This fully indicates that the soul of man, stands in absolute need of conversion. This was one leading end in the gift of a revelation from heaven, to the sinful and lost children of men. Conversion signifies precisely the same thing with the word turning. And to express the idea, the latter term is most frequently used in the old Testament, as "Turn ye at my rebukes, turn "from all your iniquities; turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die," &c, with a multitude of other places. It is a melancholy truth, that the whole human race hath departed from God, forsaken the fountain of all happiness and goodness, sunk down into sin, and are in a state of the utmost wretchedness and guilt, exposed to the wrath of God and eternal destruction. But the glorious Jehovah, in the wonders of his wisdom, and riches of his inconceivable and ineffable grace, has devised and executed a plan, whereby unhappy man may be converted from the error of his ways, recovered from sin and guilt, restored to the divine favor, and reinstated in blessedness. This scheme he hath revealed in his holy word, which is here called the law. This is the great mean or instrument used by the Holy Ghost, in effecting this great and important change. And without the conversion of the soul, salvation is absolutely inattainable.-Wherefore, in our attention to this subject, we shall endeavour briefly to show,

First, What the conversion of the soul is.

life.

Secondly, The absolute necessity of it in order to eternal

Third, How the word of God is instrumental in this change.

And then close the subject, with a few arguments to induce us to become converted.

First, We are to show what the conversion of the soul is.

It consists in certain motions or exercises of the heart, influenced by the holy Spirit, under the light, guidance and direction

of divine truth. Hence the soul in these exercises, influences and means, turns from certain objects, in which it formerly delighted, to objects to which it had been opposed. After it had received the principle of regeneration, it becomes active in this important business. Wherefore, conversion is a turning from sin to holiness from the service of Satan, to the service of the true God-from a dependance upon his own righteousness, to an entire dependance upon the righteousness of a crucified Jesusfrom the practice of iniquity, to a conscious performance of the duties of religion-and from things below, to things above.

First, In conversion, there is a turning from sin to holiness. Sin was formerly his pleasure. The natural man rolls it in some form or other, as a sweet morsel under his tongue; but now his heart rises in indignation against it, and he feels an abhorrence of it as odious and vile. Thus God expresses the conduct of his people Israel, when he shall shew saving mercy unto them."Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying, this is the way, walk ye in it. Ye shall also defile the covering of your graven images, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold, "thou shalt cast them away; thou shalt say unto it, get thee "hence." Thus sin is treated by the soul in conversion. The sinner mars those things which were formerly his delight, rejects them as base, and casts them from him as an unclean thing. His wonted lusts he views as deformed monsters. If it be a right eye, it must be plucked out; it a hand, it must be cut off. As sin is his aversion, so now he turns to holiness, and chooses it as his pleasure, his happiness and delight. The ardent breathings of his soul are, to be free from moral pollution and defilement, and to be adorned with all the graces of the Spirit. "As new "born babes, they desire the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby."

Secondly, Conversion is a turning from the service of Satan, to the service of the true God. Once he was the willing slave of Satan, of the same principles and interest, and embarked in

the same cause; directed by his lusts, and carried on war against heaven. But now he relinquishes his leader, ceases from the war, enlists under another banner, chooses another captain, enters into an opposite service, and with his whole heart turns unto God. He now beholds and esteems him as infinitely glorious and worthy, and he elects him as his sufficiency, comfort and blessedness. His heart adopts the language of the Psalmist, "Thou "art my portion, O God. My soul shall make her boast in the "Lord. In God is my salvation and my glory, the rock of my strength, and my refuge is in God."

Thirdly, It is a turning from his own righteousness to an entire dependance upon the righteousness of a crucified Jesus.— Formerly he trusted to himself, to his own imaginary virtues, duties, and performances. He compassed himself about with sparks of his own kindling. But now he turns from his own righteousness as filthy rags, and flies to the righteousness of Christ, which he wrought out in his active and passive obedience. He sees its perfect fitness, to answer the demands of the law, appease the wrath of heaven, justify the sinner, and cloath his poor, miserable, and naked soul. This righteousness, in its glorious sufficiency, charms his heart, and becomes his choice, his hope, and his joy.

Fourthly, It is a turning from the practice of iniquity, to a conscientious performance of the duties of religion. That which was once his task, is now his highest pleasure. The sabbath, which had often been a weariness to him, is now his delight; prayer, that had been his burden, is now his sweet consolation. The law, which he hated, and to which he could not be subject, is become his delight; his inward man rejoices in it. The exercises of devotion, to which he had been a stranger, are now the solace of his soul. Moral and relative duties, which he had much neglected, now commands his faithful and diligent attention. Thus he turns frem the practice of sin, to the practice of

godliness, being fully assured, "that without holiness, no man "shall see the Lord."

Lastly, There is in conversion, a turning from things below, to things above-from things earthly, to things heavenly. Formerly he was attached to, and served the mammon of unrighteousness; he eagerly pursued the enjoyments of sense, looking for satisfaction in the creature; but now he feels all these pursuits, vanity and vexation of spirit. Therefore, he forsakes these unsatisfying objects. All the riches, pleasures, and honors of the world, sink into nothing in the view of his mind, in comparison of the pearl of great price. His ardent desires are, to obtain celestial treasures, which shall endure when suns and worlds shall be no more. His heart is fixed on treasures above, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break not through nor steal. He experiences the apostolic counsel, with peculiar force in his soul, "Seek those things which << are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

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We proceed to show,

Secondly, The absolute necessity of this change, in order to eternal life.

A very few observations on this head, must suffice for the present. Any, who give credit to the scriptures, have the conviction in their own judgments and consciences, that they must be converted, or perish forever. This is the unchangeable constitution of heaven, and it arises from the nature of things. There is an indissoluble connection between moral evil and punishment. The soul that sinneth must die. God can as soon deny himself, renounce his own holiness, as grant admission to an unholy creature into heaven. As the one is impossible, so also is the other. Sinners, while such, are absolutely incapacitated for the enjoyments and employments of the upper world. All the business there is holy, all the pleasures are holy, all the inhabitants are

holy, God and Christ, angels and other spirits; nothing reigns. there but pure and perfect holiness. The graceless sinner has no taste or relish for such company, or for any of these things.These are his chief aversion. It would be hell, instead of heaven, for him to be confined there. Therefore, sinners must be converted, in order to be at all capacitated for the fruition of the blessings of thatregion.

But the revealed constitution of God, places this matter beyond all controversy. The selections of the divine authorities, for the establishment of this purpose, shall be few. To quote the whole, would be to repeat a great part of the bible. God proclaims this constitution with an oath, and as he could swear by nothing higher, he swears by his own life: "As I live, saith "the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; "but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn

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ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Is"rael? If the wicked turn not, God will whet his sword, he hath "bent his bow, and made it ready. Turn ye to him from whom "the children of Israel hath deeply revolted. I will destroy my "people if they return not from their ways. O Israel return un"to the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity." Hearken to the voice of the blessed Jesus, "Verily, verily, I 66 say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Не

"will banish from him all the workers of iniquity." But there would be no end of retailing the sacred pages, to prove that sinners must be converted, or they shall never enter into eternal life, but that they must perish, everlastingly perish.

I hasten,

Thirdly, To show how the word of God is instrumental in this change. "The law of the Lord is perfect converting the "soul." By the word of God, is not meant the mere sound of the gospel in the preaching of it, which can have no more efficacy abstractly as a sound than any other; but when the doctrines of