Paul prepared the Gentiles, when he was fent to " open their eyes, and to turn them from "darknefs to light, and from the power of Satan "unto God:" and it was a very different vifion to which he was obedient, when he repelled the charge of infanity by speaking forth the words of truth and fobernefs; and forced from the royal Jew that memorable and difinterested confeffion, "Almoft thou perfuadeft me to be a "Chriftian."

Now unto God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoft, three perfons in the unity of one Godhead, be all honour and glory for ever, Amen.

! Acts xxvi. 18.

DISCOURSE VII.

MATT. Xviii. 2, 3.

And Jefus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

And faid, Verily, I fay unto you, Except ye be con

verted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

ALL the difpenfations of Providence are tempered by an harmonious principle; and in the moral, as well as in the natural, world, every effect has an evident relation to its cause. In operations, whether intellectual or material, it is irrational to expect fimilar refults in cafes, between which an important difference prevails, as to the powers of the agent, the difpofition of the patient, and the numerous contingent circumftances, by which they are refpectively modified.

Eye-witneffes of the life, miracles, and refurrection of Chrift; capable from their per fonal obfervation of demonftrating the fulfil

ment of ancient prophecies; armed themfelves alfo with miraculous, power, and endued by the Holy Ghoft with the faculty of speaking the language of every nation under heaven; the Apostles preached the doctrines of Chriftianity to men, whofe fenfes bore teftimony to the fupernatural endowments of the preachers: and thus, in the demonftration of the Spirit and of power," they converted multitudes to a steadfast belief in Chrift, and to consequent holiness of living. But therefore to fuppofe that the eloquence of a mere human preacher, affifted only by the ordinary vifita trons of divine grace, is to be followed by the immediate converfion of multitudes of finners, to whom the truths of the Gospel have been long familiar, to uniform habits of Chriftian purity, were as grofs an abfurdity as to fups pofe, that a peafant could verify the boaft of Archimedes, and move the earth; or that an aftronomer could realize the fiction of romance, and divert the fun from his orbit.

The doctrine of converfion, as it is delivered by fome of our modern fectaries, is fo much at variance with the more fober, more rational, and (I truft) more 'evangelical doctrine of the national clergy; and it is fo vehemently enforced as abfolutely neceflary to falvation, and the preaching of it is reprefented as fo in difpenfable a criterion of the preaching of the

Gofpel*, that it of course claims a place in the prefent inquiry; and it is fo closely connected, and by fome persons so thoroughly identified with regeneration, which was examined in my laft difcourfe, that it naturally prefents itself for the fubject of our present reflections.

Converfion, according to our notions, may not improperly be faid to consist of a rational conviction of fin, and fenfe of its wretchedness and danger; of a fincere penitence and forrow of heart, at having incurred the displeasure of a holy God; of steadfast purposes of amendment with the bleffing of the divine grace; of a regular and diligent employment of all the appointed means of grace; and of a real change of heart and life, of affections and conduct, and a refolute perfeverance in well-doing.

The triumph of fuch converfion as this is not attended by alternations of extreme joy and despondency; of the most ecftatic rapture, and the most gloomy defpair; fometimes by heavenly exultation, and fometimes by the agonies of hell. It has little of what is brilliant and dazzling to decorate; little of what is magnificent and impofing to dignify and exalt it. It cannot be defcribed as intended by the Lord to fet the world in a flame: the

* See Whitefield's Eighteen Sermons, p. 180, Whitefield's Works, vol. i. p. 200,

minifter, who is God's inftrument to effect it, cannot be pompously represented to be carried as on eagle's wings; or be elevated into a comparifon with Jofhua, going from city to city, and fubduing the devoted nations: its direction cannot be faid to be marked out by a fign from heaven, as the cloud employed by Providence to conduct the people of Ifrael on their march through the wilderness its progrefs cannot be described to be terrible as an army with banners: its effects cannot be extolled into a rivalry with the fuccefs of the victorious and imperial Conftantine. But if its operations are flow, they are certain; if its effects are milder, they are more fecure, if its conquefts are less extensive, and it draws a lefs numerous crowd of fuppliants at its chariotwheels, it exerts a more permanent dominion over thofe, whom it has fubdued. Unambitious of earthly diftinction, and contented with doing good, its throne is the humble and contrite fpirit, and its fceptre is righteoufnefs and peace.

But I am anticipating remarks, which might appear more pertinent after the comparifon, which I propose to inftitute in the prefent

• Whitefield's Works, vol. i. p. 367.

Ibid. vol. i. p. 370, 407, 451, 477.
Ibid. vol. i. p. 398.

Welley's Farther Appeal, p. 92.