Secondly, §2consider whether there be in thee any alteration, and change: for in regeneration, there must be a corruption of sin, so that as seed in the ground, so sin in our souls may decay, that the new man may be raised up, the spirit of God taking possession of our souls. 1Therefore the Evangelist John maketh this the first work of the ⟨p. 190⟩spirit, that it shall convince the world of sin: which is so needful, that without it Christ Jesus can never enter into the heart: for he promiseth to dwell only with them, 2that are humble in spirit, and contrite in heart, through the sight of their iniquities, and of Gods displeasure justly deserved for the same: and calleth those alone unto him that are weary, 3and heavy laden, groaning and sighing under the burden of their sins. Thus we see, that to be rebuked in our consciences in this sort, is the first work of the Spirit, 4which is also wrought by degrees. For first there is a great and general astonishment by reason of all those great and enormous sins that we have committed; §15and this doth strike us down, it doth terrify us, and hold us amazed wonderfully. Then it dealeth with us more particularly: it bringeth us unto a special grief for special sins; it doth bereave us of our chief desires; 6and bringeth us out of conceit and liking with the best things that are in us: for then it doth display before us the vanity and darkness of our understanding, §27how unfit and unmeet we are to understand and conceive those things, which do above all other most concern us: Then doth it let us see the corruption of our judgment, §38how in things belonging to God we be as brute beasts, not able to discern things that differ, nor to put a sound difference between good and evil, §49then doth it let us see that our reason is unreasonable, nay that it is hurtful unto us, a great enemy to faith, and a great patron of infidelity ⟨p. 191⟩and unbelief. §5Then it cometh to our affections, and turneth them upside down: 10it turneth our mirth into mourning, our pleasure into painfulness, and our greatest delight into most bitter grief. If it do proceed further, and come once to the heart, and to the stomach and courage that is in us, then it cutteth us to the quick;
Secondly, §2consider whether there bee in thee any alteration, and change: for in regeneration, there must be a corruption of sin, so that as seed in the ground, so sinne in our soules may decay, that the new man may be raised vp, the spirit of God taking possession of our soules. 1Therefore the Euangelist Iohn maketh this the first worke of the ⟨p. 190⟩spirit, that it shall conuince the world of sin: which is so needfull, that without it Christ Iesus can neuer enter into the heart: for hee promiseth to dwell only with them, 2that are humble in spirit, and contrite in heart, through the sight of their iniquities, and of Gods displeasure iustly deserued for the same: and calleth those alone vnto him that are wearie, 3and heauie laden, groning and sighing vnder the burthen of their sinnes. Thus wee see, that to be rebuked in our consciences in this sort, is the first worke of the Spirit, 4which is also wrought by degrees. For first there is a great and general astonishment by reason of all those great and enormous sinnes that wee haue committed; §15and this doth strike vs downe, it doth terrifie vs, and hold vs amazed wonderfully. Then it dealeth with vs more particularly: it bringeth vs vnto a special griefe for speciall sinnes; it doth bereaue vs of our chiefe desires; 6and bringeth vs out of conceit and liking with the best things that are in vs: for then it doth display before vs the vanity and darknesse of our vnderstanding, §27how vnfit and vnmeet wee are to vnderstand and conceiue those things, which doe aboue all other most concerne vs: Then doth it let vs see the corruption of our iudgment, §38how in things belonging to God wee bee as bruit beasts, not able to discerne things that differ, nor to put a sound difference betweene good and euill,
- 1Joh. 16.8.Ioh. 16.8.
- 2Isa. 67.25.
- 3Matth. 11.
- 4The Spirit worketh by degrees.
- 5A general astonishment. Rom. 8.15.A generall astonishment. Rom. 8.15.
- 6Rom. 7.8.
- 7Weakness of understanding. 1. Cor. 2.14.Weakenes of vnderstanding. 1. Cor. 2.14.
- 8Corruption of judgement. Phil. 1.9.10.Corruption of iudgement. Phil. 1.9.10.
- 9Rom. 8.6.7. The unreasonableness of reason.Rom. 8.6.7. The vnreasonablenes of reason.
- 10The sinfulness of our affections. Act. 2. Jam. 4.The sinfulnes of our affections.
