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

There are some, when the time was, that they could not commit such a sin, nor live in the neglect of such a duty, but Conscience would be secretly stinging of them for it: But now they can live in those evils, and no terrors of the Almighty dismay them; instead of a troubled, terrified, they have now a seared Conscience: Thus it is with sinners that are utterly forsaken of the holy Spirit, they have a cauterized Conscience: As dead flesh feels nothing, so is it with Consciences of such sinners. 3. There are some sinners, whom the Lord doth give up to vile affections. Time was when they had many good affections stirring in their hearts; they could scarce hear a powerful Sermon preached, but they were affected with it, when as now they are no more moved, than the stones they stand upon, or the seats they sit on; nay, vile affections ⟨p. 132⟩rule in them, and over them; You may read of some thus dreadfully given up by God, Rom. 1.21, 26. Because tha• when they knew God, they glorified him […] God; for this cause God gave them up t• […] affections. This was because they re• […] Convictions and Strivings of the holy ••irit. So the sinners of the old World […] given up to vile, dishonourable shameful Lusts; and a dreadful Scripture you […] to this purpose, in Psal. 81. verse 1 […] But my people (saith God) would not […] • ken to my voice; they regarded not th• s••• vings of his Spirit: Well, but what […] • lowed upon it: Shall I read it to y•• […] and will not your hearts tremble to […] it? So I give them up to their own hear▪ lusts, and they walked after their own counsels▪ Alas, this is the condition of some sinn••• when God hath been striving long wi them, but all in vain, he giveth them up to the power of Corruption, that they […] be as bad as they will be. Therefo