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

Consider 1. That Christ is importunate in the motion which he maketh, that he might ⟨p. 102⟩have possession of your Souls: Hence he continueth following the suite a long time, Prov 1.22. he there saith, How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity? So that Christ doth wait, and that for a long time (Oh how long) at the door of mens hearts: And he reneweth his motion for entrance full many a time and oft, Mat. 23.37. How often (saith Christ) would I have gathered you, &c. So now oft hath the Lord Jesus been knocking at thy heart, how many scores, how many hundred, how many thousand times? Hast thou not had many good motions in in thy heart, & many convictions & awakenings upon thy Conscience? Hast thou not heard many Sermons, received many mercies, felt many afflictions? By all these now hath the Lord been knocking at that heart of thine. Now this importunity should be a Motive to prevail with you, to open your hearts unto Jesus Christ; for our importunity doth prevail with him to open the door of Heaven to us, Luke 11.5.—10 therefore his importunity should prevail with us to open the door of our hearts to him. Shall our importunities prevail with Christ to open his door to us, and shall not Christs importunity prevail with us, to open our door to him.

Consider 1. That Christ is importunate in the motion which he maketh, that he might ⟨p. 102⟩have possession of your Souls: Hence he continueth following the suite a long time, Prov 1.22. he there saith, How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity? So that Christ doth wait, and that for a long time (Oh how long) at the door of mens hearts: And he renenweth his motion for enterance full many a time and oft, Mat. 23.37. How often (saith Christ) would I have gathered you, &c. So now oft hath the Lord Jesus been knocking at thy heart, how many scors, how many hundred, how many thousand times? Hast thou not had many good motions in in thy heart, & many convections & awakenings upon thy Concience? Hast thou not heard many Sermons, received many mercies, felt many afflictions? By all these now hath the Lord been knocking at that heart of thine. Now this importunity should be a Motive to prevail with you, to open your hearts unto Jesus Christ; for our importunity doth prevail with him to open the door of Heaven to us,