56 CHARACTER OF THOSE FOR [Chap. 4. flames ? Cry aloud to them, and see now whether these will be to you instead of God and Christ." O how this works now with the sinner ! Sense acknowledges the truth, and even the flesh is convinced of the creature's vanity, and our very deceiver is undeceived. The people of God are likewise convinced of the abso- lute necessity, the full sufficiency, and perfect excellency of Jesus Christ: as a man in famine is convinced of the ne- cessity of food; or a man that had heard or read his sen- tence of condemnation, of the absolute necessity of par- don; or a man that lies in prison for debt is convinced of his need of a surety to discharge it. Now the sinner feels an unsupportable burden upon him, and sees there is none but Christ can take it off: he perceives the law proclaims him a rebel, and none but Christ can make his peace : he is as a man pursued by a lion, that must perish if he finds not a present sanctuary : he is now brought to this dilemma; either he must have Christ to justify him, or be eternally condemned; have Christ to save him, or burn in hell for ever; have Christ to bring him to God, or be shut out of his presence everlastingly ! And no wonder if he cry as the martyr, " None but Christ ! none but Christ !" Not gold, but bread, will satisfy the hungry; nor any thing but par- don will comfort the condemned. All things are counted but dung now, that he may win Christ; and what was gain, he counts loss for Christ. As the sinner sees his misery, and the inability of himself and all things to relieve him, so he perceives there is no saving mercy out of Christ. He sees, though the creature cannot, and himself cannot, yet Christ can. Though the fig-leaves of our own unrighteous righteousness are too short to cover our nakedness, yet the righteousness of Christ is large enough : ours is disproportionate to the justice of the law, but Christ's extends to every tittle. If he intercede, there is no denial; such is the dignity of his person and the value of his merits, that the Father grants all he desires. Before, the sinner knew Christ's excellency as a blind man knows the light of the sun; but now, as one that beholds its glory. 5. After this deep conviction, the will discovers also its change. As, for instance, the sin which the understand- ing pronounces evil, the will turns from with abhorrence. Not that the sensitive appetite is changed, or any way
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