Answ. Tho' we may not convince them, yet we may lay convincing Arguments before them, that some time or other an awakened Conscience may take notice of, and urge upon them, especially when they are not under any present urgent temptation to unbelief; a Man may be convinced of a Sin before the temptation, and yet cast off all his Convictions under a Temptation, because Conscience is more disposed to judge impartially of the matter, when 'tis not biassed by any present Temptation to the contrary, as Hazael, What is thy Servant a Dog, that he should do this great thing? 2 King. 8.13. Do you count me such a Villain, such a Wretch! and yet in an hour of temptation he acted over all that wickedness. Tho men may throw off all, and turn away from the light of their own Consciences; yet 'tis good to furnish Conscience with Arguments before-hand, that may be produced in a fit season; if not to the conviction, yet to the silencing of those who talked so fast before against all they were charged with; tho you cannot convince a Man of this or that sin that you know he is guilty of, yet 'tis good to charge him home, and to lay convincing Arguments before him, that may be of great use when Conscience is at leisure to consider them, as it may be, and will be when the temptation is ended. And let me add this, I do conceive it possible even by reason to convince a Man of his unbelief, tho not of the sin of unbelief; that is a further work, a special work of the Spirit. But you may by reason convince a Man of unbelief; whether he do well or ill in not believing, that's another case; but that so it is, that he does not believe such convincing evidences of this may be laid before him, that he cannot but own himself to be an Unbeliever. I don't speak now of negative Infidelity among Pagans, who never heard of the light ⟨p. 229⟩of the Gospel, this needs no proof; Heathens do own their infidelity, they openly profess it: but I speak of positive wilful unbelief, in those who live under Gospel light, and under an outward profession of Faith too, yet really do not believe; they say they have Faith, but have it not: How to find out such Men, and to convince them of their unbelief; How to dig up this Fox that is so deeply earthed under a specious profession of Faith; This requires some skill, we shall find it difficult work, yet I conceive it may be done;
Answ. Tho' we may not convince them, yet we may lay convincing Arguments before them, that some time or other an awakened Conscience may take notice of, and urge upon them, especially when they are not under any present urgent temptation to unbelief; a Man may be convinced of a Sin before the temptation, and yet cast off all his Convictions under a Temptation, because Conscience is more dispos'd to judge impartially of the matter, when 'tis not byassed by any present Temptation to the contrary, as Hazael, What is thy Servant a Dog, that he should do this great thing? 2 King. 8.13. Do you count me such a Villain, such a Wretch! and yet in an hour of temptation he acted over all that wickedness. Tho men may throw off all, and turn away from the light of their own Consciences; yet 'tis good to furnish Conscience with Arguments before-hand, that may be produced in a fit season; if not to the conviction, yet to the silencing of those who talked so fast before against all they were charged with; tho you cannot convince a Man of this or that sin that you know he is guilty of, yet 'tis good to charge him home, and to lay convincing Arguments before him, that may be of great use when Conscience is at leisure to consider them, as it may be, and will be when the temptation is ended. And let me add this, I do conceive it possible even by reason to convince a Man of his unbelief, tho not of the sin of unbelief; that is a further work, a special work of the Spirit. But you may by reason convince a Man of unbelief; whether he do well or ill in not believing, that's another case; but that so it is, that he does not believe such convincing evidences of this may be laid before him, that he cannot but own himself to be an Unbeliever. I don't speak now of negative Infidelity among Pagans, who never heard of the light ⟨p. 229⟩of the Gospel, this needs no proof; Heathens do own their infidelity, they openly profess it: but I speak of positive wilful unbelief, in those who live under Gospel light, and under an outward profession of Faith too, yet really do not believe; they say they have Faith, but have it not: How to find out such Men, and to convince them of their unbelief; How to dig up this Fox that is so deeply earthed under a specious profession of Faith; This requires some skill, we shall find it difficult work, yet I conceive it may be done;
