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

Yet mistake me not: I say not the substance of the soul is changed, for the soul in substance is the same as it was before. But here is the difference, when the spirit comes, it puts new qualities and habits unto it, it alters and changes the disposition of it, it gives it that sense which before it felt not, and the sight which before it saw not: hence it is throughly changed in regard of the quality, and disposition of what it was, and yet in substance remains the same; as for example, put iron into the fire, the iron is the same it was in substance before it came into the fire: but now it hath another quality; it was cold, and stiff, and hard, and unpliable; but now it is hot, soft, and pliable: and this change is throughout in every part of it, and yet it is iron still; So it is with the spirit, when it comes into the heart of a Christian; he mingleth, and infuseth spiritual life into all the parts of the soul, and therefore it is said, if the Spirit of Christ be in you, the body is dead as touching sin, but the Spirit is alive: That is, he is like a tree that wants both sap and root: or as a man that is dead that wants a soul: he is now dead whatsoever he was before; Therefore examine if this through and great change be you: see then what death there is in you to sin, and what life unto holiness: I call it a thorough and great change, because a little one will never bring you into such a frame as to be fit for Heaven: And again the Apostle calls it a great change in Rom. 12. 2. ¹Be you met amorphosed; That is throughly changed, new moulded again: In the 1 Cor. 3. You are (saith the Apostle) ²changed from glory to glory: and therefore consider that every change will not serve the turn: but it must be a great change, the changing of Christs spirit for your own spirit: which if you have, then shall you come out of every affliction, & every difficulty like gold out of the furnace, like cloth out of the die: of Lions you shall be made Lambs, of Serpents Doves: Therefore see if this change be in you or no. If this change be in you, Then when your old guest, that is your old lusts shall come and find ⟨p. 99⟩that their old companions be cast out of doors, and that the soul is swept and changed, they will not stay, but seek abiding elsewhere. And on the contrary if your opinions of sin be the same: