Of the truth of the observations which I have here made, the conversation of persons in a state of conviction furnishes evidence but too decisive. A minister of the Gospel is by his office made a witness, to a great extent, of the secret feelings of the heart in persons thus situated. The very things, which have been here mentioned, I have myself heard in such conversation; and have seen the subsequent conduct. Without hesitation, therefore, I pronounce the observations to be true.

How important, then, is it, that every individual in such a state should be aware of his danger; watch incessantly against his enemies; and resist them without intermission. How indispensable is it, that he should pray always with all prayer for the grace of GOD, to save him from temptation, and rescue him from utter ruin. Let every such person, present, be awake, alive, and alarmed by a sense of his exposure, and tremble at the thought of being overcome by his destroyers.

5. The soul, from which convictions of sin have been finally banished, is more perfectly prepared to become the seat of absolute wickedness, than before these convictions began.

"And, when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished."

An empty house is vacant for the reception of a new inhabitant. A house, swept, is rendered clean, to make his residence agreeable. A house, garnished, is with pleasure prepared to welcome such an inhabitant; and designed to exhibit the respect with which the original tenant regards his new guest, and the open testimonies of honour which he is disposed to render to him. It will be remembered, that all this preparation is voluntary on the part of the owner; and is all designed for the convenience, and pleasure of the new occupant. It proves therefore, that such an occupant was expected, and intended to reside where all these preparations had been made.

Thus, after the conflict with sin, and the fears of danger, are over, the soul becomes quieted of all its former apprehensions, and inactive as to all future resistance. The work, though not done, is ended; and the struggles, though they have failed of

their purpose, are given over. The soul has ceased from its opposition; and, considering the effort as too laborious, and the self-denial as too great, relinquishes the conflict, with scarcely a hope of resuming it at any future period. Satisfied, that with ten thousand, it is unable to meet him, that cometh against it with twenty thousand, it languishes away its energy, and settles down into a state of hopeless torpidity. It began to build, but was not able to finish.

From this time it recedes visibly from the solemnity and concern, which it before manifested about its sins and its salvation; and becomes gradually hardened in iniquity, and alienated from GOD. Ordinarily, this progress is not without its interruptions; without checks of conscience; without restraints of the Spirit of Grace. With some irregularities it is, however, continual. It is too constant, too rapid, and too hopeless; and but too often does the man conclude to make no further efforts, and to bid adieu to every prospect of eternal life.

6. The soul, from which convictions are finally banished, becomes far more sinful, than before its convictions began. '

"Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

Seven is here but for an indefinite number; and may be considered as standiug for many. It was, also, regarded by the Jews as a perfect number; and may therefore denote, in the present case, the worst; or the number, the most fitted to complete the wickedness and ruin of the man. At the least, it denotes a greater number than one; and, in proportion, a greater series of temptations and dangers. These seven, are also, universally more wicked than the original tenant of this impure habitation; more absolutely possessed of the fiend-like character, than himself. From each his danger is of course greater: from all, how great, how dreadful! What a house has this become! With what inhabitants is it filled! To what purposes is it destined! In what uses is it employed! Such, however, is the real state of the man in question.

The soul, in this case, has overcome with many struggles, and against many motives, its strong sense of guilt, and its distressing apprehensions of danger. In this conflict the man has hardened his heart, and blinded his eyes. He has been exposed, perhaps, to the ridicule of his companions, to the deceitfulness of their sophistry, and to the baleful influence of their example. The calm, contemplative, safe, fireside he has left for the haunts of sense and sin; his sober, virtuous friends for the company of seducers; and the instructions of piety for the snares of pleasure. From the remonstrances of conscience he has retreated to the noise and gaiety of licentious sport; from the house of God to the theatre and the gaming table; and from the path of life to the broad and crooked road, which leads him to destruction. The fears and distresses, which a little while since compelled him to solemn thought, and temporary external reformation, he forces away by joining with others in their contempt and derision.

