IN TAE INSTANCE 6f' AUGUSTINE. impressions from external administrations. Especially are they evident in the minds and consciences of such as have been engaged in any open sinfulcourse or prac- tice. But yet no certain rule or measure of them can be prescribed as necessary in, or unto any, antecedane- ously unto conversion. To evince the truth hereof, two things may be observed: (I.) That perturbations, sorrows, dejections, dread, fears, are no duty unto any; only they are such things as sometimes ensue or are im- mitted into the mind upon that which is a duty indis- pensible, namely, conviction of sin. They belong not to the precept of the law, but to its curse. They are no part ofwhat is required of us, but of what is inflict- êil on us. There is a gospel sorrow and humiliation sifter believing that is a duty, that is both commanded, and bath promiss annexed unto it. But this legal sor- row is ass effect of the curse of the law, and not of its command. (2.) God is pleased to exercise a prerogative I and sovereignty in this whole matter, anddeals with the soulsof men inunspeakable variety. Some he leads by the gates of death and hell unto rest in his love, like the people of old, through the waste and howling wil- derness into Canaan, and the paths of others he makes plain and easy unto them. Some walk or wander long in darkness, in the souls of others, Christ is formed in the firstgracious visitation. Sect. -34. (6.) There is, as was said, no certain measure or degree of these accidents or consequentsof conviction to be prescribed unto any as antecedaneously necessary to sincere conversion and sound believing: but thesetwo things in general are so; (1.) Such a con- victionof sin, that is of a state of sin, of a courseof sin, of actual sins, against the light of natural conscience, AS that the soul is satisfied that it is thereby obnoxious unto the curse of the law, and the wrath of God. Thus, at least, loth God conclude and shut up every one under sin on whom 'he will have mercy; for every shout!, must be stopped, and all becomeguilty before God, Rom. iii. 19. Gal. iii. 22. without this no man ever did, !. nor will ever sincerely believe in Jesus Christ. For fie calleth none unto him but those -sebo, in some measure, are weary or thirsty, or one wayor other seek after de- liverance. The whole,' he tells-us, that is, those who so conceit themselves, have noneed of a physician, they will neither inquire after hilo, nor care togountohim, when they are invited so-to do; see Isa. xxxii. 2. (2.) A 3G O 1l due apprehension, and resolved judgment, that there is no way within the compass of a man's own contriv- ance to find out, or his ability to make use of, and to walk in, nor any other way of God's appointment or approbation, which will deliver the soul in and f'rons the state and condition wherein it is, and that which it fears, but only that which is proposed in Ilse gospel by Jesus Christ. "Sect. 35. (7.) Where these things are, the duty of a person soconvinced, is to inquire after, and to receive the revelation of Jesus Christ, and the righteousness of God in him, John i. 13. And, in order hereunto, be ought: (I.) To own the sentence of the law under which he suffereth, justifying God inhis righteousness, and the law in its holiness, whatever be the issue of this dispensation towards himself, Rom. iii. 19, 20. chap. vii. 1t, l3.'For God, in this work, intends to break the stubborness ofmen's hearts, and to hide pride from them, Rom. iii. 4. (2.) Not hastily to believe every thing that will propose itself unto him as a remedy or means of relief; Micah vi. 6, 7. The things which will present themselves in such a case, as means of re- lief, are of two sorts: (1.) Such as the fears and super- stitions of men have suggested or will suggest. That which -bath raised all the false religion which is in Ilse world, is nothing but a contrivance for the satisfaction of men's consciences under -conviction.,. To pass by Gcntilism, this is the very life and soul cf Popery. What is the meaning of the sacrificeof the mass, of purgatory, of pardons, penances, indulgences, absti- nences, and the like things innumerable, but only to satisfy conscience by them, perplexed with a sense of sin? Hence, many among them, after great and out- rageous wickednesses, do betake themselves to their highest monastical severity. 'T'he life and soul of su- perstition consists in endeavours to quiet and charm the consciences of men convinced of sin. (2.) That which is pressed with most vehemency and plausibility, being suggested by the law itself in a way of escape from the danger of its sentence, as the sense of what it speaks represented in a natural conscience, is legal righteous- ness to be sought after inamendment of life. This pro- poseth itself unto the soul, as with great importunity, so with great advantages to further its acceptance: for, (I.) The matter of it is unquestionably necessary, and without it, in its proper place, and with respect unto 25
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=