a while, and breathe on this great concern

ment.

2. "The choice is also changed," so that he chooseth another way. * He pitcheth upon God as his blessedness, and upon Christ as the principal, and holiness as the subordinate means to bring him to God.t He chooseth Jesus for his Lord. He is not merely forced into Christ by the storm, nor doth he take Christ for bare necessity; but he deliberately resolves that Christ is his best choice,§ and would rather have him to choose than all the good of this world, might he enjoy it while he would. Again, he takes holiness for his path; he doth not of mere necessity submit to it, but he loves it. "I have chosen the way of thy precepts."|| He takes God's testimonies, not as his bondage, but as his heritage, yea, heritage for ever. He counts them not his burden, but his bliss; not his cords, but his cordials. He doth not only bear, but takes up Christ's yoke. He takes not holiness as the stomach doth the loathed potion, which it will down with rather than die; but as the hungry doth his beloved food. No time passes so sweetly with him as he spends in the exercise of holiness; these are both his aliment and element, the desire of his eyes and the

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joy of his heart.* Put thy conscience to it as thou goest, whether thou art the man: O happy man, if this be thy case! but see thou be thorough and impartial in the search.

Thirdly, "It turns the bent of the affections." These run all in a new channel: the Jordan is now driven back, and the water runs upwards, against its natural course.

Christ is his hope, this is his prize,§ here his eye is, here his heart is. He is contented to cast all overboard, (as the merchant in the storm, ready to perish,) so he may but keep this Jewel.

The first of his desires is not after gold, but grace.|| He hungers after it, he seeks it as silver, he digs for it as for hid treasure: he had rather be gracious than be great; he had rather be the holiest man on earth than the most learned, the most famous, the most prosperous. While carnal, he said, O! if I were but in great esteem, and rolled in wealth, and swimmed in pleasure: if my debts were paid, and I and mine provided for, then I were a happy man. But now the tone is changed.

O! saith the convert, if I had but my corruption subdued, if I had such measure of grace, such fellowship with God, though I were poor and despised, I should not care, I

should account myself a blessed man. Reader, is this the language of thy soul.

His joys are changed. He rejoiceth in the ways of God's testimonies, as much as in all riches. * He "delights in the law of the Lord;" he hath no such joy as in the thoughts of Christ, the fruition of his company, the prosperity of his people.

His cares are quite altered: he was once set for the world, and any scraps of by-time were enough for his soul. Now he gives over caring for the asses," and sets his heart on the kingdom; now all the cry is, "What shall I do to be saved?" His great solicitude is how to secure his soul: O how he would bless you, if you could put him out of doubt of this!

His fears take another turn. Once he was afraid of nothing so much as the loss of his estate or esteem, the pleasure of friends, or the frowns of the great; nothing sounded so terrible to him, as pain, or poverty, or disgrace: now these are little to him in comparison of God's dishonour or displeasure. How warily doth he walk, lest he should tread upon a snare! He feareth always, he looks before and behind; he hath his eye upon his heart, and is often casting it over his shoulder, lest he should be overtaken with sin. It kills his

heart to think of losing God's favour; this he dreads as his only undoing.* No thought in the world doth pinch him and pain him so much, as to think of parting with Christ.

His love runs a new course. "My love was crucified," saith Ignatius; that is, my Christ. "This is my beloved," saith the spouse.t How doth Augustine often pour out his love upon Christ? O eternal blessedness," &c. He can find no words sweet enough: "Let me see thee, O light of mine eyes! Come, O thou joy of my spirit! Let me behold thee, O life of my soul! Appear unto me, O my great delight, my sweet comfort. O my God, my life, and the whole glory of my soul! Let me find thee, O desire of my heart! Let me hold thee, O love of my soul! Let me embrace thee, O heavenly bridegroom! Let me possess thee."

His sorrows have now a new vent. The view of his sins, the sight of Christ crucified, that would scarce stir him before, now how much do they affect his heart!

His hatred boils, his anger burns against sin. He calls himself fool, and thinks any name too good for himself, when his indignation is stirred up against sin. ||

"Commune then with thy own heart," and attend the common and general current of

* Psal. li. 11, 12, and cxix. 8.

‡ 2 Cor. vii. 9, 10.

† Cant. v. 16.

Psal. cxix. 104. || Psal. thine affection, whether it be towards God in Christ above all other concernments. Indeed, sudden and strong commotions of the affections and sensitive parts are often found in hypocrites, especially where the natural inclination leads thereunto: and contrarywise, the sanctified themselves are many times without very sensible stirring of the affections, where the temper is more slow, dry and dull. The great inquiry is whether the judgment will be steadily determined for God, above all other good, real or apparent: and if the affections do sincerely follow their choice and conduct, though it be not so strongly and sensibly as is to be desired, there is no doubt but the change is saving.

2.

"Throughout the members." Those that were before the instruments of sin, are now become the holy utensils of Christ's living temple.* The eye that was once a wandering eye, a wanton eye, and haughty, a covetous eye, is now employed as Mary's in weeping over its sins,f in beholding God in his works, in reading his word, in looking up and down for objects of mercy, and opportunities for his service.

The ear that was once open to Satan's call, and that like a vitiated palate, did relish nothing so much as filthy, or at least frothy talk,