The first is spiritual, practical, and saving, The other not so, but may and doth stand with perishing. To say there is no difference between the working of the Spirit upon the understanding of an elect Vessel and a Hypocrite, till the elect answers the Call, and so having union with Christ; now the difference is made in the understanding, this I cannot embrace. To have a saving work in the will, in order of nature, before there be any in the understanding, I think is not rational: or, to say there is no difference at all as to the understanding, between a sound and unsound Convert, but the difference is only in the will, in that work which the Spirit putteth forth in the heart, this is atheological, and very absurd. To think that the Hypocrite, as to the light in his understanding, and dictate of his practical judgment, is as good, and the same that a sound Convert is; only this latter having saving grace infused into his will, and the Spirit there dwelling, acteth that grace, and determineth the will of the sound Convert to follow the ultimate dictate of his practical judgment, and not so in the Hypocrite; and hence arise all the differences between them; this I look on as an irrational figment. I oppose not all, but must maintain by what I see, as well as by what I read in Scripture, that the will must be renewed, the stony heart must be taken away, and the Physical determination of the will sanctified by the Spirit of God: but withal I affirm, that there is saving light, saving knowledge in the understanding of a sound Convert, differing from an Hypocrite: and I call it saving, not only a posteriori, because there are saving effects follow ⟨p. 34⟩this in the will, but I call it so a priori, as it is the work of the Spirit of the Covenant in the understanding of the elect Vessel drawing into Covenant: it is in its own nature as properly saving, or accompanying of Salvation, as any Grace in the will. Certainly that Teacher, John 6.45. makes his work, as Teacher, in all those whom he draws to Christ, differ from what the Hypocrite hath. Knowledge is a part of the Image of God, according to which we are renewed, Col. 3.10. then surely differs from an Hypocrites knowledge: Is the Image of God renewed in the Hypocrite as to knowledge? I believe it not. The whole work of Conversion is sometimes set out by Conviction, John 14.
The first is spiritual, practical, and saving, The other not so, but may and doth stand with perishing. To say there is no difference between the working of the Spirit upon the understanding of an elect Vessel and a Hypocrite, till the elect answers the Call, and so having union with Christ; now the difference is made in the understanding, this I cannot embrace. To have a saving work in the will, in order of nature, before there be any in the understanding, I think is not rational: or, to say there is no difference at all as to the understanding, between a sound and unsound Convert, but the difference is only in the will, in that work which the Spirit putteth forth in the heart, this is atheological, and very absurd. To think that the Hypocrite, as to the light in his understanding, and dictate of his practical judgment, is as good, and the same that a sound Convert is; only this latter having saving grace infused into his will, and the Spirit there dwelling, acteth that grace, and determineth the will of the sound Convert to follow the ultimate dictate of his practical judgment, and not so in the Hypocrite; and hence arise all the differences between them; this I look on as an irrational figment. I oppose not all, but must maintain by what I seel, as well as by what I read in Scripture, that the will must be renewed, the stony heart must be taken away, and the Physical determination of the will sanctified by the Spirit of God: but withall I affirm, that there is saving light, saving knowledge in the understanding of a sound Convert, differing from an Hypocrite: and I call it saving, not only a posteriori, because there are saving effects follow ⟨p. 34⟩this in the will, but I call it so a priori, as it is the work of the Spirit of the Covenant in the understanding of the elect Vessel drawing into Covenant: it is in its own nature as properly saving, or accompanying of Salvation, as any Grace in the will. Certainly that Teacher, John 6.45. makes his work, as Teacher, in all those whom he draws to Christ, differ from what the Hypocrite hath. Knowledge is a part of the Image of God, according to which we are renewed, Col. 3.10. then surely differs from an Hypocrites knowledge: Is the Image of God renewed in the Hypocrite as to knowledge? I believe it not. The whole work of Conversion is sometimes set out by Conviction, John 14.
