And with holy Love there is a spiritual Power communicated, that both the natural averseness & impotence ⟨p. 112⟩to what is good may be healed. By the virtue of the sanctifying Spirit, the Soul that was dead, absolutely unable to perform spiritual and supernatural Acts, is revived to a kind of Omnipotence, it can do all things, required by the Evangelical Covenant, by the new Law that is in the hands of our merciful Mediator for Salvation. 'Tis true, there are relics of sin in the best, and the Flesh and Spirit are repugnant Principles warring against one another: but the holy Spirit will make no capitulation or composition with sin, but is so predominant that sin is gradually subdued, and does not so freely and frequently break forth, as it does from the unrenewed. By the accession of his strength we are enabled to mortify the deeds of the Body, to crucify the Flesh with the affections ⟨p. 113⟩and lust thereof: And to perform holy Duties, with freedom, alacrity and zeal, in such a manner as is acceptable to God. In short, saving Grace is distinguished from that which is common to the unregenerate, by its prevalency and constancy. There may be a declination in the Saints tending to a downfall; but the Seed of God, that supernatural Grace that remains in them, will by the power of the holy Spirit recover the supremacy. Others may be enlightened, and feel some good motions, and transient touches, as Saul had his rapture among the Prophets; but they are not truly, entirely, and perseveringly converted to God. They are not proof against the allurements or terrors of the World. They make a fair profession till they are tried by temptations. Congealed drops of water ⟨p. 114⟩appear like solid Chrystal, till the warm beams of the Sun dissolve them, and discover the hypocrisy of the Chrystal. False Jewels may seem to have the lustre of Diamonds, till they are broke by a fall, and discovered to be Glass. Thus the Riches, the Honours and Pleasures of the Flesh melt some, and temporal Evils break the resolutions of others, and make it evident they were not sincere Converts. But where the holy Spirit savingly works, he is said to dwell: he is not like a Passenger, or a Tenant at will, that neglects the House, and suffers it to fall into ruin, but as the Proprietary and Owner he keeps perpetual residence in true Christians, and by his continual influence preserves them from final Apostasy.
And with holy Love there is a spiritual Power cōmunicated, that both the natural averseness & impotence ⟨p. 112⟩to what is good may be healed. By the virtue of the sanctifying Spirit, the Soul that was dead, absolutely unable to perform spiritual and supernatural Acts, is revived to a kind of Omnipotence, it can do all things, required by the Evangelical Covenant, by the new Law that is in the hands of our merciful Mediator for Salvation. 'Tis true, there are reliques of sin in the best, and the Flesh and Spirit are repugnant Principles warring against one another: but the holy Spirit will make no capitulation or composition with sin, but is so predominant that sin is gradually subdued, and does not so freely and frequently break forth, as it does from the unrenewed. By the accession of his strength we are enabled to mortify the deeds of the Body, to crucify the Flesh with the affections ⟨p. 113⟩and lust thereof: And to perform holy Duties, with freedom, alacrity and zeal, in such a manner as is acceptable to God. In short, saving Grace is distinguisht from that which is common to the unregenerate, by its prevalency and constancy. There may be a declination in the Saints tending to a downfal; but the Seed of God, that supernatural Grace that remains in them, will by the power of the holy Spirit recover the supremacy. Others may be enlightned, and feel some good motions, and transient touches, as Saul had his rapture among the Prophets; but they are not truly, entirely, and perseveringly converted to God. They are not proof against the allurements or terrors of the World. They make a fair profession till they are try'd by temptations. Congealed drops of water ⟨p. 114⟩appear like solid Chrystal, till the warm beams of the Sun dissolve them, and discover the hypocrisie of the Chrystal. False Jewels may seem to have the luster of Diamonds, till they are broke by a fall, and discovered to be Glass. Thus the Riches, the Honours and Pleasures of the Flesh melt some, and temporal Evils break the resolutions of others, and make it evident they were not sincere Converts. But where the holy Spirit savingly works, he is said to dwell: he is not like a Passenger, or a Tenant at will, that neglects the House, and suffers it to fall into ruine, but as the Proprietary and Owner he keeps perpetual residence in true Christians, and by his continual influence preserves them from final Apostacy.
