through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindnefs of their hearts? Hence it is, that a work of fpiritual illumination, is neceffary, to bring finners to a fpiritual difcerning of fpiritual truths and duties. Eph. i. 17, 18. That the God of our Lord Jefus Chrift, the father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of bhim; the eyes of your understanding being inlightned, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the faints. Without fuch illumination as this, finners can never fee the evil of fin, the beauty of holinefs, and the excellency of Jefus Chrift.

2. They have no fpiritual Feeling. The body when dead cannot feel any thing. Lay ever fo much weight upon it, exercise ever fo much cruelty towards it, it has no fenfe or feeling. Thus the fouls of natural men, are deftitute of fpiritual feeling. Though they have many heavy burdens lying upon them, yet they feel them not. Thus, they have upon them a burden of guilt. Sin is an heavy burden indeed. Pfal. xxxviii. 4. Mine iniquities are gone over my head: as an beavy burden they are too heavy for me. Yet however, finners do not figh and groan under this burden of fin. They are paft feeling hereof, (Eph. iv. 19.) and through custom in finning, their confciences do many times become feared, as with an hot iron, (1 Tim. iv. 2.) fo as to have loft all fenfe and feeling of fin.-They have also upon them a burden of divine wrath. Men in their natural eftate, are under the wrath and curfe of God. And till they do become believers on Jefus Chrift, the wrath of God abideth on them. Job. iii. 36. Yet however, finners do not feel this heavy burden of divine wrath lying upon them. Their hearts, are hearts of ftone, hard and fenfelefs. (Ezek. xi. 19.) Hence it is, that finners are wretchedly fecure, as if they were in no manner of danger. And in this woful fecurity they will live all their days, unless God by his fpirit awaken and terrify their confciences.

3. They have no fpiritual Hearing. A dead body

ན་

I 4

canno

cannot hear any thing, though when living ever fo quick of hearing. Let the voice of thunder be ever 1ó loud, it hears nothing of it. Thus the fouls of finners are deftitute of fpiritual hearing. Though God knocks at the door of their hearts and calls aloud to them, yet they hear him not. They do not regard the gracious invitations of God, but are like the deaf adder that floppeth her ear; which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never fo wifely. (Pfal. Iviii. 4, 5.) Nor do they regard the terrible threatnings of God denounced against them. These do not affect or move them, but many times they fcoff at them. 2 Pet. iii. 3. 4. There fhall come in the last days fcoffers, walking after their own lufls, and saying, Where is the promife of his coming? Thus they fpeak in a way of mockage, as if they thould have faid, Where's that coming of Chrift to judgment of which you tell us? we fee nothing of it, nor any likelihood of it. They treat it as a meer fiction, that has no foundation. Thus of old it was become a fcoffing Proverb among the profane Ifraelites, Ezek. xii. 22. The days are prolonged, and every vifion faileth. q. d. The days of punishment which the prophets threatned us with, and told us were near at hand, we do not fee them yet arrived, and they will come to nothing, they are but meer vain imaginations. Thus are the hearts of finners hardned against the voice of God, fo as not to hearken thereuntò, nor will they ever hearken unto him, unless he give them an ear to hear. Deut. xxix. 4. The Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, nor eyes to fee, and ears to hear, unto this day.

4. They have no fpiritual Tafte. The body when dead, cannot relifh thofe meats and drinks, which were grateful and pleafing to it while living. So the fouls of finners have no relifh of fpiritual things. They don't favour the things that be of God.--The commands of God are not fweet and delightful to them, as they are to the godly. The fe, as new born babes, defire the fincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby; having

tafted

tafted that the Lord is gracious. I Pet. ii. 2, 3. Holy David could fay, as in Pfal. cxix. 103. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, fweeter than honey to my mouth. They are not the ways of God, but the ways of fin, which are sweet to finners.---Again, they delight not in communion with God. Converfing with God, is not fweet to them. They find no refreshing pleasure, in drawing nigh to God in prayer and other duties of holy worship. But thefe duties are a wearinefs to them, and which if they engage in at any time, it is more of a task to them, than a delightful exercise.---Again, they delight not in the fellowship of faints. Thefe are not their most defirable companions; the excellent in the earth in whom is all their delight. The company of fuch, is more a burden, than a pleafure to them. 'Tis the fociety of the ungodly, which they mostly prize, and find most pleasure in. And thus will it be with them, until God pleafe to put a principle of grace into them; whereunto alone fpiritual objects are suited and refreshing. A fpiritual principle only, can truly relifh fpiritual objects.

