IM THE INSTANC Sect. 28. In this tumult anddistress of the soul, God oftentimes quiets it by some suitable word of truth ad- ministered unto it, either in the preaching of the gospel, or by some other means disposed in his providence unto thesame end. In the midst of this storm atad disorder he comes, and says, Peace be still; for, together with his word, he communicates some influence of his grace, that shall break the rebellious strength, and subdue the power of sin, and give the mind satisfaction in a 'full resolution for its everlasting relinquishment. So was it with him mentioned, when in the condition described, he was hurried upand down almost like a distracted person, whilst he suffered the terrorsof the Lord, some- times praying, sometimes weeping, sometimes alone, sometimes in the company of his friends, sometimes walking, and sometimes lying on the ground, he was byan unusual occurrence warned to take up a hook and read: the book next him was that of Paul's Epistle, which, taking up, and opening, the place he first Axed his eyes upon, was Rom. xiii. 13, is. " Let us walk .. honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunken- " ness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife +' and envying; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, " and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the 0 luststhereof." Immediately upon the reading of these words, there was an end put unto his perplexingconflict. He found his whole soul, by the power of almighty grace, subdued wholly to the will of God, and fixed unto a prevalent resolution of adhering to him with a relinquishment of sin, with an assured composure upon the account of the success he shouldhave therein through Jesus Christ. Immediately he declared what he had done, what had befallen him, first to his friend, then to his mother, which proved the occasion ofconversion to She one, and inexpressible joy to the other. The end of the story deserves to be reported in his own words: " Arripai librum, aperui, legi, nec ultra vo- .s lui legere nec opus erat. " Statini .quippe cum fine hujusce sententim quasi luce securitatis infusa oordi " meo, omnes dubitationis tenebrm defugerunt. Tum " interjecto out digito ant "nescio quo alio signo codicem "clausi, et tranquillo cum vultu indicavi Alipio. At " ille quid in se ageretur quod ego uesciebam sic indi- " cavit. Petit videre quid legissem; ostendi, et atten- " dit etiam ultra quam ego legeram, et ignorabam quid "oequeretur. Sequebatur vero, infirmum auteurn in f E OF AUGUSTINE. 209 fide assumite. Quad ille ad se retulit mihique ape- ruit; Sed tali admonitione firmatus est, placitoque et " proposito, bono et congruentissimo suis moribus, qui- " bus a me in menus jam dim value longeque distaba;, " sine sulla turbulenta cunctanoue conjunctusest. Iade .. ad mattem ingredimur, indicamus, gaudet; Narra- mus quemadmodum gestum sit, exaltar et triumphal, a, et benedicit tibi, qui patens es ultra quam petiums nut intoliigimus facere," Lib. S. cap. 12. "-Having " read these verses, I would read no more, nor was "there any need that so I should do. For, upon the " end of that sentence, as if a light-of peace or security " had been infused into my heart, all darkness of doubts "fled away: marking the book with my finger put into " it, or by some other sign, I shut it, and with a quiet countenance declared what was done to Alipius. And ,< hereupon he also declared what was at work in hen- " self, whereofI was ignorant. He desired to see what " I had read, which when I had sheaved him, he looked "further:than I had read, nor did I knowwhat followed. .. But it was this, He that is weak in thefaith receive, ,< which he applied unto himself, and declared it unto " me; confirmed by this admonition with a firm par- " pose, and suitableto his manners, wherein .he former- " ly much excelled me, he was joined to nie without " a any turbulent delay. We go in hereon unto my " mother, and declare what was done; she rejoicer,, '5 we make known the manner of it, how it was done; " she exulteth and triumphetl, and blessed, thee, O " God, who art able to do for us more - than we know " how to ask or understand." And these things sloth the holy man express, "to bear witness," as he says, Adversus typ/ium hntnauigenesis, to-repress the sael- " ling pride of mankind." And, in the example of Alipius, we have an instance, how variously God is pleased to effect this work in men, carrying some through strong convictions, -deep humiliations, great distresses, and perplexing terrors of mind, before they come to peace.and rest; leading others gently and quiet- ly without any visible disturbances unto the saving knowledge of himself by.Jesus Christ. Sect. 30..Secondly; A second -thing which befalls men under this work of conviction, is a dread and fear as to their eternal condition. Theredoth befall them an apprehension of that wrath which is due to their sins, and threatened in the curseof the law to be inflicted on
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