with them, and telling them of what I had seen or done or known in the world, they would believe me, and regard what I say: But when I tell them from the infallible word of GOD, what they themselves shall see and know in the world to come, they shew by their lives that they do either not believe it, or not much regard it. If I met ever a one of them on the way, and told them, yonder is a coal-pit, or there is a quicksand; or there are thieves lie in wait for you; I could persuade them to turn by. But when I tell them that Satan lieth in wait for them, and that sin is poison to matter to be jested with,

them, and that hell is not a they go on as if they did not hear me. Truly, neighbours, I am in as good earnest with you in the pulpit, as I am in any familiar discourse; and if ever you will regard me, I beseech you let it be here. I think there is never a man of you all, but if my own soul lay at your wills, you would be willing to save it (though I cannot promise that you would leave your sins for it.) Tell me thou drunkard, art thou so cruel to me that speak to thee, that thou wouldst not forbear a few cups of drink, if thou knewest it would save my soul from hell? Hadst thou rather I did burn there for ever, than thou shouldst live soberly as other men do? If so, may I not say thou art an unmerciful monster, and not a man? If I come hungry or naked to one of your doors, would you not part with more than a cup of drink to relieve me? I am confident you would; if it were to save my life, I know you would (some of you) hazard And yet will you not be intreated to part

your own.

with your sensual pleasures for your own salvation? Wouldst thou forbear an hundred cups of drink, man, to save my life if it were in thy power, and wilt thou not do it to save thy own soul? I profess to you, Sirs, I am as hearty a beggar with you this day for the saving of your own souls, as I would be for my own supply, if I were forced to come a begging to your doors. And therefore if you would hear me then, hear me now. If you would pity me then, be intreated now to pity yourselves. I do again beseech you, as if it were on my bended knees, that you would harken to your Redeemer, and turn that you may live. All you that have lived in ignorance, and carelessness, and presump. tion to this day: AH you that have been drowned in the cares of the world and have no mind of GOD and eternal glory; all you that are enslaved to your fleshly desires of meats and drinks, sports and lusts; and all you that know not the necessity of holiness, and never were acquainted with the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost upon your souls; that never embraced your blessed Redeemer by a lively faith, and with admiring and thankful apprehensions of his love, and that never felt an higher estimation of GOD and heaven, and an heartier love to them, than to your feshly prosperity and the things below: I earnestly beseech you, not only for my sake, but for the Lord's sake, and for your soul's sake, that you go not one day longer in your former condition, but look about you, and cry to GOD for converting grace, that you may be made new creatures, and may escape the plagues that are a little before

you. And if ever you will do any thing for me,

grant me this request,

ways and live.

to turn from your evil

Deny me any thing that ever

I shall ask you for myself if you will but grant me this. And if you deny me this, I care not for any thing else that you would grant me. Nay, as ever you would do any thing at the request of the Lord that made you and redeemed you, deny him not this; for if you deny him this, he cares for nothing that you shall grant him. As ever you would have him hear your prayers, and grant your requests, and do for you at the hour of death and day of judgment, or in any of your extremities, deny not his request now in the day of your prosperity. O believe it, death and judgment, and heaven and hell, are other matters when you come near them, than they seem to carnal eyes afar off. Then you would hear such a message as I bring you, with more awakened regarded hearts.

Well, though I cannot hope so well of all, I will hope that some of you are by this time purposing to turn and live; and that you are ready to ask me, as the Jews did Peter, Acts ii. 37. when they were pricked in their hearts and said, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do? How might we come to be truly converted? We are willing, if we did but know our duty. GOD forbid that we should chuse destruction, by refusing conversion as hitherto we have done,'

If these be the thoughts and purposes of your hearts, I of you as GOD did of a promising people, Deut. 7. 28, 29. "They have well said all that they have

say

spoken; O that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments. always! Your purposes are good; O that there were but an heart in you to perform these purposes! And in hope thereof, I shall gladly give you direction what to do, and that but briefly, that you may the easier remember it for your practice.

DIRECTION I.

IF you would be converted and saved, labour to understand the necessity and true nature of conversion; for what, and from what, and to what, and by what it is that you must turn.

Consider in what a lamentable condition you are till the hour of your conversion, that you may see it is not a state to be rested in. You are under the guilt of all the sins that ever you committed: and under the wrath of GOD, and the curse of his law; you are bondslaves to the devil, and daily employed in his work, against the Lord, yourselves, and others: you are spiritually dead and deformed, as being void of the holy life and nature, and image of the Lord. You are un- . fit for any holy work, and do nothing that is truly pleasing unto GOD. You are without any promise or assurance of his protection, and live in continual danger of his justice,not knowing what hour you may be snatched away to hell, and most certain to be damned if you die in that condition. And nothing short of conversJon can prevent it. Whatever civilities, or amend

ments, or virtues, are short of true conversion, will never procure the saving of your souls. Keep the true sense of this natural misery, and so of the necessity of conversion on your hearts.

And then you must understand what it is to be converted: It is to have a new heart or disposition, and a new conversation.

Quest. 1. For what must you turn?

Ans. For these ends following, which you may attain: 1. You shall immediately be made living members of Christ, and have an interest in him, and be renewed after the image of GOD, and be adorned with all his graces, and quickened with a new and heavenly life, and saved from the tyrranny of Satan, and the dominon of sin, and be justified from the curse of the law, and have the pardon of all the sins of your whole lives, and be accepted of GOD, and made his sons, and have liberty to call him Father, and go to him by prayer in all your needs, with a promise of acceptance; you shall have the Holy Ghost to dwell in you, to sanctify and guide you; you shall have part in the brotherhood, communion and prayers of the saints; you shall be fitted for GOD's service, and be freed from the dominion of sin, and be useful and a blessing to the place where you live, and shall have the promise of this life, and that which is to come. You shall want nothing that is truly good for you, and your necessary affictions you will be enabled to bear; you may have some taste of the communion with GOD in the Spirit; especially in all holy ordinances, where GOD prepareth a feast