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An Awakening CALL From the Eternal GOD, To the UNCONVERTED.

OR, Seasonable ADVICE to them that are under Convictions, to prevent their Miscarrying in Conversion: And some Scruples of the Tempted Resolved.

By SAMƲEL CORBIN, M. A.

Isa. 66.9.

Shall I bring to the Birth, and not cause to bring forth? Saith the Lord.

Boston, in N. E. Re-printed by T. Green, for Nicholas Buttolph, at his Shop, at the Corner of Gutteridges Coffe-house, 1702.

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An AWAKENING CALL From the Eternal GOD, To the Unconverted.

Poor Condemned Sinner,

I Have a Message from God to thee that didst never experience a New Birth, nor the power of Christs Re­surrection, but are Dead in thy Sins to this day, how far soever thou hast gone in a refined form of God­liness to deceive the World, & the Saints, and thine own Soul; Evil is certainly de­termined [Page 4] against thee by the Lord, the day of thy Calamity is at hand, and the thing which shall come upon thee make hast Deut. [...]2.25. Destruction and Misery an [...] in thy wayes, and these lines are sent from the Lord to stop thee in thy desperate course: who can express how wonderfull thou shalt for ever triumph in the Riche [...] of Free Grace, if the Spirit of God ope [...] thine eyes, who are hastning on blind-fol [...] to the Damned with a Lie in thy righ [...] hand? I have endeavoured to shew the thine abominations, and the misery of thin [...] Estate; for many see they are great sinners, but are not convinced of sin, because they believe not in Christ, and that the [...] are undone Condemned sinners. Thou ar [...] a dying Man or Woman, and it may b [...] hast but a few Sands in thy Glass to ru [...] out, and then where wilt thou appear [...] Refuse not a Pardon now freely tendere [...] to thee without money or price; slight no [...] the blood of Christ, tread not underfoo [...] the Son of God, for then there remaine [...] no more Sacrifice for thy sins; quench n [...] the Spirits motions; for the time is a [...] hand when it will strive with thee n [...] more for ever. Awake thou that sleepes [...] and arise from the dead, and Christ sha [...] give thee light, Eph. 5.14. Reject not th [...] [Page 5] counsel of God against thy self: Be not a mocker, lest thy bands be made strong, Isa. 28.22. When that the Lord heretofore saw the wickedness of man was great, He destroyed the world by a deluge of Water: and Jesus Christ shall shortly be revealed from Heaven in flaming fire, to take ven­geance on them that obey not the Gospel. Although thou art in such a dead sleep, that no Created power can awaken thee; Yet is the Lord able by the exceeding greatness of his Power to say to thee, now thou art in thy Blood, Live, and he can make this a time of Love. Awake, awake O Arm of the Lord, as in the ancient days: Thou hast promised that the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live, Joh. 5.25. If the Fa­ther hath given thee to Christ, thou shalt come to him, and he will in no wise cast thee out; but if he hath appointed thee to wrath, he will let thee alone in thy false peace, because he reserveth thee to the day of Judgment to be punished. Whether thou hear, or forbear, be it known that the Kingdom of God is come near unto thee.

1. Reflect upon thy hainous sins, thy heart is most desperately wicked, from [Page 6] hence proceed all thine evil Thoughts, thine Adulteries, thy Fornications, thy Murders, thy Thefts, thy Covetousness, thy Wickedness, thy Deceit, thy Lascivi­ousness, thine Evil Eye, thy Blasphemy, thy Pride, these defile thee, Mark 7.21, &c.

Because of these things the Wrath of God is coming upon thee, Eph. 6. Deceive not thine immortal Soul, thou which com­mittest such things shalt not inherit the Kingdom of God, 1 Co [...] 6.10. Which of Gods Righteous Laws hast thou not broken? God made man upright; but he hath sought out many inventions. Every ima­gination of the thoughts of thine heart is only evil continually, Gen. 6.5. Thy car­nal mind is at enmity with God: Whilst thou art in the flesh thou canst not please God. There is no fear of God before thine eyes. Is it not a wonder of mercy, that God should not consume thee in a moment, for thy gross ignorance, and sloth, and stupidity, thy hardness of heart and unbelief, and for thy secret Abomina­tions? Are not thy sins exceedingly ag­gravated? Are any sins like thine? Have not Gods Servants laboured & spent them­selves in vain for thy Soul? Surely thou a [...] f [...] in into the hands of the living God, a [...] maye▪ well be a terror to thy self. [Page 7] I wonder not if thou fearest, left thy sins shall never be forgiven: but that thou art in danger of Eternal Condemnation, lest thou [...]alt drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured without mixture into the Cup of his indignation: lest thou shalt have the s [...]rer punishment, and livest under a fearful expectation of Judgment, and fiery indignation which shall devour thee: Repent therefore, before thou hast sinned till there be no remedy, 2 [...]hron. 32.16. Art thou not deaf to the joyful Sound of free Remission of sins by the blood of Christ proclaimed to thee? How shalt thou escape, who dost neglect so great Salvati­on▪ Take heed lest thou prove like the Earth which drinketh in the Rain that cometh oft upon it, and yet beareth Thorns and Bryars, and is rejected, and is nigh unto Cursing, whose end is to be Burned, Heb. 6.7, 8. Thou hast cause to fear con­tinually, lest the Lord should say of thee as of the barren Fig-tree; Cut it down, why cumbreth it the Ground? Luk. 13.7.

2. Reflect upon thy present dreadful Estate.

1. Thou art Condemned already, be­cause thou believest not: John 3.18. Thou art reprieved a little only from Execution through the wonderful patience of God. [Page 8] Thou shalt not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on thee? Is this a state to rest in thus securely one moment longer? Give thy Conscience leave to speak

2. Thou hast no hopes; if thy breath was but but stopt, thy Case is desperite. Thou savest I hope to be saved by Jesus Christ; but the Lord saith. The Hypo­crites hope shall perish, & shall be cut off, for what is his hope when God shall take away his Soul? Joh 27.3. The way of Peace thou hast not known; thou art with­out Christ, a Stranger to the Promises, without Hope, and without God in the world, Eph. 2 12.

3. Or which is worse and more danger­ous, thou hast but Dead hopes Are thy hopes begotten by the power of Christ's Resurrection? Hath not a deceived heart turned thee aside, that thou canst not de­liver thy Soul, nor say, is there not a lie in my right hand [...]sa. 44.20 The strong man armed keeps thee in a false Peace, Luk. 11 2 [...]. Thou sleepest whilest thy Damna­tion slumbereth not, but hasteth greatly. Thou a [...] like a man sleeping upon the top of a Ma [...] of a Ship; walk a little longer in the light of the sparks, which thou hast kindled, and then thou shalt have this at [Page 9] the hand of God, thou shalt lie down in sorrow, Isa. 50.11.

4. Thou art near Destruction, & ought­est to be under the continual expectation of inevitable misery coming upon thee. Thou hangest over the Flames of hell, only by the thred of thy life, if it were cut thou wouldest sink down presently into reme­diless misery. When thou liest down to sleep, who, knows but thou mayest a­wake with flames about thine ears. When the night comes, thou mayest say with an [...]king heart, now is my Damnation nearer thou it was in the morning. Thou that hast been often reproved, and still harden­est thy neck, shalt suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy, Prov. 29.1 [...] That word may well terrifie thee every night: Thou Fool this night shall thy Soul be required of thee, Luk. 12.20.

5. Thou knowest not how soon God may if He hath not already, clapt a se­cret Curse upon thee and sworn in His wrath, that thou shalt never enter into his rest, Heb. 3.11. Since thou art joyned to thine Idols, thou hast cause to fear, lest God hath said, Let him alone. He that is filthy, let him be filthy still; thou shalt sleep a perpetual s [...]p, and not awake, Isa. 51.57. In thy filthiness is lewdness, be­cause [Page 10] I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee; thou shalt not mourn nor weep, but shalt pine away in thine iniquities, Ezek. 24.13, &c.

