we remain dead: it is no wonder, if we put confdence in the flesh, lean to our own understanding, trust in our own ftrength, and perish at last without remedy.

11. Thus many who have been open finners, rest in a mere outward reformation, lopping off fome of the branches of fin, while they leave, not only the roots deeply fixed in the ground of their hearts, as with bands of iron and brass; but also the unwieldy ftock not hewn down; I mean, their ftubborn will ftill unfubdued by grace, ftill proud and refractory, and bent upon ferving the world and themfelves. And thus others, who have not been notorious finners, content themselves with this confideration, that they are not fo bad as many of their neighbours, and, "If we are not faved (fay they) what will become of the generality of the world?” And thus daubing the corrupted wall of their depraved nature, with the untempered mortar of self-righteoufnefs, they vainly fuppofe it can ftand the fhock of death and judgment, when it is ready to fall at every thrust of adverfity, or breeze of temptation!

12. Many however, bleffed be GOD, are not taken in this fnare, but in spite of Satan and his devices, are convinced of fin and its dreadful confequences. It would now be in vain for the god of this world to attempt perfuading thefe, that they, may fafely defer the concerns of their fouls to a yet future period. They fee and feel, to their forrow, that they have already trifled too long, and greatly endangered, if not altogether precluded their falvation. They tremble to think, how the axe of God's juftice was laid to the root of their barren fouls, and how narrowly they escaped being cut down, as cumberers of the ground; a punishment they well deferved. They are afhamed and confounded under a fenfe of their fin and

ingratitude,

ingratitude, when they confider how long they have robbed him of their bodies and fouls, their time and talents, from whom they received all, and to whose service all ought to have been constantly devoted. They are diftreffed at their folly and madnefs, when they reflect, how many years they have thoughtlessly wandered to and fro thro' the earth, feeking reft but finding none, vainly expecting that happiness from the world which is to be found in GOD alone; fhunning religion as a wretched and melancholy thing, whereas they now fee it is the only fource of true and lafting felicity. And fhall they ftill go on adding one degree of fin and ingratitude to another? No, this they dare not do; nor can all Satan's power or policy thake their fixed refolution, formed in the strength of Jehovah, no longer to tread in their former fteps.

13. He does not however yet give them up, does not defpair of working their ruin after all. But he takes a new course, and alters the plan of his operations. Before, he endeavoured to destroy them by prefumption, and delays: now his aim is to effect the fame purpose by dejection, and defpondency. He fuggefts therefore that their fins are too many and great to be forgiven, that their fouls are too much enslaved to the power of evil habits ever to be delivered. Knowing their regard to the word of GOD, he labours to countenance his temptations with its authority, that they may have the greater influence. "You have blafphemed, he argues, against the Holy Ghoft, and therefore muft expect no forgiveness, neither in this world nor in that which is to come. You might indeed once have found mercy, but it is now too late: you have finned fo long, fo much, fo prefumptuoufly, in despite of fo many invitations, warnings, promifes, threatnings, which ought to have led you to repentance, that you must now expect judg

ment

ment without mercy." "Because he called and you refused, he ftretched out his hands and you did not regard, therefore he alfo now laughs at your calamity and mocks when your fear is come. When your fear is come as defolation,-when diftrefs and anguish are come upon you, you may indeed call, but he will not answer, you may feek him early, but you fhall not find him. For that you hated knowledge and did not chufe the fear of the Lord you would none of his counsel, and despised all his reproof; therefore you fhall eat the fruit of your own way, and be filled with your own devices." "Without holiness no man thall fee the Lord. And are you holy? Alas! you are altogether polluted, and who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? As foon might the Ethiop change his fkin or the leopard his fpots, as you, accustomed to do evil, fhould learn to do well. For the Holy Spirit has done striving with you, and you are now left to the hardness of your heart, and given up to a reprobate mind."

4

14. By thefe and fuch like fuggeftions Satan fometimes prevails, and the awakened finner giving up all for loft, finks down into dejection and defpair, not daring to rely on the faithful promifes' of GOD through Chrift. Fearing, however, left if they ftill continue fenfible of the deep impor-' tance of falvation, and defirous to obtain it, though at prefent without hope, they may, fome way or other, hereafter meet with that encouragement, which now they cannot find; to prevent this and infure their damnation, the enemy labours to drown" them in fenfuality and vice, or to bury them in" bufinefs and care; and fometimes, though lefs frequently, because he is not permitted, to drive them into diftraction, madnefs, and felf-murder.

15. He fuggefts therefore, "Since no atten. tion, defire, or diligence of yours, can alter the

decree

decree which is already gone out against you, why hould you torment yourself before the time? why fhould you make yourself miferable by thinking one moment about death or eternity? Nay, rather banish all thoughts about these things, which only. ferve to diftrefs you, and enjoy life while it lafts. You can but go to hell after all, and go to hell. you must as it is, if indeed there is an hell. But. who knows whether or no there be any fuch place; perhaps your body and foul die together and fhall never more exift: and why fhould you venture a certainty for an uncertainty? Let fools and fanatics do this: But be you wife for yourself. At all

A

hazards enjoy the prefent, let what will come of the future. But in fact, proceeds he, the future is out of the queftion, it is nothing to you: perhaps it is all mere imagination; but if not, it is certain you have no intereft there. The prefent world is your all therefore, enjoy and make. the most of it. Eat, drink, and be merry. This, even Solomon tells you, is your portion, than which there is nothing better for a man, in the day's of his life which God giveth him under the fun. Go thy way then, (fays he,) eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; let, thy garments be always white, and let thy head lack no ointment. Live joyfully with the woman whom thou lovest all the days of thy vanity, for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the fun."

115. Thus this old ferpent, long experienced in the arts of seduction, craftily interweaves his nets with threads of Scripture, forced from their natural: fense and mifapplied, that he may the more eafily infnare and detain in his power unwary fouls.. Not being acquainted with his devices, they are too often caught in them. So filent and natural are his suggestions, that they mistake them for the

mere

mere operations of their own minds, and never fufpect he has any hand in them, and fo plaufible and fhrewd are his reafonings, that they yield to them with little or no reluctance. Indeed, if they confidered and prayed to the Father of lights for the illumination of his Spirit, they would foon discover the fallacy of his arguments; but not confidering, or trufting to their own understanding, the grand deceiver is too cunning for them, and accomplishes their ruin ere they are aware.

:

17. This however, bleffed be God, is the cafe with only very few that are convinced of fin. The generality, we have reason to believe, of penitent and broken hearted finners are enabled to withftand in the evil day, to refift the devil and he flees from them. Laying hold on the shield of faith, offered them by GOD, whofe gift it is, they repel his fiery darts and are preferved unhurt. By a faith of the operation of God, they fee and are perfuaded that the blood of Chrift cleanfeth from all fin that thro' it, "God is faithful and just to forgive us our fins, and to cleanfe us from all unrighteousness." They fee that in Chrift all fulness dwells, that his grace is fufficient for them, and through this ftrengthening them, they can do all things, can overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, "cleanse themfelves from all filthinefs of flesh and spirit, and perfect holiness in the fear of God." They believe "he is able to fave to the uttermoft all that come unto God by him," and that "whofoever cometh unto him, he will in no wife caft out." They therefore apply to him, and trust their guilty, depraved and wretched fouls to his care, and it is done unto them according to their faith. They find redemption in his blood, the forgiveness of fins: they are accepted in the Beloved: they receive the Spirit of adoption, whereby they cry "Abba_Father," and the fruits D

of