f4. , .: Miftakes about Con·verjion~ the mot-e';~mely proportion of a plant, and then into the tba~~of a beafl:, and thence into the form .Qnd£eatures of a man ;but all the while it is but lead ftiJ[!- .So aman may pafs through divers tranfinu– tatiop~~ . from ignorance to knowledge, from prQ– fan~neis~~to .dv1lity, thence to a form of Religion ; and all this while he is but carnal and unregenerate, while his nature remains unchanged. Application. H~:ar then, 0 finner s, hear M you would live; fo come and bear; Ifa.;;. 3· ·Why would .you fo · wilfully deceive your felves .. or build your hopes upon the fand? I knowhe iball find hard work of it, that goes to pluck away yo1::1r hopes. It cannot but be ungrateful to you) and truly it: is not pleafing to me. .I fet about it as a \,~urgeon, when tocut offa putrified member from his well beloved friend ; · which of force hemufl:do, but with an aking heart, a pitiful .eye, a trembling .hand. But underHand me, Brethren, I am only taking ·down the ruinous · houfe, (which will otherwife fpeedily tall of it felf, and.huryyou in the rubbiib,) that I rnay build fair, · 1 and Hrong, and firm, for ever. The hope of the wicked £hall perifh, if God be true of his word, ·1 Prov. I I. 7. and wert not thou better, 0 . finner, , to letthewordconvince thee now in time, and let go thy faife and felf-deluding hopes, tha~have death too late to open thine·eyes, and :fir(d thy felf– in·hell, before thou art aw~re? I fhould be a falfe and faithlefs Shepherd, if libouldnot tell you, that you who have built your hopes upon no better: grounds·, than thefe fore-mentioned, are yet in :· your fins. Let your confcience fpeak,; What is it·. that you have to plead for your felves? Is it that you wear.€hrifrs livery? . that you be~r-his Name? : that you are of the vi6ble -Church? that·you have _ knowledge in thepoints of Religion? are civilized, ·B:rform religious duties, are hd1: inyour dealings, · , · ~ave..,.
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