The Sincere Convert

Secondly, no unregenerate man or §2woman ever came to be poor in spirit, and so to be carried out of all duties unto Christ: if it were possible for them to forsake and break loose for ever from all sin, yet here they stick as the Scribes and Pharisees, and so like zealous Paul before his conversion, they fasted, and prayed, and kept the Sabbath, but they rested in their legal righteousness, and in the performance of these and the like duties. Take the best Hypocrite that hath •he most strong persuasions of Gods love to him, and ask him, why he hopes to be saved. He will answer, I pray, read, hear, love good men, cry out of ⟨p. 142⟩the sins of the time. And tell him again, that an Hypocrite may climb these stairs, and go as far. He will reply, True indeed, but they do not what they do with a sound heart, but to be seen of men. Mark now, how these men feel a good heart in themselves, and in all things they do, and therefore feel not a want of all good, which is poverty of spirit, and therefore here they fall short, Isa. 66. 2. there were divers Hypocrites forward for the worship of God in the Temple, but God loathes these, because not poor in Spirit, to them only it is said, the Lord will look. I have seen many Professors very forward for all good duties, but as ignorant of Christ, when they are sifted, as blocks. And if a man (as few do) know not Christ, he must rest in his duties, because he knows not Christ, to whom he must go and be carried if ever he be saved. I have heard of a man that being condemned to dye, thought to be saved from the Gallows, and to save himself from hanging by a certain ⟨p. 143⟩gift he said he had of whistling; so men seek to save themselves by their gifts of knowledge, gifts of memory, gifts of prayer, and when they see they must dye for their sins, this is the ruin of many a soul, that though he forsake Egypt and his sins, and flesh-pots there, and will never be so as he hath been, yet he never cometh into Canaan, but loseth himself and his soul in a wilderness of many duties, and there perisheth.

Secondly, no unregenerate man or §2