Propos. I. God is the principal cause and Author of that Conversion which is here spoken of. The words indeed may be rendered, Except you Convert; but that showeth rather mans duty, than his power to convert himself; I say, God and not man is the principal cause of this work. Hence converted persons are said to be born of God, and not of man; because not man, but God alone is the Author of Regeneration, Joh. 1. 13. therefore it was that Ephraim prayed, TURN thou me, and I shall be turned, Jer. 31. 18. as if he had said, Except the Lord turn me, the work will never be done. And God doth this by his holy Spirit, therefore a converted person is said to be born of the Spirit, Joh. 3. 6. and, born after the Spirit, Gal. 4. 29. And the ⟨p. 5⟩Spirit of God is called, the Spirit of Grace, Heb. 10. 29. because all Grace, and especially Converting Grace, is from him: The truth is, that as Conversion is taken for the infusing of a new Principal of Saving Grace into the Soul; so men are altogether passive in their Conversion, and the Eternal Spirit is the only principal Agent therein, Hence Conversion is called, a new begetting, 1 Pet. 1. 3. Now in begetting, the thing begotten is not active but wholly passive: and it is called a Resurrection, or quickening of a dead person, Eph. 2. 1. Joh. 5. 14, 25. Hath a dead man power to raise himself out of his Grave; or is it in the power of Men or Creatures to quicken those that are dead? much-more may we say thus as to dead Souls, that are buried in a Grave of sin, guilt and misery: yea, in Converting a Soul, there is a Creating power put forth, Col. 3. 10. which showeth both that the Soul is passive in this work; and also, that it is above the power of Men or Creatures to accomplish. Creation is a bringing of something out of nothing: Now inasmuch, as there is a kind ⟨p. 6⟩of Infinite distance between Being and No-being; therefore an Infinite power is required, to produce a work of Creation. So is it in Conversion. Nay, that's harder than mere Creation: because in the first Creation there was no opposition: But now when God enters upon this work of the n•w and second Creation, there is whatever resistance all the powers of darkness can make against him. Look, as it is an easier matter to make a new Glass, than to mend a broken one;
Propos. I. God is the principal cause and Author of that Conversion which is here spoken of. The words indeed may be rendred, Except you Convert; but that sheweth rather mans duty, than his power to convert himself; I say, God and not man is the principal cause of this work. Hence converted persons are said to be born of God, and not of man; because not man, but God alone is the Author of Regeneration, Joh. 1. 13. therefore it was that Ephraim prayed, TURN thou me, and I shall be turned, Jer. 31. 18. as if he had said, Except the Lord turn me, the work will never be done. And God doth this by his holy Spirit, therefore a converted person is said to be born of the Spirit, Joh. 3. 6. and, born after the Spirit, Gal. 4. 29. And the ⟨p. 5⟩Spirit of God is called, the Spirit of Grace, Heb. 10. 29. because all Grace, and especially Converting Grace, is from him: The truth is, that as Conversion is taken for the infusing of a new Principal of Saving Grace into the Soul; so men are altogether passive in their Conversion, and the Eternal Spirit is the only principal Agent therein, Hence Conversion is called, a new begetting, 1 Pet. 1. 3. Now in begetting, the thing begotten is not active but wholly passive: and it is called a Resurrection, or quickning of a dead person, Eph. 2. 1. Joh. 5. 14, 25. Hath a dead man power to raise himself out of his Grave; or is it in the power of Men or Creatures to quicken those that are dead? much-more may we say thus as to dead Souls, that are buried in a Grave of sin, guilt and misery: yea, in Converting a Soul, there is a Creating power put forth, Col. 3. 10. which sheweth both that the Soul is passive in this work; and also, that it is above the power of Men or Creatures to accomplish. Creation is a bringing of something out of nothing: Now inasmuch, as there is a kind ⟨p. 6⟩of Infinite distance between Being and No-being; therefore an Infinite power is required, to produce a work of Creation. So is it in Conversion. Nay, that's harder than meer Creation: because in the first Creation there was no opposition: But now when God enters upon this work of the nw and second Creation, there is whatever resistance all the powers of darkness can make against him. Look, as it is an easier matter to make a new Glass, than to mend a broken one;
