Englands duty under the present gospel liberty from Revel. III, vers. 20

That the Hearts of Men are naturally locked up and fast barred against Jesus Christ their only Saviour.

That the Hearts of Men are naturally lockt up and fast barr'd against Iesus Christ their only Saviour.

If it were not so, what need were there of all that pains and patience, used and exercised by Christ, in waiting patiently, and knocking importunately, for entrance into the Hearts of Men? To keep a clear method in this point, three things must be stated in the Doctrinal part,⟨p. 46⟩ 1. How it appears the Hearts of Men are thus shut up. 2. What are those Locks and Bars that shut them up. 3. That no Power of Man can remove these Bars.

First, That all Hearts are naturally shut and made fast against Christ, is a sad but certain truth; we read, John 1. 11, 12. He came unto his own, and his own received him not, &c. He came unto his own People from whose stock he sprang up; a People to whom he had been prefigured, in all the Sacrifices and Types of the Law; and in whom they might all clearly discern the accomplishment of them all. His Doctrines and his Miracles plainly told them who he was, and whence he came; yet few discerned or received him as the Son of God. Christ found the Doors of Mens Hearts generally shut against him, save only a few whose Hearts were opened by the Almighty Power of God, in the way of Faith, vers. 12. these indeed received him, but all the rest excluded and denied entrance to the Son of God. So again, in John 5. from 33. to 40. Christ reasons with them, and gives undeniable demonstrations, that he was the Messiah come to save them; proves it from the testimony of John vers. 33. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the Truth; Tells them the design of his coming among them was their Salvation, vers. 34. shows them the great Seal of Heaven, his uncontrollable Miracles, vess. 36. The Works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me: And if that were not enough, he reminds them of the