sensual hinder knowledge stiffle conviction Page 464. 599. Philosophy never wrought such changes as the Gospel Page 235. Power remaining in natural men what a Page 175. ad 180. to be used by them Page 203 4. Vid. Impotence Power of God seen in Regeneration Page 215. manifested in Christ Page 344. 512. known by the Creatures Page 479. disparaged by unbelief Page 620. engaged to preserve Saints from Apostacy Page 1326. 1352. given Christ for Believers Page 1332. Vid. Fulness of Christ seen in the ruine of the Churches Enemies Page 47 †in pardon Page 105 †Praise a duty in heaven Page 40. discouraged by the Patrons of free-will Page 160 199. for grace received the way to have more Page 1322. Prayer a means of the new-birth Page 62. 136. 204. a renewed man can't neglect Page 121. discouraged by the Patrons of free-will Page 160. 199 natural men can perform Page 184 5. what pleas to be used in it Page 229. 270. 304 5. 385. always should attend the Word Page 239. omissions of it unworthy Page 354. 1149. adoption a ground of confidence in it Page 384. must not be chilld by assurance of having what we want Page 384. the glory of God must be chiefly minded in it Page 384. a means of Divine knowledge Page 466 7 8. neglecters or formal performers of it are unbelievers Page 726. thoughts of Christ's exaltation would encourage in it Page 1107. of Christ in the Garden and on the Cross Page 879. 1131 2. Christ's Intercession a comfort in it Page 1152. a means of perseverance Page 1373. a means to suppress bad thoughts Page 17 †for the Church hath excellent grounds Page 37 †excited by delays of deliverance Page 48 †should be frequent in a time of trouble Page 55 †delight in it Vid. Delight Preaching Eloquent not most successful Page 200. Christ's why not more successful Page 210. 232. 718. how it ought to be Page 238. 834 5. Predictions of Christ's Death a Page 944. ad 947. Preparation want of it makes a Man an unworthy receiver Page 818. Preparations to Grace a Page 148. ad 156. from the Spirit Page 569. Pride natural to fallen man Page 198. the Devils sin Vid. Devil a hindrance of conversion and knowledge Page 216. 466. oft in professors Page 666. the spring of the Churches calamity ibid. thoughts of God's soveraignty will check it Page 667. of reason the cause of unbelief Page 733. 4 5. appears in humbled ones Page 735 6. of the Churches Enemies the time of their ruine Page 45 †Priesthood of Christ required his Death Page 861 2 3. 942. and Exaltation Page 1084 5 6. intercession a part of it Page 1117. perpetual Page 1134. secures the Church and every Believer Page 34 †1354. Principles actions are according to them Page 21 2. a change of them in Regeneration Page 78 9. a vital one infused in it Page 84 5. Priviledges only don 't intitle to Gods favour or Heaven Page 30. 48. relyance on them a cause of unbelief Page 736 7. Profane ones far enough from Regeneration Page 105. are unbelievers Page 723. Profession not sufficient to salvation Page 47. is not Faith Page 798. Professors little evidence of Regeneration among them Page 105 6. oft overborn with Pride and Passion Page 798. many of them unbelievers Page 7â—2 disobedient are inexcusable Page 1218. Promises God vindicated in making them notwithstanding man's impotence Page 190. ad 194. made by God to Christ a Page 277. ad 281. 1077 8. to be pleaded by Christ Page 277. unbelief would frustrate them Page 615. pride hinders humbled ones from taking hold of them Page 735 6. can 't be delivered without Faith in Christ Page 118â— frustrated if the Saints Apostacy be possible Page 1351. of God to his Church to be studyed Page 54 †meditation on them causes delight in Prayer Page 63 †Prophesie its great end Page 261. fulfilling them prove Christ sent from God Page 656 7. Vid. Predictions Prophetical Office of Christ to be submitted to gain divine knowledge Page 519. Christ fitted for Page 671. required his Death and Exaltation Page 943. 1082 3. 4. secures Believers and the Church Page 1354. 23 †Prosperity no argument of God's love or pardon Page 1283. 114 †of the Churches Enemies before their ruine Page 45 †Punishments why Eternal Page 313. afflictions of Believers whether they are so Page 1196. 