Directions and persuasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…Directions and perswasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…

And let me tell you, that the Unfeigned Convert that attains to this, hath not only plucked up the Root of sin, (though all of us have too many strings of it left) nor only stopped up the spring of temptation, and got the surest evidence of his uprightness, but also is got himself into the safest, and most comfortable state. For when he hath absolutely resigned himself, and all to God, how confidently may he expect that God should accept him, and use him as his own; and how comfortably may he commit himself, and his cause, and all good affairs to God, as knowing that God cannot be negligent, and careless of his own. It's an Argument that may make us confident of success, when we can say as David, Psal. 119. 94. I am thine, save me. Isa. 63. 19. Even Christ himself doth ingratiate his Elect with the Father on this account, I•h. 17. 6, 9, 10. Thine they were, and thou gavest them me: I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine: and all mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them. And indeed by resigning all to God, it is the more our own; that is, we ⟨p. 319⟩have unspeakably more of the benefit of it, and so there is no way to make it our own, but by quitting it absolutely up to God: This is the mystery that the world will not learn, but God will teach it all that shall be saved by the Spirit, and by Faith, Matth. 16. 24, 25, 26. Then Jesus said to his Disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross, and follow me: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Me thinks a man that hath time, and strength, and money, should long to be disbursing all for God, that he might put it in the surest hands, and it may be out of danger; yea that it may be set to the most honest, and profitable usury. For when God hath it, from the dedication of an upright heart, it is sure: but till God have it, is in hazard; and all that he hath not is lost, and worse then lost. When it is in our hands, thieves may steal it, bad Servants, or unadvised Children may consume it, and our own thievish flesh may steal it worst of all, and consume it on our lusts; or if our Children consume it not, their Children may: Or if they save it, they