EXPERIENCE also gives considerable light in this matter: we learn by experience, that mens hearts are generally set for carnal things before they are terrified, and for their own Righteousness before they see their own hearts. Generally such men as have not had the terrors of God in them, don't much mind Eternal Things; if they be not rude and vicious, yet they are worldly, vain and proud. Eph. 2.3. And such convinced sinners as have not been led into the understanding of their hearts, are set to build up a righteousness of their own, they are taking encouragement from their frames, with a neglect of Christ. Experience also shows that many men highly reputed of for Religion, have had a work of preparation. Many men that have a special interest in the hearts of others, can give a fair account how they have been prepared for Christ: and many Professors that have not had such experience have not proved well. Several that have had some lighter toucher of Conviction, though they have made a blaze […] while, yet have proved themselves carnal Men at last; of at least have rendered themselves much suspected. Many that have been strangers to the work of preparation, have cracked their credit at last. Mat. •. 3.20, 21. Yea, many Godly People do know that they were Hypocrites, and never […] Christ, till after they had a work of […]: they know they were not godly chough they have ⟨p. 6⟩affections, enlargements and encouragements; it was all common work, and they had no spark of grace in them; their Religion was but the fruit of nature improved. Rom. 7.9. Yea, this is exceeding agreeable to REASON; the light of Nature cannot give a demonstration of it: for it is a voluntary dispensation; there is no necessity in nature of any preparation before the infusion of GRACE. Christ changed the Water into Wine, and raised the Dead to Life, without any previous preparation; so he can do in this case. The work of preparation does not make the work of the new Creation the easier; for after men have a work of preparation, sin reigns in them as much as before; preparation does not at all destroy the principle; & men when prepared, can do nothing to help God in planting Grace in them: and men that are not prepared, can do nothing to hinder God in implanting Grace: but yet it is very agreeable to reason, that the Spirit do work a work of preparation, before it does infuse Grace:
EXPERIENCE also gives considerable light in this matter: we learn by experience, that mens hearts are generally set for carnal things before they are terrified, and for their own Righteousness before they see their own hearts. Generally such men as have not had the terrors of God in them, don't much mind Eternal Things; if they be not rude and vicious, yet they are worldly, vain and proud. Eph. 2.3. And such convinced sinners as have not been led into the understanding of their hearts, are set to build up a righteousness of their own, they are taking incouragement from their frames, with a neglect of Christ. Experience also shews that many men highly reputed of for Religion, have had a work of preparation. Many men that have a special interest in the hearts of others, can give a fair account how they have been prepared for Christ: and many Professors that have not had such experience have not proved well. Several that have had some lighter toucher of Conviction, though they have made a blaze 〈…〉 while, yet have proved themselves carnal Men at last; of at least have rendred themselves much suspected. Many that have been strangers to the work of preparation, have crackt their credit at last. Mat. •. 3.20, 21. Yea, many Godly People do know that they were Hypocrites, and never 〈…〉 Christ, till after they had a work of 〈…〉: they know they were not godly chough they have ⟨p. 6⟩affections, enlargements and encouragements; it was all common work, and they had no spark of grace in them; their Religion was but the sruit of nature improved. Rom. 7.9. Yea, this is exceeding agreeable to REASON; the light of Nature cannot give a demonstration of it: for it is a voluntary dispensation; there is no necessity in nature of any preparation before the infusion of GRACE. Christ changed the Water into Wine, and raised the Dead to Life, without any previous preparation; so he can do in this case. The work of preparation does not make the work of the new Creation the easier; for after men have a work of preparation, sin reigns in them as much as before; preparation does not at all destroy the principle; & men when prepared, can do nothing to help God in planting Grace in them: and men that are not prepared, can do nothing to hinder God in implanting Grace: but yet it is very agreeable to reason, that the Spirit do work a work of preparation, before it does infuse Grace:
