I May not leave you with your eyes half open, like him that saw men as trees walking.” The word is profitable for doctrine as well as reproof. And therefore, having thus far conducted you by the shelves and rocks of so many dangerous mistakes, I would guide you at length into the haven of truth.:
Conversion then, in short, lies in THE THOROUGH CHANGE BOTH OF THE HEART AND LIFE. I shall briefly describe it in its nature and causes.
I. The autHOR of conversion is the Spirit of Godand therefore it is called “ the sanctification of the Spirit,” and the renewing of the Holy Ghost,” yet not excluding the other persons in the Trinity; for the apostle teacheth us to “bless the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope.” And Christ is said to “give repentance unto Israel,” and is called the ‘ everlasting Father,” and we his seed, and the children which God hath given him. Yet this work is principally ascribed to the Holy Ghost, and so we are said to be “born of the Spirit.”
So then regeneration is a work of God: “We are born, not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:13. If ever thou wouldst be savingly converted, thou must despair of doing it in thine own strength. It is a resurrection from the dead, Eph. 2:1; a new creation, Gal. 6:15; Eph. 2:10; a work of absolute omnipotence, Eph. 1:19. If thou hast no more than thou hadst by thy first birth, a good nature, a meek and chaste temper, ete., thou art a stranger to true conversion: this is a supernatural work.
II. The errFiciENT cAUSE of conversion is internal, or external.
1. The internal cause is free grace alone. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but of his mercy he saved us,” and by the renewing of the Holy Ghost.” “Of his own will begat he us.” We are chosen and called unto sanctification, not Jor it. God finds nothing in man to excite his love: enough to provoke his. loathing. Look back upon thyself, O Christian! Do not thine own clothes abhor thee? Job 9:31. How then should holiness and pureness love thee? Be astonished, O heavens, at this; be moved, O earth. Who but must needs cry, Grace, grace. Hear and blush, ye children of the Most High—O ye unthankful men! that free grace is no more in your mouths, in your thoughts; no more adored, admired, and commended by such as you. One would think you should be doing nothing but praising and admiring God wherever you are. How can you forget such grace, or pass it over with a slight and formal mention? What but free grace could move God to love you, unless enmity could do it, unless deformity could do it? How affectionately doth Peter lift up his hands: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, who of his abundant mercy hath begotten us again.” How feelingly doth Paul magnify the free mercy of God in it: “God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, hath quickened us together with Christ. By grace ye are saved.”
2. The external cause is the merit and intercession of the blessed Jesus. He hath obtained gifts for the rebellious, and through him it is that God worketh in us what is well pleasing in his sight. Through him are all spiritual blessings “bestowed upon us in heavenly things. Every convert is the fruit of his travail. He is made sanctification to us. He sanctified himgelf—that is, set apart himself as a sacrifice—that we may be sanctified. We are sanctified through the offering of his body once for all.” Heb. 10:10.
It is nothing, then, but the merit and intercession of Christ, that prevails with God to bestow on us converting grace. If thou art a new creature, thou knowest to whom thou owest it; to Christ’s agonies and prayers. And whither else shouldst thou go? If any in the world can show that for thy heart which Christ can, let them do it. Doth Satan claim thee? Doth the world court thee? Doth sin sue for thy heart? But were these crucified for thee? O Christian, love and serve the Lord whilst thou hast a being.
Its. The iNsTrRUMENT of conversion is either personal or real. The personal is tle ministry. I have begotten you in Christ through the Gospel. 1 Cor. 4:15. Christ’s ministers are they that are sent to open men’s eyes, and to turn them to God. Acts 26:18.
O unthankful world, little do you know what you are doing while you are persecuting the messengers of the Lord. These are they whose business it is, under Christ, to save you. Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? Against whom have you exalted your voice, and lifted your eyes on high? “These are the servants of the most high God, that show unto you the way of salvation,” and do you thus requite them, O foolish and unwise! O sons of ingratitude, against whom do ye sport yourselves? These are the instruments that God uses to convert and save sinners: and do you revile your physicians, and throw your pilots overboard? Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”