The way of the Spirit in bringing souls to Christ set forth in X sermons on John 16:7, 8, 9, 10 and chap 7:37 / by Mr. Thomas Allen, late pastor of a church in ... Norwich.

Answer.

The Truth is, It is not possible to determine a par∣ticular degree of convincing of Sin for every particu∣lar person, and therefore I shall give you this as a Rule to know when your convincing of Sin is sufficient; namely, then convincing of sin is suffici∣ent when as a Soul is so convinced of sin, as that now it is wholly taken off from all hopes of being sa∣ved by any thing in its self, and it is made now to look towards Christ, and the Righteousness of Christ; though possibly in a weak manner, yet notwith∣standing, it is taken off from looking to any thing in it self, or hoping in any thing it self, to help for∣ward its own salvation: it is cut off from that by being convinced of Sin; now I cannot help my self, I cannot save my self, by all that ever I can do, What shall I do? as they in the Acts, Chap. 2. Sirs, What shall we do to be saved? They were at their wits end, they saw nothing that they could do, could save their Souls. And so the Jaylor, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? This now is the first thing, you see what we are to understand by this Conviction of sin. When he is come he shall convince the World of sin.

2. But to come to the second thing, namely, to shew you, That convincing of Sin, is a thing that is necessary in order to Conversion and Salvation. That it is necessary, doth plainly appear thus, namely, Why else is it made to be the work of the Spirit, if convincing of sin be not necessary, would the Spirit convince of sin? Can we think, or say, that the Spirit would work or do any thing that is not necessary.

Again, If so be that generally all that are con∣verted and saved, have found a work of convicti∣on upon their hearts, then certainly it is necessary in order to conversion and Salvation.

And again, (not to multiply things of this na∣ture) If this work of convincing of sin be not ne∣cessary, To what end else serves the Law? Saith the Apostle, Rom. 7.7. What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? God forbid: Nay, I had not known sin, but by the Law; I had not known Lust, except the Law had said, Thou shalt not covet. And at the 9^th Verse, I was alive without the Law once, but when the Commandment came, sin revived, and I died: Wherefore the Law is holy, and the Com∣mandment holy, just and good. The Law (saith he) is good, the Law is just and holy, it is not in vain; But, Wherefore serves the Law? It is to convince of sin: Then conviction of sin is necessary: and so the Apostle to the Galatians, Gal. 3.19. Where∣fore then serves the Law? There's the Question; It was added because of Transgressions, till the Seed should come. And then at the 24^th Verse, Where∣fore the Law was a School-master to bring us to Christ; to prepare us as it were to come to Christ. Now therefore, if the Law be necessary to discover sin,

then the discovery and convincing of sin is neces∣sary. But not to stand upon this.