An alarm to unconverted sinners in a serious treatise on conversion

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Introduction

AN EARNEST INVITATION TO SINNERS TO TURN TO GOD.

Dearly beloved, I gladly acknowledge myself a debtor to you all, and am concerned, as I would be found a good steward to the household of God, to give to every one his portion. But the physician is most solicitous for those patients whose case is most doubtful and hazardous ; and the father's concern is especially turned toward his dying child. So unconverted souls among you call for special solicitude and earnest effort to pluck them as brands from the burning ; therefore to them I shall first apply myself in these lines.

But whence shall I fetch my argument ? Wherewith shall I win them ? O that I could tell ! I would write to them in tears, I would weep out every argument, I would empty my veins for ink, I would petition them on my knees. O how thankful should I be if they would be prevailed with to repent and live !

How long have I labored for you ! How often would I have gathered you ! This is what I have prayed for and studied for these many years, that I might bring you to God. O that I might now do it ! Will you yet be entreated ?

But, Lord, how insufficient am I for this work? Alas ! wherewith shall I pierce the scales of Leviathan, or make the heart to feel that it is as hard as adamant, hard as the nether mill-stone 1 Shall I go and speak to the tenants of the grave, and hope the dead will obey me 1*

6 INTRODUCTION.

and come forth ? Shall I make an oration to the rocks, or declaim to the mountains, and think to move them with arguments ? Shall I give the blind to see ? From the beginning of the world was it not heard that a man opened the eyes of the blind ; but thou, Lord, canst pierce the heart of the sinner ; I can but draw the bow at a venture, but do thou direct the arrow, slay the sin, and save the soul of the sinner that casts his eyes on these pages.

There is no entering into heaven but by the strait passage of the second birth ; " without holiness you shall never see God." Now set yourselves then to seek him. Set up the Lord Jesus in your hearts— kiss the Son, embrace the tenders of mercy, touch his sceptre and live ; for why will ye die ? I beg not for myself, but would have you happy : this is the prize I run for My soul's desire and prayer for you is, that you may be saved.

What greater joy to a minister than to hear of souls born unto Christ by his instrumentality 1

I beseech you suffer plainness and freedom with you in your deepest concern. I am not playing the orator, these lines are upon a weighty errand indeed — to convince, to convert, and to save you. If I would quiet a crying infant, I might sing to him in a pleasing mood, and rock him asleep; but when the child is fallen into the fire, the parent takes another course ; he will not try to still him with a song or a trifle. I know, if we succeed not with you, you are lost ; if we cannot get your consent to " arise and come away," you perish for ever : no conversion, and no salvation : we must get your good will, or leave you miserable.

Some of you do not know what I mean by conversion, and in vain shall I attempt to persuade you to that

Chap. I.J MISTAKES ABOUT CONVERSION. 7

which you do not understand 5 therefore for your sakes I will show what this conversion is. Others cherish secret hopes of mercy, though they continue as they are; and for them I must show the necessity of conversion. Others are like to harden themselves with a vain conceit that they are converted already ; to them I must show the marks of the unconverted. Others, because they feel no harm, fear none, and so sleep upon the top of the mast ; to them I shall show the misery of the unconverted. Others sit still, because they see not their way of escape ; to them I shall show the means of conversion. And finally, for the quickening of all, I shall close with the motives to conversion*

Chapter I

Showing what Conversion is not, and correcting some mistakes about it.

Let the blind Samaritans worship they know not what, John, 4 : 22. Let the heathen Athenians inscribe their altar " To the unknown God." Acts 17 : 22. Let Papists commend ignorance as the mother of devotion. They that know man's constitution, and the nature of the reasonable soul's operation, cannot but know that the understanding has such empire in the soul, that he who will go rationally to work must labor to let in light there. And therefore, that you may not mistake me, I shall first show you what 1 mean by conversion.

Truly the devil hath made many counterfeits of conversion, and cheats one with this, and another with that; and such craft and artifice he hath in his mystery

8 MISTAKES ABOUT CONVERSION.

of deceits, that (if it were possible) he would deceive the very elect. Now, that I may cure the ruinous mistake of some who think they are converted when they are not, I shall show you the nature of conversion, both what it is not, and what it is.

We will begin w r ith the negative.

