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Others withdraw on pretence that we are unbaptized, to which end they must coin a new baptism, or else they are at a loss. And their arguing with us, will be much like the Papists in the point of transubstantiation, which requireth that men renounce their sense, and say, that they see not that which they see, and feel not or taste not that which indeed they feel and taste, and then they may come to be in the right. And so we must believe that we see none baptized in our churches, nor hear it, nor know of any such If these brething, and then we may come to be a church. thren had half so much humility, or Christian love, and sense of the unity of the church of Christ as they should have, they would think on it, and think again, before they would either say of the universal church of Christ for one age, much more so for many ages, that it was no church, or not to be joined with. For he that dares renounce communion with the whole, doth make it hard to be discerned that he is a part: and he that is not a member of the body, will not find another body of Christ, whose communion is desirable. For my part, I believe the church hath had many errors in many ages, but I know no age since the creation, in which, if I had lived, I durst have disclaimed communion with her. Much less dare I think of running out of the way to heaven, which almost all they went in that are there; or of separating from all the church of Christ, from Adam till within this two hundred years, or thereabout: for if there were no church till then, there was no Head, no Christ, and so no Christianity. Yea, if there were none but for any one time. O! if it were the will of God that we could have as clear light in some other weighty points, as we have in Scripture for the baptism of the children of believers; how much would it do to quiet the understandings of many that are willing to know.

3. Others there be that despise the solemn praises of the congregations, because some psalms are such as all cannot truly, they think, recite.

1. As if no recital were lawful, but that which personally owneth the words, which can never be proved.

2. And do they not know that God himself hath prevented their objection? And that it flieth in his own face? Who knoweth not that these psalms, or at least very

many of them, were appointed for the solemn praise of God in the temple and congregations of the Jews in those times? And if those could lawfully use them, whose hearts were generally no more fitted to them than ours, may not we do so too?

3. And do they not know that their scruple doth make not only against psalms, but all public prayer also to be unlawful? For you cannot so speak in any such public prayers or praises, but there will be somewhat which will not suit with the particular dispositions of many in the congregation personally to own, or else your duty will be very defective. If you express rejoicing, must all drooping spirits separate from the assembly that cannot rejoice? But I will trouble you no more with this. If any are unsatisfied, let them read but Mr. Cotton's book on this question, and Mr. Ford's, and they may receive satisfaction. And if they will in this, and the aforesaid cases of baptism, separation, and the rest, divide from the church, and venture on damnation to save themselves the labour of reading that which is written to give them information, they must take what they get by it. Who can help it?

Hindrance 19. Another hindrance of conversion, is, A proud, unteachable frame of spirit: when people are so wise in their own eyes, they think they know enough already ; and they scorn to be taught. If the wisest minister in England should live with such, they would but despise his counsel in every thing almost that crosseth their conceits. As long as he will humour them, and say as they say, he shall be a good man, and well spoken of by all; but if he will trouble them, and cross them, and tell them that which is against their present opinion, they think themselves wiser in this than he, and if they do not bid him look to himself, and let them alone, at least they will give him little thanks, and shew it by their small regard. Some of them will not come near us, nor give us the hearing, when we would teach them; and others, though they hear, do think themselves too wise to believe or obey. And thus they are fixed in a state of misery.

Direct. 19. If ever you will be converted, humbly submit to the word of God, and the instructions of those whom he hath appointed to inform you. What unreasonable pride

is it in you that are ignorant, unlearned men, to despise the counsel of the most able, godly ministers, and that in points wherein the godly through all the world are agreed? Yea, where God himself doth lead them by his word? Are not they likely to know more than you that have studied it all their days? Discourse with them, and try whether they or you have more knowledge. Consider what you do when you proudly reason against the necessity of conversion and a holy life. What, are you wiser than your teachers, and than the ablest teachers in the land? Yea, than all the ministers in the world, and than all the godly people in the world? Silly souls, that scarce know any of the principles of religion, are yet so proud as to despise the instruction from the wisest whoever. But if you think yourselves wiser than all the ministers in the world, will you also think yourselves wiser than God? I tell you, either illuminating grace, or the conviction of God's judgment, shall take down your lofty hearts ere long, and make you wish you had stooped to instruction. The day is coming that will abate your pride, and make you talk a little more submissively. Hearken therefore in time, lest that befal you that is mentioned, Prov. v. 11–13. "Lest thou mourn at last when thy flesh and body are consumed; and say, how have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof? And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me?" If you are too wise to learn, you will prove in the end too foolish to be saved.

