APPENDIX, 191 tions, nor did victory move them; but the victors and lords of the world, and these no fools, but the masters of the greatest human wisdom, were conquered by the gospel, preached by a sort of in- ferior men. 5. And this gospel which conquered them was still opposed by them, and the Christians persecuted as a sort of hated men, till it overcame the persecutors. It is true, that heathenism hath the greatest part of the world, and Mahometans have as much as Christians ; but one sort got it by the sword, and the 'other by the doctrine and holy lives of a few unarmed, inferior men. II. But I use this of the extent of faith, but as a probable, and not a cogent argument;. but the main argument is from the sanc- tifying effect of faith. I know it will be said that many, er most, Christians are as bad as other men: But it is one thing to be ofa professed religion, because it is the religion of the king and country, and therefore maketh for men's worldly advantage, and they hear little said against it: this is the case of most in the world, Christians, Mahometana, and heathens; and it is another to be a serious . believer, who, upon trial and con- sideration, chooseth Christianity. And it is notorious that such serious Christians are all holy, so- ber, and just, and so greatly differing from the corrupted world, as fully provéth that God owneth that gospel which he maketh so effectual to so great a change. Here, consider, ,1. What that change is. 2. How hard and great a work it is. 3. That it is certainly a work of God. 4. That the gospel is the,means by which God doth it. 1. The nature of his holy work on all serious, sincere Christians, is,it sets all their hopes and hearts on the promised glory of the life to come, and turns the very nature of their wills into the pre dominant love of God and man, and of heaven and holiness. It mortifieth all fleshly lusts, and subjects sense to reason and faith, the body to the soul, andall to God. It sets a man's heart on the sincere study of doing all the good he can in the wórld, to friends, neighbors, and enemies, especially the most public good. To live soberly, righteously, and godly, is his delight. Sin is his chief hatred, and nothing more grievous to 'him than he that cannot reach to greater perfection in faith, hope, obedience, patience, and in heavenly love and joy. It causeth a man to contemn wealth, honor, and fleshly pleasure, and life, in comparison of God's love and life everlasting. This change of God's Spirit worketh on all true believers. Those that are ungodly have but the name of Christians; they
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