First, The work of the Spirit of God in the regeneration of sinners, or the quickening of them who are dead in trespasses and sins, or'in their first saving conversion to God, doth not consist in a mor'al sua- sion only. By suasion we intend such a persuasion as may or may not be effectual ; so absolutely we call that only persuasion whereby a man is actually persuaded. Concerning this we must consider, — ■ ]. What it is that is intended by that expression, and wherein its efficacy doth consist; and, 2. Prove that the whole work of the
802 THE NATURE, CAUSES, AND MEANS [BOOK ITI.
Spirit of God in the conversion of sinners doth not consist therein. And I shall handle this matter under this notion, as that which is known unto those who are conversant in these things from the writ- ings of the ancient and modern divines; for it is to no purpose to endeavour the reducing of the extravagant, confused discourses of some present writers unto a certain and determinate stating of the things in difference among us. That which they seem to aim at and conclude may be reduced unto these heads: — (1.) That God ad- ministers grace unto all in the declaration of the doctrine of the law and gospel. (2.) That the reception of this doctrine, the belief and practice of it, is enforced by promises and threatenings. (3.) That the things revealed, taught, and commanded, are not only good in themselves, but so suited unto the reason and interest of mankind as that the mind cannot but be disposed and inclined to receive and obey them, unless overpowered by prejudices and a course of sin. (4.) That the consideration of the promises and threatenings of the gospel is sufficient to remove these prejudices and reform that course. (5.) That upon a compliance with the doctrine of the gospel and obedience thereunto, men are made partakers of the Spirit, with other privileges of the New Testament, and have a right unto all the promises of the present and future life. Now, this being a perfect system of Pelagianism, condemned in the ancient church as absolutely exclusive of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, will be fully removed out of our way in our present discourse, though the loose, confused expressions of some be not considered in particular; for if the work of our regeneration do not consist in a moral suasion, — which, as we shall see, contains all that these men will allow to grace, — their whole fabric falls to the ground of its own accord: —
] . As to the nature of this moral suasion^ two things may be con- sidered:— (1.) The means, instrument, and matter of it, and this is the word of God ; the word of God, or the Scripture, in the doctrinal instructions, precepts, promises, and threatenings of it. This is that, and this is that alone, whereby we are commanded, pressed, per- suaded, to turn ourselves and live to God. And herein we comprise the Avhole, both the law and the gospel, with all the divine truths contained in them, as severally respecting the especial ends where- unto they are designed ; for although they are distinctly and pecu- liarly suited to produce distinct effects on the minds of men, yet they all jointly tend unto the general end of guiding men how to live unto God, and to obtain the enjoynaent of him. As for those docu- ments and instructions which men have concerning the will of God, and the obedience which he requires of them from the light of na- ture, with the works of creation and providence, I shall not here take them into consideration : for either they are solitary, or without
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any superaddition of instructive liglit by revelation, and then I utterly deny them to be a sufficient outward means of the conversion of any one soul ; or they may be considered as improved by the written word as dispensed unto men, and so they are comprised under it, and need not to be considered apart. We will, therefore, suppose that those unto whom the word is declared have antecedaneously there- unto all the help which the light of nature will afford.
(2.) The principal way of the application of this means to pro- duce its effect on the souls of men is the 'tninistry of the church. God hath appointed the ministry for the application of the word unto the minds and consciences of men for their instruction and conversion. And concerning this we may observe two things: — [1.] That the word of God, thus dispensed by the ministry of the church, is the only ordinary outward means which the Holy Ghost niaketh use of in the regeneration of the adult unto whom it is preached. [2.] That it is every way sufficient in its own kind, — that is, as an outward means; for the revelation which is made of God and his mind thereby is sufficient to teach men all that is needful for them to believe and do that they may be converted unto God, and yield him the obedience that he requires. Hence two things do ensue: —
1st. That the use of those means unto men in the state of sin, if they are not complied withal, is sufficient, on the grounds before laid down, to leave them by whom they are rejected inexcusable : «o Isa. V. 3-5; Prov. xxix. 1; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 14-16.