A plain and familiar exposition of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of the…A plaine and familiar exposition of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of the…

Reasons. 1 First, there is a disability in the nature of every man, as it now standeth corrupted, to be any way truly religious. There is a covering (as the Prophet saith) that covereth all people, and ¹a veil spread upon all Nations. Their minds are dark: Their hearts are hard: Their affections perverse. Repent they cannot, believe they cannot, and pray they cannot, unless they be effectually informed by the word of the Lord. How shall ²they call on him (saith S. Paul) in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a Preacher?

Reasons. 1 First, there is a disabilitie in the nature of euery man, as it now standeth corrupted, to be any way truly religious. There is a couering (as the Prophet saith) that couereth all people, and ¹a veile spread vpon all Nations. Their mindes are darke: Their hearts are hard: Their affections peruerse. Repent they cannot, beleeue they cannot, and pray they cannot, vnlesse they be effectually informed by the word of the Lord. How shall ²they call on him (saith S. Paul) in whom they haue not beleeued? And how shall they beleeue in him, of whom they haue not heard? And how shall they heare without a Preacher?

1. 1Isa. 25. 7.
2. 2Rom. 10 14.

Secondly, neither Satan nor the world will relinquish the holds which they keep in mens hearts, before they be thrust out of possession by the power of Gods holy spirit: and the holy spirit of God doth usually work by the ministry of the word.