Eternal Glorification Begun in Regeneration, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of the hinderances and obſtructions that lye in the way of Regeneration.
Q. ARe there any lets, hinderances, or obstructions in the way of Regeneration, to impede and hinder it?
A. There are very many and great obſtructions in the way of Gods Regenerating men; inſomuch, as that it is a wonder that any are Regenerated. God met with no lets or hindrances in his firſt Creating of us, but in his remaking us, he meets with many. He made us reaſonable Creatures without oppoſition, but when he comes to make us New Creatures, he finds nothing elſe but impediments, contradiction, and fightings againſt him. Hence 'tis ſaid, Gen. 6.3. His ſpirit ſhall not always strive with man: And how often would I have gathered you, but ye would not, Matth. 23.37. And Chriſt tells the Jews, that they would not come to him, Joh. 8.40. though he had all the day long ſtretched out his hand to them, Rom. 10. ult.
Q. What are thoſe contradictions, hinderances, and oppoſitions, the work of Regeneration meets withal, to impede and obstruct it, and from whom are they, or from whom do they ariſe?
A. Theſe obſtructions, contradictions, and oppoſitions that lye in the way, to impede …nd hinder our Regeneration, are within and without us; they proceed and ariſe from our Luſts, World, and Devil. Regeneration mee… with ſtrong oppoſitions from our Luſts, and it is made exceeding hard and difficult, from the ſtate and condition we are in, before Regeneration.
Q. Pray ſhew us what thoſe Luſts are, which lay in the way of Regeneration, to oppoſe, impede, and obſtruct it? What are thoſe Iuſts?
A. Firſt, Atheiſm and Ʋnbelief. Theſe Luſts abound, and are exceeding ſtrong and active in us, to hinder our Regeneration. Sin hath made us Fools, and Fools ſay in their hearts, there is no God. Pſal. 14.1. When God ſpeaks, men will not hear him, neither do they believe it to be his voice, Exod. 5.1, 2. Who is the Lord (ſays Pharach.) Men are by Nature ſo Atheiſtical, as that they will not believe that God ſees or regards their works, and therefore do imbolden themſelves in ſuming, and following their Luſts and devilliſh devices with this perſwaſion, that no eye ſees them and that there is no hand to puniſh them Pſal. 10.11. Pſal. 64.5. Iſa. 29.15. They imagine and conclude then, that if God ſee not their ways, nor takes notice of their wickedneſs, that no evil ſhall fall on them for … Jer. 23.17. yea, they are confident they ſh… have peace, and that while they are addi… drunkenneſs to thirſt, that is, one ſin to anothe… with all greedineſs, Deut. 29.19, 20. 1 The… 5.3. This Atheiſm is deeply rooted in a… men by Nature; in Profeſſors of the Name Truths, and good ways of God; as well as in profeſſed Turks and Heathens, as is ſhewed in the ſaid Scriptures: And the infidelity of mens hearts is ſuch, as that they will not believe that they do really ſtand in need of Regeneration; even thoſe men who profeſs to believe there is a God, that he ſees and takes notice of their ſtates and ways, that the Scriptures of God are true, that God rules in and governs the World, and that he hath puniſhments for the unjuſt, and will recompence their way on their heads, and render to every man according to his works, Rom. 2.6. I fay, thoſe men that do ſo believe, do not ſee and believe indeed their own preſent ſtates, and their own neceſſity of Regeneration, but flatter themſelves in the vain and groundleſs imaginations of their own hearts, that if they mend their ways, reform without, and turn from vicious courſes and practiſes, to the eternal practiſe of Vertue, that in ſo doing they may obtain happineſs, and do well enough hereafter, although they ſtick there, and never are Regenerated. Hence it is that they conclude, that 'tis in vain, and a kind of ſuperſtition in them, to trouble and concern themſelves to look any further, or ſeek after a change of heart and ſtate, but reſolve they will not do ſo, whatever is ſaid to confute and convince them of their errour, but in that ſtate they will abide, in ſpite of God, Angels, and Men, and that when God comes and proffers to Regenerate