Gods Call to Unconverted SINNERS To turn to the Lord. Plainly showing every poor Sinner the miserableness of his estate, and how great an enemy he is to himself; that though the Lord be daily calling him, to turn and live, and professeth he delights not in the death of a sinner, yet for all this he will go and die. ALL SO The Happy Condition of the People of God, in that they have such a Father that had rather see their Conversion, than Condemnation. And lastly, to the Terror of Wicked and Ungodly men is set forth: That if they will not turn to God that they may live with him in Heaven, they shall die, and be tormented with the Devil and his angels in hell fire. Matth. 18.3. Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. By T. P. Printed for Charles Tyus. at the three Bibles on London Bridge. 1662. Gods Call to Unconverted SINNERS. Ezek. the 3. Chap. 11. verse. Say unto them, as I live saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that he turn from his evil way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will you die O house of Israel! THe Great God that made the Heaven and Earth, and all the living Creatures therein, and hath Redeemed you by his Son Christ jesus; You that were lost and undone sinners, to you hath he sent his Gospel, the glad tidings of peace, and to you hath he given this privilege, that as many as believe on him shall have eternal life; as many as turn to him shall live, and those that turn not, shall die. This is the unchangeable will and Law of God, that wicked men must turn or die. For see the very words of Christ Matth. 18.3. Verily I say unto you, except you be converted, and become as little Children, ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven. And John 3.3. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. And in the 11. Psal. ver. 5. The Lord loveth the Righteous, but the wicked his soul hateth. So that it is brought to this, that wicked men must turn or die. 1. From which words you must observe, First The pity and love of Ood to lost undone souls; that he condescends to reason the case with them thus, Why will you die? That the Almighty and powerful God should stoop to dust and ashes; Marein is his great love shown; That he delighteth not in the death of a sinner, but rather that he would turn and live. God would not have them go in the way that leads to Hell, but calls to them daily by the mouth of his Prophets, to turn and live; and tells them, there is no peace to the wicked, Isa 48.11. Isa. 37.21. God tells them, the love of the world is enmity with God, and if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Yet for all this, worldly they are, and worldly they will he: If the way to hell be through the world, then to hell they will go. Oh that men would she the folly of their own ways, and turn to the Lord! Then should they see the Loveliness and Beauty that is in the ways of God; and the Torment and Anguish that follows the love of the World! Oh that wicked men would thus converse with their own souls! Is it so, that I must turn or die, must be converted, or condemned? ' Its time for me then to look about me; how have I foolishly dentured the loss of my precious soul these many years? how comes it to pass that God should take more care of my soul, than myself? Oh God for bid that I should neglect this any longer? Must I turn, or die? Oh happy day! oh happy hour that is that's left me to Repent in! Now will I set on a resolution to get assurance of my salvution, before I give any sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eye lids. By the grace of God I'll resolve presently to turn, and to forsake my former courses, and give myself up to goioance of the Lord God. Shall the Lord be thus compassionate to my poor Soul as to delight in my Salvation? And shall I Miserable Wretch delight in my Damnation? shall God say unto me, turn? and shall I not resolve to turn. 1. Consider first. That it is the inviolable and unchangeable Law of God, that wicked men must turn or die. Romans 8.8. Now, if any man be in the flesh, he cannot please God. Psal. 11.5. The Lord loveth the righteous, but the wicked his soul hateth. Psal. 7.16. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the Nations that forget God. These Texts are plain enough to the view of every poor soul; If thou art one that believest, here is enough to satisfy thee, that wicked and ungodly men they must either turn or die; be converted or condemned; if you see not, ' it's because you are wilfully blind: To what purpose doth God send his Messengers to warn you? if you will not beliede God by the mouth of his Prophets, who doth entreat you to us reconciled, yet you lend the deaf ear to them; Yet let me tell you, if you will not hear the voice of God here pronouncing sentence of Salvation to you, yet you shall hear his voice pronouncing the Sentence of condemnation against you hereafter. I beseech you