MAKING LIGHT OP CHRIST. 597 Beloved, I come not to accuse any of you particularly of this crime ; but seeing it is the commonest cause of men's destruction, I suppose yod will judge it the fittest matter for our inquiry, and deserving our greatest care for the cure. To which end I shall, ì. Endeavor the conviction of the guilty. ii. 'Shall give them such considerations as may tend to humble and reform them. iii. I shall conclude with such direction as may help them that are willing to escape the destroying, power, of this sin. And for the first, consider, i. It is the case of most sinners to think themselves freest from those sins that they are most enslaved to ; and one reason why we cannot reform them, is because we cannot convince them of their guilt. It is the nature of sin so far to blind and befool the sinner, that he knoweth not what he dòth, but thinlçeth he is free from it when it reigneth in him, or when he is committing it. It bringeth men to be so much unacquainted with themselves, that they know notwhat they think, or what they mean and intend, nor what they love or hate, much less what they are habituated and disposed to. They are alive to sin, and dead to all the reason, consideration, and resolution that should recover them, as ifit were only by their sinning that we must know they ate alive. May I hope that you that hear me to-day are but willing to know the truth of yourcase, and then I shall be encouraged toproceed to an inquiry. God will judge impartially : why should not we do so? Let me, therefore, by these following questions, try whether none of you are slighters of Christ and your own salvation. And follow me, I beseech you, by putting them close to your own hearts, and faithfully an- swering them. 1. Things that men highly value will be remembered ; they will be matter of their freest and sweetest thoughts. Do not those, then, make light of Christ and salvation that think of them so seldom and coldly in comparison of other things ? Fol- low thy own heart, man, and observe what it daily ranneth out after ; and then judge whether it make not light of Christ. We cannot persuade men to one hour's sober consideration what they should do for an interest in Christ, or in thankfulness for his love, and yet they will not believe that they.,make light of him. 2. Things that we highly value will be niter of our discourse; the judgment and heart will command the tongue. Freely and delightfully will our speech run after them. Do not those, then, make light of Christ and salvation, that shun the mention ofhis name, unless it be in a vain or sinful use ? those thatlove not the company where Christ and salvation is much talked of, but think it troublesome, precise discourse that had
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