected i and the mani- fold mercies which I have abufed^ and turned into wantonncfs and fin ! How deep is the guilt which I have coii tracked / And how great are the Comforts which I have lurt / I m'ght have lived all this while, in the Love df thee my gracious God : and in the delights of thy holy wor Folly an i fin have fakcn up my time. I amaflianicd to look back upon the years which I have fpenr : and to think of the temptations which I have yield d to : Alas, w'.at tnfles K^ve enticed me from my G^d ? How httle have I had for the holy pkafares which I have loft > Lik^ Efdu I have pt ophanc- ly fold my b rfhright for onerrorfcl: To pi cafe my fancy my app:ti:eand nvyluft, I have fet light by all the jnyes of Heiv^n i J have unkindly de- fpiCcd thcgoodnefs of my Miker/ I have flighted the love and grace of my Redeemer J I have refilled thy holy Spirit, and fiienced my own con- fcience, and grieved thy Mmifters and my (»9) my moi\ faithful friends ! and have brought my felf into this Woful cafe, wherein I am a (hamc and burden to my fclf i and God is my terror, who (hould be my only hope and joy. Thou knowcft my fccrct fins, which arc unknown to men* Thou know- ti\ all their aggravations ! My fins O Lord have found mc out J My fears and forrows overwhelm mc / If I look behind me, I fee my wickcdne{s purfue my foul, and as an arrny rea« dy to overtake mc and dtvouf me/ If I look before mc, I fee thy jiift and dreadful |udgement, and I know that thou Wilt not acquit the guilty r If I look within me, I fee a dark defiled heart! If I look without me, I fee a world fill] offering frefh temptations |o deceive me; If I look above me, I fee thine offended dreadful Majcfiy : and if I look beneath mc,I fee the place of endkfs torment, and the company with which I dcfervc to fuffer. I am afiaid to live, and more afraid to dye. But f 2b) BmT yet when I look to thine abun- dant Mercy , and to thy Son, and to thy Covenant , I have hope. Thy Goodnefs is equal to thy Greatncfs ; Thou art Love itfelf: andthyaiercy is over all thy works ; So wonder-, fully hith thy Son condefccndcd unto finiKrs, and done and fuffcred fo much for their falvation, thit ifyet I (hould qacftion thy willingnefy to forgive, I (hoald but add to all my fins, by di(^ honouring that marchkfs mercy which thou deft deiign to glorific. Yea more, I find upon record in thy word, that through Chrift thou haft made a Covenant of Grace , an A6t of Oblivion , in which thou halt al- ready ' conditionally but freely par- doned all : granting them the for- givenefs^of all their fins, without any exception , when tvtr by unfeigned faith and rcpentince , they turn (6 thcc by Jefus Chrifl. And thy prcfent mercy dothincreafc my hope, m that (hou-haft not cut me off; nor utterly left me to the hardnefsof my heart, but C^ • ) buf (heweft me my fin unS danger be- fore I jmpaft remedy. O ihtrtiorc bthuld this proftrafc C' ner , wruch with the Publican fmirtthon hiibrraft, and is aihimcd to lookup K)W:uds H-*aveni O God be mtJtinJ to mc 3 (Inner. I contefs noi Qi ly aiy t'!ig;!?a! Kin, butthcfol- lie- £nd ^uly ot my youth, my roani- foid ii.s ct igr.oraricc and knowledge, oi IK g'igcnccard wilfalricfs, ofomif^ fion a? d comnniilipn ; againft the L;w ofNdturc, and againft the Grace and Gofptl oi thy Son ! Forgive and favc Hie O iny God / for thy abundant lueicy, aid for the facrihce and merit of thy Son, and for thcpromifcof for- givcnefs which thou hsllmadc through him : for jn thcfe alone is all my triiii Condemn mc not, who con- dx.mn my (elf. O thou that hai^ ope- ned fo precious a fouptam for (in and 6^r tmcicaiinds ^ wafh me throughly from my wickcdncfs, and clcanfcme from my fin. Though thy jul^icc fD'ght (end meprcfently toHell^ let mercy