78 9. †God and Christ intended not in this Life to remove them Page 79 80 †the curse of them taken away from a Believer Page 80 †103 †their nature alter'd as to them Page 80 †prejudice not their Salvation Page 81. why continued Page 81 2 3 †103 †forbearance of it no argument of pardon Page 114 †Purgatory groundless Page 1202 3. Purity of heart a means of divine knowledge Page 471 2. Q. QVickning the regenerate need Page 174. to be sought of God Page 224. R. REacting sin how hainous Page 5 †8 †Reason would perswade to seek Regeneration Page 134. insufficient without Revelation Page 513 4. to submit to it Page 515. can 't convince of Unbelief Page 602 3 pride of it an enemy to Faith and cause of unbelief Page 715 734. Reconciliation twofold Page 241 2. of men to God how to be understood Page 243 4. the foundation of Regeneration Page 245. the Father the authour of it Page 245. 258. ad 262. what it implies Page 246 7. actual not before Faith nor from Eternity Page 249 250. by Christ necessary Page 250 1. none but the Father could be the author of it a Page 251 ad 258. the agency of the Father in Christ in it a Page 262 ad 338. by Christ only Page 355. with God comfortable a Page 363 ad 372. motives to accept it a Page 372 ad 376 the duties consequent on it Page 377. ad 380. daily to be sought of God in Christ Page 379. more difficult than Creation Page 646. to be valued Page 952. Redemption Vid. Reconciliation Reformation outward alone not sufficient Page 46 662. whence it springs Page 46 1317. Vid. Morality Reformations the word the only rule of them Page 747 1294. Regeneration its necessity explained a Page 9. ad 19. proved a Page 19 ad 44. a 45 ad 49. 134. ignorance of it to be lamented Page 44 5. misery of those that want it Page 49 50 51. comfort to those that have it Page 51 2. a 112 ad 118. 1356 7. 225. evidences of it to be cleared up why and how Page 52 3 4. to be sought of God Page 54 5. 228 132 3 4. 218. to be sought presently and why a Page 57. ad 62. how obtained Page 62 3 4. 229 135 6. 203 4. 238 9 40. difficult to describe it Page 69. 217. its difference from conversion justification adoption and sanctification Page 70. 1 2. described Page 70. what it is not Page 68. a 72. ad 75. a 106. ad 110. 't is a change and
149 226. twofold Page 255. of Christ grounded on the grace of God Page 255. of Saints not imputed Page 1202 3. Ministers how they should preach Page 238. must woo for Christ Page 669. Ministery shall never fail Page 36 †Miracles Conversion of men the greatest Page 239. of Christ confirm'd his mission Page 301 2. alone cannot convert Page 168 239. Misery sense of it preparatory to Regeneration Page 234. always from our selves Page 822. Mission of Christ from the Father Page 303. 672. Morality not sufficient to Salvation Page 47. 't is not Regeneration a Page 106. ad 109. often a hindrance to it never a cause of it Page 148. 170. the gift of God Page 164. owing to Christ's interposition Page 175 6. may be without Faith Page 74. reliance on it a cause of unbelief Page 737. Mortification necessary Page 1314. must be present continued universal Page 1314 5. men must be an agent in it ibid. not the work of nature ibid. difficult ibid. no entrance into heaven without it Page 1315. 1320. the more perfect the clearer assurance Page 1315. a sign of grace ibid. what it is and what not a Page 1315. ad 1318 the trial of it Page 1318 19. pressed Page 1320. directions for it Page 760. 1321. Moses's faith in Christ Page 1164. Motions of our hearts in hearing to be observ'd Page 241. first sinful Page 3 †of the spirit Vid. Spirit Murmurers at Providence unbelievers Page 727 8. N. NAture of man corrupt Vid. Fall Habits Regeneration not an addition to it Page 74. new one communicated to the Regenerate Page 101. humane dignified in Christs exaltation Page 1101. necessarily assumed to satisfie for our sins Page 1200. Vid. Satisfaction Naturals right use of them doth not oblige God to give supernaturals Page 150 226. Necessity and Liberty consistent Page 177. of Christs death impeaches not its voluntariness Page 877. its necessity explained Page 878 a 916. ad 919. proved Page 250 859 555 a 920. ad 950. New Creation and old how they differ Page 151. New Creatures Vid. Regenerate Nourishment of the soul in the Supper Page 760. O. OBedience of Christ in his death Page 312. 903. can 't be without knowledge Page 403. a means of divine knowledge Page 471. Christs Death and Exaltation motives to it Page 65 1107. without it no interest in Christs intercession Page 1153. no compensation to Justice Page 934 5 6. what kind due to Christ a Page 1214. ad 1220. friendship of Christ a motive to it Page 1220. how to perform it Page 1220. deliverances on engagement to it Page 48 †Objects renewed men mind others than formerly Page 83. of the Gospel not above mans faculties Page 142. spiritual inferences to be drawn from occasional ones Page 13 †Occasions of sin enmity to them a mark of Regeneration Page 124. men may avoid them by common grace Page 181. Omission of known duties constant shews men are unbelievers Page 724. a renewed man can't be guilty of Page 89. of Prayer Vid. Prayer Omniscience of God known by the creatures Page 479. belief of it would prevent bad thoughts Page 15 †Opinions false spoil conviction Page 598. change of them not Regeneration Page 106. ungrounded ones contention about them dangerous Page 666. hardly laid aside Page 668. Original corruption sense of it a means of Regeneration Page 62 135 229. the World insensible of it Page 537. the spirit convinces of it Page 580. sense of it the constant duty of all Page 670. 