Serm. CXLVI. on the Minds of the Apof#les, 303 Second place, The great neceffity of fuch an immediate influence and affiftance of the Spirit of God, to enable Chrifhans to perform the condition of the Cove= nant of the Gofpel. The great corruption and degeneracy of human Nature; and the impotency and weaknefs confequent thereupon, is not only matter of Di- vine Revelation, but bath always been the general apprehenfion and acknowledg- ment, and the fad complaint of the wifeft part of mankind; and indeed, every Man may feel it in himfelf, and obferve it in others. Now for our relief and re- covery out of this miferable and degenerate Bate God was pleafed in great pity and commiferation to mankind, to fend his Son into the World, to reveal his will and our duty a-new to us, for our direction in the way to life and happinefs ; and by the Sacrifice of himfelf to make a perfe& expiation of fin; and to proclaim forgive- nefs of fins to us, for the encouragement of our repentance, and return to our du- ty ; and, in a word, to offer new terms of life and happinefs to us, upon the con- ditions ofFaith, and Repentance, and new Obedience. But after all this is done for us, we are ftill withoutítrength, ournature being depraved, and funk into that impotency and weaknefs, that without the powerful affiftance of divine, Grace, we ate utterly unable to perform thofe moft equal and reafonable conditions which the Gofpel requires of us, being, as the Scripture ex- preffeth it, dead in trefpafes andfins, .and eflranged from the life ofGod, through the darknefs that is in us, and the blindnefs ófour hearts ; being enflaved to vicious habits,. and having a carnal mind, which is enmity to God, and renders us incapa- ble to receive or relieh divine and fpiritual things. So that notwithftanding äll that our bleffed Saviour hath done and fuffered for us, and all the merciful oveij tures of Pardon and Happinefs, which the Gofpel makes to us, all this will figni- fie .nothing to our benefit and advantage, unlefs our impotency be relieved, and new life and ftrength beconveyed tous, to awaken and excite us to that which is good, to enable us to mortifie and fubdue our evil and corrupt inclinations,to break off our vicious habits, and to walk in the ways of God'sCommandments. For we are notfulfi'cient of our felves, as ifour felves, for anyof thefe things ; but ourfuf- ftciency is ofGod. Without Chri/1 we can do nothing'; and it is only through him flrengthning ofus, that we are able to do all thofe things which -are neceffary to be done by us, in order to the obtaining of that Happinefs and Salvation which the Gofpel hath promifed, and our Saviour hath purchafed for us. And therefore our merciful Redeemer, that he might not leave his work imperfeft, bath fent his bleffed Spirit into our hearts, to enlighten the eyes ofour minds, and to open and difpofe our underflandings, for the receiving of divine and fpiritual Truths ; to conquer likewife the perverfenefs and ftubbornnefs of our wills, and to fet us at liberty from the flavery dour Lofts; (for where the Spirit of God is, as St. Paul tells us, there is liberty ;) to renew our natures, and to pure ourhearts, to mortifie our corrupt afetïions, and to ajflus to everygood word andwork ; to ftrengthen us against Temptations, to fupport us under Sufferings and Perfecutions, and in a word, tokeep us by this mightypower ofGod, and gracious affiftance of his Holy Spirit, through faith unto Salvation. So that whofoever fhall but duly weigh and confider his own darknefs and igno= rance, the ftrange and unreafonable prejudices of a corrupt mind againft divine Truth, and againít the practice of holinefs and virtue, the ftrong byafs of Mend natural inclinations to that which is evil, the mighty force and power of evil and inveterate habitswithin us, and the ítrength and violence of manifold Tetnpta.. tions without us, together with the great difficulties and difcouragements ofpiety and virtue, efpecially when they are attended with grievous Sufferings andfiery Tryals, for righteoufnefs fake ; I fay, he that confiders all this, will eafily difcern; and readily acknowledge, how great a neceffity there is ofthe grace and affiftance of God's Holy Spirit to all the purpofes of a firm faith, and a fincere repentance, and a confiant and univerfal obedience to the holy Lawsand Precepts of the Go- fpel, to refcue us from the power and dominion of Sin, to taife us to a new life, to engage us in an holy courfe, and to fortifie our refolutions againít Sin, and to enable us to perfevere, and patiently continue in doing and fuffering the will of God. 'Tia
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