ADVICE TO SINNERS UNDER CONVICTIONS, To prevent their Miscarrying in CONVERSION.  
By Samuel Corbyn. M. A.  Isa. 66.9. 
Shall I bring to the Birth, and not cause to bring forth, saith the Lord?  
LONDON, Printed for Robert Gibbs at the Golden Ball in Chancery-Lane, 1669.   

Advice to Sinners under Convictions, to prevent their miscarrying in Conversion.  
Poor undone Sinners,  
I Send these truths from the Eternal God to you in love and faithfulness, unfeignedly desiring that you may be convinced of your unbelief, and of all your sins, and of your present accursed and condemned state, and may be taught of God to rely upon Christ, who died for the ungodly, without which you will be certainly ere long undone for ever, although you now enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, or the world in its glory. Since divers of you were awakened, I hope that God may have thoughts of everlasting love to some of your souls: therefore as I have warned you to flee for refuge from the wrath of God which is coming upon you, and without delay presently to come out of this dreadful condition to Christ who will embrace you; so I writ to you, and to all others to whom these truths may be communicated, to prevent their miscarrying in conversion.  
1. Seek to know and be convinced by the Spirit through the Scriptures, that you are born dead in sins and children of wrath, without Christ and without hope, Eph. 2.3, 12. and that you are every day and every moment under God's curse, and wrath, in danger of eternal condemnation, Gal. 3.10. The wicked shall be turned into Hell, Psal. 9.17. and the soul that sinneth it shall die, Ezek. 18.4. and unbelievers shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on them, though they are insensible of it. The Lord saith, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God; and he that believeth not is condemned already, Joh. 3.3, 18, 36. Consider seriously then each of you I beseech you, what will become of me who am not born again, nor ever had a work of grace? O that your eyes were open to behold all the sins of your hearts and lives in order before you, which cry aloud day and night for vengeance against your guilty souls! 'twere enough to make you tremble who are now most senseless. Get alone quickly, and reflect upon your ways as in the fight of God. Ask yourselves, have I not sometimes lied, or stole, or swore an oath? have I not profaned the Lords Day? was I never proud, nor wanton, nor malicious? have I never taken the Lords Name in vain? have I not been disobedient to my parents? have I not a carnal, unclean, hard, and unbelieving heart? did I never break God's Laws? Yea surely; I must cry out guilty, guilty; my conscience condemns me; what will become of me if I die in this dreadful condition? He that spared not the Angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Hell; he that spared not the old world, nor the Cities of Sodom, but condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those which after should live ungodly, will not spare me long. Does not Hell gape for me? Is there any hopes that such a sinner as I have been may yet be washed in the blood of Christ? God may righteously damn me for these sins, or for the least sin, Rom. 3.23. It is the Lords mercy that I am not consumed, and now in Hell howling among the damned, crying out for a drop of water to cool my tongue, Lam. 3.22. Luke 16.24.  
2. Seek the Lord in secret for his Spirit while he may be found, Isa. 55.6. Cry out each of you for the blood of Christ, as condemned malefactors do for mercy; as they did, Acts 2.37. Or as the keeper of the prison said trembling, What must I do to be saved? Acts 16.30. Rest not one day nor hour longer quietly or securely, till you have some good hopes that Jesus Christ will plead your cause at the day of judgement; for without the imputation of his righteousness there is no remission. Fellow Christ, crying after him as the blind men did, Lord, that our eyes may be opened, Mat. 20.30, etc.  
