iND BY SIN. of their natural faculties, in the use of means, for the discharge of their duty towards God herein. And what hath been pleaded, may suffice for the vindication of this divine testimony, concerning the disability of the mind of man in the state of nature, to understand and receive- the things of the Spirit of God in a spiritual and saving manner, however they are proposed unto it; which those who are otherwise minded may despise whilst they please, but are noway able to answer or evade. Sect. 4h. And hence we may judge of that para- phrase and exposition of this place which one hath given of late; " But such things as these, they that are led " only by the light of human reason, the learned philo- sophers, &c. do absolutely despise, and so hearken " not after thedoctrine of the gospel, for it seems.folly " to them. Nor can they by any study of their own " come to the knowledge of them; for they are only to " be had by understanding the prophecies of the scrip- tore, and other such means which depend on divine ".revelation, thevoice from heaven, descent of the Holy " Ghost, miracles," &c. (1.) The natural man is here allowed to be therational man, the learned philosopher, one walking by the light of human reason, which com- plies not with their exception to this testimony, who would have only such an one, as is sensual, and given up unto brutish affections to be intended. But yet nei- ther is there any ground (though some - countenance be given to it by Hierom) to fix this .interpretation unto that expression. if the apostle may be allowed tode- clare his ownmind, he tells us, that he intends every one of what sort and condition soever, who bath not received the Spirit of Christ. :(2.) ñ 86xwei, is paraphras- ed by, doth absolutely .despise; which neitherthe word here, nor elsewhere, -tor its disposal in the present connexion will allow of; or give. countenance unto. The apostle, in the whole:discourse, gives an account why so few received the gospel, especially of those who seemed most likely so to do, being wise and learned men; and the gospel being no less than the wisdom of God. And the reason hereof he gives from their dis- ability to receive the things-of God, and their hatred of them, or opposition to them, neither of which can be cured but by the Spirit of Christ. (3.) The apostle treats not of what men could find out by any study of their own, but of what they did, and would do, and 22 OF THE M away or cured but by an immediate communication of a new spiritual power and ability unto the mind itself by'the Holy Ghost in its renovation, so-curing thede- pravation of the faculty itself. And this is consistent with what was before declared, the natural power of the mind to receive spiritual things: for that power respects the natural capacity of the faculties of our minds: this impotency the depravation of them with respect unto spiritual things. Sect. 41. -2. There is in the minds of unregenerate persons a moral impotency, which is reflected on them greatly from the will and affections, whence the mind never will receive spiritual things; that is, -it-willalways and`unchangeablyreject and refuse them, and that be- cause of various lusts, corruptions and prejudices invin- cibly fixed in them, causing them to look on them as foolishness. Hence it will come to pass that no man shall be judged and perish at the last day merely on the account of his natural impotency. Every one to whom the gospel bath been preached, and by whom it is re- fused, shall be convinced of positive actings in their minds, rejectingthe gospel for the love of self, sin, and the world. Thus our Saviour tells the Jews, that no man can come untohim unless:the Father drawhim, John vi. 44. Such is their natural impotency, that theycan- not, nor is it to be cured but by an immediate divine instruction or illumination; as it is written, they shall be all taught of God, ver 4:5. But this is not all; he tells them elsewhere, you will not cane unto me that you may have life, John v. 40. Thepresent thing in ques- tion was not the power or impotency of their minds, but the obstinacy of their wills and affections, which men shall principally be judged upon at the last day. For this is the condemnation,that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil, John iii. 19. Hence it follows: (3.) That the will and affections being more corrupt -' ed than the understanding, - as is evident from their op- -position unto, and defeating-of its manifold convictions, gel man doth actually apply his mind to the receiving of the-hings of the Spirit of God to the utmost of that ability which he bath: for all unregenerate men are in- vincibly impeded therein, by the corrupt stubbornness -and perverseness of their wills and affections. There is .not in any of them a due:improvement of the capacity Qq ..,--.-.. -1;5g
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