The application of redemption

Look to the nature of that good which the soul is¹ to be made partaker of, It's a supernatural good, That which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor can it enter into the heart of man, what the Lord hath prepared for those that love him. 1 Cor. 2. 9. (It's meant not only of the things of glory, but the things of grace.)

1. 1Reas. 2.

Now a man is naturally and wholly corrupted and possessed with sin, Jo. 3. 6. That which is born of […] is flesh, that which comes by Generation is but either nature or corruption, Gal. 5. 19. The flesh lusteth against the spirit: Therefore it is beyond the power of the flesh to close with the spirit because contrary thereunto; therefore Paul concludeth it, Rom. 7. 14. The law is spiritual and I am carnal sold under sin; Again, that which must lift up Nature to act above its self, must be something above nature, for nothing can act beyond its own sphere and compass; Trees grow but they have not sense, Beasts have sense but not reason, Devils have […] but they cannot close with God; That that must cause the Dog not to return to his vomit again must change the nature of a Dog into a Lamb: It's beyond the power of darkness to bring light, so […]; It must be as the Apostle expresseth it, 2 Cor. 4. 6. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, that must shine into our hearts to give the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ. […] is the […] of power, not only to work something out of nothing, but something out of that which is contrary to it; And therefore this work of the Application of Redemption to a lost sinner, is harder than the work of Creation it self, for as the Lord had nothing then to help him, so he had nothing to hinder him in Creating the World; but here the Lord must take […]