Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

Lastly, The natural man cannot but resist the Lord, offering to help him; howbeit that resistance is infallibly overcome in the elect, by converting grace. Can the stony heart choose but resist the stroke? There is not only an inability, but an enmity and obstinacy in man's will by nature. God knows, natural man, (whether thou knowest it or not) that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass, Isa. xlviii. 4. and cannot be overcome, but by him, who hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Hence is there such hard work in converting a sinner Sometimes he seems to be caught in the net of the gospel; yet quickly he slips away again. The hook catcheth hold of him: but he struggles, till getting free of it, he makes away with a bleeding wound. When good hopes are conceived of him, by these that travel in birth, for the forming of of Christ in him; there is oft-times nothing brought forth but wind. The deceitful heart makes many a shift to avoid a Saviour, and to cheat the man of his eternal happiness. Thus the natural man lies sunk in a state of sin and wrath, utterly unable to recover himself.

Lastly, The natural man cannot but resist the Lord, offering to help him; howbeit that resistance is infallibly overcome in the elect, by converting grace. Can the stony heart chuse but resist the stroke? There is not only an inability, but an enmity and obstinacy in man's will by nature. God knows, natural man, (whether thou knowest it or not) that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass, Isa. xlviii. 4. and cannot be overcome, but by him, who hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sund•r. Hence is there such hard work in converting a sinner Sometimes he seems to be caught in the net of the gospel; yet quickly he slips away again. The hook catcheth hold of him: but he struggles, till getting free of it, he makes away with a bleeding wound. When good hopes are conceived of him, by these that travel in birth, for the forming of of Christ in him; there is oft-times nothing brought forth but wind. The deceitful heart makes many a shift to avoid a Saviour, and to cheat the man of his eternal happiness. Thus the natural man lies sunk in a state of sin and wrath, utterly unable to recover himself.