mercy triumph in my falvation. Thou haft no plcalbrc in the death of fin- ners, but rather that they repent and live / If my repcntafice be not futh as thou requireft, O foften thtshardned flinty heart » and give me repentance* unto life. Turn me to thy felf, O God of my falvation, and caufc thy face to (hinc upon me / Create in me t clean heart, and renew a right $pi> lit within me / Meet not this poor returning prodigal in thy wrath, but* with the cmbracement of thy tender mercies! Caft me not away from thy prcfence, and fentenceme not to de- part firom thee with the workers of iniquity. Thou who didft patiently _ endure me when I defpiied thee, re* fufc me not now I feck unto thee, ind here in the duft implore thy mercy / Thou didft convert and' pardon a wicked Manaffeb^ and a pcr- fccuting Saul! And there are mult i»* tudcs in Heaven who were once thine enemies / Glorifie alfo thy fupera- bounding grace in the forgivcncis of my abounding fins. I I ask not fox liberty to fin again, ibutfv f deliverance from this^ (inning nature. O give me the renewing Spiiit of thy Son, which msyfandi- he all the powers of my foul / Let mc have the new and heavenly birth and nature i and the Spirit of adop* iron to reform me to thine Image^ that 1 may be holy as thou art holy. ilJuniinate me with the faving know* ledge of thy felf and thy Son Jefu$ Chnft. O fill mc with thy Love^ that my fecart may be wholly fct up- on thee 9 and the remembrance of thee may be my chief delight. Let the freeA and fweete(l of my thoughts run after thee / And the ffeett and fweeteCt of my difcourfe be of thee ', and of thy Glory and thy Kingdom, and of thy word and wayes. O let my trcafurc be laid up in Hea- ven, and there let me daily and de« lightfully convcrfe. Make it the great and daily bu(ineG( of my devoted foul) to pleafe thee, and to honour tbcf, to promote thy Kingdom, and to to mbly of. fcr at thy command , mayb fuih as are fit for thine acceptance, thiouab JefusChiift. ^ . ^Thou and thou alone art GODj the immortal, and invifible Spiiifi Eternal and infinite in Being and P^r- ftdions I Bcfjfc iht foiming ot the world, from cverlaftsng to evcrliifting t- ou ait God. Thy undcraanding is infinite : Thou ptik61y knowtit thy fclf and all things i but art ccrcprc- hendfd byxont 1 Thy will is Good i yea, Goodnefs it (elf, and perfcd Love : Loving thy fcU and all thy works / Thou art the Almighty, and nothing is too hard for thcc. Thou art the Creator of all the world » Thou broughfcft all things out of nothing ! Thou fpakeft the word , and they. were made ! Thou gavcft their being to the glorious Angels, and all the in- telledual Spirits i All the Heavens were made by thee / Thou fafdft. Let there be Light, and there was light: Thou madeft the Sun , and all the Stars: Thou gavcft them their won- derful powers, and their offices, that by theii Light and Heat and Motion, they might be for Ife and adion, and for times and feafons here below i How glorious art thou O Lord in thefc thcfc* thy wondrous woirk? .' the grcatnefs , the glory and the virtues whereof, are To fir beyond our f^ark apprehcnfions. T\\z higher Spirits who better know thtm , and poifefs the high and glorious roanfions , do better ^prai^e thee the great Creator, whofe word did form that noble frame when the naorning Stais did iing to- gether , snd all the Sons of God did ih')Ut for joy. Thou inadcn the iEirth, the Land and Sea, and all tht jcreaturcs that dwell therein : All iFowl and F.Oi^^s-, B^afts and Phnfsi lin wonderful variefy, beauty and vir- |tue ha(i thou mide thcnrj all : The lAir and clouds , the thunder and lightning , the riin and fnow , the iwinds and earthq-Jakes : the mirvc- lous morions of the Sfa, are all thy great unfearchablc