be_v like_a to_o be_v lose_v that_o have_v no_o better_a witness_n than_o a_o ignorant_a nicodemus_n and_o we_o may_v suppose_v the_o anabaptist_n at_o a_o loss_n when_o the_o able_a and_o most_o learned_a among_o they_o be_v force_v to_o summons_n in_o nicodemus_n as_o a_o witness_n for_o though_o they_o must_v own_v he_o to_o be_v a_o poor_a evidence_n if_o they_o will_v believe_v christ_n verse_n 10._o be_v thou_o a_o master_n in_o israel_n and_o know_v not_o these_o thing_n and_o they_o that_o do_v not_o know_v thing_n be_v unmeet_a to_o prove_v they_o but_o either_o this_o person_n put_v more_o confidence_n in_o nicodemus_n than_o christ_n or_o else_o know_v his_o cause_n be_v almost_o go_v will_v rather_o cite_v nicodemus_n concern_v which_o he_o know_v neither_o what_o he_o say_v nor_o whereof_o he_o affirm_v rather_o than_o have_v no_o witness_n but_o it_o be_v no_o wonder_n to_o see_v the_o most_o learned_a of_o the_o anabaptist_n run_v into_o such_o gross_a absurdity_n and_o to_o be_v at_o such_o a_o loss_n in_o such_o mystery_n for_o if_o learning_n can_v teach_v a_o man_n the_o mystery_n of_o the_o gospel_n nicodemus_n have_v not_o be_v so_o gross_o ignorant_a of_o christ_n meaning_n and_o i_o leave_v it_o to_o any_o judicious_a person_n to_o determine_v whether_o we_o have_v not_o as_o good_a ground_n and_o better_o to_o judge_v that_o this_o objecter_n be_v of_o the_o same_o mind_n of_o nicodemus_n in_o understand_v it_o to_o be_v a_o natural_a birth_n then_o to_o conclude_v that_o because_o he_o understand_v it_o as_o speak_v of_o adult_n only_o therefore_o it_o must_v be_v so_o for_o we_o may_v suppose_v have_v not_o this_o doctor_n have_v great_a confidence_n in_o the_o infallibility_n of_o nicodemus_n he_o will_v never_o have_v venture_v that_o cause_n which_o be_v as_o dear_a to_o he_o as_o his_o life_n upon_o his_o single_a evidence_n and_o especial_o in_o such_o a_o cause_n wherein_o he_o have_v so_o many_o hundred_o oppose_v he_o and_o sure_a have_v he_o judge_v he_o in_o a_o gross_a mistake_n as_o to_o the_o nature_n of_o that_o new_a birth_n he_o will_v never_o have_v put_v such_o confidence_n in_o what_o he_o say_v with_o the_o same_o breath_n as_o to_o the_o subject_a and_o as_o we_o have_v infallible_a ground_n to_o conclude_v from_o his_o own_o word_n that_o this_o objecter_n be_v far_o from_o believe_v any_o necessity_n or_o possibility_n for_o infant_n to_o be_v regenerate_v so_o i_o think_v i_o do_v he_o no_o wrong_n if_o i_o suppose_v it_o be_v his_o judgement_n that_o there_o be_v no_o more_o necessity_n for_o grow_v person_n to_o be_v regenerate_v for_o of_o this_o judgement_n be_v his_o trusty_a and_o well-beloved_a friend_n nicodemus_n for_o have_v nicodemus_n once_o suppose_v that_o grow_v person_n any_o more_o than_o infant_n must_v be_v bear_v again_o spiritual_o he_o will_v never_o have_v mention_v such_o a_o gross_a absurdity_n as_o to_o be_v bear_v again_o carnal_o but_o take_v it_o for_o grant_v that_o adult_n to_o give_v the_o object_a his_o sense_n can_v not_o be_v bear_v again_o spiritual_o absurd_o suppose_v it_o to_o be_v mean_v a_o carnal_a birth_n and_o why_o we_o may_v not_o suppose_v the_o object_a to_o be_v of_o his_o judgement_n in_o the_o one_o as_o well_o as_o the_o other_o especial_o since_o he_o put_v such_o confidence_n in_o he_o i_o see_v not_o and_o now_o i_o leave_v it_o to_o my_o understand_a reader_n to_o judge_v whether_o we_o have_v