USE, 1. To teach us that it exceeds the power of a natural man to effect his own conversion, or bring about his own salvation. Man by nature is dead in trespasses and sins; and is it possible that a dead man should rise and go by his own strength, till a vital principle be put into him? as well might Lazarus, dead and ready to stink, have by his own virtue shaken off his grave cloths, and come forth without a Divine word, as the sinner, fallen and dead in sin, rise and return to God: this is an act of spiritual life and requires a principle of it, and that can proceed from no less power than Omnipotency: Paul therefore compares it with the work of Creation, 2 Cor. 4. 6. and with the power of Resurrection, Eph. 1. 19. 20. It is true, it is the man that riseth, and goeth; the act of Repentance proceeds formally from the Believer; but it is God by his Spirit that informs him with this power and grace, whereby he is enabled to do it. Hence also we see how ineffectual means of themselves must needs be, unless they be influenced by the spirit of grace: how vainly do they dream who attribute to man a power of converting himself, and put a Divine honour upon Moral suasion, as if it could of it self attract and draw ⟨p. 213⟩the heart after it? No, though God require means and ordinances, yet they are but the staff of Elisha, and except the Lord God be there, the touch awakens not the dead man. Ezekiel must prophesy over the dry bones, but it is the spirit that moves to bring them together, and puts life into them. Let no man then ascribe this to himself; it may be thou knowest not how this wind blew, or how this babe of grace was formed; no more doth the Child how it was begotten and formed in the womb: but if you find the effect, that you are enabled to arise and go to your heavenly father, you must say the singer of God was here, and ascribe all the glory of it to him.
USE, 1. To teach us that it exceeds the power of a natural man to effect his own conversion, or bring about his own salvation. Man by nature is dead in trespasses and sins; and is it possible that a dead man should rise and go by his own strength, till a vital principle be put into him? as well might Lazarus, dead and ready to stink, have by his own vertue shaken off his grave cloths, and come forth without a Divine word, as the sinner, fallen and dead in sin, rise and return to God: this is an act of spiritual life and requires a principle of it, and that can proceed from no less power than Omnipotency: Paul therefore compares it with the work of Creation, 2 Cor. 4. 6. and with the power of Resurrection, Eph. 1. 19. 20. It is true, it is the man that riseth, and goeth; the act of Repentance proceeds formally from the Believer; but it is God by his Spirit that enforms him with this power and grace, whereby he is enabled to do it. Hence also we see how ineffectual means of themselves must needs be, unless they be influenced by the spirit of grace: how vainly do they dream who attribute to man a power of converting himself, and put a Divine honour upon Moral swasion, as if it could of it self attract and draw ⟨p. 213⟩the heart after it? No, though God require means and ordinances, yet they are but the staff of Elisha, and except the Lord God be there, the touch awakens not the dead man. Ezekiel must prophesie over the dry bones, but it is the spirit that moves to bring them together, and puts life into them. Let no man then ascribe this to himself; it may be thou knowest not how this wind blew, or how this babe of grace was formed; no more doth the Child how it was begotten and formed in the womb: but if you find the effect, that you are enabled to arise and go to your heavenly father, you must say the singer of God was here, and ascribe all the glory of it to him.
