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medicines which he offers, and are called to for- | deemer, on terms of grace, and to make intercessake all, and follow him to God and glory.

I pray you, read over this leaf again, and mark it; for in these few words you have a true description of our natural state; and consequently of a wicked man. For every man that is in this state of corrupted nature, is a wicked man, and in a state of death.

sion for us, that the benefits of his death may be communicated, and to send the Holy Ghost, which the Father also doth by the Son.

The works of the Holy Ghost for us are these: to indite the holy scriptures, by inspiring and guiding the prophets and apostles; sealing the word, by his miraculous gifts and works: illuminating and exciting the ordinary ministers of the gospel; so enabling them, and helping them to publish that word, and by the same word illuminating and converting the souls of men. So that as you could not have been reasonable creatures, if the Father had not created you; not have had any access to God, if the Son had not redeemed you; so neither can you have a part in Christ, or be saved, except the Holy Ghost do sanctify you.

By this also you are prepared to understand what it is to be converted, to which end you must further know, that the mercy of God, not willing that man should perish in his sin, provided a remedy, by causing his Son to take our nature, and being in one person God and man, to become a Mediator between God and man; and by dying for our sins on the cross, to ransom us from the curse of God and the power of the devil: he having thus redeemed us, the Father hath delivered us into his hands, as his own. So that by this time you may see the several Hereupon the Father and Mediator do make a causes of this work. The Father sends the Son; new law and covenant for man. Not like the the Son redeems us, and makes the promise of first, which gave life to none but the perfectly grace; the Holy Ghost indites and seals this obedient, and condemned man for every sin: gospel: the apostles are the secretaries of the but Christ hath made a law of grace, or a pro- Spirit, to write it: the preachers of the gospel mise of pardon and everlasting life to all, that to proclaim it, and persuade men to obey it; by true repentance, and by faith in Christ, are and the Holy Ghost doth make their preaching converted unto God. Like an act of oblivion, effectual, by opening the hearts of men to inwhich is made by a prince, to a company of re-tertain it. All this is to repair the image of bels, on condition they will lay down their arms, God upon the soul, and to set the heart upon come in, and be loyal subjects for the time to God again, and take it off the creature, and carnal self, to which it is revolted, and so turn the current of this life into an heavenly course, which before was earthly; and all this by the entertainment of Christ by faith, who is the

come.

*

But because the Lord knows that the heart of man is grown so wicked that, for all this, men will not accept of the remedy if they be left to themselves; therefore the Holy Ghost hath un-physician of the soul. dertaken it as his office, to inspire the apostles, and seal up the scripture by miracles and wonders, and to illuminate and convert the souls of the elect.

So that by this much you see, that as there are three persons in the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; so each of these persons have their several works, which are eminently ascribed to them.

The Father's works were, to create us, to rule us as his rational creatures, by the law of nature, and judge us thereby in mercy to provide us a Redeemer when we were lost; and to send his Son, and accept his ransom.

The works of the Son for us were these: to ransom and redeem us by his sufferings and righteousness, to give out the promise or law of grace, and rule and judge the world as their Re

*Our Author here does not mean what some call 'a remedial law, in which God accepts what they call man's sincerity in perfect obedience. Baxter had not so learned Christ.

By this which I have said, you may see what it is to be wicked, and what it is to be unconverted. Which I think, will be yet plainer to you, if I describe them, as consisting of their several parts: thus a wicked man may be known by these three things:

First, He is one that places his chief happin ess on earth; loves the creature more than God, and his fleshly prosperity above the heavenly felicity: he savours the things of the flesh, but neither discerns nor savours the things of the Spirit: though he will say, that heaven is better than earth, yet doth he not really so esteem it himself. If he might be sure of earth, he would let go heaven; and had rather stay here, than be removed thither. A life of perfect holiness, in the sight of God, and in his love, and praises for ever in heaven, doth not find such liking with his heart as a life of health, wealth, and honour here upon earth. Though he falsely profess that he loves God above all, yet indeed

he never felt the power of divine love within him, but his mind is more set on the world, or fleshly pleasures, than on God. In a word, whoever loves earth above heaven, and fleshly prosperity more than God, is a wicked, unconverted

man.