6. Thou mayest be reprieved from Hell for a further aggravation of thy sins, till thou hast filled up the measure of thine Ini­quities. O fearful Estate▪ For a man to live only to he [...]p up fewel for his own E­verlasting burnings, even treasures of wrath for the last day, Jam. 5.3.

7. The reason why God doth not strike thee dead in thy sins may be, because thou art reserved for greater Torments, that wrath may come upon thee to the utter­most. God could easily crush such a crawl­ing Viper as thou art to peices in a mo­ment; but he reserveth the wicked unto the day of Destruction; they shall be brought forth to the day of Wrath, Job. 21. [...]. To this end and purpose mayest thou be raised up that God may shew his wrath, and make his power known, and therefore endures with much long-suffer­ings the Vessels of wrath fitted for de­struction.

3. Consider thine Enemies.

[Page 11]1. The Law Curseth thee, for it is writ­ten, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the Book of the Law to do them: It tells thee thou shalt surely Dye, Gal. 3.9. Ezek. 33.8. The Lord will rain snares upon thee in the fulness of thy sufficiency thou shalt be in straits, Job 20 22. All thy enjoyments are Cursed to thee. Read Deut. 28. Trem­ble thou secure sinner, for God is coming in the fire of his Jealousie to smite the Earth with a Curse to the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodli­ness, and Unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in Unrighteousness.

2. Death and Hell wait for thee; the whole Creation is burthened with such a Cumber-ground; the Sun to shine upon such a Dung-hill, and shortly the Heavens will reveal thy secret Iniquities, and the Earth will rise up against thee; this is thy [...]ortion from God, and the heritage ap­pointed unto thee by God, Job. 20. [...]7, 29. Now consider this thou that forgetest God, lest He tear thee in pieces, and here be none to deliver, Psal. 40.22.

3. The Devil roars like a Lyon for his [...]rey to devour thee; when he accuseth [...]hee before God thou hast none to plead [...]y cause in Heaven; Consider with thy [Page 12] self, What shall I do in the day of Visita­tion, & in the desolation which shall come from far, to whom shall I flee for help, or where shall I leave my Glory? Isa. 10.3.

4. God is thy deadly Enemy: The face of the Lord is against thee. Can thy heart endure, or thy hands be strong in the day when God shall deal with thee? Ezek. 22.14. Who can stand before his indig­nation? And who can abide the fierceness of his anger? N [...]hum 1.6.

4. Consider thy future misery.

1. Thou must shortly Die, and then thy Time and day of Grace shall be no more. Thou shalt no more find then what thy Soul lusteth after, Apocal. 18.4.

2. Christ will come with ten thousands of his Saints to convince thee, who wilt not be awakened. The power and coming of the Lord Jesus in the Clouds will be most dreadful, when He shall come in His own, and in his Fathers Glory. The last Trumpet shall found, the Graves be open­ed, and the Sea, and Death, and Hell shall give up their Dead; then will Christ bring forth his Enemies, which would not that he should Reign over them: Then wilt thou Cry to the Rocks and Mountains, Fall on me and hide me from the face of Him that sitteth on the Throne, and [...]om the wrath of [Page 13] the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath [...] come, and who shall be able to stand? [...]oc. 6.16, 17. But there will be no dark­ [...]ess nor shadow of death, where the work­ [...]rs of iniquity shall hide themselves, Job [...]4.22. The very hearing of these things might awaken the most desperate sinner in England.

3. Thou shalt be judged and a [...]g [...]d [...]t the Tribunal Seat of the Righteous G [...], where we must all appear, 2 Cor 5. [...] thou shalt have all thy secret s [...] [...]ipt [...] to thy Eternal shame. The time is [...] that Judgment must begin at the House [...] God, and if it first begin at us, [...] be the end of them that obey not [...] [...]el of God? And if the Right [...] [...] be saved, where shall the [...] and Sinners appear? 1 Pet. 4.17, 8 [...] that did once offer his Blood to thee, w [...]n [...] come to Judge and Condemn thee, [...] whose final Sentence there is no Appeal Then every faithful Sermon and Reproof will rise up in judgment against thee, and condemn thee. Thou wilt not agree with [...]hine Adversary quickly, before he deliver [...]hee to the Judge, Mat. 5.25. Thou wilt [...]ot hear the loving voice of Christ which [...]alleth thee, Come, for all things are now [...]eady, Luk. 14.17. But thou must hear [Page 14] that voice by constraint, Arise ye Dead, & come to Judgment. It would be thy grea [...] mercy, if the forethoughts of the terror o [...] that day might seize upon thy senseless Conscience where ever thou goest. Thy Judge stands at the door, and the coming of the Lord draws high: Awake there­fore thou that sleepest, and prepare to meet the Lord in the air; Jesus Christ him­self will pronounce that dreadful Sentence against thee, Depart from me ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels. What doleful out-cries will condemned Souls express for Mercy, or for a Reprieve then, that hate now to be Re­formed, and Blaspheme the Spirit of Christ?

4. Thou that wilt not be warned to flie to Christ, shall lie in the hottest flames of Hell. It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah at the day of Judgment than for thee. Thou must go away into ever­lasting Punishment, when the Righteous shall go into Life eternal, Mat. 25. Thou shalt desire to die, but death shall flee from thee. Thou wouldest fain flie out of Gods hand, Job 27.22. but it will be impossible▪ Thou shalt be punished with everlasting Destruction, being banished from the pre­sence of the Lord, and from the glory of [Page 15] his Power. Then shall the Righteous have dominion in this Morning, shining forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father; Who hath ears to hear, let him hear, Mat. 13.43 God will delight to glorifie his Attributes in thy Destruction. He will [...]augh at thy calamity, and mock when thy fear cometh: When thy fear cometh as desolation, and thy destruction cometh as a whirl-wind, when distress and anguish cometh upon thee, Prov. 1.26, — No heart can conceive, nor can the tongues of Men or Angels express what wrath the Eternal Righteous Almighty Lord God shall pour out upon a Vessel of wrath fitted for destruction. There shalt thou weep, and wail, and gnash thy teeth, where the worm of Conscience never dyeth, nor shall the fire be quenched. Art not thou yet a­wakened to Cry out, What shall I do to be saved from this dreadful wrath to come? Have I been writing to a Stock, or to a Stone, or to a Rock of Flint? Take heed [...]est these warnings come in Judgment to thee, that thou mayest be snared and bro­ken, and taken, Isa 28.13. Be sure of this, thy sins will find thee out, Numb. 32.23.

Object. 1. Why do you thus affright poor [...]inners? Is not God merciful?

[Page 16] Ans Why dost then the [...] stand o [...] [...] the offers of mer [...]? The good [...] of God should lead thee to Repen [...] [...]. Though God is merciful, yet fo [...] [...] first Parents sin, judgment is com [...] upon all the world to Condemnation an [...] [...]e [...] that believeth not shall be Damned. S [...]ait is the gate, and narrow is the [...] leadeth to life, and few there be that s [...]n [...]. 7.14.

Object 2. I will never believe that [...] present [...] a [...]d [...]nl and damnabl [...]

Answ. [...] is not humane Writing but Gods Word, which i [...] here opened thi [...] [...] shall judge thee at the last day Joh. 12.18.

2. Y [...] believe not, because ye are no [...] [...] Sleep, saith Christ. It is a Prog [...] [...]ck of approaching wrath to reject th [...] Counsel of God against thy self: Rea [...] [...] 29.18, &c▪ [...]est th [...] should be [...] [...]g you, Man or Woman, o [...] Faculty, wh [...] be be [...]reth the words of this C [...]se, that bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall ha [...] peace, though I walk in the imagination [...] Drunkenness to th [...]st; [...] [...] him b [...]hen the [...]ng [...] Lord, & [...] [...]se, shall smoke again [...], and all the Curses that are writ [...] [...] shall lie upon him, and the Lor [...] [Page 17] shall blot out his Name from under Heaven Paul saith, The Election [...], but the rest were blinded. If our Gospel be hid, is [...]s hid to them that are lost, [...] whom [...]he god of this world blinds the man [...] them that belie [...] not, 2 Cor. 4.4. Beware therefore, lest that come upon thee which is spoken of in the Prophets; Behold ye [...], and wonder and perish, for I work a [...] in your dayes, which ye shall in no wise believe, though a ma [...] declare it unto you, A [...]t. [...]3.4 [...].41.