works , The fnnal- !lc(t worm or flower doth fir furpafs lOur knowledge ! How then ftiould mortals comprehed , the greatneO ^ and harmonious order of the worl } How thou haft founded the earth up. O 3 on (so) cn rothirg > And what is in 't^c depths thereof? How thou movcft and iiiaintaineft and prcfcrveft the or- der of the up.ivcrfal frame / And caufcii the iwcet and powciful influ- ences, of the fiery and cekfiial parts, upon the things below ? How thou llmtccii up the Sea wuh (andy doors > and rpakt(i the clouds to be its gar- rnsnis J asid the darkncfs asitsfwad- iingband : ar.d (ai/i, Hitherto, and no further (halt thou come I How great OLcrd, and manifold are thy works: In perfect Wifdom , Goodnefs and power thou haA made them all. But it is Man whom thou haft made, the noblcft inhabitant of this lower world ; Tnou breached in:o his body the breath of lif€ , and he became a living foul / Thou madeft him little lower than the Angels , that thou mightclt crown him with glo- ry and honour ; Thou givcft h'.m do- minion over the works of thy hands i md hart put air things below as un- der his Icet, Thou roadcft him in thine ^3^) thine ' image , with an Ujidcrftanding Mild, and an unforced will, and exe- cutive power '-i to Knovp and L^ve end Serve thee, his nnoft Wife, and Good and Great Creator. Tnou placcdl\ him in this lower world > that he might pafs through it to the blcf- (ed prcfcnccof thy Glory : Tnou be- camet^ a Fathtt to him , being his OiVncr, his Ruler and his Ciicfefl Good i even his great Benefatftor, and his ultimate end : Tiiat he might live in abfjlutc Rcfignation , Sabjc- ^io.i and Love to thee. Thou gavcft him inNitureand in thy precept, a Law which was holy, jurt and good > that by foUowmg thy condud^ , he might pleaft thee and attain to full I felicity i Thoudidft furnifh him with all things ncccffiiy to his obedience, and oblige him by the abundance of thy blcilings. But he q tickly fell from his mnocency and honour , by I turning from hs Gjd; He believed thcfalie and envious Tempter, even when he accufed thee of falftiood and O4, -cf <30 of envy : As if all ihy wondrous works and mercies, hid not proved thee to ^ be True and Good. Thus did nnan ioolifhly requite the Lord, andforfook the rock ot his falvation : And by one man fin entered info the world, and dcach by fin. But mercy re- jnyctd agamfl judgement, and thou didii rot let out all thy wrath : but with the (cnr..nce ofdeath, thoa didft joyn the Promife of a Redeenner, Oiiiut Hicn would praifo the Lord for hi-: gcodnffs, and for his wonder- ful woks for the children of men ! As thou givdl the mercies of the Promife to the Fathers* C(j intheful- ncfsof time thoudidft Tnd thy Son i He came and took our nature to his Godhead ; Being conceived by (he Holy Ghort i mide of a Woman, un- der the Law: Born of a Virgin: He made himfelf of no reputation i but took upon him the form of a fervant, and was made in the likencfsofmen. O wonderfull condefccnding Love / Angels proclaimed it > and Angels ad- mire it, and fearch into if i and in f hs Churches Glafs they ihll behold the manifold wifdom of God : how low then (hould Redeesned iianers fill, in the humble admirations of this Grace! How high (hvould they rife in the thankful priife of their Redeemer. He Cimc on earth and convcrft with men, to make known to men the invilible God , and the unfceu things of the world above : He came as the Light and Siviour of the world \ to bring to light immortality and life. He was holy, hirmlcfs and un- defiled i feparate from fiancrs , and fulfilling all righrcoufnefs \ that he might be a meet High Prieft and cffe- dt'»al Saviour of fmnrrs. He taught us by his pcrfcd dodrinc and exam- ple, to be humble, obedient, and to contemn