Unto the description we are to give of the work of regeneration, the precedent account of the subject of it, or the state and condition of them that are to be regenerated, was necessarily to be premised ; for upon the knowledge thereof doth a due apprehension of the nature of that work depend. And the occasion of all the mistakes and errors that have been about it, either of old or of late, hath been a misunderstanding of the true state of men in their lapsed condi- tion, or of nature as depraved. Yea, and those by whom this whole work is derided do now countenance themselves therein by their ignorance of that state, which they will not learn either from the Scripture or experience; for, "natura sic apparet vitiata ut hoc majoris vitii sit non videre," as Austin speaks. It is an evidence of the cor- ruption of nature, that it disenables the minds of men to discern their own corruption. We have previously discharged this work so fai" as it is necessary unto our present purpose. Many other things might be added in the explication of it, were that our direct design. Particularly, having confined myself to treat only concerning the de-
238 THE NATURE, CAUSES, AND MEANS [BOOK III.
pravation of the mind and will, I have not insisted on that of the affections, which yet is effectual to retain unregenerate men under the power of sin ; though it be far enough from truth that the whole corruption of nature consists therein, as some weakly and atheolo- gically have imagined. Much less have I treated concerning that increase and heightening of the depravation of nature which is con- tracted by a custom of sinning, as unto all the perverse ends of it. Yet this also the Scripture much insists upon, as that which naturally and necessarily ensues in all in whom it is not prevented by the effectual transforming grace of the Spirit of God; and it is that which seals up the impossibility of their turning themselves to God, Jer. xiii. 23 ; Rom. iii. 10-19. But that the Avhole difficulty of conversion should arise from men's contracting a habit or custom of sinning is false, and openly contradictory to the Scripture. These things are personal evils, and befall individuals, through their own default, in various degrees. And we see that amongst men, under the same use of means, some are converted unto God who have been deeply immersed in an habitual course of open sins, whilst others, kept from them by the influence of their education upon their inclinations and affections, remain unconverted. So was it of old between the publi- cans and harlots on the one hand, and the Pharisees on the other. But my design was only to mention that which is common unto all, or wherein all men universally are equally concerned, who are par- takers of the same human nature in its lapsed condition. And what we have herein declared from the Scriptures will guide us in our inquiry after the work of the Holy Spirit of grace in our deliverance from it.
It is evident, and needs no farther confirmation, that persons liv- ing and dying in this estate cannot be saved. This hitherto hath been allowed by all that are called Christians ; nor are we to be moved that some who call themselves so do begin to laugh at the disease, and despise the remedy of our nature. Among those who lay any serious and real claim unto Christianity, there is nothing more cer- tain nor more acknowledged than that there is no deliverance from a state of misery for those who are not delivered from a state of sin. And he who denies the necessary perishing of all that live and die in the state of corrupted nature, denies all the use of the incarnation and mediation of the Son of God : for if we may be saved without the renovation of our natures, there was no need nor use of the nev/ creation of all things by Jesus Christ, which principally consists therein ; and if men may be saved under all the evils that came upon us by the fall, then did Christ die in vain. Besides, it is frequently expressed that men in that state are " enemies to God," " alienated from him," "children of wrath," " under the curse;" and if such may
CHAP, v.] OF REGENERATION. 299
be saved, so may de\dls also. In brief, it is not consistent with the nature of God, his holiness, righteousness, or truth, with the law or gospel, nor possible in the nature of the thing itself, that such per- sons should enter into or be made possessors of glory and rest with God. A deliverance, therefore, out of and from this condition is in- dispensably necessary to make us meet for the inheritance of the saints in light.
This deliverance must be and is by regeneration. The determi- nation of our Saviour is positive, both in this and the necessity of it, before asserted : John iii. 3, " Except a man be born again," or from above, " he cannot see the kingdom of God." Whatever sense the " kingdom of God" is taken in, either for that of grace here or of glory hereafter, it is all the same as unto our present purpose. There is no interest in it to be obtained, no participation of the benefits of it, unless a man be born again, unless he be regenerate. And this determination of our Saviour, as it is absolute and decretory, so it is applicable unto and equally compriseth every individual of mankind. And the work intended by their regeneration, or in being born again, which is the spiritual conversion and quickening of the souls of men, is everywhere ascribed unto them that shall be saved. And although men may have, through their ignorance and prejudices, false appre- hensions about regeneration and the nature of it, or wherein it doth consist, yet, so far as I know, all Christians are agreed that it is the way and means of our deliverance from the state of sin or corrupted nature, or rather our deliverance itself; for this both express testi- monies of Scripture and the nature of the thing itself put beyond contradiction, Tit. iii. 3-5. And those by whom it is exposed unto scorn, who esteem it a ridiculous thing for any one to inquire whether he be regenerate or no, will one day understand the necessity of it, although, it may be, not before it is too late to obtain any advantage thereby.