Book IV. W I C K E D M E N B L I N D. added unto m by the Grace of God, ditlin<'1 and feparate from the natural Faculties of the Soul, is upon the matter to renounce the whole Gofpel ; it is all one as to deny, that Adam was created in the Image of God, which he loft ; or that Sinners are fpiri– tuaiJy dead in Sins and Trefpaffes; .and that we are renewed into thelmag.e of God by Jefus Chrift. z. Whatfocver the Soul aCts in fpiritual Things by its Underftanding, Will, Af– fe<'1ions, &c. as deprived of, or not quickened by this Principle of (pirit.ual Life, it doth it naturally, not fpiritually, &c. D S P A R T Y. A Man naturally dead is altogether uncapable to make any Oppofition againft the fupernatnral Power of God, put forth in order tO quicken hun, or raife him to Life, he can no way, direCtly or indire<'lly oppofe it. But a Man who is dead, fpiri– tually dead in Sin, when God in a gracious Way comes to ufe Means to quicken him, or raife him tO a State o( Life, he makes OppoGtioo, nay, and doth greatly refifl and Jlrive againft the good Mor ions of the Spirit, and Workings of God, in order to his Vivification. So that the Power of God is more manifeflly !een in the quickening of one fpiritually dead, than in quickening one dead naturally. I N F E R E N C E ~ ·1. FROM hence we may _perceive the evil and deftruEtive Nature of Sin: It is fpiri– mally the Death and Ruin of doe Soul, and will, without the infinite Mercy of ·God, deflroy it for ever. ][. ' It D1ews alfo particularly, what the Nature of Adam's Sin was, and what it did .incur upon his Polterity, viz. not only natural Death, but ipirituaiDeath Iikewife. Ill. It fets forth the Riches of God's Grace in the fecond Adam, that quickening Spirit, in railing poor dead Souls to Life again. IV. Here is much Comfort for all fi ncere Chrilbans, who are raifed from Death to Life by Chrifr, in that there is fo great a Drlference between the Sra:e of Adam in ln– nocency, and our ftanding in Chrift, viz. the Principle of Life .in Adam was wholly .and entirely in himfdf. lt was the EffeCt of God's good Will and Power, it is true, but it wa. left to grow on no .other Root but what wa5 in Man himfdf; it was wholly implanted in his Nature, and therein did its Spring lie: But in the Life whereunto we are renewed by Chrift Jeius, the Fountain and Principle of it is not in our!tclves, but .in him, as a common R oot or Head: He is our Life. Becnufe I live, yefha/llive alfo• .He is the Spring and .Fountain of it. He by Covenant alfo bath undertook to main– tain Life in us ; he doth renew and encreafc this Life in us, fo that it is impolJible that we fhould fpiriwally die fo.r ever. V. AMan alfo from hence may eafily perceive, whether he be made alive, or quick– ·ened by the Spirit, or no. ( 1.) A Man that hath Life in him, breaths: So he thar is fpiritually .ali.ve, breaths .forth his Soul in fervem Dclires to God; Prayer, as fame .have obierved, being the Breath of the new Creawre. Hence God, when he would convince Ananias that Saul was regenerated, faid, Behold, he prayetb. (2.) There is ·in him Heat, fpiritual Heat and Zeal God-ward. (3.) He bath his fpiritual Senfcs, he can fee, feel, hear, &c. (4.) It is a full Evidence a Man is alive, when he rifes up, and walks : So a fpiritual Man rifes up, and walks in newnefs of Life. (5.) A Man quickened hath his Beauty reflored again: So a Man fpiritually quickened, bath the Jmage of God .reflored; he is holy, heavenly., &,. WICKED MEN Call the Blind lead the Bli11d? &c. Luke vi. 39· 'J'hou blind Pharifee, &c. Matt. xxiii. 26. Miferable, poor, and blind, &c. Rev. iii. 17. B L I N D. An unconverted Man, or .Man· in his natural State, Is blind. P A R A L L E L ~ I. SOME Men are born blind. All Mankind fpiritually may be faid to be bom blind; for as they are under a Privation of Lift, it follows they are blind, that is, their Underftanding is darkened. II. Some
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