Secondly, consider whether there be in thee §2any alteration, and change: for in regeneration, there must be a corruption of sin, so that as seed in the ground, so sin in our souls, may decay, that the new man may be raised up, the spirit of God taking possession of our souls. Therefore the Evangelist John maketh this the first work of the1 spirit, that it shall convince the world of sin: which is so needful, that without it Christ Jesus can never enter into the heart: for he promiseth to dwell only with them, that are humble in spirit, and contrite ⟨p. 164⟩2in heart, through the sight of their iniquities, and of Gods displeasure justly deserved by the same: and calleth those alone unto him that are weary, and heavy laden, groaning and sighing under3 the burden of their sins. Thus we see, that to be rebuked in our consciences in this sort, is the first work of the spirit, which is also wrought4 by degrees. For §15first there is a great and general astonishment by reason of all those great and enormous sins that we have committed; and this doth strike us down, it doth terrify us, and hold us amazed wonderfully. §26Then it dealeth with us more particularly: it bringeth us unto a special grief for special sins; it doth bereave us of our chief desires; and bringeth us out of conceit and liking with the best things that are in7 us: for then it doth display before us the vanity and darkness of our understanding, how unfit and unmeet we are to understand and conceive those things, which do above all other most concern us: §38Then doth it let us see the corruption of our judgement, how in things belonging to God, we be as brute beasts, not able to discern things that differ, nor to put a sound difference between good and evil. §49Then doth it let us see that our reason is unreasonable, nay that it is hurtful unto us, a great enemy to faith, and a great patron of infidelity and unbelief. §510Then it cometh to our affections, and turneth them upside down: it turneth our mirth into mourning, our pleasure into painfulness, and our greatest delight into most ⟨p. 165⟩bitter grief. If it do proceed further, and come once to the heart, and to the stomach and courage that is in us, then it cutteth us to the quick;
Secondly, consider whether there be in thee §2any alteration, and change: for in regeneration, there must be a corruption of sin, so that as seed in the ground, so sin in our soules, may decay, that the new man may bee raised vp, the spirit of God taking possession of our soules. Therefore the Euangelist Iohn maketh this the first worke of the1 spirit, that it shall conuince the world of sin: which is so needful, that without it Christ Iesus can neuer enter into the heart: for hee promiseth to dwell only with them, that are humble in spirit, and contrite ⟨p. 164⟩2in heart, through the sight of their iniquities, and of Gods displeasure iustly deserued by the same: and calleth those alone vnto him that are wearie, and heauie laden, groning and sighing vnder3 the burthen of their sinnes. Thus we see, that to be rebuked in our consciences in this sort, is the first worke of the spirit, which is also wrought4 by degrees. For §15first there is a great and generall astonishment by reason of all those great and enormous sinnes that wee haue committed; and this doth strike vs downe, it doth terrifie vs, and hold vs amazed wonderfully. §26Then it dealeth with vs more particularly: it bringeth vs vnto a speciall griefe for speciall sinnes; it doth bereaue vs of our chiefe desires; and bringeth vs out of conceit and liking with the best things that are in7 vs: for then it doth display before vs the vanitie and darknes of our vnderstanding, how vnfit and vnmeete wee are to vnderstand and conceiue those things, which do aboue all other most concerne vs: §38Then doth it let vs see the corruption of our iudgement, how in things belonging to God, wee bee as bruit beasts, not able to discerne things that differ, nor to put a sound difference between good and euill. §4
- 1Joh. 16. 8.Ioh. 16. 8.
- 2Isai. 57. 15.
- 3Matth. 11.
- 4The Spirit worketh by degrees.
- 5A general astonishment. Rom. 8. 15.A generall astonishment. Rom. 8. 15.
- 6Weakness of understanding. 1. Cor. 2. 14.Weakenes of vnderstanding. 1. Cor. 2. 14.
- 7Rom. 7. 8.
- 8Corruption of judgement. Philip. 1. 9. 10.Corruption of iudgement. Philip. 1. 9. 10.
- 9Rom. 8. 6. 7. The unreasonableness of reason.Rom. 8. 6. 7. The vnreasonablenes of reason.
- 10The sinfulness of our affections. Acts 2.
