Now no Christian, who can be converted, is altogether forsaken of the Spirit of GOD once given to him. Though the Blessed Spirit may have been grieved, He is not entirely withdrawn ; but still continues to whisper good desires, to warn against sin, and to picture the beauty of holiness before the mind of GoD's redeemed child: yet, notwithstanding this, we know that numbers of Christians continue to choose the ways of sinful pleasure, and ungratefully waste their substance in riotous living: they are disobedient and rebellious children, and though beloved as children, they give no love in return. How then are they to be restored? how are they to begin to do better? Their heavenly Father is graciously waiting for their repentance, how shall they begin to repent? what is conversion? It is a change of PURPOSE, or a change of will. This is the beginning of their new life. From being unwilling to do what is right and holy, a man becomes willing, the grace of GOD preventing him from having no purpose of amendment, he makes a strong resolution, and steadfastly purposes to lead a new life. This is true conversion-a change of purpose, courageously made and firmly persisted in; to try sincerely, and endeavour heartily to do what is right and pleasing in GOD's sight; to say to oneself, "I will earnestly try to live a holy and religious life, and with God's grace I will succeed."

This is the one great change which is needed in wicked or worldly-minded men before they can be saved. They must turn to GOD, and submit themselves to His commandments. Other changes may and will take place in them at the same time -but this is the one great principle of conversion, on which the stability of other changes depends. Yet this change will, I say, be accompanied with

great and blessed changes of feeling. He who before was forgetful of GOD and careless about the day of judgment, will now learn to fear Him Who can destroy both body and soul in hell. He who was indifferent whether he pleased GOD or not, will now desire His favour before all other blessings. He who took delight in pleasures of the body and of the world, will now turn his thoughts towards heaven, and long to be made worthy of it. He who trusted in his own strength, will now learn to lean humbly upon the mercy and the grace of GOD, through CHRIST. He who before rejoiced in iniquity, will now be deeply grieved at the memory of his past sins, and make confession, and beg pardon, and humble himself before GOD and man. He who dared not look steadily forward to the end, will now cherish a firm yet humble hope of eternal happiness. Thus along with a sincere and earnest change of purpose, will come in repentance, and fear, and hope, and love, and faith, in place of hardheartedness, and carelessness, and worldly-mindedness, and selfish indulgence.

Let such

Now, perhaps, this little book may be read by one who is quite conscious that he has committed grievous sins, of which he has never heartily repented; or who knows that he is really living far more for this world than for heaven. a person be quite sure there is no hope of salvation for him without a great and entire change of the whole man. If your life is bad, your life must be changed if your heart is fixed on this world, your heart must be changed. If your leading purpose is to make your way in the world, your purpose must be changed. If you have no particular purpose at all, but pass through life as a matter of course, doing each day's work as it comes before you, and taking every comfort as it

:

offers itself, without thinking of the consequences, then you must take to yourself a purpose. You must be changed. You must put away sloth and indifference, and resolve bravely to press forward towards heaven, and make good your claim to the unfading crown.

Let no wicked man, let no worldly-hearted man fancy that the Church requires no great change to take place in him before he can be saved. The Church requires a far more thorough change than is required elsewhere. The Church requires a change, which shall begin with a hearty repentance, and firm resolution of amendment, and go on to a holy and religious life of continual improvement. The Church requires a change which cannot be completed in a moment, but only by the continued endeavours of a whole life. Upon a true repentance, and real change of purpose, she promises in her Master's Name forgiveness, and restoration to God's favour; but at the same time she requires a continued repentance and the fruits of a holy life. And be sure the holiness of life she requires is far more strict than is required elsewhere. At the time she says that the grace of God is almighty, and His grace He will never withhold from those who seek it with their whole heart, and try to live a godly life. She says, in the words of the prophet,

66

same

Turn thou to thy GOD: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy GOD continually." She says, "turn thou," because thou mayest turn if thou wilt; the grace of GoD fails thee not: if thou dost not turn it is thine own fault. She says, " turn thou to thy GOD," because He is waiting to receive thee. She says, "keep mercy and judgment," because if thou fallest back into the ways of sin, thy past conversion will avail

thee nothing. She adds, " and wait on thy God continually," because the great work of thy salvation can only be carried on by the assisting grace of GOD, for which thou must wait on Him day by day in prayer and meditation, and which thou must seek for with all diligence in the services of the Church, and above all in the Holy Communion.

Now here I have by no means said all that might be said upon the true meaning of conversion. Yet I have said enough to show that for a wicked man, or a careless and worldly-hearted man to turn to GOD, is the most complete change that can take place in a Christian who has sinned, and a change most absolutely necessary for those who would be saved. For our SAVIOUR says distinctly, "Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Without a true conversion, and entire change of heart, it was impossible for a heathen to enter into the kingdom of CHRIST. So also for those among Christians who are not like little children, not obedient, not trusting in GOD as their Father, not humble, not loving, not desirous of His love before all other treasures, for them it is impossible to enter into heaven, unless they are completely changed, and become as little children, beneath the guidance of the Church, their mother. Nay, a sinful or careless Christian has more need of a complete change than even a heathen; for his condition is more wretched and hopeless, and his sins are more grievous, and his punishment will be greater, unless he repent, because he sins against greater grace, and despises the love of a Father, as well as the commands of a Master. The ingratitude of a rebellious son is more hateful than the waywardness of a disobedient servant.

Yet so gracious is our Heavenly FATHER, and so abundant is His goodness through CHRIST, that He regards His repentant children with lovingkindness. Even whilst they are a great way off He sees them; He sees the first risings of returning love; He listens to the first sigh of bitter sorrow; He hears the first moanings of repentance; He favourably receives the first offered vow of renewed obedience. He goes to meet His returning child; He upholds him in the way of repentance; He leads him gently towards his forsaken home, and commends him to the love of his brethren, and even the blessed Angels in heaven rejoice that the child who had been lost is found.

Oh! happy they who thus return from their vain wanderings, and seek again for peace and rest in their Father's home. Oh! happy they who forsake the way of evil, turn to the LORD, and pray for the gift of renewed health and fuller life; who strive for holiness, and are clothed in the robe of righteousness. The Angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner that repenteth; so surely may we, not because they are really more blessed than those who never went astray; not because they become more holy, and have a higher reward. On the contrary, the most blessed, the best beloved, the happiest, the purest, the most like Angels, the gentlest and the wisest, the surest and most steadfast, are those who have never wandered, who have ever kept their Father's commandments, who have ever lived in the sunshine of His favour, and ever gazed upon His loving countenance. But over those who repent we rejoice with peculiar joy, because they are plucked as brands from the burning; because they have been snatched as it were from the very jaws of the pit of destruction into which they were