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

USE II. Ye that are strangers to this new birth, be convinced of the absolute necessity of it Are all in the state of grace born again? Then ye have neither part nor lot in it, who are not born again. I must tell you in the words of our Lord and Saviour, (and O that he would speak them to your hearts) ye must b• born again, John iii. 7. And for your conviction, consider these few things.

First, Regeneration is absolutely necessary to qualify you to do any thing really good and acceptable to God. Wh•le you are not born again, your best works are but glistering sins; for though the matter of them is good▪ they are quite marred in the making. Consider, (1.) That without regeneration there is no faith, and without faith it is impossible to please God, Heb xi. 6. Faith is a vital act of the new-born soul. The Evangelist, showing the different entertainment our Lord Jesus had from different persons, some receiving him, some rejecting him, points at regenerating grace, as the true ⟨p. 158⟩rise of that difference; without which never one would have received him. He tells us, that as many as received him, were these which were born—of God, John i. 11, 12, 13. Unregenerate men may presume; but true faith they cannot have. Faith is a flower, that grows not in the field of nature. As the tree cannot grow without a root, neither can a man believe without the new nature, whereof the principle of believing is a part. (2.) Without regeneration a man's works are dead works. As is the principle, so must the effects be: if the lungs be rotten, the breath will be unsavoury; and he who at best is dead in sin, his works at best will be but dead works. Unto them that are defiled and unbelieving, is nothing pure— being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work, reprobate, Tit i. 15, 16. Could we say of a man, that he is more blameless in his life, than any other in the world; that he macerates his body with fasting; and has made his knees as horns with continual praying; but he is not born again: that exception would mar all. And if one should say, there is a well-proportioned body, but the soul is gone, it is but a dead lump. This is a melting consideration Thou dost many things materially good, but God saith, All these things avail not, as long as I see the old nature reigning in the man,