Let the blind Samaritans worship they know not what. John 4:22. Let the heathen Athenians inscribe their altar “To the unknown God.” Acts 17:22. Let Papists commend ignorance as the mother of devotion. They that know man’s constitution, and the nature of the reasonable soul, cannot but know that the understanding has such empire in the soul, that he who will go rationally to work must labor to let in light there. And therefore, that you may not mistake me, I shall first show what I mean by the conversion I persuade you to endeavor after.
Truly, my beloved, the devil hath made many counterfeits of conversion, and cheats one with this, and another with that; and such craft and artifice - he hath in his mystery of deceits, that, if it were possible, he would deceive the very elect. Now, that I may cure the ruinous mistake of some who think they are converted when they are not, as well as remove the troubles and fears of others, who think they are not converted when they are, I shall show you THE NATURE OF CONVERSION, BOTH WHAT IT IS NOT, AND WHAT IT IS.
We will begin with the negative.
It is not the taking upon us the profession of Christianity. Christianity is more than a name. If we will hear Paul, it lies not in word, but in power. 1 Cor. 4:20. If to cease to be Jews and Pagans, and. to put on the Christian profession, had been true conversion—as this is all that some would have to be understood by it—who better Christians than they of Sardis and Laodicea? These were all Christians by profession, and had a name to live only: but because they had a name, they are condemned by Christ, and threatened to be rejected. Rev.3:1, 16. Are there not many that name the name of the Lord Jesus, that yet depart not from iniquity, 2 Tim. 2:19, and “profess they know God, but in works deny him?” Titus 1:16. And will God receive these for true converts? What, converts from sin, when yet they live in sin? It is a visible contradiction. Surely, if the lamp of profession would have served the turn, the foolish virgins had never been shut out. Matt. 25:12. We find not only professors, but preachers of Christ, and wonder-workers, rejected, because evil-workers. Matt. 7:22, 23.
It is not putting on the badge of Christ in baptism. Ananias, and Sapphira, and Simon Magus were baptized as well as the rest. How fondly do many mistake here, deceiving and being deceived; dreaming that effectual grace is necessarily tied to the external administration of baptism—which, what is it but to revive the popish tenet of the sacraments working grace 2—and thus, that every baptized person is regenerated, not only sacramentally, but really and properly. Hence, men fancy, that being regenerated already when baptized, they need no farther work. But if this were so, then all that have been baptized must necessarily be saved, because the promise of pardon and salvation is made to conversion and regeneration. Acts 3:19; Matt. 19: 28. And indeed, were conversion and baptism the same, then men would do well to carry but a certificate of their baptism when they died, and upon sight of this there were no doubt of their admission into heaven.
In short, if there be no more necessary to conversion, or regeneration, than to be baptized, this will fly directly in the face of that scripture, Matthew 7:18, 14, as well as multitudes of others; for, first, we shall then no more say, “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way;” for if all that were baptized are saved, the door is exceeding wide, and we shall henceforth say, Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth unto life.” If this be true, thousands may go in abreast; and we will no more teach that the righteous are scarcely saved, or that there is need of such a stir in taking the kingdom of heaven by violence, and striving to enter in. Surely, if the way be so easy as many suppose, that there is little more necessary than to be baptized and to cry, “Lord, have mercy,” we need not put ourselves to~
such seeking, and knocking, and wrestling, as the word requires in order to salvation. Secondly, if this be true, we shall no more say, “Few there be that find it;”’ yea, we will rather say, Few there be that miss it.” We shall no more say, that of the “many” that are called, but few are chosen,” Matt. 22: 14, and that even of the professing Israel but a remnant shall be saved.” Rom. 9:27. If this doctrine be true, we shall not say any more with the disciples, “Who then shall be saved?’ but rather, Who then shall not be saved 2’ Then, if a man be baptized, though he be a fornicator, or a railer or covetous,-or a drunkard, yet he shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 5:11, and 6:9, 10.
But some will reply, Such as these, though they did receive regenerating grace in baptism, are since fallen away, and must be renewed again, or else they cannot be saved.
I answer, 1. There is an infallible connection between regeneration and salvation, as we have already shown. 2. Then man must be born again a second time, which carries a great deal of absurdity in its face: and why may not men be twice born in nature as well as in grace? But, 8, and above all, this grants, however, the thing I contend for, that what- - ever men do or pretend to receive in baptism, if they be found afterwards to be grossly ignorant, or profane, or formal, without the power of godliness, they “must be born again,” or else be shut out of the kingdom of God. So then they must have more to plead for themselves than their baptismal regeneration.
Well, in -this you see all are agreed, that, be it more or less that is received in baptism, if men are evidently unsanctified, they must be renewed again by a thorough and powerful change, or else they cannot escape the damnation of hell. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked.” Whether it be your baptism, or whatever else you pretend, I tell you from the living God, that if any of you be a prayerless person, or unclean, or malicious, or covetous, or riotous, or a scoffer, or a lover of evil company, Prov. 13:20, in a word, if you are not a holy; strict, and self-denying Christian, you cannot be saved. Heb. 12:14; Matt. 15: 14.
Paul, while unconverted, touching the righteousness which is in the law, was blameless. Phil. 3:6. The Pharisee could say, “I am no extortioner, adulterer, unjust,” etc. Thou must have something more than all this to show, Luke 18: 11, or else, however thou mayest justify thyself, God will condemn thee. I condemn not morality, but warn thee not to rest in it; piety includes morality, as Christianity doth humanity, and grace, reason; but we must not divide the tables..
