172 LIFE AND committed unto any of the sons of men. (2.) They have a double end in pressing on men the observance of duties, with a supposition of the state of impotency described: (I.) To prevent them from such courses of sin, as would harden them, and so render their conver- sion more difficult, if not desperate. (2.) To exercise a means appointed of God for their conversion, or the communication of saving grace unto them. Such are God's commands, and such are the duties required in them. In and by them God doth use to communicate of his grace unto the souls of men, nót with respect unto them, as their duties, but as they are ways appointed and sanctified by him unto such ends. And hence it follows that even such duties as are vitiated in their.per- formance, yet are of advantage unto them by whom they are performed: For (I.) By attendance unto them, they are preserved from many sins. (2.) In an especial manner from the great sin of despising God, which ends commonly in that which is unpardonable. (3.) They are hereby made useful unto others, and many ends of God's glory in the world. (2.) They are kept in God's way, wherein they may gradually be brought over unto a real conversion unto him. Sect. 29.Thirdly; In this state of spiritual death, there is not in them who are under the power of it any disposition, active and inclining unto life spiritual. There is not so in a dead carcase unto life natural; it is a subject meet for an external power to introduce a liv- ing principle into; so the dead body of Lazarus was quickened and animated again by the introduction of his soul. But in itself it had not the least active dispo- sition nor inclination thereunto. And no otherwise is it with a soul dead in trespasses and sins. There is in it Potencia Obedientialis, a power rendering it meet to receive the communications of grace and spiritual life. But a disposition thereunto of its own it hath not. There is in it a remote power, in the nature of its facul- ties meet to be wrought upon by the Spirit and grace of God. But an immediate power, disposing and ena- bling it unto spiritual acts, it hath not. And the reason is, because natural corruption cleaves unto it, as an in- vincible, unmoveable habit constantly inducing unto evil, wherewith the least disposition unto spiritual good is not inconsistent. There is in the soul in the scripture language (which some call canting) the body of the sins of the flesh, 2 Cob xi. which, unless it DEATH, lIC. be taken away by spiritual circumcision through the virtue of the death of Christ, it will lie dead into eter- nity. There is therefore in us that which may be quick- ened and saved. And this is all we have to boast of by nature. Though man by sin be made like the beasts that perish, being brutish and foolish in his mind and affections; yet he is not so absolutely, be retains that living soul, those intellectual faculties which were the subject of original righteousness, and are meet to re- ceive again the renovation of the image of God by Jesus Christ. Sect. 30. But this also seems obnoxious to an objec- tion from the instances that are given in the scripture, and whereof wehave experience concerning sundry good duties performed by men unregenerate, and that in a tendency unto living unto God, which argues a disposi- tion to spiritual good. So Balaam desired to die the death of the righteous, and Herod heard John Baptist gladly, doing many things willingly. And great endea- vours after conversion unto God, we find in many who never attain thereunto. So that to say there is no dis- position unto spiritual life in any unregenerate person, is to make them all equal, which is contrary to experience. Ans. (1.) There is no doubt but that unregenerate men may perform many external duties, which are good in themselves, and he in the order of the outward dis- posal of the means of conversion. Nor is it questioned but they may have real designs, desires, and endeavours after that which is presented unto them as their chiefest good. But so far as these desires or actings are merely natural, there is no disposition in them unto spiritual life, or that which is spiritually good: so far as they are supernatural, they are not of themselves. For, (2.) Although there are no preparatory inclinations in men, yet there are preparatory works upon them. Those who have not the word, yet may have convictions of good and evil, from the authority of God in their consciences, Rom. ii. 14, 15. And the law, in the dis- pensation of it, may work men unto many duties of o- bedience; much moremay thegospel sodo. But what- ever effects are hereby produced, they are wrought by the power of God exerted in the dispensation of the word. They are not educedout of the natural facul- ties of the minds of men, but are effects of the power of God in them and upon them. Forwe know that in the flesh there dwelieth no good thing; and all unrege-
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