3. I can forever [...]e day [...]y Calami­ty at hand, w [...]e thou shalt feel what thou wilt not now believe, then thou shalt jus­tifie me, and condemn thy self.

If thou art not now awakened in mercy the time hastens when the [...]ost ob [...]urate [...]nner shall certainly be awakened in judg­ment, either at the hou [...] [...] or i [...] furthest at his Arraignment before Gods Tribunal. Were Co [...]ah and his Company secure when the Earth opened her mouth and swallowed them a [...], when they went down alive into the Pi [...], [...] Earth closed upon them, when all [...] that were round about them fled at th [...] [...] of th [...]? Numb. 16.32, 33, 34. D [...] [...] [...] zars security end, when [...] his Idolatry, Excess and [...] Alarm'd the same hou [...] [...] [Page 18] upon the Wall, when his Countenance was changed, and his Knees smote one against another, and he was slain the same Night, D [...]. 5.

It is impossible to continue long in this stupid frame of Heart, when thou art judged and condemned to suffer the ven­geance of Eternal Fire, shalt thou then be [...] and senseless? No, no; there is no security amongst the Demand It is re­vealed from Heaven there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth.

4. Dost thou thus provoke the Lord to jealousie, art thou stronger than He? God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength, who hath hardened his heart against Him, and hath prospered? Joh 9.4. There is no wisdom, nor understanding against the Lord. Prov. 21.30. If therefore thou wilt not search the Scriptures, nor hear the voice of God, nor cry for the Spirit to convince thee of thy unbelief; and to put forth the exceeding greatness of his power to make thee willing to come as as an ungodly lost sinner to Christ? If the Kingdom of Heaven do not suffer violence, if thou dost not press into it and take it by force; I thee testify to thee from the God of hea­ven, that the door of mercy will shortly be shut, thou shalt hereafter stand with­out, [Page 19] and cry dolefully, Lord, Lord, open to me: But He will answer with a frown; Ve­rily I know you not. Mat. 25.11.

Object. 3. But I am admitted into Church-fellowship, and enjoy Previledges.

Answ. Let Sinners & Hypocrites in Sion fear; for God is come to search Jerusalem with Candles. Do not therefore deceive thine own Soul, thou mayest have a Name to live, and yet be dead; thou mayest be united to a Gospel Church and yet perish for want of Union to Christ. Remember Judas and tremble▪ Remember the five Foolish Virgins walking with the Wise in all their sufferings, neither suspected by the Wise, nor by themselves, till that Cry at midnight, The Bridegroom comes, go ye out to meet him, Mat. 25.6. Many ruine their Souls by resting upon unsound Evi­dences. Thou self deceived Hypocrite, Hell beneath will be moved for thee at thy coming▪ all they shall speak and say to thee, Art thou become weak as we? How art thou fallen, O Lucifer, son of the Morn­ing, for thou saidst in thy heart, I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my Throne above the Stars of God, I will be like the most High, yet thou shalt be brought down to Hell. Isa. 14 10. &c.

[Page 20]Object. 4. I have Saving Graces, as Faith, Repentance, Holiness, Zeal, &c.

Answ. Doth not the very prophane world say, that they believe and repent? An awakening Ministry, slavish fears of Hell, godly Education, or legal Principles, carry many far in these dayes, who shall shortly be weighed in the ballance, and be sound too light. Thou mayest receive the Word with joy, and believe for a while, Luk. 8.13. Thou mayest be in Christ, as a withered Branch is in the Vine. Thou mayest sink under the sense of Wrath with Cam. Thou mayest cast of thy sins with abhorrency under the racking of Consci­ence, and yet lick up thy nauseous Vomit again, 2 Pet. 2.20, &c. The Unclean spi­rit may go out of thee, and yet return with seven worse spirits, Luk. 11.24. Thou mayest vehemently long to die the Death of the Righteous, and that thy last end may be like his; and yet be undone for ever. Take heed therefore of Building without a sure Foundation Thou mayest be admired for thy strict Conversation, whilest thou only goest about to establish thine own Righteousness, being ignorant of Gods Righteousness of Faith, Rom. 10.3. Thou mayest suffer the loss or all things, [Page 21] and yet for want of Love, thy sufferings profit thee nothing, 1 Cor. 13.3.

Object. 5. I have been deeply wounded, and have had peace since.

Answ. Every wound and conviction is not the saving work of Gods Spirit, nor all healing, from the Peace of God through Union with Christ by a Faith of the opera­tion of God, not thy concomitant joy al­ways from a true sence of Gods love. Ma­ny compass themselves about with sparks of their own kindling, who never knew the Grace of God in truth, nor the witness of the true Spirit.

More ADVICE to Sinners under Con­victions, to prevent their miscarrying in Conversion.

Quest. 2. I Beseech you, since my present condition is so dreadful, as Gods Word reveals it, tell me if there be any hopes for such a Sinner, and what course I must take?

Answ, When the Keeper of the Prison asked Paul and Silas, Sirs, What must I do, to be saved? They said, Bel [...]eve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shal [...] be saved, and thy house, Act. 16, 30, 31. Therefore immediately under the means of Grace, [Page 22] wait for the Spirit to draw thee by the Gospel. Thou wilt there hear that Christ hath Redeemed us from the Curse of the Law, being made a Curse for us, Gal. 3.13. God hath sent forth His Son made under the Law, to Redeem them that were under the Law. God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that who­soever believes on Him shall not perish, but have Everlasting Life, Joh. 3. Go not therefore about to Establish thine own Righteousness, for Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness, to every one that believes, Rom. 10.3. Thou wilt there here the joyful Sound, that the chiefest of sin­ners have believed, and are saved; and that it is not the highest aggravation of th [...] sins, nor thy present accursed state [...]all hinder thee from Mercy, if thou art made willing in the day of Gods power, to come out of thy sins and self to Jesus Christ. The Lord will Pardon abundant­ly, Isa. 55. The Grace of Christ doth super­abound; He hath gifts for the Rebellious, Psal. 68.16. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am Chief, (saith Paul) 1 T [...]. [...] 15. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out, saith CHRIST, Joh. 6.37. [Page 23] Therefore don't take a desperate course, because thou thinkest no sins are like thine; for the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son clean­seth from all sin, 1 Joh. 1.7. God doth justifie sinners freely by his Grace, through the Redemption which is in Christ Jesus, Rom. 3.24. Let it overcome thy heart to consider how freely Christ proclaimed him­self to sinners when he dwelt among us, Joh. 7. when he stood and Cryed, If any thirst, let him come unto me, and drink: His precious blood is more able to justifie, than thy crying sins are to condemn thee. Come, saith Chri [...] to thee, for all things are now ready. The Spirit saith Come, & the Bride saith Come, and let him that heareth say Come; and let him that is athirst Come, & whosoever will, let him take of the water of Life freely, Apocal: 22.17. There is Righteousness in Christ to cover thee, & Faith to receive it too. God will have mercy on them that have not obtained mercy, and maketh them his people, which were not his people. Hos. 2.25. Christ is exalted to give Repentance, and why not to thee that needest it? Hath not Christ ca [...] and waited long till his Locks were wet w [...] Dew? Poor condemned sinner! How canst thou chuse but be overcome with his Love, who still beseecheth them [Page 24] to be reconciled, though he could glorifie himself in thy destruction. 2 Cor. 5 20. If God would shew thee a little of the love of his heart, and of the heart of Christ to sinners, it would dissolve thy frozen heart, and make thee admi [...] it, that there should be forgiveness of the greatest has still for so a vile a wre [...] Cry in secret to God, that thou mayest know what it is to find me [...]cy, since he delighteth in mercy. W [...]n Christ was here upon E [...]h, see what a winning Sermon he Preached to Publicans and Sinners, Luk. 15. When he insinuated unto them their lost estate, and that he was come to seek, and save them and to encourage returning Prodigals, who is ready to fear there is no mercy for them; He shews them though they are far off, his Bowels shall [...] towards them, and he will run to them leaping [...] Mountains to embrace them. [...]ine thee there is as much love [...]owe [...]s in the [...] of Christ now he is ascended as when he was upon the Earth. Though thou art a Scorner at Christs Spirit, yet saith the Lord, How long [...] with a delight [...] your scor [...] ­ing, [...] you at mysterious, behold I will [...] Spirit up [...] [...]o [...], Prov. 1.23. Thu [...] do thou [...]ake [...] [...]o the a [...]ing and ravi [...] ing voice of Christ, [...] thou art overcom [...] [Page 25] with his love, and art compelled and ne­cessitated to come in, Luk. 14.23.

