48 "O2Pugn4itp oftte Chap. IV. Mans abfolute Difability to recover his Primitive State, LitIt-N. I will diflinFly confider it, with refpe& to the Image and Favour of God, upon which his Bleáfednefs de- pends. r. He cannot recover his Primitive Holinefs. This will appear by confidering, that whatfoever is corrup- ted in its noble parts, can never reftore it Pelf; the powerof an External Agent is requifite for the recove- ring of its Integrity. This is verified by innumerable inftances, in things Artificial and Natural. Ifa Clock be diforder'd by a fall, the Workman muff mend it, be- fore it can be ufeful. If Wine that is rich and gene- rous declines by the lofs of Spirits, it can never be re- vived without a new fupply. In the humane Body, where there is a more noble form, and more powerful to redrefs any evil that may happen to the parts, if a Gangrene feize on any Member, nothing can reuift its courfe but the application of outward means; it can- not be cured by the internal principles of its conftitu- tion. And proportionably in moral Agents, when the Faculties which are the principles of aelion are cor- rupteCI, it is impofíiible, without the virtue of a Di- vine caufe, they fhould ever be reftor'd to their origi- nal Reêtitude. As the Image of God was at firft im- printed of the Humane Nature by Creation, fo the Ephef. 4: 24. renewed Image is wrought in him by the famecreating Power. This will be moreevident by confidering that inward and deep depravation of the Underftanding and Will, the two Superiour Faculties which command the reft. z. The Vnderflanding hath loft the right apprehen- fion of things. As sin began in the darknefs of the Mind, fo one of its worft effeElr is, theencreafing that Darknefs whichcan only be difpell'd by a fupernatural Light. Nowwhat the Eye is to the Body, that is the Mind
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