The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

1. He cannot recover his Primitive Holiness. This will appear by considering, that whatsoever is corrupted in its noble parts, can never restore it self; the power of an external agent is requisite for the recovering of its Integrity. This is verified by innumerable instances, in things artificial and natural. If a Clock be disordered by a fall, the Workman must mend it, before it can be useful. If Wine that is rich and generous declines by the loss of spirits, it can never be revived without a new supply. In the humane Body, where there is a more nobl• form, and more powerful to redress any evil that may happen to the parts, if a Gangrene seize on any Member, nothing can resist its course, but the application of outward means; it cannot be cured by the internal principles of its constitution. And proportionably in moral Agents, when the Faculties which are the principles of action are corrupted, it is impossible, without the virtue of a Divine cause, they should ever be restored to their original Rectitude. As the Image of God was at first imprinted on the Humane Nature by Creation, so the renewed Image is wrought in him by the same creating Power. This will be more evident by considering that inward and deep depravation of the Understanding and Will,¹ the ⟨p. 53⟩two Superior Faculties which command the rest.

1. He cannot recover his Primitive Holiness. This will appear by considering, that whatsoever is corrupted in its noble parts, can never restore it self; the power of an external agent is requisite for the recovering of its Integrity. This is verified by innumerable instances, in things artificial and natural. If a Clock be disorder'd by a fall, the Workman must mend it, before it can be useful. If Wine that is rich and generous declines by the loss of spirits, it can never be revived without a new supply. In the humane Body, where there is a more nobl• form, and more powerful to redress any evil that may happen to the parts, if a Gangrene seize on any Member, nothing can resist its course, but the application of outward means; it cannot be cured by the internal principles of its constitution. And proportionably in moral Agents, when the Faculties which are the principles of action are corrupted, it is impossible, without the virtue of a Divine cause, they should ever be restor'd to their original Rectitude. As the Image of God was at first imprinted on the Humane Nature by Creation, so the renewed Image is wrought in him by the same creating Power. This will be more evident by considering that inward and deep depravation of the Understanding and Will,