Quest. I have had some convictions, but I fear no through Conversion. I f [...]d [...] called, but few are chosen: what to [...] can you give me, that I may not miscarry for ever?

Answ. Besides what is written in my Advice to sinners, which I shall have re­ference to; take these Directions.

1. Work out thy Salvation with fo [...] and trembling. Cherish the God [...] of coming to the Birth without streng [...] [...] be brought forth: beware lest thy con [...] ­ [...]ons die and come to nothing; rest not in ease without healing through the sprink­ing of Christs Blood.

2 Rest not in legal horrour, short of God­ly sorrow: Dig deep that thou ma [...]st build upon a Rock. If God turn thine eyes inward, and shew thee what an open Se­pulchre full of deadly poyson thou art, thou wilt justifie God though He should spurn thee into Hell immediately; and wilt won­der what hath held the hand of revenge­ful Justice from consuming thee long since. The Lord will not crush under his feet such a Prisoner of the Earth, Lam. 3.34. [Page 26] Nor will he condemn thee that dost thus justifie him, and condemn thy self, and liest at his feet longing to be found in Christ: Wait therefore for the Spirits con­viction of sin, because thou believest not on Jesus Christ, Joh. 16.8, 9. When the Comforter is come, he will reprove the world of sin, because they believe not on me, (i. e.) shall convince them of this sin chiefly, the Spirit doth aggravate this sin of Unbelief, where he cometh to work with power savingly. This is promised in the latter dayes, that the chiefest of sin­ners shall look upon Christ whom they have pierced, and mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only Son, Zech. 12.10.

3. Long insatiably to be found in Christ, not having thine own Righteousness, which is of the Law, but the Righteousness which is through the Faith of Christ, Phil. 3· Never expect to be healed by the Law: but through the Righteousness of Christ without the deeds of the Law: for the Law can only wound thee, and give thee the knowledge of sin, Rom. 3.20, and there it leaves thee in a helpless & perish­ing condition; it only works wrath, and Curseth thee, and Judgeth and Condemn­eth thee. It is very usual with troubled [Page 27] Souls to run to their Duties, or Tears, or Purposes to sin no more in their own strength, instead of looking to Christ who was made sin for them who knew no [...]in; that they may be made the Righte­ousness of God in him, 2 Cor. 5.21. They should come without money as sinners to Christ whom it pleased the Father to [...]ruise, Isa. 53. Christ hath finished trans­gression and made an end of sins, and made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlasting Righteousness, Dan. 9.24. Herein Christs Embassadors need to be [...]aithfully warned, when they press duties [...]pon awakened Sinners, to teach them to [...]ook for Justification by Faith, without the deeds of the Law, lest they make a Gene­ration of self-righteous Hypocrites, in­ [...]end of sound Believers. Maledicta si [...] [...]nis doctrina, vita, [...], qua cona [...] [...]ge aut ope [...]bus pa [...] s [...]tam coram De [...] [...]utheri Anathema.

4. Therefore if thou wouldest [...]e accept­ [...]d of Christ, come as Ungodly, as Un­ [...]ghteous unto him, who dyed for sinners [...] such, and findeth them dead in sins when [...]e comes to call them. The work of the [...]aw is only to convince us that we are Un­ [...]odly, Dead in sins, having no Righteous­ness, nor Strength. If thou wouldst not [Page 28] be rejected and prove a Pharisee, come a [...] a sinner, helpless and hopeless. Thoug [...] th [...] feelest thy self dead, senseless, asleep [...] though thou knewest not that tho [...] a [...] wretched, and miserable, and poor, & bl [...]d, and naked; yet saith Christ, I counsel thee to buy of me Gold & white Raiment, that thou mayest be cloathed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, Apoc. 3.27, 28. Instead of refusing Christ by infidelity, upon apprehensions [...] unworthiness, or the want of this, or th [...] other work of the Law, qualification, o [...] preparation, thou shouldest rather wo [...] der that there should be Justification b [...] Free Grace tendered to such a Rebel; tha [...] thou being an Enemy should'st be commanded and invited to come to Christ.

5. Let the threatnings against Unbelie [...] awaken thee not to dare to refuse Chri [...] offered to thee. It is a most hainous, dreadful sin▪ to make light of one tender of fre [...] Pardon of sins by the blood of Christ, whic [...] the Devils never had; for this sin w [...] Jesus Christ are long break through t [...] Clouds, in flaming Fire, with his Ho [...] Angels, 2 Tre [...]. 1.

6. [...]ear Unbelief chiefly, Heb. 3.1 [...] Many awakened persons are troubled wi [...] groundless fears, lest there is no re [...]i [...] [Page 29] on for such abominable wretches; they fear that such hard, filthy, secure sinners shall not be accepted. Fear lest thou shouldest refuse Christ, or not welcome him: Fear lest a Promise being left thee of entring into rest, thou shouldest seem to come short of it through Unbelief, Heb. 4.

Object. You know not what a wretch I have been: I cannot but fear, that my hainous sins will ruine me?

Answ. If thy Conscience oft smites thee with tormenting fears, that thy Unclean­ness, Self-pollution, Glutton [...], Passion, Pride, or Covetousness, or the like, will be thy ruine; there is a great sin, which is Unbelief; they not coming to Christ, nor welcoming the glad tidings of free Remis­sion of sins by Christs Blood, for the chief­est sinners with all acceptation. It is this Soul-damning-sin, thou hast most cause to fear; It is he only that believeth not the Son, that shall not see life, Joh 3.36.

7. Be assured it is not Presumption, but thy Duty to believe, though thou appre­hendest thy self to be the chiefest of sin­ners: for God will account himself glori­fied by thy believing in hope against hope, Rom. 4.20.

[Page 30]Object. Why do you put me thus upon Be­lieving since you grant I have no power?

Answ. Because the Lord causeth His Commands to come with Almighty power upon his Elect, and doth convey his Spirit and Strength in the use of his instituted Ordinances, 1 Thes [...] 1 4, 5.

8 Destroy not thy precious Soul, by mend­ing Mortification before Regeneration. There is no Communion before Union: First make the Tree good and its Fruit will be good, Mat. 12▪ 33. Many persons know they must perform this and the other Du­ty; this and the other Grace they want; & set upon the work in their own Strength, and are alwayes Learning; many shall thus seek and shall not be able. If thou would [...]st not miss the narrow way here, then seek to be first planted into Christ by the pow­er of his Resurrection, and then let thy Faith work by Love abundantly. Mr. Co [...] observes upon the A [...]ocal. that the Romish Priest in their Doctrine, like the [...]ou [...]s, do sting the Conscience with the Law, and heal the wound by urging upon persons External works of Mortification, being ignorant of the Doctrine of Justifica­tion by Faith, without the Deeds of the Law.