and make them New Creatures. And hence it is, that they ſtoutly and ſtubbornly reſiſt and riſe up in violent oppoſition againſt God, and the word of his Grace; diſputing againſt, and contending with him, and the means he gives them for their change; and in effect ſay, we are well enough, why ſhould we trouble our ſelves; yea, why ſhould God concern or trouble himſelf any further with us, ſeeing we are in a ſtate of Salvation already, and may without any more ado be ſaved if God will. Men are naturally ſuch ſtrangers to their own ſtates, as that they do not, will not believe, that Regeneration is needful and abſolutely neceſſary for their Salvation, or that it amounts to any more than a bare Reformation and change of practiſe. Regeneration is ſuch a Myſtery, and they are ſo captivated to their Ignorance, Atheiſm, and Unbelief, as that they think it is but an idle ſtory, and a needleſt thing, eſpecially if they are Moral honeſt men, and great Profeſſors of the Goſpel. Hence it was, when Chriſt had to do with, and intended to convert Nicodemus, (who was a Moral and Religious honeſt man) that he preſſes the neceſſity of Regeneration on him with four Aſſeverations together; Except a man (namely, thou and others) be born again, ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of God: And marvel not at this, ye muſt be born again, Joh. 3.3.5.7. So in Matth. 18.3. Verily, I ſay to you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye ſhall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And as they neither ſee nor believe in good earneſt, their need of Regeneration, ſo they believe not that God hath a mind, that he doth (indeed) propoſe, intend, or is really willing to Regenerate them; but they dream (as being under the power of their Infidelity and deluſions) and perſwade themſelves, that whatever they read, or hear Miniſters report of theſe things, that they are but Fictions, and fancies of men, and that there is no truth nor reality in it, or if there be, yet they are not concerned in what they ſay unto them, for their effectual Conviction and Regeneration. And therefore when Chriſt ſtrives, and his Miniſters ſtrive with them, to get into their hearts, and Regenerate them, they defend themſelves, ſtand upon their ground, and do all they can to prevent and hinder them, Rom. 10. ult. Heb. 3.1.15. Thus you ſee that Atheiſm and Unbelief is a Potent Enemy to Regeneration.
Secondly, Hatred of God and Holineſs, and their great love, ſtrong and much endeared affection to their ſins, luſts, and the world, greatly oppoſes Regenerating Grace, or the work of Regeneration in us. That by Nature we are haters of God, the Yoke of Chriſt, and Power of Godlineſs you have heard before; as alſo that we have great affection for, and are much in love with our Luſts, and the World. Now that theſe are exceeding great Enemies to, and obſtructions of our Regeneration, is evident in Luk. 14.16, 17, 18, 19, 20. God makes a Supper of Grace and favour for ſinners, makes it ready, ſets it on the Table, and ſends his Servants to invite them to come and eat; but would they come? no, in no wiſe: But why not? why, becauſe they had other things to mind, and, as they thought, of greater concernment; One had a Wife, another a Farm, and another Oxen. Theſe were the things they loved, minded, and ſo greatly delighted in; theſe things lay ſo near their hearts, as that they would not, could not come, nor could the moſt loving Invitation perſwade them, their worldly luſts were ſo ſtrong. This made them reject that Grace that was ſo freely and earneſtly proffered them: So Covetouſneſs cauſed the young m… to reject Chriſt, Grace, and Heaven, Luke 18.22, 23, and made him reſolve to loſe all, rather than forgo that boſom luſt. He ſtood it out ſtoutly, and would not bow, or yield an inch to Chriſt, although his Life and Soul lay at ſtake for it. And to the ſame purpoſe we read in Luk. 19.27. of ſome who were ſo wedded to their luſts and intereſts, as that they peremptorily rejected Chriſts Yoke: They preferred the ſervice of Sin before the ſervice of Chriſt, and choſe rather to have their Luſts to Reign over them, than the Lord Jeſus.
