Martyrs he was earnest to know what it was which carried them through with so much courage One of them there being two and twenty at that time under the tormentors hands answered Eye hath not seen ear hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 Upon the hearing of which words Adrian was converted and sealed the truth with his blood Thou hast heard much more concerning the happiness of the Saints in the other world then one verse of Scripture how art thou taken with it Doth the joy there nothing affect thine heart nor enlarge it in salleys out after it O that that joy that glory that house that eternal heaven were mine Doth it nothing resolve thee against sin and for Christ answer God in thy conscience Some write that forty one of Alexanders friends drunk themselves dead for a crown of gold of One hundred and eighty pound weight which the King had provided for them which drank most God offereth thee a crown of glory not corruptible as silver and gold are but eternal art not thou ashamed that those swaggerers should cursedly lose their lives and souls for a fading crown when thou wilt not leave thy lusts thy sins for an ever-flourishing crown of glory O man bethink thy self whilst thou hast time and do not as prophane Esau prefer thy mess of pottage before these spiritual priviledges and the eternal purchase Cleopatra the Egyptian Princess told Marcus Antonius when she saw him-spending his time vainly and meanly much below the quality of a Prince It is not for you to fish for Gudgeons or Trouts but for Towns and Cities and Castles and Kingdoms So say I to thee It is not for the to lie spending thy time and strength and beating thine head and heart for an hoard of dust or an heap of earth which shall shortly take its eternal leave of thee but for spiritual riches for durable riches and righteousness it 's not for thee to busie thy self about toyes and trifles but about the image of God the blood of Christ the Covenant of Grace the Kingdom 〈◊〉 Heaven the eternal weight of Glory O these are worthy of all thy thoughts and words and actions of all thy time and strength and health of all thy name and estate and interest whatsoever If thou att a rational creature Swinham Court of Wards and Liv. let reason prevail with thee and shew thy self a man of understanding It was the custom formerly in England to try one that was beg'd for a fool in this manner an apple or a counter with a piece of gold was set before him if he take the apple or the counter he is cast for a fool in the judgement of the Court as one that knoweth not the true value of things or how to make choyce of what was best for him Truly thus it is with thee God setteth before thee the counters and carnal comforts of this world the true gold and unutterable happiness of the other world nay he layeth before thee the eternal pains of hell and the eternal pleasures of Heaven to try which thou wilt take now if thou wilt take a poor portion below and leave the purchased possession above if thou wilt to abide in thy sensual lusts chuse the torments of hell and refuse by not submitting to the rule of Christ the joys of heaven art thou not a fool in grain surely the Devil will beg thee for a fool for ever therefore shew thy self wise by chusing that which is of greatest worth I call heaven and earth to record this day against thee that I have set before thee life and death blessing and cursing therefore chuse life that both thou and thy seed may live Deut. 30.19 The third Subject of Consideration The Excellency of Regeneration THirdly Consider the excellency of that which the Lord requireth of thee for the avoiding of that easeless endless misery of the damned and the attaining the unspeakable and unchangeable felicity of the saved Reader I pray thee speak to God in thine heart and tell him what is the reason thou art so willing to go to Hell and so unwilling to go to Heaven Sure I am as thou art a living creature much more as a rational man thou hast a natural inclination and propensity towards thine own good and felicity and therefore thou canst not love Hell directly as it is torturing and wracking of thy soul and body though thou dost love it eventually as 't is the end of thy fleshly ungodly life Well I le undertake for once to dive into thine heart and tell thee the reason of thy backwardness towards heaven and thy forwardness for hell The reason is this thou lookest on the power of godliness as distasteful to thy flesh or disgraceful to thy name the yoke of Christ is too strict t is not the end that displeaseth thee thou couldst contentedly be happy but t is the narrowness of the way and the straitness of the gate with which thou art dis-satisfied 't will not afford thee room enough for thy beloved lusts is it not so let conscience speak Well I hope by the help of God to make thee of another minde when thou hast throughly read this Head which I am now writing of It is the saying of Plato That if moral Philosphy could be seen with moral eyes it would draw all mens hearts after it Sure sure I am that if Regeneration or the Divine nature were seen with divine eyes 't would draw mens hearts and heads and hands and all after it All that ever struck at it did it in the dark They spake evil of things which they knew not Reader what is that which God requireth of thee Is it not to leave thy slavery to Satan thy bondage to sin and to accept and enjoy the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Is it not that thou shouldst be divorced from sin that mishapen monster and spawn of the Devil whose person is deformed whose company is defiling and whose portion is damnation and that thou shouldst be married to Jesus Christ the fairest of ten thousands the heir of all things who would adorn thee with the jewels of his graces beautifie thee with the Imbroydery of his Spirit wash thee with his own blood array thee with his own righteousness and present thee to his father without spot to be blessed in his full immediate enjoyment for ever Is it not that thou shouldst cease thy drudgery to Hells-Jaylor live above the perishing profits bruitish pleasures empty honors of the world and flesh and that thou shouldst walk after the Spirit walk with God warm thine heart at the flame of his love bathe thy soul in angelical delights have thy conversation in Heaven here and thy habitation there hereafter Is not this Man the sum and substance of what the Lord requireth of thee and art thou not shroudly hurt would not these
was to make me an oratour not to make me a Christian I am confident many a child bemoans that now he is damned in hell which the Father did when he was converted on earth I cannot condemn the education of children according to the quality of their parents nor their bringing up to particular callings this latter I am sure is a duty but that which is first should be last and that which is last should be first Your greatest care and that in the first place should be to seek the Kingdom of God for your selves and children and then other things shall be added to you Caleb gave his daughter the upper and the neather springs O labour that yours may with Jacob have the dews of heaven as well as the fatness of the earth Elisha wept when he saw Hazael 2 Kings 3.12 13. and foresaw that he would slay young men and dash the children against the wall do nor some of you give far far greater occasion of weeping if possible teares of blood in slaying and murdering the souls of your dear children teaching them by your patterns to live like Heathens and Atheists Believe it God committeth the charge of and will account with you for all the souls in your families Gen. 4.3 10 11. When Cain had flain his brother Abel God called to him Where is thy Brother Abel And Cain said I know not am I my Brothers keeper And the Lord said What hast thou done the voice of thy brothers blood cryeth unto me from the ground And now thou art cursed from the earth which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother blood at thine hand So suppose God should whisper one of you in the eare Cruel Father Careless Master Where is thy child or servant that dyed so many months or years ago You may possibly think what Cain spake Lord I know not whether in heaven or hell Holy Greenham saith that many mens children shall follow them up and down in hell cursing them and crying out of them for neglecting to instruct them Was I their keeper O think of it with speed and reform May not God reply very truly Cursed sinner vile wretch What hast thou done The voice of thy child of thy servants soul-blood cryeth to me from hell And now thou art cursed from hell which hath opened her mouth to receive thy sons thy servants soul at thine hand Friends Friends what will you do when God shall thus deal with you for your neglect of relative duties Possibly ye may think I deal too sharply but truly the reason is because I know that sin will not deal mildly either with you or yours And should I not give you warning the blood of your own and childrens souls would be required at my hands Good Lord that ye did but believe what it is to be guilty of others blood Heathens and Infidels provide for the body and temporall well-being of their children and what do many of you more Bears that bring forth mishapen whelps will by licking them bring them to a better form Your