when they are but children; they run willingly that way. because there is an inward principle of "love conftraining them," fo as they yield themfelves fervants of righteoufnefs," without outward constraint.

3dly. Although fuch know not when they were first acquainted with God, yet they have afterwards fuch exercises of spirit befalling, as the faints in Scripture, of whofe first converfation we hear not, do fpeak of. They are fhut out from God, upon fome occafion, now and then, and are admitted to come nearer again to their apprehenfion their heart is also further broken up by the ordinances, as is faid of Lydia; and ordinarily they do remember when fome fpecial bit of religion and duty, or when fome fin, of which they were not taking notice before, was discovered to them. They who can apply thefe things to themfelves, have much to fay for their ef fectual calling from their youth.

Secondly. Some are brought into Chrift in a fovereign gofpel-way, when the Lord, by fome few words of love fwallowing up any law-work, quickly taketh a perfon prifoner at the firft, as he did Zaccheus, and others, who, upon a word fpoken by Chrift, did leave all and follow him; and we hear no noife of a law-work dealing with them before they clofe with Chrift Jefus.

And becaufe fome may pretend to this way of calling we fhall touch fome things most remarkable in that tranfaction with Zaccheus, for their clearing and confirmation. (1.) He had fome defire to fee Chrift, and fuch a defire as made him wave that which fome would have

judged prudence and difcretion, whilft he climbeth up upon a tree that he might fee him. (2.) Chrift fpake to his heart, and that word took fuch hold upon him that prefently with joy he did accept of Chrift's offer, and clofeth with Chrift as Lord, whilft few of any note were following him. (3.) Upon this his heart doth open to the poor, although it feems he was a covetous man before. (4.) He hath a due impreffion of his former ways, evidencing his refpect to the law of Mofes, and this he doth fignify before all the company then prefent, not caring

to fhame himself in fuch things as probably were known to the world. (5.) Upon all these things, Christ confirmeth and ratifieth the bargain by his word; recommending to him that oneness of intereft which behoved to be between him and the faints, and the thoughts of his own loft condition if Chrift had not come and fought him, and found him all which are clear.

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We grant the Lord calleth fome fo, and if any can lay claim to the special things we have now hinted, they have a good confirmation of God's dealing with them from that Scripture; neither are they to vex themselves becaufe of the want of a diftinct preparatory law-work, if their heart hath yielded unto Chrift; for a law-work is not defirable, except for this end. Therefore Chrift doth offer himself directly in the Scripture, and people. are invited to come to him and although many will not come to him who is the cautioner, until the fpirit of bondage diftrefs them for their debt, yet if any, upon the knowledge of their loft eftate, would flee and yield to Chrift, none might warrantably prefs a law-work upon them.

As for others, whom Chrift perfuaded by a word to follow him; whatsoever he did, or how foever he spake to them, at his firft meeting with them, we must rationally fuppofe that then he difcovered fo much of their own neceffity, and his own fullnefs and excellency to them, as made them quit all, and run after him and if he do fo to any, we crave no more, fince there is room enough there for the Phyfician.

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So that from all this, as fome may be confirmed and ftrengthened, with whom God hath fo dealt, fo there is no ground nor occafion for deluded fouls to flatter themfelves in their condition, who remain ignorant and fenfeJefs of their own miferies, and Chrift's all-fufficiency, and hold fast deceit.

Thirdly. There are fome brought into Chrift in a way yet more declarative of his free grace; and this is, when he effectually calleth men at the hour of death. We find fomewhat recorded of this way in that pregnant ex

ample of the "thief on the crofs." Although this feems. not very pertinent for the purpofe in hand, yet we shall fpeak a little of it, that on the one hand men may be fparing to judge and pafs fentence upon either themfelves or others before the laft gafp; and we fhall fo circumftantiate it, that, on the other hand, none may dare to delay fo great a bufinefs to the laft hour of their life.

