they will only direct thee to the church-walls and communion-table; and, perhaps, if they see thee under dejection of spirit for thy sins, they will recommend the play-house, the card-table, or what they call "a cheerful glass." From such turn away, or they will persuade thee that repentance is melancholy; conviction of sin, despair; and the love of God, enthusiasm, 2 Tin. iii. 5.

That they may not be able to laugh or frown thee out of the way of salvation, dwell in thy thoughts on God's awful perfections. "Justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne." The unspotted resplendent holiness beaming forth from him, as from an immensely glorious Sun of righteousness, will show thee thy sins, as innumerable as the flying motes discovered in a dusty room, where the natural sun can penetrate. Consider, that they are committed by a worm of earth, against the Majesty of heaven; and they will all appear to thee infinitely great; especially if thou measurest them and thyself by the true rule, the oracles of God; casting away the three false standards which self-deceivers measure themselves by, namely, the good opinion of their worldly-minded neighbours, the defective examples of their fellow sinners, and the flattering suggestions of their own blind self-love.

Follow the example of the noble Bereans: "Search the scriptures daily, whether these things are so," Acts xvii. 11. View, in that faithful mirror, the picture both of the natural and of the regenerate man, and ask thy conscience which thou resemblest most. If, imitating the godly man described in the first Psalm, thou "meditatest in the law of the Lord day and night;" the straitness of the heavenly rule will soon show thee how very far gone thy thoughts, words, actions, tempers, and nature, are from original righteousness.

To this meditation, add a frequent survey of the follies of thy childhood, the vanity of thy youth, the worldly-mindedness of thy riper years, the capital trans

gressions which conscience accuses thee of, and the hardness of heart, and alienation from the life of God, that the scriptures charge thee with. Confess all to the Lord as thou art able, remembering that the wages of sin is death, who flies fast upon thee with the wings of time:-death, who often gives no warning, and ushers in judgment, with all the horrors of hell, or the joys of heaven. And pray that these awful realities may affect thee now, as they will in thy last

moments

Frequently reflect, how total must be our loss of spiritual life, which cannot be repaired but by a resurrection, a new birth, or a new creation, Col. iii. 1. John iii. 7. Gal. vi. 5. And how desperate the disease of our fallen nature, which cannot be healed but with the blood of a divine Physician. Consider, attentively consider him, whose piercing look softened the obdurate heart of cursing Peter, whose amazing sufferings brought a hardened thief under the deepest concern for his salvation, and whose dying groans rent the rocks, shook the earth, and opened the graves. The tender flower of evangelical sorrow grows best in the shade of his cross: a believing view of him, as suffering for thee, will melt thee into penitential tears, and seal upon thy relenting heart the gracious promise, They shall look upon him whom they have pierced, and mourn." Zech. xii. 10.

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In the mean time, improve the daily opportunities, which thou hast of studying human corruption in the life and tempers of all around thee, but chiefly in thy own careless and deceitful heart: take notice of its pride and self-seeking, of its risings and secret workings especially when unexpected temptations trouble thy imaginary peace of mind: for, at such a time, thy corruption, like the sediment in the bottom of a vial that is shaken, will show its loathsomeness and strength.

Converse frequently, if thou canst, with persons deeply convinced of sin. Attend a plain, heartsearching ministry, as often as possible; and when the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, pierces

thy soul, beware of fretful impatience. Instead of rising with indignation against the preacher, and saying, as proud Ahab did to the man of God, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? account him thy best friend that wounds thee deepest, provided he brings thee to Christ for a cure; and when the arrows of the word fly abroad, drop the shield of unbelief, make bare thy breast, welcome the blessed shaft, and remember, that the only way of conquering sin, is to fall wounded and helpless at the Redeemer's feet.

Nevertheless, the impressions of the word will soon wear off, if thou dost not importunately intreat the Searcher of hearts, to light the candle of his grace in thy soul, that thou mayest clearly see whether thy inward parts are holiness to the Lord, as thou fondly supposedst; or very wickedness, as the scripture testifies. It is only in God's light that we can clearly discover our blindness.