It is not the taking upon us the profession of Christianity. Christianity is more than a name. If we will hear Paul, it lies not in word, but in power. 1 Cor. 4 : 20. And are there not many that mention the name of the Lord Jesus, that yet depart not from iniquity ? 2 Tim. 2:19, and "profess they know God, but in works deny him ?" Titus, 1 : 16. And will God receive these for true converts ? What ! converts from sin, when yet they live in sin ! We find not only professors, but preachers of Christ, and wonder-workers, rejected because evil-workers. Matt. 7 : 22, 23.

It is not putting on the badge of Christ in baptism. Ananias, and Sapphira, and Simon Magus were baptized as well as the rest. How fondly do many mistake here, deceiving and being deceived! dreaming that effectual grace is necessarily tied to the external administration of baptism, (which, what is it but to revive the popish tenet of the sacraments working grace?) and thus, that every baptized person is regenerated, not only sacramentally, but really and properly ! Hence men fancy, that, being regenerated already when baptized, they need no farther work.

But if this were so, then all that have been baptized must necessarily be saved, because the promise of pardon and salvation is made to conversion and regeneration. Acts, 3 : 19. Matt. 19 : 28.

And indeed, were conversion and baptism the same, then men would do well to carry but a certificate of

Chap. I.J MISTAKES ABOUT CONVERSION. 9

their baptism when they died, and upon sight of this there were no doubt of their admission into heaven.

In short, if there be no more necessary to conversion, or regeneration, than to be baptized, this will fly directly in the face of that scripture, Matt. 7 : 13, 14, as well as multitudes of others. For, first, we shall then no more say, "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way;" for if all that were baptized are saved, the door is exceeding wide, and we shall henceforth say, "Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth unto life." For if this be true, thousands may go in abreast; and we will no more teach that the righteous are scarcely saved, or that there is need of such a stir in taking the kingdom of heaven by violence, and striving to enter in. Surely, if the way be so easy as many suppose, that there is little more necessary than to be baptized and to cry, " Lord, have mercy," we need not put ourselves to such seeking, and knocking, and wrestling, as the word requires in order to salvation. Secondly, if this be true, we shall no more say, "few there be that find it;" yea, we will rather say, "few there be that miss it." We shall no more say, that of the "many" that are "called, but few are chosen," Matt. 22 : 14, and that even of the professing " Israel but a remnant shall be saved." Rom. 9:27. If this doctrine be true, we shall not say any more with the disciples, " W T ho then shall be saved ?" but rather, who then shall not be saved ? Then, if a man be baptized, though he be a fornicator, or arailer or covetous, or a drunkard, yet he shall inherit the kingdom of God. ICor. 5:11, and 6:9, 10.

But some will reply, Such as these, though they did receive regenerating grace in baptism, are since fallen away, and must be renewed again or else they cannot be saved.

10 MISTAKES ABOUT CONVERSION. [Chap. I.

I answer, 1, That there is an infallible connection between regeneration and salvation, as we have already shown; and I long to be farther evidencing, but that it is against designed brevity. 2. Then man must be born again a second time, which carries a great deal of absurdity in its face: and why may not men be twice born in nature as well as in grace? But, 3, and above all, this grants however the thing I contend for, that whatever men do or pretend to receive in baptism, if they be found afterward to be grossly ignorant, or profane, or formal, without the power of godliness, they "must be born again," or else be shut out of the kingdom of God. So then they must have more to plead for themselves than their baptismal regeneration.

Well, in this you see all are agreed, that, be it more or less that is received in baptism, if men are evidently unsanctified, they must be renewed again by a thorough and powerful change, or else they cannot escape the damnation of hell. Then K be not deceived ; God is not mocked." Whether it be your baptism, or whatever else you pretend, I tell you from the living God, that if any of you be a prayerless person, or unclean, or malicious, or covetous, or riotous, or a scoffer, or a lover of evil company, Prov. 13 : 20, in a word, if you are not a holy, strict, and self-denying Christian, you cannot be saved.

Paul, while unconverted, touching the righteousness which is in the law, was blameless. The Pharisee could say, "I am no extortioner, adulterer, unjust," &c. Thou must have something more than all this to show, or else,however thou mayest justify thyself, God will condemn thee. I condemn not morality, but warn thee not to rest in it: piety includes morality, as Christianity doth humanity, and grace reason ; but we must not divide the tables.

I.J MISTAKES ABOUT CONVERSION. 11

II H also manifest that men may have a/: lines?, without the power. Men may pray long, and fast often, and hear gladly, and be very forward in the service of God. though costly and expensive, and yet be strangers to conversion. They must have more to

id than that they go to church, give alms, and make use of prayer, to prove themselves sound converts.