By Nature men are ſuch Enemies to God, and Godlineſs, I mean the power of it, as that they hate the Light that would ſhew them their errour, acquaint them with God, and bring to the ſaving knowledge of true happineſs, Joh. 3.19, 20. And they are ſaid to abhor God, Zach. 11.8. and likewiſe the Word and Laws of God, Levit. 26.15. The Scribes and Phariſees were Religious men, and knew more than others did of the Will of God, and yet they ſtifly oppoſed the Grace and Goſpel of Chriſt, that was brought to them, for their Regeneration, if they would accept it; yea, they hated the Lord Jeſus Chriſt for proffering his Grace and Aſſiſtance to them, and publiſhing the glad tydings of Salvation, Joh. 15.24, 25. And how deſperately did the Jews ſet themſelves againſt the Apoſtles Preaching Chriſt and Grace unto them? what exceeding great enmity, malignity, malice, and hatred, did they expreſs all along, to and againſt their Preaching, and tendering Chriſt and his Grace unto them, for their Regeneration and Salvation, you may ſee at large in the Acts. The Language of us all by Nature is, we have loved ſtrangers, and after them we will go, Jer. 2.25. and therefore, as for the Word of the Lord, which he hath ſpoken, we will not do it, Jer. 44.16, 17. Moreover, Pride is a ſtrong and hoſtile Enemy to Regeneration: Man is a very proud Creature, and as full of Diabolical and Carnal Pride, as a Toad is of Poyſon. This is the Luſt that makes men ſcorn to come up to Chriſts terms, or bow to his Propoſals: They diſdain to be beholding to Free Grace for any thing, and therefore will not hearken to any of Chriſts Offers. Pride ſets men in Battlearray againſt Chriſt, to diſpute and ſight it out with him: It is ſo ſtrong a Fort, ſuch an impregnable Caſtle, as that no ſtrength can take and ſubdue it, but Omnipotency, that can do it, but none elſe can, Eph. 1.19, 20. Pſal. 110.3. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. This is the Luſt that makes men ſo boldly and audaciouſly ſet their mouths againſt the Heavens, Pſal. 73.9. and ſo pertinaciouſly contend with God; it cauſes men to think highly of themſelves, and vilely of Chriſt, Grace, and a New State; it makes them deſperate and reſolute in the way of their own hearts, and turn a deaf Ear to the Lords Calls and Admonitions; it cauſes them to trample on the Goſpel, Chriſt, and his Blood, and Righteouſneſs, and to harden their hearts againſt all reproofs and inſtructions: All the Angels in Heaven, or Miniſters on Earth, cannot pull down this ſtrong hold, and it is as great an Adverſary as any Chriſt hath in the world; to obſtruct his Grace; it is the Great Goliah that ſtands in open defiance againſt Chriſt, and makes the ſtouteſt reſiſtance againſt our Regeneration.
Again, our Self-righteouſneſs is an other great obſtacle and Bull-work againſt our Regeneration. Men have long been building up that which God will and muſt pull down, in regenerating us. God will not ſuffer our own Babels to ſtand, when he comes to ſet up Zion in our hearts; neither will he let Dagon alone, when he comes to ſet up his Ark in us. All our works, conceits, and imaginations, are but Rubbiſh and Dirt that muſt be thrown away, and caſt out, to make way for his building; and therefore God begins here, namely, to overturn, demoliſh, and remove out his way, the ſtrong Towers and Fortreſſes of our own high thoughts, conceits, works, and vain imaginations, that ſo we being left deſtitute of ſuccour, and grounds of hope in our ſelves, we may freely comply and joyn Iſſues with God in his works of Grace in us. But now, when God comes to do this, O what ſtrong reſiſtance, and violent oppoſition, doth our Self-righteouſneſs, and good conceits of our ſelves, make againſt God, and the works of his Grace: God would undo us, that he may make us; he would pull us down, and quite deface our own Structures, that he may build and ſet up his own in us. Buch ſuch are our conceits and apprehenſions of our ſufficiency, goodneſs, righteouſneſs, acceptable and worthy performances, as that we harden our hearts againſt all Convictions of the invalidity and nothingneſs, yea, vanity and ſinfulneſs of them; and are exceedingly averſe to, and unwilling of any alteration; cannot endure to think of loſing all that we have wrought for ſo many years, and after ſo much labour and confidence, peace and ſatiſfaction in our ſtates, and what we have done, to loſe all at once, and be beholding at laſt only to the free gift of another; fleſh and blood will never endure it, and therefore makes all poſſible oppoſition againſt it. Men have been long rich and happy in their own eyes, and therefore cannot bear to be undone and impoveriſhed, to be poor and miſerable, wretched and naked. And hence it is that they ſhut their eyes, and ſtop their ears againſt Light, and Gods gracious Invitations. They will have none of him, becauſe they fancy they have enough, and do, and may do enough of their own, to make them happy. This was the caſe of ſome of the Laodiceans, Rev. 3.17. they thought themſelves rich, and had need of nothing; and that when they were wretched, naked, and miſerable. Thus it was with Paul before he was Regenerated, Phil. 3.4, 5, 6, 7. And this was one of the great obſtructions that hindred the Jews from receiving the Grace of Chriſt, tendred them by Chriſt and his Apoſtles, John 8, and 9, Chapters. And in Luke 18.9, 10, 11, 12. their ſelf-conceited righteouſneſs and light, their priviledges and good works, made them ſuch deſperate, reſolute, violent, and ſtout oppoſers of the Grace of God; and thus is ſtill the nature and effect of it in all the Sons and Daughters of men, as ſad experience ſhews.