Of the praise, or approbation, of GoD he now becomes regardless; but of that of his companions in iniquity he is more and more ambitious. A little while since, their commendation would have awakened in his mind nothing but alarm. Now he dreads nothing so much as their censure. They are at once, his instructors, his rulers, and his example. Once he hoped, that he should resemble the Redeemer; have the same mind, which was in him, and walk as he walked. Now his sole wish is to be like them. Henceforth his progress is only downward! From the commission of one sin he is of course led to another; and from those, which are less, to those, which are greater. If life lasts, he becomes in the end a profligate here, and an heir of distinguished wretchedness beyond the grave. If he does not go to the most horrid and abandoned lengths; it is because God exercises more kindness to him, than he to himself.

Often a person of this description becomes ambitious to be, and to shew himself, the first in every proposal, device and career of sin; and in every band of sinners. In the indulgence of this spirit he usually makes it his prime business to appear as

an open opposer of religion, a despiser of good men, a reviler of the Scriptures, a contemner of the Sabbath, a ridiculer of the Sanctuary. Not unfrequently might he with justice be addressed, as Elymas, the sorcerer, was by St. Paul: " O full of all subtlety and all mischief; thou child of the devil; thou enemy of all righteousness! wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" His station he voluntarily takes in the front of the host; and ventures into the thickest of the battle. Too far, therefore, does he advance, to think of retreating. His pride, his self-consistency, make him regard this subject only with disdain; and push him on to every hostile effort against his Maker. After some time spent in this manner, he learns habitually to feel, as if embarked in a continual warfare, and as if always in arms. Thus, instead of being influenced, deceived, and controlled, by one fiend, he is spurred and goaded on by a band of fiends is kept always vigorously active in iniquity, violently at war with GOD, and in a steady direction of all his energy against truth and salvation.

Last, and most dreadful of all, as he has finally resisted with gross insult the most benevolent efforts of the Holy Spirit to win him from guilt, to restore him to holiness, and to entitle him to endless life; as he has crucified afresh the Son of GOD, accounted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and put him to open shame; as he has despised the riches of the goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering, of GOD, and after his hardness, and impenitent heart has treasured up wrath against the day of wrath; he is forsaken by that Spirit, to whom he has done this despite, forgotten by that Redeemer, whom he has thus requited, and given up by that Father of all mercies, against whom he has thus finally rebelled, to a reprobate mind. Henceforth he is only endured as a vessel of wrath, fitted for destruction. At first a partial, then an open Infidel, exiled from the Sanctuary, scorning the Scriptures, and making a mock of sin and holiness alike, it becomes impossible, that he should be renewed to repentance. No more sacrifice for sin remaineth for him; but a fearful looking for of judgment, VOL. II.

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and fiery indignation. Accordingly, GoD sends upon him strong delusion, that he should believe a lie, and be damned, because he believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. The Saviour only weeps over him, as over Jerusalem; crying with a tenderness inexpressible, "How often would I have gathered thee, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings; but thou wouldst not. Oh that thou hadst known, even thou, in this thy day, the things, which belong to thy peace! but now they are hidden from thine eyes." Woe unto thee, miserable apostate; it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for thee.

REMARKS.

From this passage of Scripture, thus explained, we learn, 1. The immeasurable importance of cherishing in the heart Convictions of sin.

The state of mind, denoted by this phraseology, is, I acknowledge, often wearisome and distressing. To have a realizing consciousness of our guilt; to have vivid apprehensions of the danger which it involves; to look back on a life spent only in rebellion against GOD, and forward, with a fearful expectation of suffering the effects of his anger against impenitence: is unquestionably terrifying to an awakened mind; and but for the aid given us by the tender mercy of our Creator, would easily overwhelm us with agony and despair. That we should earnestly wish for deliverance from such a condition is inwoven in our nature; and that we should feel desirous of a deliverance from it by almost any means, especially when labouring under peculiar anguish, and still more especially when that anguish has been long continued, may not unnaturally be expected from the frailty and feebleness of our character. Hence multitudes have in all ages of Christianity been found, who under the pressure of painful truths, and distressing apprehensions, have, like some of our Saviour's hearers, turned back, and refused any more to walk with Christ.