to show, or else (however thou mayest justify thyself) God will condemn thee; I condemn not morality, but warn you not to rest here: piety includes morality, as Christianity doth humanity; and grace includes reason; but we must not divide the tables.

4. It consists not in an external conformity to the rules of piety. 'Tis too manifest men may have a form of godliness, without the power. Men may pray long, and fast often, and hear gladly, and be very forward in the service of God, though costly and expensive, (Isa. i. 11.) and yet be strangers to conversion: they must have more to plead for themselves, than that they keep their church, give alms, and make use of prayer, to prove themselves sound converts; no outward service, but a hypocrite may do it, even to the giving all his goods to feed the poor, 1 Cor. xiii. 3,

5. It lies not in the chaining up of corruption by education, human laws, or affliction. Tis common to mistake education for grace; but if this were enough, who a better man than Jehoash? While Jehoiada his uncle lived, he was very forward in God's service, But here was nothing more than good education; for when his good tutor was taken out of the way, he appears to have been but a wolf chained up, and falls to idolatry.

6. It consists not in conviction, in a superficial change or partial reformation. A Felix may tremble under conviction, and a Herod amend many things. Tis one thing to have sin alarmed by convictions, and another to have it captivated and crucified by converting grace. Many, because they have been troubled for their sins, think well of their case, miserably mistaking conviction for conversion. Others think, that because they have given off their riotous courses, and are broken off from evil company, and reduced to sobriety, they are now real converts, forgetting that there is a vast difference between being sanctified and civilized; and that many seek to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and are not far from it, and arrive to the almost of Christianity, Acts xxvi. 28. and yet fall short at last. While conscience holds

the whip over them, many will pray, hear, read, and forbear their delightful sins: but no sooner is the lion asleep, but they are at their vomit again. Who more religious than the Jews, when God's hand was upon them? Yet no sooner was the affliction over, but they forgot God, and showed their religion to be a fit.

Hear then, O sinners. Why would you wilfully deceive yourselves, and build your hopes upon the sand! I know he shall find hard work of it that goes to pluck away your hopes. It cannot but be ungrateful to you, and truly it is not pleasing to me. I set about it as a surgeon, when he is to cut off a putrified member from his well-beloved friend, which of force he must do, though with an aching heart, and a trembling hand. But understand me, brethren, I am only taking down the ruinous house, (which will otherwise speedily fall of itself, and bury you in the rubbish,) that I may build it fair, strong, and firm for ever. The hope of the wicked shall perish. And hadst thou not better, O sinner, let the word convince thee now in time, and let go thy false hopes, than have death to open thine eyes, and find thyself in hell before thou art aware? Let your conscience speak: What is it that you have to plead for yourselves? Is it that you wear Christ's livery? that you bear his name? that you are of the church? that you have knowledge in the points of religion? are civilized, perform religious duties, are just in your dealings, have been troubled in conscience for your sins? I tell you, from the Lord, these pleas will never be accepted at God's bar; all this, though good in itself, will not prove you converted, and so will not suffice to your salvation. O! bethink yourselves of turning speedily and soundly; set to praying, and to reading and studying your own hearts; rest not till God hath made thorough work with you: for you must be other men, or else you are lost men.

But if these be short of conversion, what shall I say of the profane sinner? He must know from the Lord

that made him, that he is far from the kingdom of God. May a man be civilized, and not converted? where then shall the drunkard and the glutton appear? May a man keep company with the wise virgins, and yet be shut out? shall not a companion of fools much more be destroyed? May a man be true and just in his dealing, and yet not be justified of God? what then will become of thee, O wretched man, whose conscience tells thee thou art false in thy trade, and false in thy word, and makest thy advantage by a lying tongue? If men may be brought to the perform ance of holy duties, and yet go down to perdition for resting in them, and sitting down on this side of con version, what will become of you, O miserable families, that live without God in the world? and of you, O wretched sinners! with whom God is scaree in all your thoughts! that are so ignorant that you cannot, or so careless that you will not pray? O repent, and be converted: break off your sins by righteousness; away to Christ for pardoning and renewing grace, give up yourselves to him to walk with him in holiness; or else you shall never see God! O that you would take the warning of God! In his name I once more admonish you: turn you at my reproof. Be sober, righteous, godly. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Cease to do evil. Learn to do well. But if you will go on, you must die.