On the other side, a converted man is illuminated to discern the loveliness of God; and so far believes the glory that is to be had with God, that his heart is taken up to it, and set more upon it than on any thing in this world. He had rather see the face of God, and live in his everlasting love and praises, than have all the wealth or pleasure of the world. He sees that all things else are vanity, and nothing but God can fill the soul and therefore let the world go which way it will, he lays up his treasures and hopes in heaven; and for that he is resolved to let go all. As the fire doth mount upward, and the needle that is touched with the load-stone, still turns to the north, so the converted soul is inclined unto God. Nothing else can satisfy him nor can he find any content and rest but in his love. In a word, all that are converted esteem and love God better than all the world, and the heavenly felicity is dearer to them than their fleshly prosperity. The proof of what I have said, you may find in many places of scripture.

Secondly. A wicked man is one that makes it the principal business of his life to prosper in the world, and attain his fleshly ends. And though he may read and hear, do much in the outward duties of religion, and forbear disgraceful sins; yet this is all but mere form, and he never makes it the principal business of his life to please God, and attain everlasting glory, but puts off God with the dregs of the world, and gives him no more service than the flesh can spare; for he will not part with all for heaven.

On the contrary, a converted man is one that makes it the principal care and business of his life to please God, and to be saved; takes all the blessings of this life but as accommodations in his journey towards another life, and uses the creature in subordination unto God; he loves an holy life, and longs to be more holy; he hath no sin but what he hates, longs, prays, and strives to be rid of. The bent of his life is for God and if he sin, it is contrary to the very bent of his heart and life, and therefore he rises again, and laments it, and dare not wilfully live in any known sin. There is nothing in this world so dear to him but he can give it up to God, and forsake it for him and the hopes of glory.

Thirdly, The soul of a wicked man did never truly discern and relish the mystery of redemption, nor thankfully entertain an offered Saviour, nor is he taken up with the love of the Redeemer, nor willing to be ruled by him as the physician of his soul, that he may be saved from the guilt and power of his sins, and recovered unto God; but his heart is insensible of this unspeakable benefit, and is quite against the healing means by which he should be recovered. Though he may be willing to be carnally religious, yet he never resigned up his soul to Christ, and to the motions and conduct of his word and Spirit.

On the contrary, the converted soul having felt himself undone by sin; perceiving that he hath lost his peace with God, hopes of heaven, and is in danger of everlasting misery, doth thankfully entertain the tidings of redemption, and believing in the Lord Jesus as his only Saviour, resigns up himself to him for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. He takes Christ as the life of his soul, lives by him, and uses him as a salve for every sore, admiring the wisdom and love of God in his wonderful work of man's redemption. In a word, Christ doth even dwell in his heart by the faith, and the life that he now liveth is by faith of the Son of God, that hath loved him, and gave himself for him.' Yea, it is not so much he that lives, as Christ in him.

You see now, in plain terms, from the word of God, who are the wicked and who are the converted. Ignorant people think, that if a man be no swearer, curser, railer, drunkard, fornicator, extortioner, nor wrong any body in their dealings, and if they come to church, and say their prayers, these cannot be wicked men. Or if a man that hath been guilty of drunkenness, swearing, gaming, or the like vices, do but forbear them for the time to come, they think that this is a converted man. Others think, if a man that hath been an enemy, and a scorner of godliness, do but approve it, join himself with those that are godly, and be hated for it by the wicked, as the godly are, that this needs must be a converted man. Some are so foolish as to think they are converted, by taking up some new and false opinion. Some think, if they have but been affrighted by the fears of hell, and had convictions of conscience, and thereupon have purposed, promised amendment, taken up a life of civil behaviour, and outward religion, that this must needs be true conversion. These are the poor deluded souls that are like to lose the benefit of all our persuasions. When they hear that the wicked must turn or die, they

think that this is not spoken of them; for they now appear to be a real misery, that is not to are not wicked, but are turned already. There- be ventured on or jested with. The works of fore it is, that Christ told some of the rulers of holiness, which before he was weary of, and the Jews, who were more grave and civil than seemed to be more ado than needs, are now both the common people, that 'publicans and harlots his recreation, his business, and the trade he do go into the kingdom of God before them.' lives upon. Not that an harlot or gross sinner can be saved without conversion, but because it was easier to make those gross sinners perceive their sin and misery, and the necessity of a change, when the more civil sort do delude themselves by thinking that they are converted already when they be not. Conversion is another kind of work than most are aware of. It is not a small matter to bring an earthly mind to heaven, and to show man the amiable excellencies of God, till he be taken up in such love to him, that can never be quenched, to break the heart for sin, and make him fly for refuge unto Christ, and thankfully embrace him as the life of his soul; to have the very drift and bent of the heart and life to be changed; so that a man renounces that which he took for his felicity, places his felicity where he never did before, lives not to the same end, and drives not on the same design in the world as formerly he did: in a word, he that is in Christ, is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.' He hath a new understanding, a new will and resolution, new sorrows, desires, love and delight; new thoughts, new speeches, new company, if possible, and a new conversation. Sin, that before was a jesting matter with him, is now so odious and terrible to him, that he flies from it as from death. The world that was so lovely in his eyes, doth now appear but as vanity and vexation; God, that was before neglected, is now the only happiness of his soul; before he was forgotten and every lust preferred before him, but now he is set next the heart, and all things must give place to him; the heart is taken up in the attendance and observance of him, is grieved when he hides his face, and never thinks itself well without him. Christ himself, that was wont to be slightly thought of, is now his only hope and refuge, he lives upon him, as on his daily bread, he cannot pray without him, nor rejoice without him, | nor think, nor speak, nor live without him. Heaven itself, that before was looked upon but as a tolerable reserve, which he hoped might serve better than hell, when he could not stay any longer in the world, is now taken for his home, the place of his only hope and rest, where he shall see, love, and praise that God which hath his heart already. Hell, that did seem before but as a bugbear to frighten men from sin, doth

The Bible, which was before to him but almost as a common book, is now as the law of God, as a letter written to him from heaven, and subscribed with the name of the eternal majesty; it is the rule of his thoughts, words, and deeds; the commands are binding, the threats are dreadful, and the promises of it speak life to the soul. The godly, that seemed to him but like other men, are now the most excellent and happiest on earth. The wicked, that were his play-fellows, are now his grief; and he that could laugh at their sins is readier now to weep for their sin and misery. In short, he hath a new end in his thoughts, and a new way in his endeavours, and therefore his heart and life are new. Before, his carnal self was his end? His pleasure and worldly profits and credits were his way: now God and everlasting glory is his end; Christ, the Spirit, word, and ordinances, holiness to God righteousness and mercy to men, these are his way. Before, self was the chief ruler, to which the matters of God and conscience must stoop and give place; and now God, in Christ, by the Spirit, word and ministry, is the chief ruler, to whom both self, and all the matters of self, must give place: so that this is not a change in one, or two, or twenty points: but in the whole soul; and the very end, and bent of the conversation. A man may step out of one path into another, and yet have his face still the same way, and be still going towards the same place, but it is another matter to turn quite back again, and take his journey the contrary way to a contrary place. So is it here; a man may turn from drunkenness to soberness, and forsake his good fellowship, and other gross, disgraceful sins, and set upon some duties of religion, and yet be going still to the same end as before, intending his carnal self above all, and giving it still the government of his soul. But when he is converted, this self is denied, taken down, God is set up, and his face is turned the contrary way, and he that before was addicted to himself, and lived to himself, is now, by sanctification, devoted to God and lives unto God: before he asked himself what he should do with his time, his parts, and his estate, and for himself he used them; but now he asks God what he shall do with them and uses them for him; before he would please God so far as

might stand with the pleasure of his flesh, and carnal self, but not to any great displeasure of them ; but now he will please God, let flesh and self be never so much displeased. This is the great change that God will make upon all that shall be saved.

