Sermons preached

2. It teaches us to magnify this renewing Work. If you think the Cure is no great matter, it will necessarily follow that it deserveth no great praise, and so God will be robbed of the Honour of our Recovery. But why then is this Work so magnified in the Scriptures, and such high Expressions used about it? Why is it called an opening of our blind Eyes, a turning us from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan to God; a quickening them that were dead, and making us new Creatures? Why must the Holy Ghost be shed so abundantly upon us for our Renovation? Surely it is some great thing which all these Expressions do intend, and should be more magnified in our thoughts, that we may give God his due praise and honour. And they sin greatly that have contemptuous thoughts or a low esteem of it, or see not the absolute necessity of it; and by extenuating this great Change, give shrewd suspicion they were never acquainted with it. Surely all that have felt what God hath done for their Souls, they know how little they have contributed to it, they dare not make light of it, and ascribe it to their own Wit or Will, or entertain undervaluing thoughts of this Grace. Alas! there is an Enmity in every carnal Heart against Holiness, till God remove it and subdue it, Rom. 8. 7. Col. 1. 21. And what shall conquer this Enmity, but his invincible Power? Surely this is the gracious and powerful Work of the ever-blessed GOD, and to be ascribed to Him alone. Can a stony Heart of it self become tender? Or a dead Heart quicken it self? Or a Creature wholly led by ⟨p. 379⟩Sense, and addicted to the Pleasures of Sin, be brought of it self to seek its Happiness in an unseen World, and of its own accord deny present things, and lay up all its Hopes in Heaven? No, it is God must take away the Heart of Stone, quicken those that are dead in Trespasses and Sins.

2. It teaches us to magnify this renewing Work. If you think the Cure is no great matter, it will necessarily follow that it deserveth no great praise, and so God will be robbed of the Honour of our Recovery. But why then is this Work so magnified in the Scriptures, and such high Expressions used about it? Why is it called an opening of our blind Eyes, a turning us from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan to God; a quickning them that were dead, and making us new Creatures? Why must the Holy Ghost be shed so abundantly upon us for our Renovation? Surely it is some great thing which all these Expressions do intend, and should be more magnified in our thoughs, that we may give God his due praise and honour. And they sin greatly that have contemptuous thoughts or a low esteem of it, or see not the absolute necessity of it; and by extenuating this great Change, give shrewd suspicion they were never acquainted with it. Surely all that have felt what God hath done for their Souls, they know how little they have contributed to it, they dare not make light of it, and ascribe it to their own Wit or Will, or entertain undervaluing thoughts of this Grace. Alas! there is an Enmity in every carnal Heart against Holiness, till God remove it and subdue it,