A treatise of conversion Preached, and now published for the use of those that are strangers to a true conversion, especially the grosly ignorant and ungodly. By Richard Baxter, teacher of the Church of Christ at Kederminster.

SECT. XXXIII.

Direction 16. OH consider therefore sinners, that Conversion is not a work to be delayed. Would a man lie under the wrath and curse of God one day, that knew what it is? Me thinks he should not. Are you loath to come out of the bon∣dage of the Devil? Why, your delay doth shew that your heart is false, and that you be not willing truly to be converted: He that is loath to leave his sin this day or hour, would never leave it if he knew how to keep it: If he did not love it, he would be willing to be rid of it without delay. He that loveth God had rather re∣turn and be reconciled to him, and partake of the Joy of his Spi∣rit to day, then to morrow: Did you but know what God is, you would not delay your conversion to him: Did you but know what the Glory is that he offereth you, you would not delay to make sure of it any longer: Did you but see the Nature of sin, and know the miserable effects of it, Oh how hastily would you endea∣vour to be rid of it? If you had so many ••oads or Serpents in your bosoms, you would not say, I will cast them out to morrow, but how quickly would you shake them from you? If you had but felt the sting of sin, it would appear another matter to you then now it doth. It is one kind of face that sin hath in an Alehouse, or in the height of your filthy lust, or in the seeming gain of your covetous practices; and it is another kind of face that it hath when God will reckon for it with the guilty soul. Should a man trifle in such a course, wherein if he die, he is lost for ever? Why poor wretched sinner; how long wilt thou delay? And why wilt thou delay? Wilt thou delay till Death shall seize upon thee, and thou drop into Hell before thou art aware? Dost thou not know that sin gets advantage by thy delay? God hath not promised thee that ever his Spirit shall be offered to thee more; if thou re∣fuse his Assistance, and delay thy conversion but one day longer. And wo be to thee if he depart from thee, Hos. 9. 12. Jer. 6. 8. When people will have none of God, nor will hearken to his voyce, he often giveth them up to their own hearts lusts, to walk in their own counsels, Psalm 81. 11, 12. Oh unworthy wretch, if thou hadst any of the Ingenuity of a Christian within thy breast, thou wouldst say, I have abused Christ and his Grace so long that I am utterly ashamed of it, and will abuse him no more: I have too

long sleighted Christ already, and too long hearkned to his enemies voyce. If thy dead heart were but well awakened to consider and feel thy own condition, thou wouldst be quickly affrighted out of thy delay, and run as hastily from thy state of sin, as thou wouldst out of a house that were all on fire over thy head, or out of a boat that were sinking under thee. What, hast thou not yet served the Devil long enough? Hast thou not yet sufficiently abused▪ Christ, nor oft enough rejected the Grace of God? Hast thou not yet wallowed long enough in the filth of sin? but must thou needs have more of it? Hast thou not yet done enough to the destruction of thy soul? nor drunk in enough of that deadly Poyson? nor stabbed thy self sufficiently by thy wickedness, but thou must needs have more? Will sin come up easier when it is deeper rooted? And canst thou easi∣lier be converted when thou hast driven away the Spirit of God that should convert thee? Wilt thou travel out of thy way till night, before thou wilt turn back again? And wilt thou drive the nail yet faster to the head, which thou knowest must be drawn out again? Oh be not wilfully befooled by sin. Wilt thou be con∣verted, or wilt thou not? If not, thou art a lost man: If thou know thou must, why not to day rather then to morrow? What reason have you for any longer delay? Is a state of sin, or a state of Grace better? If sin be better, keep it and make thy best of it: But if Grace, and holiness, and happiness be better, why then should you delay? If you were sick you would not care how soon you were well; and if you had a bone broken, you care not how soon it were set; and when your souls are in a state of sin and misery, are you affraid of being safe and happy too soon? Re∣member another day, that a day, and many a day of Grace thou hadst; and if thou lose this day, thou maist thank thy self, if thou lose thy soul, and if thou never have another day like this. To day whiles it is called to day, therefore hear his voice, and harden not your hearts, Heb. 3. 7, 8. When David thought of his waies, he made haste and delayed not to turn to God and keep his Precepts, Psalm 119. 60. As was aforesaid.