Children are brought forth enemies to God and are by nature children of wrath and heirs of eternal death doth it not behove you to strive that by religious nurture they may become children of the promise and heirs of eternal life Thirdly Make sure of Regeneration be never satisfyed till ye can upon Scripture grounds affirme that your natures are regenerated This this is the one thing necessary Your All hangs upon this hinge If this be not done ye are undone undone eternally All your profession civility priviledges guifts duties are cyphers and signify nothing unless Regeneration be the figure put before them It is Regeneration that will make you the sons of God the members of Christ the temples of the Spirit that will give you an holy improvement of all providences a right to all the promises and at last the purchased possession It is Regeneration that will teach you to live like men like Christians like Angels in the love and fruition of the infinitely blessed God O the price of this pearl is not known in this beggerly world A grave and wise Counsellour of France being desirous in his old age to retire himself was intreated by the King to write down some directions and leave with him for the more prosperous government of his Realm The Counsellour took some paper and wrote on the top Moderation in the middle Moderation at the bottom Moderation Demosthenes being asked what was the chief thing in an Oratour answered Elocution and being demanded the same question three times what made an Oratour he still gave the same answer Aug. â—pist 56. ad Di osc Augustine being demanded what was the greatest requisite of a Christian What was the first second and third still answered Humility Humility Humility Truly what the Counsellour said of Moderation the Grecian of Elocution and the Father of Humility I shall say of Regeneration If you ask me what is the chiefest thing in the world for a man to mind What is that which is worthy of all his time and strength and thoughts and words and actions I answer Regeneration If you demand What is that which is of greatest necessity and excellency that bringeth in the greatest profit delight and happiness I answer Regeneration He that hath this hath all that is worth having the having of this is heaven He that wanteth this hath nothing the whole world cannot make up the want of this the want of this is hell O Sirs your everlasting making or marring dependeth upon your sincerity or hypocrisie in this Of what infinite consequence is it therefore to you in whatsoever ye come short to make sure here Alas when ye come to throw your last cast for eternity how will the stoutest of you do to look death in the face without Regeneration in your hearts God hath in an hundred texts of Scripture devoted all unregenerate ones to the unquenchable fire and can any of you think to make him a lyer Believe it as soon as death landeth you at the other world you will have other thoughts of God and his Truths then now ye have For your help in this work which is of such absolute indispensable necessity unto your never dying souls I commend to you this Treatise beseeching the blessed God to make it serviceable unto your salvations Ignatius when he heard a clock strike would say I have one hour more to answer for I must tell you that ye have eighteen hours eighteen Sermons more to answer for When they were preached they had from some of you a favourable attention now they are printed it is not unknown what providence brought them to the press I wish they may have within you all an effectual operation that both the Author and his labors may appear to your joy at that great and terrible day These things being signified Act. 20.32 I commend you to God and to the word of
cause thee to blossom and bud and ripen in the fruits of holiness There is mercy with thee that thou mayst be feared Psal 130.4 Why doth he send the nipping winter of adversity but to kill the hurtful weeds of thy lusts This is his end in afflicting even the taking avay of sin Isa 27.9 He useth the flail that the huskes may flie off when one key will not open the door of thy heart he will try another Why doth he interweave mercy and affliction that his providences towards the children of men are chequer-work white and black black and white mercy and affliction affliction and mercy but because his infinite wisdom seeth that this mixture will suit best with his ends the purifying and renewing his creature If all the year were summer the sap of the trees would be quite exhausted if all were winter it would be quite buried If thou hadst nothing in thy body but natural heat it would burn thee up if nothing but moisture it would drown thee therefore thy radical moisture allayeth thy natural heat and thy natural heat giveth bounds to thy radical moisture and each well tempered make an excellent constitution of body If thou hadst nothing but mercy thou wouldst be wanton and conceited if nothing but misery thou wouldst be too much dejected therefore God sendeth mercy to make thee cheerful and misery to keep thee awful The good Physician tempers his drugs wisely and weigheth them exactly and so prescribes and gives them as they may best conduce to the carrying on of his own end the spiritual health of his Patients Fifthly Regeneration will appear to be excellent in that it is the special work of God himself Grace is the immediate creatue of God man can ruine but not renew himself Which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God John 1.13 Man may lay some claim though there also God is the principal to the fatherhood of our fleshly beings but God onely can lay claim to the fatherhood of our spiritual beings Holiness is a beam of light darted forth from none but the Sun of righteousness We are his workmanship Ephes 2.10 His workmanship both by way of efficiency and excellency How beautiful is that structure which hath such a Builder what a rare work must that be which hath such a workman Surely that is a choice plant which is of Gods own planting O who would not be in love with so fair a child for the fathers sake The creation of our outward beings as we are men Iob 10.8 1.10 is the work of God Thy hands have made me and fashioned me Psal 119.77 God makes every man as well as the first man Nature and natural causes are nothing but the order in which and the tools with which he is pleased to work Now this work of God is excellent it is the Master-piece of the visible Creation Man is the fair workmanship of a wise Artificer saith one Heathen The bold attempt of daring nature saith another One of the Ancients calleth man The Miracle of miracles Another The measure of all things A third The worlds Epitome The world in a small volume The body which is the worst half of man Psal 1 â—9 14.15 is curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth and made in secret as curious workmen when they have some choice piece in hand they perfect it in private and then bring it forth to the light for men to gaze on In thy book were all my members written Psal 139.14 15. A skilful Architect who is to set up some stately building will draw a model of it in his book or upon a table before he will adventure to set it up to be sure that it shall be done exactly So to shew what an exact piece the body of man is God is said to work it by the book But the soul which is Gods work too is a more exquisite piece the body is as it were the sheath Dan. 7.15 the soul is the glittering sword the body is but the cabinet this is the jewel 't is by this that man claims kindred with the Angels in Heaven and surpasseth all creatures on Earth Consider then if this work of Gods hands this visible Creation be so excellent how excellent is the invisible Creation the creating man in Christ unto good works Surely that is curious work workmanship indeed The Tables of stone hewed immediately by the hand of God and on which he had with his own fingers written the Law was such a piece that mortal eyes could not behold it without astonishment and admiration What a rare Manuscript was that where the book the matter the writing were all of Gods own making and doing But the writing of the Law in the fleshly tables of the heart by the Spirit of God is much more glorious I am very willing Friend to convince thee of the excellency of Regeneration and therefore would speak more to this head Think of what thou pleasest which thin eunderstanding can judge excellent and thou shalt finde the image of God far more excellent Is wealth excellent Luk. 16.11 1 Tim. 6 7. Mat 6.19 â—0 Prov. 8.18 this is the true riches others are but the shadow this is the substance other riches are but for a short time these are for ever durable riches and righteousness Other riches will go only as brass farthings in some particular places in this beggarly low world of earth but these like gold and silver go in all countries are currant coyn even in the higher world of Heaven Is wisdom excellent this is wisdom the fear of the Lord is the beginning the word fignifieth the apex the top the perfection of wisdom Prov. 1.7 Job 28.2 The pious man is the prudent man He alone can judge rightly of things set a due price upon things propound to himself the noblest ends and use the best means therefore he is called by way of eminency A man of wisdom Mic. 6.9 The knowing subtle Pharisees for want of this were but learned fools Matth. 23.17 Sinner and Fool are Synonima's in Scripture The English word Fool is thought to come from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth wicked Is beauty excellent Grace is the greatest beauty the beauty of holiness Psal 110.5 O how comely is the new creature never any saw it but fell in love with it The Spouse of Christ is the fairest among women Thou art all fair my love thou art all fair Cant. 4.1 Godliness is such a beauty that as I have said before God himself is taken with it Sin is a spot a defilement this beauty is inward it sits upon the face of the most noble part of man the Soul and thereby is the more comely its lasting not liable to the rage of a disease or wrinckles of old age but always increasing whilst here to a greater perfection Is pleasure excellent Godliness is