not_o better_a ground_n to_o believe_v that_o under_o the_o word_n man_n child_n be_v comprehend_v because_o the_o word_n signify_v both_o than_o to_o conclude_v christ_n only_o mean_v grow_v man_n because_o nicodemus_n understand_v he_o so_o since_o it_o be_v pass_v all_o dispute_n the_o word_n signify_v so_o but_o whether_o nicodemus_n do_v right_o understand_v christ_n meaning_n may_v just_o admit_v of_o a_o debate_n nay_o it_o seem_v almost_o past_a all_o dispute_n he_o do_v not_o by_o his_o gross_a mistake_n about_o other_o passage_n relate_v hereunto_o thus_o i_o have_v i_o hope_v sufficient_o prove_v a_o necessity_n for_o infant_n to_o have_v faith_n if_o they_o get_v to_o heaven_n from_o god_n appointment_n and_o what_o can_v be_v more_o cogent_a to_o confirm_v any_o point_n than_o the_o express_a mind_n of_o god_n and_o i_o be_o certain_a have_v the_o anabaptist_n such-clear_a proof_n that_o no_o infant_n ought_v to_o be_v baptise_a as_o i_o have_v give_v to_o prove_v that_o all_o infant_n that_o get_v to_o heaven_n must_v have_v faith_n they_o will_v soon_o cry_v victory_n nor_o shall_v i_o ever_o hold_v up_o my_o weapon_n against_o they_o be_v it_o so_o lest_o haply_o by_o so_o do_v i_o be_v find_v fight_v against_o god_n himself_o second_o there_o be_v a_o necessity_n for_o faith_n in_o infant_n if_o they_o get_v to_o heaven_n arise_v from_o the_o corruption_n of_o their_o nature_n which_o though_o the_o anabaptist_n may_v probable_o deny_v yet_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o to_o confirm_v this_o also_o from_o scripture_n when_o adam_n have_v sin_v by_o eat_v the_o forbid_v fruit_n he_o be_v immediate_o seize_v with_o a_o spiritual_a death_n according_a to_o the_o commination_n in_o the_o day_n thou_o eat_v thereof_o thou_o shall_v sure_o die_v and_o adam_n be_v a_o public_a head_n and_o representative_a of_o all_o mankind_n this_o spiritual_a death_n be_v entail_v on_o all_o his_o posterity_n hence_o we_o be_v say_v to_o bear_v the_o image_n of_o the_o earthly_a nor_o be_v this_o true_a of_o adult_n only_o but_o of_o all_o his_o posterity_n 1_o cor._n 15.22_o as_o in_o adam_n all_o die_n mind_n all_o die_n infant_n as_o well_o as_o grow_v person_n and_o this_o i_o shall_v further_o prove_v from_o most_o express_a scripture_n eph._n 2.3_o and_o be_v by_o nature_n the_o child_n of_o wrath_n even_o as_o other_o gen._n 8.21_o for_o the_o imagination_n of_o man_n heart_n be_v evil_a from_o his_o youth_n the_o evil_a in_o our_o heart_n be_v the_o cause_n of_o all_o the_o evil_a in_o our_o life_n hence_o foolishness_n be_v say_v to_o be_v bind_v up_o in_o the_o heart_n of_o a_o child_n prov._n 22.15_o it_o be_v so_o bind_v up_o that_o for_o a_o while_o it_o may_v not_o discover_v itself_o yet_o be_v in_o his_o heart_n see_v psal_n 58.3_o the_o wicked_a be_v estrange_v from_o the_o womb_n they_o go_v astray_o as_o soon_o as_o they_o be_v bear_v speak_v lie_n that_o be_v they_o have_v a_o stray_a principle_n as_o soon_o as_o bear_v once_o more_o psal_n 51.5_o behold_v i_o be_v shape_v in_o iniquity_n and_o in_o sin_n do_v my_o mother_n conceive_v i_o so_o that_o by_o nature_n we_o not_o only_o want_v a_o title_n to_o heaven_n but_o a_o meetness_n also_o col._n 1.12_o give_v thanks_o unto_o the_o father_n who_o have_v make_v we_o meet_v to_o be_v partaker_n of_o that_o inheritance_n of_o the_o saint_n in_o light_n imply_v that_o by_o nature_n they_o be_v unmeet_a