A call to the unconverted, to turn and live

The Bible, which was before to him but almost as a common book, is now as the law of God; as a letter written to him from heaven, and subscribed with the name of the Eternal Majesty, it is the rule of his thoughts, and words, and deeds; the commands are binding, the threats are dreadful, ⟨p. 27⟩and the promises of it speak life to his soul. The godly, that seemed to him but like other men, are now the excellentest and happiest on earth. And the wicked, that were his play-fellows, are now his grief; and he that could laugh at their sin, is readier now to weep for their sin and misery, Psal. xvi. 3. and xv. 4. Phil, iii. 18. In short, he hath a new end in his thoughts, and a new way in his endeavours, and, therefore, his heart and life is new. Before, his carnal self was his end; and his pleasure and worldly profits and credit were his way: And now God and everlasting glory is his end; and Christ and the spirit, and word, and ordinances. Holiness to God, and righteousness and mercy to men; these are his way. Before, self was the chiefest ruler, to which the matters of God and conscience must stoop and give place; and now God, in Christ, by the spirit, word and ministry, is the chief ruler, to whom both self, and all the matters of self, must give place. So that, this is not a change in one or two, or twenty points, but in the whole soul, and the very end and bent of the conversation. A man may step out of one path into another, and yet have his face the same way, and be still going towards the same place, but it is another matter to turn quite back again, and take his journey the clean contrary way, to a contrary place. So it is here, a man may turn from drunkenness to thriftiness, and forsake his good fellowship, and other gross disgraceful sins, and set upon some duties of religion, and yet be sti•• going to the same end as before, in tending his carnal self above all, and giving it still the government of his soul, but when he is converted, this self is denied, and taken down, and God is set up, and his face is turned the contrary way; and he that before was addicted to himself, and lived to himself, is now, by sanctification, devoted to God, and liveth unto God; before, he asketh himself, what he should do ⟨p. 28⟩with his time, his parts, and his estate, and for himself he used them; but now he as•eth God what he shall do with them, and useth them for him.