:-/e is no outward service but a hypocrite may do it, even to the "' giving all his goods to feed the poor, and "dy to be burned/' Conversion is not the mere chaining up of corruplucation, human laws, or the force of incumbent arHiction. It is too common and easy to mistake education for grace ; but if this were enough, who a better man than Jehoash ? While Jehoiada his mi lived, he was very forward in God's service, and i upon him to repair the house oi the Lord. "2 Kings. 12 : 2. 7 : — but here was nothing more than good educai ail this while ; for when his good tutor was taken out oi the way. he appears to have been but a wolf chained up, and falls into idolatry.

In short, conversion consists not in illumination or conviction, in a superficial change or partial reformation. An apostate may be an rd man. and a Felix tremble under conviction, and a Herod do ma things. It is one thing to have sin alarmed

::s. and another to have it crucified by con-

ing grace. Many, because they have been troubled in conscience for their sins, think irell .' case, miserabiy ig conviction for conversi

With these Cain might have passed for a convert, who ran up and down the world like a man distracted, under the rage of a guilty conscience. Ot I be-

cause they have given over their riotous courses, and

12 MISTAKES ABOUT CONVERSION. [ Chap. L

are broken off from evil company or some particular lust, and are reduced to sobriety and civilitj , they are now no other than real converts ; forgetting that there is a vast difference between being sanctified and civilized 5 and that many seek to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and are not far from it, and arrive to the almost of Christianity, and yet fall short at last. While conscience holds the whip over them, many will pray, hear, read, and forbear their delightful sins ; but no sooner is the lion asleep than they are at their sins again. Who more religious than the Jews when God's hand was upon them : yet no sooner was the affliction over, than they forgot God. Thou mayst have forsaken a troublesome sin, and have escaped the gross pollutions of the world, and yet in all this not have changed thy carnal nature.

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

Hear then, O sinners, hear as you would live. Why would you wilfully deceive yourselves, or build your hopes upon the sand ? I know that he may find hard work that goes to pluck away your hopes. It cannot but be ungrateful to you, and truly it is not pleasing to me. I set about it as a surgeon when about to cut off a mortified limb from his well-beloved friend, which of necessity he must do, though with an aching heart. But understand me — I am only taking down the ruinous house, which will otherwise speedily fall of itself anJ

Chap. I.J MISTAKES ABOUT CONVERSION. 13

bury you in the ruins, that I may build it fair, strong, and firm for ever. The hope of the wicked shall perish. And hadst not thou better, O sinner, let the word convince thee now in time, and let go thy false and self-deluding hopes, than have death too late to open thine eyes, and mid thyself in hell before thou art aware ? I should be a false and faithless shepherd if I should not tell you, that you, who have built your hopes upon no better grounds than these before mentioned, are yet in your sins. Let conscience speak : What is it that you have to plead for yourselves ? Is it that you wear Christ's livery ? that you bear his name? that you are of the visible church ? that you have knowledge in the points of religion, are civilized, perform religious duties, are just in your dealings, have been troubled in conscience for your sins ? I tell you from the Lord, these pleas will never be accepted at God's bar ; all this, though good in itself, will not prove you converted, and so will not suffice to your salvation. look about you and bethink yourselves of turning speedily and entirely. Study your own hearts ; rest not till God has made thorough work with you ; for you must be other men, or else you are lost men.

But if these characters be short of conversion, what shall I say of the profane sinner? It may be he will scarcely cast his eyes or lend his ear to this discourse ; but if there be any such reading or within hearing, he must know from the Lord that made him, that he is far from the kingdom of God. May a man be true in his dealings, and yet not be justified of God ? what then will become of thee, wretched man, whose conscience tells thee thou art false in thy trade, and false to thy word, and makest thy advantage by a lying tongue? If men may be enlightened and brought

14 THE NATURE OP CONVERSION. [.Chap II

to the external performance of holy duties, and yet go down to perdition for resting in them and sitting down on this side of conversion, what will become of you, O miserable families, that live without God in the world ? and of you, O wretched sinners, with whom God is scarcely in all your thoughts ; that are so ignorant that you cannot, or so careless that you will not pray ? O repent and be converted ; break ofl your sins by righteousness ; away to Christ for pardoning and renewing grace ; give up yourselves to him, to walk with him in holiness, or you shall never see God. O that you would take the warnings of God ! In his name I once more admonish you : turn ye at my reproof. Forsake the foolish, and live. Be sober, righteous, and godly. Wash your hands, ye sinners ; purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Cease to do evil, learn to do well. But if you will not, you must die.