and_o if_o child_n be_v not_o thus_o corrupt_a by_o nature_n how_o come_v they_o to_o die_v since_o the_o wage_n of_o sin_n be_v death_n now_o if_o death_n reign_v as_o the_o apostle_n say_v from_o adam_n to_o moses_n even_o over_o they_o that_o have_v not_o sin_v after_o the_o similitude_n of_o adam_n transgression_n that_o be_v infant_n that_o have_v not_o sin_v actual_o than_o it_o must_v be_v because_o they_o be_v sinner_n in_o adam_n and_o have_v the_o seed_n of_o sin_n in_o themselves_o habitual_o for_o the_o gild_n of_o adam_n act_n be_v not_o transfer_v to_o any_o of_o the_o mere_a son_n of_o man_n but_o such_o as_o partake_v of_o his_o image_n also_o and_o i_o dare_v be_v bold_a to_o say_v and_o can_v abundant_o from_o scripture_n prove_v that_o the_o seed_n and_o spawn_n of_o all_o our_o actual_a sin_n be_v in_o our_o heart_n before_o we_o commit_v one_o of_o they_o for_o as_o in_o grace_n there_o must_v first_o be_v the_o habit_n and_o then_o the_o act_n so_o in_o sin_n the_o heart_n be_v first_o wicked_a than_o the_o life_n the_o tree_n be_v first_o evil_n before_o the_o fruit_n be_v so_o mat._n 12.33,35_o now_o if_o the_o nature_n of_o all_o be_v so_o corrupt_a as_o i_o have_v prove_v then_o it_o be_v impossible_a for_o any_o thus_o corrupt_a to_o get_v to_o heaven_n without_o a_o inward_a change_n for_o what_o will_v heaven_n be_v to_o a_o unregenerate_a soul_n what_o will_v the_o work_n of_o praise_v god_n be_v to_o one_o that_o hate_v god_n or_o what_o will_v holy_a company_n be_v to_o such_o as_o be_v dead_a in_o trespass_n and_o sin_n and_o to_o every_o good_a word_n and_o work_v reprobate_a but_o least_o this_o shall_v not_o suffice_v i_o shall_v prove_v from_o scripture_n that_o such_o can_v get_v to_o heaven_n in_o a_o unchanged_a state_n 1_o cor._n 15.50_o now_o this_o i_o
attribute_v the_o work_n to_o christ_n in_o such_o a_o manner_n as_o may_v not_o in_o the_o least_o savour_n of_o sin_n or_o carry_v in_o it_o the_o least_o absurdity_n or_o contradiction_n but_o now_o christ_n can_v no_o way_n be_v chargeable_a with_o sin_n in_o bring_v a_o soul_n from_o sin_n nor_o be_v it_o the_o least_o contradiction_n to_o say_v a_o man_n of_o unwilling_a be_v now_o change_v and_o make_v willing_a or_o for_o a_o dead_a man_n when_o make_v alive_a to_o act_v and_o move_v it_o will_v have_v be_v strange_a to_o see_v lazarus_n have_v rise_v and_o walk_v while_o dead_a but_o not_o strange_a at_o all_o to_o see_v he_o walk_v when_o christ_n have_v quicken_v he_o so_o in_o this_o case_n 3._o but_o say_v some_o when_o we_o press_v sinner_n to_o come_v to_o christ_n in_o their_o sin_n we_o do_v not_o mean_v that_o they_o can_v so_o come_v but_o that_o they_o ought_v so_o to_o come_v and_o forasmuch_o as_o this_o reply_n have_v the_o fair_a show_n of_o truth_n i_o shall_v consider_v what_o of_o truth_n it_o real_o have_v in_o it_o now_o to_o this_o i_o answer_v by_o make_v this_o necessary_a distinction_n it_o be_v one_o thing_n for_o it_o to_o be_v the_o duty_n of_o sinner_n to_o come_v to_o christ_n another_o thing_n to_o come_v in_o their_o sin_n to_o christ_n and_o though_o i_o ready_o grant_v it_o be_v the_o duty_n of_o such_o as_o be_v in_o their_o sin_n to_o come_v that_o be_v to_o cease_v to_o do_v evil_a and_o to_o learn_v to_o do_v well_o and_o by_o the_o strength_n of_o god_n grace_n to_o leave_v the_o sin_n they_o now_o be_v in_o yet_o i_o absolute_o deny_v it_o be_v their_o duty_n