#'á 102 THIRD SERMON sin, and accepting into favour. Certainly when a man is converted himself, his heart will be enlarged, and his mouth will be filled with the praises of the Lord, he will acquaint others what a good God he is turned unto. If he have found Christ himself, as Andrew and Philip, and the woman of Samaria did, he will pre- sently report it to others, and invite them to come and see, John i. 41.46. iv. 29. If Zaccheus be converted, he receiveth Christ joyfully, Luke xix. 6. If Matthew be converted, he entertains him with a feast, Luke v. 29. If Cornelius be instructed in the knowledge of him, he will call his kinsfolk and friends to partake of such a banquet, Acts x. 24. If David be con- verted himself, he will endeavour that other sinners may be converted too, Psa. li. 13. and will show them what the Lord hath done for his soul. The turning of a sinner from evil to good, is like the turning of a bell from one side to another, you cannot turn it but it will make a sound, and report its own motion. He that hath not a mouth open to report the glory of God's mercy to his soul, and to strengthen and edify his brethren, may justly question the truth of his own conversion. In Aaron's garments, (which were types of holiness,) there were golden bells and pomegranates ; if we may make any allegorical application of it, this intimateth unto us, that as a holy life is fruit- ful and active in the duties of spiritual obedience, so it is loud and vocal in sounding forth the praises of God, and thereby endeavouring to edify the church. Gideon's lamps and pitchers were accompanied with trumpets ; when God is pleased to put any light of grace into these earthen vessels of ours, we should have mouths full of thankfulness to return unto him the glory of his goodness. And as that repentance is unsound which is not
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