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

Some that are truly Converted, cannot tell exactly the time, or the means, or manner of their Conversion; yet this they know, that now they see Spiritual things with another kind of sight and apprehension, then once they did. The truth is, that conversion doth begin here: As in the first Creation God began with light, so in this second and new Creation, the Lord begins with effectual Conviction and Illumination▪ 2 In Conversion, the heart is made new, Ezek. 36.26. A new heart will I give. Converting Grace is promised to the Elect under that expression. A new heart is given to a man, when that heart which once was hard & senseless, is become soft & tender; when an heart of stone, is turned into an heart of flesh; and when that heart which once was full of nothing but pride and vanity, is become humble and meek. And when that heart which was foolish is become Spiritually wise, Prov. 10.8. The Heart is oft in Scripture, put for the Will, because it is the seed and subject thereof, as the head is of the Understanding. Now in conversion, the Will is wonderfully changed, P•s•. 110.3. A willing people in the day of thy power; when the day of Gods power doth pass upon the Soul in Converting ⟨p. 24⟩Grace, the Will is captivated. The Will then refuseth old sinful Objects which once were delighted in; and instead thereof, chooseth new and better Objects: That Will which before was obstinate and rebellious, is now become pliable to the will of God in every thing. You see it in Paul, when he was in the Pangs of the new birth, Lord, saith he, what wilt thou have me to do? Acts; 9.6. And this alone proveth the truth of the Proposition before us; for a change of the Heart or Will, infers a change of the whole man; the Reason is, because the Will is the Empress and Commandress of the Soul. Hence the act of any faculty or part belonging to a man, is not to be accounted the act of the whole, except the Will be involved in it. 3. In conversion, the affections are renewed: A sincere Convert doth not affect those evils, which once he did affect; and doth affect those good things which once he did not affect; Converting Grace causeth a marvellous change upon the affections; e. g. If we speak of Love & Hatred▪ when a sinner is Converted, these affections are much altered and placed upon new and other Objects: He loveth Spiritual good things in the chief place;