to_o come_v in_o their_o sin_n though_o i_o do_v not_o expect_v all_o shall_v reach_v this_o who_o be_v not_o use_v to_o distinction_n i_o shall_v endeavour_v therefore_o to_o illustrate_v this_o to_o you_o thus_o it_o be_v one_o thing_n for_o it_o to_o be_v the_o duty_n of_o a_o unchanged_a person_n to_o come_v another_z for_o that_o person_n to_o come_v unchanged_a it_o be_v the_o duty_n of_o sinner_n to_o keep_v the_o law_n but_o not_o to_o keep_v it_o in_o their_o sin_n it_o be_v the_o duty_n of_o a_o man_n drink_v to_o praise_n god_n because_o he_o be_v not_o in_o hell_n but_o it_o be_v not_o his_o duty_n to_o praise_v he_o drink_v his_o praise_v denote_v the_o work_n his_o praise_v of_o he_o drink_v will_v denote_v the_o manner_n how_o he_o shall_v perform_v the_o work_n and_o if_o this_o shall_v be_v grant_v it_o will_v as_o much_o be_v such_o a_o person_n be_v duty_n to_o be_v drink_v when_o engage_v in_o that_o work_n as_o to_o be_v engage_v in_o that_o work_n to_o illustrate_v this_o god_n have_v make_v it_o our_o duty_n to_o praise_n he_o and_o to_o worship_n he_o in_o spirit_n and_o truth_n the_o worship_n denote_v the_o work_n to_o do_v it_o in_o spirit_n be_v the_o manner_n of_o work_v and_o one_o be_v a_o duty_n as_o well_o as_o the_o other_o so_o that_o though_o it_o be_v the_o duty_n of_o a_o carnal_a man_n to_o worship_n god_n yet_o not_o to_o worship_v he_o carnal_o so_o though_o it_o be_v the_o duty_n of_o sinner_n to_o come_v yet_o not_o to_o come_v in_o their_o sin_n for_o this_o will_v make_v sin_n a_o duty_n there_o may_v be_v a_o great_a difference_n in_o sense_n when_o there_o may_v be_v but_o little_a in_o sound_n to_o give_v you_o a_o instance_n whole_a christ_n be_v one_o thing_n the_o whole_a of_o christ_n be_v another_o thing_n the_o protestant_n own_o whole_a christ_n to_o be_v everywhere_o but_o hundred_o have_v choose_v rather_o to_o burn_v at_o a_o stake_n than_o to_o own_o the_o whole_a of_o christ_n to_o be_v everywhere_o but_o i_o suppose_v the_o patron_n of_o this_o opinion_n will_v never_o suffer_v much_o for_o truth_n no_o clear_a distinguish_v than_o thus_o though_o to_o any_o understand_a person_n the_o difference_n be_v exceed_o great_a but_o unless_o a_o man_n can_v find_v some_o man_n understanding_n as_o well_o as_o truth_n the_o truth_n they_o prepare_v and_o explain_v to_o they_o will_v be_v but_o assom_n any_o pearl_n cast_v before_o swine_n which_o will_v rather_o enrage_v they_o make_v they_o turn_v again_o and_o rend_v they_o than_o be_v profitable_a unto_o they_o so_o christ_n assume_v the_o nature_n that_o be_v pollute_v but_o not_o the_o pollution_n of_o that_o nature_n but_o to_o put_v all_o out_o of_o doubt_n i_o shall_v come_v in_o a_o more_o familiar_a style_n to_o prove_v that_o though_o it_o be_v undoubted_o the_o duty_n of_o sinner_n to_o come_v to_o christ_n or_o believe_v in_o christ_n yet_o it_o be_v not_o so_o much_o as_o their_o duty_n to_o come_v in_o their_o sin_n to_o christ_n the_o great_a difference_n between_o which_o i_o hope_v by_o what_o have_v be_v say_v you_o now_o will_v understand_v for_o as_o i_o have_v hint_v when_o i_o say_v it_o be_v the_o duty_n of_o a_o sinner_n to_o come_v it_o denote_v no_o more_o than_o thus_o that_o it_o be_v his_o duty_n to_o come_v from_o sin_n to_o christ_n but_o for_o any_o to_o come_v in_o their_o sin_n to_o christ_n denote_v they_o must_v bring_v their_o sin_n to_o christ_n which_o