therefore as you love your souls, not to quarrel with God and his word, but stoop to it. Are you yet unconverted? know this, that ers long you must be converted or else condemned. I beseech you therefore neglect not your own happiness any longer, lest you be guilt of your own blood, Read but the 8. verse of this 33. of Ezekiel, and you shall see how the case stands; When I say to the wicked, wicked man thou shalt surely die. If thou dost not speak to warn the wicked man of his way, the wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hands. You see there that the Ministers of the Gospel must preach. and you must hear; and let me tell you, it is easter to hear of hell than féell it, and yet though you think it a unwelcome Doctrine, that the Ministers of the Gospel should galt your tender ears with truths that seem so harsh and grievous: Yet it is the duty of every faithful Minister of Christ, to deal truly and faithfully with souls; for we shall in no wise escaps, unless we strive to enter in at the narrow way which leadeth unto life: For Salvation or Condemnation will suddenly bring all things to an end; and when it is too late, we shall here some crying out (What have I done? what foolish courses have I taken? upon what low accounts have I ventured the eternal welfare of my poor soul? would I had but considered this a little before? but alas now it is too late, the Sentence is past, and I am hurried into everlasting destruction.) Consider this all you that forget God; That your day of pleasure will last but a little while; your Laughing will be turned to Mourning: your joy to anguish, your small and short pleasure here will be turned to eternal pains and torments hereafier. 2. Consider this all ye wicked and ungodly sinners, that if you will but yet unfeignedly turn to God, it is his promise that you shall live and not die. The Lord professeth that he takes no delight in the death of a sinner, he had rather they would turn and live. God doth not shut up the door of mercy against you, but you shut it against yourselves: mercy stays for you; patiently waits for you, yea Christ himself waits for you: Oh how happy might you be, if you would but turn to him! and if you turn not, here is a massinger of wrath, death to be pronounced against you; there is a wrath that you are already under, and a death you are born under, and it is you have brought this death upon yourselves: There is also another death, which is a remediless death and a much greater torment than the first Death, and this death falls on all those that are unconverted. God first offers you mercy, if you will turn? and to those that will not turn, he sends this message, that they must expect nothing but condemnation. If you will come at the call of Christ, you shall be converted? If you will become new creatures, God hath not a word of Damning Wrath or Death to speak to you? but on the contrary, Life, and jay, and Peace, Heaven and happiness: the oldest sinner, the worst sinner of you all, if he will but turn, he shall have Mercy and Salvation. Oh than if you love your Souls turn! build on Christ the Rock and New Foundation, Learn to mortify the flesh and live after the Spirit. If you will but turn, and come into a way of mercy, the Lord will be ready to entertain you. If you trust in God for Salvation, he is engaged by his promise to save you. The Lord will be a Father to none but his children; he will save none but those that forsake the world, the flesh, and the Devil, and that come into his family, to be members of his Son, and have communion with his Saints. But if they come not to Christ, and are condemned, 'tis long of themselves, for God's doors are open, and he is still ready to receive you if you turn to him with all your heart, for his promises are yea and Amen, and he will not fail in the least titils of what he hath said; if you repent, you shall be saved; and if he hath said, they that repent not shall be damned, his word shall be fulfilled; For God is truth, and in him there is no lie. 3. Consider this, That God taketh delight in men's Salvation, but not in their Damnation; He had rather they would turn and live, then go on in sin and die: the conversion of sinners is the delight of his soul, yet that justice might be executed, and his Truth fully vindicated; God is resolved, if you will not be converted you shall be condemned; Yet God is so far your friend and against your Condemnation, as he beféecheth you to be recontiled; warns you of the donger you lie in; sets before you Life and Death, and destres you to accept of his mercies, and not to damn your own souls; but if this will not do, than he is resolved on your Condemnation, and commands his Prophets to say unto you these words (O wicked man thou shalt surely die!) It is in rain for you to look for heaven, or to hope for it, for it can never be while you remain in this unconverted, dark and dead condition for