the new man quickened. Others think that they are not yet converted, because they experience so great a power of the body of death in themselves, although they are truly partakers of grace. It is therefore necessary, that each one should consider his ways, and examine himself whether he be truly converted or not. But before we hold the light to you, that ye may see yourselves by it, we will discover to you the false evidences, which disturb or quiet the converted and the unconverted improperly.

It is surely no evidence of conversion, (a) that a person is able to mention the time, when he had certain emotions of painful sorrow on account of sin, of delightful joy, and an inclination to that which is good; for these things are not accompanied in all men with conversion; they are surely not always the beginning of conversion. (b) The severity and the duration of the convictions, which a person hath once had, are also no evidences that he is converted. It appears from experience, that some are converted without any grievous distress of mind; that others do not continue long under severe convictions, and that there are those also, who partake of converting grace from their youth; and some are converted by a calm contemplation of the truth, yea, even with a sweet joy, as we have shown upon the twenty-fifth Lord's day. On the other hand, reprobates, such as Cain, Saul, Ahab and Judas, experience sometimes severe convictions. (c) Neither may we look upon it as an evidence of true conversion, that a person is more virtuous in some respects than others; many are civil, honest, and exceedingly devout, but their heart is and continues rotten, like the heart of the Pharisee, who thanked God that he was more virtuous than other men, Luke xviii. 11, 12. As it is also no evidence of an unconverted state, that a person still experienceth a great power of the old man in himself; for we should then be obliged to condemn Paul, who bewailed himself greatly on this account, Rom. vii. (d) It is still less a true evidence, that a person is converted or unconverted, because eminently godly persons approve or condemn him. Paul, though he was converted, was at first suspected by the Christians, Acts ix. 26, and without doubt Judas, Simon the sorcerer, and Demas were looked upon by many, as converted.

A better and a surer evidence of conversion (a) is the work of conversion itself, as explained above. The converted have a sincere sorrow of heart for their sins, they hate them more than aught besides, they are afraid of them, and endeavour to flee from them. God and his service are the objects of their joy, delight and love. It is true, some are con; verted without such a grievous sorrow, but they will nevertheless be

sorry, and mourn on account of their daily offences. Do they not obtain much joy from the Lord, they cannot, nevertheless, delight themselves in sin, and out of the Lord: their continual turning to the Lord manifests that they seek their rest in him only. Are they sometimes listless with respect to the service of the Lord, it is a burthen to them, and they endeavour again and again to enliven themselves. True conversion discovereth itself still more (c) by the work of faith; faith and conversion always accompany each other. See Mark i. 15. Acts xi. 21. They who are converted, actually pass by faith out of themselves into the Lord, in order that they may obtain in and with him grace, reconciliation, pardon and sanctification; with the prodigal son " they arise, go to their Father," confess their sins, and entreat him for grace, Luke xv. 18, 19 Yea, they engage in a solemn manner to serve him, they " join themselves to him to serve him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants," Isaiah xlv. 5. lvi. 5. We add to this (c) Their sorrow for sin as sin. It grieves them that they have deserved damnation; but they see also so much shame and filth in their inquity, that they hide themselves for shame, "they loathe themselves," Ezek. xxxvi. 31, and they " dare not lift up their face to God," Ezra ix. 6. They hate sin and flee from it, because it is sin. Although sin were not punished, they would, on account of its hatefulness, still hate it, flee from it, and cast it away, as a menstruous cloth," Isaiah xxx. 22. Once more, (d) They are converted from every sin to every good work, that God hath commanded: "They have a delight," saith the instructor, "to live according to the will of God in all good works." There is not one sin, great or small, though ever so honourable, pleasant and profitable to the flesh, from which they do not turn away, and which they do not hate and strive against: there is not one commandment of God, to which they do not submit themselves with delight and willingly: their heart saith with David, Psalm cxix. 128. " I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way." Suffer me to add yet ; (e) They who are converted are not satisfied with merely amending their actions, forsaking that which is evil, and doing that which is good; but they attend also to their hearts, that they likewise may be amended, converted and changed. They see that their understanding is darkened, they endeavour to enlighten it, that they may see the light in God's light; conversion is indeed "a turning from darkness to light," Acts xxvi. 18. They see that their will with its motions and desires is stubborn, crooked and perverse; they en deavour to subdue, to renew and direct it according to the will of VOL II.

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God, and thus " to make themselves a new heart and a new spirit," according to Ezek. xviii 31. They find that they have no strength to do aught, and especially none to change their hearts; therefore they turn themselves to the Lord, and cry with David, Psalm li 10. "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me," And thus with king Josiah, 2 Kings xxiii. 25. " They turn to the Lord with all their heart, and with all their soul, and with all their might, according to all the law of Moses "

