but instead thereof, he will be speaking about Christ, and Heaven, ⟨p. 32⟩and the estate of his own immortal Soul, and be full of gracious, edifying discourse, such a mighty change doth converting Grace work, when it cometh in power. And certain it is, that except a mans lips and language be sanctified, he is a stranger to conversion, and to the power of Religion or Christianity, Jam 1. 26 If any man seem to be Religions, and bridleth not his tongue, he deceiveth his own heart, his Religion is vain. Men may call themselves Christians, and yet have unbridled tongues; and they may think to be saved, because of their Profession of Christianity; but alas, they deceive themselves; and all their pretences to Religion will prove a vain thing, if they have not a pure Language. 6. Where there is Conversion, there is new life and conversation, Ephes. 4. 22. Rom 6. 4. He that is converted doth, as it were, turn over a new leaf, and leads a new life, quite differing from what he formerly lived. And this is that which is especially signified by the word [Conversion:] The word is a Metaphor taken from a man, that is walking in a wrong ⟨p. 33⟩way; but if ever he would come to his journeys end, he must turn quite about, and go in a contrary way to that, which at present he walketh in. Men by Sin turn out of the right way; sinners are perverters of their way, but by Repentance and Conversion they return and are brought back into the right way again, Jer. 3. 21, 22. The true Convert walketh in new ways, and taketh new courses: he did walk in the way of sin, he doth walk in the way, which is called holy; he did walk in the broad way, he doth walk in the narrow way. 7. Where there is Conversion, there will also be a change in respect of company: As a new Conversation, so a new Company to converse withal, Prov. 13. 20. We see a sudden and marvellous change, in this respect, wrought in Paul at his first conversion, Act. 9. 26. before his Conversion, he delighted in the company of none but carnal Jews, but after his conversion, none so welcome to him as godly Christians: those very persons that before he did malign, and hate to the death, afterwards he ventured his life for their sakes. And indeed ⟨p. 34⟩there is nothing that doth make a greater discovery of a mans spirit, than the company which he doth frequent and delight in.
but instead thereof, he will be speaking about Christ, and Heaven, ⟨p. 32⟩and the estate of his own immortal Soul, and be full of gracious, edifying discourse, such a mighty change doth converting Grace work, when it cometh in power. And certain it is, that except a mans lips and language be sanctified, he is a stranger to conversion, and to the power of Religion or Christianity, Jam 1. 26 If any man seem to be Religions, and bridleth not his tongue, he deceiveth his own heart, his Religion is vain. Men may call themselves Christians, and yet have unbridled tongues; and they may think to be saved, because of their Profession of Christianity; but alas, they deceive themselves; and all their pretences to Religion will prove a vain thing, if they have not a pure Language. 6. Where there is Conversion, there is new life and conversation, Ephes. 4. 22. Rom 6. 4. He that is converted doth, as it were, turn over a new leaf, and leads a new life, quite differing from what he formerly lived. And this is that which is especially signified by the word [Conversion:] The word is a Metaphor taken from a man, that is walking in a wrong ⟨p. 33⟩way; but if ever he would come to his journies end, he must turn quite about, and go in a contrary way to that, which at present he walketh in. Men by Sin turn out of the right way; sinners are perverters of their way, but by Repentance and Conversion they return and are brought back into the right way again, Jer. 3. 21, 22. The true Convert walketh in new wayes, and taketh new courses: he did walk in the way of sin, he doth walk in the way, which is called holy; he did walk in the broad way, he doth walk in the narrow way. 7. Where there is Conversion, there will also be a change in respect of company: As a new Conversation, so a new Company to converse withal, Prov. 13. 20. We see a sudden and marvelous change, in this respect, wrought in Paul at his first conversion, Act. 9. 26. before his Conversion, he delighted in the company of none but carnal Jews, but after his conversion, none so welcome to him as godly Christians: those very persons that before he did malign, and hate to the death, afterwards he ventured his life for their sakes. And indeed ⟨p. 34⟩there is nothing that doth make a greater discovery of a mans spirit, than the company which he doth frequent and delight in.
