"the Path of Deftruction, he led me into "the Arms of Christ, he converted my Soul, "he opened mine Eyes to behold the Joys of Heaven; he made me to tafte of his "Confolations, that I fhould not faint in my

66

Paffage through this Vale of Mifery. And "what fhall I render unto him? Dead in "Trefpaffes and Sins as I once was, but "now alive from the Dead, what fhall I

render unto him by whom I live? I can "give him Nothing which is not his own! "All that I have is his Gift! Yea, if I "pay him the intensest Love of my whole "Soul, even this Love he infpires me with. "Yet I will acknowledge him the Author "of that Life, which is in my Soul; that by his Influence I am revived, and that by his Power and Might I truft I fhall be "meet to ftand before God for-ever."

66

(4.) THE Tendernefs, which he experiences towards Men, is another Exercife of the renewed Heart. Doth a Man find himfelf unconcerned about the Souls of others, unacquainted with Sentiments of Compaffion towards Men, because they are Sinners? Is he infenfible of fecret Pleasure in the Good; forced to approve them by the Voice of Confcience, yet neither efteeming nor liking them? This Man is furely of the old Leaven. The new Creature finds his Heart open to take in the whole World, knows a

Pity for Sinners at the most distant Parts of the Earth: Nor is there an haughty Infulter or Enemy, who hath not a Place in his generous Breast. But with thofe who bear the Marks of GoD's Children upon them, he would dwell; a peculiar Tenderness of Efteem and Love rifes within him, upon the Sight of thefe. Be they high or low, rich or poor, ignorant or learned; have they been Enemies, or do they differ in Opinion; ftill the gracious Heart takes them in, and yields them the first Share of his Affection.

SUCH is the Employment of the new Creature's Love. You fee the Tendency of it And by this Tendency you must judge, that the leading Affection Love hath the right Ufe and Employment given it, rather than by any Degree of Vehemence, be it more or lefs, wherewith it is excited. I called Love the leading Affection, because it gives Direction to all the reft. Wherefore where Love is renewed, there

To

2.) HATRED will be new alfo. hate what one ought to love; and to love what should be difliked; this is the Way of the carnal Mind. Let Formality fay what it will, yet it is inwardly displeased. with the Strictness of the Gospel, and with a constant Attendance upon the Means of Grace; is uneafy when detained by serious Converfation, especially if it be free and particular;

particular; cannot endure Advice or Reproof, and takes it up as a Task to read the Word of GOD; above all, abhors and kicks against that publick Ministry, which fearches and lays bare the Heart, nor will fuffer Men to pass for Chriftians, because of Outfides and Parties. Juft the Reverse the new Creature, whofe Averfion is altogether the contrary Way. While Godliness and the Means of Grace, ferious Company and Chriftian Freedom, the Word of GOD and an awakening Miniftration of it, are his Delight: He finds a deep Difpleasure rise within him against Sin, and every Way thereof; against the Corruption of his Nature and the Refidue of Luft, which abides within him; against Sin in others, and the Company of Sinners; against all that looks like Sin, and all the Temptations that lead to it; and especially against that leading Corruption of his Heart, which hath often fubdued, and still befieges him. "Away "from me, ye abominable Ways, (he fays) "I can no more endure you; I am afhamed, (6 yea even confounded, whilst I remember "what a Beast ye have made me; how ye "have defiled my Soul, how ye have dif "honored my GOD, and oppofed the King"dom of my Mafter, the Lord Jefus, thro' "me, Away, ye feducing Works of Wickednefs: All that is within me, rifes against

"you

you with Abhorrence. My God hates "you. My Lord ye have crucified, ye "Deceivers. Yea, ye have caused me to "add Affliction to his Grief and Sufferings. "For the Sake of the forgiving Father, and "of the dying Redeemer; for the Sake of "my Soul escaped out of your Hands, I loath and deteft you, ye Paths of Ungodlinefs; ye Ways of Vanity and Pride; ye *baneful Pleasures; ye perpetual, but most ftupifying Amusements, little lurking Be

trayers that I did not fufpect; who could "look innocent and fmile, while ye were "working my Ruin; but chiefly thou, the "Mafter Sin and Tyrant, to whom I walked ❝in deteftable Subjection. O my God, all thefe, thy and mine Enemies, which would "not that thou shouldst reign over me, bring them out and Лlay them before thee (a).

3.) The new Creature alfo hopes and fears differently from the natural Man : Nor doth the moft regular Outfide enter into the Feelings of this Kind, which he experiences. This Difference will more evidently be seen, and what the Hopes and Fears of the renewed Mind are, be difcovered, while thefe two Affections are confidered together. See now the moft convincing Oppofition between an unreformed, and a reformed Mind. Tell me, what is your biggest Hope? That is, what do you (a) Luke xix. 27.

wait

wait for, with the most pleasing Expectation of enjoying it? What engages your first and most constant Wishes ? Is it Indulgence of any Kind? If it be not this: Is it more of the World, than you now poffefs; or is it an Enlargement of your Station? Or if not any of thefe: Is it the Favor or Acceptance of Men; or the Efteem of fome peculiar Perfon, whofe Affection and Friendship you would engage? If not this: Is it yet the Happiness of your Family, the Profperity of your Children? In a word: Is your first Wish after any earthly Thing? However allowable fuch Hope might be otherwife: Still if it be your firft Hope, your prevailing Expectation; your Soul is unrenewed, you feek not first, it is plain, the Kingdom of God. On the other Side; what is it you moftly fear? Is it chiefly the Injury of your Fortune, or the being prevented in the Increase of it? Is it Pain, or Sickness, or Death; the Death of others, or of yourself? Is it, in fhort, the Danger of any prefent Evil that moft alarms you? Nothing is plainer, than that your Heart is fet upon that, concerning the Lofs of which you find the most lively Apprehenfions. If your Hopes and Fears are principally taken up about the Matters of this Life, incontestably you are a Child of this World; and common Sense will tell you, that you can

not