The DOOR of SALVATION OPENED By the Key of REGENERATION OR A TREATISE CONTAINING The Nature Necessity Marks and Means of Regeneration As also the Duty of the Regenerate By GEORGE SWINNOCKE M.A. and Pastor of Rickmersworth in Hertfordshire Matth. 18.3 Verily I say unto you Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven Non est via ad regnum sine primitiis regm nec sperare porest coeleste regnum cui neque super propriam regnare concupiscentian adhuc datur Bernard LONDON Printed by John Best for THO. PARKHURST at the Three Crowns in the lower end of Cheapside over against the great Conduit 1660. To the right worshipful Sir Charles Herboard Knight To the Worshipful Richard Franklin Esq John Beresford Esq Edward Ironside Esq Richard Beresford Esq And to the Gentlemen Yeomen and the rest of the inhabitants of the parish of Rickmersworth IT is the custom of our Country and if I mistake not a Statute Law of the Nation that children should be kept and maintained by those places in which they were born This book which treateth of the Babe of grace was conceived in your Parish brought forth in your Pulpit and now presenteth it self to you not for your protection and patronage but for your perusall and practice I confess that I am bound to many of you in courtesie to all in duty and I know not better how to express my thankfulness to some and my faithfulness to all then by dealing uprightly with you in the concernments of your souls Rom. 1.9 God is my witness whom I desire to serve with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers And can through the strength of Christ much more rejoyce in one of your conversions then in all your possessions Ye know what a large Epistle I have already written to you I beseech you to read it often To the Reader in Hell and Heaven epitomized and O that the Lord would write it within you We live in days that are full of division but all that have any face of religion or form of godliness will acknowledge the things which I have written to you to be the commandments of God My cheif work is and hath been to preach unto you Repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ which are of such infinite weight in order to your unchangeable welfares And could I prevaile with you heartily to embrace those essentials of Gods word I should have confidence of your joyful appearance in the other world T is a sign of a very foul stomach to loath such solid food as those vitals of Christianity are and to pick at Kickshaws or Sallads I mean either the new-fangled opinions of some upstart way or the vaine flourishes of humane wit O how gladly would I stand forth to your comfort at the judgment feat of Christ which that I may I earnestly request you again and again in obedience to your blessed Saviour and for the sake of your precious souls to ponder and practice these three particulars Consider that they are not onely commended to you by your weak and dying Minister but commanded you by your Maker who will within a short time reckon with you for the performance of them First Make conscience of be diligent about the means of grace neglect not secret private or publick ordinances Your bodies may as probably live without diet as your souls without duties This is Gods way by which he infuseth grace where it is wanting and increaseth grace where it is As the head by the nerves and sinews as organs conveyeth animal spirits to the whole body So doth the Churches head Christ Jesus by ordinances convey his Spirit and grace to his members Doth not experience teach you that your hearts are like water though heated a little while over the fire of the means of grace yet are no sooner taken off but they are returning to their former coldness Mariners that swim against wind and tide must row hard and continue at it if they intermit but a little while how far and how forcibly are they carried backwards It is not unknown to you if ye have any knowledge in spiritual affaires how busily and unweariedly the Devil world and flesh are drawing you to hell it highly concerneth you to be always by duties fetching in supplies from above if ever ye would arrive at heaven I do not wonder that many in our perillous times who live above duties are given up to sensuality or blasphemies The Papists say that if they can get the Protestants out of their strong holds of Scripture into the open fields of Councils and Fathers they should quickly be able to foil them If Satan can prevaile with men but to throw away the Word of God which is the sword of the Spirit and the prayer of faith which engageth Christ himself in the combat he will never doubt the conquest While men wall in the Kings high way between Sun and Sun they have the protection of the Law if otherwise it is at their own peril If you keep the way of God he will be your guard but if you wander and leave him no wonder if he leave you And certainly wo will be to you when God departeth from you A dreadful night of darkness must needs be expected when this Sun is departed The ministry of the word is called the salt of the earth Mat. 5. Saints are called Doves Who are those that fly as doves to their windows Now the property of Doves is to be exceedingly in love with a salt-stone Kites and Rooks care little for it but Doves are mightily incited to it Graceless persons neglect and despise the means of grace but they that ever enjoyed God in them cannot but set a due price upon them The beggar the poor in spirit will know that door again at which he hath received a good dole I will never forget thy precepts for by them thou hast quickned me Secondly Mind the religious education of your children Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It was the wish of Crates that he were upon the top of the highest hill in the world that from thence he might cry out against monstrous parents that toile to leave their children great estates but take no care what maner of persons they should be which should enjoy those estates I doubt not but ye are careful to breed your Sons Gentlemen or to bring them up to trades that they may know how to live a few days in this world but alas how few of you are solicitous to breed them new creatures and to bring them up to Christianity that they may know how to live for ever in the other world I remember that Augustine speaks mournfully Some praise my father for being at such cost even beyond his estate in my nurture but alas his care
smoak and as those that are resolved to have heaven or nothing Away with the sins the baits and company that formerly were your desire and delight And seeing even the first hour of your conversion there is joy in heaven before the Angels for your sakes for shame walk not in too much dejectedness and despondency but keep a harmony and concent with heaven seeing you are so highly concernd in the matter of their joy And pray still to the Lord of the harvest that he will mind the forsaken nations of the earth and continue his kindness to this unworthy Island in sending forth more such Labourers into his harvest as this reverend Author is here manifested by his works to be and that he will double his spirit on the messengers of grace that with faith they may speak the words of faith and with life may speak the words of life and that the immortal seed which is sowen by their hand may bring forth many sons to God and spring up plenteously unto eternal life And among others remember him then whom scarce any is more obliged to be thankful for the prayers of the Saints even The most unworthy Servant of the Lord among them that have found mercy to be faithful RICHARD BAXTER January 31. 