Let us now make fome improvement, of what hath been faid upon this fubject, for your inftruction and direction.

1. I would improve what has been faid on this fubject, for discovering the danger of many among us, who have never yet been brought to a juft fense of their character and ftate. Even the general belief, that fuch often have in the fcriptures, may fhew them what they have to fear. I might no doubt first of all observe, how very guilty and miferable thofe are, who are most notorious for fins, of the groffeft and most fhameful kind. But my fubject leads me more directly to confider, who are in general, unrenewed, than to mark the feveral degrees of guilt in particular finners. From the text therefore, and the illuftration of it, I am authorized to declare to you, and I beseech you to hear it with application; that all fuch as were never brought to a real difcovery, and inward fenfe of their miferable condition by nature, are fill in a state of wrath, and firangers to the power of religion, whatever may be their profeffion, and whatever may be their prefent peace. Oh! how eafy is it, to lay afleep a natural confcience, and to keep a deceitful corrupt heart in a flate of eafe and fecurity? Some formality in outward duty, fome moderation in fin, fo to fpeak, the natural decay and weakness of human paflions, or youthful lusts, in a character formed by human prudence, and regulated by health, credit or gain, is often made to fupply the place of a heart renewed by the spirit and grace of God. But confider, I befeech you, that though fome may be ten-fold more the children of the devil than others, yet all by nature, are the fervants of fin; and "except a man "be born again, he cannot fee the kingdom of God.”It is not only fuch as are profane, or unclean; fuch as riot in brutish fenfuality; fuch as are the plagues of human fociety; who live in brawls and contention; but all, in whom an effential change has never been wrought, that are thus concluded under condemnation.

It is ufual for men to take encouragement, from feeing others worse than themfelves; and to confider all the threatenings in fcripture, as levelled against the chief and

capital offenders; but my text is chiefly directed to fuch as fay they are "rich, and increased with goods." Can you fay then, my brethren, that you have been brought under genuine convictions of fin? Have you been obliged to fall down proftrate before God, when fitting upon the throne of his holiness? Have you found the fentence of death in yourselves, and difcovered no remedy but in Chrift? If this has never been your cafe, you have reason to fear, that you are yet " in the gall of bitterness, and in "the bond of iniquity."

But I must tell you alfo, that this is matter of feeling more than of profeffion. It is not enough to fpeak honorably of Christ, or of his works. Many do fo, who never felt their neceflity, or seriously and in good earnest applied to him. It were a happy thing, if all among our hearers, who call for evangelical preaching, who quarrel with us when they think we do not preach the Saviour's crofs-the loft ftate of man, and the doctrine of free grace, were experimentally acquainted with thefe truths. Many fuch have only been accuftomed to hear the Redeemer spoken of with reverence. They may be able to imitate the language of fome of his fervants, though they know very little of that brokenness of spirit, which accompanies true repentance.

But left this should be in any measure mistaken, I must make these two obfervations-the first is, that a lively fense and deep conviction of fin, is, properly fpeaking, but a negative mark of true religion; giving us to know, that the unhumbled are yet impenitent. For it is certain, that many have been under very strong convictions, nay, have been driven to the very borders of defpair with terror, who yet never were effectually changed, but ftifled their convictions, and returned to their former fecurity of heart, and carelefsnefs of life.

Secondly, there may be fome on the other hand, who are truly born of God, in whom the terrors of conviction have not been very remarkable. This happens most frequently in the cafe of thofe, who are called in their infan. cy, or earlier years, and who have had the advantage of a careful, and pious education. It would be deftructive of

the comforts of God's children to lay down one method, in which he always proceeds. He is free and fovereign, in the manner of his dealing with finners; and foftens fome hearts by kindnefs, as well as others by correction. So that if the end be brought about, we need be lefs folicitous about the steps of his procedure. Yet I think humility of fpirit is infeparable from real religion; and if it be lefs vifible in the anguish of repentance, it will be ftill manifeft in the temper of the penitent.

II. Let me now, for the improvement of this fubject, lay down a few of the best and most folid evidences of ge, nuine conviction of fin. And,

1. It is a good fign that conviction is genuine, when there is a clear and deep apprehenfion of the evil of sin, as well as the danger of it. When the mind dwells not only on the atrocity of particular crimes, but on the ag gravation of all fin, as fuch: When the finner is truly offended with himself, for departing from his Maker's fervice; breaking his holy laws; forgetting or despising his innumerable mercies. There may be, and there is often an apprehenfion of fuffering when there is little fenfe of the evil of fin but the conviction is then genuine, when it makes the finner not only remember what he has done, but confess what be bas deserved.