[Page 31]Let Christs Ministers beware of putting awakened sinners preposterously first upon Works before Faith, and to bring forth good Fruit, before they press them to look for a Principle by their Union with Christ through the teachings of God. This is to put a man upon Building a Superstructure without a Foundation; I fear many thou­sands perish by such Preaching: Consult Dr. Owen of Mortification.

9. Especially beware of resting short of Union with Christ. There is a glorious and mysterious Union with God manifest in the Flesh by the Spirit. When Christ bethroth's a sinner to Himself forever in Righteousness; and in loving-kindness, & in judgment, and in faithfulness, then shall he know the Lord, Hos. 2.19. Then is Christs Prayer answered, That they all may be one, as th [...], Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one [...]n Ʋ [...], Joh. 17. It is he that hath th [...] on, hath life, & he that hath not the Son hath not life, but the wrath of God abideth on him: The vilest wretches will love Christs benefits, especi­ally when they come to die. The Sound Believer falls in love with CHRIST Him­self. Thou must be cut out of the Olive-tree [Page 32] which is wild by Nature, by the hand of God, and graffed contrary to Nature into the good Olive-tree, else Christ will not own thee as his Member, but thou wilt wither as a rotten Branch, and be gathered of Men, and cast into the Fire, John 10. Thou must eat Christ's Flesh, and drink His Blood, else thou canst have no Spiritual Life in thee. Joh. 6.

[Page 33]

Some Scruples of the Tempted Resolved.

Object. I Am still sensible that I cannot Believe?

Answ 1. May not Christ rather com­plain of thee, as of those, Joh. 5.40. Ye will not come to me that ye might have life.

2. Under the sense of thine impotency, Pray, and wait continually for the experi­mental knowledge of the Power of Christs Resurrection, Phil. 3.10. That God may put forth the exceeding greatness of his Power, enabling thee to go to Christs fulness, that Grace may reign in thee, Eph. 1.

3. The Spirits end in convincing thee of thine impotency, is chiefly to teach thee to look unto Christ, who is full of Grace, and in all Gods appointments to wait for the drawings of the Father, who hath promised his teachings, Joh. 6.44.

4. Jesus Christ hath purchased and pro­mised the Spirit, the Comforter, to con­vince the World of unbelief, and to beget [Page 34] Faith, Joh, 16.8, 9. Therefore instead of unbelieving despondencies, look for the effusion of the Spirit, under the means of Grace, to enable thee to believe.

Object. What have I to do to come to Christ, who am Ungodly, Asleep, Ʋnprepared, the Chiefest of Sinners; Alas, I am condemned, and expect nothing but Hell?

Answ. 1. It is the Lord who hath begun to open thine eyes, and to shew thee thy present condition, according to his pro­mise, Isa. 35.5.

2. Thou only art the person that art called, & shalt be welcome to Jesus Christ, notwithstanding all thy guilt, and want of preparations, and qualifications in thy own sense and apprehension. God doth com­mand thee not to work (i. e.) for thy peace, but to believe in God, who justi­fies the Ungodly, and thy Faith shall be accounted for Righteousness; thou art to believe in God, who quickeneth the dead, Rom 4.5. God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved dead sinners, quickneth them together with Christ, that he might shew forth the ex­ceeding riches of his Grace, Eph. 2. Christ commands and invites sinners & no other to come to him; and professeth plainly, that he will have mercy, and not sacrifice, [Page 35] and that he came not to call the Righteous, but Sinners, Mat. 9.13.

Quest. This rejoyceth my heart that such a wretch as I may come to Christ: but may I now come to Christ so soon after I am awaken­ed?

Answ. Come & welcome now to Christ. Christ gave great encouragement to Natha­niel, because he embraced the first offer. Jesus said to him, Because I said to thee, I saw thee under the Fig-tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things then these, Joh. 1.50.

Object. The Lord is withdrawn from me, saith a distressed Soul, and I fear my Experi­ences are a delusion of the Devil, and sparks of my own kindling?

Answ. 1. After thou hast sung the Praises of God, do not thus soon forget his won­derful works as the Israelites of old did, Psal. 106.12, 13.

2. Cast not away thy confidence. Christs Love-tokens are Pledges of his Faithfulness in his absence. When [...]saph was at a loss, he said, I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High; sure I will remember thy Wonders of old, Psal. 77: 10. Hath not the Lamb that was slain rent the vail of unbelief, and opened the Sealed [...]ook, and shewed thee plainly of the Fa­ther? [Page 36] Did he never Seal his Love in one Promise? Didst never triumph over one Lust? Hast thou not met with the smiles of Gods countenance then, when thou ex­pected to be consumed in a moment, being caught as it were out of the belly of Hell, and laid in Christs bosome? Why dost thou thus unworthily & ungratefull forge the day, when thy Lord delivered thee not from one, but from all thy fears? Then thou sattest under Christs shadow with great delight, and his Fruit was pleasant to thy taste, Cans. 2. Then his Banner o­ver thee was Love; then thou couldest sing, M [...] beloved is mine, and I am His. O the heigth & depth, the length & breadth of the love of Christ to my Soul, that pas­seth knowledge. Canst thou not remem­ber the day, when Christ came leaping o­ver the Mou [...]tains, and skipping over the Hills to thy fainting Soul; then thy Be­loved spake, and said to thee, Rise up my Love, my fair One, and come away; for loe the winter is past, the Ra [...] is over and gone. Let not the Consolations of God be small with thee. Reflect upon the time of thy fist Espousals, when Christ discovered. himself and opened the everlasting love of his heart to thee; when thou wast in a doleful and forlorn condition, and then [Page 37] ravisht away thy heart. Thy love then was as strong as Death, and many waters could not quench it; then thy Language was, Stay me with Flaggons, Comfort me with Apples, for I am sick with Love: then per­fect love did cast out fear, and by his light thou walkedst through darkness. Call to mind the dayes of old, when thou reseedst thy weary Soul in everlasting Arms, re­joycing as more than a Conquerer over Sin and Law, Death, Hell and the Devil, through Christ who loved thee. Look to a full Christ, thou empty-nothing Creature thy Lord will turn again, He will not cast thee off forever, Lam. 3. Resolve with Job Though he s [...]ay me I will-trust in him, [...]e also sh [...]ll be my Salvation, Job 13.15. The Lord hath appeared unto me of old, sayin [...], Yea, I have loved thee with an everla [...]ing love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee, Jer. 31.3. What though I am now in darkness in the Deeps, in the lowest Pit, like the slain in the Grave, whom God remembreth no more, yet doth He not shew wonders to the dead? The Lord will command his loving-kindness in the day time, He will bring me forth to the Light, and I shall behold his Righteousness, Mi [...]. 7. Though thou now goest mourning without the Sun, yet abide in Christ by [Page 38] the power of God, that raised him from the dead; the day will dawn, and the sha­dows flee away: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the Morning, thy Light shall rise in Obscurity, and thy Darkness be a [...] the Noon-day, the Lord shall be thine Everlasting light, and the dayes of thy mourning shall be ended, Isa 60 Pray for new Bottles to hold the new Wine upon thy Lords return. The Lord hath had a long Controversie with many of his dear Children in these Nations for the spilling of it.

3. Consider Gods gracious ends in with­drawing. It is chiefly in Love to teach thee to live by Faith in Christ, [...] not upon thy enjoyments, to lean upon thy Beloved in the Wilderness If [...]e should have ask­ed Paul, how it was with his Soul? See the account, Gal. 2.20. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by the Faith of the Son of God: Though thou walkest in Darkness, & hast no Light, yet thou art commanded to trust and stay on thy God, Isa. 50.10. Blessed is he that hath not seen, and yet hath believed, Joh. 20.29.

Object. But I am a Back-slider, and the Lord hath righteously hid his face.

