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

2. This sadly concerns those that are Revolters from Profession and Religion. It is to be feared, that the holy Spirit will cease striving with them: This was Sauls case, 1 Sam. 15.11. He is turned back from following me, saith the Lord. Alas, when a man hath put his hand to Gods Plough, and then looketh back again, 'tis to be feared, that the Lord will reject him, as he rejected Saul. If men forsake God, no wonder if he forsake them; therefore that Prophet said, when the Spirit of God came upon him, The Lord is with you, whilst you are with him; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you, 2 Chron. 15.2. There have been lamentable instances of men that have turned away from their Profession of Religion, and have thereupon been given up by God to a Reprobate sense. I need not tell you of Lucian, Porphyry, Julian; &c. And no marvel if it be thus, for Apostates are in the way to become guilty of the sin against the holy Ghost. It men begin to forsake the ways and Worship of God, it is to he feared they will hardly be kept free from ⟨p. 137⟩that great Transgression; as is evident by the Apostles discourse, Heb. 10 25. &c. Say not now, but we are no Apostates, we are all Christians: Well, but as there are Apostates outwardly, so there are some that are so inwardly, there are secret deep heart-revolters from God. Are none of you back-sliders in heart? There was a time when you looked more diligently after your hearts than it is at this day. Oh tremble, lest the holy Spirit should forsake you. Besides have not many of you sinned against Religious Education? It was so with these sinners whom my Text hath reference unto: They were the sons of God outwardly, but they became carnal and profane like the World; therefore did the Lord say, My Spirit shall not always strive with them. They were the Posterity of such as feared the Lord, many of them, but they did degenerate: Oh consider of it, you that are of the rising, succeeding Generation in New-England. Take heed how you sin against your Religious Education, lest the Lord depart from you. Thou hast had a Father, or a Mother, that hath wept and prayed for the Conversion and Salvation of thy Soul full many a time; and yet thou remainest in thy natural, unconverted ⟨p. 138⟩