1. How needful a thing it is to be much in Prayer on this account▪ Converting grace is of absolute necessity in order to Salvation▪ and that as to the Children of godly▪ Parents as well as others: For they are born in sin, as David confesseth, Psal. 51.5 I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me; Yet his M•ther was a precious, godly Woman; and for ought that doth appear to the contrary, his Father was a good man too: wherefore such Children dying in a natural, unconverted state, are liable unto Wrath, and Death, and Curse, and Hell, Eph. 2.3. We also, even we that are Jews, and not the Gentiles only; we that are the Elect of God: yea, we that are chosen to be Apostles and Ministers of Christ, were by nature the Children of W•ath even as others. So that except the Lord send so•th his Spirit, and Renew the Souls, change the Natures of our poor Children, they are never like to see Heaven. Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God, Joh 3 •. You that are Parents, are you willing that the Children of your own bowels should be miserable throughout the days of Eternity? That they should lie burning in a fiery Ocean as long as God shall be God? Yet so it must be, except the Lord in mercy look upon them, so as to pour down of his Spirit from on High upon them. Moreover Prayer is needful upon this account, in that Conversions are become rare in this age of the World. ⟨p. 14⟩They that have their thoughts exercised in discerning things of this nature, have sad apprehension with reference unto this matter: That the work of Conversion hath been at a great stand in the world: In the last age, in the days of our Fathers, in other parts of the world, scarce a Sermon preached but some evidently converted;1 yea, sometimes hundreds in a Sermon: which of us can say we have seen the like? Clear sound conversions are not frequent in some Congregations. The body of the Rising Generation is a poor perishing, unconverted, and (except the Lord pour down his Spirit) an undone Generation. Many that are profane, Drunkards, Swearers, Lascivious, Scoffers at the power of Godliness, Despisers of those that are good, Proud, Disobedient creatures, God from Heaven pity them! Others that are only civil, and outwardly conformed to good order, by reason of their Education, but never knew what the new birth means;
1. How needful a thing it is to be much in Prayer on this account▪ Converting grace is of absolute necessity in order to Salvation▪ and that as to the Child••n of godly▪ Parents as well as others: For they are born in sin, as David confesseth, Psal. 51.5 I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me; Yet his M•ther was a precious, godly Woman; and for ought that doth appear to the con•rary, his Father was a good man too: wherefore such Children dying in a natural, unconverted state, are liable unto Wrath, and Death, and Curse, and Hell, Eph. 2.3. We also, even we that are Jews, and not the Gentiles only; we that are the Elect of God: yea, we that are chosen to be Apostles and Ministers of Christ, were by nature the Children of W•ath even as others. So that except the Lord send so•th his Spirit, and Renew the Souls, change the Natures of our poor Children, they are never like to see Heaven. Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born aga•n he cannot see the Kingdome of God, Joh 3 •. You that are Parents, are you willing that the Children of your own bowels should be miserable throughout the dayes of Eternity? That they should ly burning in a fiery Ocean as long as God shall be God? Yet so it must be, excep• the Lord in mercy look upon them, so as to pour down of his Spirit from on High upon them. Moreover Prayer is needful upon this account, in that Conversions are become rare in this age of the World. ⟨p. 14⟩They that have their thoughts exercised in discerning things of this nature, have sad apprehension with reference unto this matter: That the work of Conversion hath been at a great stand in the world: In the last age, in the days of our Fathers, in other parts of the world, scarce a Sermon preached but some evidently converted;1 yea, sometimes hundreds in a Sermon: which of us can say we have seen the like? Clear sound conversions are not frequent in some Congregations. The body of the Rising Generation is a poor perishing, unconverted, and (except the Lord pour down his Spirit) an undone Generation. Many that are profane, Drunkards, Swearers, Lascivious, Scoffers at the power of Godliness, Despisers of those that are good, Proud, Disobedient creatures, God from Heaven pity them! Others that are only civil, and outwardly conformed to good order, by reason of their Education, but never knew what the new birth means;
- 1•n fulfilling of Scriptures p. 416
