2. What is the work of Conversion it self? I answer, 'Tis that inward Principle of Grace, whereby a man is made able and willing to turn from all Creatures unto God in Christ. Conversion is a motion of the Soul, and therefore there must be an inward Principle, called in Scripture a Root; The root of the matter is in me, saith Job, Job 19. 28. Friends, you look upon me as if I were nothing but leaves of hypocrisy, but the inward Root of Holiness is in me. Conversion is a supernatural motion, and therefore there must be an inward Principle of Grace, called by the Apostle, the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4. the Humane Nature cannot elevate it self so high as Conversion, but the Divine Nature can do it. By this inward Principle of Grace man becomes able, he hath an active posse converter, and which is more, a veil too, he becomes able and willing to turn. Conversion is called in Scripture [Greek or Hebrew] a returning unto God. Mans Natural state wants a Turn, and Gods Supernatural Grace effects it. Motion is between two terms; the terminus à quo in conversion ⟨p. 366⟩is all Creatures. Creatures as Creatures are the footsteps of Gods Power and Goodness; and so we must not turn from a worm, but see God in it: but Creatures as they are deified and idolized in the heart become lying vanities and empty nothings, and so in Conversion we turn from them all. The world without us is a Glass of the Divine Wisdom and Goodness, and so Conversion gives a sanctified use of it; but the world within us, the world in the heart is nothing but a lust, 1 John 2. 16. sitting in the place and Throne of God, I mean, the chief and uppermost seat of the Soul, and so Conversion casts it out of the heart. The Soul in Conversion moves towards God as its true centre, and therefore must leave all the world behind its back. The terminus ad quem in Conversion is God. A man before Conversion walks in an Image, Psal. 39. 6. he thinks that he moves towards happiness in this or that Creature, but all the while he is but in an image or picture of happiness: but in Conversion he moves really to God the Centre and Sabbath of Souls. Lastly, in Conversion there is a turning unto God in Christ. To turn to God is a most rational Act, for he is the ⟨p. 367⟩only true end of the Soul; and to turn to God in Christ is a most Regular Act, for he is the only true way to that end.
2. What is the work of Conversion it self? I answer, 'Tis that inward Principle of Grace, whereby a man is made able and willing to turn from all Creatures unto God in Christ. Conversion is a motion of the Soul, and therefore there must be an inward Principle, called in Scripture a Root; The root of the matter is in me, saith Job, Job 19. 28. Friends, you look upon me as if I were nothing but leaves of hypocrisie, but the inward Root of Holiness is in me. Conversion is a supernatural motion, and therefore there must be an inward Principle of Grace, called by the Apostle, the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4. the Humane Nature cannot elevate it self so high as Conversion, but the Divine Nature can do it. By this inward Principle of Grace man becomes able, he hath an active posse convertere, and which is more, a velle too, he becomes able and willing to turn. Conversion is called in Scripture 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 a returning unto God. Mans Natural state wants a Turn, and Gods Supernatural Grace effects it. Motion is between two terms; the terminus à quo in conversion ⟨p. 366⟩is all Creatures. Creatures as Creatures are the footsteps of Gods Power and Goodness; and so we must not turn from a worm, but see God in it: but Creatures as they are deifyed and idolized in the heart become lying vanities and empty nothings, and so in Conversion we turn from them all. The world without us is a Glass of the Divine Wisdom and Goodness, and so Conversion gives a sanctified use of it; but the world within us, the world in the heart is nothing but a lust, 1 John 2. 16. sitting in the place and Throne of God, I mean, the chief and uppermost seat of the Soul, and so Conversion casts it out of the heart. The Soul in Conversion moves towards God as its true centre, and therefore must leave all the world behind its back. The terminus ad quem in Conversion is God. A man before Conversion walks in an Image, Psal. 39. 6. he thinks that he moves towards happiness in this or that Creature, but all the while he is but in an image or picture of happiness: but in Conversion he moves really to God the Centre and Sabbath of Souls. Lastly, in Conversion there is a turning unto God in Christ. To turn to God is a most rational Act, for he is the ⟨p. 367⟩only true end of the Soul; and to turn to God in Christ is a most Regular Act, for he is the only true way to that end.
