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III. Though their condition be very fad and dangerous, yet it is not desperate, if they will yet beftir themselves. For let them confider thefe four things.

1. God hath declar'd a greater delight in the converfion of finners, whether young or old, than in their deftruction and damnation, Ezek. 33. 11. Say unto them, as I live faith the Lord God; 1. hape no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live, turn ye, turn ye from your evil waies, for why will ye die, o Houfe of Ifrael?

2. The promises of God do fland in force, and will be made good to repenting returning finners whether young or old. True Repentance is never top late, but late repentance is feldom true. Al forts of fins are pardonable to reall penitents and true believers.

3. There is efficacy and vertue ènough in Chrifis blood to cleanfe not only young, but old finners from all their fins.

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4. Chrift is willing to accept old finners, if they will repent and for fake their fins, and really turn to him, and clofe with him on his own terms, being willing to take him not only for their Saviour, but for their Lord and King, and to yield up themselves in fincere obedience to him, and to be guided and governed by his Grace and holy Spirit. Chrift did not come to fave men, by bringing them to Heaven in their ungodlineffe, or to Glory in their,

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IV. Though ancient people, that hat their on in a long courfe of ignorance, careleßnef lect of God, and the concernments of the fhould be convinced they are at prefer condition, in an unconverted ftate, ya not thence follow, they muft needs f and utterly and finally defpair; but the awaken themfelves, delay no longer dily fet themselves to get out of the condition, while there is a poffibilitat the danger of it. 'Tis no folly to be w fouls, to be wife for Eternity at laft. T let them remember, now if ever. V. They fhould be exceeding careful not deceive themselves with ill gross of Heaven, peefuming it will go well we in the other world, when they have no re dation for fuch a confidence. A falfe und hope is but a dream of a waking man. If a ed Malefactor should frame a pardon for in the prifon, and think to be faved by would it not prove a miferable cheat put this himfelf? Does it not concern every one the con fore to confider, whether the hope of parda dit. Forgiveneß they pretend unto, be of Gods grama or their own framing? whether they have litt warrant, or promife from Gods Word that th hall be fav'd: Or whether they do only fre

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prefume it, without any fufficient ground. Oh what loofe and fandy foundations do many build their hopes of Heaven upon? fuch as thefe,

1. Their outward profeffion of Christianity, and a formal performance of religions duties. But as the Apoftle fpeaks, Rom. 2. 28, 29. He is not a Few, who is one outwardly (who has onely the circumcifion of the flesh) but he is a few, who is one inwardly, whofe heart is circumcifed. So he is a true Chriftian upon whole heart the faving work of converfion hath pass'd; who hath felt the power of Grace upon his foul, really turning it unto God. The fair and broad leaves of an outward profeffion will nothing avail, if the fruits of real holiness and fanctification be wanting. Gal.6.15. For in Chrift Fefus, neither circumcifion availeth any thing, nor uncircumcifion, but a new Crea

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2. Their moral and civil deportment, their fair and honeft converfation in the world, and freedom from greffe fins. Now though outward righteouf neffe be not only exceeding commendable, but alfo neceffary to Salvation , yet 'tis a dangerous thing to rest upon; and by that only, we cannot conclude any man to be in a good state and condition to God ward. For, 1. You shall find it many times accompanied with ignorance, or very little favoury knowledge of God, and spiritnall things. 2. Such perfons ufually fee no neceffity of regeneration, and the new birth, but content themselves

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themselves with a meer moral charge more mi from groß fins, and the practife of ones vertues; no new nature being wrought but the old nature only varnished our education. 3. There you shall not fry most part any great prizing of Christ, ing to get an intereft in him; and yet be not really united to him, no juftific fication, or falvation can be expecte chief care is ufually about an outwa and unblameableness of conversation about mortification of inward lufts, pering the affections. True Grace preff heart-duties, as well as externall obedu dence hibits inward and heart-fins, as well filthineffe, 2 Cor.5.18. If any If any man be heart he is a new Creature, old things are p fin. behold all things are become new. 5. Thing God is not the chief aim and end, in whatever we do, 1 Cor 10.31. Whets or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all te of God. 6. There is ufually a greater car form the Duties of the fecond Table, then is w first. You shall have some men very jafa. dealings, good neighbours, and of a comme do!! converfation as to the world, who yet (mdien are very negligent and careleffe of Gods We of Family duties, of the Lords day, &c. many times are profe Jed haters and enemies to practical power of Godlineffe: So that

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more is requir'd than meer civility, and an outward, moral uprightneß tc ground a hope of fal vation upon. Paul before his converfion, was concerning the righteoufneffe of the Law blameless, Phil.3.6. Yet when God had favingly enlightened his foul, what a doom doth he paß upon himCelf? and cals his felf righteoufneffe dung, which ne accounted Gold before.

3. Some reformation that is wrought in them. They have left fome fins they were formerly gi vento. But 'cis not only the forbearing of fome fins, but an inward loathing, hating, abhorring, and forfaking all known fins, that is a good evidence of a gracious ftate. There must be a care to mortifie inward lufts, and the corruptions of the heart, as well as to abstain from outward acts of in. To mortifie our fins, is a Sacrifice well-pleaf-" ng to God: In a Sacrifice, these two things were requir'd. 1. That it should be flain, not die fit felf: If thy lufts and fins rather leave thee, han thou them; or abate and die meerly through. ge, or the decay of natural vigour, this change s wrought in thee, not by Grace, but by age. 2. A Sacrifice was to be offered to God. If thou Jo leave thy former fins, and do it not out of obedience to God, but for thy credit fake, or profit, or fome temporal advantage, this is not the Sacrifice God delights in.

44. The good opinion others have of them. Others think them good Chriftians; why should

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