So it was with these in this place, in such a multitude now brought home to the faith, no question but many of them had enjoyed many means, and been long trained up in the Truth of the Scriptures, and the Doctrine of Moses, and the Prophets, yea, Paul professeth of himself before his Conversion, That he profited in the Jews Religion above many of his equals, and that he was exceeding zealous in his way: yet when the Lord met him in his way, and speaks to him from Heaven, he knew not what way to take; but Ananias is sent on purpose to teach him, Acts, 9. The ground is here when the Spirit comes to convince, to reveal sin to the soul, and a mans self to himself, things now begin to ⟨p. 576⟩be real, and seem other than ever formerly they did; sin is another thing, Grace, and Godliness, Faith, and Christ, and Salvation, are other things than formerly they did appear unto the soul. So that the sinner is as it were in another world, wonders where he hath been, and what he hath done, stands amazed at his own folly and madness, that he should so wonderfully mistake, that he should ever take contentment in those sinful carriages, which are the only cause of his ruin and confusion, sees he is gone so far out of the way, that how to get in again he is wholly ignorant. It's true, men speak much of sin, and can talk much of Christ, & may have heard and read much of faith, yet know nothing but empty words, not know the thing when they should use it: He that spells by rote, may be will not spell a Letter of the Book when he is put to read. So your formal Professors, Carnal Hearers, may be out of Custom and constant attendance upon the means, can make a shift to speak out their Lecture, and speak somewhat freely of Faith, and Christ, and Conversion, and yet come to distress, and feel the stroke of the Truth and terror in their hearts, if they be put to read to the use, and improvement of any thing heard; they know not the thing, nor their own hearts, nor yet the Nature of their distempers. So it was with […], our Saviour was constrained to point with that fescue, and put his finger upon the Word, and tell him, that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit; yet he is in a mist, understands not what Christ meant, nor what his own condition was, How can these things be? John, 3. 9.
So it was with these in this place, in such a multitude now brought home to the faith, no question but many of them had enjoyed many means, and been long trained up in the Truth of the Scriptures, and the Doctrine of Moses, and the Prophets, yea, Paul professeth of himself before his Conversion, That he profited in the Jews Religion above many of his equals, and that he was exceeding zealous in his way: yet when the Lord met him in his way, and speaks to him from Heaven, he knew not what way to take; but Ananias is sent on purpose to teach him, Acts, 9. The ground is here when the Spirit comes to convince, to reveal sin to the soul, and a mans self to himself, things now begin to ⟨p. 576⟩be real, and seem other than ever formerly they did; sin is another thing, Grace, and Godliness, Faith, and Christ, and Salvation, are other things than formerly they did appear unto the soul. So that the sinner is as it were in another world, wonders where he hath been, and what he hath done, stands amazed at his own folly and madness, that he should so wonderfully mistake, that he should ever take contentment in those sinful carriages, which are the only cause of his ruin and confusion, sees he is gone so far out of the way, that how to get in again he is wholly ignorant. It's true, men speak much of sin, and can talk much of Christ, & may have heard and read much of faith, yet know nothing but empty words, not know the thing when they should use it: He that spels by rote, may be wil not spel a Letter of the Book when he is put to read. So your formal Professors, Carnal Hearers, may be out of Custom and constant attendance upon the means, can make a shift to speak out their Lecture, and speak somwhat freely of Faith, and Christ, and Conversion, and yet come to distress, and feel the stroak of the Truth and terror in their hearts, if they be put to read to the use, and improvement of any thing heard; they know not the thing, nor their own hearts, nor yet the Nature of their distempers. So it was with 〈…〉, our Savior was constrained to point with that fescue, and put his finger upon the Word, and tel him, that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit; yet he is in a mist, understands not what Christ meant, nor what his own condition was, How can these things be? John, 3. 9.
