of righteousness, than after having known it to turn from it. 2 Pet. ii. 21.

2. Remember whence you are fallen, repent, and do the first works; (Rev. ii. 5.) otherwise your case will be dreadful.

3. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways. Prov. xiv. 14.

4. Beware of backsliding for the future.

5. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord, and he will heal your backslidings. Hos. xiv. 2, and 4.

Your soul by this backsliding is brought into a miserable state; yet (blessed be God!) your case is not desperate. Let me beseech you immediately to return to God by deep humiliation before him for so aggravated an offence; by renewed regard to the divine mercy in Christ; by an open profession of repentance, where your sin has given public offence; by frequently reviewing this unhappy fall for future caution; and by guarding against every tendency to a deelension in religion.

Helps for conversation with one in his sickness who had disregarded religion, urging him to accept the terms of the Gospel, and assuring him of the forgiveness of his sins.

You have lived a worldly life, mindful only of earthly things, neglecting God and your salvation, and all the mercies offered you in the Gospel. Are you now unfeignedly grieved for this not only because it has brought you so near ruin, but also because it has displeased God, and deprived you of that holy and comfortable life, which you might all this while have lived, and endangered all your hope of heaven. Do you so far relent that your heart is actually changed, so much changed, that you had rather lead an holy life on earth, and in the sight

and enjoyment of God for ever, than to have all the pleasures and prosperity of this world? Do you hate your sins, loath yourself for them, and truly desire to be made holy? Are you firmly resolved that, if God should restore you to health, you will lead a new life; that you will forsake your worldly maxims, and all your wilful sins; and set yourself in good earnest to learn the will of God, to call upon him daily, and make it your chief care to please him, and to save your immortal soul?

Are you willing for these ends to give yourself up absolutely now to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, as your reconciled Father, your Saviour, and your Sanctifier, to be sanctified, justified, and saved from your sins, and from the wrath of God, and to live to God in love and holiness? And are you willing to bind yourself to this by entering into a covenant with God, renouncing the world, the flesh, and the devil?

Either your heart is willing and sincere in this resolution and covenant, or it is not there is no hope that your sins should be pardoned, and your soul be saved, on any other or easier terms. And though God is merciful, and Christ died for sinners, it was never his intention to save the impenitent and unsanctified. But, if your heart unfeignedly consent to this covenant, I have the authority of Christ himself to tell you, that God will be your reconciled God and Father, that Christ will be your Saviour, that the Holy Spirit will be your Sanctifier and Comforter, that your soul shall be saved, and that you shall dwell in heaven with God for ever. God consented before you consented. He shewed his consent in purchasing, making, and offering you this covenant. Shew your unfeigned consent now by accepting and by giving up your

self unreservedly to him, and you have Christ's blood, spirit, and sacrament to seal it to you. Sin and the world have deceived you, but trust in Christ on the terms of the Gospel covenant, and he will never deceive you.

And now, alas! what pity is it, that a soul, which is in a miserable state, and must be lost for ever, if it have not help, (and speedy help too,) should be deprived of all this grace and glory, and only for want of repenting and consenting! What pity is it, that a soul, which is ready to go into another world, where mercy shall never more be offered, should rather stupidly go on to a place of torment, than return to God and his mercy! Do but truly repent and agree to this covenant, and all the mercies of it are certainly yours; God will be your God; and Christ, and the Spirit, and pardon, and heaven, and all are yours. Oh that the Lord may open your heart, and persuade you not to be undone and lost for ever for want of accepting the mercy which is here offered you.

And now I know it would be comfortable to you, if you could be fully assured that you are forgiven, and shall be saved. In a matter of such unspeakable importance, how joyful would a well grounded certainty be to any man, who has the right use of his understanding? I am authorized therefore from the word of God to declare, that there is no cause of your doubting on his part, but only on your own. There is no doubt to be made whether God be merciful, nor whether Christ be a sufficient Saviour, and sacrifice for your sins, nor whether the covenant be sure, and promise of pardon and salvation to all truly penitent believers be strong and unalterable. All the doubt is whether your faith and repentance be sincere, or not. And as for that, I can tell you how you may know it, and 1 will

explain the truth to you, that I may neither deceive you, nor unnecessarily discourage you.

1. If this repentance and change, which you now profess, and this covenant, which you have now made with God, proceed only from a present fear, and not from a changed renewed heart: 2. and if your resolutions be such, as would not bind you to lead an holy life, should you recover, but would be ineffectual to answer any good purpose; then it would be only a forced hypocritical repentance, and would not save you, if you should die in that state.

1. But if your repentance and covenant proceed not only from present fear, but from a renewed heart, which now loves God, Christ, heaven, and holiness, and you would not relinquish the divine favor for all the riches and pleasures of the world: 2. and if this change of heart be such, as, should you recover, would excite and bind you to lead an holy life, and would not decline, or dwindle into an hypocritical formality, when the fright from sickness was over; then I can assure you from the word of God, that, if you die in such a state of repentance, you will certainly be saved.

Helps for a conversation (founded on suitable texts) with an awakened convinced sinner.

1. You should be thankful that there is room for hope. "Jesus Christ came into the world to "save the chief of sinners." (1 Tim. i. 15.)

2. You should meditate frequently on the promises made to repentance, confession, and humiliation. "Repent and be converted, that "your sins may be blotted out." (Acts iii. 19.)

3. You should endeavour to impress on your mind the instances of the acceptance and efficacy of repentance and humiliation; such as the conversion of the persecutor Paul; of the gaoler at

Philippi; and of the once profligate, but afterwards holy Corinthians. "Let the wicked for"sake his way, and the unrighteous man his "thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, "and he will have mercy upon him, and to our "God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isai. lv. 7.)

4. You should break off all your sins, and practise the duties you have neglected, especially prayer. "Cease to do evil: learn to do "well." (Isaiah i. 16, 17.)

5. But make no delay. "To-day, if you "will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." (Heb. iii. 7.)

Helps in general previous to a conversation with doubting, melancholy, and despairing

Christians.

In conversing with these, it should be well considered what is the true source and original of this melancholy gloom, unreasonable fear, and groundless despair. Whether it arises from bodily disorders; from worldly losses and afflictions; from some grievous sin committed; from an excessive apprehension and timidity of spirit. The person himself may perhaps impute it to none of these causes, but either to God's desertion, or the "buffettings of Satan." (2 Cor. xii. 7.) But all these causes must be carefully distinguished and explained, for they are frequently mistaken: and, after this has been done, the advice given to them, and conversation with them, cannot be here mentioned distinctly, but must be according to the true source of their spiritual trouble. Some helps however for a general conversation with them are here pointed

out.