will attend the due Observation and Practice of this Duty, viz. A fincere Converfion to God, and a Reformation of Life and Manners. The Propofition, containing the Sense of the Words, is this, That ferious Thoughtfulness, and Confideration of our Ways, is the first neceffary Step to be taken in order to Converfion and Reformation. The Truth of this I fhall evince and demonstrate by the Reason of the Thing. 2. By the Word of God, and by various Examples.

1. Reason teaches this: For what is it that raises a Conviction of the Guilt of Sin in the Souls of any who have deviated from God's Ways, and violated his Laws and Precepts; what is it excites and awakens a Dread of Wrath, and Divine Vengeance, but such a serious Thoughtfulness as that before described? How is it poffible that a Sinner should have any deep or lafting Impreffion on his Mind of the evil Nature and Quality of his past Ways, if he will not allow himself any Time for Deliberation? Though God hath endowed Men with Capacities of making Reflection on their Conduct, and requires them to do fo, yet the Generality of Mankind are so eagerly bent on fenfual Pleasures, that they will not admit a ferious Thought of God and Eternity to abide in their Minds, but do what they can

to

to expell and banish it. If, by the hearing of the Word of God, or by any awful Difpenfation of Providence, the Paffion of Fear be moved, they presently contrive, by purfuing one Scene or other of Vanity, to free their Minds from this tormenting and uneafy Paffion, and will not give way to any fedate Confideration or calm Reflection; will not commune with their own Hearts, but endeavour to suppress their Fears, and the Convictions of Confcience, by immerfing themselves in a conftant Round & Circle of carnal infatuating Pleasures. Reason teaches, that such an affected Ignorance, and voluntary Stupidity, is the most effectual Bar to Saving Repentance and Reformation. FELIX was a remarkable Inftance of this. When PAUL reafoned before him of Righteousness, Temperance, and Judgment to come, FELIX trembled: The Judge trembled before the Prifoner. Had he attended to thofe Convictions of Conscience, arifing from a Reflection on his past unrighteous and unchaste Life and Actions, and his being accountable to God in the great Day of Judgment, such a proper Attention of his Mind to these great interefting Subjects might probably have been followed with a fincere Converfion to God, and a real Repentance & Reformation. But he was an Enemy to any serious Thouhtfulnefs; as usually all Sinners who are deter

mined and refolved to continue in their evil Ways, are; and therefore he difmiffes the Apoítle for the prefent, contenting himself with this trifling dilatory Excufe, When I have a convenient Seafon I will call for thee, Acts xxiv. 25. But we never read that he found fuch a convenient Seafon. This fhews how dangerous it is to flight and neglect the prefent Opportunity which offers for our Souls eternal Good and Welfare. Though the Arguments which are propofed in the Word of God are in themselves very weighty, yet they can have no Force on the Minds of Men, or Power to govern their Lives, if they are not maturely confidered, and laid to Heart. How can the Threatenings of future Miseries be influential, if there be fecret Unbelief, or no ferious Confideration? For Faith, unless it be animated and invigorated by Meditation, will have no good Effect on the Heart, or Life, as we fee by daily Experience. Many who profess this Faith, yet live as if they believed nothing of any future State of Recompence. Hence it is, that we see many who walk in those Ways of Vanity and Iniquity which the Word of God exprefly forbids and condemns, by denouncing Threatenings of inexpreffible Torments, who yet are secure, infenfible of any Danger, as if they were in as fafe Condition as could be defired. The Reason

Reason of this is, that fuch never allow themselves Time to think on their Ways; or, if they have a tranfient fuperficial Thought, they difmifs it, and will not admit it to abide fo long as to have any good Efficacy. Such are Enemies to Thoughtfulness and Reflection, because they know that their Actions will not bear any ftrict Scrutiny and Examination. They hate the Light, and will not come to it, left their Deeds fhould be reproved. Thus they fhun all proper Methods of Conviction and Reformation. Reafon teaches, that a Perfon must be firft convinced, and know that he is in a wrong Way, before he will alter his Method and Manner of Living. What room can there be for fuch a Consciousness, which is the Foundation of Repentance, before a Sinner comes to review his paft Ways and Actions? If a Man thinks, through Partiality and Selflove, that his Ways are right, how can it be expected he should reform? Incogitance and Thoughtlesness will make him fearless, and infenfible of Danger. What the Reason of the Thing teaches the Word of God abundantly confirms. I fhall therefore,

2. Prove, and demonftrate, by the Word of God, and various Examples therein recorded, That Confideration, and ferious Thinking on a Man's Ways and Actions, is the

first neceffary Step to be taken, in order to Converfion, and the beginning of a virtuous and religious Life. To confirm and establish the Truth of this, fee the 18th Chapter of EZEKIEL, 27th and 28th Verses, When the wicked Man turneth away from his Wickedness that he hath committed, and doth that which is lawful and right; becaufe be confidereth, and turneth away from all his Tranfgreffions, that be bath committed, he shall furely live, he shall not die. Verfes the 30th and 31ft, Therefore I will judge you, O Houfe of Ifrael, every one according to his Ways, faith the Lord God: Repent, and turn yourselves from all your Tranfgreffions, fo Iniquity fhall not be your Ruin. Caft away from you all your Tranfgreffions whereby ye have tranfgreffed, and make you a new Heart, and a new Spirit; for why will you die, O Houfe of Ifrael? For I have no Pleafure in the Death of him that dieth, faith the Lord God; wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. Here you fee the Foundation of a wicked Man's turning from his evil Ways is mentioned, He confidereth, and turneth away from bis Wickedness. When God calleth on Sinners to repent, and turn from their Tranfgreffions, and to make to themselves a new Heart, and a new Spirit, what can be the Meaning of this? It would be the highest Abfurdity to fuppofe this Language addreffed to fenfelefs Stocks, or Machines. "Tis

Language