350 FORMENESS OF s111. the covenant of grace. Call to mind what transactions there have been between God and your soul about these things ; how far they have been carried on ; whe- ther you have broken off the treaty with God and re- fused his terms ; or if not, where the hinderance is be- tween you, and what is the reason, since God has gra- ciously begun to deal thus with you, that you are not yet come to a thorough close with him in the work and design of his grace. The defect must of necessity lie in you. God doeth nothing in vain ; had he not been willing to receive you, he would not have dealt with you so far as he hath. There is nothing then remains to establish your condition but a resolved act of .your own will in answering the mind and Vill of God. By this search may the soul come to satisfaction in this matter, or at least find out and discover where the hin- derance is, whence the uncertainty arises, and what is wanting to complete its desire. Again, this work may be discovered by its effects. There is something produced by it in the soul, which may also be considered either with respect to its exist: ence or its actings and operations. In the first respect it is spirit, " that which is born of the Spirit," John, 3: 6, which is produced by the effectual operation of the Spirit of God. It is a new creature: "He that is in Christ Jesus (who is born again) is a new creature ; 2 Cor. 5 : 17; he has a new life, a spiritual life. Gal. 2: 20 ; Eph. 2: 1. In brief, it is an habitual supply of all, the faculties of the soul with new spiritual, vital principles, enabling a person in all instances of obe- dience to lead a spiritual life unto God. This principle is by this work produced in the soul; and in respect to
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