1659. ERRATA PAge 2. line 21. for unto read into p. 21. l. 29. dele a p. 46. l. 9. for is r. in p. 64. l. 19. for power r. porter p. 93. l. 7. for there is much r. though much p. 102. l. 21. for at r. of p. 147. l. 22. for list r. lift THE Door of Salvation OPENED BY THE Key of Conversion JOHN 3.3 Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God AS Isaiah is called the Evangelical Prophet because he doth so lively describe and foretel the death of Christ so John may not unfitly be called the Prophetical Evangelist for though in his Epistles he shews himself an Apostle in his Gospel an Evangelist yet in his Revelation he is a Prophet The Antients do aptly ascribe the Eagle to him for his Ensign because when the other Evangelists begin with the Mediators Incarnation and Humanity proving him to be the Son of Man he doth at first flye out of sight and beginneth with the Saviors Deity proving him to be the Son of God And his whole Gospel indeed is a demonstration of Christs Divinity which was occasioned as Ecclesiastical Historians record by the heresie of Ebion and Cerinthus who denied it In this third Chapter we have first Christ teaching Nicodemus to vers 21. Secondly John â—s testimony concerning Christ to the end The Text is Christs speech to Nicodemus Nicodemus had seen Christs miracles and thereby was convinced to come unto him Christ lets him hear his oracles that thereby he might be converted and come unto him Nicodemus in the second verse had called Christ Rabbi and confessed him to be a Teacher sent from God Christ in purfuance of that Office sets him his lesson assuring him that he must learn it in the School of earth or he can never be removed to the University of Heaven In the words we observe two general parts First An Affirmation or the necessity of Regeneration Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Secondly Its confirmation or the certainty of that assertion Verily verily I say unto thee In the Affirmation we may take notice of two particulars 1. The universality of the persons A Man that is every man the proposition is indefinite and so equivalent to one that is universal 2. The quality of the thing affirmed Be born again mending will not serve the whole man must be new made Non unius partis correctionem sed totius naturae renovationem designat saith Calvin It speakes not the reparation of one part but the renovation of the whole man In the Confirmation of it there are likewise two things considerable 1. The manner of the expression Verily verily 2. The Author of it I say unto thee The meaning of the words Verily verily that is Amen faithfully 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 compara Mar 13.43 tum Luk. 21.3 Luk. 9.27 cum Mat. 16.18 Mar. 9.1 truly the word cometh from the Hebrew Aman which signifieth True Faithful It is used by the people as a ratification of their prayers and testimony of their desires to be heard Jer. 11.5 1 Cor. 14 16. And when it is doubled as here by the great Prophet it is a vehement asseveration or strong confirmation of the thing asserted As if Christ had said Nicodemus Thou mayst believe me for truly assuredly it is so except thou art a new creature thou canst never enter into the new Jerusalem All Gods sayings are of equal truth but to some there is affixed a special note of certainty because of their extraordinary weight and mans infidelity Private Soldiers may go with a common pass but Generals and Commanders in chief have Trumpets sounding before them Verily verily All Orders and Warrants of Kings have not their seals annexed but those that be of greatest weight I say unto thee I who am the Prophet of my Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Teacher sent from God the true and faithful witness fer whom it is impossible to lie I deliver thee this doctrine as a certain unquestionable truth that unless thou hast a new being it had been better for thee to have had no being for thou canst never see the Kingdom of God Except a man Let him pretend never so much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let his performances be never so many let his priviledges be never so great and his profession never so glorious yet if he be not born again all these will do him little good for he can never see the Kingdom of God The assertion as I hinted before is general as every man is born of the flesh so every man must be born of the spirit or it had been happy for them if they had never been born Be born again that is be renewed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and turned by the Holy Ghost from Nature to Grace from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God Acts 26.18 Except a man be inwardly and really altered from what he was except he become a new creature Put off the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Ephes 4.22 24. Except he be turned up-side-down and walk Antipodes to his former way except the stream of his heart and life run in another channel carry him towards another haven he can never arrive at Heaven Except the image of the Devil be razed out and defaced and the image of God be imprinted on him he can never be saved Except he be throughly and universally changed his Understanding by illumination his Will by renovation his
Affections by sanctification and his Life by reformation he can never obtain Salvation He cannot see that is enjoy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Drusâ—animad lib. 2. cap 2. he cannot have his portion in it or ever attain the enjoyment of it Videre est frui Vision in Scripture is frequently put for fruition as Psa 27.13 Heb. 12.14 Isa â—3 11 Psa 34.12 Matth. 5.8 The Kingdom of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods Kingdom is twofold 1. The Kingdom of Grace here Rom. 14.17 The kingdom of God is not meat aâ—â— drink but righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Matth. 6.33 2 The Kingdom of Glory hereafter 1 Thess 2.12 Now except a man be born again he can have no right to the priviledges of the Kingdom of Grace nor to the possession of the Kingdom of Glory The Text being thus briefly explained I shall glean some few ears by the way before I come to the full sheaf which will afford through the blessing of God much spiritual food to our souls 1. Observe That Christ is very willing to instruct them that come to him notwithstanding their many weaknesses Nicodemus was short in his confession of Christ and faulty in his coming to him only by night yet the meek Master overlooketh this and presently falls upon teaching his untoward Schollar The tender Father doth not turn his weak childe out of doors but lends him his helping hand wherby he might be enabled to go As when a soul is in him he doth not refuse its gold because it wanteth some grains nor its honey though it be mingled with wax Cant 5.1 so when a soul is in the way to him he doth not reject it for its imperfections nor twit it with its corruptions as those flies that love to feed on sores but as the loving parent beholdeth the Prodigal while he is afar off runneth more then half way to meet him and as the true Turtle chirpeth sweetly that he may cluck sinners nearer to himself 2. Observe A man may be a noble knowing person and yet ignorant of and a stranger to regeneration Nicodemus was a Ruler of the Jews either one of the Sanhedrim or great Council or one of the Rulers of their Synagogue one that taught others and yet was himself untaught in this rudiment this A B C of Christianity how childishly doth he talk of this weighty truth vers 4. How can a man be born when he is old can he enter the second time into his mothers womb and be born How deep may a man dive into the mysteries of Nature how sharp-sighted may he be there and yet as blind at a Mole in the things of Grace Nature may in some men be dung'd with industry art education and example and thereby shew fair spread far and overtop others but yet manured to the utmost it is but Nature still Its grapes will be the grapes of Sodom and its clusters the clusters of Gomorrah The natural man like Zacheus is too low of stature to see Jesus he discerneth not the things of God neither indeed can he for they are spiritually discerned Cor. 2.14 The wisest Philosophers that could cunningly pick the lock of Natures Cabinet and behold much of her riches and treasure were meer Ideots and fools in the things of the Spirit and understood no more of these mysteries of Divinity then a Cowherd doth of the darkest precepts of Astonomy Water riseth no higher then its fountain the light within us or Nature is but a rush candle and cannot enable us to see the Sun of Righteousness the light without us or Scripture is the star to the wise men leading us to the place where the Babe of Bethlehem lieth As the eye without the optick vertue is but a dead member so all humane wisdom without divine inspiration is but learned folly and elaborate wickedness 3 Observe That regeneration is one principal thing which Pastors ought to instruct their people in Jesus Christ though the wind of Nicodemus words verse 2 seemed to blow towards some other coast yet he waves all other discourse and speaks directly and home to this as the one doctrine necessary for his unregenerate Disciple to learn Regeneration and Salvation by Christ are the two substantial dishes which the faithful Stewards of God set constantly before the Families committed to their charges Those that preach notions instead of such doctrines do cursedly cozen their guests with flowers instead of meat which may fill the eye of the wanton but not the heart of the hungry soul Oh what a blessed pattern have we here for our practices when our Parishoners come to us or we go to them what more weighty subject can we treat of then their Conversion without which they must be punished with everlasting destruction Alas how boundless and endless is that wrath to which they are liable though their hearts are insensible therefore though their mouths do not call yet their miserie doth cry aloud to us to instruct them in Regeneration as ever we desire they should escape Damnation BUt the Doctrine which I principally intend is this Doctrine That without Regeneration men and women can never obtain Salvation Verily Verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God He or she that is not experimentally acquainted with the Second Birth cannot possibly escape the Second Death Make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye dye O house of Israel Ezek. 18.31 The old heart will unquestionably carry thee to hell the place of the old Serpent He must have a new spirit that will go to the new Jerusalem Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of God Matth. 