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 now consider what a case you are in, while you remain unconverted? you have made your selves the sinks of sin, the slaves of Satan, and the flesh; and are skilful in nothing but doing evil: If you be called to prayer or holy meditation, your hearts are against it, and you are not used to it, and therefore you know not how to do it, to any purpose: But to think the thoughts of lust or covetousness, or hatred, or malice, or revenge; this you can do without any toil: To speak of the world, or of your sports and pleasures, or against those that you bare ill will to, this you can do without any study. You are such as are spoken of, Jer. 4. 22. My people is foolish: they have not known me: they are sottish children, ⟨p. 66⟩and they have no understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.] You are grown strangers to the God that made you, in whose love and service you should live and find your chief delights. Your hearts are hardened, and you are dead in your sins: The guilt of the sins of your lives are still upon you: You can neither look into your hearts or lives, no not on one day of your lives, or the best hour that you have spent, but you must see the ugly face of sin, which deserveth condemnation. You have made God your Enemy that should have been your only felicity: And yet you are always at his mercy and in his hands. Little do you know how long his patience will yet endure you; or what hour he will call away your Souls; And if death come, alas, what a case will it find you in! how lamentably unready are you to meet him! how unready to appear before the dreadful God whom you have offended; and what a terrible appearance do you think that will be to you? most certainly if you die before you are converted, you will not be from among the Devils and damned souls an hour. The Law hath cursed you already: ⟨p. 67⟩and the execution will be answerable, if you die in your sins. And thus you may see the gain of sin, and what it is that you have been doing all this while, for your own Souls; and what a case it is that you have brought you selves into; and what need you have speedily to look about you.

And now consider what a case you are in, while you remain unconverted? you have made your selves the sinks of sinne, the slaves of Satan, and the flesh; and are skilfull in nothing but doing evill: If you be called to prayer or holy meditation, your hearts are against it, and you are not used to it, and therefore you know not how to do it, to any purpose: But to think the thoughts of lust or coveteousness, or hatred, or malice, or revenge; this you can do without any toile: To speak of the world, or of your sports and pleasures, or against those that you bare ill will to, this you can do without any study. You are such as are spoken of,