in this state you are his enemies by nature. Yet for all this, the Lord taketh pltasure in the conversion of his enemies: F●or if God had rather you were Damned then Saved, he would not then so much entreat you by his daily kindnesses, by giving you all the means of this life to lead you to Repentance; he would not set so many Examples before your Eyes, no nor wait on you so patiently as he doth from day to day, from year to year; these be not signs of one that taketh pleasure in your death. If it had been his delight to have seen you go to Hell, how easily could he have done it long ago? how eastly before this time could he have catched thee away in thy sins, with a Curse, or an Oath, or a Lie in thy mouth in thy Pride in thy Drunkenness, in thy deriding the ways of God? how eastly could he have stopped thy breath, or tamed thee with his Plagues, and made thee sober in another world? how easy a matter is it for God to rule the song of the Profanest Railer? tie the hands of the most Malieious persecutor; God can make them know that they are but Worms: If God should but frown upon any sinner how soon would he drop into the Gave? If God should give Commission to Angels to go and destroy ten thousand sinners, it would quickly be done? how ●astly can God snatch sinners away in a moment, and set them before his Dreadful Majesty, where he shall see ten thousand times ten thousand glorious Angels waiting at his Throne, and thou at the Bar pleading thy cause. Should then a●k thee these words (What hast thou now to say against thy Creator? his Truth, his Servants or his holy ways; now plead thy cause, what canst thou say in excuse of thy sins? now give an account to thy Maker of thy life, of thy time, and of all the merci●● thou hast had,) Oh how would thy stubborn soul have melted, thy proud looks have been beaten down, thy stont and proud words turned into speechless silence. A word of his mouth would take thee off this present life; If he should say unto thee, live no longer? or l●ve in hell, tho● couldst not disobey? what canst thou say? doth the Lord take pleasure in thy death? surely he doth not. If he did, he would not, he could not have given his Son to redeem us from death. Ch●ist then would not have sweated crops of blood for us had be taken pleasure in our death, he would not have been so long in fastings, praying all night; not her would he have suffered his bitter and cursed death upon the Cross, pouring out his soul a Sacrifice for our sins, if ●e had delighted in our death. If you had but heard Christ bemoaning the estate of disobedient and impenitent people, in Matth. the 23. and 27 verse. Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how oft would I have gathered thee as a Hen gathereth her Chickens, but ye would not. If you had heard Christ on the Cross praying for his persecutors, (Father forgive them, they know not what they do) would you thought he had delighted in the death of the wickd. If you will not believe this, you have the Word and the Oath of the Lord for it, and dare you question the Word of God, or the Oath of God: for God hath sworn that his pleasure is not in their Death, but in their Life, as in Hebrews 6.13 16 17, 18, verses. Be entreated therefore, oh thou unconverted sinner that hearest these words, to ponder a little with thyself, who it is that taketh pleasure in thy damnation: Certainly it is not God he hath sworn he takes no pleasure in it. You dare not say you swear, and curse, and lie, and blaspheme, and drink, and dye all this to please God: neither do any that bore the image of God, take pleasure in your death: God known it is small pleasure unto his servants the Ministers of the Gospel to see how madly you venture your Eternal Estate, and how wilfully you run into the very flames of Hell. ‛ Its small pleasure for any of the servants of God for to see your carelessness in the ways of God. Who is it than that takes pleasure in your death? none but the three deadly Enemies of your Souls, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. The Devil takes pleasure in your sin and death and you cannot please him better than to see you run into all manner of uncleaunesse, to see you Drunk, to hear you Curse, and Swear, and Lie, this is his delight. It is the delight also of wicked men, and it is pleasing to your flesh; It is the flesh that would be pampered, that delights in Sports, in Lust, in joleness, this is the God you serve. Oh wretched Sinners! Oh miserable undone Souls! should the Flesh be pleased before your Maker? will you displease the Lord, to please your brut●ish Appetites? Is not God worthy to rule the flesh? if he shall not rule it, he will not save it? then what win become of it? I fear it is preparing for its own Displeasure. Dost thou love strong Drink, and sweet Morfels, and thy Ease, and Sports, and to be some body in the World? But do you love the Curse of God with it? Do you love