And as Self-righteouſneſs, and a good Opinion of our ſelves, is a ſtrong Bar to fence us againſt Gods Regenerating work, ſo are vain and groundleſs hopes likewiſe. Theſe oppoſitions and contradictions do all hang together in a ſtring, as ſo many Links in a Chain; where one is, all are; but one may be ſtronger in one man, and another in another man. Men are by Nature exceeding full of preſumptious hopes and confidences, they ſeign that God will ſave them, becauſe he is good and merciful to ſinners, although they continue in their filthineſs and practical abominations, in their blindneſs and unregenerate ſtates. The Conceptions of Gods Mercies, proves ſnares and dangerous Rocks to unregenerate men, while they confidently conclude that God will have mercy on, and ſave them, becauſe he is merciful, though they live and die in their unregenerate ſtates and condition, although the Word of God tell them the contrary, Iſa. 27.11. This is the vain hope of hypocrites, mentioned in Job 8.13, 14. which ſhall periſh with them. Preſumptious confidences, and vain hopes, are natural to us, and we will take hold of any broken Reed to keep us from deſpondency, or making a right judgment of our ſelves, ſtates, and ways, rather than yield to the counſels of God, and ſuffer him to ſave us in his own way, and by his own means. This vain preſumptious hope, is that which arms and ſtrengthens the Soul againſt Chriſt, and lies in a direct oppoſition to our Regeneration.
Again, Hardneſs of heart is a great Bar to Regeneration. We are by Nature hardened in ſin, and in fond conceits of our good conditions; and therefore the work of Regeneration in us, muſt needs be very hard and difficult work. We are ſo hardened by ſin, and we harden our ſelves more and more, when God hands out Light to us to ſee our ſtates, and lead us to himſelf. When God comes to Regenerate, then we are moſt inſenſible of our conditions, and harden our hearts moſt againſt him, even then when he would ſoften and melt us, break and humble us; we were hard and knotty pieces before, but then we make our ſelves much harder; for then we do purpoſely and deſignedly ſet our ſelves againſt God and his workings; and as water ſtrives with greater vehemency againſt oppoſition, ſo do our hard hearts againſt the Spirits operations in us, to renew and change us, Ezek. 3.7. Pharoah was a hard-hearted man before God ſent Moſes and Aaron to him, but then he ſet himſelf to harden his heart againſt God, and his Word, more than ever. So when God ſent the means of Grace to the Jews, and ſtrove with them to bring them to himſelf, the more he wreſtled with them, exhorted, and perſwaded them to receive his Grace, and become New Creatures, the more they ſtrove and fought againſt him, Acts 19. Acts 28. until God judicially hardened them alſo, and then they were ſealed up (as it were) to the day of wrath, Joh. 12.40. Then 'tis ever after a hard and impenitent heart, Rom. 2.5.
