V EL19. Ephe/ians,Chàp.i. 173 See forthe ft- niihing ofthis Doehine, that i;cmfrer11ar s the Mar hi Vr 1. ,Gódseffétuall working,and,z Cor.4. 6. God who brought light out of darkneffe, is faid to have [hived into our hearts,and to have enlightned us with the knowledge of Gods glory, in the face ofChrift : For the creatingofus anew in Chrift; is a greater worke, then givingus our na. turall being in t4dam, and ergo, may not be afcribed to any poser which is not almighty: Which will yet bee more apparent, if we con- fider what ftatewe are in ofour felves , when hee bringeth us to be- leeve ; We are dead, Ephefians z. Now to raffle from naturali death, is aneffect proper to that power almighty. Secondly, if wee confider what powersdoe hold us captive, even thofe ftrong ones, whom none but the ftrongeft can over-mailer . Thirdly, if,wee confider to what efface God doth lift us up by beleeving, even to fuch an eftate, as is without comparifon, more excellentthen that we received : Now to bring us from death, under which fo mighty ones hold us captive, to filch a life founutterably glorious, mutt needes be the working ofa power almighty. But here three things are for further underftandingof this point, to be confidered. Fir(t, in what ftandeth that effeétuall helpe, by which we come unto God. Secondly, inwhat order it doth makeus come to God, whether immediately, or by fome preparation going i before. e Thirdly, whether it leave the will at liberty, actually to To the firft, it is plaine, that the effèctuall helpe which makethus come to God bybeleefe, is the efficacie of Gods almighty power, put forth to fuch purpofe : For fo farreas God doth intend to worke, fo farre he putteth forth his omnipotent power to accomplifh ; But God doth intend to make fome before otherfome come unto him, and, ergo, hee doth ftretch our the armeof his power, to effe l this in them. Nevertheleffe, to fpeake more fully; though this be the principali, it is not the foie calife in converfion : Weemay then con- fider threecaufes. Firft, the principali,vii. this power. Secondly, the inftrumenrall, both of the word founding in our cares, and the inward illumination and infpiration wrought withinus, by which as an inter- nail word, God fpeaketh in the minde. Thirdly, a formali caufe, a free gracious difpofition or habit offaith, by which the will is inclined agreeably to the difpofitionof it, to come unto God : fo that the more full anfwer to this queftion, viz. what is all that effe6tuall helpe whereby I come to God, is this : It is a mixt thing ftanding partly of that almighty power ofhis, put forth for mygood, partlyofthat word outward and inward, by and with which his power is put forth ; partly in that fpiritoffaith, and fupernaturall life, which his almighty power through his word bringeth forth in my foule. What was that helpe whereby Chrift made Lazarus able tocome to him, outofthe grave ofnaturali death e The principal was Chrifts power almighty ; the inftrumenrall his voyce; the former caufe immediately helping to, it, or working it, was thefpirit ofnaturali life, which the power of Chrift by his word, reftored to this dead corps, which now was fallen. And thus you have the effeetuall helpeor grace, by which wee, 3 come
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