Some important truths concerning conversion, and the improving seasons of grace; as also about…

Propos. II. The Word of God is the Instrumental means of Conversion, James 1. 18. Of his own will begat he us, with the word of Truth. God is (as was said) the principal Cause, but the Word of truth is the Instrument and Mean in the hand of the Spirit, whereby this mighty and astonishing work is brought to pass, Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul. The word of the Law, strictly taken, is partly Instrumental and influential ⟨p. 7⟩to the Souls Conversion. For thereby is Conviction of sin and misery, Rom. 3. 20. By the Law is the knowledge of sin. If a man cometh to see and acknowledge himself to be a sinful and miserable Transgressor, this conviction is by means of the Law. The Ceremonial Law was a plain conviction and evidence of the guilt of sin. Hence it is called, the Hand-writing that is against us, Col. 2. 14. because it was as it were, a Bill of Indictment against the Observers of it: the Jews when they observed Circumcision, did thereby confess themselves guilty of Original Sin, which is the sin of nature; and when they offered any Sacrifice, they did thereby acknowledge, that they deserved to be dealt with, as they did unto that creature which was sacrificed by them; yea, to be made an Eternal Sacrifice to Infinite Justice. And the Moral Law doth convince of sin. When that in the holy nature and exact purity of it, is brought home to the Soul, Conscience is convinced and awakened thereby, with the sense of transgression and guilt. Hence the Apostle saith, Rom. ⟨p. 8⟩7. 9. I was alive without the Law once: He speaketh of what he was, when in his natural, unconverted estate; before the Law was effectually brought home to his heart, he was alive in his own conceit: But when the Commandment came, I died; when God set the Law, in the spiritual nature of it before him, then his Conscience was touched indeed, that he saw himself to be by nature, no better than a dead and damned creature: Now Conviction of sin is the way, and indeed the first step towards Conversion. But especially the Word of the Gospel is the great means of Conversion: Hence it is called, The ministration of the Spirit, and of life,