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

4. They that remain incorrigible under all the Dispensations of God: So as that neither good days nor bad days will change them, 'tis to be feared, that the Lord will cease striving with them. A General that doth besiege a City, after he hath tried much means, and all in vain, he breaks up siege and departs: So doth the Lord of Host deal with sinners, when he hath been long beleaguering a mans Conscience with Conviction, but he resists all, he departs from such a sinner, and will not have one arrow more shot into his Conscience: And the truth is, that God is not wont to leave a sinner, until he hat• •••st tried all means with him, Mich. 6.9. The Lords voice crieth ⟨p. 140⟩to the City, and the man of Wisdom shall fear thy name: Hear ye the Rod: First of all God seeth what his Word will do: His voice crieth, that is to say, the Trumpet of his Word giveth the Alarm; and it men be so wise as to hear that, it will be well for them. But if not, then he taketh the rod in hand, to see what they will do; and if neither Word nor Rod, nor Providences, nor Ordinances, nor Mercies, nor Judgments will do, then God giveth a man over. Often so it is, that when men are incorrigible under Afflictions, the holy Spirit ceaseth striving with them, then doth the Lord say, Why should you be stricken any more? Isa. 1.5. Now (saith God) I see that your Disease is incurable, since the last Remedy will do you no good. As sometimes a Physician deals with a sick Patient, after he hath used much means in vain, he resolves to try one remedy more; and if that will not do, then he giveth them over for gone, & cometh no more at him: So doth God deal with the Souls of men, he useth much means with them, that they may be converted and healed, and Affliction is the last Remedy. I'll try the remedy more with such a sinner, saith God; I'll bring Afflictions ⟨p. 141⟩upon him, and if that humble him not, then I'll give him over as past hopes, and past help, and past cure, and past care.

4. They that remain incorrigible under all the Dispensations of God: So as that neither good days nor bad days will change them, 'tis to be feared, that the Lord will cease striving with them. A General that doth besiege a City, after he hath tryed much means, and all in vain, he breaks up siege and departs: So doth the Lord of Host deal with sinners, when he hath been long beleaguering a mans Conscience with Conviction, but he resists all, he departs from such a sinner, and will not have one arrow more shot into his Conscience: And the truth is, that God is not wont to leave a sinner, until he hat st tryed all means with him,