3. If the Lord by his Word and Spirit makes you sensible of your fearful undone condition, beware of resting short of a thorow-work of grace, lest you fall short of union with Christ, through the teachings and drawings of the Father, lest you rrest in a false peace, Luke 11.21. compasting yourselves about with sparks of your own kindling, through slight wounding, or slight healing, Isa. 50.11. Take heed of building foolishly upon the sand, Mat. 7.26, 27. And lest thou prove at best but a foolish Viring walking with the wise, Mat. 25. fear lest you should make a Christ of duties, of praying, weeping, purposing, or reforming; for the sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to the Lord, Prov. 15.8. There is away which seemeth right to a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death, Prov 12.14. And there is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness, Prov. 30.12. A man may go very far under the awakenings of conscience, and have a zeal of God, and yet being ignorant of God's righteousness, go about all his life time to establish his own righteousness, and get nothing at last but the hypocrites hope which shall perish, whose trust shall be a spider's web, and he shall lie down in sorrow; for Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth, Joh 8.13, 14. Rom. 10.2, 3, 4. By the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God, Rom. 3.20. If ever thou find mercy, thou must be justified freely by the grace of God, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus by faith, without the deeds of the Law, Verse 24, 28. 'Tis true faith comes by hearing, and 'tis our duty to attend to God's appointments where the Spirit works; but if righteousness come by any work of the Law, than Christ is dead in vain, Gal. 2.21. To him that worketh not in the point of justification, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness: blessed is that man to whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Rom. 4.5, 6.  
4. Look to the Lord to convince you of sin, because you believe not in Jesus Christ which is promised, Joh. 16.7, 8, 9 In your attendance on the means of grace, be willing to be convinced by the Comforter, that your hearts are so desperately wicked that you will not come to Christ; and to feel your impotency, that you cannot believe in him unless the Lord put forth the exceeding greatness of his power, Eph. 1.19.  
5. Know assuredly, and welcome these glad tidings, that Christ is come of a truth into the world on purpose to save sinners, and the chiefest of them, 1 Tim. 1.15. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life, Joh. 3.19. Christ hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, 1 Pet. 3.18. Flee to this refuge when thou seest thyself ungodly and accursed by the Law of God, and fearest thou shalt be damned. Consider with thyself, though I am ungodly, yet there's a dying Christ for the ungodly, Rom. 5.6. Though I am an enemy, yet Christ hath reconciled enemies to God by his death, vers. 10. Though I am rebellious, and so abominable, that I fear lest the earth should open and swallow up such a wretch sometimes, and so God should righteously sink me to Hell living, and in his wrath; yet here's good news and encouragement for me, that Jesus Christ when he ascended on high received gifts for men, yea for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell amongst the rebellious, Psal. 68.18. Though I am accursed, and I see plainly God threatens to damn me in many Scriptures, yet is there hopes for such a condemned sinner, since Christ hath redeemed accursed sinners from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for them, that we might receive the blessing of Abraham, and the promise of the Spirit, Gal. 3.13, 14.  
6. Believe in Jesus Christ, because 'tis the command of God and pleasing in his sight, and thy duty, though thou canst see no other warrant or ground of encouragement. This is his Commandment, that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ, 1 Joh. 3.22, 23. Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved, Acts 16.31. Christ tells hypocrites that sought him for their bellies, This is the work of god that ye believe on him whom God hath sent, Joh. 6.28, 29. Apply the Word thus to thyself; the righteous God that knows all my heinous sins, in stead of damning me for them, commands me to believe on his Son, and assures me that I shall be saved. The Lord give thee the spirit of wisdom and revesation in the acknowledgement of Christ, and the obedience of faith.  
7. Rejoice to hear that Jesus Christ is become an earnest suitor for thy love; he will bear thy sorrows and love thee freely, Isa. 5.3, 4. Hos. 14.4. Christ once crucified now saith to thee, Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, Rev. 3.20. I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners, saith the Lord, Mat. 9.13. Come unto me all ye who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Mat. 11.18. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, Isa. 55.1. The Spirit and the Bride say come, and let him that heareth say come, and let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely, Rev. 22.17. Harken therefore to the ravishing voice of Christ, although thou mayst judge thyself the vilest and chiefest of sinners, and mayst verily think there may be mercy for others, but there is none for such a great monstrous sinner as thou hast been; yet here is the joyful sound, that the Son of man God manifest in the flesh is come to seek and to save that which is lost, Luke 19.10. How dreadful soever thy condition may be in thy own thoughts, yet Christ saith, Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out, Joh. 6.37. Though you therefore feel hard and dead hearts, yet come as sinners unto Christ who came to seek and save such. The Lord calls stour hearted sinners who are fare from righteousness to hearken unto him, Isa. 46.12, 13.  