to stand trembling at the Bar of God, and to be judged to everlasting fire, and to be tormented with Devils for over: Are thy pleasures here on Earth which endures but for a time, worth the suffering of Eternal fire. Consider these before you go any further, which I am sure every man hath reason to consider, that hath a soul to sav● or lose. Therefore if you will go on and die, rather than turn and live: Remember it was not to please God, but the De●ill, the World, and the Flesh; And if men will damn themselves to please themselves, and run into endless torments for delight, and have not them wit, nor grace to hearken unto God or man that would reclaim them, what remedy, but they must take what they get. 4 Consider this also, That she Lord hath quit himself of the death of sinners; It they are condemned, it is long of themselves, they die, because they will die. Oh unprofitable, rebellions Children, that will not bear the voice of their Father. May not God say to you as he said concerning his unprofitable Vine-pard, Isa. 5. Chap. and 1, 2, 3, 4, verses, Judge I pray betwixt me and my Vine-yard: What could I have done more that I have not done in it? I planted it in a fruitful Soil, I fenced it and gathered out the stones, and set the choicest Vines, yet it will not grow and bring forth fruit. Th●● may God say, and lament over England. Oh unprofitable England, what shall I do with you? I have planted you a glorious Church; I have watered you with the dew of the glorious Gospel; I have made you Men, and enoved you with Reason, I have given you a Righteous Perfect Law, and you have broken it; you have despised my Gospel, you have undone your Souls: may not God in justice take the Light of his Gospel from us, and give it unto others that may make better improvement of it, to his Honour and their eternal welfare. What could God have done more than he hath dohe for us? Hath be not waited long on us? hath he not entreated us to turn by the mouth of his faithful Ministers? hath not his Holy Spirit been often stirring with our hearts, and saying to our Souls, (turn, turn, sinner, whether art thou going? What art thou doing? Dost thou know what will be the end? How long wilt thou hate thy friends, and love thy Enemies? when wilt thou deliver up thyself unto God, and give Christ jesus thy Redeemer full possession of thy Souls? When shall that once he?) Hath not the Spirit thus pleaded with thee? hath not Life been set before you, and the joys of Heaven? And hath not the certainty of the everlasting torments of the Damned been declared to you. If you die now, it is because you will die: You will not have this Man to reign over you, Luke the 19 Chapter, and the 14. verse. O you foolish people, and unwise, Why do you requite the Lord thus? Isaiah 1.2, 3, 4. verses. Why do you forsake the Lord for nothing? why do you neglect Eternal Life, to hunt after the Chaff and Feathers of this World? Wherefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which profiteth not. Isaiah 55. Chapter, 1, 2, 3. verses. Awake now and see your own folly; Seek the Lord while he may be found: Call upon him while he is near. It is the Lords promise, If the wicked man will forsake his evil way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and turn to the Lord, he will have mercy on him, and to our God, and he will abundantly pardon. The Devil cannot pardon sin, no, it is in God's power only: And as it is in his power only to pardon, so he hath a wilt to pardon, for oft hath he proclaimed his free invitations, to poor sinners. Revelations the 22 Chapter, the 17. verse, Let him that is a thirst come, and whosoever will, let him come and taste of the water of life freely. Oh stiff: necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears, that thus are willing to ruin themselves; when God hath called, you would not come: How know you how soon you may provols God to resolve you shall not taste of the Wedding Supper? If you die unconverted, all the world cannot save you. Oh wretched sinners! why will you be so cruill to yourselves? Know you not this which is a real truth, that you must turn, or burn? If you keep your sins, you must keep the curse of God with them: You love your Lusts, your Drunkenness, your Gluttony and will not let them ●o; would you have them bring you to Heaven: If you expect that, it is impossible; for there entereth none that is unclean. Revelations 21 Chapter, 22. verse. For what communication hath light with darkness? Or what concord hath Christ with Belial. You see then I hope by this time the case to clear, that you must resolve to turn, or die. Object. But you will ask me, how shall we turn, we have no power of ourselves? I will therefore give you a few helps by the way, before I conclude. A Poor sinful soul that would be converted, and turn to the Lord, Consider the necessity and nature of conversion, you must h●re consider, 1. From what you must turn, that is in a word, from carnal self, from the flesh that would be pleased before God; from the World that is the enticing bait to allure your souls; from the Devil the secret Angler for your soul●; and from all wilful sins: and then you must turn to God the End, and to Christ the way to the Father. 