We find these things remarkable in that bufinefs between Chrift and the thief. 1. The man falleth at odds with his former companion. 2. He dareth not speak a wrong word of God, whofe hand is on him, but juftifi eth him in all that is befallen him. 3. He now feeth Jefus Chrift perfecuted by the world without a cause, and most injurioufly. 4. He discovereth Chrift to be a Lord and a King, whilft enemies feem to hold him in contempt. 5. He believeth a being of glory after death fo really, that he preferreth a portion of it to the present fafety of his bodily life, which he knew Chrift was able to grant to him at that time, and he might have chofen that with the other thief. 6. Although he was much abased in himself, and fo humbled, that he pleaded but that Chrift would remember him, yet he was nobly daring to throw himself upon the covenant, on life and death; and he had fo much faith of Chrift's all-fufficiency, that he judged a fimple remembrance from Chrift would fatisfyingly do his bufinefs. 7. He acquiefced fweetly in the word which Chrift fpake to him for the ground of his comfort. All which are very clear in the cafe of that poor dying man, and do prove a very real work of God upon his heart.

As this example may encourage fome to wait for good from God, who cannot as yet lay clear claim to any gracious work of his Spirit; fo we request all, as they love their fouls, not to delay their foul-business, hoping for fuch a caft of Chrift's hand in the end, as too many do; this being a rare miracle of mercy with the glory whereof Chrift did honourably triumph over the ignominy of his crofs; a parrallel of which we fhall hardly find in

all the Scripture befide. Yea, as there be but few at all faved, "Many be called, but few chofen;" and moft few faved this way; fo the Lord hath peremptorily threatened to laugh at the calamity, and not to hear the cry of fuch as mocked formerly at his reproof, and would not hear when he called to them; "because I have called, and ye refused, I have ftretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have fet at nought all my counfel, and would none of my reproof: I alfo will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh.” Which Scripturè, although it doth not fhut mercy's door upon any, who at the hour of death do fincerely judge themselves, and flee to Chrift, as this penitent thief did; yet it is certain, it implieth that very few, who accepteth not the offer until then, are honored with repentance as he was: and fo their cry, as not being fincere, and of the right stamp, fhall not be heard.

SECTION II.

The Work of the Law by which the Lord prepares his Way into Men's Souls; which is either more violent and fudden, or more calm and gradual.

THE Fourth and most ordinary way by which many are brought in to Chrift is by a clear and difcernable work of the law and humiliation; which we ordinarily call the fpirit of bondage, as was hinted before. We do not mean that every one whofe confcience is weakened with fin and fear of wrath doth really close with Chrift; the contrary doth appear in Cain, Saul, Judas, &c. But there is a conviction of fin, an awakening of confcience, and work of humiliation, which, as we shall circumftantiate it, doth rarely mifcarry or fail of a gracious iffue, but ordinarily doth refolve into the Spirit of adoption, and a gracious work of God's Spirit. And because the Lord dealeth with many finners this way, and we find that many are much puzzled about the giving judgment of this law-work, we fhall fpeak of it particularly.

This work is either more violent and fuddenly expedited, or it is more fober and fparing, protracted through a greater length of time, and fo as the fteps of it are very difcernable. It is more violent in fome, as in the Jailor Paul, and fome other converts in the book of the Acts of the Apostles, on whom Chrift did break in at an inftant, and fell on them as with fire and fword, and led them captive terribly. And because fome great legal fhakings are deceitful, and turn to nothing, if not worfe, we fhall point at fome things remarkable in these converts spoken of before, which did prove the work of the law on them to have had a gracious iffue and refult.— 1ft. Some word of truth or difpenfation putteth the perfon to a dreadful ftand, with a great ftir in the soul; "fome are pricked in heart," "fome fall on trembling,' and this is fuch a ftir, that the perfon is brought to his wit's end: "What wilt thou have me to do ?" faith Paul, "What must I do to be faved ?" faith the Jailor.adly. The perfon is content to have falvation and God's friendship on any terms, as the queftion does import, "What fhall I do ?" As if he had faid, What would I not do? What would I not forego? What would I not undergo? 3dly. The perfon accepteth the condition offered by Chrift and his fervants, as is clear in the fore cited Scriptures. 4thly. The perfon prefently becometh of one intereft with the faints, joining himself with that perfecuted fociety, putting refpect on those whom he had formerly perfecuted, joining and continuing with them in the profeffion of Chrift on all hazards. Those with whom the Lord hath fo dealt have much to fay for a gracious work of God's Spirit in them; and it is like, many of them can date their work from fuch a particular time and word, or difpenfation, and can give fome account of what paffed between God and them, and of a fenfible change following in them from that time forward; as Paul giveth a good account of the work and way of God with him afterwards.

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Again, the Lord fometimes carrieth on this work more calmly, foftly, and fparingly, protracting it fo, as