The first Beam of saving Grace shines into the Mind with so strong a Light, discovering Spiritual and Eternal Things in their Reality and Glory, that the Will and Affections are drawn to choose, and embrace, and to follow them with Zeal and Constancy. In this blessed Work, we are to consider the Revelation of the Object, and the Irradiation of the Mind. As in the discerning of Corporal things, there must be Light in the Eye, or there can be no Seeing, and Light in the Air, or there can be no Sight: So the great Mysteries of Godliness, ⟨p. 297⟩which are of impossible discovery without Revelation, are made known in the Gospel; and the Understanding is illuminated to see them in their Reality and transcendent Goodness, as the Apostle expresses, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all Acceptation, that Jesus Christ is come into the World to save Sinners. He prays for the Ephesians, That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1the Father of Glory, may give them the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, in the Knowledge of him; that the Eyes of their Understanding being enlightened, they may know what is the Hope of his Calling, and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints. Although the Evidence of Faith be not so clear as that of Sense, yet 'tis so sure, that the Adherence of Faith is more firm to its Objects, tho future, than of Sense to things present. With the Irradiation of the Mind there is such a determining ⟨p. 298⟩fluence on the Will and the Affections, that Christ and Heaven are joyfully chosen before all things. In converting Sinners there is not a bare proposal of the Objects of Faith, with the Motives to believe and accept them, and Men are left to their own Discretion and Choice: The Holy Ghost who certainly knows the manner and efficacy of his own Operations, expresses converting Grace by the exceeding Greatness of his Power toward 2them that believe, according to the working of his mighty Power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the Dead, and set him at his own Right-hand in Heaven. 'Tis true, the Principle of Resistance in corrupt Nature is not quite extinguished; but actual Resistance is overcome by the holy Spirit, who works to will and to do of his good Pleasure.
The first Beam of saving Grace shines into the Mind with so strong a Light, discovering Spiritual and Eternal Things in their Reality and Glory, that the Will and Affections are drawn to choose, and embrace, and to follow them with Zeal and Constancy. In this blessed Work, we are to consider the Revelation of the Object, and the Irradiation of the Mind. As in the discerning of Corporal things, there must be Light in the Eye, or there can be no Seeing, and Light in the Air, or there can be no Sight: So the great Mysteries of Godliness, ⟨p. 297⟩which are of impossible discovery without Revelation, are made known in the Gospel; and the Understanding is illuminated to see them in their Reality and transcendent Goodness, as the Apostle expresses, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all Acceptation, that Jesus Christ is come into the World to save Sinners. He prays for the Ephesians, That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1the Father of Glory, may give them the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, in the Knowledg of him; that the Eyes of their Understanding being inlightened, they may know what is the Hope of his Calling, and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints. Altho the Evidence of Faith be not so clear as that of Sense, yet 'tis so sure, that the Adherence of Faith is more firm to its Objects, tho future, than of Sense to things present. With the Irradiation of the Mind there is such a determining ⟨p. 298⟩fluence on the Will and the Affections, that Christ and Heaven are joyfully chosen before all things. In converting Sinners there is not a bare proposal of the Objects of Faith, with the Motives to believe and accept them, and Men are left to their own Discretion and Choice: The Holy Ghost who certainly knows the manner and efficacy of his own Operations, expresses converting Grace by the exceeding Greatness of his Power toward 2them that believe, according to the working of his mighty Power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the Dead, and set him at his own Right-hand in Heaven. 'Tis true, the Principle of Resistance in corrupt Nature is not quite extinguish'd; but actual Resistance is overcome by the holy Spirit, who works to will and to do of his good Pleasure.
- 1Ephes. 1.
- 2Ephes. 1.
