A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

If the Scripture had only said, that Man had accustomed himself to Sin, and were not born in Sin: If it had said that Man is very prone, and not greedy and thirsty in Iniquity: If it had only said that Man did often think Evil, but not continually: If the Scripture had said, that Man were somewhat obstinate, but not a Stone, an Adamant, and like the nether Millstone: That he had been indifferent to God and the World, God and the Flesh, and not a professed Enemy: That he had been a Captive of Sin, and not a Servant of Sin: That Man had been weak, and not dead: only a Neuter, and not a Rebel: Then there might have been something in Man; and the work of Conversion and reducing to God had not been so great: But the Scripture saith the quite contrary, that Man is all this and much more; therefore this clears it up, that his Conversion is not in himself, but it is God must work this good Work upon him, or else he can never be renewed.

If the Scripture had only said, that Man had accustomed himself to Sin, and were not born in Sin: If it had said that Man is very prone, and not greedy and thirsty in Iniquity: If it had only said that Man did often think Evil, but not continually: If the Scripture had said, that Man were somewhat obstinate, but not a Stone, an Adamant, and like the nether Milstone: That he had been indifferent to God and the World, God and the Flesh, and not a professed Enemy: That he had been a Captive of Sin, and not a Servant of Sin: That Man had been weak, and not dead: only a Neuter, and not a Rebel: Then there might have been something in Man; and the work of Conversion and reducing to God had not been so great: But the Scripture saith the quite contrary, that Man is all this and much more; therefore this clears it up, that his Conversion is not in himself, but it is God must work this good Work upon him, or else he can never be renewed.

Secondly; Let us consider the Terms how the Cure is wrought: Certainly to remedy so great an Evil, requireth an Omnipotent, an Almighty Power. Therefore see how Conversion is described in Scripture; sometimes by enlightening the Mind; Ephes. 1. 18. The Eyes of your Understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his Calling, &c. Man, the best Creature on this side Heaven, is stark blind in the things of God: If he should go to see with the Light of Nature, how would he grope at Noon-day? If he should put on the Spectacles of Art, he will be but little better. Nay, let him take further, the Glass of the Word, yet how blind in a spiritual sense. Something there must be done upon the Faculty; the Object must not only be revealed, but the Eye must be enlightened: There are thick Scales upon his Eye, as Paul had in his Blindness, that must be taken off, before he can see into the things of God.