Regeneration is God's disposing the heart to Himself; conversion is the actual turning of the heart to God.
Richard CecilAn idle man has a constant tendency to torpidity. He has adopted the Indian maxim that it is better to walk than to run, and better to stand than to walk, and better to sit than to stand, and better to lie than to sit. He hugs himself into the notion, that God calls him to be quiet.
Richard CecilSin, without strong restraints, would pull God from His throne, make the world the minion of its lusts, and all beings bow down and worship.
Richard CecilWhen a founder has cast a bell he does not presently fix it in the steeple, but tries it with his hammer, and beats it on every side to see if there be any flaw in it. So Christ doth not presently after he hath converted a man, convey him to heaven; but suffers him first to be beaten upon by many temptations and then exalts him to his crown.
Richard Cecil