A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

These Expressions the Scripture useth to set out the Mystery of Grace, the Power of God that worketh in us. What is wanting in one, is supplied in another.

The third thing I shall produce; That the Scripture doth expressly deny any Power in Man to convert himself to God; 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural Man cannot know the things of the Spirit of God, because they are spiritually discerned; and as he cannot know, so he cannot obey; Rom. 8. 7. ⟨p. 288⟩The carnal Mind is Enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be; and they cannot please God; ver. 8. And they cannot come to Christ; John 6. 44. No Man can come to me, except the Father draw him: and they cannot do any thing without Christ: John 15. 15. And they cannot think a good Thought; 2 Cor. 3. 5. And they cannot bring forth good Fruit; Mat. 7. 18. And they cannot speak a good Word; Mat. 12. 34. And they cannot believe; John 12. 39. And they cannot do that which is good; Jer 13. 23. Ye that are accustomed to do Evil, cannot do Good. From whence doth all this Deficiency in them arise? partly from Nature, partly from Custom. Besides the natural, there's a customary and habitual Depravation. By Nature we are averse from God, and by Custom we are more confirmed in this evil Aversation from God. Man, by lying long in his Unregeneracy, hath his Averseness from God increased and strengthened upon him: Naturally we are in love with the World, and have declined God, and the things of God. Consider him in his Naturals, he cannot know the things of the Spirit;