292 THE NATURE, CAU but in a principle of obedience and love unto it, which is actually wrought of God in us. And the aids or as- sistances which some men grant, that are left unto the power of our own wills to use or not to use, have no analogy with the writing of the law in tables of stone. And the end of the work of God described, is not a power to obey, which may be exerted or not, but it is actual obedience in conversion, and all the fruits of it. And if God doth not in these promises declare a real efficiency of internal grace, taking away all repugnancy of nature unto conversion, curing its depravation actu- ally and effectually, and communicating infallibly a principle of spiritual obedience, I know anot in what words such a work may be expressed. And whatever is excepted as to the suspending of the efficacy of this work upon conditions in ourselves, it falls immediately into gross and sensible contradictions. And an especial instance of this work we have, Acts xvi. 14, Sect. 48. A third argument is taken from the state l and condition of men, by nature, beforedescribed. For it is such, as that no man can be delivered from it, but by that powerful, internal, effectual grace, which we plead; such as wherein the mind and will of man can act nothing in or towards conversion to God, but as they are acted by grace. The reason why some des, pise, some oppose, some deride the workof the Spirit of God in our regeneration or conversion, or fancy it to be only an outward ceremony, or a moral change of life and conversation, is their ignorance of the corrupt- ed and depraved estate of the souls of men in their minds, wills, and affections, by nature. For if it be such as we have described, that is such as in the scrip- ture it is represented to be, they cannot be so brutish as once to imagine that it may be cured, or that nten may be delivered from ir, without any other aid but that of those rational considerations, which some would have to be the only means of our conversion to God. We shall therefore inquire what that grace is, and what it must be whereby we are delivered from it, Sect. 49. -1. It is called a vivification or quickening. We are by nature dead in trespasses and sins, as hath been proved, and the nature of that death at large ex- plained. In our deliverance from thence, we are said to be quickened, Eph. v. 5. Though dead, we hear the voice of the Son of God, and live, John v. 25. Being made alive unto God through Jesus Christ, Rom. SES, AND MEANS 11. Now, no such work can be wrought in us, but by an effectual communication of a principle of spiritual . life, and nothing else will deliver us. Some think to . evade the power of this argument, by saying that all . these expressions are metaphorical, and arguings from them are but fulsome metaphors. And it is well if the whole gospel be not a metaphor unto them. But if therebe not an impotency in us, by nature, unto all acts of spiritual life, like that which is in a dead man unto the acts of life natural, if there be not an alike power of God required unto our deliverancefrom that condition, and the working in us a principle of spiritual obedience, as is required unto the raising of him that is dead, they may as well say, that the scripture speaks not truly, as that it speaks metaphorically. And that it is almighty power, the exceeding greatness of God's power that is put forth and exercised herein, we have proved from Eph. i. 18, 13. Col, ii. 12, 13, 2 Thus. i. 11.2 Pet. i. 3. And what do these men intend by this quickening; this . raising us from the dead by the power of God? A per-. suasion of our minds byrational motives,taken from the I word, and the things contained in it? But was there ever heard of such a monstrous expression, if there be. I nothingelse in it? What could the Holy writers intend by calling such a work as this by a quickeningof Mena who were dead in trespasses and sins, through bite mighty power of God, unless it were by a noise of insignificant, words, to draw us off from a right understanding of what is intended? And it is well ifsome are not of that mind. Sect. 50, (2.) The work itself wrought, is our re. generation. I have proved before, that this consists in a new spiritual supernatural vital principle or habit of grace infused into the soul, the mind, will, and affec- tions, by the power of the Holy Spirit, disposing and enabling them in whom it is, unto spiritual, superna. turai, vital acts of faith and obedience, Somemen seem inclined to deny all habits of grace. And on such a supposition a man is no longer a believer, than he is in the actual exercise of faith. For there is nothing in him from whence he should be so denominated, But this would plainly overthrow the covenant of God, and all the grace of it. Others expressly deny all gracious supernatural infused habits, though they maygrant such as are or may be acquired by tite frequent acts of those graces or virtues whereof they are the habits. But the
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