We have succeeded, in most communities, in killing the _tap-root_ of the mystical tree of conversion--_i.e._, the tenet of total hereditary depravity, but the tree still stands erect, and men claim that a wonderful outpouring of the Spirit of God has, in many days and nights, resulted in 100 or 200 or 300 conversions. But what is conversion? It is lexically defined "_to turn upon, to turn towards_." In a moral sense, "_to turn upon or to, to convert unto, to convert from error, to turn to the service and worship of the true God_." "And all who dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him and _turned_ to the Lord." Acts ix, 35. The word _turned_, in the above text, is a translation of the Greek term that is nine times rendered _convert_ in its forms and thirty-eight times _turn_ in its forms. They, the people of Lydda and Saron, _turned, converted to the Lord_. Did they do it? Then they were active and not passive. It was an act of their own. "Repent and turn yourselves."--Eze. xviii, 30. Here the Lord commanded sinners to _convert themselves_. "Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed, and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" Eze. xviii, 31. "If the wicked will turn, convert, from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die." Eze. xviii, 31. Here we discover that the burden of conversion and the entire responsibility of an unconverted state is thrown upon the sinner. The Apostles taught men to convert themselves. See Acts xiv, 15. "We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you, that ye should turn, _convert_, from these vanities to the living God." Paul says, "He showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should turn, _convert_, to God, and do works meet for, worthy of, repentance." Acts xxvi, 20. Speaking of the unbelieving Jews he said, "But their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament, which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless, when it shall _turn_, _convert_, to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away." 2d Corinthians, iii, 14-16. Here we find that the heart must do its own _turning_, _converting_. _Poor Jews!_ Could they help themselves? Yes, it all depended upon their own actions. The INFINITE ONE did as much for them as for any others. They closed their eyes and stopped their ears, lest at _any time_ they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and be converted and healed. Why did the Master not say, "And I should _convert_ and heal them?" _Ans._ Conversion is a commandment of God, and sinners must obey it or perish.