The new birthThe nevv birth

this being one main aggravation of their pangs, that they cannot but desire, to be delivered out of those evils, which they cannot escape. But they, not having the supportation of the Spirit of God to underprop them with hope, do vanish in these desires, and lose the fruit of them for lack of a kindly working of them towards the Lord: for they be not lifted up to heaven-ward. But the man that ⟨p. 32⟩is now in framing a new, (being sustained with the fore-mentioned secret hope) hath vehement and settled wishes, fixed and fastened in him; whereby he thirsteth after the grace of God, not alone to save, but also to amend him. So the desires of the sanctified arising from the spirit, are differenced from the desires of the unsanctified, that are mere fruits of nature, (which would fain be well eased of an heavy burden) by these two things: First, that they are directed unto God, whereas the other are roving and confused desires. Secondly, by their being set, always, as well (often as much, sometimes more) upon holiness, as upon freedom from punishment: upon the getting of virtue and goodness, as upon the getting of an heavenly kingdom; whereas the heart of the unsanctified is so taken up, (when he must needs feel it) with the sense of his misery and punishment, that he cannot have while to settle any part of his longings, upon the renewing of his soul by grace; and so far is the work of a new birth well proceeded. The poor dead man, being so far awakened out of his senseless death in sin, that with great disquietment he feels it, and with heartiest workings of his soul doth covet to come out of it: which last I take to be the hungering and thirsting after righteousness; noted by our Saviour as a blessed note of blessedness.¹ In the third place, there is dropped into him the spirit of grace and supplications, by which he is at length emboldened to go unto God, and in some solemn and express manner, to utter his confessions and petitions; which before (perhaps) for some good space of time he could not dare to do. For the former two works of grace do often (a great while together) show themselves in ⟨p. 33⟩sighs and groans, and sudden & strong ejaculations, & secret & undissembled boilings up of desire, in deep wishes & longings, afore the poor sinner can take so much hart to himself, as to make a formed and settled prayer unto God.