Answ. It is very supporting to consider the heart of God and Christ towards his [Page 39] Children under Back-slidings, which ap­pears in the many Gospel-calls, and pro­mises of Remission, and healing made to tempting Souls, when gone astray, and cast out of Gods sight: Re [...]d Isa. 54. Jer. 3.30, 31. Hosea. 14. Luk. 15.

Object. Surely it were better for me to de­stroy my self, (saith another under Temp­tation) than to live only to aggravate m [...] Damnation: I am Condemned already, God hath set me up as a Monument of his wrath; why should I live any longer in this Torment?

Answ. 1. Take heed of Soul-wounding sins, and left you run away from Christ by Unbelief, after falls into them. Some sin against [...]ight, and then instead of flying to the Blood of sprinkling, they depart away further by their Unbelief, than they did by their Back-sliding into sin; and enter­taining hard thoughts of God and Christ, in the Pride of their hearts, they will ra­ther attempt to take a desperate course, than submit to the Righteousness of God, and fall down at the feet of Christ, whose Arms are open to receive the chiefest of Sinners.

2 If thou hadst lain scorching in Ever­lasting Burnings, thou wouldst think it a rich mercy to be on this side Hell again, there are none to sympathize with thee, [Page 40] or to pray for thee, or to give thee a drop of water to cool thy tongue.

3. Although thy present condition be deplorable, yet be not thine own Execu­tioner, if God will give thee a Reprieve in the world. When thou art tempted to it, I solemnly Charge thee to remember that God hath forbidden it, saying, Thou shalt not Kill.

4. In the hour of Temptation go not out in thine own strength; look to Christ, & keep thine hold of him, who is able to keep thee from falling. The Lord hath laid help upon one that is mighty, Psal. 89.19.

5. Give no place to the Devil. Be not affrighted from continuing in thy Calling: the Lord hath promised to keep thee in all thy wayes, & his Angels shall have charge over thee, Psal. 91.11, 12.

6. Thou art grosly mistaken in thinking no case like thine, for no temptation hath taken you, but such as is common to man, 1 Cor. 10.13 Many of Gods dear Children have been as vehemently assaulted with such hellish temptations, though thou thinkest thy Case cannot be parallel'd, and have been recoverd, and their Unbelief, and all their sad Conclusions confuted.

7. When thou art tempted to this sin, [Page 41] flee to that Promise, Isa, 54.17. No w [...]a­p [...] [...] against thee shall prosper. The God of [...]e shall bruise Satan under thy fe [...] [...] Rom 16.20 God is faithful, who will not suffer thee to be tempted a­bove that thou art able; but will with the temptation, also make a way to escape, that thou mayest be able to bear it.

Object. I fear I shall faint in an hour of Tryal?

Answ. 1. This Godly Fear is a special preservative Promise in the New-Covenant against all temptations to Sin, and Aposta­sie, Je [...]. 12 40.

2 Watch and Pray alwayes that thou mayest be accounted worthy to escape all things, that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man, Luk. 21.36.

3. Go not out in thine own strength; for the Eternal God is thy refuge, and un­derneath are Everlasting Arms. Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel ac­cording to the power of God. Be strong in the all-sufficient Grace, which is in Christ Jesus, 2 Tim 2.1. Look to Christ to strength­en thee with all might according to Gods glorious power unto all patience, and long suffering with ioyfulness. The Archers sorely grieved Joseph, and shot at him, but his bowe abode in strength, and the [Page 42] arms of his hands were made strong by the Hands of the mighty God of Jacob, Gen. 49.23.

4 Gods Word is a tried Word. Behold the great Cloud of witnesses, from the be­ginning of the World to this day, all set­ting their Seals of the faithfulness of God, to his exceeding great and precious Pro­mises.

5. Behold Christs wonderful love in leaving his Throne of Glory, and his Fa­thers bosome, and hanging upon the Cross in thy Nature, bearing the wrath of God for all thy monstrous sins; this will con­strain thee to follow God fully, to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth, and to continue with him in his Temptations. Look to Christ to shed abroad his Love in thy heart by his Spirit. Love is strong as Death; many waters cannot quench Love, nor f [...]ouds drown it.

Object. Saith another, I have been long under fearful Temptations to foul and damnable Sins, surely I am an Hypocrite, I love an Hell upon Earth?

Caution. I would not have any self de­ceived Hypocrite, who allows himself de­lightfully in a course of secret sinning to [...]ct himself with this, that his reigning [...]s are out infirmities, because his Con­science [Page 43] stings him after the Commission of sin.

Answ. 1. Flee to the blood of Christ, to wash away the guilt of thy Scarlet sins; and the sense of Gods pardoning Love shed abroad in thy heart, will be one of the most effectual means in the world to keep thee from returning again to folly. It is most evident from Pauls experience, Gal. 2.20. That looking to Christ Crucified for thy sins and back-slidings, is the most expedite help to be Crucified together with him, that the body of sin may be de­stroyed. The Corinthians experienced, that by beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord, (i. e.) the Riches of Gods Grace and Forgiveness through the Blood of Christ, they were changed into the same image, 1 Cor. 3.18. The manifestation of Gods pardoning Love to thee will con­strain thee: This will be thy practical judg­ment; if Christ dyed for thee when thou wast an Enemy, therefore thou that livest shouldest not henceforth live unto thy self, but unto Him that dyed for thee and rose again, 2 Cor. 5. If the Grace of God which brings Salvation appear to thee, 'twill teach t [...]ee to deny Ungodliness & world­ly Lusts; it will work Evangelical Repen­tance in thee, it will dissolve thy frozen [Page 44] heart that thou shalt remember thy wayes and be confounded, and never open thy mouth because of thy shame, when thou beholdest that God is pacified towards thee for all that thou hast done. Ezek. 16 61.

Therefore after thy falls, tho' thy heart be dead & stupid, yet run quickly to Christ with confusion of face, who is exalted to give Repentance, & Remission of sins, Act 5. Be­lieve steadfastly, tho [...] thou hast sinned, yet thou hast an Advocate with the Father, Je­sus Christ, the Righteous, who ever liveth to make intercession for transgressors, 1 Joh. Do not work at all for peace, or healing, thereby f [...]ustrating the death of Christ, but believe in Christ who was delivered for our offences, Rom. 4 25.

2. When thou hast sinned, run not further from God by Ʋnbel [...]e, than thou hast done by thy Buck [...]i [...]lings. Pluck not up the Foun­dation presently. This is one or Satans sub­tilties, by e [...]ticing thee to [...] to break thy peace, to torment and bewilder thee, and to take thee off thy work & usefulness for God. Many [...] may cause matter of Hu­miliation, but not of questioning our estate.

3. Go out in the strength of Christ, & thou shalt overcome at last, [...] [...]0, One cause of ou [...] falls in the hour of temptation, is our going forth in the confidence of received [Page 45] Grace. Therefore live continually under the actual conviction, & sense of thine ina­bility to resist the least temptation, and a­bide in Christ, in whom all fulness dwells.

4. It will be distinguishing love from God, if thro' the injection of fiery darts & other temptations, thou art kept awake from luke­warmness, & from a spirit of slumber & secu­rity, the epedemical sin of this hour of temp­tation which prevails exceedingly upon Saints, & the world, notwithstanding all a­wakening Dispensations, according to Christs Prediction, Mat. 34.25.

