Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…

Again, the Lord knocketh at the door by Afflictions, as we see in his Context, Whom I love, I rebuke and chasten (saith Christ) and then it follows, I stand at the door and knock. How? even by chastening Dispensations of Providence: Therefore is that, Mic. 6.9. Hear ye the rod. Affliction is Gods rod; & an iron rod it is, whereby the Lord doth, as it were rap at the door of secure sinners. If the Lord afflicteth a man, he striketh and giveth blows: Hence David saith, Remove thy [stroke] from me, I am consumed by the [blow] of thine hand, Psal. 39.10.

3. Christ doth call and knock at the doors of mens hearts, by the voice of his Spirit; It is said, Isa. 30.21. Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk therein, &c. namely, a word spoken by the ⟨p. 95⟩secret whisperings of the holy Spirit, saying to the sinner, Thou art out of the way, if ever thou desirest to be happy, thou must forsake this way thou art going in, and turn into a new and another way. This is partly meant by the Voice which my Text speaketh of, namely, the voice of Christs spirit. Sometimes a poor Creature begins to think seriously with himself, Am I in Christ, or out of Christ? Am I in a state of Nature, or in a state of Grace? If I should dye in this condition, what would become of my poor Soul? Secret thoughts are darted into the heart of a sinner, that it is high time for him, to think of making his peace with God. He doth, as it were, hear a voice behind him saying, Man look about thee, there's one thing needful, and thou neglectest that, and in the mean time are taken up about needless vanities? Now these are the secret whisperings of the Spirit of Christ, whereby he knocketh and calls upon the hearts of men.

3. Christ doth call and knock at the doors of mens hearts, by the voice of his Spirit; It is said,