Laſtly, Enmity. There is in every natural man moſt ſtout and ſtrong Enmity againſt God, which is implacable and irreconcileable. There can no peace or friendſhip be had with an implacable Enemy, and a man that is at real Enmity with us, until he be changed. The Carnal mind is not only an Enemy to God, but foreign, Emnity againſt God, Rom. 8.7. And in Rom. 1.31. they are ſaid to be implacable. Enmity will never be won and made to yield, either by fair or foul means; but ſuch is the nature of it, as that it will rather die on the place, than conform to any tolerable terms of friendſhip with an Adverſary. But the Enmity of our Natures is moſt ſtout, ſtubborn, and deſperate againſt God; for 'tis poſſible for a man to perſwade him that is at Enmity with him, to ſome reaſonable terms of accommodation, by his great condeſcention and bowing to him, by ſweet and affable carriages, by the entreaty and perſwaſion of Friends, and by proffering to ſerve him, and give him all he hath.
But it is not ſo between men and God; for although God condeſcends, and as it were bows down to us, and that infinitely more than men can do, though he carry himſelf moſt ſweetly and affably to us, proffers friendſhip and reconciliation to us, entreats and perſwades us by his Miniſters, promiſes and proffers to wait on us, protect, and guard us; yea, give all he hath to inrich us, honour and exalt us with all his Sons Fulneſs, and poſſeſs us of all his Heavenly Treaſures, if we will yield and be reconciled to him. But all theſe endeavours are in vain, none of them will work on Enmity, to perſwade and bow it to the Will and Deſigns of God; yea, theſe means are all contemned, and are improved to heighten and ſtrengthen the Enmity by us. Enmity cauſes men to bid defiance to ſuch Acts and Overtures of God for the winning and bringing us over to himſelf; they make us more obſtinate, implacable, and irreconcileable. The Jews give us a ſufficient proof of this Truth, as well as what is daily found amongſt us: For who ſhews greater Enmity againſt Chriſt, his Grace, and Goſpel, than ſuch to whom he daily holds forth the Golden Scepter of his Mercy, and beſeeches to be reconciled to him.
Theſe are ſome of the ſtout Enemies of our Regeneration, which are bred in our own Boſoms, and ſtrongly arm and fortifie our Souls againſt Chriſt. Theſe are ſome of the Goliah's that rebel againſt the Authority and Commands of God, and that hold faſt the Caſtles of our hearts, and keep them ſhut againſt him, when he comes to aſſault and ſubdue them; and ſo makes our Regeneration very hard and difficult. I could have inſtanced in ſeveral other internal oppoſitions, but time would fail me.
Secondly, Without, and within us too. The Devil is an external and internal Adverſary to the work of Regeneration; he is an implacable and active Enemy to and againſt our New State; for he hates Chriſt, and his Grace in men, and cannot endure to ſee a holy Job, or gracious Paul in the world; and therefore endeavours to make and keep all men like himſelf, and leaves no means unattempted to effect it, but goes about night and day, ſeeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet. 5.8. There is an Everlaſting Enmity put between the Seed of the Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent, Gen. 3. and much more between the Devil and Grace. And as the Devil hates Chriſt, and his Grace in men, ſo likewiſe the happy and bleſſed ſtate that the Grace of Regeneration puts them into. He knows that he is a moſt miſerable Creature himſelf, being condemned, and put into Chains of darkneſs, to everlaſting fire, Jude 6. Matth. 25.41. And therefore he greatly envies and malignes the happineſs of good men. It cuts him to the heart to ſee any of the Sons of Adam reſtored to a ſtate of Bleſſedneſs; to ſee the Grace of God in them, and they in Friendſhip with God. For no ſooner had God made man in his own Image, Gen. 1.26, 27. ſet them in Paradiſe, and given them a poſitive Law to obey; but by and by, he ſets on them to debauch and ſpoil them, and uſes all poſſible ſubtilty and diligence to effect it, Gen. 3. which ſucceeded according to his mind for a time. So when he ſaw Job walk uprightly, and in high favour with God, how does he labour to corrupt him, and turn him from his integrity, in the firſt and ſecond Chapter of Job. And as the Devil envies the happineſs of good men, and therefore labours to hinder their Regeneration, ſo likewiſe his loathneſs to looſe his Subjects. The Devil is the God and Lord of the World, 2 Cor. 4.4. Eph. 2.2. and hath many willing and obedient Subjects, Rom. 6. We are all by Nature the Devils Subjects and Servants, he hath the firſt