Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

1. The Order and Progress of converting Grace is by the Conviction of the Mind, to turn the Will and Affections. Sin prevails in Men by the love of Pleasure; and ⟨p. 304⟩till there be a mixture of what is more bitter than Sin is sweet, they will not forsake it. The World corrupted by Lust, is an imaginary Paradise, wherein there is nothing but forbidden Fruit; and the Fruit is so pleasant to the Eyes and Taste, that only flaming Terrors will expel them out of it. No Man will cut off his Right-hand till an incurable Gangrene has seized on it. The light neglected Notions of Heaven are ineffective to reform Sinners; till the Terrors of the Lord are set in array against them, they are fastened in their Sins. Of this there is visible and frequent Experience: how many that have lived in a careless Contempt of God till their last Sickness, and when they feel themselves sinking to the Grave and Hell, and Conscience is an exact Remembrancer and terrible Accuser of all their inward Wickedness and notorious Sins, ⟨p. 305⟩then what furious Reflections do they make upon themselves? and what Promises do they make if they might be spared? 'Tis therefore the first Duty of Ministers, by clearing Light and convincing Strength to work on Conscience, and by the Mediation of it to apply Guilt and Wrath to the Sinner, that he may be restless in his Sins. The Wrath of God is revealed from ¹Heaven against all Ungodliness, and Unrighteousness of Men: 'tis decreed before the World was, 'tis denounced in the Word, and shall be fully executed in the Day of Wrath, and the Revelation of the righteous Judgment of God: nothing is more certain than that Day, and nothing so heavy as that Wrath. 'Tis a Burden so insupportable, that the Son of God was ready to sink under its Weight: he meekly and silently endured all the cruel Rage of his Enemies, but mournfully broke forth, My ⟨p. 306⟩God, my God, Why hast thou forsaken me! Who can understand the Consequence of that Complaint? Who can support himself under the Apprehension of an absent and angry God? When the convinced Person ponders his Sins, what Indignities he has offered to the glorious God his Maker and Preserver, his Lawgiver and Judg; that he has abused his Mercies, perverted his Benefits, and employed them in the Service of Satan; that he has despised his Justice, and ventured upon his inflamed Anger for transient Pleasure and trifling Profits;