84 †the cause of unbelief Page 730 1. Ordinances can't be improved without Regeneration Page 35. attendance on them a means of it Page 63. 136 229. of themselves can't convert Page 168 9. natural men have a power to attend on them Page 184 5. to be attended on by them and how Page 203 4. all shall continue Page 770 1. 36 †none should add to or detract from Page 774. resting in them sinful Page 818. the holiness of them will not excuse sin in them Page 1821. the glory of them obscured before judgments come Page 65 †where they have been the places of the greatest Judgments Page 66 †Vid. Means of Grace Word P. PArdon without satisfaction doth not shew the love of God so clear as 't is in Christ Page 360. not discoverable by the Creatures Page 501 2. fruit of Christ's Death Page 895. 911. of the ancient Saints when compleat Page 923. daily Christ intercedes for Page 1143. and punishment inconsistent Page 1196. its nature Page 102 3 †God only the Author of it Page 103 †his attributes seen in it Page 104 5 †the manner of it Page 105 6 †on the account of Christ what that implies Page 106 7 8 †its effects Page 110 11 †misery of those that want it Page 111 †comfort to those that have it Page 112 †false signs of it Page 113 †false grounds why pardon'd ones question it Page 115 †signs of it Page 115 †motives to seek it and directions Page 117 †the duties of those that have it Page 118 †Vid. Cleansing Parents should endeavour their Childrens conversion Page 45. Passeover Christ is ours Page 847. a fit type of Christ Page 848. ad 852. Christ eyed in it by ancient Believers ibid. Passion hinders divine knowledge Page 464. oft swayes in Professors Page 666. the cause of a renewed mans sin Page 98 †Patience not without knowledge of God Page 407. of God discovered in Christ Page 500. towards total and partial unbelief great Page 653. 699. a means of perseverance Page 1374. under afflictions reasonable Page 84 †Peace Believers have with all Creatures Page 364 5 6. of Conscience follows Reconciliation Page 369. 912. 110 †with God and Conscience the fruit of Christ's Death Page 896. 898. not perfect here Page 1195. given holy men in calamitous times Page 66 †Perfection to be aimed at Page 129. not attained here Page 167. 202. 671. 1114. 1148. 1284. in Heaven Page 114. 1103. from God only Page 224 5. Perjury Unbelief would make God guilty of it Page 614. Persecution Religion pretended for it Page 554 love to the Saints under it a duty Page 811 12. should not make us cast off obedience Page 1217. encreases and purifies the Church Page 26 7 †promise of the Churches stability a comfort in it Page 39 †when maliciously design'd the wicked destroy'd Page 45 †heinously resented by God Page 69 †Vid. Trouble Perseverance of the Saints asserted Page 94. 115. 223. 225. 1324. 36 †can 't be without knowledge and growth in it Page 415. 455. Christ intercedes for it Page 1145. objections against it answered Page 1333. 1340. the Doctrine of it stated Page 1348 9. absurdities of the contrary Page 1350. should not encourage sloth Page 1366. to be ascribed wholly to Grace Page 1367 8 9. urged and directed a Page 1370. ad 1376. Pleasures in the ways of God great Page 92. 134. 61 â€
are peculiarly breath'd in by the spirit There are ordinary bubblings of grace in a renewed mind as there are of sins in an unregenerate heart for grace is as active a principle as any because 't is a participation of the divine nature But there are other thoughts darted in beyond the ordinary strain of thinking which like the beams of the Sun evidence both themselves and their original And as concerning these motions joyn'd together take these Directions in short 1. Welcom and entertain them As 't is our happiness as well as our duty to stifle evil motions so 't is our misery as well as our sin to extinguish heavenly Strange fire should be presently quench'd but that which descends from heaven upon the Altar of a holy soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polycarp Epist ad Phil. terms holy persons must be kept alive by quickning meditation When a holy thought lights