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

Hence dismal fears do arise in the Soul; the sinner crieth out in the horror of his heart, I am a damned Wretch for ever, if death should find me in this estate. Now these terrible awakenings of Conscien••• are the mighty strivings of the Spirit. An instance we have of this in Felix, Acts 24.25. As Paul reasoned of Righteousness, Temperance & Judgment, Felix trembled. This Felix had been a very unrighteous and intemperate man, and did at that time live in uncleanness; and thence hearing Paul preach and ⟨p. 122⟩prove, that there is a Judgment to come, wherein all such sinners shall be punished, he even trembled. Terror and trembling seized upon his guilty Conscience, at the sad thought of this. 3. The holy Spirit may so work upon the heart of a sinner, as to cause some good affections to work within him. Many have some faint, languid desires, some cold wishes and wouldings after Grace and life, that yet never did experience a saving work of the Spirit upon them. Now these sweet affections and workings of heart after that which is good, are from the holy Ghost. Thus we see in those Jews, John 5.35. Lord (say they) give us evermore of this bread. When they heard of the bread of Life, even such Bread, that if a man eat, he shall never dye, presently their affections were stirred, and marvellously taken for a while, but it lasted not. So the stony ground hearer, received the word with joy, Mat. 13.21. he was much affected with the sweet promises of the Gospel, yet this lasted not. In this •••ner it was with false hearted Jews ma•••• time, Hos. 6.4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that goeth away. So that they had good affections, blessed dews, and illapses of the Spirit, which would fall upon them at c•rtain times; early ⟨p. 123⟩