poſſeſſion of, and ſervice from us; and when God Regenerates a man, he takes him out of the Devils Kingdom, and calls him out of his ſubjection and ſervice, and puts him into his Kingdom and ſervice, Col. 1.13. Rom. 6. Now this is ſo grievous to him, as that he cannot quietly bear it, but doth all he can to hinder and obſtruct it, and that by all poſſible ways and means. He is in poſſeſſion, and rules in the hearts, Luk. 11.20, 21, 22. and will not … his Subjects go, until a ſtronger than he fo… ces him to yield; but as Pharaoh (a ſhad… of the Devil) would not let Iſrael go out … his Kingdom to ſerve God, ſo will not th… Devil let mens Souls go to ſerve Chriſt, un… he brings them out with a ſtrong hand; … ſo Chriſt gets all his Subjects out of Sat… hand, and puts them into his own Kingdo… In Regeneration Chriſt leads Captivity capti… Eph. 4.8. takes the Spoil out of his han… and breaks his Jaws, Job 29.17. Chriſt binds … ſtrong man (or Devil) and takes away his good… he turns the Devil out of office, and out … the poſſeſſion of their hearts, and enters … himſelf; takes on him the Rule and Government of them, and makes them his will… and obedient Subjects; tranſlates them i… his Kingdom, and that by their own volu… tary Reſignation of themſelves to him. No… this the Devil cannot but greatly oppoſe a… fight againſt, and will never yield nor ſubmit, but when the Lord Jeſus comes to … his own, which he hath bought with his bl… 1 Cor. 6.19. and begins to awaken and euven them. O how does the Devil rage … ſtorm, fight, and oppoſe, to keep his Subject in ſubjection to him? O how does he dr… up all his Forces, and make Head again Chriſt, to keep men out of his hand? ſometimes by flatteries, and ſometimes by thre… nings. Now he labours to hold them fa… by perſwading them that they are in pea… and in a good condition; that they are under deluſions, and ſiniſter miſtakes; that if they continue as they are, they ſhall have peace, and need not doubt of their Salvation; and that thoſe troubles they are under are of the Devil, and their own miſs-judging of their ſtates. He flatters and perſwades them to mind their pleaſures and profits, and not trouble or concern themſelves about Religion, for that will but diſtract and perplex them, and no way advantage them. He tells them, that in their preſent ſtate they may have their hearts deſire, but ſo they ſhall not have in the ſingular and melancholly ways of Religion, which now they begin to concern themſelves withal; and that if they once ingage themſelves in thoſe matters, they ſhall never find any good, or ſatisfaction in them, comparable to that which they muſt forgo, and part withal, and which hitherto they have, and hereafter they may more fully enjoy in their preſent ſtates and practiſes. Sometimes he will threaten and affright them, by telling them that they do make vain attempts, for it is but loſt labour for them to expect or look for Salvation; for either God hates them, they are not Elected, or that the day of Grace is paſt, and ſo there is no hope for them; therefore they were better ſit ſtill and be quiet, enjoy their pleaſures, and fulfil the deſires of the fleſh, as long as they may. He tells them, that if they do begin to take up with the ſtrict ways of Goſpel Religion, they will be undone, never hold out to the end, and ſo but heighten their mi… ſery thereby; that there are but a few ſill… Souls, and that of the poorer ſort, that min… Religion, or ſuffer ſuch a work to be wrough… in them, as Regeneration is; and that to b… ſingular in this matter, is but to expoſe themſelves to all manner of infamy and reproach.
By theſe, and many other ſtratagems, doth the Devil labour to withſtand Chriſt, and obſtruct our Regeneration; and moſt poo… Souls are prevailed on, to joyn Iſſue with him, and continue to make ſtout oppoſition againſt the Holy Spirit his endeavours to convert them. It is the Devil likewiſe that obſtructs and hinders the Preaching of the Goſpel to men, by ſuch Inſtruments as he is pleaſed to make uſe of for that end and purpoſe. Thus he made uſe of the Jews to keep the Goſpel from the Gentiles, when the Apoſtles were ſent to them with it; and if he cannot keep the Goſpel from men, he wil… endeavour to keep and hinder them from hearing it ſincerely preached to them: And if this will not do, but men will hear Chriſts Miniſters Preach, then he will cauſe men to turn a deaf ear to what they hear, that doth more nearly concern their ſtates and conditions, leſt the Goſpel ſhould fall with power on their hearts. Thus the Devil wrought and prevailed on Stephen his hearers. In Acts 7. it is ſaid, when he preached to them, they ſtopped their ears.