suddenly upon you which hath no connexion with any antecedent business in your mind provided it be not unseasonable nor hinder you from any absolutely necessary duty either of religion or your calling receive it as a messenger from heaven and the rather because 't is a stranger You know not but you may entertain an Angel yea something greater than an Angel even the Holy Ghost Open all the powers of your souls like so many Organ-pipes to receive the breath of this Spirit when he blows upon you 'T is a sign of an agreeableness between the heart and heaven when we close with and preserve spiritual motions We need not stand long to examine them they are evident by their holiness sweetness and spirituality We may as easily discern them as we can exotick plants from those that grow naturally in our own soil or as a palate at the first tast can distinguish between a rich and generous wine and a rough water The thoughts instill'd by the Spirit of adoption are not violent tumultuous full of perturbation but like himself gentle and dove-like solicitings Gal. 5.22 warm and holy impulses and when cherished leave the soul in a more humble heavenly pure and believing temper than they found it 'T is a high aggravation of sin to resist the Holy Ghost Acts 7.51 Yet we may quench his motions by neglect as well as by opposition and by that means lose both the profit and pleasure which would have attended the entertainment Salvation came both to Zacheus his house and heart upon embracing the first motion our Saviour was pleased to make him Had he slighted that 't is uncertain whether another should have been bestowed upon him The more such sprouts are planted and nourished in us the less room will stinking weeds have to root themselves and disperse their influence And for thy own good thoughts feed them and keep them alive that they may not be like a blaze of straw which takes birth and expires the same minute Brood upon them and kill them not as some birds do their young ones by too often flying from their nests David kept up a staple of sound and good thoughts he would scarce else have desired God to try and know them Psal 139.23 Tâ—y me and know my thoughts had they been only some few weak flashes at uncertain times 2. Improve them for those ends to which they naturally tend 'T is not enough to give them a bare reception and forbear the smothering of them but we must consider what affections are proper to be rais'd by them either in the search of some truth or performance of some duty Those gleams with shoot into us on the sudden have some lesson seal'd up in them to be opened and learned by us When Peter upon the crowing of the cock call'd to mind his Master's admonition he thought thereon and wept †Mar. 14 72. he did not only receive the spark but kindled a suitable affection A choice graff though kept very carefully by us yet if not presently set will wither and disappoint our expectation of the desired fruit No man is without some secret whispers to disswade him from some alluring and busie sin †Job 33.14 17. God speaks once yea twice that he may withdraw man from his purpose as Cain had by an audible voice Gen. 4.7 which had he observed to the damping the revengeful motion against his brother he had prevented his brother's death his own despair and eternal ruin Have you any motion to seek God's face as David had Let your hearts reply Thy face Lord will I seek * Psal 27.8 The address will be most acceptable at such a time when your heart is tuned by One that searcheth the deep things of God †1 Cor. 2.10 and knows his mind and what airs are most delightful to Him Let our motion be quick in any duty which the Spirit doth suggest and while he heaves our hearts and oyls our wheels we shall do more in any religious service and that more pleasantly and successfully than at another time with all our own art and industry for his injections are like water poured into a pump to raise up more and as Satan's motions are not without a main body to second them so neither do the Spirit 's go unattended without a sufficient strength to assist the entertainers of them Well then lye not at anchor when a fresh gale would fill thy sails but lay hold of the present opportunity These seasons are often like those influences from certain conjunctions of the Planets which if not according to the Astrologer's opinion presently applied pass away and return not again in many ages So the Spirit 's breathings are often determined that if they be not entertained with suitable affections the time will be unregainable and the same gracious opportunities of a sweet entercourse may be for ever lost for