IV. Conversion frequently and fatally mistaken
receive convictions of your present danger, and of the necessity of a speedy, thorough change. You cannot think, as others do, that you need no repentance, or reformation. In this respect, therefore, you lie nearer the door of hope and mercy, than other sinners do.
If therefore it shall please the Lord, (whose grace is rich and free to the vilest of sinners) to pluck out such as you, as brands out of the burning, by thorough conversion to Christ; you will not only become real Christians, (as all true converts are) but the most excellent, useful, and zealous amongst all Christians. As you will be most eminent instances of his grace, so you will be the most eminent instruments for his glory. As you have gone beyond other sinners in wickedness, so you will strive to exceed them all in your love to Christ. Luke 7:47. "She loved much for much was forgiven her." You will never think you can do enough for him, who hath done such great things for you.
Who more fierce and vile, before conversion, than Paul, who was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious? 1 Tim. 1:13 and who, among all the servants of Christ, loved or laboured for him more than he?
How did he rather fly, than travel up and down the world, in a flame of zeal for Christ? As you have been ring-leaders in sin, so you will not endure to come behind any in zeal and love to the Lord Jesus:
Yet not thinking this way to make him a requital for the injuries you have done him; (that would be the most injurious act of all the rest) but to testify this way the deep sense you have of the riches and transcendency of his goodness and mercy to you, above all others.
IV.
Conversion Frequently and Fatally Mistaken BUT here I must warn you of some common, but most dangerous mistakes, committed in the world, with respect to conversion unto
God: Except these be seasonably prevented, or removed, none of you will ever stir, or move further than you are towards Christ. Amongst others, beware especially of these three following fatal mistakes; that of, 1. Baptismal regeneration.
2. Common profession of Christianity.
3. Formality in religious duties.
1. There is a notion spread among men, and almost every where obtaining, that the scriptures mean nothing else by conversion, but to be baptized in our infancy into the visible church; and that this ordinance having passed upon them long ago, they are sufficiently converted already; and that men make but a needless stir and bustle in the world, about any other, or further conversion.
But, sirs, I beseech you, consider how dangerous a thing it is, to take your own shadow for a bridge; and venturing upon it, drown yourselves. If baptism be conversion enough, why doth Christ say,
Mark 16:16. "He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned?" Baptism without faith, signifies nothing to salvation; but faith, without baptism, (where it cannot be had) secures salvation. And why doth the apostle say, Gal. 6:15.
"Neither circumcision, nor uncircumcision availeth any thing, but a new creature?" Or what needed Christ to have pressed and
inculcated the indispensible necessity of regeneration upon Nicodemus, as he doth, John 3:3, 5, 7 who had been many years a circumcised Jew? This your dangerous dependence upon your baptismal regeneration, is what hath given such deep offence, and prejudice to many (though without just cause) against that ordinance. I lament it as much as they, that men should turn it into such a deadly snare to their own souls, yet will still honour Christ's abused ordinance.
2. Some think, the common profession of Christianity makes men Christians enough; they are no Heathens, Mahometans, or idolatrous
Papists; but Protestants, within the pale of the true church; that is, professed reformed Christians.
But, friends, I beg you to consider that convictive text, 1 Cor. 4:20.
"The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." Many there be, that in words confess Christ, but in works deny him. And why were the foolish virgins (that is, professed reformed Christians) shut out of the kingdom of God; if the lamp of verbal profession, without the oil of internal godliness, were enough for our salvation? Matth. 25:3, 12.
Believe it, sirs, many will claim acquaintance with Christ upon this account, and expect favour from him in the great day, of whom he will profess he never knew them, Matth. 7:22. Christ need not have put men upon striving, as in an agony, to enter in at the strait gate, if baptism in our infancy, or verbal profession of Christianity, were all the difficulties men had to encounter in the way to heaven.
3. Formality in external duties of religion, is another fatal mistake of conversion. Have not these been the inward thoughts of your hearts?
As bad as we are, though we take liberty to swear, be drunk, and unclean sometimes; yet we say our prayers, keep our church, and hope for heaven and salvation, as well as those that are more precise.