In the words we may take notice of three things: 1. The main Truth which is here affirmed, sc. That Conversion is of absolute necessity, in order to obtaining the Kingdom of Heaven, Except there be Conversion, or (which explaineth the other) except there be a becoming as little Children, even a Regeneration, and beginning the World anew, as it were, except there be this, there shall be no entering into the Kingdom of Heaven. 2. We have here the Persons unto whom this was spoken, sc. the Disciples of Christ; Except [you] my own Disciples be converted, I say to [you] that [ye] shall not enter: not but that they were converted already; yet this may well be spoken, even to converted persons, thereby to convince them further of the necessity of that Conversion which they had already attained. Also, because though they were converted in respect of their state, yet they stood in need of a further Conversion, in […] of a particular ill, which they were too much ⟨p. 3⟩under the present prevailing power of. And this showeth, that all men whatsoever are concerned in the truth delivered: For if it be true concerning Disciples of Christ that they must be either Converted, or not saved, certainly this is true, concerning other men. 3. We have here the manner of the expression. This Truth is not barely affirmed, but with a Verily; Christ doth not only say, but pronounceth it with a Verily, saying, Verily, except you be Converted, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; which noteth both the certainty and the solemnity of the thing expressed. This word [verily] was frequently used by Christ, yet never but when there was some weighty and solemn truth affirmed by him. The Doctrine therefore which we shall (by the Lords assistance) speak unto from the words, is, That it is a most certain and weighty Truth, that a sound through Conversion, is of absolute necessity, in order to the Souls extract into the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the words we may take notice of three things: 1. The main Truth which is here affirmed, sc. That Conversion is of absolute necessity, in order to obtaining the Kingdom of Heaven, Except there be Conversion, or (which explaineth the other) except there be a becoming as little Children, even a Regeneration, and beginning the World anew, as it were, except there be this, there shall be no entring into the Kingdom of Heaven. 2. We have here the Persons unto whom this was spoken, sc. the Disciples of Christ; Except [you] my own Disciples be converted, I say to [you] that [ye] shall not enter: not but that they were converted already; yet this may well be spoken, even to converted persons, thereby to convince them further of the necessity of that Conversion which they had already attained. Also, because though they were converted in respect of their state, yet they stood in need of a further Conversion, in 〈…〉 of a particular ill, which they were too much ⟨p. 3⟩under the present prevailing power of. And this sheweth, that all men whatsoever are concerned in the truth delivered: For if it be true concerning Disciples of Christ that they must be either Converted, or not saved, certainly this is true, concerning other men. 3. We have here the manner of the expression. This Truth is not barely affirmed, but with a Verily; Christ doth not only say, but pronounceth it with a Verily, saying, Verily, except you be Converted, you shall not enter into the Kingdome of Heaven; which noteth both the certainty and the solemnity of the thing expressed. This word [verily] was frequently used by Christ, yet never but when there was some weighty and solemn truth affirmed by him. The Doctrine therefore which we shall (by the Lords assistance) speak unto from the words, is, That it is a most certain and weighty Truth, that a sound through Conversion, is of absolute necessity, in order to the Souls extra•ct into the Kingdom of Heaven.
