sticks between the womb and the world, it is dangerous, it hazards the life both of mother and child; so when a sinner rests in conviction, and goes no farther, but sticks in the place of the breaking forth of children; this is very dangerous, and hazards the life of the soul. You that are at any time under convictions, O take heed of resting in them, do not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children; though it is true, that conviction is the first step to conversion, yet it is not conversion; a man may carry his convictions along with him into hell. What is that which troubleth poor creatures, when they come to die, but this-I have not improved my convictions; at such a time I was convinced of sin, but yet I went on in sin in the face of my convictions; in such a sermon I was convinced of such a duty, but I slighted the conviction; I was convinced of my want of Christ, and of the readiness of Christ to pardon and save but, alas! I followed not the conviction. My brethren, remember this; slighted convictions are the worst death bed companions. There are two things especially, which above all others, make a death bed very uncomfortable: 1. "Purposes and promises not performed. 2. Convictions slighted and not improved ?" When a man takes up purposes to close with Christ, and yet puts them not into exe cution and when he is convinced of sin and duty, and yet improves not his convictions: O this will sting and wound at last. Now therefore, hath the spirit of the Lord been at work in your souls? Have you ever been convinced of the evil of sin, of the misery of a natural state, of the insufficiency of all things under heaven to help, of the fullness and righteousness of Jesus Christ, of the necessity of resting upon him for pardon and peace, for sanctification and salvation? Have you ever been really convinced of these things? O then, as you love your own souls, as ever you hope to be saved at last, and enjoy God for ever, improve these convictions, and be sure you rest not in them till they rise up to a thorough close with the Lord Jesus Christ, and so end in a sound and perfect conversion. Thus shall you be not only almost, but altogether a christian. FINIS. T 29 The scope of the chapter The coherence of the text, The sense and meaning of the words, The doctrine propounded, 'Three things are premised, Two things arise from it of serious meditation, First, There is nothing in this doctrine should be There is great use of such doctrine as this is, PAGE 19 20 21 2. It helps to raise their admiration of distinguishing 3. It incites to that excellent duty of heart-search- 27 27 4. It engages the soul to double diligence, way to heaven, and yet fall short; yet that soul 27 The doctrine re-assumed and demonstrated by scrip- 1. By the example of the young man in the gospel, 29 3. The demonstration from Isaiah lviii. 2. The text opened, For the more distinct prosecution of the point, is Quest. 1. How far a man may go in the way to heav- 37 First. A man may have much knowledge and yet be 37 Object. But is it not said, This is life eternal, to 38 Secondly, A man may have great and eminent christian, 1. Gifts from the common work of the Spirit, 3. It is beyond the power of the greatest gifts to 4. Many have gone laden with gifts to hell, 5. Gifts may decay and perish, Object. But doth not the apostle bid us covet after 1. A man may profess religion, and yet never have 47 48 2. A man may profess religion, and live in a form of 3. Custom and fashion may create a man a professor, 49 fore men, him will I confess before my Father Fourthly, A man may go far in opposing his sin, and 1. A man may be convinced of sin, and yet be but 2. A man may mourn for sin, Object. But doth not Christ pronounce them blessed 2. It must be more for the evil that is in sin, than the 52 53 54 54 55 3. A man may make confession of his sin to God, 1. Many confess sin out of custom, 2. Many confess lesser sins, 56 57 3. Many confess sin in general, 4. Many confess sin only under extremity, 5. Many confess sin, but with no intent to forsake it. 57 57 58 Object. But is it not said, He that confesseth and 1. Open sins may be forsaken, when secret sins are 2. A man may forsake sin, but not as sin, 8. A man may let one sin go to hold another the 4. A man may let all sin go, and yet a sinner still, 6, Sin may be chained, and yet the heart not chang- Fifthly, a man may hate sin, and yet be but almost Objection, arising from Rom. vii. 15. Answered, A man may hate sin, 1. For the shame that attends it, 2. A man may hate sin more in another, than in 3. A man may hate one sin, as being contrary to an- 4. Not hate sin as sin, but as contrary to his beloved Sixthly, A man may make great vows and promises, 1. Purposes never hurt sin, 2. Troubles and afflictions may provoke large pur- 3. Purposes may be only a temptation to put off re- 4. Nature unsanctified may make great purposes, 5. A man may desire grace, and yet be but almost a |