1~ A CALL TO itch; it is his disease that makes him desire it, and a wise mall'had rather be without his pleasure than be troubled with his itch. Your loudest laughter is but like that of a man that is tickled; he laughs when he has no cause ofjoy. Judge, as you are men, whether this be a wise man's part. It is but your carnal unsanctified nature that makes a holy life seem grievous to you, and a course of sensuality seem more delightful. If you will but turn, the Holy Ghost will give you another nature and inclination, and then it will be more pleasant to you to be rid of your sin, than now it is to keep it; and you will then say,- that you knew not what a comfortable life was till now, and that it was never well with you till God and holiness were your delight. Quest. But how cometh it to pass that men should be so unreasonable in the matters of salvation? They have wit enough in other matters: what makes them so loth to be converted, that there should need so many words in so plain a case, and all will not do, but the most will live and die unconverted? I .IJ.nsuJ. To name them only in a few words, the causes are these: 1. Men are naturally in love with the earth and flesh; they are born sinners, and their nature hath an enmity to God .and goodness, as the nature of a serpent hath to a man: and when all that we can say goes against an habitual inclination of their natures, no marvel if it prevail little. 2. They are in darkness, and know not the very things they hear. Like a man that was born blind, and hears a high commendation of the light; but what will hearing do, unless he sees it? They know not what God is, nor what is the power of the cross of Christ, nor what the spirit of holiness is, nor what it is to live in love by faith: they know not the certainty, and suitableness, and excellency of the heavenly inheritance. They know not,what conversion and a holy mind and conversation is> evenwhen they
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