Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification,…

Turn unto the Lord: Thus the Prophet did, Psal. 119.57. I thought upon my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. First he thought on his ways, he considered whither he was going, whether to Heaven or Hell; then when he had thus thought, he made haste and turned his feet unto Gods testimonies: Here are both put together: first he made haste and thought on his ways, and then he turned.

Turn unto the Lord: Thus the Prophet did, Psal. 119.57. I thought upon my wayes, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. First he thought on his wayes, he considered whither he was going, whether to Heaven or Hell; then when he had thus thought, he made haste and turned his feet unto Gods testimonies: Here are both put together: first he made haste and thought on his ways, and then he turned.

I took this Text to show that one of these is as dangerous as the other, and how men are apt to deceive themselves in their search and examination. 'Tis as dangerous not to prove our ways, as to put off and defer our turning to God. This is a dangerous disease, that when men come to examine and try their spiritual estates, they have false weights and unequal balances to prove themselves by: they are very willing to save themselves the labour, though they be deceived. A man is loth to be cozened by another, but here is his folly, that he is willing enough to deceive and betray himself. Such fools the Devil makes many men, because they take not right glasses to look on themselves in, and so they deceive themselves. For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself; but let every man prove, &c.

I took this Text to shew that one of these is as dangerous as the other, and how men are apt to deceive themselves in their search and examination. 'Tis as dangerous not to prove our wayes, as to put off and defer our turning to God. This is a dangerous disease, that when men come to examine and try their spiritual estates, they have false weights and unequal ballances to prove themselves by: they are very willing to save themselves the labour, though they be deceived. A man is loth to be cozened by another, but here is his folly, that he is willing enough to deceive and betray himself. Such fools the Devil makes many men, because they take not right glasses to look on themselves in, and so they deceive themselves. For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself; but let every man prove, &c.