The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

This is the true description of that Regenerate Sanctified state,¹ which the Spirit of Christ doth work on all whom he will save, and that are Christians indeed, and not in Name only. And certainly this is the Image of God's Holiness, and the just constitution and use of a reasonable Soul: And therefore he that bringeth men to this is a Real Saviour, (of whom more anon.)

1. 1Quatuor mirabilis fecit Deus: de Piscatore primum Ecclesiae pastorem: de persecutore magistrum & doctorem gentium: de publicano primum Evangelistam; de latrone primum Coelicolam. Chrysost. in Matth.

II. And it is very considerable, by what means, and in what manner all this is done: It is done by the preaching of the Gospel of Christ, and that in plainness and simplicity: The ⟨p. 283⟩curiosity of artificial oratory doth usually but hinder the success, as painting doth the light of windows:¹ It was a few plain men, that came with spiritual power, and not with the enticing words of humane wisdom, or curiosities of vain Philosophy, who did more in this work than any of their successors have done since. As in Naturals, every thing is apt to communicate its own nature, and not another's; heat causeth heat, and cold causeth cold;² so wit by communication causeth wit, and common learning causeth common learning; and so it is holiness and love which are fittest to communicate and cause holiness and love: which common qualifications are too low for (though they may be helpful in their several places and degrees.) what contemned instruments hath God used in the world, to do that for the regenerating of souls, which the greatest Emperors by their Laws, nor the subtlest Philosophers by their Precepts, did not? The Athenian Philosophers despised Paul, and Gallio counted his doctrine but a superstitious talk about names and words; but Satan himself despised not those, whom he tempted men to despise, but perceived they were like to be the ruin of his Kingdom, and therefore every where stirred up the most vehement furious resistance of them. It is evident therefore, that there is an inward effectual operation of the holy Ghost, which giveth success to these means, which are naturally in themselves so weak.