this world ; to deny out fclves, and bear the Crof? , that wc may attain the everhftmg crown of glory. He humbled himfclf to the falfc accufations and reproach of fin* ners, and to the ihameful and bitter [ O; death (34) desth of the Grofs, to make himfclf a Sacrifice and propitiation for our tins, and a raniome for our guilty fouls, that we might be healed by his ftripcs. O mat.iili:is Love , which even for enemies, did thus lay down his pre- cious Lif. 1 He hath conquered and fanCtihed, desth and the grave to .alL believers. Kc thcrtfore took part of ficlh and blood , thit he might by death dcftioy the D.vilthat had the power of death i and deliver them who through the fear of death, were all their life time fubjcc^ unto bon- dage. He hath procured Aot mdn- kmda Covenant of Grare. and fealcd it as his tcftament with his blood. And now there is forj^iventfs with t )ce , that thou nn^iit be chesifully feared and obeyed in hope. It was thine own LT)ve (o ihe world , O Father, which gave thine orly be- :gottcn Son, that whofoever truly be- lieveth in him, (hould rot p( lilh, but have everlafting life. Thou w^ft in Chrift reconciling the woild unto thy ftlf, ^ 3? ) fclf, and not imputing their fins nn> to them. Thou halt committed the word of reconciliation to thy Mi- n^rtcrs , to bcfccch finrcrs even in thy name, and in the ikad ofChuft, to be reconciled to thee. Thou com* mandefi them to oifcT thy mercy un- to all, and by importunity to com- pel them to come in, that thy houfc may be filled, and thy blcffed f:aft may be furniOi.d wiih guefts. Thou rcfufcit none that come to thee by Chr;li : Thou denyet^: thy mercy ta rone but the obi^inate and final re- jcdcrs of it. Thou give(V eternal life to them who were the Sons of dearh i and this life is in thy Son : Fpf he is abletofave to the ucter molt, all that come to thee by him To as ma- ny as receive him thou givs-llpowcrj to become the Sons of God. Thou givcrt them al(b the Spirit ©f thy Soni cvin th« Spirit of adoption, to renew them to thy holy image^ that they may be like their Heavcnfy Father > to fanftific them to thy ieif, ifid and by (Bedding abroad the love up« on their hearts , to draw up theis, hearts in love to thee. Thou nnakcft them a peculiar people to thy ftlf, and zealous of good work?, for which thou doft rfgencrite them. Thou glvcf^ them all repentance unto life i and; cruciHeft the tlc(h and all its lufis = Thou tcacheft them to hvc foberly, rightcoufly and god'y, and favelt them from this prtfcnt evil world i *rd. mortitieft their iinful love thereof* that thoumaift have their love, and be their felicity. O with what Love haft thou loved poor rebellious (in- ners, that they (hould be converted and made the Suns of God ^ yea, heirs cf Heaven, and co heirs with Chrift i that when we have fuff:rcd with hira, we naay be glorified with him/ Thou doft build thy Church upon the Rock, the bleifcd Mediator i that rhc power of HcU may not prevail againft it,. Thou haft made him its Teacher , Pricft and King : Of him we learn to know chccandchy will. By ( 37 > By him we have our peace , our ac- ' ceptance and acccis to thcc. He is*^ the Lord of the dead and the living : Thou haft delivered all things into his hands, and made him Head over all things to the Church. When he af- ' cendcd up on htgh, he appointed his Mrnifters, to gather, and order, and editie this univcifal Church , which is his body : He gave his Apoftlcs the inrallible Spirit, to lead them into all truth i and the vSpirit of forfer to be i hjs witncfsby Miracles to the world V Thty have taught us all things what- foiVtr he commanded them •, and coa.mitted that Dodlrinc in the Sa-I cred Scriptures, to thofc Paftors andl Teachers, whom thou haft appointed to