Use 3. It presseth us not to slight, nor yet to rest in these convic- tions, and in this temporary faith.
1. Do not slight your convictions and remorses of conscience. Though all convinced men are not converted, yet there are none con- verted but they are first convinced. A temporary faith, taken up upon common inducements, makes way for a saving faith ; as the priming of a post makes it receptive of better colours. Whereas, on the other side, slighted convictions, though yon smother them now, will be felt another day ; it is but a wound skinned over, and slightly healed, that festers into a dangerous sore. Twenty years were past,
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and there was no remembrance of Joseph ; but when his brethren were in distress, conscience wrought : Gen. xlii. 21 , ' And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear him ; therefore is this distress come upon us ; ' they were convinced of some wrong done to him. Convictions are forgotten, smothered, neglected ; conscience speaketh no more, but it writeth when it doth not speak ; and when the mists of the soul are a little cleared and scattered, all is legible ; that which they thought was for- gotten Cometh to light, and those old convictions break out with violence, to our horror and trouble ; therefore slight them not.
2. Do not rest in these convictions. Thus it may be with repro- bates ; they may be convinced of the best way, almost persuaded, but not altogether. The young man was not far from the kingdom of heaven ; he was near, but never entered. Some civil men are upon the borders of grace. Do not rest in this estate.
How shall I know I am only convinced, and not converted to God ? A7hs. Thus: —
1. If sin be discovered, but not mortified ; if there be no endeavour to get it removed. As a March sun raiseth aguish vapours, but cannot scatter them, as when the sun gets up into its height, so con- viction discovers sin, but doth not help us to mortify it : Eom. vii. 9, ' For I was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.'
2. When we have wishes, but no practice, slight and cold desires. Oh ! when shall this sensual heart be made heavenly ! this worldly heart put into a better frame ! But no serious looking after it, nor waiting upon God, that we may obtain those things we desire. Balaam had his wishes and good moods : Num. xxiii. 10, ' Oh, that I might die the death of the righteous ! and that my latter end may be like his ! ' Vellent sed nolunt ; they would and they would not — empty velleities. They would fain have grace, but they will not be at the cost of continual attending upon God till he work it in their hearts. And they are ineffectual glances ; wishing without working obtains nothing. These are like early blossoms in the spring, that put forth lustily, but are soon nipped, and never come to fruit.
3. Negatives without positives. Men do not hate Christ, nor the people of God ; but do they love them ? 1 Cor. xvi. 22, ' If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ,' &c. It is not enough not to hate Christ, but are your hearts carried towards him ? So many do not oppose the ministry of the gospel. Ay ! but they neglect the message of the gospel, they content themselves with a few flying thoughts about Christ, heaven, and the blessed things that are to come, like the glance of the sunbeam upon a wave : Heb. ii. 3, ' How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation ?' It is not said. If we contemn, resist, undermine it. No ; they are not of that rank, but they are of a more plausible rank and sort of people ; they would countenance the pro- fession of godliness, but neglect the duties of it. There are two sorts of men — some are well-willers to good things, some open malicious persecutors. In some, natural hatred is more allayed, though all hate it, but there is a despite in neglect ; as the neglect of things worthy
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and great argue a scorn and contempt, as well as the malicious refusal. To be neutral and cold, indifferent to God and sin, is to be an enemy.
4. There is an inward approbation many times, without an outward profession, or without such a constitution of soul as to choose these things for our portion. Alas ! many that are convinced approve things that are excellent : Kom. ii. 18, ' Thou knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law ; ' Acts v. 13, ' And of the rest durst no man join himself to them ; but the people magnified them.' An honourable esteem they had, but they could not endure the severity of discipline, as being afraid because of the case of Ananias, who paid so dearly for a little dissembling. So many are not far from the kingdom of Grod ; they approve things that are good, but they have no mind to take hazard and lot with Christ.