Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…

Prop. 1. God is the principal Cause & Author of that Conversion which is here spoken of. The ⟨p. 4⟩The words indeed may be rendered, Except you Convert; but this shaveth 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, John 1 13. therefore it was that Ephraim braved, 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, John 3.6. and, born after the Spirit, Gal. 4.29 And the 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 Principle 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 no• act •e• ou• w•olly passive: And it is called, a Resurrection, or quickening of a dead person, Ephes. 2.1. John. 5.24, 25. Hath a dead man power to ⟨p. 5⟩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 Converting-power put forth,