You can say that the Holy Ghost is our sanctifier; but do you know what sanctification is? Why, this is it that I have now opened to you: and every man and woman in the world must have this, or be condemned to everlasting misery. They must turn or die.

Do you believe all this, or do you not? Surely you dare not say you do not: for it is past all doubt or denial; these are not controversies, where one learned, pious man is of one mind, and another of another; where one party saith this, and the other saith that; every sect among us, that deserves to be called Christians, are all agreed in this that I have said, and if you will not believe the God of truth, and that in a case where every sect and party doth believe him, you are utterly inexcusable.

with those tongues, but a little longer, till the resurrection day; and can you make shift to forget this ? What a place will you be shortly in of joy or torment! What a sight will you shortly see in heaven or hell! What thoughts will shortly fill your hearts with unspeakable delight or horror! What work will you be employed in? To praise the Lord with saints and angels, or to cry out in fire unquenchable with devils: and should all this be forgotten? And all this is to be endless, and sealed up by an unchangeable degree. Eternity, eternity will be the measure of your joys or sorrows, and can this be forgotten? And all this is true, most certainly true: when you have gone up and down a little longer, and slept and awaked but a few times more, you will be dead and gone, and find all true that now I tell you; and yet can you now so much forget it? You shall then remember you heard this sermon, and that this day, in this place, you were remembered of these things, and perceive them matters a thousand times greater than either you or I could here conceive, and yet shall they be now so much forgotten.

But if you do believe this, how comes it to pass that you are so quiet in an unconverted state? Do you think you are converted; and Beloved friends, if the Lord had not awakened can you find this wonderful change upon your me to believe and lay to heart these things mysouls? Have you been thus born again, and made self, I should have remained in the dark and anew; are not these strange matters to many of selfish state, and have perished for ever: but if you, and such as you never felt upon yourselves? he have truly made me sensible of them, it will If you cannot tell the day or week of your constrain me to compassionate you, as well as change, or the very sermon that converted you, myself. If your eyes were so far open as to see yet do you find that the work is done, and such hell, and you saw your neighbours that were a change indeed there is, and that you have unconverted, dragged thither with hideous such hearts as are before described? Alas, the cries; though they were such as you accountmost follow their worldly business, and little ed honest people on earth, and feared no such trouble their minds with such thoughts. If they matter by themselves, such a sight would make be but restrained from scandalous sins, and can you go home and think of it, and think again, say, I am no whoremonger, nor thief, nor curser, and make you warn all about you as Dives nor swearer, nor tippler, nor extortioner, I go would have had his brethren warned, lest they to the church and say my prayers; they think come to that place of torment. Why, faith is that this is true conversion, and they shall be a kind of sight, it is the eye of the soul, the saved as well as any. Alas, this is foolish de- evidence of things not seen: if I believe God, ceiving of yourselves; this is too much contempt it is next to seeing: therefore I beseech you to of an endless glory, and too gross neglect of your excuse me, if I be half as earnest with you immortal souls. Can you make so light of hea- about these matters, as if I had seen them. If ven and hell; your corpse will shortly be in the I must die to-morrow, and it were in my power dust, and angels or devils will presently seize to come again from another world, and tell you upon your souls. Every man or woman of you what I had seen, would you not be willing to all will shortly be among other company, and hear me; would you not believe, and regard in another case than now you are: you will what I should tell you? If I might preach one dwell in these houses but a little longer; you sermon to you after I am dead, and have seen will work in your shops and fields but a little what is done in the world to come, would you longer, you will sit in these seats, and dwell on not have me plainly speak the truth; would you this earth but a little longer; you will see with not crowd to hear me; would you not lay it to those eyes, hear with those ears, and speak | heart ? But this must not be: God hath his ap