But now, in the mean while, what a hard piece of work hath Chriſt on't, namely, i… Regenerating us? O what ſtrong Caſtles muſt he aſſault? and what potent Enemies muſt he fight down and deſtroy, before the work of Regeneration can be thorowly effected?
But beſides theſe, there is another great obſtruction in the way of Regeneration, and that is the World. The good and bad people, and things of this world, are great hinderances of our Regeneration: The unworthy walkings of many Profeſſors of the good ways of Chriſt, and the reproaches and perſecutions of the wicked, are no ſmall lets and impediments to, and of Regeneration. So are alſo the riches, pleaſures, and honours of this World. Theſe pull back the hearts of men, and keep them from entering into the Kingdom of Heaven, Luk. 18.22, 23. and theſe take off mens thoughts from ſerious minding of their ſtates, and another world. Theſe things lye ſo deep in our minds and affections, and do ſo powerfully delude and bewitch all our ſenſes, that we have no minds, wills, or inclinations, to mind or ſet our hearts on things above; yea, they have ſo great an intereſt in us, and authority over us, as that they do command our moſt ſerious and fixed attendance on them, and greedy purſuit after them, whereby the Calls and Commands of God are ſhut out of our hearts. The ſmiles and good things of this world, are the Gods, or rather Idols of our hearts, the Lovers that we dote on, and are fond of, and the great deſire and delight of our Souls; and they being ſo, it is as eaſie for us to pull the Sun out of Heaven, as our hearts from theſe things. We may as well change a Black-mor… Skin white, or empty the Sea with a Nut-ſhell, as to empty and caſt out the World of our hearts, and change their courſe and way. Earthly things are our Lords, and hold us faſt, as Priſoners in their Chains. We are their Humble Servants, and at their beck we go and come: We are ſwallowed up in them at a Ship in a Gulf, and they are enthroned and fixed in our hearts, as in their proper place and center. We mind and affect Earthly good things (by Nature) as our Heaven, Happineſs, and ſatisfying good; and ſee not, neither will we be perſwaded without Regenerating Grace, that there is indeed any higher or greater happineſs, or real ſatisfaction to be found, than what they can afford us. Theſe are called their good things, becauſe they account them ſo, and are well pleaſed and contented with them, without Chriſt and his Grace. They had rather live in ſin, blindneſs, and under the wrath of God, with abundance of them, then in Heaven, and under Regeneration, without them, Luk. 12.16, 17, 18, 20. Luk. 16.25. Luk. 18.22, 23, 24.
Oh! How common is it with men to compaſs Sea and Land for the World; to labour and toil night and day to get, ſpend, and be ſpent to keep it, when gotten, yea, to hazard and venture their lives, and Souls too, to obtain and ſecure it; and that becauſe of their exceſſive and inordinate love to, and delight in theſe things. Men will much more willingly part with Chriſt, Grace, and Heaven, than with their Riches, Honours, and Pleaſures. Hence Chriſt tells his Diſciples, that it is a hard matter for them to be ſaved that are rich, Luk. 18.24.25.
Now when Chriſt comes to regenerate and change our ſtates, he calls us off from ſo minding, affecting, and taking up with theſe things, and to mind, follow, and ſet our hearts on heavenly, Col. 3.1, 2. And this is ſo croſs and contrary unto the Natural Genius of our hearts and courſe of our lives, our ſatisfaction and ſuppoſed happineſs, as that we will by no means be convinced of our folly, and perſwaded to come to Chriſt, accept of him, and his Regenerating Grace for our portion and happineſs, until he puts forth his Almighty Power to work and perſwade us to it. And O what a hard and difficult work hath Chriſt to do in us, and for us? What a world of ſtout oppoſitions, and implacable Oppoſers, doth Chriſt meet withal in this work? The Luſts of our Hearts, the Devil and World, Carnal and Spiritual Self, do all combine together, to make Head and ſtrong oppoſition againſt the Lord Jeſus, when he would Regenerate us.