be_v as_o impossible_a as_o to_o bring_v the_o east_n and_o west_n into_o one_o point_n the_o disagreement_n between_o christ_n and_o sin_n not_o be_v so_o little_a as_o many_o do_v imagine_v what_o communion_n have_v light_a with_o darkness_n christ_n be_v well_o please_v to_o see_v a_o soul_n come_v from_o sin_n but_o it_o be_v impossible_a for_o a_o soul_n to_o come_v in_o sin_n nor_o be_v it_o his_o duty_n so_o to_o come_v which_o i_o prove_v from_o these_o follow_a argument_n argument_n 1._o that_o which_o no_o man_n be_v ever_o able_a to_o do_v be_v not_o so_o much_o as_o our_o duty_n to_o do_v but_o no_o man_n be_v ever_o able_a to_o come_v to_o christ_n in_o his_o sin_n therefore_o it_o be_v not_o so_o much_o as_o our_o duty_n so_o to_o do_v my_o major_n i_o conceive_v will_v be_v grant_v only_o careful_o observe_v i_o say_v that_o which_o no_o man_n ever_o be_v able_a to_o do_v i_o do_v not_o say_v that_o which_o no_o man_n be_v now_o able_a to_o do_v be_v not_o his_o duty_n for_o if_o we_o consider_v man_n in_o his_o fall_a state_n so_o many_o thing_n be_v his_o duty_n to_o which_o he_o have_v no_o strength_n to_o do_v and_o god_n may_v just_o condemn_v he_o for_o not_o do_v they_o because_o his_o inability_n be_v procure_v by_o himself_o but_o god_n command_v we_o to_o do_v nothing_o now_o but_o what_o adam_n have_v power_n to_o perform_v if_o god_n have_v but_o make_v it_o know_v to_o be_v his_o duty_n and_o for_o any_o to_o deny_v my_o major_a proposition_n will_v be_v to_o affirm_v that_o god_n have_v give_v man_n a_o law_n which_o be_v absolute_o impossible_a to_o be_v keep_v and_o damn_v his_o creature_n for_o not_o obey_v of_o it_o which_o have_v too_o harsh_a a_o sound_n to_o be_v receive_v for_o a_o truth_n minor_a proposition_n but_o no_o man_n ever_o be_v able_a to_o come_v to_o christ_n in_o his_o sin_n that_o we_o who_o be_v in_o a_o fall_v and_o unregenerate_a state_n can_v come_v to_o christ_n while_o such_o i_o hope_v i_o have_v sufficient_o prove_v and_o it_o be_v impossible_a that_o adam_n shall_v have_v power_n to_o come_v in_o sin_n before_o he_o have_v commit_v sin_n therefore_o i_o conclude_v that_o though_o it_o be_v the_o duty_n of_o sinner_n to_o come_v from_o sin_n to_o christ_n or_o to_o believe_v in_o christ_n because_o thousand_o have_v by_o grace_n be_v so_o enable_v to_o come_v and_o adam_n have_v once_o a_o power_n to_o believe_v any_o thing_n that_o god_n shall_v reveal_v yet_o because_o never_o any_o be_v able_a to_o come_v to_o christ_n in_o his_o sin_n therefore_o it_o be_v not_o so_o much_o as_o a_o duty_n so_o to_o do_v for_o though_o god_n have_v send_v many_o sinner_n to_o hell_n for_o not_o come_v to_o christ_n yet_o i_o be_o confident_a he_o never_o send_v one_o soul_n to_o hell_n for_o not_o come_v to_o christ_n in_o his_o sin_n for_o this_o will_v be_v to_o damn_v soul_n for_o not_o continue_v in_o sin_n argument_n 2._o he_o that_o ought_v to_o come_v to_o christ_n in_o a_o sinful_a state_n aught_o to_o continue_v in_o he_o in_o the_o same_o state_n but_o no_o man_n can_v continue_v in_o christ_n and_o a_o sinful_a state_n therefore_o no_o man_n ought_v to_o come_v in_o a_o sinful_a unrenewed_a state_n to_o christ_n the_o former_a part_n of_o my_o argument_n be_v clear_a from_o col._n 2.6_o as_o you_o have_v therefore_o receive_v christ_n jesus_n the_o lord_n so_o walk_v you_o in_o he_o now_o you_o know_v the_o present_a enquiry_n be_v what_o