18.3 There must be a change from Nature to Grace before there can be a change from Grace to Glory Heaven is the Fathers house Joh. 14.2 provided for none but his children such as are born of him a man must be taken out of the wilderness of Nature and planted in Eden the Garden of the Lord before he can be transplanted into the true Paradise For the illustration of this truth I shall shew first what this Regeneration or New Birth is and then give you the Reasons why none can avoid the Second Death unless they are acquainted with the Second Birth For the first Regeneration is a work of Gods Spirit whereby he doth out of his meer good pleasure for his own glory and the salvation of his Elect at first renew the whole man after his own image by the Ministry of the Word I shall explain this definition by taking it in piece and observing in it the several causes of Regeneration When Arras hangings are opened and unfolded their richness will appear First I call it a work of Gods Spirit here is the efficient principal cause of it The Babe of Grace in this respect calleth none on earth Father It is by the Spirits overshadowing
is with more difficulty kept from sinking then one which hath but just enough to ballast it so it s more hard to keep him from sinking into hell that hath a great estate then him that hath according to Agurs wish neither poverty nor riches And the reason is because though spirituall comforts run low this rich man is contented in regard that his temporal comforts run full-tap He makes up the absence of Christ with the presence of creatures when it may be poverty might cause him as the prodigal to think of returning to his fathers house where is spiritual plenty Quintus Aurelius in the dayes of Sylla had a fair Grange which lay convenient for some great person which caused him to be put in among them that were to be put to death but as soon as he saw his name among those that were in the list he cried out my Land at Alba hath kild me Some mens Lands have cost them their lives and been the knife to cut the throat of their bodies but many a mans gold hath lost him his God and been the knife to cut the throat of his soul Rich men like pamperd horses are the more unruly leaping over the hedges of divine precepts the hardlier kept within their bounds because full fed the young mans silver lost him his precious soul He went away from Christ sorrowful because he had great possessions Had the man been poor for a few days he might have been rich for ever but alas his wealth here through the wickedness of his heart caused his everlasting want whereupon Christ tels us How hardly shall a rich man enter into the Kingdome of Heaven I say unto you that it is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of an Needle then for a rich man to enter into the Kingdome of heaven Mat. 19.23 24. Heaven is a stately Palace with a narrow portall through which this Camel with his thick bunch of clay can hardly get It is observed amongst Anglers that Pickerils are not easily nor often caught A man may catch an hundred Minums before he take one Pickeril and the reason is he preyeth at pleasure on the lesser fish and therefore seldom hath any stomack to bite at the bait so it faireth with rich men their stomacks are so cloyed with the things of this world that they have no appetite to the dainties of the word when the poor are Gospellized They contentedly take that for their portion which God intended only for their pension and make their wealth their throne to sit down upon with delight which God designed for their footstool and the faithfull laid at the Apostles feet In some fenny places in England it s storied where they are much troubled with gnats the people hang up dung to which when they flye they are caught with a net provided there for that purpose The dung of profit is the Devils bait with which he catcheth many persons Well may it be called the Mammon of unrighteousness for it both prompteth them to many sins as well as pierceth them through with many sorrows Gregory saith that sitting in the sea of Rome when it flourished he trembled every time he thought on that text Son remember that thou hadst thy good things in thy life time lest his outward plenty should be all his portion If Reader thou art wealthy be watchfull over thy heart lest like Birdlime it hinder the wings of thy soul from mounting up to heaven What the Egyptians sayd of the Israelites They are intangled in the land the wilderness hath shut them in Exod. 4.13 may fitly be applied to many men that are wealthy They are intangled in the world this wilderness hath shut them in like Lot's wife they set out for the Zoar of heaven but their hearts hanker after the Sodom of earth and so they look back perish in the way Ah 't is rare indeed to be very rich and truly religious Such men are often taken out of the world before the world be taken out of them Be careful O Friend if the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee in earthly enjoyments that they prove not heavenly impediments that his mindfulness of thy body do not make thee forgetful of thy soul lest thy wealth like Achans wedge of gold cleave thy soul in sunder Fourthly The old sinner is not easily converted but like an old maid when married hath harder labour then ordinary The longer the ground of mans heart lieth fallow bringing forth nothing but weeds unploughed up by repentance the harder it groweth and with the more difficulty is broken up 'T was hard to cast out the Devil who had for a long time possessed the man the Apostles could not do it and when Christ himself did it 't was not without much renting and raging Mark 9.21 26. Common experience telleth us that a ship the longer it leaketh the harder it is to be emptied An house the longer it goeth to ruine the worse to repair a nail the farther it is driven in the harder to get out Christ raised two to life in the Gospel besides others one was a maid newly dead Luk. 8.54 to whom Christ spake but little Maid I say unto thee arise and the work was quickly done the other was one who had been dead so long till he stunk now mark what work there was to enliven him Joh. 11.41 Christ weepeth groaneth in spirit prayeth to his Father then turneth to Lazarus and cryeth with a loud voyce Lazarus come forth I only allude to it When the sinner hath been but few years dead in sin a low voyce of Christ can raise him up but when a man hath been not four days but forty or fifty years rotting in the grave of corruption that he stinks in the nostrils of others it must be a loud voice indeed which must quicken him How hard is it to turn the old swine the old drunkard to temperance and the old goat the old adulterer to chastity though they be so old that their bodies cannot act them yet their hellish hearts affect them when they have nothing left but the dog-dayes of their age their bodies full of sores yet their souls are fuller of sins The longer the tree standeth in the ground the more it roots and the faster it setleth it self so that though a child might sometime have removed it yet now all the men in the Parish cannot pluck it up Jer. 13.23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil Custom in sin takes away all conscience of sin and hardeneth the heart more against God and godliness As a youth when he first cometh to be Apprentice to some handicraft trade his hand is very tender and no sooner is it set to work but it blisters and puts him to pain but he continuing long at the trade his hand hardens and he can follow his work not onely without pain but with
