. - . Us x 'I. For injormatkJn, Is man's nature wh.olly cor- · zu'pted ! Then, . , I· No wonder the--·grave Qpen its ·devouring :inciuth for · us, as foon as the wpmb hath cafi us·forth ; and' diat the·.: cr.adle be turned into a coffin, to receive the corrupt l~mp: for we are all in a f~ritual fenfe., dead-born ; yea, and .. filthy, ( PfaL xiv., 3·) noifome, ran'k'; and fli~king as a eo~ ... ru pt thing, as ·the word imports~ Let us1not co'mplain of> the miferies we are e:ip9fed to, at our-entrance-, nor of the . continuaiTCe 'Ofthem; while·we are in the world. Here is' the v·eoom that h:::.s•yoifoned.·all the.fpricgs of ~arthly en– jqyments we have to drink ·t>f.~ It is the corruption 9f man 's nature; that brings forth a,l} ;r)e mi.feries of human life in churches, frates.; f;imilies ; in mens. fouls ,and bodiest 2. Behold here, as-in a glaJs, the fpring of all thewick– ednefs, prof.ani.ty, and formality in·t-he ·v.iorld;. the fource of all the diforders-in tl_ly own heart and life. Ev~ry thing a~s like itfelf, agreeable to its own nature; and fo co·rru~"' m~n aCts corruptly•. You need not wonder at the finfulnefs • of: your OWD' heart and life; nor ·at the firtfulnefs •and per • 'ferfenefs of.others.: if a man be crooked, he cannot but halt; and if the clock be·Je-t wtong·, hoW' can it point the !lo·ur right. · 3· See here, · why fin is fo ·;p·leafant, aod religion fuch a &ctrden · to' carnal. fpirits: .fin· is natural, holinefs not fo. Oxen cannot feed in the fea, nor fifhes iri the fruitful fields. A fwine brought into a palace, would .get awiy again, t() · wallow in the mire.-· And conupt 1 nature tends ever Lo im.. p\lrity• , ' 4· Learn from this the:nature and neceffify of regenera.. . tien . Firfi, This difcovers the natu:re of regeneration in thefe ~two things, (1.) It is not a partial, but. a total change, tho' imperfecr in this· life. , Thy whole namre is corrupt~d,_ ~nd therefore the cure mufl·go thro' every p:nt. Regenera– tion ma·kes not only a new head f'Or knowledge, but a new ·· heart, and new affeClioos for hoHriefs; - All thing! become n~w,_ 2 Cor. v. 17. If one having received many wounds ; fno.uld be ,cured ofthem a.ll, fave·Qne onr):,, he might bleed- -', · to-..>
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