niftration of baptifm, and fo every infant fhall be regenerated, not only facramentally, but really and properly. Hence men fancy, that, being re generated already when baptized, they need no farther work.

Friends and Brethren, be not deceived, God is not mocked, Gal. vi. 7. Whether it be your baptifm, or whatever elfe that you pretend, I tell you from the living God, that if any of you be prayerlefs perfons, or unclean, or malicious, or covetous, or riotous, or a fcoffer, or a lover of evil company: in a word, if you are not holy, ftrict, and self-denying Chriftians, you cannot be faved.

3. It lies not in a moral righteoufnefs. This exceeds not the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharifees, and therefore cannot bring us to the kingdom of God. St. Paul, while unconverted, touching the righteousness which is in the law was blameless. The Pharifee could fay, I am no Extortioner, Adulterer, Unjust. Thou must have something more than all this to fhew, or else, (however thou mayeft justify thyfelf) God will condemn thee; I condemn not morality, but warn you not to rest here: Piety includes Morality, as Chriftianity doth Humanity; and Grace includes Reafon; but we must not divide the Tables,

4. It confifts not in an external conformity to the Rules of Piety. 'Tis too manifeft men may have a form of Godliness, without the power. Men may pray long, and faft often, and hear gladly, and be very forward in the service of God, tho' coftly and expenfive, Ifaiah i. 11, and yet be ftrangers to Converfion they must have more to plead for themselves, than that they keep their Church, give Alms, and make ufe of prayer, to prove themfelves found Converts; no outward Service, but a Hypocrite may do it, even to the giving all his goods to feed the poor, 1 Cor. xiii.

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

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enough,

enough, who a better man than Jehoafh? While Jehoiada his uncle lived, he was very forward in God's fervice. 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 confifts not in Conviction, in a fuperficial Change or partial Reformation. A Felix may tremble under conviction, and a Herod amend many things. 'Tis one thing to have fin alarmed by convictions, and another to have it captivated and crucified by converting grace. Many, because they have been troubled for their fins, think well of their case, miferably miftaking Conviction for Converfion. Others think, that because they have given off their riotous courfes, 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 fanctified and civilized; and that many feek to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and are not far from it, and arrive to the almost of Chriftianity, Acts xxvi. 28, and yet fall fhort at last. While Confcience holds the whip over them, many will pray, hear, read, and forbear their delightful fins; but no fooner is the Lion afleep, but they are at their vomit again. Who more religious than the Jews, when God's hand was upon them? Yet no fooner was the affliction over, but they forgot God, and fhewed their religion to be a fit.

Hear then, O finners. Why would you wilfully deceive yourselves, and build your hopes upon the fand? 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 pleafing to me. I fet 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, tho' with an aching heart and a trembling hand. But understand - me, brethren, I am only taking down the ruinous houfe (which will otherwife fpeedily fall of itself,

and

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d

and bury you in the rubbish) that I may build it fair, ftrong, and firm for ever. The hope of the wicked fhall perish. And hadst thou not better, O finner, let the Word convince thee now in time, and let go thy falfe hopes, than have Death to open thine eyes, and find thyself in hell before thou art aware? Let your confcience speak: What is it that you have to plead for yourselves? Is it that you wear Chrift'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 juft in your Dealings, have been troubled in Confcience for your fins ? I tell you from the Lord, thefe pleas will never be accepted at God's bar; all this, tho' good in itself, will not prove you converted, and fo will not fuffice to your falvation. O! bethink yourselves of turning fpeedily and foundly: fet to praying, and to reading and studying your own hearts; reft not till God hath made thorough work with you; for you must be other men, or elfe you are loft men.

But if these be short of Conversion, what shall I fay of the prophane finner ? 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 fhall the drunkard and the glutton appear? May a man keep company with the wife Virgins, and yet be shut out? Shall not a companion of fools much more be deftroyed? 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, whofe confcience tells thee thou art falfe in thy trade, and false of thy word, and makeft thy advantage by a lying tongue? If men may be brought to the performance of holy duties, and yet go down to perdition for refting in them, and fitting down on this fide of Converfion, what will become of you, O miferable families, that live with out God in the world? and of you, O wretched

finners!

finners! with whom God is fcarce in all your thoughts; that are that fo ignorant you cannot, or fo careless that you will not pray repent and be converted; break off your fins by righteoufnefs; away to Chrift for pardoning and renewing grace: give up yourselves to him to walk with him in holiness, or elfe you fhall never fee God. O that you would take the warning of God! In his name I once more admonish you: turn you at my reproof. Be fober, righteous, godly. Wafh your hands, you finners, purify your hearts, ye Learn to do double-minded. Ceafe to do evil. well. But if you will go on, you must die.

CHA P. II.

Shewing what CONVERSION is,

May not leave you with your eyes half open, I he that fave mex as trees walking. The word as profitable for Doctrine, as well as Reproof. And therefore having thus far conducted you by the Rocks of fo many mistakes, I would guide you into the harbour of Truth.

Converfion then is a thorough change both of the heart and life: I fhall briefly describe it in its nature and caufes.

1. The Author: 'tis the Spirit of God, and therefore 'tis called the fancbification of the Spirit; yet not excluding the other perfons in the Trinity: For the Apostle teacheth us to blefs the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, for that he hath begotten us again. And Chrift is faid to give repentance unto Ifrael, and the children which God hath

given

given him. Yet this work is principally ascribed to the Holy Ghost, and so we are faid to be born of the Spirit, John iii. 8.

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

2. The moving caufe is Internal or External.

The Internal Mover is only Free Grace. Not by Works of Righteoufnefs which we have done, but of his own Merey he faved us.

God finds nothing in a man to turn his heart, but enough to provoke his loathing. Look back upon thyfelf; look upon thyfelf in thy blood. Open thy fepulchre. Behold thy putrid foul, thy loathfome members. Behold thy ghastly visage, thy crawling lufts, thy flime and corruption! How then fhould Holiness and Purity love thee ? Be aftonished, O Heavens, at this! Be moved O Earth. Who but must needs cry, Grace! Grace! Hear and blush, you Children of the moft High; O you unthankful Generation! One would think you should be doing nothing but praifing and admiring God, wherever you are. How can you make shift to forget fuch Grace, or to pass it over with a flight mention? How affectionately doth Peter lift up his hands, Bleffed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus, 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 Chrift: by Grace ye are faved, Eph. ii. 4, 5.

The external Mover is the Merit and interceffion of the bleffed Jefus. He hath obtained gifts for the re bellious, and thro' him it is that God worketh in us what is well-pleafing in his fight. Thro' him are all spiritual bleffings beftowed upon us in hea venly places, Eph. i. 3. He intercedeth for them

that