so far, as to send men from the dead to them, and alter his established way; if any man quarrel with the sun, God will not humour him so far as to set up a clearer light. Friends, I beseech you regard me now, as you would do if I should come from the dead to you: for I can give you the full assurance of the truth of what I say to you, as if I had been there and seen it with my eyes; for it is possible for one from the dead to deceive you but Jesus Christ can never deceive you; the word of God, delivered in scripture, and sealed up by the miracles and holy workings of the Spirit, can never deceive you. Believe this, or believe nothing. Believe, and obey this, or you are undone. Now, as ever you believe the word of God, and as ever you care for the salvation of your souls, let me beg of you this reasonable request, and I beseech you deny me not, that you would without any more delay when you are gone from hence, remember what you heard, and enter into an earnest search of your hearts, and say unto yourselves,

'pointed way of teaching you by scripture and | the refuse of flesh. Is my heart now turned anministers; and he will not humour unbelievers other way; have I a new design, a new end, and a new train of holy affections; have I set my hope and heart in heaven; is it the scope, design, and bent of my heart and life, to get well to heaven, to see the glorious face of God, and live in his everlasting love and praise; when I sin, is it against the habitual bent and design of my heart; do I conquer all gross sins, and am I weary and willing to be rid of my infirmities? This is the state of a converted soul. Thus must it be with me, or I must perish. Is it thus with me indeed, or is it not? It is time to get this doubt resolved, before the dreadful Judge resolve it. I am not such a stranger to my own heart and life, but I may somewhat perceive whether I am thus converted or not: if I be not, it will do me no good to flatter my soul with false conceits and hopes. I am resolved no more to deceive myself, but endeavour to know truly, off or on, whether I be converted, yea or no; that if I be, I may rejoice in it, and glorify my gracious Lord, and comfortably go on till I reach the crown: and if I am not, I may set 'Is it so indeed; must I turn or die; must I myself to beg and seek after the grace that be converted or condemned? It is time for me should convert me and may turn without any then to look about me, before it be too late. O more delay: for, if I find in time that I am out why did not I look after this till now; why did of the way, by the help of Christ I may turn and I venturously put off or skim over so great a be received; but if I stay till either my heart business; was I awake, or in my senses? O be forsaken of God in blindness and hardness, or blessed God, what a mercy is it that thou didst till I be snatched away by death, it is then too not cut off my life all this while, before I had late. any There is no place for repentance and concertain hope of eternal life. Well, God forbid version then; I know it must be now or never.' that I should neglect this work any longer. What state is my soul in; am I converted, or am I not? Was ever such a change or work done upon my soul; have I been illuminated by the word and Spirit of the Lord, to see the odiousness of sin, the need of a Saviour, the love of Christ, and the excellencies of God and glory; is my heart broken, or humbled within me for my former life; have I thankfully entertained my Saviour and Lord, that offered himself with pardon and life to my soul; do I hate my former sinful life, and the remnant of every sin that is in me; do I fly from them as my deadly enemies; do give up myself to a life of holiness, and obedience to God? Do I love it, and delight in it? Can I truly say that I am dead to the world and carnal self; that I live for God, and the glory which he hath promised. Hath heaven more of estimation and resolution than earth; is God the dearest and highest in my soul? Once, I am sure, I lived principally to the world and flesh, and God had nothing but some heartless services which the world could spare, and which were

This is my request of you, that you will but take your hearts to task, and thus examine them, till you see, if it may be, whether you are converted or not; and if you cannot find it out by your own endeavours, go to your ministers, if they be faithful and experienced men, and desire their assistance. The matter is great, let not bashfulness nor carelessness hinder you. They are set over you, to advise you for the saving of your souls, as physicians advise you for the curing of your bodies. It undoes many thousands, that they think they are in the way to salIvation when they are not; and think that they are converted, when it is no such thing. When we call to them daily to turn, they go away as they came, and think that this concerns not them; for they are turned already, and hope they shall do well enough in the way that they are in, at least if they pick the fairest path, and avoid some of the foulest steps; when alas, all this while they live but to the world, the flesh, are strangers to God, and eternal life, and are quite out of the way to heaven. All this is much, because we cannot

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