Free grace, or, The flowings of Christs blood free to sinners being an experiment of Jesus Christ upon one who hath been in the bondage of a troubled conscience ... / by John Saltmarsh.

XLVIII. Legal Conversion.

THere is much mistake in the businesse of conversion or regeneration. For while it is lookt upon meerly as a change in affe∣ction, or conversation, there is much deceit∣fulnesse; there are means which can work that, and yet that shall be no spiritual work neither; the pressing things legal, and as meer commands from the Word, may; there is something of the Law in the heart be∣forehand and by nature to side with the Commandments in the Word, and so to work something within as well as without; and so there may be an obedience or conformity of the spirit of man, and yet no spiritual obedi∣ence nor conformity.

2. There are Gospel-terrours as well as legal, as Hell and Hell-fire, and the worm that never dies, and condemnation, and Jesus Christ Judge of quick and dead, &c. All these in the Word carry such an Image of wrath, as they work fear and passions, &c. which force on the soul to reform, and yet but to a form of godlinesse, not to the power.

3. There are certain ends nature pro∣pounds to it self for conforming, as life eter∣nal, &c. and reputation, and men-pleasing; there are exhortations, perswasions of preack∣ers, or friends, or acquaintance; there is edu∣cation; there is examples of judgement upon sinners, godly society, &c. All these carry in them a power to make men do something, and but something in the way of Religion.

All these being of an operative and work∣ing nature, may bring forth a thing like con∣version; which indeed is but a restraint at best, or a more purely natural condition: Nature is of it self excellent, and if not originally corrupted, more excellent. We see how temperate, meek, just, wise, liberal, mer∣ciful many have been; and amongst Papists, how self-denying, contemplative, divinely practical, and morally excelling; and a∣mongst

Formalists in Religion, how severe, strict, professing and practising in Religious duties. So as the way for pure conversion, and to be spiritually renewed, is by Jesus Christ: He that hath the Son hath life: Faith and not works quicken us.