8. When your hearts are sinking under the sense of God's wrath, then resolve in the strength of Christ to rely upon him, to cast and roll yourselves upon him whatever be the issue. If I perish I will perish at the feet of Christ, for other wise I am sure to perish; if he condemn me he is righteous, if he save me 'twill be riches of free grace for ever to be admired. Venture thus upon Christ against a thousand discouragements, as the Lepers ventured into the tents of the Syrians, a King. 7.4, 5, 6. Press in upon Christ resolving to take no denial, as the woman of Caenaan did, Mat. 15.22, etc. These had a blessed issue out of their difficulties, and thou shalt find at length that the bowels of Christ will yearn over thy fainting soul, lying at his feet for a crumb, and he will embrace thee with unspeakable love, Thus let the Kingdom of Heaven suffer violence; press thou into it, and take it by force.  
9 Never attempt to believe or repent in thy own strength, but look unto Jesus in whom it hath pleased the Father all fullness should dwell, Col. 1.19. As thou wouldst not prove a rotten hypocrite, beware of a dead faith of thy own forming, which is not the faith of the operation of God, Col. 2.12. Look not for that in thyself which is to be found in Christ, nor for that in the Law which is to be found in the Gospel: this hath been the cause of the long troubles of many precious souls. When thou fearest thou shalt die eternally because thou canst not believe, look out of thyself unto Christ who is full of grace, and behold his glory, Joh. 1.14. Look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth, Isa. 45.22. Look unto Jesus the beginner and finisher of faith, Heb. 12.2. Christ never comes expecting to find faith or repentance, but looks upon a filthy soul polluted in his own blood, and saith unto him, live; and this time is the time of love, Ezek. 16.6, 8. The grace of the Lord is exceeding abundant to the chiefest of sinners, with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus, 1 Tim. 1.14. When thou turnest thine eyes inward, and thinkest the hardness and impenitency of thy heart will surely be thy ruin, flee to that reviving word, Act. 5.30.31. God hath raised up Jesus and exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins. The Lord hath promised in the latter days to destroy the veil of unbelief which is spread over all Nations, Isa. 25.7. Dost thou find by experience that word true, No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him. Behold in the next Verse what a full promise of help is made to thee, They shall be all taught of God; every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me, Joh. 6.44, 45. And Psal. 25. Good and upright is the Lord, therefore will he teach sinners in the way. And Christ saith, I am the way unto the Father, Joh. 14.6. Fellow the Lord at the throne of grace with cries and groans unutterable without ceasing; O draw me to Christ, help me to close with and to be united to Christ. If thou findest still 'tis impossible for thee to believe, hear the Lord saying to thee, Let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me, and he shall make peace with me, Isa. 27.5. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might be increaseth strength, Chap. 40.29. Therefore trust ye in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength, Chap. 26.4. It is my earnest desire and prayer to God, that this may be the time of God's special love and the day of his power, that you may be united to Christ by faith wrought in you by the power of God's Spirit, that you may thirst after, and receive a full assurance of God's love, and that you may have the love of Christ shed abroad in your hearts, and may abide in Christ, being strong in the grace which is in him, which is sufficient for you in your greatest straits, and that you may be taught of God to sing his praises, and to rejoice with trembling, and may never lose your first love, nor fall into a spirit of slumber or delusion, but may grow in the knowledge of Christ, and being planted in the house of God, may bring forth much fruit, denying yourselves and taking up the Cross of Christ, walking worthy of the Lord all your few days, to the praise of his free grace, who hath called you into his Kingdom and glory. O that these lines may not hereafter rise up in judgement at the last day against any of you which slight them, and condemn you, and that they may be the voice and call of God, his arm and power revealed to your salvation. The grace and peace of the Lord, and the abiding presence of the Comforter, be with you for ever.  
FINIS.