But this and the like Scriptures show us our duty, not our ability: what we ought to do, not what we can: They assure us what God will do, when we ⟨p. 3⟩draw nigh to him, not what he is bound to do, Grace is free. And though we are invited to come to God, yet till God come to us, we cannot come to him. We are spoken to, under the tenor, and in the language of the Covenant of grace, which giveth the strength for every duty it calls us to: and with that voice, Draw nigh to God, conveys a power to draw us nigh to God; our motions are not towards him, till he moveth towards us, The Lord looked down from Heaven to behold all the children of men (Psal. 14.) And what saw he? The report is made thus, Rom. 3. 12. They are all gone out of the way, there is none seeketh after God; Not a face looking heaven-ward, not a foot stepping towards God. The wicked are estranged from the womb, as soon as they are born, they go astray, speaking lies (Psal. 58. 3.) Such also is the language and the way of the righteous, at their natural birth. The whole earth (in this sense) is but of one speech, They speak lies before they can speak; and of one way, and that's out of the way, they go astray, before they can go, As soon as they are born they go astray, speaking lies, They are estranged from the womb. No man ever came to the Lord, till the Lord brought him. Man must have preventing grace, concurring grace, and perfecting grace. Grace doth all; though they to whom God hath begun in grace, have a power to move, yet without him they cannot move actually, Draw me (saith the Church, Cant. 1. 4.) we will run after thee. No man (saith Christ) can come unto me, except the Father which sent me draw him (Joh. 6. 44.) A mere natural man hath no life, a godly man cannot use his life alone. The former hath no power to act; the later cannot act, much less complete his ⟨p. 4⟩power without Christ. Without me, ye (my Disciples) can do nothing, Joh. 15. Conversion doth not begin at us, nor is it ended by us. They who have a stock of grace, cannot trade with it, or improve it without Christs co-partnership. Our drawing nigh to God, is not only a spiritual act, but a supernatural.
But this and the like Scriptures shew us our dutie, not our abilitie: what we ought to doe, not what we can: They assure us what God will doe, when we ⟨p. 3⟩draw nigh to him, not what he is bound to doe, Grace is free. And though we are invited to come to God, yet till God come to us, we cannot come to him. We are spoken to, under the tenour, and in the language of the Covenant of grace, which giveth the strength for every duty it cals us to: and with that voice, Draw nigh to God, conveighs a power to draw us nigh to God; our motions are not towards him, till he moveth towards us, The Lord looked down from Heaven to behold all the children of men (Psal. 14.) And what saw he? The report is made thus, Rom. 3. 12. They are all gone out of the way, there is none seeketh after God; Not a face looking heaven-ward, not a foot stepping towards God. The wicked are estranged from the womb, assoon as they are born, they go astray, speaking lies (Psal. 58. 3.) Such also is the language and the vvay of the righteous, at their naturall birth. The vvhole earth (in this sense) is but of one speech, They speak lies before they can speak; and of one vvay, and that's out of the vvay, they goe astray, before they can goe, Assoon as they are born they goe astray, speaking lies, They are estranged from the womb. No man ever came to the Lord, till the Lord brought him. Man must have preventing grace, concurring grace, and perfecting grace. Grace doth all; though they to vvhom God hath begun in grace, have a power to move, yet vvithout him they cannot move actually, Draw me (saith the Church, Cant. 1. 4.) we will runne after thee. No man (saith Christ) can come unto me, except the Father which sent me draw him (Joh. 6. 44.) A meer naturall man hath no life, a godly man cannot use his life alone. The former hath no power to act; the later cannot act, much lesse compleat his ⟨p. 4⟩power vvithout Christ. Without me, ye (my Disciples) can doe nothing, Joh. 15. Conversion doth not begin at us, nor is it ended by us. They vvho have a stock of grace, cannot trade vvith it, or improve it vvithout Christs co-partnership. Our drawing nigh to God, is not only a spirituall act, but a supernaturall.
