REMNANTS OF TIMI.. 481 doctrines of the gospel from the sermons of a bishop published on the Terms of Salvation, yet against this scheme 1 may venture to use an argument taken from that book. Let us suppose, that it was declared in the gospel that there was a certain number of sins, or a certain period of time, beyond which God would not pardon ; and not any particular number, or time, was specified to the world : Yet still most men, it is too justly to be feared, would first be led by hope to commit many sins, with a flattering persuasion that they should not come to that number, or arrive at that period ; and then, when the habit was become strong, they would be fixed by despair in this opinion, that being - probably got past that number of sins, and that period of grace, they had even as good continue in their sins, as their inclination powerfully directs them ; they would go on in great wickedness and say, "There is no hope." And thus we see that even his supposition which seems to take most care of the cause of holiness, leaves it not only in a naked, and unguarded, but in a very desperate'condition. Concerning a day of grace thus much may be said, and this is all that I can understand by it, namely, That in the life of a man, there are particular seasons when he enjoys more of the outward means of grace, or advantages for the good of his soul, than at other times ; that is, more constant opportunities of hearing the word, a more useful and affecting ministry, better company, warmer admonitions, and plainer warnings by divine providence, more leisure and conveniences for reading, medita- tion, and prayer ; or if all this continue all his life -time, yet there are seasons when the Spirit of God by his common operations does more powerfully convince of sin, and stir up the conscience to duty, and impress his word with more force upon the heart ; but 'being opposed and resisted he is grieved and departs, his workings grow daily fewer and feebler; or it may be he retires at once and leaves the soul in a stupid frame and returns no more. Yet we could not say heretofore, That the Spirit of God in his former operations, gave him a full and proximate sufficiency of inward converting grace before, since it proved so insufficient in the event and ineffectual: Nor can we say now, That his day of grace is quite past and gone ; because the Spirit of God who is sovereign in mercy may return again. Yet it is a very good motive to urge upon delaying sinners, That it is a daring and dangerous piece of impiety and rebellion to quench the motions of the holy Spirit ; lest he depart grieved and never return again, lest he never give them so fair an oppor- tunity for conversion, never bring them so near again to the king. dom of heaven.
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