1. That the new-birth is a mystery, conversion is a secret thing, a work that begins within, out of sight; it puzzled Nicodemus a Master, a Rabbi in Israel, to think what kind of thing regeneration should be, Joh. 3.3,—13. Though there be motions and visible turnings (as in the wheels of a Watch) yet the spring is within and hidden. How the Child is fashioned in the Womb is a great mystery; but the formings of the new-birth is a greater: for 'tis a work wholly and altogether of God; making, and 'tis curiously wrought in the sec••t places of the heart, 'Tis a being renewed in the spirit of the mind (which is the prime and proper seat of it) Ephes. 4.23. Now the work being so inward, secret and hidden, 'tis hard to trace Gods footsteps, and to search mans heart: all the ways of God are unsearchable enough, but especially these in the great deep, as mans heart is called. The way of a Serpent on a Rock, the way of a Ship in the Sea, and of a Bird in the Air cannot be found out, much less can this way of God, unless he reveal it by his Spirit, which works it, 1 Cor. 2.10,—12. Though the outside of the new-man which is created in righteousness and true holiness may be discerned, yet the inwards of it are like the white name which none knows but he (I, and perhaps not every he) that hath it. There are but few can give an […] ⟨p. 203⟩and full relation and story of this thing; 'tis so secret that many things pass by undiscerned: as who knows the errors, so who knows the true workings of his heart? 'tis the hidden man of the heart, and the heart is hidden from the man. If men understand but little of earthly things, which are their element, and whereof they profess themselves masters, how much less do they know such a spiritual and heavenly thing as this, as our Saviour told Nicodemus, Joh. 3.7,—12. experience is the best School-Mistress in this case, of which I shall speak anon.
1. That the new-birth is a mysterie, conversion is a secret thing, a work that begins within, out of sight; it puzzled Nicodemus a Master, a Rabby in Israel, to think what kind of thing regeneration should be, Joh. 3.3,—13. Though there be motions and visible turnings (as in the wheels of a Watch) yet the spring is within and hidden. How the Child is fashioned in the Womb is a great mysterie; but the formings of the new-birth is a greater: for 'tis a work wholly and altogether of God; making, and 'tis curiously wrought in the sec••t places of the heart, 'Tis a being renewed in the spirit of the mind (which is the prime and proper seat of it) Ephes. 4.23. Now the work being so inward, secret and hidden, 'tis hard to trace Gods footsteps, and to search mans heart: all the waies of God are unsearchable enough, but especially these in the great deep, as mans heart is called. The way of a Serpent on a Rock, the way of a Ship in the Sea, and of a Bird in the Air cannot be found out, much less can this way of God, unless he reveal it by his Spirit, which works it, 1 Cor. 2.10,—12. Though the outside of the new-man which is created in righteousness and true holiness may be discerned, yet the inwards of it are like the white name which none knows but he (I, and perhaps not every he) that hath it. There are but few can give an 〈…〉 ⟨p. 203⟩and full relation and story of this thing; 'tis so secret that many things pass by undiscerned: as who knows the errours, so who knows the true workings of his heart? 'tis the hidden man of the heart, and the heart is hidden from the man. If men understand but little of earthly things, which are their element, and whereof they profess themselves masters, how much less do they know such a spiritual and heavenly thing as this, as our Saviour told Nicodemus, Joh. 3.7,—12. experience is the best School-Mistriss in this case, of which I shall speak anon.
