And 2. Because though many good Gifts, and moral virtues may be said to be supernatural, i. e. above the power of Nature to work, yet never above the improvement of nature: for let God work never so many good things in men, nature, i e an ill stomach when diseased, is strongest, there Nature turns all into the ⟨p. 29⟩humour, and so a man dyes at last; so the power of sin in Nature being more powerful than any Grace which by common work is given it. ever turns that Grace into it self, and leads it into captivity, bondage, and service of it self; so that there is never a Grace but 'tis made to serve some lust, as in Jehu, in Judas, &c. and God complains, Isai. 43. 24. So this I say is the case of thousands unregenerate, who can do many good things, but from themselves, which God […] wrought to: and hence many a child of God hath been long •indred from conversion, and others not converted at all, because they have thought wicked men whom God minds to damn, are such as have no good, nor do no good, •• if they do, they have it not from God; but 'tis not so with me, for I have and do many good things, which I acknowledge come from God, and I thank God I am not as other men. Now mark, 'tis true, nakedly considered no good could come from unregenerate men, but yet the Lord gives power to many to do, so the Lord hath done to thee, and thou hast been thankful for it. And this is common, many account themselves great sinners, but yet they can believe: many say they can do little, but their desire and will at worst is to do: tell them these are not right, unless they come from the Lord, they will say the Lord doth all, and they acknowledge it, and so I believe, and 'tis true, but 'tis not such a work of the Lord as is peculiar to the Elect, because when the Lord hath wrought these, you act only from them, and hence never feel a want of these, for the Lord never yet wrought any Grace in his people, but after they have had it, and tasted of it, he hath more or less deserted them, and so hath made them feel a want of it, and made them fetch it again with sighs, and groans, and tears; now it hath never been so with thee.
And 2. Because though many good Gifts, and moral vertues may be said to be supernatural, i. e. above the power of Nature to work, yet never above the improvement of nature: for let God work never so many good things in men, nature, i e an ill stomack when diseased, is strongest, there Nature turns all into the ⟨p. 29⟩humor, and so a man dyes at last; so the power of sin in Nature being more powerful than any Grace which by common work is given it. ever turns that Grace into it self, and leads it into captivity, bondage, and service of it self; so that there is never a Grace but 'tis made to serve some lust, as in Iehu, in Iudas, &c. and God complains, Isai. 43. 24. So this I say is the case of thousands unregenerate, who can do many good things, but from themselves, which God 〈…〉 wrought to: and hence many a child of God hath been long •indred from conversion, and others not converted at all, because they have thought wicked mon whom God minds to damn, are such as have no good, nor do no good, •• if they do, they have it not from God; but 'tis not so with me, for I have and do many good things, which I acknowledg come from God, and I thank God I am not as other men. Now mark, 'tis true, nakedly considered no good could come from unregenerate men, but yet the Lord gives power to many to do, so the Lord hath done to thee, and thou hast been thankful for it. And this is common, many account themselves great sinners, but yet they can believe: many say they can do little, but their desire and will at worst is to do: tell them these are not right, unlesse they come from the Lord, they will say the Lord doth all, and they acknowledg it, and so I believe, and 'tis true, but 'tis not such a work of the Lord as is peculiar to the Elect, because when the Lord hath wrought these, you act only from them, and hence never feel a want of these, for the Lord never yet wrought any Grace in his people, but after they have had it, and tasted of it, he hath more or lesse deserted them, and so hath made them feel a want of it, and made them fetch it again with sighs, and groans, and tears; now it hath never been so with thee.