CHAP. II.

Showing what CONVERSION is.

I MAY not leave you with your eyes half open, as he that saw men as trees walking. The word is profitable for doctrine, as well as reproof. And therefore having thus far conducted you by the rocks of so many mistakes, I would guide you into the harbour of truth.

Conversion then is a thorough change both of the heart and life: I shall briefly describe it in its nature and causes.

The author, 'tis the Spirit of God, and therefore 'tis called the sanctification of the Spirit; yet not excluding the other persons in the Trinity for the apostle teacheth us to bless the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for that he hath begotten us again. And Christ is said to give repentance unto Israel, and the children which God hath given him. Yet this work is principally ascribed to the Holy Ghost;, and so we are said to be born of the Spirit, John iii. 8.

So then 'tis a work above inan's power. Never think thou canst convert thyself; if ever thou wouldst be converted, thou must despair of doing it in thine own strength. It is a resurrection from the dead, a new creation, a supernatural work, Gal. vi. 15,

2. The moving cause is Internal or External. The internal mover is only free grace.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but of his own mercy he saved us.

God finds nothing in a man to turn his heart, but enough to provoke his loathing. Look back upon thyself; look upon thyself in thy blood. Open thy sepulchre. Behold thy putrid soul, thy loathsome members. Behold thy ghastly visage, thy crawling lusts, thy slime and corruption! How then should holiness and purity love thee? Be astonished, O hea vens, at this! Be moved, O earth! Who but must needs cry, Grace! grace! Hear and blush, you chil dren of the Most High; O you unthankful generation! one would think you should be doing nothing_but praising and admiring God, wherever you are.

How can you make shift to forget such grace, or to pass it over with a slight mention? How affectionately doth Peter lift up his hands, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, who of his abundant mercy hath begotten us again, 1 Pet. i. 3. How feelingly doth Paul magnify the free mercy of God! God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, hath quickened us together with Christ; by grace ye are saved, Eph. ii. 4, 5.

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The external mover is the merit and intercession of the blessed Jesus. He hath obtained gifts for the re

bellious, and through him it is that God worketh in us what is well-pleasing in his sight. Through him are all spiritual blessings bestowed on us in lieavenly places, Eph. i. 3. He intercedeth for them that believe not. Every convert is the fruit of his travail. Onever was an infant born into the world with that difficulty that Christ endured for us! How emphatically he groaneth in his travail: all the pains that he suffered on the cross, were our birth pains. He sanctified himself, (that is, set apart himself as a sacrifice,) that we may be sanctified, John xvii. 19.

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'Tis nothing then but the merit and intercession of Christ, that prevails with God to bestow on us grace. If thou art a new creature, thou knowest to whom thou owest it, to Christ's pangs and prayers. Hence the natural affection of a believer to Jesus Christ. The foal doth not more naturally run after the dam, than a believer to Jesus Christ.

13. The instrument is either personal or real.

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The personal is the ministry. I have begotten you in Christ through the gospel, 1 Cor. iv. 15. Christ's ministers are they that are sent to open men's eyes, and to turn them to God.

O unthankful world, little do ye know what you are doing, while you are persecuting the messengers of the Lord. These are they, whose business it is (under Christ) to save you. Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? Against whom have you exalted yourselves, and lifted your voice on high? These are the servants of the most high God, that show unto you the way of salvation, Acts xvi. 17. and do you thus requite them? O foolish and unwise! O sous of ingratitude! against whom do you sport yourselves? These are the instruments that God uses to convert and save you.

...The real instrument is the word. We were begotten by the word of truth: this is that which enlightens the eye, which converteth the soul, Psal. xix. 7, 8. which maketh wise to salvation, 2 Tim. iii. 15. This is the incorruptible seed, by which we are born again. If we are washed, it is by the word, Eph. v. 26. If