2. Help is this, Attend upon the word of God, that is the ordinary means to turn souls to God; be often in hearing, Reading, and Meditating upon the holy Scriptures. 3. Be srequent in Prayer to God, confess and lament before God your former lives, beseech God to pardon what is past, and to give you his Spirit to lead you into his ways, and beg of him to be your guide and your keeper to save you from all the subtle temptations of the Devil, who watch: th' for your souls. 4. Give up yourself wholly to the Lord jesus Christ, the true Physician of your souls. John 13.6. For there is no other Name under Heaven by which you can be said. 'Tis he is the way, the truth, and the life, there is no coming to the Father but by him. 5. If you mean to turn to Christ, do it believingly; trust God with all you have; entertain no low thoughts of God: let this be upon you hearts continually; That God is able to save to the uttermost, all that come unto him by faith. 6. And lastly, Be sure to neglect no time, but do it speedily. To day wh●le it is called to day, hear the Lords voice, and harden not your hearts: If you be not willing to turn to day, you will not be willing to turn to morrow: call this to mind, that as long as you neglect this work, you are under the guilt of many thousand sins, and under God's wrath, and you stand at the very brink of hell. Up then presently and fly as for your lives, for you have stayed too long already, and wronged God too long. For God sake therefore turn, it not for his, oh for your own precious soul sake resolve to turn and live: stand not wavering any longer, for it is not a matter of trifling, but of Eternal moment, for if you die in your fine, you die eternally, and then you are undone for ever. Let me add one Use more, which shall be of Terror to affrighten those that are not resolved yet to turn. Use. You unconverted sinful wretches that always vex the Holy-Ghost, as your Fathers did, so do you. Know assuredly, that the righteous God will not be mocked: For if you turn not, you shall surely die, and be damned? its as sure as if it were already done, at the dreadful day of the Lords appearing: the Hills nor the Mourtains shall not hid you from the presence of the living God. Are not you one that hath neglected the tender offers of the Gospel? have not you turned your backs against God? Is it not just then that God should turn his-back against you? when you call and cry unto him, have you not deserved this sentence to be pronounced against you. Go ye cursed into everlasting burn? What shall I say to you? Oh you careless unregarding souls that wilfully run into your own destruction! what can you say when you appear before the great God? can you lay the blame on him? no, you cannot, he hath left you without excuse, for he ●ath done his part as to our salvation, if we dy● then, it is because we will ●y●, and will be damned: Had you been but willing to have been saved: you might have lain with Lazarus in Abraham's bosom, but now you must to the grief of all your friends, be tormented in hell with Dives, and shall not have this request granted you. To have one drop of water to cool your tongue: Whereas you might have enjoyed heaven and happiness after death, if converted; now you shall enjoy nothing but hell and horror, because you die unconderted. Therefore he persuaded, all ye poor miserable souls that are as slaves of Satan, be persuaded while you have a day of grace to turn and live, and not to go on in sin and die. Which shall be the daily prayers of your poor and unworthy Servant for the sake of Christ. T. P. The end of all is, Sinners turn, Lest in hell's flames thou ever burn. FINIS. Courteous Reader, these Books following are sold by Charles Tyus at the three Biddles on London Bridge. The wise Merchant, or the Pearless pearl by T. Calvert, Minister of God's Word in the City of York. The Christian Combat, or, his true spiritual warfare, by C. Love, L. M. of God's Word in the City of London. The book of Graces, with Prayers for morning and Evening: all but three pence price. The Sinners Warning-piece, or, Heaven's Messenger, by Tho. Robin's B. of D. Man's chief Guide to Salvation, by T.R. B. of D. The Scholar's Winter Garment, or the the Garment of Righteousness, by T. R. B. of D. A Wonder of Wonders, or God's people the world's wonder, by K. Hough. England's Golden Legacy, or a brief, description of the mercies of God bestowed upon England, by L. P. God's Message from Heaven to Sinners on Earth. by T. P. B. of D. L. These five last are but pence a piece, and very seasonable for these sinful times in which we live.