340 DIRECTIONS AND PERSUASIONS 70=1111 he hoped might serve better than hell when he could not stay any longer in the world, is now taken for his home, the place of his only .hope and rest, where he shall see, and love, and praise that God, who has his heart already. The Bible, which was before to hirn but as a common book, is now as the law of God, as a letter written to him from heaven, and subscribed with the name of the eternal Majesty ; it is the rule of his thoughts, and words, and deeds; the commands are binding, and the promises of it speak- life to his soul. In short, he has a new end in his thoughts, and a new way in his endeavours, and theref« re his heart and life are new. So that this is not a change in one, or two, or twenty points ; but in the whole soul and conversation. Do you believe this, sirs, or do you not? Surely you dare not say you do not. These are not controversies, where one pious man is of one mind, and another of another : all Chistians are agreed in this ; and if you will not believe the God of truth, and that in a case where every sect and party believe him, you are utter- ly inexcusable. But if you do believe this, how comes it to pass that you live so quietly in an unconverted state? Io you know that you are converted? Con you find this won- derful change upon your souls? Have you been thus born again, and made anew ? If you cannot tell the day or week of your change, do you find that the work is done ? and that you have such hearts as are before described ? Alas! the most follow their worldly business, and little trouble their mind with such . thoughts. And if they be but restrained from scan - dalous sins, and can say, 3 am no whoremonger, or thief, or curser, or swearer, or tipler, or extortioner, 1 go to church and say my prayers; they think this true conversion, and they shall be saved as well as any. Alas ! this is a foolish cheating of yourselves. r This is too gross neglect of your immortal souls. Can you make so light of heaven and hell? Your corpses will shortly lie in the dust, and angels or devils will pre- iseptly seize upon your souls, and every man and woman
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