1 " Heu miscrum, nimisque misenmi quern torquct conscientia sya, quani fugere non potest ; uimis uiiserum quem expectat damiiatio sua quam •vitare uou potest, nisi Deus eripiat. Nimis est infclix cui mors asterna est sensibilis ; nimis asrumnosus quem terrent continui de sua infelicitate horrores." — August, de Contritione Cordis.
234 WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT [BOOK III.
of confession, fasting, praying, and the like. This is the true nature of legal humiliation, 1 Kings xxi. 29. (4.) Unless by these things the soul be swallowed up in despair, it cannot be but that it will be filled with thoughts, desires, inquiries, and contrivances about a de- liverance out of that state and condition wdierein it is; as Acts ii. 37, xvi. 30. «-
3. Oftentimes a great reformation of life and change in affec- tions doth ensue hereon; as Matt. xiii. 20; 2 Pet. ii. 20; Matt. xii. 44.
All these things may be wrought in the minds of men by the dis- pensation of the word, and yet the work of regeneration be never perfected in them. Yea, although they are good in themselves, and fruits of the kindness of God towards us, they may not only be lost as unto any spiritual advantage, but also be abused unto our great disadvantage. And this comes not to pass but by our own sin, whereby we contract a new guilt upon our souls. And it commonly so falls out one of these three ways; for, — 1. Some are no Way careful or wise to improve this light and conviction unto the end whereunto they tend and are designed. Their message is, to turn the minds of men, and to take them off from their self-confidence, and to direct them unto Christ. Where this is not attended unto, where they are not used and improved unto the pursuit of this end, they insensibly wither, decay, and come to nothing. 2. In some they are over- borne by the power and violence of their lusts, the love of sin, and efficacy of temptation. They are sinned away every day, and leave the soul in ten times a worse condition than they found it. 3. Some rest in these things, as though they comprised the whole work of God towards them, and guided them in all the duties required of them. This is the state of many where they extend their power, in the last instance, unto any considerable reformation of life, and attendance unto duties of religious worship. But this, as was said, falls out through the abuse which the carnal minds of men, retaining their enmity against God, do put these things unto. In their own nature they are good, useful, and material preparations unto regene- ration, disposing the mind unto the reception of the grace of God.
And the doctrine concerning these things hath been. variously handled, distinguished, and applied, by many learned divines and faithful ministers of the gospel. Unto that light which they received into them from the infallible word of truth, they joined those ex- periences which they had observed in their own hearts and the consciences of others with whom they had to do, which were suitable thereunto; and in the dispensation of this truth, according to the " measure of the gift of the grace of Christ," which they severally received, they had a useful and fruitful ministry in the world, to the converting of many unto God. But we have lived to see aU these
CHAP. 11.] PREPARATORY UI^JTO REGENERATION. 235
things decried and rejected. And the way which some have taken therein is as strange and uncouth as the thing itself; for they go not about once to disprove by Scripture or reason what hath been taught or deKvered by any sober persons to this j)urpose, nor do they en- deavour themselves to declare from or by the Scriptures what is the work of regeneration, what are the causes and effects of it, in opposition thereunto. These and such like ways, made use of by all that have treated of spiritual things from the foundation of Christi- anity, are despised and rejected; but horrible and contemptuous re- proaches are cast upon the things themselves, in words heaped to- gether on purpose to expose them unto scorn among persons ignorant of the gospel and themselves. Those that teach them are " ecstatical and illiterate;" and those that receive them are "superstitious, giddy, and fanatical," All conviction, sense of and sorrow for sin ; all fear of the curse and wrath due unto sin; all troubles and distresses of mind by reason of these things, — are "foolish imaginations, the effects of bodily diseases and distempers, enthusiastic notions, arising from the disorders of men's brains," and I know not what untoward " humours in their complexions and constitutions," The same or the like account is also given concerning all spiritual desertions, or joys and refresh- ments ; and the whole doctrine concerning these things is branded with novelty, and hopes expressed of its sudden vanishing out of the world. This contempt and scorn of the gospel have we lived to see, whereof, it may be, other ages and places have not had experi- ence; for as all these things are plentifully taught by some of the ancients in their expositions of the scriptures wherein they are ex- pressed, especially by Austin, who had occasion particularly to inquire into them, so the doctrine concerning them is in a great measure retained in the church of Rome itself Only some amongst our- selves are weary of them ; who, being no way able to oj^pose the prin- ciples and foundations whereon they are built, nor to disprove them by Scripture or reason, betake themselves to these revilings and reproaches ; and, as if it Avere not enough for them to proclaim their own ignorance and personal unacquaintance with those things which inseparably accompany that conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment which our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised to send the Holy Spirit to work in all that should believe, they make the re- proaching of it in others a principal effect of that religion which they profess. " Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure. The Lord knoweth them that are his." But we must return to our purpose. Thirdly, All the things mentioned as wrought instrumentally by the word are effects of the power of the Spirit of God. The word itself, under a bare proposal to the minds of men, will not so affect them. We need go no farther for the confirmation hereof than