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2. It is a good evidence, when the fenfe of the evil of fin abides and grows, even though the fear of wrath may in a great measure have abated.

It is obfervable, that conviction of fin ufually takes its rife from fome grofs or heinous acts, which firft alarm the confcience, and in fuch a fituation the attention of the penitent is fixed on nothing elfe but the enormities of his life. If this view continues, and produces its effects, he is foon brought to fee and confefs the inherent vanity of his heart; the worldlinefs of his affections; and the unprofitableness of his converfation. It is a very common thing for perfons who feem to have fome fenfe of the commiffion of crimes, to have little or no fenfe at all of the neglect of duty, and of living daily to themfelves. It was a heavy charge, however, brought by the prophet

against Belfhazzar: "And the God in whofe hand thy "breath is, and whose are all thy ways, haft thou not glo"rified." Wherever there is true repentance, though there may be the greatest peace of mind, there will be alfo a deep and growing fenfe of the evil of fin, and the obligation of being habitually devoted to God.

3. It is a good evidence, when there is a continued and growing efteem of the neceffity and value of the mediation of Christ. It was to fave finners that he came. A fenfe of fin is neceflary to our receiving him; and in proportion to its ftrength will certainly be our attachment to him. This indeed, is the great and vital principle of the fpiritual life-"I am crucified with Chrift, neverthe"lefs I live, yet not I, but Chrift liveth in me and the "life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of "the Son of God; who loved me, and gave himself to "die for me."

4. The beft and fureft mark of real conviction of fin, is, if it leaves you poffeffed of a deep hatred and abhorrence of it, and a daily folicitude to fly from it. Some may counterfeit a fenfe of the evil of fin to their own hearts; may have a real fear of its bitter confequences; and even a prefumptuous reliance on Chrift for pardon; and yet may, in fome inftances, adhere to the practice of it.

Floods of tears from fuch a perfon, avail nothing: but he hath certainly truly forrowed for fin, who in his practice forfakes it; that is to fay, he is not willingly fubject to any known fin-but fays with Elihu, "That which I fee not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will "do no more."

III. Let me befeech all ferious perfons, to improve this fubject for the trial of their state. Examine, by the prin ciples above laid down, the reality, and the progrefs of religion in your fouls. Have you a growing fenfe of the evil of fin, and of your own unworthinefs? This is at once an evidence, and a mean of growth in grace. He that thinks least of himself is highest in God's account; and the more a believer increases in holiness and real worth, the

more he increases in humility. As it is an evidence, it is also a mean, of further improvement; for he that hath the deepest sense of his unworthiness and weakness, will certainly live moft by faith on the merit and grace of his Redeemer.

Therefore, Chriftians, try yourselves by this important fign. Whether do you, by religious duties, 'build yourfelves up on felf-righteousness, or do you only learn by them, how far you fall fhort of what is incumbent on you ? What innumerable evils compafs you about? and therefore how much you have need of mercy instead of reward? Do you look upon the works of righteousness which you have done, as something, by which you merit at the hand of God; or do you look upon them, as the evidence of his own work in you, and for you, and give him the glory, to whom it is due ?

IV. I fhall now conclude the whole, with a few directions for producing and preferving this profitable sense and conviction of fin.

And,

1. Let me beg of every hearer, the ferious confideration of himself and his ways. Many have no sense of their finfulness, because they have no knowledge of themfelves at all; but go through the world in uninterrupted thoughtleffness and unconcern. Is there any thing of greater moment than the ftate of your minds, and your hope towards God? Inattention is perhaps a more univerfal cause of impiety, than high handed and obftinate profanity. Would you but seriously confider your ways, and lay to heart the things that belong to your peace, I would count it a hopeful circumftance; and expect, you would speedily fee your danger, and God in his mercy would lead you to the cure.

2. Give yourselves much to reading, and hearing the word of God, The entrance of his word giveth light.It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and correction : but it is particularly necessary for conviction; for by the law is the knowledge of fin. What wonder, if those who never open a bible, and feldom enter into the house of God, fhould be ignorant of their guilt and mifery? The