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

And Peter, when his Conscience was touched with a saving remorse for his sin, went out & wept bitterly, Mat. 27. ult. So for Humiliation, a true Believer may undergo that work anew: We see it in Job, after the sinful distempers of his Spirit had broke loose, he cried out against himself, I am vile, chap. 40. vers. 4. And in as much as his Repentance and Humiliation was not altogether so deep and through as should have been, the Lord speaketh more awakeningly to him, until he cry out a second ⟨p. 20⟩time, I abhor my self, and repent in dust and ashes, chap. 42.6. And the like we read concerning Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 32.26. He humbled himself, for the pride of his heart; not but that he had humbled himself for that and other sins many a time, and many a day afore that time, but then he renewed his Humiliation before the Lord. And a further work of Conversion may be wrought upon the Believer, in respect of Separation from sin, and Amendment of life. Thus also with David, Psal. 119.67. Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now have I kept thy word: Not but that he made Conscience of his ways from his youth up, but that affliction was a means to make him more circumspect and exact in his walking before God. So the Corinthians, after that humbling Providence about the Incestuous Person, were much reformed, 2 Cor. 7.11. Also in respect of closing with Christ, a true Believer may fall, as it were, under a second Conversion: We therefore read, that the Disciple believed, John 2.11. the Disciples believed before, otherwise they had not been called Disciples, but now they renewed their closing with Christ. So that the Holy Spirit doth sometimes go over the work of Conversion in all the steps of ⟨p. 21⟩it, in the hearts of his children, and that again and again; yea, and sometimes he doth all this in a very eminent manner.

And Peter, when his Conscience was touched with a saving remorse for his sin, went out & wept bitterly,