changed again into the fame men, as fenfual and finful, as they were before.

Indeed, it fometimes happens, that those fouls, which were at first awakened by fuch a tranfient, temporary motive, go on to others afterwards, that are more fixt and lafting and then they are furnished with armour in all times, and have a motive that may bear them out when death is far off, as well as when it is near at hand; in time of health, as well as in time of ficknefs.

For they, who were at first affrighted into a change of mind and holy purposes, by the near approach of death and judgement, go on fometimes to confirm their refolutions upon more lasting principles. They think themselves into a deep fenfe of that baseness and ingratitude towards God, and our deareft Saviour, which is in fin, and of its mifchievoufnefs to their own felves; how it robs them of all that eternal good which their hearts defire, and brings them under all thofe infupportable and endless evils which they fear: All which it doth, for the purchase of fome light,

empty,

empty, and tranfient pleasures, which are vaftly below the joys of heaven; and for the avoidance of fome fhort pain and uneasiness, which are infinitely nothing in comparison of the pains of hell.

And these thoughts give them a firm and lafting conviction, of the utter neceffity of renouncing all evil courses, which are so destructive; and of leading a holy and obedient life, which are fo infinitely becoming them, and beneficial to them.

And this conviction now, can beget, and preferve a refolution, that is fufficient and effectual, victorious and prevailing. It will be a reason to them, to refolve and practise at all times, in sickness and in health; when they are not tempted, and alfo when they are. For heaven and the love of God, is always a neceffary end; and their obedience is always a neceffary means or inftrument. So that if men refolve upon a conviction of this neceffity, they refolve upon a reason that may well hold always. They will conftantly have the higheft reafon to be fo convinced; and ftill to repeat and fortify their refolution, upon fuch conviction;

and to act and practise that, which they have fo wifely refolved to practise. And when a fick man's change is built upon this ground, and proceeds upon this mo→ tive; it may be permanent and fixt, effectual and prevailing. As it is in all those, who are converted by fickness and afflictions, that great, and ufually laft means, which God makes use of for the reclaiming of finful men.

But generally, men's fick-bed purposes, go no further than the first ground. They always begin upon the fears of present death, and the near approach of judgement; and though fometimes they go higher ftill, yet ordinarily they reft there; fo that they have no change longer than their fickness lafts. And this repentance is certainly infufficient; this will can never be accepted for the deed; because if they were allowed to recover again, and to live on till an opportunity of doing came, the good will and purpose would be quite loft in the time of trial, and able to effect nothing.

VOL. IV.

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BUT

BUT although a death-bed change should proceed upon both thefe grounds, and the dying men should refolve to amend, both upon the fenfe of fudden death, which will maintain their refolution fo long as it is near, and alfo upon a conviction of the abfolute neceffity of heaven and a boly life, which may make them refolve ftill when the prefent danger is over; yet may their repentance, after all, be infufficient, and avail nothing for a death-bed repentance, when it doth proceed upon a genuine and lafting motive, is ftill oft-times ineffectual, for this further reafon; namely, because the change is in too weak, and incompetent a meafure and degree.

It is not every degree, even of true and undiffembled refolution, that will overcome a man's fins, and ftrengthen him to fuch a pitch, as to make him prevail over all temptations. A thousand good refolutions go to hell; becaufe although they are fincere and true, yet they are weak and ineffectual. For how many men are there, who refolve against their fins, who do not yet get quit of them? They purpose to leave them; but for all that, they ftill live

in them. Their mind and will is against them; but yet they continue to work and practise them. When once men have got violent affections, and vicious habits, and fin by a long ufe is become almost à second nature to them; it is not every measure, ho nor every moderate degree of refolution, that can mortify and overcome them. For a weak refolution is quickly overthrown: Men's fins are too hard for it, and quite overbear it. It may make fome refiftance, create fome trouble, and caufe fome delay; but that is all that it can do. It can' only contend and ftruggle, but it is not able to overcome.

Thus weak and unable, ineffective and idle, are many true and real refolutions. They have not ftrength enough to do their work: The oppofition is greater than they can fubdue; fo that they are able to make no alteration; but for all this change of mind, men will continue wicked and dif obedient in their practice still.

And of this fort generally, even when they proceed upon a genuine and lafting motive, are the penitential purposes of dying men. For, alas, when they have lived

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