ISEN DISBELIEVE GOD'S FORGIVENESS. 229 what would you require more 2 I answer, this is not true conviction; that is a work of the Spirit by the word : this you speak of, is a mere natural work, which you can no more avoid than you can cease to be men, and it gives no assistance in the receiving of forgiveness. But it may be you will say you have proceeded far- ther. Let us then a little try whether your process has been according to the mind of God; and so, whether this invincible bar in your way be removed; for al- though every convinced person does not believe for- giveness, yet no one does who is not convinced. Have you then been made sensible of your conditionby na- ture, what it is to be alienated from the life of God, and to be obnoxious to his wrath l Have you been con- vinced of the universal enmity in your heart to God, and what it is to be at enmity against God l Has the unspeakable multitude of the sins of your life been set in order by the law before you 2 And have you con- sidered what it is for sinners, such sinners as you ares to have to deal with a 'righteous and a holy God? Hath the Holy Ghost wrought a serious recognition in your hearts of all these things, and caused them to abide with you'? .If you will answer truly, must you not say that indeed you have not been so exercised. You have heard of these things many times, but to say that you have gone through with this work, and have had ex- perience of them, that you cannot do. Then, I say, you are strangers to forgiveness, because you are strangers to sin. But if you shall say that you have had thoughts to this purpose, and are persuaded that you have been thoroughly convinced of sin, I shall yet ask you one question more, What effects has your conviction pro- duced in your hearts and livesl Have you been filled with perplexities and consternation of spirit thereupon l Have you had fears or terrors to wrestle with l It may be you will say, no ; nor will I insist upon that inquiry
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