Sermons preached

1. That it is a natural, not a transient Effect. There may be such a Sense of the Goodness, Wisdom, and Power of God, as may produce a sudden Passion, as suppose of Fear or Love, it may only affect us for the present, but inferreth no Change of Heart and Life. There is an Impression we cannot deny, and an Impression suitable to those Apprehensions that we have of God; but it is not a constant Principle of holy spiritual Operation. But the Promises of the Gospel are to breed in us such a temper of Heart, as may be a second Nature to us, an Habit or Constitution of Soul, that ⟨p. 71⟩may incline us to live to God. A Habit serveth for this use, ut quis facilè, jucundè & constanter agat, that a Man may act easily, pleasantly and constantly. (1.) To act easily. There is an Inclination and Propensity to Holiness. God created all things with an Inclination to their proper Operations; as Air to ascend, and Water to descend. So the new Creature hath a tendency to those Actions that are proper to it. Their Hearts are bent to please God, and serve him, and do whatever they do with a kind of Naturalness, because of this Bent and Inclination. They act not only or barely as enjoined, but as inclined. The Law of God is in their Hearts, Heb. 8. 10. So act not by Constraint, but with a ready Mind. (2.) To act pleasantly. They have not only a new Bent, Bias and Tendency, but it is a Delight to do what is holy, Psal. 40. 8. as being in their Element when they are thus employed. What is against Nature is ingrate and harsh, but what is with Nature is sweet and pleasant. It is hard, a kind of Force to bring them to do the contrary. 1 Joh. 3. 9. There needeth some kind of Violence, to bring a good Man to sin, as also a naughty Man to do good. (3.) It is a constant Principle of holy Operations, so that a Man doth not only obey God easily, but evenly, and without such frequent Interruptions of the holy Life. Many do that which is good, or forbear evil uneasily, because of the Restraints of Providence, or Dictates of Conscience; and unevenly, by Fits and Starts. Psal. 106. 3. Blessed is he that keepeth Judgment, and doth Righteousness at all times. They are continually exercising of all Duties of Godliness, Righteousness and Mercy; for the Operations of Nature are constant, however impeded, obstructed, or diverted at certain times.