PREPARATORY UNTO of teniptation. They are sinned away every day,and leave the soul in ten-times a worse condition than they found it. (0.) Some rest in these things as though they Comprized the whole work of God towards them, and guided them in all the duties required of them. This is the state of many where they extend their power, in the last instance, unto any considerable reformation of life, and attendance unto duties of religious worship. But this, as was said, falls out through the abuse which the carnal minds of men, retaining their enmity against God do put these things- unto. In their own nature they are good, useful, and material preparations unto regeneration, disposing the mind unto the reception of the grace of God, Sect. 10. And the doctrine concerning these things bath been variously handled, distinguished, and applied, by many learned divines and faithful ministers of the gospel. Unto that light which they received into them from the infallible word of truth, they joined those ex- periences which they had observed in their own hearts and the consciences of others with whom they had to -do, which weresuitable thereunto. And, in the dispen- sation of this truth, according to the measureof the gift of the grace of Christ, which they severally received, they had an useful and fruitful ministry in the world, to the converting of many unto God, But we have lived to see all these things decried and rejected. And the way which somehave taken therein, is as strange and uncouth as the thing itself: for they go not about once to dis-' prove by scripture or reason, what hath been taught or delivered by any sober persons to this purpose; nor do they endeavour themselves to declare from, or by the scriptures, what is the work of regeneration, what are the causes and effects of it, in opposition thereunto. These, and such like ways, made use of by all that have treated of spiritual things, front the foundation of Christianity, are despised and rejected. But horrible :and'contemptuous repreaches are cast upon the things themselves, in words heaped together on purpose to expose them unto scorn, among persons ignorant of the gospel and themselves. Those that teach them are ec- statical and illiterate; and those that receive them are superstitious, giddy, and fanatical. All conviction, sense of, and sorrow for sin; all fear of the curse and wrath-due unto sin; all troubles and distresses of mind, by reason of these things, are " foolish imaginations, L 1 REG'ENERATION. 135 o the effects of bodily diseases and distempers, enthu- a siastic notions arising from the disorders of mens «brains; and I know not what untoward humours in " their complexions and constitutions." The same, or the like account, is also given concerning all spiritual desertions, or joys and refreshments. And the whole doctrine, concerning these things, is branded with no- velty, and hopes expressed of its sudden vanishing out of the world. This contempt and scorn of the gospel have we lived to see, whereof it maybe other ages and places have not had experience. For, as all these things are plentifully taught by some of the ancients, in their expositions of the scriptures, wherein they are expressed, especially. by Austin, who had occasion particularly to inquire into them; so the doctrine con- cerning them is, in a great measure, retained in the church of Rome itself. Only some amongst ourselves are weary of them; who being no way able to oppose the principles and foundations whereon they are built, nor to disprove them byscripture or reason, betake them- selves to these revilings and reproaches. And, as if it were not enough for them to proclaim their own igno- rance and personal unacquaintance with those things which inseparably accompany that conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment, which our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised to send the Holy Spirit to work in all that should believe, they make the reproaching of it in others a principal effect of that religion which they profess. Nevertheless thefoundation of God stand- eth sure; Gad knoweth whoare his. But we must return to our purpose. Sect. 11.Thirdly; All the things mentioned, as wrought instrumentally by the word, are effects of the power of the Spirit of God. The word itself, under a bare proposal to the minds of men will not so affect them. Weneed go no further for the confirmation here- of, than merely to consider the preaching, (with the ef- fects which it had towards many) of the prophets of old, Isa. xlix. 4. Jer. xv. 80. Ezek. xxxiii. 31, 32: of Jesus Christ himself, Johnviii. 59. And of the apostles, Acts xiii. 41, 45, 46. Hence, to this day, the Jews who enjoy the letter of the Old Testament, without the ad- ministration of the Spirit, are as full of blindness, hard- ness, and obstinacy, as any in the world who are ut- terly deprived of it. Many amongst ourselves sit all their-days under the preaching of the word, and yet 21 it
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