The conversion of the soul, or, A discourse explaining the nature of that conversion which is sincere and directing and perswading all to cease their loving sin and death, and to turn to God and live / by Nathanael Vincent ...

THE Epistle to the READER.

Reader!

IF this Book by the Providence of God shall come into thy Hand, and thou wilt bestow the Pains to peruse it; I would have thee read it, as he who has the Benefit of the Clergy, reads that Verse with Care, the reading of which well, does save his Life. Agitur de Magnis: Things of the greatest Import∣ance are here treated of. The subject matter of this Discourse is its Commendation: Mans Conversion to God is explain'd and press'd. The Authour can tru∣ly say, He earnestly desired the Conversion of those that heard these Sermons; and Hope that some may be turned to God by the reading of them, is the reason of their being Printed.

Melchior Adamus reports of that famous German Preacher Bucholstzer, That he troubled not the Church with Polemical Divinity; his great Design was to draw Men to a Saviour, to turn them to the living God; that their Hearts and Lives might be pure, and their End peace, and that after Death they might en∣ter into Everlasting Rest. The Pruritus Disputandi, the Itch of Disputing has taken away the Beauty of the Churches Face and Hands: Certainly it would be more for the Churches Health and Strength and Glory, if the great Truths of the Gospel were more insisted on; namely, Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and Con∣version, which is the same with Repentance towards God.

How many strange Doctrines are vented! how many

quaint Notions, that please the Fancy rather than Edi∣sie the Soul, will be found Wood, Hay, Stubble at last; and be Lost and Consumed, as not being able to endure the Fire, a strict Tryal! Discourses, which out of the Scriptures of Truth have plainly declared the Mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; the Mystery of Conversion and of Godliness, will be found to be Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, and will turn to best Account to those who have built on the right Foundation.

Reader! Art thou Unconverted? does thy stupid∣ness under the Guilt of Sin, and thy contentedness to be still its Slave prove thee to be so? I▪ pray thee, have not less Faith than the very Devils, for they Believe and tremble: Thy state is truly doleful, but not de∣sperate; but quickly it may be so, if thou still refusest to be a Convert: The Door of Hope may soon be shut, that now stands open; Death may suddenly seize thee, and send thee with all thy Sins unto the Bar of God, who judges righteously. Awake, O Conscience, before it be too late! O Heart, harden thy self no longer! Wrath in the day of Wrath will be very terrible.

But if thou art indeed a Convert, and thy submissi∣on to God, and chusing him above all things, is the evidence of it; this Book brings thee happy Tidings, and as true as happy. Converting Grace is the greatest be∣nefit bestowed on Earth, and when that Grace has finish∣ed its work, Eternal Glory will assuredly follow. That all the Hearers of these Sermons may be such hearers, as that their Souls may live; that all the Readers of them may read with advantage to their Souls, with an advantage that may last unto Eternity; is, and shall be the Prayer of

Nathanael Vincent.