338 7heCounterfeit efinherent Grace. SE Cr. V II. thePapifts fouly miftake , whomake regeneration to be nothing tut the aftna- ting and exciting of that[ inward principles by grace : As if a man Ihould blow up and inflame Come little (parks of fire covered under afhes : and by thismeans they make Nature coperate with Grace; this contradicts thole expreflions where God is Paid to make an heart of flefh, andwrite his Late in zu ; for by thefe Texts it is apparent , That God afu1th the fith powerinto us , and puts in a Di- vine flrength, and doth not excite , or ftir up our Natural Ilrength a So that be- fides this Natural writing , there mud be a Gracious writing , elle we certainly perifh. But yet theft natural principles ofreligion and honelly , are good foun- dations to work upon ; to preach to men andnot tobestia. I freak (faithPaul) towife men, I Cos, ro, ag. judge what I fay. Wepreach to men that fhonld have Reafon, and Natural Confcience working in them : Now if fo , How is it that thou art not converted ? That thou haftnot left thy fins ? Set upon a wayofarid Godlineffè? for let thy Natural( confciencework; give it leave to argue ; hear it fay what it can; Doth not thatdole with the holy Truths we preach to you? Your aff:éfions ( happily) do not your love and defiredo not , but your Natural condience, that is terrified ; that faith , this is religion , this is jolt ; therefore it mull be done : That faith, thyungodlineffe , thy lullsare fins, and therefore ro be avoided. Oh hear what that preacher in thy breaft preacheth to thee fome- times : And ( beloved ) this is the great advantage that the Minders of the Wordhave while they rebuke fin , exhort to Duties : Though we make men our enemies , yet their corfciences are otu,friends : While your corrupt affeftions make you rage and fret at what is good, yet your conlciences they freak for it, and approve it. That therefore the word of God might have a fubjeft to work upon, fomething to dote with there are there fiery (parks of light and Truth burning in mens breads : So that there is no man we preach unto, but ifhe would let his Natural Confcience be judge , and determine about his leaving fin , and doing good , the VerdiI would be on the Minders fide. Here is the controverfie , theword ofGod commandsthee to caílaway thofe fins thou lived in, it threatens thee with all the Curfes in the Law. Well, thy corrupt heart pleads tothe contrary , there lurk are fweet, are profitable, thou ate scruf'o- med to them ; and then thou hall many carnal prejudices ; To do fo, would be to live llridly, precifely,fingularly ; and what repute that path with the multi- tude,allknow : So that it is again(' their goodname and their credit, they con- ceive,to be fowary about fin; thus thy corrupt affedlions plead. Well then putthe itrue of this debate to theNatural' light of Confcience, hear what that will fay, and prefently that will conclude, That which is good and righteous , is to be pre- ferred before what is pleafant and profitable : That will fay, God is tobe obey- ed before man : if you will go on , and live thus , and do thus, I mutt do mydu- ty; I cannot but accule you , terrific you, arraign your Icannot but give you ma- ny (harp wounds : And howfoever youmay for a while through pleafure , and pride, and earthly affedliuns [lopmy cry, and aide my voice, yet one day I Mall roar fo in thyears, that for horreur thou wilt not be able to endure it. This is the very truth about every wicked man ; and thereforethink not to bear it out a- gain[' the word ; do not no about to flop the mouthof Natural confcience. Thou mayeth for a whiledrown the noife of it, and fludy diverfions; but Oh wo, and thoufand times a wo when it (hall tear and devour, and none be able to de- liver. 6. Than fo Sixthly , God bath imprintedthere principles is us Thatfa Men might Avant" men might a. incivil honefly, and Moralvirtues ; which although they arenot true grace, they bound in rival arebut copper, andnot gold , yet herebymen are Ieffe wicked , and fo God is not y and fo much difhonoured. Cami/lue is better then Verres r Fabricitu then Cana- virtue. line: Mns lives are not fomuch to the reproachof Gods name, and his exceed- ing great difhonour; for howfoever it be true , That there principles of Nature doe
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