It is also manifest that men may have a form of godliness, without the power. 2 Tim.‘3:5. Men may pray long, Matt. 23:14; and fast often, Luke
18:12; and hear gladly, Mark 6:20; and be very forward in the service of God, though costly and expensive, Isa. 1:11; and yet be strangers to conversion. They must have more to plead for themselves than that they go toehurch, give alms, and make use of prayer, to prove themselves sound converts. There is no outward service but a hypocrite may do it, even to the “giving all his goods to feed the poor, and his body to be burned.” 1 Cor. 13:3.
Conversion is not the mere chaining up of corruption by education, human laws, or the force of affliction. It is too common and easy to mistake education for grace; but if this were enough, who a better man than Jehoash? While Jehoida, his uncle, lived, he was very forward in God’s service, and calls upon him to repair the house of the Lord, 2 Kings, 12:2, 7; but here was nothing more than good education all this while; for when his good tutor was taken out of the way, he appears to have been but a wolf chained up, and falls into idolatry.
In short, conversion consists not in illumination or conviction, in a superficial change or partial reformation. An apostate may be an enlightened man, Heb. 6:4; and a Felix tremble under conviction, Acts 24:25; and a Herod do many things, Mark 6: 20. It is one thing to have sin alarmed only by convic-. tions, and another to have it crucified by converting grace. Many, because they have been troubled in conscience for their sins, think well of their case, miserably mistaking conviction for conversion. With these, Cain might have passed for a convert, who ran up and down the world like a man distracted, under the rage of a guilty conscience, till, with building and business, he had stifled it. Others think, that because they have given over their riotous courses, and are broken off from evil company or some particular lust, and are reduced to sobriety and civility, they are now no other than real converts; forgetting that there is a vast difference between being sanctified and civilized; and that many seek to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and are not far from it, and arrive to the almost of Christianity, and yet fall short at last, While conscience holds the whip over them, many will pray, hear, read, and forbear their delightful sins; but no sooner is the lion asleep than they are at their sins again. Who more religious than the Jews when God’s hand was upon them: yet no sooner was the affliction over, than they forgot God. Thou mayst have forsaken a troublesome sin, and have escaped the gross pollutions of the world, and yet in all this not have changed thy carnal nature.
You may cast lead out of the rude mass into the form and features of a man, yet all the while it is but lead still; so a man may pass through divers transmutations, from ignorance to knowledge, from profaneness to civility, and thence to a form of religion, and all this time he is but carnal and unregenerate whilst his nature remains unchanged.
Hear then, O sinners, hear as you would live. Why would you wilfully deceive yourselves, or build your hopes upon the sand? I know that he may find hard work that goes to pluck away your hopes. It cannot but be ungrateful to you, and truly it is not pleasing to me. I set about it as a surgeon when about to cut off a mortified limb from his wellbeloved friend, which of necessity he must do, though with an aching heart. But understand me, beloved, I am only taking down the ruinous house, which will otherwise speedily fall of itself and bury you in the ruins, that I may build it fair, strong, and firm for ever. The hope of the wicked shall perish. Prov. 11:7. And hadst not thou better, O sinner, let the word convince thee now in time, and let go thy false and self-deluding hopes, than have death too late open thine eyes, and find thyself in hell before thou art aware? I should be a false and faithless shepherd if I should not tell you, that you, who have built your hopes upon no better grounds than these before mentioned, are yet in your sins. Let conscience speak: What is it that you have to plead for yourselves? Is it that you wear Christ’s livery; that you bear his name; that you are of the visible church; that you have knowledge in the points of religion, are civilized, perform religious duties, are just in your dealings, have been troubled in conscience for your sins? I tell you, from the Lord, these pleas will never be accepted at God’s bar: all this, though good in itself, will not prove you converted, and so will not suffice to your salvation. O look about you, and bethink yourselves of turning speedily and entirely. Study your own hearts; rest not till God has made thorough work with you; for you must be other men, or else you are lost men.
But if these persons be short of conversion, what shall I say of the profane sinner? It may be he will scarcely cast his eyes on, or lend his ear to this discourse; but if there be any such reading, or within hearing, he must know from the Lord that made him, that be is far from the kingdom of God. May a man keep company with the wise virgins, and yet be shut out; and shall not a companion of fools much more be destroyed? May a man be true in his dealings, and yet not be justified of God? What then will become of thee, O wretched man, whose conscience tells thee thou art false in thy trade, and false to thy word, and makest thy advantage by a lying tongue? If men may be enlightened and brought to the external performance of holy duties, and yet go down to perdition for resting in them and sitting down on this side of conversion, what will become of you, O miserable families, that live without God in the world? and of you, O wretched sinners, with whom God is scarcely in all Alleine’s Alarm. 2
your thoughts; that are so ignorant that you cannot, or so careless that you will not pray? O repent and be converted; break off your sins by righteousness; away to Christ for pardoning and renewing grace; give up yourselves to him, to walk with him in holiness, or you shall never see God. O that you would take the warnings of God! In his name I once more admonish you: Turn ye at my reproof. Forsake the foolish, and live. Be sober, righteous, and godly. Wash your hands, ye sinners; purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Cease to do evil, learn to do well. But if you will go on, you must die. iy