The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

2. The word of God (which is indeed the proper work of it) doth convert, regenerate, make men new creatures, not only civil, but godly, doing things from God, and through God, and to God. Herein the word of God discovers it self, to come from God, because it makes men of a divine nature. Every agent assimilates the Patient into its own nature: Fire will turn all things into fire: And thus the word of God coming from Heaven makes men heavenly. They that live under the Sun are coloured by the beams of it. Oh then, how cometh it about, that thou hast lived so long under the means, and knowest not these things? The Doctrine of Regeneration, of a new creature, thou art not able to bear. It's above thee, it's a riddle and a paradox to thee, as it was to Nicodemus. Paul speaks of these very Corinthians, That they were his epistle to be read and seen of all men, 2 Cor. 3.2. They were h•s walking epistle, what he had commanded them to do, they willingly did it; all might see, what preaching, what godly exhortations Paul gave by their lives. Oh it's an happy thing, when a Minister can say, You are our Sermons to be seen and read of all men! All men by your lives may see what is preached to you, and what you hear. Christ said to the Pharisees, You are of your Father the Devil, and his works you do. Let the contrary be applied to you, You are of God, and his words you do. Observe that place, John 8.47. Ye therefore hear not my words, because ye are not of God. See what terror is in this place. If a m•n receive not Gods word, and manifest it in his life, it is, because he is not of God. There is not a greater sign of reprobation, than disobedience to Gods will, and rejecting his Word preached.

2. The word of God (which is indeed the proper work of it) doth convert, regenerate, make men new creatures, not only civil, but godly, doing things from God, and through God, and to God. Herein the word of God discovers it self, to come from God, because it makes men of a divine nature. Every agent assimilates the Patient into its own nature: Fire will turn all things into fire: And thus the word of God coming from Heaven makes men heavenly. They that live under the Sunne are coloured by the beams of it. Oh then, how cometh it about, that thou hast lived so long under the means, and knowest not these things? The Doctrine of Regeneration, of a new creature, thou art not able to bear. It's above thee, it's a riddle and a paradox to thee, as it was to Nicodemus. Paul speaks of these very Corinthians, That they were his epistle to be read and seen of all men,