The new birthThe nevv birth

Now the whole word must be thus whetted upon the heart; not the Law alone, for that of it self will breed nothing but miserable terrors; not the Gospel alone, for that finding the heart unprepared to receive it, in such ill ground, will bring forth nothing but the stinking weeds of presumption: but both the Law and the Gospel, it so being tempered together, and obtaining a joint work in the soul, by their mutual forces, they may both produce the grace of sanctification. So then, if one would be regenerate, he must take to ⟨p. 111⟩himself the whole Word of God. He must set himself all alone to muse of it, saying to himself, These commandments the Law giveth to all mankind, & among the rest to me; these curses it denounceth against the transgressors of it, of which seeing I cannot deny my self to be one, the curses thereof belong unto me, and I, alas, I lie under them. But the Word of God hath showed me the way of escaping the curse: for Christ Jesus, the Son of God, was in our stead accursed, that we might be free from the curse and be partakers of that blessing, which was long since promised in him, saying, In thy seed shall all the Nations of the earth be blessed. Also the Word of God doth plainly declare, concerning all the sons of men,¹ that they have done a corrupt and abominable deed, and that none of them do good, no not one. It shuts them all under sin, and pronounceth them all the sons of wrath. But Jesus Christ is become the Saviour of mankind, and in him his Father is well pleased, and none that believe in him shall perish. Yea, in him is preached remission of sins, and life everlasting to all that believe in him, and rest upon his merits, as upon a perfect satisfaction; and he doth ratify all the sweet promises of the Law, to all that believe in him, and strive to obey him; so that for his sake, they shall obtain all the good things which the Law promiseth: but because we are all sinful, it cannot bestow them on us. I am a sinful wretch, I am a cursed creature, I am under Gods anger in my self; but Christ Jesus hath satisfied for my sins, he hath performed a perfect righteousness for me. I will go out of my self, I will renounce mine own righteousness and rest only in him, even upon him only;

Now the whole word must be thus whetted vpon the heart; not the Law alone, for that of it selfe will breed nothing but miserable terrours; not the Gospel alone, for that finding the heart vnprepared to receiue it, in such ill ground, will bring forth nothing but the stinking weedes of presumption: but both the Law and the Gospell, it so being tempered together, and obtaining a ioynt worke in the soule, by their mutual forces, they may both produce the grace of sanctification. So then, if one would be regenerate, he must take to