1.  Good purposes and resolutions, with which many deceive themselves, supposing that to be all which is required:  And, alas! all their purposes are like to Ephraim’s goodness,—­like the early cloud and morning dew that soon evanisheth; their purposes are soon broken off, and soon disappointed, because made without counsel, Prov. xv. 22.  Many foolishly rest here, that they have a good mind to do better, and to amend their ways, and they purpose after such a time or such time, they shall begin a new manner of life; but their purposes never come to any effect, and so at length they and their purposes both perish.

2.  Some convictions and inward challenges.  The word now and then pierceth them so far, and sore and sharp dispensations from the Lord so far affect their heart, that they see it is not well with them; and they are made, with Saul, to cry out, “I have sinned,” 1 Sam. xv. 24, and they advance no further; those convictions either die out again, or work no further change:  And, poor souls, they think, because at such a sermon, or such a communion, they had some such convictions and sharp challenges, therefore they imagine all is well with them; when a Judas may have convictions, sharper than ever they had, and a Felix, Acts xxiv. 25.

3.  Convictions followed with some sort of amendment.  Some may dreadfully deceive themselves with this, and conclude that all is right with them, and that the way they are in is safe and sure; because they have had convictions, which have been so effectual as to cause them to amend many things, and become, as to many things, changed men and women, when, alas, their way is but a way of darkness still; it is not Christ; they have never come to him.  Herod hearing John Baptist, had his own convictions and amendments; for “he did many things,” Mark vi. 20.

4.  Many rest upon their outward civility and morality, or negative holiness.  They cannot be challenged for gross faults, and that is all the way they have to rest in:  Alas! could not a wicked Pharisee say as much as they, viz.  “That he was no extortioner, unjust person, or an adulterer, nor such as the publican was,” Luke xviii. 11.  How many heathens, as to this, shall outstrip such as profess themselves Christians? and yet they lived and died strangers to the right way to happiness.  See what that poor young man said, Luke xviii. 21.

5.  Some may win to more than civility, and attain unto a kind of outward holiness, and outward performance of the duties of religion, such as hearing, reading, prayer, communicating, and rest there, and yet perish:  For that is but their own way, it is not the right way.  Had not the foolish virgins lamps? and did they not wait with the rest, Matth. xxv.; and will not many say, in that day, “We have eaten and drunken in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets:”  to whom Christ shall answer, “I know not whence you are, depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity?” Luke xiii. 26, 27.  Were not the Jews much in duties and outward ordinances? and yet see how the Lord rejected them all, Isaiah i. 11-15, and lxvi. 3.