whereby it breatheth after exerciseth and delighteth it self in the wayes and worship of God there is an inward frame and disposition infused into the new Creature different from nay contrary to his former inclinations The stream of his heart and life before ran swiftly after the flesh and the world The creature sate upon the throne in his inward man commanding all things at pleasure earth was the mans heaven the world lay in his heart and all the mans affections and actions were ordered and disposed for the advancement of that interest But now the tide is turned the waters run in another channel the Lord is exalted in his affections as his chiefest good and in his conversation as his utmost end the Law of God is written in the heart and commented upon in the life the inward man is of a good constitution and the outward man of a good complexion Grace is a tendency of the soul Godward his understanding knoweth God to be the greatest good John 17. His will chooseth him his affections love him his desire is after him his delight is in him his fear is of him his trust is on him his care and endeavor is to walk worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleasing Joh. 17.3 Psal 16.5 6. 73.25 26. Isa 7.8 Psal 37.4 Gen. 42.18 like the Sun-flower he followeth the motion of the Sun of righteousness Now Reader try thy self Art thou alive to God Doest thou take him in Christ for thy happiness and make him thine end Is it thy business and trade to do his will thy calling and employment to finish his work Is thy heart devoted to his fear and thy life to his honor how art thou affected to his word and worship Dost thou perform duties out of love to God with complacency in God It it thy ment and drink to obey his precepts How is thy soul ravished with the sweetnesses of his promises Art thou joyful in the house of prayer Is the Sabbath thy delight Is the Scripture sweeter to thee then the honey and the honey-comb At the Sacrament canst thou fit under Christs shadow with great delight and finde his fruit sweet unto thy taste Doest thou esteem the yoke of thy Saviour easie his service liberty his wayes wayes of pleasantness and all his paths peace Canst thou say One day in Gods Courts is better then a thousand elsewhere Hast thou found that 't is good for thee to draw nigh to God If thou wert put to thy choice hadst thou rather solace thy soul with sensual recreations or in communion with the Father and Jesus Christ his Son Examine thine heart for if thou hast the divine nature divine and spiritual things will be natural and so pleasant to thee A man whose nature is covetous how exceedingly doth he delight in viewing and feeling money as the Roman Emperor would putt off his cloaths and tumble up and down in heaps of silver If a mans nature be proud how exceedingly pleased is he in the cap and the knee in being flattered and respected it is meat and drink to him as we say to be reverenced in mens carriage and honored in their language men love those things a life because they suit with their natures So when a man hath a new nature a spiritual holy nature things which are spiritual and holy will be acceptable to him because they are suitable to his nature the word will be welcom prayer will be pleasant ordinances will be as savory as food to the hungry the man will love the habitation of Gods house and the place where Gods honour dwelleth though his flesh be weak his spirit is alwayes willing He may be weary at a duty that the wheels of his soul should so be clog'd with the dirt of infidelity and make him to drive so heavily but he is never weary of duties though corruption and Satan now dog him at and disturb him in his performances yet 't is the comfort of his soul that he now drags them in chains after the triumphant chariot of Grace and he rejoyceth to think how he shall leave the body of death behinde him at the entrance of his soul into the Capitol of Glory His heart leaps now when his feet do but creep in the way of obedience when he goeth to the house of God it is with the voice of joy unto the altar of God yea his God and excceeding joy Whatsoever a man doth from an ingrafted propensity he doth it not onely in sincerity but also with alacrity He delights in it as the fish in the water as the mole in the earth it is his proper element God and the things of God are his element He would still be and live in this element He delights to know God to worship him to believe in him to meditate on him to sanctifie his day to glorifie his name to observe his Laws to view his children he is never so well as when he is walking with God if there were no heaven to prefer the obedient and no hell to punish the disobedient yet he would fear the Lord and delight greatly in his commandments But on the other side speak Friend Art thou listless and dead to spiritual things are they irksom and tedious to thee Probably the commandments of God are bonds and cords the Sabbath thy toilsom day not a day of rest and refreshment the Sanctuary is thy prison the service of God is snuft at by thee and wearisom to thee thou art glad that the duty is done the day is over thy conscience quieted like a Tenant who is glad his rent is paid to his Landlord but took no pleasure in parting with his money thou rejoycest at the end not at the beginning of thy duty thou countest Amen the best word in a prayer not because it 's the fruit of thy faith but because it puts a period to thy petitions the Blessing is the best part of Divine Worship thou esteemest no part to be before it because that is last and nothing comes after it Religion is but possibly thy by-business and a Lacquey to thy lusts a pass and a convoy which thou hast need of in thy travelling through the world It may be thou goest to duty as a Bear to the stake it goeth against the hair with thee to walk in the way of holiness though necessity compel thee sometimes or once or twice a day to take a turn in the path of piety Conscience will roar unless it may finde rest in some outward performance Or thou mayst now and then perceive good company walking in the narrow way which leadeth to life and so as travellers care not if they go a mile or two out of their way for company especially if the way be fair and the company pleasing so thou mayst go out of thy own way sometimes and walk a little with the Saints for company Reader be faithful to thy soul A real fire differeth from a painted one by its heat and so doth
Had he studied a thousand years for a name he could not have called it by a worse name then its own sinful sin Luther saith that could a man but see perfectly the evil of his sins on earth it would be an hell to him such a frightful ugly monster is sin Look on sin which way thou wilt and it is exceeding sinful the evil of evils Take it in its nature it is a deviation from Gods Law a wandring from his word a casting his Law behinde the back the Law is strait sin is crookedness Psal 125.5 The Law is holy sin is defilement Rom. 7.12 2 Cor. 7.1 The Law is just sin is unrighteousness 1 John 1.7 The Law is liberty sin is bondage Jam. 2.8 12. 2 Tim. 2.26 Sin is a defacing of Gods image it blots and blurs that fair and beautiful writing not onely meritoriously as it provokes God to withdraw his Grace but physically Numb 15.30 Rom. 2.23 24. 2 Sam. 12.12 as one contrary expels another Hereby it dishonours Gods name and reproacheth his Majesty for what greater disgrace can be done to a Prince then to tread his orders under foot and tear and scratch and deface his picture Nay Lev. 22.26 Zec. 11.8 Rom. 8.7 Rom. 1.30 1 Sa. 15.23 Isa 1.2 Rom. 6 16. Psal 14.1 it s a defying and fighting against God a walking contrary to him a daring of him it is enmity against him loathing him hatred of him contrariety to him it is against his Soveraignity and so is rebellion against his mercy and so is unkindness against his justice and so is unrighteousness against his wisdom and so is folly against his will Omne seccatu est deicidium and so is stubbornness Were it strong enough it would ungod him were the sinners power according to his corrupt heart he would pluck God out of Heaven I would I were above God saith Spira When the body of sin is nailed as a thief on the Cross yet even then it will rage as he and spit out poison against Heaven Reader Canst thou finde in thine heart to hug and embrace such a Traytor against the gracious and blessed God! To stretch out thine hand against God as every sinner doth and strengthen thy self against the Almighty Vid. Car. in loc 10 this purpose Job 15.25 Stretch out thine hand against God! No man should lift up a word against God our mouthes should shew forth his praise Stretch out thine hand against God! no man should lift up a thought against God our meditations of him should be for him Stretch out thine hand against God every man should bow down and worship before God and be satisfied in what ever he saith and doth Stretch out thine hand against God! thou art bound to stretch out thine heart and hand and tongue to think and speak and act and all for God and all little enough Take sin in its effect and what evil is like it Eccl. 1.3 it is the cause of all other evils Dost thou consider the emptiness vanity and vexation in the creatures the heavens fighting against man the earth bearing thorns and briars the diseases in mens bodies the burning Feavor watery Dropsie aking teeth running Gout wracking Stone renting Collick the quivering lips trembling loins gastly looks of dying men The horrors of conscience flashes of the infernal fire curses of the Law wrath of God torments of Hell all these are the fruits of sin All misery calleth sin mother this is the root of bitterness upon which they grow the wages of sin is death Rom. 6.21 ult and 5.12 that big-bellied word Death hath all these woful brats in its belly and Sin is the father that begat them Sin turned Adam out of Paradise Angels into Devils Sodom and Gomorah into ashes flourishing Families Cities Kingdoms into ruinous heaps Sin shuts heaven against man laid the foundation of that dark vault of hell Sin kindled the fire of hell Sin feeds it with fuel and will keep it burning for ever Oh what an evil is sin who would not hate it more then hell Is it good to play with such fire as sin is didst thou believe sin to be the cause of all this thou wouldst never open thy heart or mouth more for it Dost thou know that as where the effect is good the cause is better so where the effect is bad the cause is worse Can there be worse effects then eternal separation from God and suffering the vengeance of eternal fire how bad is sin