The sound believer, or, A treatise of evangelical conversion discovering the work of Christs…The sound beleever, or, A treatise of evangelicall conversion discovering the work of Christs…

So much conviction of sin as may bring in and work compunction for sin, so much sight of sin as may bring in sense of sin, so much is necessary and no more. Every one hath not the same measure of conviction, yet all the elect have & must have so much: for so much conviction is necessary as may attain the end of conviction. Now the finis proximus, or next end of conviction in the elect, is compunction, or sense of sin; for what good can it do unto them to see sin, and not to be affected with it? What greater mercy doth the Lord show to the elect herein, then unto the Devils and Reprobates, who stand convinced, and know they are wicked and condemned; but yet their hearts altogether unaffected with any true remorse for sin?¹ Mine eye, saith Jeremiah, affecteth my ⟨p. 33⟩heart. The Lord opens the ears of his to instruction,² that he might humble. Some think that there is no through conviction, without some affection. I dare not say so, nor will I now dispute whether there is not something in the nature and essence of that conviction the elect have different from that conviction in reprobates and devils; tis sufficient now; and that which reacheth the end of this question, to know what in assure of conviction is necessary, I conceive the clear discerning of it is by the immediate and sensible effect of it, viz. So much as affects the heart truly with sin.

So much conviction of sin as may bring in and work compunction for sinne, so much sight of sinne as may bring in sense of sinne, so much is necessary and no more. Every one hath not the same measure of conviction, yet all the elect have & must have so much: for so much conviction is necessary as may attaine the end of conviction. Now the finis proximus, or next end of conviction in the elect, is compunction, or sense of sinne; for what good can it doe unto them to see sin, and not to be affected with it? What greater mercy doth the Lord shew to the elect herein, then unto the Devils and Reprobates, who stand convinced, and know they are wicked and condemned; but yet their hearts altogether unaffected with any true remorse for sin?¹ Mine eye, saith Ieremy, affecteth my