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

2. Sometimes the Spirit of God doth give over a sinner, even whilst in this life. Some there are, that the holy Spirit doth cease striving with them before, yea, long before death come upon them. This is an awful trembling Meditation, yet a truth needful to be insisted on; you shall therefore hear some instances for the Confirmation hereof. And what shall we say else concerning Ishmael? Cast him out saith God, Gal. 4 30. out with him saith the Lord. Now the time when Ishmael was thus marked out for a Cast-away, was an hundred years and more before his death. When Ishmael was a child, God did mightily strive with him; he had many godly Instructions administered to him by his Father, and many checks of Conscience he must needs have, and so strivings of the Spirit. But when he grew up to years of discretion, being about twenty years of age, since he despised the ⟨p. 127⟩means of Grace used with him, God would have the means taken from him; and by his being cast out of the Lords gracious presence, the holy Spirit was likewise taken from him. And so for Esau, You know how that afterward, when he would have inherited▪ the Blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for Repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears, Heb. 12.17. Alas, he came too late. If Esau had come a little sooner, he had certainly had the Blessing; but since he came when it was too late, though he begged with tears in his eyes, that his Father would repent him of what was done in blessing Jacob, and pronounce the blessing upon him, yet he could not obtain it. Now in this there was a Mystery; it was to signify, that if sinners do out-stand their day, then though they should seek the Blessings of Life, and Grace, and Happiness, (all which were signified by the Blessings which Esau lost) it will be in vain for them. Again, (not to instance further) there was Saul, o• whom it was said, that the Spirit of the Lord departed from him, and an evil Spirit from the Lord troubled him, 1 Sam. 16.14, 15. The holy Spirit utterly forsook him, and he was possessed by the evil Spirit; and this was many years before Sauls death. And while he was yet living, he cried out, God is departed from me; & it was said to him, The Lord is departed from thee, & become thine Emy,