then which is the cause of them Take sin as a punishment and 't is the evil the only evil there is no suffering like to this to be given up to a course of sining Reader take heed of continuing an hour longer in thine ungodly practices it may be thou hast been ready to think it a great happiness to sin without controle to run in the road of the flesh and to meet with no rubs to prosper though thou art wicked I tell thee and think of it the longest day thou livest for it highly concerneth thee that the infinite God never claps a more dreadful curse on any man or woman on this side hell then to give them up to sin If God should give thee up to the sword famine most painful diseases to thy most cruel potent and malicious enemies to be wrackt by them at pleasure these were nothing to this to be given up to one sin When God hath used his rods scourging men and they will not reform then he takes this ax and presently execution followeth to be delivered up to the power of men may be the lot of Gods sons but to be delivered up to the power of sin is the portion of Rebels of Reprobates This is the stinging whip with which God punisheth Ephrahim 2 Tim. 3.13 2 â—hess 2.10 11. Ephraim is joyned to Idols there is his impiety but what grievous punishment shall he have for his God-provoking Idolatry Let him alone Hos 4.17 It is not I will send the raging pestilence or cruel famine or bloody sword but he is joyned to idols let him alone I will not have him disturbed or molested but he shall have his will though it prove his everlasting woe Rom. 1.21 22. Psal 81.11 12. Hos 8.11 It is a woe with a witness 1 Cor 5. comp with 2 Cor. 7. for God to let thy lusts like so many ravenous Lions loose upon thee and to lay the reins of thy sins upon thy own neck We read of one delivered up to Satan yet he was saved but never of any delivered up to their sins but they were damned It was a sad sight which Abraham saw when he beheld flakes of fire rained from heaven upon the Sodomites but it was a sadder which Lot beheld when he saw the fire of hell burning in their hearts and breaking out in their lives and his righteous soul was vexed therewith Reader have a care that thou never in thy heart plead more for
pleasant â—rov 3.17 Regeneration brings the soul to its centre in which it must needs rest The very work of serving God is a reward in it self in the keeping of them meaning Gods commandments there is great reward Observe Pâ—â— 9 1â— in keeping of them The service of God affords such satisfaction that Gods servants would not leave it for all this world though they were to receive no recompence in the other world The Precepts of God are sweeter then the honey how sweet then are his Promises Is life excellent This is the true life Eternal life saith Augustine is the true life This is the seed the beginning of eternal life Joh. 17.3 All unregenerate men are dead are but walking ghosts or moving carcasses their souls are but like salt to keep their bodies from putrifaction for a season The Heathen said of a vicious man that lived to be old Multum jactatus est noâ—multum nâ—vi gavit Sâ—n ad Panlin alluding to Mariners He was much tossed â—p and down but sailed not at all All the time of thy natural life till thou art converted is lost Paul dates his life from his regeneration We count not a tree living for standing in a garden if it bring not forth fruit Is honor excellent Holiness is honorable Holiness becometh thy house O Lord of Hosts Psal 93.5 It 's more honor to be a Member of Christ then to be Monarch of Christendom Godliness is the honorable livery which Christ purchased for and bestowed on the society of Christians He gave himself for his Church that he might present it to himself a GLORIOVS CHVRCH without spot or wrinkle Ephes 5.25 27. In a word holiness is the honor and excellency of God himself Exod. 15.11 He is said to be glorious in holiness he is called rich in mercy Ephes 2.3 but glorious in holiness his Mercy is his treasure but his Holiness is his honor He sweareth by his holiness Psal 89.35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David Great persons though sinfully will swear by their titles by their honors by that which they glory most inthese are their oathes that are most binding with them The great God in whom is no iniquity sweareth by his holiness as his crown glory his great excellency He is above thirty times called The Holy one of Israel This is the excellency which Angels and perfect spirits in heaven and Saints on earth do so much admire him for Is 6.3 Rev. 4.8 Nay as gold Exod 24. â—0 â—5 â—â—v 6. â—◠〈◊〉 16 23. Ps 105.42 Isz 5â— 10 Pr. 1â—5 17 because 't is the most excellent mettal is laid not only over pâ—uter and brass but also over silver it self so because holiness is the excellency the perfection of God it s laid not onely over his Servants his Sanctuary his Services his Word his Works his Sabbath his Temple and every thing that belongs to him but also over all his other choyce Attributes his Power is holy power his Mercy is holy mercy his Wisdom is holy wisdom Holiness is the perfection of all his excellent Attributes For were it possible which is high blasphemy for any to imagine for those Attributes to be separated from his holiness they would degenerate his Wisdom into craft Gurn. Ar. par 2. p. 2.9 his Justice into cruelty his Mercy into foolish pity and his Soveraignty into tyranny t is the Holiness of God which poiseth every one O the excellency the excellency of holiness who knoweth its worth Reader what dost thou think of this third subject of consideration The excellency of regeneration and holiness which God requireth of thee for the avoiding of hell and attaining of heaven Tell me doth God require any thing to thy wrong If God required of thee to live a thousand years on earth and to spend all that time in hunger cold nakedness disgrace paines and imprisonment or otherwise thou shouldst not escape unquenchable burnings and enjoy eternal life thou wert worse then mad if thou didst not accept of and obey such a command How hearty and thankful then should thy acceptance be of Jesus Christ to be thy Lord and Savionr of dying to sin and living to and delighting thy self in his blessed Majesty which is all he desireth of thee O do not refuse when thou art so well offered Is it possible that thou canst read so much of the excellency of regeneration how t is the image of the glorious God the destruction of the evil of evils the fruit of the death of Jesus Christ the end which infinite wisdome propounds in his workings the special workmanship of Gods own hands the high honour and perfection of the mighty possessour of heaven and earth and thy soul not be in love with it nor breath after it O that I were regenerated O that my soul had those true treasures those spiritual pleasures that wisdom that life that honour that beauty that excellency which no tongue can commend sufficiently O that the pure image of God were imprinted on me O that Christ might see the travail of his soul upon me and be satisfied I have read that when Zeuxis the famous painter had drawn his masterpeece the picture of Helena Nicostratus the Athemian painter beholding it stood amazed at its rareness and admired the exquisiteness of it There stands by a rich ignorant wretch who would needs know what Nicostratus discovered in it worthy of so much wonder O Friend saith he hadst thou my eyes thou wouldst not ask such a question but rather admire it as I do It may be Reader when thou seest the Saints admiring the beauty of holiness ravished with the excellency of Gods image so extreamly taken with it that they read hear watch fast pray mourn weep suffer any thing all things to enjoy more of it thou art ready to wonder what they see in holiness worthy of such admiration and such diligent endeavours but I tell thee Hadst thou their eyes instead of wondring at them thou wouldst wonder with them I and work with them too and that hard for holiness The fourth Subject of consideration The necessity of Regeneration FOurthly Consider the absolute necessity of Regeneration if it were not so excellent yet it is a thing of absolute necessity and therefore must not be neglected It is not a work of indifferency which may be done or may not be done but a worke of indispensable necessity which must be done or thou art undone for ever Reader here is an argument which neither the flesh nor world nor devil can answer and therefore it must not be denied It is indeed so fruitful a blessing that if thou hast this thou needst no more every thing that is worth ought is in the womb of it but it is so needful that if thou hast not this thou hast nothing the whole world cannot make up the want of this There are many things about which possibly thou spendest much
