A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is

Sixthly, Such is our weakness, That we cannot barden or soften our hearts in the least manner, but they remain obdurate and like brass and iron. Thy heart is like a stone within thee, and thou art no ways able to mollify it; Therefore God maketh it his work, and he graciously promiseth, I will take away the heart of stone (Ezek. 11. 19.) and give an heart of flesh; As if God had said, I know this work is above you, you are not able to do it: And certainly, if the godly themselves (because of the remainders of original corruption do complain of the hardness of their hearts,) cannot mollify or soften them, as they desire; Is it any wonder if the wicked man be not able to remove the stone from him.

Sixthly, Such is our weakness, That we cannot barden or soften our hearts in the least manner, but they remain obdurate and like brasse and iron. Thy heart is like a stone within thee, and thou art no wayes able to mollifie it; Therefore God maketh it his work, and he graciously promiseth, I will take away the heart of stone (Ezek. 11. 19.) and give an heart of flesh; As if God had said, I know this work is above you, you are not able to do it: And certainly, if the godly themselves (because of the remainders of original corruption doe complain of the hardnesse of their hearts,) cannot mollifie or soften them, as they desire; Is it any wonder if the wicked man be not able to remove the stone from him.

Seventhly, A man cannot by the power of nature believe, no not so much as with an historical faith, till grace prepare the heart therein. Now faith is the first foundation-stone, Heb. 11. He that cometh to God must believe he is, and so he must believe the truth about Christ; But we see by the Pharisees, who heard Christ preach, saw the wonderful miracles he did, yet in stead of believing in him did deride and oppose him; so that all the acts of faith, whether dogmatical or saving, we are enabled unto only by the grace of God,