God will not have his holy Spirit dishonoured in always striving with wilful man Gen. 6.3 When Judas neglected our Saviour's advertisement John 13.21 the Devil quickly enters and hurries him to the execution of his traiterous project v. 27. and he never meets with any motion afterwards but from his new Master and that eternally fatal both to his body and soul 3. Refer them if possible to assist your Morning Meditation that like little Brooks arising from several Springs they may meet in one channel and compose a more useful Stream What straggling good thoughts arise though they may owe their birth to several occasions and tend divers ways yet list them in the service of that truth to which you have committed the government of your mind that day As Constables in a time of necessary business for the King take up men that are going about their honest and lawful occasions and force them to joyn in one employ for the publick Service Many accidental glances as was observed before will serve both to fix and illustrate your Morning Proposition But if it be an extraordinary injection and cannot be referred to your
require food to keep it alive A good man in this case is like the Planets which though they be turned about daily from East to West by the motion of the primum mobile yet they still keep up their proper motion from West to East either slower or quicker 2. Not in a customary commission of any known sin To work iniquity is the proper character of natural men hence called workers of iniquity Psal 5.5 Thou hatest all workers of iniquity And by the same title are they called by Christ at the Day of Judgment Depart from me all you workers of iniquity that contrive lay the plat-form of it and work at it as at a Trade or as a curious piece of Art 'T is one thing to sin another to commit or do a sin Psal 119 3. They do not iniquity they walk in his ways their usual constant course is in the way of God they do not iniquity they settle not to it take not pleasure in it as their work and way of livelihood So it is the character of an ungodly man to walk in the ways of sin Walking according to the course of the world and fulfilling the desires of the flesh are one and the same thing Ephes 2.2 3. A good man may step into a way of sin but he walks not in it to make it either his business or recreation So walking in sin and living in sin are put together What is called walking after the flesh Rom. 8.1 is called living after the flesh v. 13. which is the same with committing sin in the Text So ways and doings are joyned together Zach. 1.6 To make sin our way or walk is when a man chuses it as a particular trade and way of living A good man in sin is out of his way a wicked man in sin is in his way a good man will not have so much as one way of sin a wicked hath many ways for he seeks out many inventions Not one Example of the gross fall of a good man in Scripture will countenance any pretence for a course in sin for either they were not in a course of sin or it was not a course of known sins Noah was drunk but once yet that was not a sin of the same hue with that among us He first found out the fruits of the Vine Gen. 9.20 knew nothing of the strength of the Grape and therefore might easily be overcome by an unusual liquor Lot's Incest was but twice and that unwillingly He knew not his Daughters lying down or rising neither time Gen. 19.33 35. And for his Daughters some think that they thought there was no man left upon the Earth but their Father but that is not clear for Lot had been in Zoar and departed thence to the Mountain where their fact was committed His drunkenness admits of some aggravations it was no fit season for him to swill after so sharp a Judgment upon Sodom so severe a remark of God upon his Wife and so great a deliverance to himself Yet this was not a course of sin you read no more of it There is difference between a mans being drunk and being a drunkard the one notes the act the other the habit and love of it Peter denied Christ yet but three times together not three times with considerable intervals for a full deliberation 'T is probable Peter's Faith was so stupified as well as the Faith of those Disciples that were going to Emmaus Luke 24.21 We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel who and indeed all the Disciples in several passages seem'd to expect a temporal Kingdom to be erected by him as therefore not to judge it fit to hazard himself for a person he thought himself so much mistaken in Howsoever it was it was not a course of sin and his Repentance over-rules the plea for any customary transgression And though the Corinthians were