Hindrance 20. The last hindrance of conversion that I shall mention, is, Wilful obstinacy. When men have long resisted grace, they are given over oftentimes to themselves, and then they grow wilful: and when they have nothing else to say, why they should not be converted and become the people of God, they can say, they will not: they will never be so holy, nor deny their flesh, nor forsake the world, nor set themselves to a heavenly life: they will not believe that this is so necessary: nor will they ever yield to such a course: come on it what will, they are resolved against it ; before they will do it they will venture their souls, and let God do with them what he will: and this desperate wilfulness is the devil's last hold.

Direct. 20. What direction should I give you against

this hindrance? When the will is so corrupt and obstinate, whatsoever I give it will be rejected. If you were but willing I should make no doubt but the work might prosper; or if you were but reasonable, and teachable, and persuadable, I should make no doubt, through the blessing of God, but the former means might make you yield; but if men be wilful and resolved to perish, what remedy? If men could give us any reason against conversion and a holy life, and did err through the mere mistake of their understandings, I should make no doubt, through the blessing of God, but by bare reason they might be rectified. But when their will is their reason, and they are resolved whatsoever comes of it, to hold on, and stop their ears against advice, what can we say to these men? All that I can do, is, to commend to them the former considerations, and to desire them to think of those motives before delivered, which may change their wills. But I have but little hope to prevail with them so much as soberly to think of it. And because so many of our poor people are of this strain, I am forced here to end this subject with lamentation.

I have preached now many sermons to you of conversion, and whether any souls be converted by it, the Lord knows, I know not. But the sad observation of the state of the world, and the uneffectualness of such endeavours, doth justly make me fear the issue. I know that both I and this congregation shall shortly appear before our Judge, to give a strict account of our lives, and if I have not preached these sermons in sincerity, with a true desire after the saving of your souls, then how shall I stand before the Lord, if the blood of Christ through faith and repentance prevail not for remission? And if any man or woman in this town or parish shall there appear in an unconverted state, what will they be able to say for themselves? Or how will they escape the threatened damnation ? I am not out of hope that I shall meet some souls there, though yet I know not of them, that will be able to say, they were converted by these sermons; but I am so much afraid lest I shall meet abundance of you in an unconverted state, that I could even find in my heart to sit down and weep over these sermons now I have preached them. Alas! that you should be condemned by that which was intended to further your salva

tion. Have I studied and preached all this to be a witness against you? I know, as true as you sit in these seats, that every soul of you shall be for ever in hell, that passeth out of the body in an unconverted state. And I know when you have heard so much of it, and been so often warned, and now are left without excuse, you will have a double condemnation. For now it is your mere wilfulness that must keep you unconverted. If you say, you cannot convert yourselves, I ask in a word, will you do what you can? Tell me, will you, or will you not? If you will not, what remedy? If you will, look over the directions I have given you, and set upon the faithful practice of them. Particularly, see that you presently search the Scriptures, and read good books, and forsake your evil company, and come not near them, but get among those that fear the Lord, and take all opportunities public and private, and inquire of your teachers and neighbours that can help you, what you shall do to be saved? And sin no more wilfully, but avoid the very temptations and appearances of evil, and be much with God in secret and open prayer: and dwell in the consideration of your own estate, of your own sin and danger, of Christ and duty, of grace and glory, and think not any pains too much for your salvation. What say you? Will you do but thus much, or will you not? If you will, you shall find no cause to repent of it, and God will not be wanting to that soul that doth not wilfully forsake him, but is willing to be conformed to the image of his Son; and to be what God would have him be. But, alas! it is this wilfulness, and obstinacy that undoes men: that is, that which shuts up the heart of God and man from compassionating the wicked in their everlasting misery. They did it wilfully; they would take no warning; they would hear no counsel; no saying would serve them; they chose their own destruction; it was their own doing; they were told of it a hundred times; they were entreated to consider, but they would not be entreated. What could have been said more to them? What could we do more for them? O that any one of you could tell me what I should say more, or what I should do now to save the souls of ignorant, fleshly, worldly sinners from damnation! And to convert the unconverted, and turn the hearts of men to God! O that you could but tell me how I might accom

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