5. It may be thy temptations may conti­nue all thy life. Long not so much for deli­verance, as for strength to resist: out of a sloathful principle, we often cry earnestly for victory, therefore Temptations still continue; observe Christs answer to Paul, 2 Cor. 12. there was no deliverance from the thorn in the flesh; but, My Grace is sufficient for thee, for. my strength is made perfect in weakness. Be con­fident of this, Sin shall not have dominion over thee, Rom. 6. Because thou art not un­der the Law, but under the reign of Grace; and that God will give thee power when thou art faint, & will increase thy strength when thou hast no might, Isa. 40 And in the Faith of the full Promises, purchased by Christs blood, take courage, glory in thine [Page 46] infirmities, because of the power of Christ shall rest upon thee. Rejoyce not against me, O mine Enemy, when I fall I shall arise, when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me. Rejoyce in Christ Jesus, by, & in whom thou hast already overcome the world, & art more than a Conquerour, and art raised up together, and made to sit to­gether in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

6. Fight against Sin, the World, the Law, Death, & the Powers of Darkness, as against Conquered Enemies. Pray believingly for that purchase of Christ, Rom. 5. That as sin hath reigned unto Death in thee, Grace may now reign through Righteousness to Eter­nal Life Rejoyce in hope of everlasting rest, where thou wilt more admire the Power & Wisdome of God, in leading & uphold­ing a poor weak worm through such sad Desertions, & Temptations, & inexecrable Labyrinths, then if thou hadst a calm way to Glory. To him [...]at overcometh, saith Christ, will I grant to sit unto me in my Throne, even as I over [...], & am set down with my Father in his Throne, Rev. 3.21. Pray for me who am frequently exercised with an infirm Body, and inward Conflicts.

Now to [...]m who is here to keep us from fal­ling, & to present us faultless before the presence of his Glory, with exceeding joy, be Honour and Dominion for ever.

[Page 47]

ADVICE to SINNERS under Convicti­ons to prevent their Miscarrying in Conversion.

Poor Undone Sinners.

I Send these Truths from the Eter­nal GOD to you in Love & Faith­fulness, unfeignedly desiring that you may be convinced of your Un­belief, and of all your sins, and of [...]our present Accursed and Condemned [...]tate, and that you may be taught of God [...]o rely upon Christ, who dyed for the Un­godly. If you continue Unregenerate, you will certainly ere long be the most mise­rable of the whole Creation and Monu­ments of divine Justice, although you now enjoy the world in its glory. Since di­vers of you were awakened, I hope that God may have thoughts of everlasting love to some of your Souls: therefore as I have warned you to flee for refuge from the wrath of God which is coming upon you▪ and without delay, presently to come out of this dreadful condition to Christ, who [Page 48] will embrace you; so I write to you and to all others to whom these truths may be communicated, to prevent their miscarry­ing in Conversion.

1. Seek to know, and be convinced by the Spirit through the Scriptures, that you are born Dead in sins, and Children of wrath, without Christ, and without hope, Eph. 2.3. And that you lie every moment under Gods Curse and Wrath, in danger of Eternal Condemnation, Gal. 3.10. The wicked shall be turned into Hell, Psal. 9.17. The Soul that sinneth it shall die, Ezek. 18.4. Unbelievers shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on them, though they are insensible of it. The Lord saith, Except a man be bo [...]n again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God, and [...]e that believeth not is Condemned already, Joh. 3.18, 36. Consider seriously th [...]n each of you, I beseech you, what will become of you who are not born again, not ever had the experience of a work of Grace? O that your eyes were open to behold all the sins of your hearts, and lives, in order before you, which may cry aloud continually for vengeance against your guilty Souls▪ 'Twere enough to make you tremble, who are now most senseless. [...] alone quickly, and reflect upon your wayes as in the [...]ight of God. But these [Page 49] Questions to your selves, Have [...] [...] ­times Lied; or Stole, or [...]e an [...]? Have I not prophaned the Lords day? W [...] I ne [...] Proud, nor Wanton, nor Ma [...]? Have I never taken the Lords Name in v [...]in? Have I not been disobedient to my Parent? Have I not a Carnal, Ʋnclean, Ha [...] and Unbelieving Heart? Did I never break God [...] Law? A [...] not I dead in Sins to thir day? Yea surely I must cry out Guilty, Guilty: my Conscience condemns me; what will become of me if I die in this dreadful condition▪ For the Righteous God hath said, Curse [...], every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them. He that spared not the Angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Hell, He that spared not the Old would nor th [...] Cities of Sodom & Gomorrah, but Condemned them with an overthrow, making them an Example unto those which should after live Ungodly, will not spare me long. Does not Hell gape for me? Is there any hopes that such a sinner as I have been, [...] [...]o washed in the blood of Christ? God [...] righteously damn me for these [...] the least sin, Rom. 3.23. It is the Lord [...] mercy that I am not consumed, and now in Hell howling among the Damn [...]d [...] ing [Page 50] out for a drop of water to cool my tongue, Lam. 3.22. Luk. 16.24.

2. Seek the Lord in secret for his Spirit while he may be found, Isa. 55.6. Cry out each of you for the Blood of Christ, as Condemned Malefactors do for Mercy; as they did Act. 2.37 Or as the keeper of the Prison said trembling, What must I do to be saved? Act. 16.30. Rest not one day nor one hour longer quietly or secure­ly, till you have some hopes that Faith is wrought in you by the Spirit, and that Je­sus Christ will plead your cause at the day of Judgment; for without the imputation of his Righteousness there is no remission. Follow Christ, Crying after him as the blind man did, Lord that our eyes may be o­pened, Mat. 20.30. Pray as the Leper did, Mat. 8. Lord, if thou wil [...], thou canst make me clear: Plead importunately for the Spi­rit, which is promised in these last dayes to be poured out upon all flesh, Act. 2.

3. If the Lord by his Word and Spirit makes you sensible of your fearful, undone condition, beware of resting, short of a thorow work of Grace, lest you fall short of Union with Christ through the teach­ings and drawings of the Father, lest you rest in a false Peace, Luk. 11.21. compas­sing [Page 51] your selves about with sparks of your own kindling, through slight wounding, or slight-healing, Isa. 50.11. Take heed of building foolishly upon the Sand, Mat. 7.26, And lest thou prove at best but a fool­ish Virgin walking with the Wise, Mat. 25. Fear lest you should make a CHRIST of Duties, of Praying, We [...]ping, [...]arp [...]sing or Reforming; for the Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, Prov. 15.8. There is a way which seemeth right to a man, [...]hat the end thereof are the wayes of Death, Prov. 14.12. There is a Generation that are pure [...] own eyes, and yet are not washed from [...] filthiness, Prov. 30.12. A man may go very far under the awakenings of Conscience, and have a zeal for God, and yet being ignorant of Gods Righteousness, go about all his life time to establish his own Righteousness, & get nothing at l [...]st, but the Hyp [...] is hope, which shall perish. Thou thus [...] a cover­ing for thy nakedness out of thine own bow­els, thy trust shall be like a Spiders with in the day of thy Calamity, this thou s [...]lt have at the hand of God, thou shalt [...]ie down in sorrow: for Christ is the [...] the Law for Righteousness to every o [...]e that believeth, Joh 8.13 Ro [...] 10.2, 3. By the deeds of the Law there [...] [Page 52] be justifihd in the sight of God, Rom. 3.20. If ever thou find mercy, thou must be justified freely by the Grace of God, through the Redemption which is in Christ Jesus by Faith, without the deeds of the Law, ver. 24. 'Tis true, Faith comes by hearing, and 'tis our duty to attend to Gods appointments where the spirit works; but if Righteousness come by any work of the Law, then Christ is dead in vain, Gal. 2.21. To him that worketh not in the point of Justification, but believeth on him that Justifieth the Ungodly, his Faith is counted for Righteousness; Blessed is that man to whom God imputeth Righte­ousness without Works, Rom. 4, 5.

4. Look to the Lord to convince you of sin, because you believe not in Jesus Christ which is promised, Joh. 16.7, 8. In your attendance on the means of Grace, be wil­ling to be convinced by the Comforter, that your hearts are so desperately wick­ed that you will not come to Christ; and to feel your impotency, that you cannot be­lieve in him unless the Lord put forth the exceeding greatness of His Power, Eph. 1.19.

