A Divine Cordial

2.WHAT we are before this call. 1. We are in a state of vassalage.§2 ¹Before God calls a man, he is at the Devils call. If he saith go, he goes: The deluded sinner is like the Slave that digs in the Mine, hews in the Quarry, tugs at the Oar; he is at the command of Satan, as the Ass is at the command of the Driver. 2. We are in a state of darkness, Ephes. 5.8. Ye were sometimes darkness. 1. Darkness is very disconsolate. A man in the dark, is full of fear, he trembles every step be takes. 2. It is dangerous: He who is in the dark, may quickly go out of the right way, and fall into Rivers and Whirlpools; So in the dark of ignorance, we may quickly fall into the Whirl-pool of Hell. 3. Before we are savingly called, we are in a state of impotency, Rom. 5.6. [Greek or Hebrew], When we were without strength: No strength to resist a temptation, or grapple with a corruption; sin cut the lock ⟨p. 146⟩where our strength lay. Nay, there is not only impotency, but obstinacy, Acts 7.51. Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost. Besides indisposition to good, there is opposition. 4. We are in a state of pollution, Ezek. 16.6. I saw thee polluted in thy blood. The fancy mints earthly thoughts, the heart is the Devils Forge, where the sparkles of lust fly. 5. We are in a state of damnation; we are born under a sad Planet, 1 John 3.36. The wrath of God abideth on us. This is our condition before God is pleased by a merciful call to being us near to himself, and free us from that misery in which we were before engulfed.