The Second Proposition

Having dispatched the First, we come to the Second Proposition [illegible] in the foregoing [illegible], concerning the [illegible] of Application: [illegible].

That, that power by which the Lord [illegible] Application is an Almighty power.

This work of Application looks to God as the Author [illegible] of it, not in regard of any common [illegible] providence, whereby he leads out the act of every Creature's ability to its end in all the several kinds [illegible] (Acts 17:28). In him we live and move: The strong man faints if God withdraw, the weak is strong if God assist. Nor yet in regard of that [illegible] which the Lord vouchsafes to the work of grace [illegible] wrought; but [illegible] puts forth an Almighty power upon the soul when he is pleased to bring it home [illegible] himself, the cause is ordinary, but the work it [illegible] is extraordinary, there is a mass of miracles met [illegible] when a sinner is converted. It was a miracle when the blind was made to see, the dumb to speak, the deaf to hear, and the dead to live, but in [illegible] all these are met together, the blind mind is enlightened, the dumb mouth is opened, the heart [illegible] was shut up under hardness is opened and [illegible], and the dead soul is restored to life again. Matthew [illegible]:5 — that power whereby Christ was raised from the dead is an Almighty power, but that he puts [illegible] to the working of faith in all that belong to him (Ephesians [illegible]:18). His exceeding great power, according to the [illegible] of his mighty power in you that believe, as [illegible] wrought in Christ in raising him up from the dead. Hence the working of grace is called a resurrection (Revelation 20:6; John 5:20). The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall [illegible]. So again (Ephesians 2:1-2), you that were dead [illegible] sins and trespasses, has he quickened.

Look we not only at the weakness, but the hellish opposition that a man has naturally against all good; [illegible] will appear it must be more than an ordinary power [illegible] gives a being to grace in the soul. Let the best objects be presented, the most persuasive and strongest [illegible] pressed to a man under the power of his sins, [illegible] these will never prevail with him. Let God come [illegible] heaven and preach to Cain (Genesis 4:6-7). Let our Savior preach to and weep over Jerusalem, with many tears, "O Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you" (Matthew 23:37). Let Judas live in the family of Christ, yet if there be no more but an ordinary power, Cain will be Cain, and Judas will be Judas and go to hell for all this. For,

1. The sovereignty of man's [illegible] will is such that it exceeds all created power in heaven and earth. Amos, chapter 4 — see what conclusions the Lord there tries upon the rebellious Israelites: "I [illegible] given you cleanness of teeth and want of bread" (verse 6). "I have withheld the rain from you" (verse 7). "I [illegible] you with blasting" (verse 9). "I have sent among you the [illegible], and overthrown you as Sodom" (verses 10-11). And still this is added at the end of every instance, "Yet you have not returned to me." (Revelation 16:11) They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores, and they repented not. (Daniel 9:13) All this evil is come upon us, yet made we not our prayer, etc. The seventy years captivity was ended, but their repentance was to begin. When the Jews had traveled forty years in the wilderness and been spectators of the wonders of God, yet they wanted a heart to turn to their God (Deuteronomy 29:4). There is nothing but God that made the will, that is above the will, and can bow it, and frame it to the obedience of his own will.

2. Besides the strength of the corrupt will, look we at the power of Satan, that has possession of the soul (Matthew 12:29). The Devil is said to be as a strong man that keeps the house till a stronger than he comes and binds him; he improves all his policy and power to the utmost to keep the soul under the power of its sins, and there is no created policy or power above that of Satan. He is only subject to the Almighty power of God to be driven out and [illegible] thereby.

Look to the nature of that good which the soul is to be made partaker of — it is a supernatural good, that which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor can it enter into the heart of man, what the Lord has prepared for those that love him (1 Corinthians 2:9). (It is meant not only of the things of glory, but the things of grace.)

Now a man is naturally and wholly corrupted and possessed with sin (John 3:6) — that which is born of [illegible] is flesh, that which comes by generation is but either nature or corruption. (Galatians 5:19) The flesh lusts against the spirit. Therefore it is beyond the power of the flesh to close with the spirit because contrary to it. Therefore Paul concludes it (Romans 7:14): The law is spiritual and I am carnal sold under sin. Again, that which must lift up nature to act above itself must be something above nature, for nothing can act beyond its own sphere and compass. Trees grow but they have not sense, beasts have sense but not reason, devils have [illegible] but they cannot close with God. That which must cause the dog not to return to his vomit again must change the nature of a dog into a lamb. It is beyond the power of darkness to bring light, so [illegible]. It must be as the Apostle expresses it (2 Corinthians 4:6): God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, that must shine into our hearts to give the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ. [illegible] is the [illegible] of power, not only to work something out of nothing, but something out of that which is contrary to it. And therefore this work of the application of redemption to a lost sinner is harder than the work of creation itself, for as the Lord had nothing then to help him, so he had nothing to hinder him in creating the world; but here the Lord must take [illegible] the heart of stone, he must turn the heart of flint into a heart of flesh, he must cause light to shine out of darkness, and work one contrary out of another.

Why then are commands so frequent in Scripture; as, "Make you a new heart and a new spirit" (Ezekiel 18:31). "Turn, turn, why will you die?" (Ezekiel 33:11). "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). If a man have no power to turn himself, to what purpose are these commands; if there be need of an Almighty power to work these, why are they required of us?

- 1. These and the like commands of God in Scripture show not what we can do but what we should do; not what our ability is but what our duty is, and what would be acceptable to the Lord if we could perform the same. - 2. When the Lord gives a command, together with the command he gives a power to all his elect to enable them to obey the command, as when he commanded Lazarus to come forth (John 5:20). - 3. When we are commanded to return, to repent and believe, the meaning is not that we of ourselves, by ourselves and our own power should do this, but thus: that we should be content that the Lord should work in us what he requires of us; we should lie under the stroke of the truth, and receive the powerful impression of the Spirit and be content to be made able.