The door of salvation opened by the key of regeneration

The Minister, like the Prophets servant, ¹may lay his staff on the dead child, but he cannot raise it to life till the Master cometh. Paul may plant, and Apollo water, but God only can give the increase, Cor. 3.6. Without him we can do nothing, John 15.3. We may preach out our hearts, unless God affords his help, our people will never be holy. As Protogenes when he saw a picture in a shop curiously drawn, cried out, None but Apelles could do this: So when thou seest the beautiful image of the blessed God lively portrayed on the soul, thou mayst say, This is the finger of God: None but a God could do this.

The Minister, like the Prophets servant, ¹may lay his staff on the dead childe, but he cannot raise it to life till the Master cometh. Paul may plant, and Apollo water, but God only can give the increase, Cor. 3.6. Without him we can do nothing, John 15.3. We may preach out our hearts, unless God affords his help, our people will never be holy. As Protogenes when he saw a picture in a shop curiously drawn, cryed out, None but Apelles could do this: So when thou seest the beautiful image of the blessed God lively portrayed on the soul, thou mayst say, This is the finger of God: None but a God could do this.

1. 1Instrumentum non movet nisi moveatur.

Secondly, I say Whereby God out of his mere good pleasure, here is the impulsive or moving cause of Regeneration; Of his own will begat he us again by the word of truth, Jam. 1.18 Gods good will is the highest moving cause of this gracious work; 'twas not any fore-sight of Faith or good works, not any thing without him that turned the scale of his thoughts for thy purity and peace, but only his own good pleasure and pity,