I shall in this place give only a summary account of \\r[& prepara- tory tvork, because in the close of these discourses I shall handle it practically and more at large. Wherefore what I have here to offer concerning it shall be reduced unto the ensuing observations : —
First, There are some things required of us in a way of duty in order unto our regeneration, which are so in the poiuer of our oiun natuiml abilities as that nothing but corrupt prejudices and stub-
' " Sunt qucedam opera externa, ab hominibus ordinarife requisita, priusquam ad statum regenerationis, aut conversionis perducantur, quoe ab iisdem quandoque libere fieri, quandoque libere omitti sclent ; ut adire ecclesiam, audire verbi praaconium, et id genus alia.
" Sunt quoedam effecta interna ad con-versionem sive regenerationem previa, quoe yir- tute verbi, spiritusque innondumregeneratorum cordibus excitantur; qualia suntuotitia voluntatis divinse, sensus peccati, timor poenas ; cogitatio de liberationc, spes aliqua ve- nisB." — Synod. Dordrec. Sententia Theolog. Britau. ad Artie, quartum, tlies. 1, 2, p. 139.
230 WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT [BOOK III.
bornness in sinning do keep or hinder men from the performance of them. And these we may reduce unto two heads: — 1. An out- luard attendance unto the dispensation of the word of God, with those other external means of grace which accompany it or are ap- pointed therein. " Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," Rom. x. 17; that is, it is hearing the word of God which is the ordinary means of iugenerating faith in the souls of men. This is required of all to whom the gospel doth come; and this they are able of themselves to do, as well as any other natural or civil action. And where men do it not, where they despise the word at a distance, yea, where they do it not with diligence and choice, it is merely from supine negligence of spiritual things, carnal security, and contempt of God; which they must answer for. 2. A diligent intension of mind, in attendance on the means of grace, to under- stand and receive the things revealed and declared as the mind and will of God. For this end hath God given men their reasons and understandings, that they may use and exercise them about their duty towards him, according to the revelation of his mind and will. To this purpose he calls upon them to remember that they are men, and to turn unto him. And there is nothing herein but what is in the liberty and power of the rational faculties of our souls, as- sisted with those common aids which God affords unto all men in general. And great advantages both may be and are daily attained hereby. Persons, I say, who diligently apply their rational abilities in and about spiritual things, as externally revealed in the word and the preaching of it, do usually attain great advantages by it, and excel their equals in other things; as Paul did v/hen he was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel. Would men be but as intent and dili- gent in their endeavours after knowledge in spiritual things, as re- vealed in a way suited unto our capacities and understandings, as they are to get skill in crafts, sciences, and other mysteries of life, it would be much otherwise with many than it is. A neglect herein also is the fruit of sensuality, spiritual sloth, love of sin, and contempt of God ; all which are the voluntary frames and actings of the minds of men.
These things are required of us in order unto our regeneration, and it is in the power of our own wills to comply with them. And we may observe concerning them that, — 1. The omission of them, the neglect of men in them, is the ])rincipal occasion and cause of the eternal ruin of the souls of the generality of them to whom or amongst whom the gospel is preached: "This is the condemnation, that lisrht is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil," John iii. 19. The generality of men know full well that they do in this matter no more what they
CHAP. II.] PREPAEATOKY UNTO KEGENERATION. 231
are able than wliat tliey should. All pleadable pretences of inability and weakness are far from them. They cannot but know here, and they shall be forced to confess hereafter, that it was merely from their own cursed sloth, with love of the world and sin, that they were diverted from a diligent attendance on the means of conversion and the sedulous exercise of their minds about them. Complaints here- of against themselves will make up a great part of their last dread- ful cry. 2. In the most diligent use of outward means, men are not able of themselves to attain unto regeneration, or complete conversion to God, without an especial, effectual, internal work of the Holy Spirit of grace on their whole souls. This containing the substance of what is principally proposed unto confirmation in the ensuing dis- courses, need not here be insisted on. 8. Ordinarily, God, in the effectual dispensation of his grace, meeteth with them who attend with diligence on the outward administration of the means of it. He doth so, I say, ordinarily, in comparison of them who are despisers and negiecters of them. Sometimes, indeed, he goeth, as it were, out of the way to meet with and bring home unto himself a persecuting Saul, taking of him in, and taking him off from, a course of open sin and rebellion ; but ordinarily he dispenseth his peculiar especial grace among them who attend unto the common means of it: for he will both glorify his word thereby, and give out pledges of his approba- tion of our obedience unto his commands and institutions.