Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

Only this is here carefully to be observed, that we be not deceived herein. For this objection may be made; ¹Is this proper only to regenerate men? There are many men besides that were never acquainted with this work of regeneration, yet such a man finds resistance in himself, he finds something in himself that opposeth this Law of his members. For there is a natural conscience in a man, there is another Law which is like this Law of the mind, and it makes resistance in the natural man as well as it; which is spoken of, Rom. 2. 15. the Apostle there speaks ²of the Law written in the minds of the Gentiles; having not a Law, they do the things that are written in the Law, being a Law to themselves, &c. So that you must know and mark, that in a man that is yet but a mere natural man, that is not yet regenerate, there may be a very strong resistance of that which is evil: yea, he may make conscience of many things in secret, it may make him keep a constant course in the performance of many duties, when no eye seeth him. There is a certain vigour and strength in the natural conscience, which shows it self upon occasion, and yet it differeth much from that Law of the regenerate part, which fighteth against the Law of sin. You will say, how shall we know it?

Only this is here carefully to be observed, that we be not deceived herein. For this objection may be made; ¹Is this proper onely to regenerate men? There are many men besides that were never acquainted with this work of regeneration, yet such a man finds resistance in himself, he finds something in himself that opposeth this Law of his members. For there is a natural conscience in a man, there is another Law which is like this Law of the mind, and it makes resistance in the natural man as well as it; which is spoken of, Rom. 2. 15. the Apostle there speaks ²of the Law written in the minds of the Gentiles; having not a Law, they do the things that are written in the Law, being a Law to themselves, &c. So that you must know and mark, that in a man that is yet but a meer natural man, that is not yet regenerate, there may be a very strong resistance of that which is evil: yea, he may make conscience of many things in secret, it may make him keep a constant course in the performance of many duties, when no eye seeth him. There is a certain vigor and strength in the natural conscience, which shews it self upon occasion, and yet it differeth much from that Law of the regenerate part, which fighteth against the Law of sin. You will say, how shall we know it?