5. Know assuredly, and welcome these glad tidings, that Christ is come of a truth [Page 53] into the world on purpose to save sinners, and the chiefest of them, 1 Tim. 1.15. God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting Life, Joh. 3.19. Christ hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the Ʋnjust, that He might bring us to God, 1 Pet. 3.18. Flee to this Re­fuge when thou seest thy self Ungodly, and Accursed by the Law of God, and fearest thou shalt be Condemned. Consider with thy self, though I am Ungodly, yet Christ dyed for the Ungodly, Rom. 5.6. Though I am an Enemy, yet Christ hath reconciled Enemies to God by his Death, ver. 10. Though I am Rebellious, and so abomi­nable, that I fear lest the Earth should o­pen and swallow up such a Wretch, and God should righteously sink me to Hell living, and in his Wrath; yet here's good news and encouragement for me, that Je­sus Christ when he ascended on high re­ceived gifts for men, yea, for the rebel­lious also, that the Lord might dwell a­mongst the rebellious, Ps [...]l. 68.18. Tho' I am Accursed, and I see evidently God threatens to Damn me in many Scriptures, yet is there hopes for such a Condemned sinner, since Christ hath redeemed coursed sinners from the Curse of the Law, being [Page 54] made a Curse for them, that they might receive the Blessing of Abraham, and the promise of the Spirit, Gal. 3.13.

6. Believe in Jesus Christ, because 'tis the Command of God, and pleasing in his sight; and thy Duty, though thou canst see no other warrant or ground of encou­ragement. It is not only thy Priviledge but thy Duty to Believe. This is his Com­mandment, that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ, 1 Joh. 3 22. Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, Act. 16 31. Christ tells Hypocrites that sought him for their bellies, This is the work of God, that ye believe in Him whom God hath sent, Joh. 6.28. Apply the Word thus for thy self; the righteous God that knows all my hainous sins, instead of Condemning me for them, commands me to Believe on his Son, & assures me that I shall be saved. The Lord give thee the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, and the obedience of Faith. The voice of the Lord Jesus is powerful, and his Sheep hear it, pray earnestly that his commands may come with power to thy Soul.

7. Rejoyce to hear that Jesus Christ is become an earnest Suitor for thy love. The [Page 55] Lord that was Crucified for the chiefest of sinners, now saith to thee, Beheld I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, Rev. 3.20. I am [...] come to call the Righteous, but Sinners, saith the Lord, Mat. 9.13. Come unto me all ye who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Mat. 11.28. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come, Isa. 55.1. The Spirit and the Bride say come, and let him that heareth say come, and let him that is athirst come, and whoso­ever will let him take the water of Life freely, Rev. 22.17. Hearken therefore to the ravishing voice of Christ, although thou mayest judge thy self the vilest and chief­est of Sinners, & mayest verily think there may be mercy for others, but there is none for such a great monstrous sinner as thou hast been; yet here is the joyful Sound, that the Son of Man, God manifest in the flesh, is come to seek and save that which is lost, Luk. 19.10.

How dreadful soever thy condition may be in thy own thoughts, yet Christ saith, Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Joh. 37. Though you therefore feel hard and dead hearts, yet come as sinners [Page 56] unto Christ, who came to seek and save such. The Lord calls Stout-hearted-sin­ners who are far from Righteousness to hearken unto him, Isa. 46.12.

8. When your hearts are sinking under the sense of Gods wrath, then resolve in the strength of Christ to rely upon him, to cast & roul your selves upon him, what­ever be the issue. If I perish, I will perish at the feet of Christ, for otherwise I am sure to perish; if he condemn me he is righteous, if he save me, 'twill be riches of Free Grace for ever to be admired. Venture thus upon Christ against a thou­sand discouragements was the Lepers ven­tured into the [...]ents of the S [...]rian [...], 2 King. 7.4, 5. Press in upon Christ, resolving to take no denial, as the Woman of Canaan did, Mat. 15.22. These had a blessed issue out of their difficulties, and thou shalt find at length that the bowels of Christ will yearn over thy [...]ing Soul, lying at his feet for a Crumb, [...] will embrace thee with mispeakable [...]. Thus let the Kingdom of Heaven suffer violence; press thou into it, and take it by force.

Never attempt to believe or repent in thy own strength; but Look unto Jesus in [Page 57] whom it hath pleased the Father all fulness should dwell, Col. 1.19. As thou would'st not proved [...]o [...]n Hypocrite, beware of a dead Faith of thy own forming, which is not the Faith of the operation of God, Col. 2.12. Look not for that in thy self which is to be found in Christ, nor for that in the Law which is to be found in the Gospel: this hath been the cause of the long troubles of many precious Souls. When thou fearest thou shalt die Eternally be­cause thou canst not believe, look out of thy self unto Christ, who is full of Grace, and behold his Glory, Joh. 1.1 [...] Look un­to me and be ye saved all the ends of the Earth, Isa. 45.22. Look unto Jesus the Beginner and finisher of Faith, Heb. 12.2. Christ never comes expecting to find Faith or Repentance, but looks upon a filthy Soul polluted in his own Blood, and saith unto him, Live, and this time is the time of Love, Ezek. 16.6, — The Grace of the Lord is exceeding, abundant to the chiefest of sinners; with Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus, 1 Tim. 1.14. When thou turnest thine eyes in [...] and fearest t [...] the hardness and impenitency of thy heart will surely be thy ruine; flee to that revi­ving Word, Act. [...] 30, 31, God hath raised up Jesus, and exalted Him with His right [Page 58] hand to be a Prince & a Saviour, to give Re­pentance to Israel, and Remission of sins. The Lord hath promised in the latter days to destroy the vail of Unbelief which is spread over all Nations, Isa. 25.7. Dost thou find by experience that Word true, No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him Behold in the next verse what a full promse of help is made to thee They shall be all taught of God; every man therefore that hath heard and learnt of the Father cometh unto me, Joh. 6.44. Psal. 25 Good and upright is the Lord, therefore will he teach sinners [...]n the way. Christ saith, I am the way unto the Father, Joh. 16.4. Fol­low the [...]d at the Throne of Grace with Cries and Groans unutterable, without ceasing; O draw me to Christ, help me to close with and to rely upon him. If thou findest still 'tis impossible for thee to be­lieve, hear the Lord saying to thee, Let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me, and in shall make peace with me, Isa. 27.5. He giveth power to the faint and to them [...] have no [...] might he encreaseth st [...]ength, Chap. [...]0.29. There are trust in the Lord for ever; for the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength, Chap. 26 4. It is my earnest desire and prayer, that this may be the time of Gods special love, and the [Page 59] day of his power, that you may be Uni­ted to Christ by Faith wrought in you by the power of Gods Spirit, that you may thirst after, and receive a full assurance of Gods Love, and that you may have the love of Christ shed abro [...] [...] [...]ts; and may abide in Chri [...]t, be [...] the Grace which is in Him, whi [...] [...] [...]f­ficie [...] for you in the gr [...]t [...] and that you may be taught of God is [...] his Praises, and to rejoyce with [...]ng; and may never lose [...] love; or fall into a spirit of [...] or [...]lusion, but may grow in the [...] of Christ, and being Planted in the house of God, may bring forth much fruit [...] your selves, and taking up the Cross of Christ, walking worthy of the Lord all your few days, to the Praise of his Free Grace, who hath called you into His Kingdom and Glory▪

O that these Lines may not hereafter rise up in Judgment at the last Day a­gainst any of you which slight them, and Condemn you, and that they may be the Voice and Call of God, His Arm and Power revealed to your Salvation. The presence of the Comforter be with you forever.

FINIS.
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ADVERTISEMENT.

THere is now in the Press, a small Book, Entituled, A New-Years-Gift for Fainting Souls. Or a little Handful of Cordial-comforts, Scattered throughout several Answers, to Sixteen Questions and Objections: As also Doubting Christians invited to Christ. Intended chiefly for the good of those that walk Mournfully before God: And are worthy to be gathered up, and regarded of all such as wish well to their own Peace, By Mr. Richard Stand­fast, Minister of the Gospel in Bristol.

Printed for, and Sold by Nichola [...] Bu [...] ­telph, at the Corner of Gatteridges Coffe-House in Boston.

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