SERM-. II.j INWARD WITNESS TO CHRISTIANITY. Ig and changes the whole nature into holiness. Christianity refines the soul in all the powers of it, and inclines us to the duties both of the first and second table; it writes the law of God 'in the heart, and brings the soul to a sweet compliance therewith. All the affections are re- newed; all old things are done away and all things are become new ; he that is in Christ is a new creature ; he has crucified the flesh, with its affections and lusts, 2 Cor. v. 17. Gal. v. 24. Surely there is a spirit and power that accompanies the religion of our Lord Jesus, such as other religions knownot; and this was manifest abundantly in the pri- mitive christians, when those wretches were converted, whose names were once. written in that black catalogue that the apostle speaks of, 1 Cor. vi. 9. when they, by the light ofthe gospel, were purified, were purged from their defilements, and were made new creatures. The apostle could appeal to the Corinthian church, and say, so vile and filthy were some of you, but ye are washed; but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our, God, 1 Cor. 11. Not in.,the names of other gods, and other reli- gions, but in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Philosophy was raised to a 'great height in the cityof. Corinth; it was almost enough for aman to be accounted learned, to have been in' that city, and to have known a little of the customs of it yet all their' learning was not sufficient to :reform them, for they were a profligate and lewd people still. But the religion of our Lord Jesus Christ breaking in upon their souls, purified, refined them, and made such an alteration in them, that the world beheld, and were amazed at the surprizing change. They thought it strange that the christians would not run with them to the same excess of riot, 1 Pet. iv. 4. They were asto- nished to see a drunkard at once turn sober and tempe- rate; a lewd unclean wretch, by hearing the gospel, be- come a professor and an example of chastity; a cruel and passionate temper made calm, and kind, and for- giving; a swine forsake the mire, and put on the nature of a cleanly animal ; a dog or a lion changed'into a lamb. This wrought conviction with power : This was miracle c2
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