Christ Dying and Drawing Sinners to Himself

Answ. Desires going before conversion, are nothing less, then satisfactory, nor are they such as can calm a storming conscience: he knows not Christ, who dreams that a wakened conscience, can be calmed with any thing, less then the ⟨p. 247⟩blood of Jesus Christ, that speaks better things then the blood of Abel. Never Protestant Divines promise soul-rest in preparations, that are wrought by the law.¹ 2. If Antinomians can give soul-rest to troubled consciences, by all the promises of the Gospel, and raise up the Spirits of Judas, or Cain to found comfort, let them be doing; yea, or to weak afflicted souls: while the Spirit blows right down from the Advocate of sinners, at the right hand of God, we much doubt. Sure there is a lock on a troubled conscience, that the Gospel-letter, or the tongue of Man or Angel can be no key to open. Christ hath reserved a way of his own to give satisfaction to afflicted Spirits. But the question is now, supposing ye deal with unconverted men, whether or no ye are not. First, to convince them of the curses of the Law to come on them, to humble them, and so to chase them to Christ; and if to bid them be humbled, and know their dangerous condition, the state of damnation; and set to these preparatory duties, be to teach them to seek righteousness in themselves. We answer no.

Answ. Desires going before conversion, are nothing lesse, then satisfactory, nor are they such as can calme a storming conscience: he knowes not Christ, who dreames that a wakened conscience, can bee calmed with any thing, lesse then the ⟨p. 247⟩bloud of Jesus Christ, that speakes better things then the bloud of Abel. Never Protestant Divines promise soule-rest in preparations, that are wrought by the law.¹ 2. If Antinomians can give soule-rest to troubled consciences, by all the promises of the Gospel, and raise up the Spirits of Judas, or Cain to found comfort, let them be doing; yea, or to weake afflicted soules: while the Spirit blowes right down from the Advocat of sinners, at the right hand of God, we much doubt. Sure there is a lock on a troubled conscience, that the Gospel-letter, or the tongue of Man or Angel can be no key to open. Christ hath reserved a way of his owne to give satisfaction to afflicted Spirits. But the question is now, supposing yee deale with unconverted men, whether or no yee are not. First, to convince them of the curses of the Law to come on them, to humble them, and so to chase them to Christ; and if to bid them be humbled, and know their dangerous condition, the state of damnation; and set to these preparatory duties, be to teach them to seeke righteousnesse in themselves. Wee answer no.