CHAPTER II. Showing positively what Conversion is

I may not leave you with your eyes half open, like him that saw " men as trees walking." The word is profitable for doctrine as well as reproof. And therefore, having thus exposed some dangerous mistakes, I would guide you at length into the way of truth.

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

1. The author is the Spirit of God, and therefore it is called " the sanctification of the Spirit," and " the renewing of the Holy Ghost," yet not excluding the othej

Chap. II. J THE NATURE OF CONVERSION. 15

persons in the Trinity ; for the apostle teacheth lis to " bless the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for that he hath begotten us again." And Christ is said to give repentance unto Israel, and is called the " everlasting FatheiV' and we his seed, and the children which God hath given him. Yet this work is principally ascribed to the Holy Ghost, and so we are said to be " born of the Spirit."

So then regeneration is a work of God : " We are born, not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John, 1 : 13. If ever thou wouldst be savingly converted, thou must despair of doing it in thine own strength. It is a resurrection from the dead, Eph. 2 : 1, a new creation, Gal. 6 : 15 ; Eph. 2 : 10, a work of absolute omnipotence, Eph. 1 : 19. If thou hast no more than thou hadst by thy first birth, a good nature, a meek and chaste temper, &c. thou art a stranger to true conversion ; this is a supernatural work.

2. The causes are efficient and meritorious. The efficient cause is only free grace. " Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but of his mercy he saved us," and " by the renewing of the Holy Ghost." " Of his own will begat he us."

God finds nothing in man to excite his complacency. Look back upon thyself, Christian ! Do not thine own clothes abhor thee ? Job, 9 : 31. How then should holiness and pureness love thee ? Be astonished, O heavens, at this ; be moved, O earth. Who but must needs cry, grace ! grace ! Hear and blush, ye children of the Most High — O ye unthankful generation! that free grace is no more in your mouths, in your thoughts ; no more adored, admired, and commended by such aa you ! One would think you should be doing nothing but praising and admiring God wherever you are.

How can you forget such grace, or pass it over with a slight and formal mention ? What but free grace could move God to love you, unless enmity could do it, unless deformity could do it ? How affectionately doth Peter lift up his hands I " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, who of his abundant merc> hath begotten us again.' 5 How feelingly doth Paul magnify the free mercy of God in it ! " God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he has loved us, hath quickened us together with Christ, By grace ye are saved."

The meritorious cause is the mediation and intercession of the blessed Jesus. He hath obtained gifts for the rebellious, and through him it is that God worketh in us what is well pleasing in his sight. Through him are all spiritual blessings bestowed upon us in heavenly things. Every convert is the fruit of his travail. He is made sanctification to us. He sanctified himself, (that is, set apart himself as a sacrifice,) that we may be sanctified.

It is nothing then beyond his own love, but the merit and intercession of Christ, that prevails with God to bestow on us converting grace. If thou art a new creature, thou knowest to whom thou owest it; to Christ's agonies and prayers. And whither else shouldst thou go ? If any in the world can show that for thy heart which Christ can, let them do it. Doth Satan claim thee ? Doth the world court thee? Doth sin sue for thy heart 1 Why ? were these crucified for thee ? O Christian, love and serve the Lord whilst thou nast a being.

3. The instrument is either personal or real. The personal is the ministry. I have begotten you in Christ through the Gospel. Christ's ministers are they that

Chap. II. | THE NATURE OP CONVERSION. 17

are sent to open men's eyes, and to turn them to God» Acts, 26 : 18.

O unthankful world, little do you know what you are doing while you are slighting the messengers of the Lord ! These are they whose business it is (under Christ) to save you. Whom have you reproached and blasphemed ? Against whom have you exalted your voice, and lifted your eyes on high 1 " These are the servants of the most high God, that show unto you the way of salvation," and do you thus requite them, O foolish and unwise! O sons of ingratitude! against whom do ye sport yourselves ! These are the instruments that God uses to convert and save sinners : and do you revile your physicians, and throw your pilots overboard ? " Father, forgive them ; for they know not what they do."

