Prima the first things, in reference to the middle and last things

now is Christ formed in him, now is he transformed into a new creature, before he was in making a new man, but now he is made new, God the Father accepts him for his son, God the Son stamps on him the Image of his Father, but more immediately God the Holy Ghost hath thus moulded and fashioned him, as I have let you see him, and now he is born again] which except a man be,—he (shall not) cannot see the kingdom of God.

Lo here those steps that raise up a man to the state of regeneration, A sight of sin, Sense of misery, Sorrow for sin, Seeking for comfort, A sight of Christ, Desire after Christ, Relying on Christ, Obedience to Christ: one word more before we have done.

You see how God brings along the man whom he purposeth to make his; Use. 1 and yet let no truly humbled sinner be discouraged ⟨p. 39⟩if he observe not so distinctly the order of these steps, and especially in that degree as (you see) we have related; for if in substance and effect they have been wrought in them, if he have them in truth (though perhaps not in this degree) I dare pronounce of him, that he is surely born again. It is one of our worthies hath said it, that in our humiliations, and other preparative dispositions, we do not prescribe precisely just such a measure and quantity, we do not determine peremptorily upon such or such a degree and height, we leave that to the wisdom of our great Master in heaven, the only wise God, who is a most free agent: But sure we are, a man must have so much, and in that measure, as throughly to humble him, and then to bring him to his Saviour; he must be weary of all his sins, and of Satan's bondage wholly, willing to pluck out his right eye, and cut off his right hand, I mean to part with his best-beloved bosom lusts, to sell all, and not to leave so much as an hoof behind; he must see his danger, and so haste to the City of refuge; he must be sensible of his spiritual misery, that he may heartily thirst for mery; he must find himself lost and cast away in himself, that Christ may be all in all unto him; and after must follow an hatred of all false and evil ways for the time to come, a through-change of former courses, company, conversation, and setting himself in the way and practice of sobriety, honesty, and holiness. The sum is, of every soul is required thus much: first, a truly penitent sight, sense, and hatred of all sin: secondly, a sincere and unsatiable thirst after Jesus Christ, and righteousness, both imputed and inherent: thirdly, an unfeigned, and unreserved resolution of an universal new obedience for the time to come. If any man hath had the experience of these affections and effects in his own soul, whatsoever the measure be (less or more) he is safe enough, and may go on comfortably in the holy path.