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

Quest. Who are they?

Answ. 1. They that have sinned away many and great Convictions of Conscience. Oh think of it! for there are some of you that have been under Convictions. It may be sometimes the World hath awakened thy ⟨p. 135⟩Conscience, when the truth hath been powerfully delivered, an arrow from Heaven hath darted into thy Soul, but thou hast sinned away these troubles: Or it may be some awful Providence hath awakened thee, sickness upon thy self, sudden death upon others, when one of thy Companions in sin was stricken by sudden death, & carried away to his own place; This did a little awaken thy secure Conscience for the present, but thou hast stifled those Convictions also; Yea, and sometimes when God hath left thee to fall into some foul and fearful sin, thy Conscience hath been sorely troubled; after that thou hast committed a Soul-desolating sin, thy Conscience hath been in a woeful plight, even as if thou wert newly come out of Hell, yet thou hast sinned away these troubles also. I remember I have read a dismal story concerning a man that fell into the sin of Drunkenness: And first when he committed that sin, his Conscience was much troubled about it; but it was suggested to him, that if he would now in despite of those Convictions, commit the same sin again, he should be never more troubled for it: The poor Wretch did so, & found it lamentably true; for after that, he could be drunk as oft as he ⟨p. 136⟩would, and never troubled for it: but lived and dyed a miserable Sot: The Spirit of God forsook him utterly, because he sinned away Convictions of Conscience.

Answ. 1. They that have sinned away many and great Convictions of Conscience. Oh think of it! for there are some of you that have been under Convictions. It may be sometimes the World hath awakened thy ⟨p. 135⟩Conscience, when the truth hath been powerfully delivered, an arrow from Heaven hath darted into thy Soul, but thou hast sinned away these troubles: Or it may be some awful Providence hath awakened thee, sickness upon thy self, sudden death upon others, when one of thy Companions in sin was stricken by sudden death, & carried away to his own place; This did a little awaken thy secure Conscience for the present, but thou hast stifled those Convictions also; Yea, and sometimes when God hath left thee to fall into some foul and fearful sin, thy Conscience hath been sorely troubled; after that thou hast committed a Soul-desolating sin, thy Conscience hath been in a woful plight, even as if thou wert newly come out of Hell, yet thou hast sinned away these troubles also. I remember I have read a dismal story concerning a man that fell into the sin of Drunkenness: And first when he committed that sin, his Conscience was much troubled about it; but it was suggested to him, that if he would now in despite of those Convictions, commit the same sin again, he should be never more troubled for it: The poor Wretch did so, & found it lamentably true; for after that, he could be drunk as oft as he