418 of Converfion, er Turnita*Ave* 5oi $' s c TAX': There are many people in times offear, and dangers ofdeath, are as loftaswax; but when recovered, as hard as iron: Men of aguifh difpofrtions, fometimes veryhot, and again very cold ; fometimes in great fears, ftraights and troubles of foul, ready to roar out like Bears, for the anguifhupon their fouls, beeaufe they have finned agaioft God; andother times as bold, and ready for the fame fins they complained of as if they werenot the fame men. As they fay oflong ague fits, they end at Iaf ina confumption; fo thefe changesand viciffìtudesupon thy foul, will at lall end in final Apoftacy : O then be lure to keep up all thofe Engagements and Obligations thou haft taken upon thy fell: Be the fame in health, asficknels,; injoy, as fear; aftera fermon,as when thou art hearing one, 8. that fills thyheart, with fears. Eighthly, Such altoTeem remote from converfion, that arefcornersand deriders Deriders of gdl o ar andholy The prophane (coffer, is feldom turned an humble holincls. y lover of thethings he fo defpifed : Hence he is a bleffed man, Thatftteth not in the/eat offcorners, Pfal.t.i that hash nothing todo with them : TheApoftlePeter fpeaks of fome men, z Pet .3.3. whofe damnation is of old ordained for them, and they arefcoffers andderidersat theday ofjudgrmenr, and Cbrifts coming. Salomon dot!) ofsenfentence a fcorner, for a man that fhallperifh ìnhis wickedne(s. I know not why it is, but it-falls out, that godlinefs and true holinefs is theob- jeft of (corn, derifion andcontempt to carnal and wicked men: Thus David was the long of drunkards ; and what is moreordinary, then ro defpife and de- ride thepractical power of godlinefs? Now what hopes canfuch giveof turn- ing to God.? wilt thou come andbe in thenumber of thofe, whom thou mock- eft and defpifeft ? wilt thou eagerly purfue that way, thou didit fo deride? though this be coo common, yet it arguerh high prophanenefs. Many wicked men, as Herod, though they didnot turn godly themfelves, yet they reverenced and honored it in others,; Andwilt thou be fo arrogantly wicked, as to from at that, which thou fhouldftrenown and imbrace ? Who can think that thefe Dogs and Swine (forfo the Scripturecalls Inchprophane wretches) fhould ever be turned intQ.Lambs? y. Ninthly, Asfcorners arefar offrom this priviledge, foproudand haughty men, Proud and they (eldom are converted : The humble and meek he Will teach his Way Pfal. t s. hail hiy men. There high Mountains are always barren ofgood : God reffieth' the proud ;How is that? Bynot giving grace to them. Pride is a divers fh'apenfin, it emptieth itfelfin;o many channels: There is pride ofParts and Abilìties,pride about Birth, Efface, and External Greatnefs; which way foever prideventsitfelf, common- ly Chrifl will notcome into that heart, and dwell there-: They were the proud,perfons, that did not care what `feremy told them from the Local: The Humble, theMeek, the Poor, the Hungry, the Empty, the Naked there are drawn home to Chrift ; but the proud and the full are Pent empty away: Take heed therefore of any kinde of pride, for this will always make theeatdiliance with God: This will make theecontemn the Word of God, and the voice of his Meffengers. Ohl think the mountain of thy heart mull be made a plain, ere Chrilt will own thee. to. Tenthly, Apofhates andRevolters fromformer zeal andforwardnefi in the ways Revolien. of God: When therefall away, there os little hopes forfilch to mornuntoGod : The Scripture is clear; lieb,6. and Peter compareth filch', To the Dog returning to his vomit, andeheSow to the mire ; and that theirlatter endisworfe th'en-their úá-- vibning; yea, that-it bad beenbetter they hadnever known the-way ofRighteonfne s, 2. Pet. z.ar. yet loch mEsures ofApoftacy andBaclifliding, all times -dolad1eaf- ford; and truly, filch Prodigals, feldomgo home to their fathers houleagain: Its true, thework of gracewas never found and right in them, no, not when' they moll flourifhed ; for if they had been of us, they had not goneftom us: Oh then ! take heed bowyou abateof yourformer love and zeal; you once- were more forward for God, once you delighted inholy ditties,anihblycom- panions,
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