191 for want of this? Oh! God forbid! It is a ftrange thing to me, that men are fo inhuman and ftupid in the greatest matters, that in lefs things are very civil and courteous, and good neighbours. For ought I know, I have the love of all, or almost all my neighbours, fo far, that if I should send to any man in the town, or parish, or country, and request a reasonable courtesy of them, they would grant it me; and when I come to requeft of them the greateft matter in the world for themselves, and not for me, I can have nothing of many of them put a patient hearing. I know not whether people think a man in the pulpit is in good fadnefs or not, and means as he fpeaks; for I think I have few neighbours, but, if I were fitting familiarly with them, and telling them of what I have seen, or done, or known in the world, they would believe me, and regard what I fay: But when I tell them, from the infallible word of God, what they themfelves fhall fee and know in the world to come, they fhew 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 quickfand, or there are thieves lie in wait for you, I I could perfuade them to turn by: But, when I tell them that Satan lieth' in wait for them, and that fin is poifon to them, and that hell is not a matter to be jested with, they go on as if they did not hear

me.-Truly, neighbours, I am in as good earneft with you in the pulpit as I am in any familiar difcourfe, and, if ever you will regard me, I befeech you let it be here. I think there is never a man of you all, but, if my own foul lay at your wills, you would be willing to fave it, (though I cannot promife that you would leave your fins for it.) Tell me, thou drunkard, art thou fo cruel to me that fpeaks to thee, that thou wouldst not forbear a few cups of drink, if thou kneweft it would fave my foul from hell? Hadft thou rather I did burn there for ever, than thou shouldft live foberly as other men do? If fo, may I not fay 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 fave my life, I know you would (fome of you) hazard your own. And yet, will you not be intreated to part with your fenfual pleasures for your own falvation? Wouldeft thou forbear a hundred cups of drink, man, to fave my life, if it were in thy power, and wilt thou not do it to fave thy own foul? I profefs to you, Sirs, I am as hearty a beggar with you this day, for the faving of your own fouls, as I would be for my own fupply, if I were forced to come begging to your own 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 befeech you, as if it were on my bended knees, that you would hearken to your Redeemer, and turn, that you may live. All youthat have lived in ignorance, careleffness, and prefumption, to this day; all you that have been drowned in the cares of the world, and have no mind for God and eternal glory; all you that are enflaved to your fleshly defires of meats and drink, fports and lufts; and all you that know not the neceffity of holiness, and never were acquainted with the fanctifying work of the Holy Ghoft upon your fouls; that never embraced your bfeffed Redeemer by a lively faith, and with admiring and thankful apprehensions of his love, and that never felt a higher eftimation of God and heaven, and a heartier love to them, than to your fleshly profperity and the things below: I earnestly befeech you, not only for my fake, but for the Lord's fake, and for your foul's fake, 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 efcape the plagues that are a little before you. And, if ever you willdo any thing for me, grant me this request, to turn from your evil ways and live. Deny me any thing that ever I fhall ask you for myfelf, if you will but grant me this.And if you deny me this, I care not for any thing elfe 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 youfhall 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 profperity. 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 meffage as I bring you with more awakened regarding hearts.

Well, tho' I cannot hope fo well of all, I will hope that fome of you are by this time purpofing to turn and live, and that you are ready to afk me, as the Jews did Peter, Acts ii. 37. when they were pricked in their hearts, and faid, "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 choose deftruction, by refufing converfion, as hitherto we have done."

If these be the thoughts and purposes of your hearts, I fay of you as God did of a promifing people, Deut. v. 28, 29. "They have well faid all that they have spoken: O that there were fuch a heart in them that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always!" Your purposes are

you

good. O that there were but a heart in to perform these purposes! And, in hope thereof, I fhall 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 will be converted and faved, labour to understand the neceffity and true nature of converfion; for what, and from what, and to what, and by what, it is that you must turn.

Confider in what a lamentable condition you are till the hour of your converfion, that you may feel it is not a state to be refted in. You are under the guilt of all the fins that ever you committed; and under the wrath of God, and the curfe of his law; you are bond-flaves 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 unfit for any holy work,. and do nothing that is truly pleafing unto God. You are without any promise or affurance of his protection, and live in continual danger of his juftice, not knowing what hour you may be fnatched away to hell, and moft certain to be damned if you die in that condition. And nothing short of converfion can prevent it. Whatever civilities, or amendments, or virtues, are short of true converfion, will never procure the