charged with Fornication and eating things sacrificed to Idols yet it seems to be out of a corrupt Judgment as appears by the Apostles disputing against the one 1 Cor. 6.13 14 15. and against the other 1 Cor. 8. And that neither of those were generally judged to be sins by the converted Gentiles as appears by the Decree of the Apostles Acts 15.28 29. where they determine against both these though this was a course of sin yet not a course of known sins and after they were informed by the Apostle of the sinfulness of them they abstain'd therefore in the second Epistle * The first Epistle was writ the 25th year after the death of Christ and 2d Epistle the 26th year according to Baronias writ the year after to them he charges them not with those former crimes but comforts them for their being so much cast down with sorrow David's sin though lying upon him for about ten or twelve months yet it was not a course of sin and we find a signal Repentance afterwards but of that after To walk in a road of known sins is the next step to committing sin as sin and manifests the habit of sin to have a strong and fixed dominion in the will I shall confirm this by some Reasons because upon this Proposition depend all the following 1. Regeneration gives not a man a dispensation from the Law of God As Christ came not to destroy the Law but to establish it so grace doth not dispense with the Law but confirms the Authority of it Habitual grace is not given us to assist us in the breaches of it but to enable us to the performance of it As the grace of God which hath appeared to all men teaches the Doctrine of Holiness so the grace of God in us enables us to walk in the way of holiness Grace in a Believer embraceth what the grace of God teaches The Moral Laws of God are indispensable in themselves and of eternal verity Therefore as no rational creature much less can a regenerate person be exempted from that obedience to the Law which as a rational creature he is bound to observe The grace of God justifying is never conferred without grace sanctifying 'T is certain where Christ is made righteousness he is made sanctification 'T is not congruous to the Divine Holiness to look upon a person as righteous who hath not a renewed principle in him no more than it is congruous to the Divine Justice and Holiness to look upon him as righteous meerly for this principle so imperfect 2. 'T is not for the honour of God to suffer a custom and course of sin in a renewed man 'T is true a renewed man should not voluntarily nor doth commit willingly even sins of lighter infirmities but God suffers those because they do not wound the honour of Christianity though they discover a remoteness from a state of perfection But they do not customarily fall into great sins for it seems not congruous to permit such courses commonly in any one which would disgrace Religion and make that
mind Eph. 4.23 and he hath the Spirit of a sound mind 2 Tim. 1.7 His judgment is regulated by the Law of God he judges of sin as it is in its nature a transgression of the Law Can we imagine that a Man restored to a sound mind and that hath his natural madness and folly cured should act after this cure as much out of his wits as before If he hath his constant frenzies and madness as much as before where is his cure Can any Man in the world act always against his judgment though he may be overpowered by the importunity of others or over-ruled by a fit of passion to do something against his judgment can you expect always to find him in the road of crossing the dictates of his understanding An unregenerate Man hath a natural light in his Mind and Conscience and so a judgment of sin but he hath not a judgment of sin adequate to the object he doth not judge of sin in the whole latitude of it he hath not a settled judgment of the contrariety of his beloved sin to God He looks not upon it in the extent of it as malum injucundum inhonestum inutile if he looks upon sin as dishonest he regards it as profitable if neither as honest or profitable yet as pleasant so that the natural light which is in the understanding when it dictates right is mated and over-ruled by some other principle the pleasure or profit of it and swayed by the inherent habits of sin in the Will The Devil that works in them hath some principle to stir up or dim this natural light and cast a mist before the Eye and so they direct their course according to that particular judgment which is befriended in its vote by sense 2. 