A third argument is taken from the state and condition of men by nature, before described; for it is such as that no man can be de- livered from it, but by that powerful, internal, effectual grace which we plead for, such as wherein the mind and will of man can act nothing in or towards conversion to God but as they are acted by grace. The reason why some despise, some oppose, some deride the work of the Spirit of God in our regeneration or conversion, or fancy it to be only an outward ceremony, or a moral change of life and conversa- tion, is, their ignorance of the corrupted and depraved estate of the souls of men, in their minds, wills, and affections, by nature; for if it
CHAP, v.] OF KEGENERATION. S29
be sucli as we have described, — that is, such as in the ScriiDture it is represented to be, — they caunot be so brutish as once to imagine that it may be cured, or that men may be dehvered from it, without any other aid but that of those rational considerations wliich some would have to be the only means of our conversion to God. We shall, therefore, inquire what that grace is, and what it must be, whereby we are delivered from it: —
1. It is called a vivijicatioii or quickening. We are by nature " dead in trespasses and sins,'' as hath been proved, and the nature of that death at large explained. In our deliverance from thence, we are said to be " quickened," Eph. ii. 5. Though dead, we " hear the voice of the Son of God, and live," John v. 25 ; being made '*' alive unto God through Jesus Christ," Eom. vi. 11. Now, no such work can be wrought in us but by an effectual communication of a prin- ciple of spiritual life ; and nothing else will deliver us. Some think to evade the power of this argument by saying that "all these expres- sions are metaphorical, and arguings from them are but fulsome metaphors : " and it is well if the whole gospel be not a metaphor unto them. But if there be not an impotency in us by nature unto all acts of spiritual life, like that which is in a dead man unto the acts of life natural; if there be not an alike power of God required imto our deliverance from that condition, and the working in us a principle of spiritual obedience, as is required unto the raising of him that is dead, — they may as well say that the Scripture speaks not truly as that it speaks metaphorically. And that it is almighty power, the " exceeding greatness of God's power," that is put forth and exercised herein, we have proved from Eph. i. 19, 20; Col. ii. 12, 13; 2 Thess. i. 11 ; 2 Pet. i. 3. And what do these men intend by this quickening, this raising us from the dead by the power of God? A persuasion of our minds by rational motives taken from the word, and the things contained in it ! But was there ever heard such a monstrous expression, if there be nothing else in it? What could the holy writers intend by calling such a work as this by a " quicken- ing of them who were dead in trespasses and sins through the mighty power of God," unless it were, by a noise of insignificant words, to draw us off from a right understanding of what is intended? And it is well if some are not of that mind.
2. The work itself wrought is our regeneration. I have proved before that this consists in a new, spiritual, supernatural, vital prin- ciple or habit of grace, infused into the soul, the mind, will, and affections, by the power of the Holy Spirit, disposing and enabling them in whom it is unto spiritual, supernatural, vital acts of faith and obedience. Some men seem to be inclined to deny all habits of grace. And on such a supposition, a man is no longer a lieliever
SSO THE NATURE, CAUSES, AND MEANS [bOOK III,
than he is in the actual exercise of faith ; for there is nothmg in him from whence he should be so denominated. But this would plainly overthrow the covenant of God, and all the grace of it. Others ex- pressly deny all gracious, supernatural, infused habits, though they may grant such as are or may be acquired by the frequent acts of those graces or virtues whereof they are the habits. But the Scrip- ture giveth us another description of this work of regeneration, for it consists in the renovation of the image of God in us: Eph. iv. 23, 24, " Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."' That Adam in innocency had a supernatural ability of living unto God habitually residing in him is generally acknowledged ; and although it were easy for us to prove that whereas he was made for a super- natural end, — namely, to live to God, and to come to the enjoyment of him, — it was utterly impossible that he should answer it or comply with it by the mere strength of his natural faculties, had they not been endued with a supernatural ability, which, with respect unto that end, was created with them and in them, yet we will not con- tend about terms. Let it be granted that he was created in the image of God, and that he had an ability to fulfil all God's commands, and that in himself, and no more shall be desired. This was lost by the fall. When this is by any denied, it shall be proved. In our regeneration, there is a renovation of this image of God in us: " Renewed in the spirit of your mind." And it is renewed in us by a creating act of almighty power : " Which after God," or according to his likeness, " is created in righteousness and true holiness." There is, therefore, in it an implantation of a new principle of spiritual life, of a life unto God in repentance, faith, and obedience, or universal holiness, according to gospel truth, or the truth which came by Jesus Christ, John i. ] 7. And the effect of this work is called " spirit:" John iii. 6, " That which is born of the Spirit is spirit." It is the Spirit of God of whom we are born ; that is, our new life is wrought in us by his efficiency. And that which in us is so born of him is spirit; not the natural faculties of our souls, — they are once created, once born, and no more, — but a new principle of spiritual obedience, whereby we live unto God. And this is the product of the internal immediate efficiency of grace.