What think ye hearers? do ye all answer this description? Surely ye do not, who have not yet striven to be converted, but are and remain careless and listless: earthly, visible and sinful objects possess you altogether: Evil is still sweet in your mouths, ye hide it under your tongues, ye spare it, and forsake it not," as Zophar speaks, Job xx. 12, 13. What will it avail you to perform certain works of honesty and religion, and to prink yourselves with them, while your hearts are unconverted, and your works have not the requisite qualifications? " Your webs will not become garments, neither will ye be able to cover yourselves with your works: your works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in your hands," as it is said, Isaiah lix. 5. Or do ye flatter yourselves, that ye will convert yourselves some time or other hereafter. Alas, how do ye deceive vourselves! how long do ye expect to live ? "Thou fool," perhaps " this night thy soul will be required of thee," as the Saviour spake, Luke xii. 20. Or do ye hope to repent on your death-beds? will ye be abler then, than ye are now? no, your deadly sickness will not suffer your souls to repent, and will perhaps so stupify your understandings, that ye will be forced to die as a fool dieth. Or is it your hope, that ye will live yet some time? will ye have then more time and inclination, and less to do in the world than ye have now? will the door of grace be then still open, and God stand ready to receive you, as soon as ye call, when ye have rejected him so long, in opposition to all his calls ? He saith no, Prov. i. 24, 28. Do ye defer your conversion until another time, it is to be feared, that God will punish you then with judicial blindness and hardness, which will render you incapable of conversion. See this threatened, Isaiah iv. 9, 10.

"Seek then the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous anan his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Thus the Lord calleth to you, Isaiah Iv. 6, 7. Delay not by any means, but as David saith, "To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden mot your hearts," Psalm xcv. 7, 8. There is surely nothing, in which ve have a greater concern than conversion. Have ye not departed from God, and from a most glorious condition? Will ye not then return? "Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return? saith the Lord," Jer. viii. 4. "Or do ye despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth you to repentance?" or will ye, "after your hardness and impenitent hearts, treasure up to yourselves wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God?" as the apostle speaks, Rom. ii. 4, 5. Or are ye indifferent whether ye be saved or damned? or do ye not endeavour to be converted, because ye cannot convert yourselves? This doth not hinder you, for God gives you not only the word, and time to repent, but often his Spirit also to convince you, and he stirs you up repeatedly by your conscience, and thus gives you strength; but ye withstand his Spirit, and therefore it is your will that hinders you; "Ye will not come to Christ, that ye may have life," as he himself saith, John v. 4. Or dare ye not turn to God, because ye have sinned so grievously, and so long a time against him? He calls to you still. yea, he swears, Ezek. xxxiii. 11. "That he hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"

Only consider and say, "What have I done?" Jer. viii. 6. person will never repent, until he first comes to himself and sees his abominable disposition and dreadful situation; for this drives him out of himself to the Lord. "When we fear, then we come to the Lord and to his goodness; and when we acknowledge our offence, and are in affliction, then we seek his face early," Hosea iii. 5. v. 15. Abide by all means under á zealous ministration of the word of conversion; "God gives thereby repentance unto life." "When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, Mer and brethren, what shall we do?" Thus speaks Luke of the pentecost hearers, Acts ii. 27. Above all, pray earnestly and incessantly to God, that he would convert you, with the church, who said repeatedly, "Turn thou me, and I shall be turned," Jer. xxxi 18. Lam. v. 21. And flee to his Son, "who is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins," Acts. v. 31.

But ye who are converted, (a) Glory and rejoice in the grace which hath been shown to you; others glory and rejoice in you. See Acts xi. 18. xv. 3. 1 Thess, i. 9. Why should not then ye

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yourselves, whom it concerns more than others? (b) Conduct yourselves as it becometh those who are converted: show that the 'Lord is the God of your exceeding joy; and that it is truly your desire and delight to live according to the will of God, in all good works, that "ye are dead" to yourselves, and to all that is sinful, and that " your life is hid with Christ in God," as Paul speaks, Col. iii. 3. Therefore he commands you, "Yield not your members instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead; and your members as instruments of righteousness unto. God," Rom. vi. 13. "Bring forth then fruits meet for repentance," as the Baptist admonisheth, Matt. iii 3. It behooves you to take particular care, that your works be not only materially good, but also that they have the requisite qualifications. It is commendable to hear the word of God, but it is detestable to hear it without fruit; therefore the Saviour saith, Luke viii. 18. "Take heed how ye hear." "Whatever we do in word or work," we must do it in faith, "in the name of the Lord Jesus," as Paul admonisheth, Col iii. 17. "Servants must be obedient to their masters, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart." Eph. vi. 5,6,7. And every one ought to conduct himself thus in all that he doth, yea. he ought to " eat and drink to the glory of God," 1 Cor. x. 31. This would add a comely lustre to the converted people. (c) We exhort you further from Heb xii. 15, "Look diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God," either through a common slug. gishness, by which we are brought to a deep decay: or by some enormous sin, which disturbs the mind. How shameful, hurtful and painful this is, we have shown on the foregoing Lord's day, and also that those who have backslidden thus, should return. (d) We would add finally, "Do ye, who are converted, strengthen your brethren," as Jesus enjoins, Luke xxii. 32. There are weak and feeble ones; ye know the temper of their minds, and how ye have been restored. Encourage them, support, direct, and "comfort them with the comfort wherewith ye yourselves have been comforted of God," as Paul speaks, 2 Cor. i. 4. We should also seek by word and conversation to convert those who are wholly unconverted, as we have shown on the former Lord's day.

Do ye bemoan yourselves with Ephraim on account of your manifold sins, the Lord hears it, he is pleased with it, and he will show you that he is, saying, Jer. xxxi. 20, "Is Ephraim my dear son ? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still; therefore my bowels are troubled for him: I