This light, it is true, shineth in darkness; but frequently the darkness comprehendeth it not. That this be not thy dreadful case, do not grieve and quench the convincing Spirit, by persisting in the wilful omission of any duty, or deliberate commission of any sin: nothing but obstinate unbelief darkens the mind, and hardens the heart more than this. Therefore instead of burying thy one talent with the slothful servant, earnestly pray the Lord to make thee faithful to thy convictions, and to deepen them daily till they end in a sound conversion.

In order to this, do not slightly heal the wound in thy conscience: it is better to keep it open, than to skin it over by improper means: many, through a natural forwardness and impatience, have recourse to them: and ruin is the consequence of their mistake. That thou mayest avoid it, serious Reader, I entreat thee to pay a due regard to the following—

III. CAUTIONS, proper for a penitent, who desires to make his calling and election sure.-When thou hast affecting views of thy lost estate, beware of resting like Felix in some pangs of fear, fits of trembling,

and resolutions of turning to God by and by, when thou shalt have a convenient season. Neither give place to desponding thoughts, as if there was no appeal from the tribunal of justice to the throne of grace.

Run not for ease to vain company, bodily indulgence, entangling affections, immoderate sleep, excessive drinking, or hurry of business. Cain built a city to divert his trouble of mind, and multitudes like him, by the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, or the desire of other things, daily choke the good seed, the precious word of conviction, Mark iv. 19.

Be not satisfied with faint desires of living the life of the righteous, or idle wishes of dying their death. Remember, that the desire of the slothful kills him: and if thou hast experienced some drawings of grace, meltings of heart, or breathings after God, sit not down at last as the Laodiceans, in a careless state, neither hot nor cold. It is far better to go on thy way weeping, and seeking the pearl of great price till thou really find it, than to rest contented with a hasty conceit that thou art possessed of it, when thou art not.

Stop not in an outward reformation, and a form of godliness, like many who mistake the means or doctrines of grace for grace itself; and because they say their heartless prayers both in public and private, or go far and often to hear the gospel preached in its purity, fondly hope that they are the favourites of God, and in the high way to heaven.

Under pretence of increasing thy convictions, do not bury them in heaps of religious books. Some read till their heads are confused, or their hearts past feeling. Thus, though ever learning, they are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Hear then, as well as read the word of life; but think not thyself converted when thou hast received it with joy: the stony-ground hearers went as far as this; Herod himself heard John gladly, honoured him, did many things, but left the most important undone; for he

never dismissed the incestuous woman he lived with, and at last sacrificed to her revenge the honest preacher he once admired.

Do not confound the covenant of works made with innocent Adam before the fall, and the covenant of grace made with sinful Adam after the fall, Gen. ii. 17. and iii. 15. and Rom. v. 11, 21. They are excellent in their place; but when they are mixed together, they destroy each others efficacy. The dreadful thunders heard in Paradise Lost, and the melodious songs uttered in Paradise Regained, do not strike at once the same spiritual ear. The galling yoke of the law of works, and the heavy load of its condemnation, are dropt, when we take upon us Christ's easy yoke, and submit to his light burden. In a word, the first Adam gives place to the second, when we find rest unto our souls. Let then the curse of the law of innocence, be swallowed by the blessing of the gospel; or rather, let it make way for the grace of Christ in thy soul, as an emetic makes way for a cordial in a disorded stomach. If thou takest them together, their respective use is prevented. The first covenant loses its humbling efficacy, and the second its restorative power. Therefore, if thou hast really received the sentence of death in thyself, leave the curse of the first covenant in the grave of Christ, crucified for thy sins; and welcome the pardoning, renovating grace of Christ, risen again for thy justifi

cation.

On the other hand, rest not contented with speculative knowledge, and unaffecting, though clear, ideas of the gospel way of salvation. Light in an unrenewed understanding, mistaken for the mystery of faith in a pure heart, like an ignis fatuus, or false light, leads thousands through the bogs of sin, into the pit of destruction, Acts viii. 13.

Pacify not thy conscience by activity in outward services, and a warmth in God's cause: party spirit, or natural steadiness in carrying on a favourite scheme, yea, or seeking thy own glory, may be the springs