IX. Temptation and discouragements in the way of conversion
could ever yet be persuaded to do. And though there be no positive certainty, or assurance, that conversion and salvation shall follow these acts; yet hope and probability are engagements enough. Hope sets all the world on work, without assurance. The ploughman ploughs in hope, and the merchant ventures in hope. Do but as much for your souls, as these do for their bodies.
IX.
Temptation and Discouragements in the Way of cConversion BUT here I expect to be encountered by all the policy and power of hell. Satan, and your own lusts, are in confederacy, to turn away your minds from such counsel and persuasions as these. They will tell you, this is no proper season to mind your conversion; it is either too soon, or too late; you have not yet had pleasure enough in sin, or so much as hath put you beyond all hopes of mercy: That religion is a melancholy thing, and if once you look that way, you will never have a merry day, or hour more; with a thousand such damps and discouragements.
But pray, gentlemen, do so much, at least for your souls, before you turn away your ear from the instructions of life, as to hear these matters examined: If they are not worth that, they are worth nothing.
I will suppose you in the flower and vigour of your youth, and this dangerous season now nicked with a more dangerous temptation; that it is too soon to mind such serious matters now: You have not yet had your full pleasure out of sin.
Need I to spend a word, to refute and baffle such a temptation as this? I doubt not, but you yourselves can easily do it. Ask yourselves,
Sirs, if sentence of death were passed upon you by men, (as it is by God, John 3:18. "He that believeth not, is condemned already,") would you think a pardon could come too soon? Be assured, every bit of bread you eat, is the bread of the condemned; you are in danger of hell every day, and hour: There wants nothing but a sword, a bullet, a shipwreck, or disease, (of which multitudes wait on you every day) to put you beyond mercy, and all hopes of mercy. And can you get too soon (think you) out of this danger and misery? O why do you linger any longer? The danger is too great and imminent, to admit one hour's longer delay.
And it is as strange and strong a delusion on the other side, to fancy it is now too late: The vanity and groundlessness of this, hath been evinced in the second section, to which I refer you for full satisfaction.
And for the loss of your pleasures, by conversion to God, that is the thinnest and silliest pretence of all the rest: That is the same thing, as to imagine it is to a thirsty man's loss, to leave the puddle waters of a broken cistern, to enjoy the crystal streams of a flowing fountain; for the pleasures of an ale-house, play-house, or whore-house, to be sweeter than the light of God's countenance, the comforts of his pardon, or the lively hopes of glory with him in heaven; of which you read, 1 Pet. 1:8.
Poor men! O that you did but once know what the life of holiness, and dedication to God is! what the seals, earnest, and first-fruits of his Spirit are! How willingly and joyfully would you trample all the sordid pleasures of sin under your feet, to enjoy them!
Motives and Considerations Persuading to Conversion THIS short discourse shall wind up itself in motives and considerations, to prevail with you, not only to make the first step out of profaneness to civility; but the other necessary and happy step too, for the Lord's sake, gentlemen, that blessed step beyond mere civility, to serious godliness.
O that I knew what words to choose, and what arguments to urge, that might possibly prevail with you! My witness is in heaven, I would do any thing within my power, to procure your temporal and eternal happiness. I beg you, in the bowels of Christ Jesus, as if I were upon my bended knees before your feet, turn not away your eye nor ear from these discourses: Ponder and consider, once and again, what hath been rationally debated in the first part, about your reformation, and what hath, and shall be offered, in this second part.
O my God! thou that hast counted me faithful, and put me into the ministry; thou that hast inclined my heart to make this attempt, and encouraged me with hope, that it shall not be in vain to all them that read it, if it must be so to some; I beseech thee, lay the hand of thy
Spirit upon the heart and hand of thy servant; strengthen and guide him in drawing the bow of the gospel, and directing the arrows, that they may strike the mark he aims at, even the conviction and conversion of lewd and dissolute sinners. Command these considerations to stay and settle in their hearts, till they bring them fully over to thyself in Christ."