'T is against the nature of a renewed Will Grace is the law of God in the heart and is put in to inable us to walk in the ways of God and shall it endure such wilful pollutions in the Creature when it is the end of its being there to preserve from them The Spirit is given in the Heart 2 Cor. 1.22 sent into the Heart Gal. 4.6 the Law put into the Heart Heb. 10.16 Since therefore there is an habit of grace in the Will a Man cannot frequently and easily lanch into sin because he cannot do it habitually the remainders of sin being mated with a powerful habit which watches their motions to resist them Doth God put such a habit there such a seed an abiding seed to no purpose but to let the Soul be wounded by every temptation to be deserted in every time of need Grace is an habit superadded to that natural and moral strengrh which is in the Will Man by natures strength meerly or with the assistance of common grace hath power to avoid the acts of gross sins for he is master of his own actions though he is not of the motions tending to them the Devil cannot force a Mans Will And when grace a greater strength comes in shall there be no effects of this strength but the reins be as stiff in the hands of old lust and the Will as much captive to the sinful habit in it as before Grace being a new nature it is as absurd to think that a gracious man should wallow in a course of sin as it is to think that any creature should constantly and willingly do that which is against its nature A gracious man delights in the Law of God Psal 1.2 His delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night if he delights in it can he delight to break it Do Men fling that which they delight in every day in the Durt and trample upon it or rather do they not keep it choicely in their Cabinets If it be also the Character of a good man to meditate in the Law of God he must have frequent exercises of faith reflections upon himself motions to God which cannot consist with a course of sin Grace doth essentially include a contrariety to sin and a love to God in the Will 'T is a principle of doing good and eschewing evil and these being essential properties of grace are essential to every regenerate man and in every one As a drop of Water or one spark of Fire hath the essential properties of a great mass of Water or a great quantity of Fire so every renewed man hath the same love to God and the same hatred of sin essentially as the most eminent Saint though not in degree yea which those in heaven have though not in the same degree As a spark of fire will burn a drop of water will moisten though not in so eminent a measure Now upon the whole consider whether is it possible to bare reason that a regenerate man should customarily do those things which are against the essential properties of that which is in him in his will and doth denominate him a new Creature 3. Proposition A regenerate man cannot have a fixt resolution to walk in such a way of sin were the impediments to it removed Though unregenerate men may actually as to the outward exercise abstain from some sins yet it is usually upon low and mean conditions If it were not for such or such an obstacle in the way I would do such and such an act This temper is not in a good man he cannot have a fixed and determinate resolution to commit such an act if such bars were taken away Such resolutions are Common in unregenerate men Jer. 44.25 We will surely perform our vows which we have vow'd to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and Isa 56.12 We will fill our selves with strong drink and to morrow shall be as this day and much more abundant we will have as merry a meeting as we had to day The same character is ascribed to such an one Psal 36.4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed He sets himself in a way that is not good He ahhorreth not evil He modells out his sinful designs with head and heart he settles himself as an army settles in their ground when they resolve to fight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He abhors not evil He starts not at such motions but by a Meiosis he huggs and caresseth them with a wonderful delight Regenerate men fear to sin wicked men contrive to sin One would starve it the other makes provision for it This temper cannot be in a Regenerate man 1. 'T is Diabolical And so falls under that in the text He cannot Commit sin as the Devil doth 'T is a stain of the Devil who is resolved in his way of malice to God and mischief to man but for the strait Chains God holds him in his resolution is fixed though the execution restrained He goes about seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to drink at one draught Seeking both for an opportunity and permission Unwearied searches manifest fixed resolutions His