II. Directions, proper for a half-awakened sinner,

desirous of being duly convinced of his corrupt and lost estate.—Beware of fools, that make a mock at sorrow for sin, and sin itself. Beware of those blind leaders of the blind, who having a form of godliness, deny the power thereof: instead of pointing thee to the throne of grace, and bidding thee to “ behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world,”
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they will only direct thee to the church-walls and communion-table ; and perhaps, if they see thee under dejection of spirit for thy sins, they will recommend the play-house, the card-table, or what they call “‘a cheerful glass.” From such turn away, or they will persuade thee that repentance is melancholy ; conviction of sin, despair; and the love of God, en- thusiasm, 2 Tim. iii. 5.
That they may not be able to laugh or frown thee
out of the way of salvation, dwell in thy thoughts on God's awful perfections. ‘‘ Justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne.” The unspotted re- splendent holiness beaming forth from him, as from an immensely glorious Sun of righteousness, will show thee thy sins, as innumerable as the flying motes dis- covered in a dusty room, where the natural sun can penetrate. ‘Consider, that they are committed by a worm of earth, against the Majesty of heaven, and they will all appear to thee infinitely great; especially if thou measurest them and thyself by the true rule, the oracles of God; casting away the three false
standards which self-deceivers measure themselves by,
namely, the good opinion of their worldly-minded neighbours, the defective examples of their fellow sinners, and the flattering suggestions of their own blind self-iove.
Follow the example of the noble Bereans: ‘* Search the scriptures daily, whether these things are so,” Acts xvii. 11. View, in that faithful mirror, the pic- ture both of the natural and of the regenerate man, and ask thy conscience which thou resemblest most. If, imitating the godly man described in the first Psalm, thou “ meditatest in the law of the Lord day and night;” the straitness of the heavenly rule will soon show thee how very far gone thy thoughts, words, actions, tempers, and nature are from original righteousness. 9
To this meditation, add a frequent survey of the follies of thy childhood, the vanity of thy youth, the worldly-mindedness of thy riper years, the capital trans-
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THE TRUE PENITENT. Ss QT
gressions which conscience accuses thee of, and the hardness of heart, and alienation from the life of God, that the scriptures charge thee with. Confess all to the Lord as thou art able, remembering that the wages of sin is death, who flies fast upon thee with the wings of time:—death, who often gives no warning, and ushers in judgment, with all the horrors of hell, or the joys of heaven. And pray that these awful realities may affect thee now, as they will in thy last moments. -
Frequently reflect, how total must be our loss of spiritual life, which cannot be repaired but by a resurrection, a new birth, or a new creation, Col. iui. 1. John iii 7. Gal. vi. 5. And how desperate the dis- ease of our fallen nature, which cannot be healed but with the blood of a divine Physician. Consider, attentively consider him, whose piercing look softened the obdurate heart of cursing Peter, whose amazing sufferings brought a hardened thief under the-deepest concern for his salvation, and whose dying groans rent the rocks, shook the earth, and opened the graves. The tender flower of evangelical sorrow grows best in the shade of his cross: a believing view of him, as
suffering for thee, will melt thee into penitential tears,
and seal upon thy relenting heart the gracious promise, *“« They shall look upon him whom they have pierced, and mourn.” Zech. xii. 10. + In the mean time, improve the daily opportunities, which thou hast of studying human corruption in the life and tempers of all around thee, but chiefly in thy own careless and deceitful heart: take notice of its pride and self-seeking, of its risings and secret work- ings especially when unexpected temptations trouble thy imaginary peace of mind: for, at such a time, thy corruption, like the sediment in the bottom of a vial that is shaken, will show its loathsomeness and strength. Converse frequently, if thou canst, with persons deeply convinced of sin. Attend a plain, heart- searching ministry, as often as possible; and when the sword of the Spirit the word of God, pierces
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thy soul, beware of fretful impatience. Instead of rising with indignation against the preacher, and saying, as proud Ahab did to the man of God, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? account him thy best friend that wounds thee deepest, provided he brings thee to Christ for a cure; and when the arrows of the word fly abroad, drop the shield of unbelief, make bare thy breast, welcome the blessed shaft, and remem- ber, that the only way of conquering sin, is to fall wounded and helpless at the Redeemer’s feet.
Nevertheless, the impressions of the word will soon wear off, if thou dost not importunately intreat the Searcher of hearts, to light the candle of his grace in thy soul, that thou mayest clearly see whether thy inward parts are holiness to the Lord, as thou fondly supposedst; or very wickedness, as the scripture tes- tifies. Itis only in God’s light that we can clearly dis- cover our blindness. :
This light, it is true, shineth in darkness; but fre- quently the darkness comprehendeth it not. That this be not thy dreadful case, do not grieve and quench the convincing Spirit, by persisting im the wilful omission of any duty, or deliberate commission of any sin: nothing darkens the mind, and hardens the heart more than this obstinate unbelief. Therefore instead of burying thy one talent with the slothful ser- vant, earnestly pray the Lord to make thee faithful to thy convictions, and to deepen them daily till they end in a sound conversion.
In order to this, do not slightly heal the wound in thy conscience: it is better to keep it open, than to skin it over by improper means: many, through a natural forwardness and impatience, have recourse to them: and ruin is the consequence of their mistake. ‘That thou mayest avoid it, serious Reader, I entreat thee to pay a due regard to the following—