Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

II. I Am now to consider the Means by which Men are wrought on to accept of the Invitations of Grace in the Gospel. The Sum of what has been discoursed of sinful and miserable Man is this, The Understanding, the directing Faculty, is in ignorant Darkness, and a dead Slumber, not apprehensive of his Misery. A dead Eye does not see its want of Sight, nor a dead Heart feel its want of Life. If the Head be obstructed with clammy Humours, ⟨p. 285⟩the whole Body is without Sense: for the Nerves have their Root in the Brain, and are the Channels to convey powerful Spirits, to give Sense, and Vigour, and Motion to all the Parts. The Will is a fierce and free Faculty, commanding and active, perverted and stubborn against the holy Law of God. The Affections are exceedingly disordered, and strongly inclined to sensual Things that flatter them with Satisfaction, and very tumultuous and fiery against whatever shall cross their natural Inclinations. Now how can one so stupid and refractory, be made soft and flexible to the Call of Mercy? As the Epicurean in Tully objects against the making of the World, quae machinae qui vectes, What Engines, what Levers were used in raising this vast Fabric? What he spoke in Derision, may be said with Wonder; What Engines, what Instruments ⟨p. 284⟩[…] ⟨p. 285⟩[…] ⟨p. 286⟩are used in craning up a Soul sunk below the Centre, to the highest Heaven! What in making the new Creation, that is more glorious and lasting than the first! 'Tis a Work respectively impossible, not absolutely, it can only be effected by the Power of God.

II. I Am now to consider the Means by which Men are wrought on to accept of the Invitations of Grace in the Gospel. The Sum of what has been discoursed of sinful and miserable Man is this, The Understanding, the directing Faculty, is in ignorant Darkness, and a dead Slumber, not apprehensive of his Misery. A dead Eye does not see its want of Sight, nor a dead Heart feel its want of Life. If the Head be obstructed with clammy Humours, ⟨p. 285⟩