The sound believer. A treatise of evangelical conversion. Discovering the work of Christ's spirit,…

8. Rule. The Terrors, and Fears, and Sense of Sin and Death, be in themselves Afflictions of Soul, and of themselves drive from Christ; yet in Hand of Christ, by the Power of the Spirit, they are made to lead, or rather drive unto Christ, which is able to turn Mourning into Joy, as well as after Mourning to give Joy; and therefore 'tis a vain Thing to think there is no need of such Sorrows which drive Men from Christ; and that Christ can work well enough therefore without them; when as by the mighty Power and Riches of Mercy in Christ, the Lord by wounding, nay, killing his of all their carnal Security and self-confidence, saves all his alive, and drives them to seek for Life in the Son.

These Things being thus premised, let us now hear of the Necessity of this Work to succeed Conviction.

Reas. 1. Else a Sinner will never part with his Sin; a bare Conviction of Sin doth but light the Candle to see Sin; Compunction burns his Fingers, and that only makes him dread the Fire, Cleanse your Hearts ye Sinners, and purify your Hearts ye double-minded Men, (saith the Apostle James, Chap. 4. Verse 8.) But how should this be done? He answers Verse 9. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep, turn your Laughter into Mourning. So Joel 2.12. the Prophet calls upon his Hearers to turn from their Sin unto the Lord; but how? Rend your Hearts, and not your Garments. Not that they were able to do this, but by what Sorrow he requires of all in general; he thereby effectually works in the Hearts of all the Elect in particular; for every Man naturally takes Pleasure, nay, all his Delight and Pleasure is in nothing else but Sin; for God he hath none, but that. Now so long as he takes Pleasure in Sin, and finds Contentment by Sin, be cannot but cleave inseparably to it: Oh 'tis sweet, and it only is sweet; for so long the Soul is dead in Sin. Pleasure in Sin is Death in Sin,