The one thing necessary Preached in a sermon at Pauls, before the Right Honourable…

Secondly, The current of the life is ⟨p. 9⟩to be altered. That the Tide of sin, which before did run so strong, should be turned, this is not easy. That the sinner which before was failing hell ward, and wanted neither wind nor tied to carry him, should now alter his course, and sail to a new port, Hic labour, hoc opus, this is a work indeed. The water may easily be damned up, but no art or industry can make it run backward in its own channel. It was by a miracle that the River Jordan was driven back. To see the earthly man become heavenly; to see a sinner move contrary to himself in the ways of Christ and holiness, is as strange as to see the earth fly upward, or the bowl run contrary to it's own bias.

Secondly, The current of the life is ⟨p. 9⟩to be altered. That the Tyde of sin, which before did runne so strong, should be turned, this is not easie. That the sinner which before was failing hel ward, and wanted neither winde nor tyed to carry him, should now alter his course, and sail to a new port, Hic labor, hoc opus, this is a work indeed. The water may easily be dam'd up, but no art or industry can make it run backward in its own channel. It was by a miracle that the River Jordan was driven back. To see the earthly man become heavenly; to see a sinner move contrary to himself in the wayes of Christ and holinesse, is as strange as to see the earth fly upward, or the bowl run contrary to it's own byasse.

Secondly,¹ salvation-work is difficult in regard of the deceits about the work. The heart is ready to take many false stitches in this work of salvation. It hath the heart of self-deceit; like those that can cog a Die; Therefore ⟨p. 10⟩