Thus, upon the first preaching of the gospel, many were convinced of its truth, and took upon them its profession, merely on account of the miracles that were wrought in its confirmation, whose hearts and minds were not in the least reconciled unto the things contained in it. See John ii. 23, 24; Acts viii. 13.
Some*are so far prevailed with as to acknowledge its truth, by the efficacy of its dispensation as an ordinance of God for their convic- tion and instruction, and yet do not part with their enmity against it,
’ See the treatise on Indwelling Sin, vol. vi.
ENMITY A CAUSE OF APOSTASY. — 83
_ Thus John was among the Jews as “a burning and a shining light,” and they rejoiced for a season in his ministry, John v. 35, insomuch. _ that the body of the people were initiated into his doctrine by the token and pledge of it in baptism, Matt. ii, 5, 6; but though all of them confessed their sins, according to his direction, very few for- sook them, according to their duty. When both these concurred, preaching and miracles, in an eminent -manner, as when our Saviour preached on his feeding five thousand with five barley loaves and two small fishes, being prepared in their minds by the miracle they saw, they were so affected with his doc- trine about “the bread of life that came down from heaven,” that they cried out, “ Lord, evermore give us this bread,” John vi. 34; but, their natural enmity unto spiritual things being yet uncured, upon his procedure to instruct them in heavenly mysteries, they put in exceptions to his doctrine, verses 41, 52, 60, and immediately for- sook both him and it, verse 66. And our Saviour assigns the reason of their defection to have been their unbelief, and that it was not ' given unto them of the Father to come unto him, verses 64, 65, or the enmity of their carnal minds was yet unremoved. Hence what they esteemed a hard and unintelligible saying, verses 52, 60, his _ true disciples understood to be “ the words of eternal life,” verse 68.
In process of time, many are prepossessed with notions of the truth of the gospel in their education, by the outward means of instruction that have been applied unto them; but yet, notwithstanding this advantage, they may still abide under the power of this depravation of their minds.
Evangelical truths being by these or the like means entertained in the minds of men, which are also variously affected with them, they will move and act towards their proper end and design. And hereof there are three parts:—
1. To take off the soul of man from rest and satisfaction in atself, as unto present peace in the condition wherein it is, and hope of - future blessedness by its own endeavours; for neither of these are _ we capable of in our depraved, apostate state. Wherefore the first - _ work of the gospel is to influence, guide, and direct the minds of men to renounce themselves as to these ends, and to seek after _ righteousness, life, peace, and blessedness, by Jesus Christ.
' 2. The renovation of our minds, wills, and affections, into the image or likeness of God, is another part of its design. And this it doth by presenting spiritual things unto us in that light and evidence, with that power and efficacy, as to transform us into their likeness, or to bring the substantial image of them upon our whole souls, 2 Cor. iii. 18; Eph. iv. 28, 24; Col. iti. 10.
3. It engageth the whole soul, in all its powers and faculties, through
84 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
the whole course of its activity, or in all it doth, to live unto God in all holy obedience, Rom. xu. 1. ' But when this work, or any part of it, is urged on the consciences and practice of men, they like it not in any measure. The uncured enmity whereof we speak riseth up in opposition unto them all. It begins to suppose that it hath admitted a troublesome inmate, that came in, as it were, to sojourn, and will now be a judge. Whilst the mind is exercised only about the notions of truth in speculation and reasonings, it is satisfied and pleased with them; yea, it will come unto a compliance with its guidance in sundry things and duties which it may perform, and yet abide upon its old foundations of self- sufficiency and satisfaction, Mark vi. 20. But when, in pursuit of the ends before mentioned, the gospel presseth to take men off wholly from their old foundations and principles of nature, to work them unto a universal change in powers, faculties, operations, and ends, to make them new creatures, it proves irksome unto that enmity which is predominant in them; which therefore stirreth up all the lusts of the mind and the flesh, all the deceitful policies of the old man and powers of sin, all carnal and unmortified affections, in opposition unto it. Hence spiritual truths are first neglected, then despised, and at last, on easy terms, parted withal. For men, by conviction, and on rational grounds or motives, whether natural or spiritual, may receive that as truth, and give an assent unto it, which, when it should be reduced unto practice, the will and affec- tions will not comply withal. So it is said of some, that odx é6ox/- paca riv Osby exe ev exryvwioe, Rom. 1. 28,—“ it liked them not,” it pleased them not, they approved not of it, “to hold,’ retain, or keep, “ God in their knowledge,” or to continue in that acknow- ledgment of him whereof they were convinced. The inbred notions which they had by the light of nature, with their consideration of the works of creation and providence, gave them conceptions and apprehensions of the being and power of God, verses 19, 20. Hereby they are said to “ know God,” as they did with respect to the things mentioned ; that is, the essential properties of his nature,—“his eter- nal power and Godhead,” verse 21. This knowledge, these notions and conceptions, did immediately direct them to “glorify him as God,” in holy worship and obedience, as it is expressed in the same verse; but this, through the depravation of their minds and affec- tions, they liked not, and therefore would not retain this knowledge — of him, but gave themselves up unto all abominable idolatries and brutish lusts, which were inconsistent therewithal, as the apostle at large declares. Wherefore, even as unto divine things that are con- veyed unto us by natural light, and such as is unavoidable unto all mankind, the will, the affections, and the practical understanding