preferve and Preach it, and to feed thy flock to the end of the world. And though fin, alas, hath wcfull) defiled, and Sehifm divided, thcfc thj Churches > yet art thou among them and beareft with their infirmities, an(J giveft them thine Oracles •, and callci them Co holiQcfs^ love and peace! C38) jpnd knowtft thy wheat among the O that men would praifc the Lord for his goodncfs, and for his wondrOus works ^or the children of men ! How glorious art thou O Lord in hohntfs ! to be reverenced in the ailemblics of ,the Saints, and honoured of all that arc about thee > Holincfs becomcrh thy houfe forever ; In ihy Temple jihall every man fpcak of thy glory, jWc blefs thy name O our great Cre- (ator / We blefs thy name our graci- lous Redeemer / We bkfs thy name fcioft Holy Spirit. O that our fouls pould With §rc2tcr thankfulncfs mag- »i}fic the Lord, and our Spirit? re- ^oyce in God our Saviour ! Who haft itticd us in our loft cftafe , for thy xr.yendurcth for ev^r. We thank hee for our being ! We thank thcc hat thou hift redeemed us jftom fm ind Hell! We thank thee that thou haft >rought us by Baptifm into thy Go- pant and Church! We thank thee rthefe high and facrcd privilcdgesi that (39) that wc arc not forraigncrs oi Grangers . among the Heathen and Infidel world, but (ellow-CitJzens with the Saints,, and of the hoaftiold of God : That wc may Aand in the prefencc oi thy holinefs , and praik ihcc in (he af- ft mblies of believers, and are not ba- nftied from thefe facred focicties and works/ A day in thy Courrsisbct* ter ih^n a thoufand ! Wchad rarhcr be door-keepers in the houfc of God, than to dwell in the Pallacesof wick- cdncfs. Blcifed are they that knov the joyful found , and fruttfuliy live under the dews of Heaven j They (hall walk O Lord in the ligfit of thy countenances Jn thy name (hall they rejoytie all the day, and in thy rightcoufncfs (hall they be cxikcd : For thou art their glo^ ry and their (trength^ and in thy favour they (liali be fJe and glad and great. But cfpeciaily thofe whom thou haft brought into theinvifiblc Church of ihe regenerate , can ncvci fuffici- entJy (40) jcntly magnifie thy grace. When we lived as without thcc in the world, and never llnccrely loved or dtiired theci but followed our tieihly lufts, and the deceitful vanities of the world i When God was not in all our thoughts , and we had no plea- .fare in thy holy wayes i When we defpifcd grace , and rcfifted thy Spirit, and went on adding iin to fin: Then didft thou pity us in our 1)lood ! Thou fcntert us thy word : Thou tnadtft it powerfull on our hardnftd hearts ^ Thou broughtcft us to confider of our tUfe and waycs i and gaveft us fomo relenting and con* •tfition. It is comfortable to us to rc» view , the drivings and vi^ories of thy grace : the mehings of thy mer- cy , and the comforts of thy Love ! When we feared left our fins would have been our dareination, and that thou wouldft never receive fuch wretched rebclls *, how freely didft thou pardon tU ? How gracioufly didft thou embrace us >. delighting 71 /\. - y j/\ A ^ (41) to (hew mercy , and overcoming onr c^ hearts with the grcatncfs of thy love ? O how many fins didi\ thou forgive ? Whit work had thy Spirit to do, up- on thefc ignorint, proud and felfifh minds > Upon thefe carnal, worldly and dirobcdient hearts > How many mercies, prcfervations, comforfSj haft thou tince that time vouchfafed us ? How many deiires haft thou firft given us, and then accepted from us ? How many atH (5iions haft thou ftiorrned or fandificd. How many joyful or pro- fitable hours 5 have we had with thee alone in fecf:t? and with thee and thy people in the Communion of Saints > Many O Lord arc thy won- drous works , aiid thy thorghrs of. mercy to thy fcrvants ; If ws would reckon them in order and declare them, they arc more than c:n be nura* U:ed. And after all thcfc as Priefts to God, we are here to oifcr thee the Sacrifice of praifev rtjoycing in thee our portion and falvition. And when this ftiort and trouble^ fome [ ^4 2) ffomc life is ended, wc hive thy pro* mifc that wc (hall reft with thee for ever. If in this life only wc had hope, we (hould be of all m^n moft mifc- rablc. Bat thou wilt condu(a us through this Wildernefs, and guide us by thy counfcl, and bring us in feafoa to thy glory. For thou haft notgiv^n us thcfc faculties to feck thee , and know thee and Love thee and delight in thee in vain : Thou wiltfurely per- fed nature and grace, and caufe theoi to attain their end. The great under- taking, work andfuffcrings of our Re- deemer (hall not be in-vain. Tiiy {caled proniife (hill nor be broken. Thy Spirit hath not in vain renewed us, and fealed us to that blefTcd day : Nor fhOl thy pledge , and carncft , and Wftnefs within us, prove deceits. T-hefe detircs and groans (hill not be lo(i i And thefe weak beginnings of Light and Love, do foreihew our full fruition and ptrfcdton. This feed of grace portendeth glory : And the fore- ta(ts of Love, do cell us that wc (hill be • (4-3) be happy in thy Love for ever. Our hope in thy goodncfs, thy Son, and thy Covenant, will never leave us fru (Irate and afhamed. We therefore bkfs thy name O Lord, as thofc that arc redeemed from Dc-ath and Hell / as thole vj^ho arc advanced to thcdignity of thy Son/ as thofe whom thou (aveft from all their enemies i but efpecjally from curfelves^ and from our fins / We bkft thy name, as thofe who arcentring into glory / and hope to be with Chrirt for ever / where* fin and for- row, enemies and fsrairs, (hall be ihut out, and (h.'ll molefi our fouls no more for ever / Wc forcfce by faith that happy day ! We ftc by faifh the NetP Jerufdam / the innumerable Angds ! tne pcrfcdied' rpirits of the juft/ r heir glorious Light ! their flaming Love! 'heir perfcd har- mony / We hear by faith their joyful Songs q{ thanks and praife. Lately they were as low and (ad as we : in fins andforrowsv in manifold weak- nefiy r44) • > nefs, fuff^ritigs and feats ! But by faith and patience they have overcome ! And in faith and patience we dctire to follow our Lord and them ! The time is near: Thisfl.fh will quickly turn to duft, and our delivered f luls (hall come to thee ? Our life is (hort ! and our fins and forrows will be (h^rt ! Then (hill we (ec with open hcc ! and in fhy light we (hall have light! Wc fhall no more groan, and cry out in darkntl's O that wc could know the L rd .' Then (hall vvc love thee with pure, unmixed perfed love ! and need no more to groan and cry, O »hat our fouls were cnflamed With rhylove* Then (hall weprai(e thee with thank- ful alacrity and joy, which will ex- ceed our prdent apprchcnlions and defircs I O blcHed ftrcams of Light and Love, whch wjll flow from thy ope- ned glorious face, upon oar fouls for ever ! How far will th^t Everla(^ing Sabbath, and thofe pcrfed prailes, cx- cell thcfe poor and dull endeavours ! As (45) As that triumphant City of God ex- cclkih, this impcrft^, childifh, dif- compofcd Church. Qjickf n O Lord our longings for that blciTcd iiatc and day ! O come Lord jefus ! Come quickly ! and (uU hll thy word i that wc may be with thee, where thou art, and may behold thy glory! Stay not till faith (hall fail on earth. Stay not til! the powers of darknefs conquer all the remnant of thine inheritance, and make this world yet likcr unto Hell i nor till the godly ceafe, and the faithful fajl from among the children of men ! O when (hall the world acknowledge their great Crea- tor and Redeemer i and abhorr their Idols, and ceafe