A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

First; As to the first-Grace, I shall prove that it is God alone, by the Power of his own Spirit, which frames our Hearts to the Obedience of his Will. This vvill appear, by considering, 1. What Man is by Nature. 2. The Words by which our Cure is expressed, and the Way God takes to put us into a Course of Obedience. 3. What the Scripture speaks, as to the utter Impotency of Man, to the framing of his heart to the Obedience of God's Will.

First; As to the first-Grace, I shall prove that it is God alone, by the Power of his own Spirit, vvhich frames our Hearts to the Obedience of his Will. This vvill appear, by considering, 1. What Man is by Nature. 2. The Words by which our Cure is expressed, and the Way God takes to put us into a Course of Obedience. 3. What the Scripture speaks, as to the utter Impotency of Man, to the framing of his •eart to the Obedience of God's Will.

First; This will appear by those Motions or emphatical Terms, by which the Scripture doth set forth Man's Condition before God works upon him. He is one that is born in Sin: Psal. 51. 5. Behold I was shapen in Iniquity, and in Sin did my Mother conceive me; and things natural, are not easily altered. And as he is born in Sin, so he is greedy of Sin; Job 15. 16. He drinketh in Iniquity like Water; it noteth a vehement Propension; as greedy to Sin, as a thirsty Man to Drink. Thirst is the most implacable Appetite, Hunger is far better born: It is the constant frame of his Heart; Gen. 6. 5. Every Imagination of the thoughts of his Heart is only evil continually. O how many aggravating and increasing Circumstances are there named, &c. There is a Mint that is always at work; the Mind is coining evil Thoughts; and the Heart, evil Desires and carnal Motions; and the Memory is the Closet and Store-house where they are lodged and kept. This is the case of Man, born in Sin, greedy and thirsty of Sin, and one whose Thoughts are evil continually.