184 WORK OP THE HOLY SPIRIT spiritual gifts.. One sort of gift it is, when put forth and exercised in one way, or one kind of duty, and another as in another, and where it is improved into gifts, which principally it is by exercise, there it wonderfully affects the mind, and raiseth its apprehensions in and of spirit- ual things. Now, concerning this degree of illumina- tion. I say, (1.) That it is not regeneration, nor doth it consist therein, nor doth necessarily or infallibly en- sue upon it. A third degree is required thereunto, which we shall afterwards explain. Many therefore may be thus enlightened, and yet never be converted. (2.) That, in order of nature, it is previous unto a full -and real conversion to God, and is materially prepara- tory and diapositive thereunto. For saving grace enters into the soul by light. As it is therefore a gift of God, so it is the duty of all men, to labour after a participa- tion of it, however by many it be abused. Sect. 8.Secondly; Conviction of sin is another ef- fect of the preaching of the word, antecedaneous unto real conversion to God. This, in general the apostle describes, 1 Cor. xiv. 24, 25, ee If ye prophecy, and ee bne cometh in who believeth not, he is convinced of es all; and thus are the secrets of his heart made mani- ee fest, and so falling down on his face, he will worship ee God." And sundry things are included herein, or do accompany it: as (1.) A disquieting sense of the guilt of sin, with respect unto the law of God, with his threatenings and future judgments. Things that before were slighted, and made a mock of, do now be- come the soul's burden and constant disquietment. Fools make a mock of sin; they traverse their ways, and snuff up the wind like the wild ass; but, in their month, when conviction bath burdened them, you may find them. And hereby are the minds of men various- ly affected with * fears and anguish, in various degrees, according as impressions are made upon them by the word. And these degrees are not prescribed as neces- sary duties unto persons under their conversions, but only described as they usually fall out to the relief and direction of such as are concerned in them. As a man goeth to give directions unto another, how to guide his Heu miserumnimisque miserum quem torquet Conscientiasue, quam fugere non potest; ni i m quels expertes Damratio sua gram vitare non potest, nisi Deus eripiat. Nimis est inflix cui mors æterna est sensibilis; nr us quem terrent continui de sua infelicitate horreres.Augusnsdercontritione, Cordis. course in a voyage at sea; he tells him, that in such a place he will meet with rocks and shelves, storms, and cross winds, so that if he steer not very heedfully, he will be in danger to miscarry, and to be cast away. He doth not prescribe it unto him as his duty, to go among such rocks, and into such storms, but only di- rects him how to guide himself in them, where he doth meet with them, as assuredly he will, if he miss not his proper course. (2.) Sorrow or grief for sin committed, because past and irrecoverable, which is the formal reason of this condemning sorrow. This the scripture calls sorrow of the world, 2 Cor vii. 10. Divines, usually, legal sorrow, as that which, in conjunction with the sense of the guilt of sin mentioned, brings men into bondage under fear, Rom. viii. 15. (3.) Hu- miliation for sin; which is the exercise or working of sorrow and fear in outward acts of confession, fasting, praying, and the like. This is the truenature of legal humiliation, 1 Kings xxi. 29. (4.) Unless, by these things, the soul be swallowed up in despair, it cannot be but that it will be filled with thoughts, desires, in- quiries, and contrivances about a deliverance out of that state and condition wherein it is; as Acts ii. 27. Acts xvi. 30. Thirdly: Oftentimes a great reformation of life, and change in affections, doth ensue hereon; as Matth. xiii. 20. 2 Pet. ii. 20. Matth xii. 43. Sect. 9. All these things may be wrought in the minds of men by the dispensation of the word, and yet the work of regeneration be never perfected in them. Yea, although they are good in themselves, and fruits of the kindness of God towardsus, they may not on- ly be lost as unto any spiritual advantage, but also be abused unto our great disadvantage. And this comes not to pass but by our own sin, wherebywe contract a new guilt upon our souls. And it commonly so falls out one of these three ways. For, (I.) Some are no way careful or wise to improve this light and conviction unto the end whereunto they tend and are designed. Their message is to turn the minds of men, and to take them offfrom their self -confidence, and to direct them unto Christ. Where this is not attended unto, where they are not used and improved unto the pursuit of this end, they insensibly wither, decay, and come to noth- ing. (2.) In some they are overborne by the power and violence of their lusts, the love of sin, and efficacy
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=