from their unbelief! When ihsll the nH of the Heathens and Infidels, be thy fons inheritance and the Kingdoms of the world be- come his Kingdom / O when (hall Heaven be made the pattern of this earth / and men delight to do thy will / When (hall the proud, the worldly and the feiifua), renounce thcii deceits, and walk (46) walk humbly and holjiy with their God ? And the fool whofe hcaifde- ^ nyeth the Lord, and callcth not upon thee , but cattth up thy people a^ bread, return unto thee, and fear thy ?namc, and fight no nnore agajnft his Makei 1 HaQtn O Lord the falvation of thy people, and keep thetnin up- rightncfs and patience to the end. Have mercy upon all the ignorant and un- reformed Churches in the world 1 Ds- J liver them from the Eaftern and Wcft- crn tyrannie, which kccpcth out the means of knowledge and reformation ! And rtftorc them to the primitive pu- rity, fimplicity and unity , that their light may (hme forth, to the winning oi the Heathen and Infidel world, whom now thctr pollutions drive from Chrift 1 Prcfcrvc and repair the Chur- ches whtch arc reformed V and revive amongthemknowledg;c, holincfs and peice. Bkfs theie Kingdoms with the light and pow^r of the Gofpel, and with peace. O U fs the King and ill in authority, with the wifdom,holi- ncls (47) nefsand profperity, which arc needful to their own , and to' the common good ! And keep the Subjcds in their duty to thee and their fupcriors : that we m^y live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godlinefs and honcfty. Let all the Congregations be blcflfed with burning fliinirg 1 ghts: And let thebuyas and ielleis be cart out of thy Temple. Aiid let not the malice of Satan , or the Sacnkdge of men , be able to hinder the Gofpel of chy King- dom , nor alienate thy devoted faiihful labourers, from thy harvcft work. Give usthcneccfTaries of this prc- fent life , and a contented mind with what thou givcfius' And kill in us our worldly love, and fl^ (hly lufts. Teach us to live daily by faith on our Redeemer. And by him let us have continual acccfs to thee i and the daily pardon of our daily tins : md a heart to love and pardon others. O fave us from all the fuggeftions of Satan , and from the fnares of this world. (48) worWj and the allurements ©f finnen 5 and/rotn all the corrupt inclinations of the fit (h* And give us not up to fin, ncr to our own concupsf- cence *• nor to the majjce ©f Satan, or of un- godly men : nor to any deltruftive punKhmcnt >vhicii.gur Ian dcferves ! O4i^iich-u^.toknowtheworkof life, and the I precioufnefs of our fhort and haity time / and to uTe it-aj wiji moli comfort us .at our Jaft re - vic'.V • TeachniiSifo to number .our dayes^as that weinay apply our hearts to wifdom .' And not li^e fools, to wafte in vainjthofenref iom hours, dh \which Eternity depcndeth 'y and' which all the worjd cannot call ba^". ."'^t-^iis do thy 'Tvork with all our might •, efpecially in our par- "trcular Callings and relations ; ^lit us make our •Calling and Eie£ti®n fure, and fpend our dayes in the delightful exer^fe of faith , hope and love: Keep us flill watchful^andin a concinifal readinefs for death IRi^ i"tlgerijSMg<^ ^o'^^og for the coming of <5ur I^ord. ifej^^nrhc^ts and co^verfations be in Heavenr^p^i wheir^ we look for our glorious Redeen^ , In whofe words we fumm up all our fraye^- Vur Fa- thsr -whiclfan h Heaven, HdloWcd he thy '^ame. Ihy Kjnc^domcofm, T»y^,,»Ji4^-%^ ; 01 Earth *w it is in Heaven. Give us^hiQay our daily head ; And forgive us our trefpaJfcS:, asm forgive them that trefpafs agd'ft us. And lead us^ not i^to temptation : hut deliver us from evil. Forthine is the IfJ/'.gdmi t^^ ^owit and the Glory '^fuft fvcr.Amen. FINIS. 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