Ver: 2 I, the 17th Chdpter of St4 OHM 3 á0 they thought was forgotten, cómeth to light, and thofe Old Convictions break but with violence to our horrór and trouble : Therefore flight theta not. 2. Do not reft in there Conviaions. Thus it may be with Reprobates, they maybe convinced of the heft Way, almoft perfwaded, but not altogether. The Timing Maio was not far from the Kingdom of Heaven ; he was near, but never entred. Some civil Men are upon the Borders of Grace. Do not reft in this Estate. How that! I know I am only convinced, and not converted to God ? ,ifnfm. Thus. r. If Sin be difeòvered, but not mortified ; if there be no endea- vour to get it removed. As a March-Sun raifeth aguith Vapors, but cannot fcatter them; as when the Sun gets up into its height : So Convi &ion discovers Sin, but cloth not help us to mortify it. Rom. 7. 9. For /was alive without the Law once, bat when the Commandment came, Sin revived, and I died. 2. When we have Wittes, but no Practice, flight and cold Desires t Oh when {hall this fenfual Heart be made Heavenly ! this worldly Heart put into a better frame ! but no ferious looking after it, nor waiting upon God, that we may Obtain there things we deliire. `Jalaam had his Wilbes and good Moods : Numb. 23. to. Oh that I might dit the death of the Righteous ! and that my latter end may be like his ! vellent, fed nolunt, they would, and they would not, empty Velleities . they would fain have Grace, but they will not be at the coft of continual attending upon God, till he work it in their Hearts. And they are ineffectual Glances, Wishing without Working obtains nothing; There are like early Bloffoms in the Spring, that put forth luRilyi but are loon nape, and never come to Fruit. 3. Negatives without Positives. Men do not hate Chrift, nor the People of God i but do they love them ? z Cor. 16.22. If any Man love not the Lord Jelin. Cbr f, &c. It is not enough not to hate Chrift, but are your Hearts carried towards him ? So ma- ny do not oppose the Miniftry of the Gofpel ; Ay, but they neglect the Meffage of the Gospel, they content themfelves with a few flying Thoughts about Chrift; Heaven, and the Bleffed Things that are to come, like the glance of the Sun -beam upon a Wave. Heb, 2. 3. How (ball we escape if we negleli je great Salvation ? It is not raid, if we contemn, resift, undermine it : No, they are not of that Rank, but they are of a more plaufible Rank and Sort of People ; they would countenance the Profeffion of Godlinefs, but neglect the Duties of it. There are two forts of Men, fome are well willers to good Things, fome open malicious Perfecutors : In fome, natural Hatred is more allayed, tho all hate it, but there is a defpight in Neglect; as the negle& of Things worthy and great, argue a fcorn and contempt, as well as the malicious refufal. To be neutral, and cold, indifferent to God and Sin, is to be an Enemy: 4. There is an inward Approbation many times, without an outward Profeffion, or without fuch a conftittition of Soul, as to chufe thefe things for our Portion. Alas I many that are convinced, approve things that are Excellent. Rom.2.18. Thos knoweff his Will, and approver the things that are more excellent, being infirnffed out of the Lath; Ads g. 13. And of the refi dia- i no Man join himfelf to them; but the People magnified them : An honourable citeetn they had, but they could not endure the feverity of Difcipline, as being afraid becaufe of the Cafe of Ananias, who paid fo dearly for a little diffembling. So, many are not far from the Kingdom of God, they approve things that are good, but they have no mind to take hazard and lot with Chrift. 5. If there Ihould be a Profeffion, there is no Power. The Net draws bad Fifh as well as good. There are mixtures in the Church : Many revere Godlinefs, but were never acquainted with the Virtue and Power of it. Many have an excellent Model of Truth, and make a Profeffion as plaufible and glorious in the World as poflibly you can deliire; yet they never knew the Virtue of this Religion, it never entred into their Heart. 1 Cor. ç. 20. Far the Kingdom of God is not in Word, {lands not in plan., fible Pretences, but in Power- a Thefï. a. q. For our Gofpel came not ante you in Word only, but alfa in Power. You know the State of Men were reprefented by Chri{t in the Parable of the two Sons : Mat. 25. 28, 29, 30.4 certain Man had two Sons, and be came to the firfi, and faid, Son, go to work to day in my Vineyard. He anfwered and faid, I will not : but afterwards be repented and went. lnd he went to the fecend,and faid like+ wife : And he anfwered and Paid, Igo Sir, and went not. Qh there be many that fay, I will go, that pretend fair, that are convinced fo far, as to make a Profeffion, yet never bring their Hearts ferioufly to addi l Ahemfelves to God, to walk in his Ways, and keep his Charge, there is no real change of Heart, no ferious bent of Soul towards God. 6. It
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