The new birthThe nevv birth

Further, as it were a reflex of this knowledge, follows an apprehension of himself, as of a most mean, base, and contemptible thing (compared to God) in his very creation; for he was made of dust, and came of very nothing: but in this his corruption, ⟨p. 71⟩which came afterwards, as a most loathsome vile and abominable creature; because he is (now he finds it) full of wickedness and extremely sinful. So grows he more and more to dis-esteem himself, and to have himself in no reputation; yea to be vile and odious to himself, and loathsome in his own eyes; and by acknowledging his infinite baseness in comparison of God, & Gods infinite excellencies in comparison of him, he is made truly humble. Secondly, faith is wrought in his mind (for this I conceive to be the seat of it, for it is the understanding that must diduct particular conclusions from general; and so make application of them, wherein consists the very essence of faith), faith (I say) both in God, and in the word of God. Faith in God, whereby he is verily persuaded that God is his God; being enabled in true and sound manner, to apply to himself the sweet covenant of God, whereby the Lord hath made himself one with him, he can say with assurance of heart, O Lord my God: and, the Lord is my shepherd; and my Redeemer liveth. For in truth, finding the lively portraiture of the divine nature in him, how should he but know his father by his image? & this assurance that God is his, & he Gods, is to him the sweetest thing in all the world; than to miss which, he had rather choose to miss his very life & soul. The stronger it is, the more cheerful & happy is he; the weaker it is (as sometimes it hath its faintings), the less lively is he. There is also faith in the word of God to be seen in him: out of an experimental feeling, and certainty of the truth of it, he is undoubtedly resolved that it is from God; and that so, as he is enabled to apply it to himself in all the parts thereof. For having been to him, as Paul speaketh, in power,¹ it must ⟨p. 72⟩needs also be in much assurance. Before the word of God doth work so mightily, to convert the soul, a man may have a confused opinion of its being true, taken up upon trust (because in the places, and among the persons, where he hath received his education, it is so generally accounted);