The door of salvation opened by the key of regeneration

Reader, it may be thou art no Drunkard, no Swearer, no Scoffer at godliness, no Adulterer, no Liar; I wish we had more that came so far towards heaven; but take heed of resting here, thou mayst be able to say all this and much more, and yet in thee as in the young man, there may be one thing lacking, namely this new life. He that went to make his picture stand alone, saw at last his mistake, and cried out, Deest aliquid intus, there is something wanting within, he meant life; so it may be in thee. Believe it ⟨p. 65⟩there is a vast difference betwixt restraining and renewing grace; the former may skin over and cover the loathsome sore of sin, when the latter doth search and cure it, Civility like a black patch doth hide the wound, but sanctity like a plaster doth both hide and heal it. It is possible that thou dost not outwardly abound with the same corruptions which others do, because thou hast not the same temptations: Thy heart may be a vessel full of poisonous liquor, which may remain undiscovered till thou hast a temptation to broach it. Thy lusts may be as great Rebels against God, though they lie lurking in the secret trenches of thy heart, and dare not for fear or shame appear in the open field of thy life.

Reader, it may be thou art no Drunkard, no Swearer, no Scoffer at godliness, no Adulterer, no Lyar; I wish we had more that came so far towards heaven; but take heed of resting here, thou mayst be able to say all this and much more, and yet in thee as in the young man, there may be one thing lacking, namely this new life. He that went to make his picture stand alone, saw at last his mistake, and cried out, Deest aliquid intus, there is something wanting within, he meant life; so it may be in thee. Believe it ⟨p. 65⟩there is a vast difference betwixt restraining and renewing grace; the former may skin over and cover the loathsom sore of sin, when the latter doth search and cure it, Civility like a black patch doth hide the wound, but sanctity like a plaister doth both hide and heal it. It is possible that thou dost not outwardly abound with the same corruptions which others do, because thou hast not the same temptations: Thy heart may be a vessel full of poisonous liquor, which may remain undiscovered till thou hast a temptation to broach it. Thy lusts may be as great Rebels against God, though they lie lurking in the secret trenches of thy heart, and dare not for fear or shame appear in the open field of thy life.