TO A SOUND, CON VERSION. 339 are turned already. And therefore it is that Christ told some of the rulers of the Jews, who were more moral and civil than the common people, that pub- licans and harlots go into the kingdom of God, befbre them.(i) Not that a harlot or gross sinner can be saved without conversion; but because it was easier to make those gross sinners perceive their sin, and the neces- sity of a change. O sirs, conversion is another kind of work than most are aware of: it is not a small matter to show man the amiable excellencies of God, till he be taken up with such love to hires as cannot easily be quenched ; to break the heart for sin, and make him fly for refuge to Christ, and thankfully embrace him as the life of his soul; to have the very bent of the heart and life changed; so that he renounces that which he took for his felicity, and places his felicity where he never did before ; and lives not to the same end, and drives not on the same design in the world, as he formerly did. He that is in Christ is a new creature; old things are past away; behold all things are become new(k) IIe has a new understand- ing, a new will and resolution, new sorrows, and de- sires, and love, and delight; hew thoughts, new speeches, new company (if possible), and a new conversation. Sin, which was before a jesting matter with him, is now so odious, that he flies from it, as from death. The world, which was so lovely in his eyes, does now appear but as vanity and vexation : God, who was before neglect- ed, is now the only happiness of his soul : before he was forgotten ; but now he is set next the heart, and all things must give place to him ; and the heart is taken up in the attendance and observance of him ; and is grieved when he hides his face, and never thinks itself well without him. Christ himself; who was wont to be slightly thought of, is now his only hope and refuge, and he lives upon him, as on his daily bread : he cannot pray without him, nor rejoice without him, nor think, nor speak, nor live, without him. Heaven itself, which before was looked upon but as a.telerable reserve, which (i) Matt. xxi. 31. (k),2 Cor. y. 17.
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