and returned to their former fecurity of heart, and careleffnefs of life.

'Secondly,' there may be fome, on the other hand, who are truly born of God,' in whom, the terrors of conviction have not been very remarkable. This happens moft frequently in the cafe of thofe, who are called in their infancy, or earlier years, and who have had the advantage of a careful and pious education. It would be deftructive of the comforts of God's children, to lay down one method' in which he always proceeds. He is free and fovereign in the manner of his dealing with finners; and foftens fome hearts by kindness, as well as others by correction. So that if the end be brought about, we need be lefs folicitous about the fteps of his procedure. Yet I think humility of fpirit is infeparable from real religion; and if it be lefs vifible in the anguish of repentance, it will be ftill manifeft in the temper of the penitent.

II. Let me now, for the improvement of this fubject, lay down a few of the best and most folid evidences of genuine conviction of fin. And,

1. It is a good fign that conviction is genuine, when there is a clear and deep apprehenfion of the evil of fin, as well as the danger of it. When the mind dwells, not only on the atrocity of particular crimes, but on the aggravation of all fin, as fuch: when the finner is truly offen

ded

ded with himself, for departing from his maker's fervice; breaking his holy laws; forgetting or defpifing his innumerable mercies; there may be and there is often an apprehenfion of suffering, when there is little sense of the evil of fin; but the conviction is then genuine, when it makes the finner not only remember what he has done, but confefs what he has deferved.'

2. It is a good evidence, when the fenfe of the evil of fin abides and grows, even though the fear of wrath may in a great measure have abated.

It is obfervable, that conviction of fin ufually takes its rife from fome grofs or heinous acts, which first alarm the confcience; and in fuch a fituation, the attention of the penitent is fixed. on nothing else, but the enormities of his life. If this view continues, and produces its effects, he is foon brought to fee and confefs the inherent vanity of his heart; the worldlinefs of his affections; and the unprofitableness of his converfation. It is a very common thing, for perfons who feem to have some sense of the commiffion of crimes, to have little or no fenfe at all of the neglect of duty, and of living daily to themselves. It was a heavy charge, however, brought by the Prophet against Belfhazzar: And the God in

whofe hand thy breath is, and whofe are all thy 'ways, haft thou not glorified.' Wherever there is true repentance, though there may be the greateft deace of mind, there will be alfo a deep and

growing sense of the evil of fin, and the obligation of being habitually devoted to God.

3. It is a good evidence, when there is a continued and growing efteem of the neceffity and value of the mediation of Chrift.-It was to fave finners that he came. A fenfe of fin is neceffary to our receiving him; and in proportion to its ftrength, will certainly be our attachment to him. This indeed is the great and vital principle of the spiritual life. I am crucified with Chrift, ne'vertheless I live, yet not I, but Chrift liveth in ( me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God; who 'loved me, and gave himfelf to die for me.'

4. The beft and fureft mark of real conviction of fin, is, if it leaves you poffeffed in a deep hatred and abhorrence of it, and a daily folicitude to fly from it. Some may counterfeit a sense of the evil of fin, to their own hearts; may have a real fear of its bitter confequences; and even a prefumptuous reliance on Chrift for pardon; and yet may in fome inftances adhere to the practice of it.

Floods of tears from fuch a perfon avail nothing; but he hath certainly truly forrowed for fin, who in his practice forfakes it that is to fay, he is not willingly fubject to any known fin, but fays with Elihu, That which I fee not teach 'thou me. If I have done iniquity, I will do no

more.

III.

III. Let me befeech all ferious perfons to im prove this fubject for the trial of their state. Examine, by the principles above laid down, the reality and the progrefs of religion in your fouls. Have you a growing fenfe of the evil of fin, and of your own unworthinefs?—This is at once an evidence, and a mean of growth in grace. He that thinks least of himself, is highest in God's account; and the more a believer increases in holine's and real worth, the more he increases in humility. As it is an evidence, it is also a mean of further improvement; for he that hath the deepest sense of his unworthinefs and weaknefs, will certainly live most by faith, in the merit and grace of his Redeemer.

Therefore, Chriftians, try yourselves by this important fign: Whether do you, by religious duties, build yourselves up on felf-righteoufnefs, or do you only learn by them, how far you fall fhort of what is incumbent on you? What innumerable evils compafs you about; and therefore, how much have you need of mercy instead of reward? Do you look upon the works of righteousness which you have done, as fomething, by which you merit at the hand of God; or do you look upon them as the evidence of his own work in you, and for you, and give him the glory, to whom it is due?

IV. I fhall now conclude the whole, with a

few directions for producing and preserving this profitable fenfe and conviction of fin.

And,

1. Let me beg of every hearer the serious confideration of himself and his ways. Many have no fenfe of their finfulness, because they have no knowledge of themfelves at all; but go through the world, in uninterrupted thoughtleffness and unconcern. Is there any thing of greater moment than the ftate of your minds, and your hope towards God? Inattention is perhaps a more univerfal caufe of impiety, than high-handed and obftinate profanity. Would you but feriously confider your ways, and lay to heart the things that belong to your peace, I would count it a hopeful circumstance; and expect you would fpeedily fee your danger, and God in his mercy would lead you to the cure.

2. Give yourselves much to reading and hearing the word of God. The entrance of his word giveth light-It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and correction; but it is particularly neceffary for conviction; for by the law is the knowledge of fin. What wonder, if those who never open a Bible, and feldom enter into the houfe of God, fhould be ignorant of their guilt and mifery! The word of God fhews his right in you, pleads his caufe, and challenges your apoftacy. It is exceedingly rare that those who have fairly turned their backs upon God's instituted worship, are disturbed in their fecurity; but are fuffered