First, Men may change their lives, because of some present outward affliction, that lies upon them in this life; their afflictions may enforce them to change their ways, and not be so bad as in former days, Jonah 1.5. when they were in a storm in the ship, every man went and prayed to his God. What a change was here? yet the change was only because of the danger, they were in danger of death, and therefore they grew religious: Every man when a danger and affliction lies upon him, that will make him betake himself to God and be a better minded man. And so Pharaoh, when God sent ten sore plagues upon him, the plagues did enforce Pharaoh to confess his sin, and beg of Moses to pray for him; and yet this change in Pharaoh was only because of the present affliction that lay upon him, which wrought this change, Jer. 22.23. Oh Inhabitants of Lebanon, how gracious wilt thou be, when thy pangs shall come upon thee? When pangs and afflictions were upon them, then they would be a gracious people. There is many a man will change his life, when God brings pangs, and death, and sickness upon him; these are forced ways that God takes, to make a wicked and stout-hearted wretch change his life, Isa. 16.12. Its said there, When Moab is weary, Moab will come to my Sanctuary and pray. What a change was here in Moab? ⟨p. 95⟩Moab, an Idolatrous company, that hated Gods people, and were enemies to all goodness; yet when they were weary, and Gods hand lay heavy upon them, then they would pray, Ezek. 24.12. So that you see clearly, though men do change their lives, yet if this change flow only from a present affliction they lie under, that Gods hand upon them doth even force them to change their course, this is no argument of a saving change, and so by consequence no evidence of your effectual calling.
First, Men may change their lives, because of some present outward affliction, that lies upon them in this life; their afflictions may inforce them to change their waies, and not be so bad as in former daies, Jonah 1.5. when they were in a storm in the ship, every man went and prayed to his God. What a change was here? yet the change was onely because of the danger, they were in danger of death, and therefore they grew religious: Every man when a danger and affliction lies upon him, that will make him betake himself to God and be a better minded man. And so Pharaoh, when God sent ten sore plagues upon him, the plagues did inforce Pharaoh to confess his sin, and beg of Moses to pray for him; and yet this change in Pharaoh was onely because of the present affliction that lay upon him, which wrought this change, Jer. 22.23. Oh Inhabitants of Lebanon, how gracious wilt thou be, when thy pangs shall come upon thee? When pangs and afflictions were upon them, then they would be a gracious people. There is many a man will change his life, when God brings pangs, and death, and sickness upon him; these are forc'd waies that God takes, to make a wicked and stout-hearted wretch change his life, Isa. 16.12. Its said there, When Moab is weary, Moab will come to my Sanctuary and pray. What a change was here in Moab? ⟨p. 95⟩Moab, an Idolatrous company, that hated Gods people, and were enemies to all goodness; yet when they were weary, and Gods hand lay heavie upon them, then they would pray, Ezek. 24.12. So that you see clearly, though men do change their lives, yet if this change flow onely from a present affliction they lie under, that Gods hand upon them doth even force them to change their course, this is no argument of a saving change, and so by consequence no evidence of your effectual calling.
