IV. The Gracious Principle, which Restores the Image of God, in a Regenerate man, inclines him to comply with the CALLS of God, in the GOSPEL. Unto all the Evangelical Proposals, the Return of the Regenerate man is not that, As for the Word spoken in the Name of the Lord, I will not hearken thereunto; no, but it is that, Lo, I come, I delight to do thy Will, O my God. There are especially two things wherein the Calls of the Gospel are summed up unto us; namely, those two, in Acts 20.21. Repentance towards God, and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ: but the Regenerate have the Repentance, and the Faith, so called for. Such is the REPENTANCE ⟨p. 20⟩of a Regenerate man; that he looks on his manifold sinfulness both by Nature and Practice, with a thorough Conviction of it; and he cries out, Lord, I am vile: He then mourns for that exceeding sinfulness, and Loathes himself with the Contrition, of a Rent, a Pierced, a Broken Heart, within him. He therewithal comes to an Ingenuous Confession thereof; and Sin becomes as a Cup of Trembling, or Poison in his Bowels, which he does Cast up, with penitent Acknowledgements, before such as have seen •im take in the Deadly Poison. Hereupon, with a just Recession from it, he cries out, I have do•• Iniquity, but I will do so no more! he sets himself to Mortify every Lust, and gives an Everlasting Divorce […] all his former Courses of Ungodliness. Instead thereof, he Devotes himself to God for ever: to the Flesh, he says, I will no more Humour thee! to the World, he says, I will no more follow thee! to the Devil, he says, I will no longer gratify thee, as formerly! but unto the most High God, he says, Lord, I will be for thee, and not for another. Such is the FAITH of a Regenerate man, that when the Lord Jesus Christ Invites him, Look unto me, and be Saved! and, Come unto me and I will give you Rest; with a Conquered Soul he answers, Lord, I Look, Lord, I come, ⟨p. 21⟩Lord, Let me by thy Mediation be Saved, and have Rest for ever! He has been so Awakened, as to see himself perishing in all Spiritual and Eternal Calamities; Wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; and he has been in most uneasy Agonies of Mind, until God hath directed His Thoughts unto the Lord Jesus Christ, as unto that Prince and Saviour, who gives Repentance and Remission of Sins. He cries out, In the Lord let me have Righteousness and Strength!
IV. The Gracious Principle, which Restores the Image of God, in a Regenerate man, inclines him to comply with the CALLS of God, in the GOSPEL. Unto all the Evangelical Proposals, the Return of the Regenerate man is not that, As for the Word spoken in the Name of the Lord, I will not hearken thereunto; no, but it is that, Lo, I come, I delight to do thy Will, O my God. There are especially two things wherein the Calls of the Gospel are summed up unto us; namely, those two, in Acts 20.21. Repentance towards God, and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ: but the Regenerate have the Repentance, and the Faith, so called for. Such is the REPENTANCE ⟨p. 20⟩of a Regenerate man; that he looks on his manifold sinfulness both by Nature and Practice, with a thorough Conviction of it; and he cries out, Lord, I am vile: He then mourns for that exceeding sinfulness, and Loathes himself with the Contrition, of a Rent, a Pierc'd, a Broken Heart, within him. He therewithal comes to an Ingenuous Confession thereof; and Sin becomes as a Cup of Trembling, or Poison in his Bowels, which he does Cast up, with penitent Acknowledgments, before such as have seen •im take in the Deadly Poyson. Hereupon, with a just Recession from it, he cries out, I have do•• Iniquity, but I will do so no more! he sets himself to Mortify every Lust, and gives an Everlasting Divorce 〈…〉 all his former Courses of Ungodliness. Instead thereof, he Devotes himself to God for ever: to the Flesh, he says, I will no more Humour thee! to the World, he says, I will no more follow thee! to the Devil, he says, I will no longer gratifie thee, as formerly! but unto the most High God, he says, Lord, I will be for thee, and not for another. Such is the FAITH of a Regenerate man, that when the Lord Jesus Christ Invites him, Look unto me, and be Saved! and, Come unto me and I will give you Rest; with a Conquered Soul he answers, Lord, I Look, Lord, I come, ⟨p. 21⟩Lord, Let me by thy Mediation be Saved, and have Rest for ever! He has been so Awakened, as to see himself perishing in all Spiritual and Eternal Calamities; Wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; and he has been in most uneasy Agonies of Mind, until God hath directed His Thoughts unto the Lord Jesus Christ, as unto that Prince and Saviour, who gives Repentance and Remission of Sins. He cries out, In the Lord let me have Righteousness and Strength!
