276 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. closer to you. I loveyour souls so well, that I cannot bear the thoughts of their being lost. Know this, that there is such a thing as the new birth; and except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. This new birth bath its foundation laid in a sense of sin, and in a godly sorrow for it, and a heart set against it. Without this, there can be no salvation. Look well to yourselves. You will see that you are in hell's mouth, without this first step ; and nothing but free grace and pure mercy is be- tween you and a stateof damnation. The Lord deliver us from a secure and a careless heart. Here you see a natural man's condition. How dare you then lie down in security ? Oh, look to God for your soul's sake ! Without repentance, there is no remissionof sin ; and repentance itself will lose its labour if it be not of the right kind. Prayers, and tears, and groans, will not do without Christ. Most persons, when they are made in some measure sensible of their sins, and are under fears ofhell, run to duty and reform some things, and thus the wound is healed, by which thousands fall short of heaven. For if webe not brought off from trusting in ourselves, and from our own righteousness, as well as our sins, we are never likely to be saved. We must see our absolute need of Christ; give up ourselves unto him ; and count all things but drossand dung in comparison ofhisrigh- teousness. Look therefore for God's mercy in Christ alone. "The terms ofthe gospel are,Repent and believe. Gracious terms ! Mercy for fetching ! Mercy for receiving ! Do you desire the grace and mercy of God ? I know you do ; and even this desire is the gift of God. Hunger after Christ. Let, your desires put you upon endeavours. The work itself is sweet. Yea, mourning and repentance them- selves have more sweetness in them than all the comforts of this world. Upon repentance and believing comes justifi- cation ; and afterwards sanctification by the Spirit dwelling in us. By this we become the children of God ; are made partakers of the divine nature; and lead new lives. It is unworthy ofa christian to have such a narrow spirit as not to act for Christ with all his heart, soul, and strength. Be not ashamed of Christ; nor afraid of the frowns of the wicked. Be sure to keep a conscience void ofoffence; and yield by no means to any known sin. Be much in secret prayer and in reading the scriptures. My greatest desire is, that God would work his own work in you." Such was the spirit of his letters addressed to his brethren. He observed this method with every other means of instruc-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=