THE HEART UNDER CONVICTION.

JOHN xvi. 8-11.

WE were led by our last investigation of the heart of man to the affecting sight, of that debased condition to which the sinner is fallen as an apostate from God, and as exhibiting his wretched alienation in the midst of spiritual insensibility, darkness, and insincerity. We are engaged in an inquiry, however, which will conduct us into further discoveries of the corruption of man's heart. For, although our great object is to examine the methods by which Jehovah receives his creature to holy adherence to himself, we have much to interest us in the variety of expedients upon which the infatuated sinner enters, in order to evade the divine operation. And we have also to shew how far even they, who never experience the effectual call which decides their affections on the acceptance of the cross, may be influenced by certain accompaniments which belong to the mediatorial government that is at present dispensed to the world. On the present occasion we will consider the state of conviction.

By conviction we are to understand something much more comprehensive than what is generally intended by this term. Usually men adopt it in

religious subjects to express a sense of sin and personal demerit. But we shall perceive, upon reflection, that this is not sufficiently explicit ; neither sufficiently enlarged in its intentions, to answer the end of a suitable interpretation; since it is evident that there may be strong conviction in the mind of a sinner, without any attendant sense of individual ruin.

Conviction is frequently operative in the judg ment, when it passes no further, and never reaches the heart. It is, however, a necessary experience as put in opposition to that state of spiritual darkness which, as we have shewn, pervades, blinds, and prejudices lost apostate man: and thus far it is valuable.

It consists of such a measure of light in the understanding, as convinces the soul that whatever is revealed in the Scriptures is truth. The unillumined mind is infidel in this respect. It is usually entirely indifferent to the sacred Record, not receiving it with any interest, not attaching. any importance to its contents, not admitting it as a standard of judgment, as it is written of the sinner, "his ways are always grievous: thy judgments are far above out of his sight," Ps. x. If the divine testimony is brought near and proposed, it contradicts and blasphemes: it will not believe the report, despises it, and as is affirmed of sinners of old, speaks "evil of the right way," Is. liii. 1. Acts xix. 8, 9. Light poured in upon the judgment will remove this obstacle; and men

under this influence, listening to the revelation of God's law, are convinced of its excellency, and of its divine sanction; at the same time that they admit the propriety and equity of this rule of judgment. This was an effect of the gospel produced amongst the Ephesians through the preaching of Apollos, and of whom it is said, "he mightily convinced the Jews, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ," Acts xviii. 28. And for this effect the apostle shews that the labourer should be solicitous, "holding forth the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort, and to convince, the gainsayers," Titus i. 9. An advantage is hereby obtained for the further reception of truth, and proposal of the cross; and this is an advantage which frequently accompanies the dispensation of the gospel to a particular congregation and people favoured with the ministration of the pure word; they are satisfied that what their ministers propose to them is according to truth, and that they are urged upon points that must be considered important, as corresponding with a revelation which they no longer dispute or wholly disregard. This is conviction in the judgment.

A further degree of this operation is experienced when there is also an excitement in the conscience producing a conviction that scripture being truth, there awaits the creature in a future world certain results of his present course, which

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God will certainly accomplish. Persons of this description are persuaded that the denunciations of the Lord against transgressors are no unmeaning words, and that as God is true, so surely his enemies will perish. They know, as the scripture expresses it, that the judgment of God is against sinners, and that they which commit such things are worthy of death, Rom. i. 32. They anticipate the execution of the sentence, when they contemplate men in the high way of rebellion, and will frequently exclaim against their career, and talk of the overhanging vengeance which threatens the impenitent. They are equally persuaded that the divine promises shall be fulfilled, and that so far from the life of a saint being chargeable as they once thought with folly and wild enthusiasm, it is honourable, and shall be recompensed. They know that " God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him," Heb. xi. 6. and they frequently contemplate the course of the devoted with admiration; they understand somewhat of its high peculiarities, and will say, 'These are the happiest people!' They are also fully convinced there is not the enjoyment in the service of sin which they once madly hoped and expected: they have seen its issue in others, and that God's word is established in their example, "destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace they have not known," Rom. iii. 17. They look on the thousands who are ruined by crime in

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character, in body, and in soul: and not only do they contemplate these results in other seekers of forbidden joys, but their own experience has confirmed what they contemplate; they have found "vanity and vexation of spirit," internal misery, loss of peace, and perhaps of character: they have lived to reap the disgraceful consequences of sin, and are covered with a cloud. They are persuaded also, when comparing the present state of believers with that of the transgressor, that the saint possesses the real good; and the conscience is under the full power of conviction so far as this experience extends, according to the apostle's words, we trust also we are made manifest to your consciences,” 2 Cor. v. 11. A still further degree of this conviction passes through the sinner, when these influences are attended with certain excitements in the heart, and the judgment and conscience forcibly address the affections. This is the case when reflection awakens misgivings and heart-sickening fears; the sound of holy reasoning upon soberness, temperance, and judgment to come, creating alarms, and, causing the soul, Felix-like, to tremble. Acts xxiv. 25. This is frequently the case in all ages. Thus men, under the preaching of the word, will sometimes be pricked in their heart, that is, be convicted by strong emotions, which give witness to the force and truth of the condemning testimony. Acts ii. 37. Or, when they see the judgments of God abroad in the earth, or hear of the