5. They have no fpiritual Smell. When the body is dead, it smells not the moft offenfive odours, the moft fragrant perfumes, though ever fo near. Thus it is with the fouls of finners.Sin is the most lothfome thing. It is therefore compared to fuch things as are moft filthy, and matter of the greateft lothing, fuch as mire and the vomit of a dog. 2 Pet. ii. 22. Yet however, fin is not loth fome to the finner. It is of a fweetfmelling favour to him, and not a stench in his noftrils. Though he be full of finful filthinefs (filthiness of flesh and fpirit) yet this is no more offenfive to him, than the putrefaction of a dead corps is to itself. They do not loathe themselves for their pollutions, for their filthy lufts, and filthy practices; nor ever will they do fo, till God by his grace fhall caufe them to do it, according to that in Ezek. xxxvi. 31.Again, the graces of the holy Spirit, are odoriferous, or of a fweet fmell. The graces of the fpirit in Jefus Chrift are fo: and upon

this account he is most sweet and delightful to true be lievers. Cant. i. 2. Because of the favour of thy Sweet ointments, thy name is as ointment poured forth; therefore do the virgins love thee. They love Chrift because of that unmeasurable fulness of all graces, whereof he is poffeffed. But now finners do not love Jefus Chrift, becaufe of his being thus anointed with the Holy Ghost and filled with all graces. He is not grateful to them in the excellency of his tranfcendent holinefs. The manifeftation of his precious graces in the gofpel, is not sweet unto them. Again, the graces of the fpirit in the faints are fweet and odoriferous. Cant. i. 12. While the King fetteth at his table, my Spikenard fendeth forth the fmell thereof. Spikenard is a fragrant plant; by which, grace in the heart of a believer, is here meant. This principle of grace acting itself in good works, fends forth its finell, which is grateful to God and to all holy perfons. Nothing is more rejoicing and refreshing to godly men, with refpect to others, than to fee them bringing forth good fruits. Whereas, unto finners, the difcoveries and fruits of grace in the holy converfations of the upright, are not grateful, but rather offenfive. The holy lives of the faints, are a practical condemnation of their evil deeds, and therefore they are displeased at them, rather than pleafed in them.

APPLICATION.

USE I. We hence learn, that the converfion of a sinner, is the work of God alone. 'Tis not the effect of meer moral fuafion, as fome do vainly imagine. For, the most perfwafive arguments, can no more make a dead foul to live, than they can bring a dead body to life. Both of these are works of divine omnipotency alone. The fame almighty power, which quickens the dead bodies of men, does alfo quicken the dead fouls of finners. Hence our Lord Jefus Chrift declares fpiritual refurrection, and bodily refurrection, to be equally the effects of his moft powerful voice. Joh. v. 25. Verily,

Verily, verily, I fay unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead, i. e. fpiritually dead, fhall hear the voice, i. e. feel the power, of the Son of God, and they that bear shall live, i. e. a fpiritual life. And this power put forth for the effecting fpiritual life, is the fame which is exerted in the raising the dead bodies of men to life at the last day, as is said in ver. 28, 29. Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves fhall bear his voice, and fhall come forth. And in truth, the fpiritual refurrection of fouls, is a greater work of divine power, than the bodily refurre&tion of the dead out of their graves. For, the dead bodies of men, make no resistance to their own refurrection, but the dead fouls of finners do make a great deal of oppofition to their spiritual refurrection. When Jefus Chrift calls them to come to him for life, they will not do it, Job. v. 40. Their wills are fet against it and averfe unto it. And hence they do refift and quench the motions of the holy Spirit, when he is at work upon them in a way of preparation towards the introducing of fpiritual life. They labour to ftifle his convictions, and get rid of them as much as they can. And did not the holy Spirit go on to work irrefiftably in them, they would always oppofe him in his work. The quickning therefore of dead finners, is a fupernatural work, and the product of a divine efficiency. Eph. ii. 1. You bath be quickned, who were dead in trefpaffes and fins. God is the fole author, of our deliverance out of a state of fpiritual death, in trefpaffes and fins. His fovereign grace, is the only moving caufe; and his infinite power, is the only efficient caufe, of our spiritual vivification.

USE 2. Of Examination. Let us enquire whether our fouls are as yet fpiritually dead. 'Tis certain that all fouls are fo, while in the ftate of nature. We should then enquire whether our fouls are ftill remaining in fuch a condition. Self-examination as to this point, is a most important and neceffary duty. And that because we are in great danger of being deceived in this matter. For, 1. Others