The real instrument is the word. We are begotten by the word of truth. This it is that enlightens the eye ; that converts the soul, Psalm 19 : 7, 8 ; that maketh wise to salvation. 2 Tim. 3 : 15. This is the incorruptible seed, by which we are born again. 1 Pet. i : 23. If we are washed, it is by the word. Eph. 5 : 26. If we are sanctified, it is through the truth. John, 17 : 17.

O ye saints, how should ye love the word ! for by this you have been converted : O ye sinners, how should you ply the word ! for by means of this you must be converted. You that have felt its renewing power, make much of it while you live ; be for ever thankful for it ; tie it about your neck ; write it upon your hand ; lay it in your bosom. When you go, let it lead you ; when you sleep, let it keep you ; when you wake, let it talk with you : say with holy David, " I will never f jrget thy precepts, for by them thou hast 2* quickened me." You that are unconverted, read the word with diligence; flock to it where powerfully preached: pray for the coming of the Spirit in the word; come from your knees to the sermon, and come to your knees from the sermon. The seed doth not prosper, because not watered by prayers and tears, nor covered by meditation.

4. The final cause is maris salvation, and GocFs glory. We are chosen through sanctification to salvation ; called that we might be glorified ; but especially that God might be glorified, that we should " show forth his praise," and " be fruitful in good works." O Christian ! do not forget the end of thy calling ; " let thy light shine," let thy lamp burn ; let thy fruits be good, and many, and in season; let all thy designs fall in with God's, that he may " be magnified in thee."

5. The subject is the sinner, and that in all his parts and powers, members and mind. Thou beginnest at the wrong end, if thou disputest first about thine election. Prove thy conversion, and then never doubt of thy election : or, canst thou not yet prove it ? set upon a present and thorough turning. Whatever God's purposes be, (which are secret,) I am sure his precepts are plain. How desperately do rebels argue ! if I am elected I shall be saved, do what I will; if not, I shall be damned, do what I can. Perverse sinner! wilt thou begin where thou shouldest end? Is not the word before thee ? What saith it? " Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." " If you mortify the deeds of the body you shall live." " Believe and be saved." What can be plainer ? Do not stand still disputing about thine election, but set to repenting and believing; cry to God for converting grace. Revealed things belong to thee ; in these busy thyself. It is just

Chap. II.] THE NATURE OF CONVERSION. 19

(as one well said) that they who will not feed on the plain food of the word should be choked with the bones. Whatever God's purposes be, I am sure his promises are true; whatever the decrees of heaven be I am sure that if I repent and believe, I shall be saved and that if I repent not, I shall be damned. Is not here plain ground for thee ? and wilt thou yet run upon the rocks ?

More particularly, this change of conversion passes throughout the whole man. A carnal person may have some shreds of good morality, but he is never good throughout the whole body of holiness and Christianity. Conversion is not repairing of the old build ing ; but it takes all down, and erects a new structure . it is not the putting in a patch of holiness; but with the true convert holiness is woven into all his powers, principles, arifi practice. The sincere Christian is quite a new fabric, from the foundation to the top-stone. He is a new man, a new creature. All things are become new. Conversion is a deep work, a heart-work. It goes throughout with men, throughout the mind, throughout the members, throughout the motions of the whole life.

I. Throughout the mind. It makes a universal change within.

1. It turns the balance of the judgment ; so that God and his glory do weigh down all carnal and worldly interests. It opens the eye of the mind, and makes the scales of its native ignorance to fall off, and turns men from darkness to light. The man that before saw no danger in his condition, now concludes himself lost, and for ever undone, except renewed by the power 01

20 THE NATURE CF CONVERSION. [Chap. II.

grace. He that formerly thought there was little hurt in sin, now comes to see it to be the chief of evils ; he sees the unreasonableness, the unrighteousness, the deformity and filthiness of sin ; so that he is affrighted with it, loathes it, dreads it, flees from it, and even abhors himself for it. He that could see little sin in himself, and could find no matter for confession, now sees the rottenness of his heart, the desperate and deep pollution of his whole nature ; he cries, Unclean, unclean: Lord ; purge me with hyssop, wash me thoroughly, create in me a clean heart. He sees himself altogether filthy, corrupt, both root and tree ; he writes unclean upon all his parts, and powers, and performances; he discovers the filthy corners that he was never aware of, and sees the blasphemy, and theft, and murder, and adultery, that is in his heart, which before he was ignorant of.