174 THE NATURE, CAUSES, AND MEANS effectual transforminggraceof the Spirit of God. And it is that which seals up the impossibility of their turn- ing themselves to God, Jer. xiii. 2S. Rom. iii. IO -19. But that the whole difficulty of conversion should arise from mens contracting an habit or custom of sinning, is false, and openly contradictory to the scripture. These things are personal evils, and befal individuals through their own defaultin various degrees. And we see that amongst men under the same use of means, some are converted unto God, who have been deeply immersed in an habitual course of open sins, whilst others kept from them by the influence of their educa- tion upon their inclinations and afléctions, remain un- converted. So was it of old between the publicans and harlots on the one hand, and the Pharisees on the other. But my design was only to mention that which is com- mon unto all; or wherein all men universally are equally concerned, who ate partakers of the same human na- ture in its lapsed condition. And what we have herein declared from thescriptures will guide us in our inquiry after the work of the Holy Spirit of grace in our deliv- erance from it. Sect. 2. It is evident, and needs no farther confir- mation, that persons living and dying in this estate can- not be saved. This hitherto hath been allowed by all that are called Christians, nor are we to be moved that some who call themselves so, do begin to laugh at the disease, and despise the remedyof our nature. Among those who lay any serious and real claim unto Chris- tianity, there is nothing more certain, nor more ac- knowledged, than that there is no deliverance from a state of misery for those who are not delivered from a state of sin. And lie who denies the necessary perish- ing of all that live and die in the state of corrupted na- ture, denies all the use of the incarnation and mediation of theSon of God. For if we may be saved without the renovation of our natures, there was no need, nor use of the new creation of all things byJesus Christ, which principally consists therein. And if men may be saved under all the evils that came upon us by the fall, then did Christ die in vain. Besides, it is fre- quently expressed that men in that state are enemies to God, alienated from him, children of wrath, under the curse; and if such may be saved, so may devils also. In brief, it is not consistent with the nature of God, his holiness, righteousness or truth, with the law or gospel, nor possible in the nature of the thing itself, that such persons should enter into, or be made possessors of glo- ry and rest with God. A deliverance therefore out of and from this condition is indispensibly necessary to make us meet for the inheritanceof the saints in light. Sect. 2. This deliverance must be, and is by rege- neration. The determination of our Saviour is positive both in this, and the necessity of it before asserted, John iii. S. Except a man be born again, or from a. bone, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Whatever sense the kingdom of God is taken in either for that of grace here, or of glory hereafter, it is all the same as unto our present purpose. There is no interest in it to be obtained, no participation of the benefits of it, un- less a man be born again, unless he be regenerate. And this determinationof our Saviour, as it is absolute and decretory, so it is applicable unto and equally compriseth every individual of mankind. And the work intended by their regeneration or in being born again, which is the spiritual conversion and quickening of the souls of men, is every where ascribed unto them that shall be saved. And although men may have, through their ig- norance and prejudices, false apprehensions about rege- neration and the nature of it, or wherein it doth con- sist; yet so far as I know, all Christiansare agreed, that it is the way and means of our deliverance from the state of sinor corrupted nature, or rather our deliver- ance itself. For this both express testimonies of scrip- ture, and the natureof the thing itself, put beyond con- tradiction, Tit. iii. S, 4, 0. And those by whom it is exposedunto scorn, who esteem it a ridiculous thing for any one to inquire whether he be regenerate or no, will one day understand the necessity of it; although it may be not before it is too late to obtain any advantage thereby. Sect. 4. The Holy Ghost is the immediate author and cause of this work of regeneration. And herein again, as I suppose, we have in general the consent of all. Nothing is more in words acknowledged than that all the elect of God are sanctified by the Holy Ghost. And this regeneration is the head, fountain, or begin. ning of our sanctification, virtually comprising the whole in itself, as will afterwards appear. However, that it is a part thereof, is not to be denied. Besides, as I sup- pose, it is equally confessed to be an effect or work of grace, the actual dispensation whereof is solely in the
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