Spiritual refining

Fourthly, It is called Grace, because it enableth a man to do those things which exceed ¹all humane power. In this sense grace and nature are always immediately opposite; for as those common gifts of Gods spirit, working of miracles, speaking with tongues, and prophesying, are called grace, because not procured by humane industry, but vouchsafed by Gods benevolence; so much more the enabling of us weak and impotent sinners, to do that which is holy and heavenly, may much rather be called grace. This point, if rightly considered, would make men look upon grace as a more rare and admirable thing then men generally account it to be. Alas, thou livest as thou hast been trained up; thou walkest according to thy education, thou comest to holy Duties as the custom and manner is, but never thinkest until a ⟨p. 326⟩man be prepared by grace from above, he can no more do any thing holily then a poisonous serpent can vent honey. Grace therefore is that, which if once infused into a man, so far as that is operative, makes him live not as a man, much less as a beast, but upon Divine and heavenly principles; hence it is that the godly are said to be partakers of the divine nature, and Christ is said to live in them, Ephes. 3. Oh the heavenly Metamorphosis and change which is wrought on a man by grace: For how is it possible that a man should love the glory of God, more then his own comforts, wealth, or life it self, if a Divine power did not enable him? How could it be that a man should find more joy in God, then they have had when their wine and oil increaseth, did not grace work thus mightily? All civility, morality, ingenuity, and humane piety, or devotion, is but a ridiculous Ape to true grace.

Fourthly, It is called Grace, because it enableth a man to do those things which exceed ¹all humane power. In this sense grace and nature are alwaies immediately opposite; for as those common gifts of Gods spirit, working of miracles, speaking with tongues, and prophesying, are called grace, because not procured by humane industry, but vouchsafed by Gods benevolence; so much more the enabling of us weak and impotent sinners, to do that which is holy and heavenly, may much rather be called grace. This point, if rightly considered, would make men look upon grace as a more rare and admirable thing then men generally account it to be. Alas, thou livest as thou hast been trained up; thou walkest according to thy education, thou comest to holy Duties as the custome and manner is, but never thinkest until a