THE NATURE, CAUSES, AND MEANS áß'C.. 173 nerate men are no more; for that which is born of the spiritual life. Men that are spiritually dead, may have flesh is flesh. designs and desires to free themselves from dying eter- (3.) The actings thus effected and produced in men nally; but such a desire to be saved, is no saving dis- unregenerate, are neither fruits of nor dispositionsunto positionunto life. THE NATURE, CAUSES, AND MEANS OF REGENERATION. CHAP. V. (1.) Description ofthe state of nature, necessary unto a right understandingof the workof theSpirit' in regene- ration.(2.) No possibility of salvation unto persons living and dying in a state of sin. (2.) Deliverance from it by regeneration only.(4.) The Holy Ghost the peculiar authorof thiswork. (5): Différences about . the manner and natureofit. (6.) Way ofthe ancients in explaining the doctrine ofgrace, thepresent method proposed. (7.). Conversion not wrought by moral suasion only. (8, 9, 10;) The nature and efuacy of moral suasion, wherein it consists. (11.) Illumination preparatory unto conversion.(12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.) The nature ofgrace morally effective only, opened; not sufficientfor conversion.-(19, 20.) The first argument disproving the working ofgrace in conversion to be by moral suasion only. (21, 22.) The second. (23, 24.) The third. (25.) The fourth.(26, 27, 23.) Wherein the work of the Spirit in regeneration positively cloth consist; the use and end ofoutward means.(29.) Real internal efficiency oftheSpirit in this work. (30,31,. 32, 33, 34, 35.) Grace victoriousand irresistible, the nature ofit explained.(36.) Proved. (57, 38, 59, 40.), The manner of God's working by grace on our wills further explained. Testimonies concerning the actual collation offaith by thepower ofGod.(41, 42, 43, 44.) Victorious efficacy ofinternal graceproved by sundry testimonies ofscripture. (45, 46, 47, 48, 49.) From the nature of the work wrought by it, in vivification and regeneration.(50, 51,,52, 53, 54.) Regeneration cons'dered with respect untothe distinctfaculties ofthe soul.. The mind.(55.) The will. (56, 57.) The affections. UNTTO the description we are to give of the work of regeneration, the precedent account of the subject of it, or the state and condition of them that are to be re- generated, was necessarily to be premised. For upon the knowledge thereof, doth a due apprehension of the nature of that work depend. And the occasion of all the mistakes and errors that have been about it, either of old or of late, bath been a misunderstanding of the true state of men in their lapsed condition, or of nature as depraved. Yea, and those by whom this whole work is derided, do now countenance themselves there- in by their ignorance of that state, which they will not learn either from the scripture or experience: For Na- tura sic apparet vitiata ut hoc majorisvitii sit nonvidere, as Austin speaks. It is an evidence of the corruption of nature, that it diseuabies the minds of men to discern their own corruption. We have previously discharged: this work so far as it is necessary unto our present pur- pose. Manyother things might be added in the expli. cation of it, were that our direct design. Particularly . having confined myself to treat only concerning the de-. pravation of the mind and will, I have not insisted on . that of the affections, which yet is effectual to retain. unregenerate men under the power of sin; though it be. far enough from truth that the whole corruption of na- ture consists therein, as some weakly and athologically have imagined. Much less have I treated concerning, that increase and heightening of the depravation of na- ture which is attracted by a custom of sinning, as unto. all the perverse ends of it. Yet this also the scripture . much insists upon, as that which naturally and - neceo-. sarily ensues in all in whom it is not prevented by the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=