he will create new helps, Isa. iv. 5. Wherefore, in all things it is host to begin with God. '
The third general point is this, that
Of all spiritual means, the best is to return to the Lord.
In this returning, 1. There vnist be a stop. Those who have run on in evil ways must first stop their lewd coui'ses. For naturally from our birth and childhood we are posting on to hell ; and yet such is our madness (unless the Spirit of God shew us ourselves) to be angiy with those who stand in our way.
To make this stop, then (which is always before returning).
(1.) There must be examination and consideration whither our ways tend. There be stopping considerations, which both waken a man and likewise put rubs in his way ; if a man, upon examination, find his ways displeasing unto God, disagreeing from the rule, and consider what will be the end and issue of them (nothing but death and damnation), and withal consider of the day of judgment, the hour of death, the all-seeing eye of God, and the hke. So the consideration of a man's owm ways, and of God's ways to- wards him, partly when God meets him with goodness ; — I have hitherto been a vile wretch, and God hath been good to me, and spared me ; — and partly when God stops a wicked man's ways with thorns, meets him with crosses and afflictions. These will work upon an ingenious* spirit, to make him have better thoughts and deeper considerations of true happiness, and the way unto it. God puts into the heart of a man, whom he intends to save, serious and sad considerations, what estate he is in, whither his course leads ; and withal he lets them feel some displeasure of his, towards them, in those ways, by his ways towards them ; whereupon they make a stop.
(2.) There must be hiimiliation, with displeasure against ourselves, judging and taking revenge of ourselves, working and reflecting on our hearts, tak- ing shame to ourselves for our ways and courses ; and withal, there must concur some Jiope of mercy. For so long as there is hue and cry, as we say, after a traitor, he returns not, but flies stiU and hastes away ; but oifer a pardon, and he returneth. So, unless there be hope of pardon, to draw a man again to God, as the prodigal was moved to return by hope of mercy and favour from his father, Luke xv. 18, we will not, we dare not else return.
(3.) There must be a resolution to overcome impediments. For when a man thinks or resolves to turn to God, Satan will stir up all his instru- ments, and labour to kill Christ in his infancy, and to quench good while it is in the purpose only. The dragon stood watching for the birth of the child. Rev. xii. 4 ; so doth Satan observe the birth of ever}* good resolution and purpose, so far as he can know them, to destroy them.
Use. Let it be thought of by us in all our distresses, and in whatsoever other evidences of God's anger, whether this means have been taken up by us. It will be thus kno'mi.
[1.] Turning is a change of the posture of the body ; so is this of the frame of the mind. By this we know a man is in a state of turning. The look of his intentions, pui-poses, the whole bent of his soul is set another way, even upon God ; and his word is the star of direction towards which he bends all his thoughts.
[2.] His present actions, also, be contran/ to his former. There is not only a change of the disposition of his soul, ' Behold all things are become new;' not some things, but all ; not only ' new,' but with a ' behold ' new, 2 Cor. * That is, ' ingenuous.' — G.
256 THE KETUKNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON I.
V. 17. This change undoubtedly sheweth that there is a true conversion and unfeigned. *
[3.] Bij our association. He that turns to God, turns presently to the company of God's people. Together with the change of his nature and course of life, there is a change of company ; that is, of such as we make choice of for amity and friendship, Isa. xi. 10, seq. Other company, by reason of our callings, and occasionally, may be frequented.
[4.] It is a sign that one is not only turned, but hath gone backwards from sin a great way, ivhen the things of heaven only are great things in his eyes. For, as the further a man goeth from a place, the lesser the things behind him seem, so the greater the things before, he being nearer to them. The more sublime and high thoughts a man hath of the ways of God, and the meaner thoughts of the world and worldly matters he esteemed so highly of in the days of his vanity, the more he is turned unto God.
This returning is fm'ther enforced, saying, ' Return imto the Lord thy God.'
It is very emphatical and significant in the original [a). Return, usque ad Jehovam, even to Jehovah, as though he should say, Do not only begin to return towards Jehovah, but so return as you never cease coming till you come to Jehovah.