time and takest much pains which are nothing at all necessary in comparison of this Riches are not necessary the want of temporal may be supplied by the fruition of spiritual riches Thou mayst be poor in the world and yet rich in faith and heir of a Kingdom Jam. 2.5 Nay riches are so far from being absolutely needful that they may be hurtful to thee Thou mightst as the Reubenites shouldst thou have good land here take up short of the Land of Promise Christ calleth riches thorns Matth. 13.22 and surely 't is hard to touch them and not to prick thy fingers How hardly shall arich man enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Pleasures are not necessary He that hath little but misery here may finde mercy hereafter Though Job had his sores and pains yet he had a right to the pleasures at Gods right hand for evermore He that endured hunger cold thirst nakedness watching fasting weariness painfulness that was scourged imprisoned stoned yet was a chosen vessel unto God and heir to a crown of righteousness 2 Cor. 11.23 to 29. Acts 9.15 2 Tim. 4.6 Besides pleasures may be hurtful to thee those bees have their stings as well as their honey and many feed so plentifully on such luscious food that they surfeit themselves Aristotle speaks of a piece a ground in Sicily which sendeth forth such a strong smell of fragrant flowers to all the fields thereabout that dogs cannot hunt there the scent is so confounded with the smell of those flowers Earthly pleasures do not seldom hinder our scent and sense of spiritual delights Honors are not necessary A man may be condemned and lightly esteemed by men and yet be commended and highly esteemed by God Disgrace may be the way to glory Joseph went through a prison into a palace and Jesus from a shameful cross to a glorious crown Honors also may be hurtful to thee Some climb so high that they break their necks Those that are in high places are apt to have their heads giddy and thereby are in great danger of falling Hamans height and glory brought him to be high at last on the gallows Friends and relations are not necessary He that is friendless on Earth may be a favorite of Heaven when no man stood by Paul the Lord was with him and strengthned him when David's father and mother forsook him God took the care of him When those Stars vanished the Sun arose These also may be hurtful to thee thou mayst catch their diseases Ammon was the worse for Jonadab and Ahab the more wicked for Jezebel Health is not necessary A distemper'd body may have an healthy soul When the outward man decayeth the inward man may be renewed day by day No disease so it be not spiritual can keep the Physician of souls from visiting his Patients sanctified sickness is far better then unsanctified soundness Nay life it self which is far more worth then all the foresaid particulars is not necessary but in order to this spiritual life of Regeneration If that work be done a man by losing his life may be a gainer Some by yeilding up their Leases which were but for term of years have got the Fee-simple the inheritance for ever by parting with their natural lives they have got possession of eternal life But Friend Regeneration is absolutely necessary The Emperor told the Mariner when he would have disswaded him from going to Sea Necessâ— est uâ— eam neut vivan because the waters were rough and it might indanger his life 'T is more necessary that I go then that I live I tell thee 't is more necessary that thou live spiritually then that thou live naturally thy riches honors pleasures health friends are but toyes and trifles to Regeneration and truely life it self is little or nothing worth but as it makes thee capable of getting and enjoying this O what a poor empty shadow is the life of the greatest Prince that is a stranger to fellowship with God which Regeneration bringeth the soul to The reason why these fore-mentioned things are not necessary is partly because the want of all these things may be made up in the enjoyment of God Verily I say unto you that ye who have followed me in the Regeneration Matth. 19.28 when the Son of man shall sit upon his throne shall also sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel There is no man that hath left house or brethren or sisters Mark 10.29 30. or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the Gospels but he shall receive an hundred fold in time houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and land with persecution and in the world to come life everlasting The regenerate though never so poor naked disgraced sickly yet in the Sun they have all those beams and much much more As Alexander told Parmenio when in the beginning of a battel he was earnest with him to send some forces to regain their weapons and baggage then newly lost Let ussecure the main battel for if the field be won we shall recover all our baggage with advantage So if the soul be safe being by Regeneration grafted into Christ if thou winest the main battel against sin and Satan thou wilt recover those with advantage Those things are not necessary partly because the want of them will not undo a man for ever a mans eternal estate may be secured though those things be removed but Regeneration is indispensably necessary because nothing can make up the want of it not all the golden Mines in India not the sweetest Paradise of earthly pleasures not the highest chair of state nor friends nor kindred nor health nor strength nor life can make up the want of this If this be wanting thy God is wanting thy Christ is wanting thy heaven thy happiness thy All is wanting The want of this will undo thee for ever 't will make thee miscarry in the Ocean this leak will sink thee eternally It is a standing Law of Heaven That except a man be converted he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 18.3 There is in regard of the ordination of God as great a necessity of Regeneration as of Jesus Christ for what advantage canst thou have by all the riches and revenues of the Son of God till by Regeneration thou art married to him and made one with him Observe Reader this fourfold necessity of Regeneration It is * See the necessity of it farther in the reasons of the doctrine and the first use of Information necessary in regard of Gods precept Turn ye turn ye why will ye die Ezek. 33.11 31 32. Isa 1.16 17. Jer. 3.1 Hosea 14.1 James 4.9 There is a necessity either of hearing Gods voice or feeling Gods hands either the commandments of God must be obeyed by thee or the judgements of God must be inflicted on thee It is a Gospel-precept Ephes 4.23 24. now Gospel-precepts must be minded by
the way to save a soul Reader didst thou never know of any that were in a journey and coming to some deep dirty pochy lane they thought to avoid it and broke over the hedge into the field but when they had rod round and round they could finde no way out but were forced to go out where they got in and then notwithstanding their unwillingness to go through that mirie lane or else not to go that journey Truly so it is in thy journey to Heaven thou art now come to this deep lane of humiliation through which all must go that will reach that City whose builder and maker is God do not think to avoid it no not the least part of it for this is the narrow way and strait gate that leadeth to life Suppose thou shouldst run to the world or any thing here below now thou beginnest to be sensible of thy sickness and pain and so in an hopeful way of recovery First 't is impossible that any of those things can cure thee Miserable comforters are they all and Physitians of no value Can a silver Slipper cure the gout or a golden Crown the head-ach or the greatest Empire in the world the pain of thy teeth much less can these things cure the diseases of thy soul All the wrapping of thy foot that hath a thorn in it though with never such fine scarlet cloth will be altogether ineffectual to ease thee of thy pain for the thorn must be pulled out so must sin be pluck'd out its guilt removed before thou canst possibly be eased But my great reason is which I desire thee to consider seriously shouldst thou throw off this medicine of thy spiritual Physitian because it is somewhat sharp and run to the Empericks and Mountebanks of the world thou wilt provoke thy tender able Physitian to leave thee for what man will bear such affronts and where art thou then what will become of thee for ever Those that work in Coal-mines finde by experience that the earth sendeth up damps which quench and put out their candles and what then becomes of the men that are there they are often slain Shouldst thou like Jonah run from the presence of the Lord to more pleasing employments then the work of a thorow humiliation either he will bring thee back again to the same business by storms and tempests or else such damps will arise from thine earthly interruptions as will quench Gods Spirit and eternally ruine thy spirit The evil spirit I know will be busie to perswade thee to smother and put out the sparkes which the good Spirit hath kindled within thee by heaps of worldly rubbish and dirt but take heed what thou dost for thy soul is at stake if those sparks should die thou art like to live in hell fire for ever Observe how it fared with unhappy Felix He was a Prisoner to his Prisoner and in a ready way to have been one of Christs freemen but now hells jaylor was like to lose one of his captives for I question not but Satan for fear of losing him trembled more then he what therefore through the Divels advice must Felix do He must needs cure himself of his convulsion by an abruptdiversion When the Spirit struck in with the word and caused him to tremble he sendeth Paul away till another season and we never read when that time came Had Felix struck in with the Spirit when the iron of his heart was hot he might have been happy indeed but he quencheth those motions which were so likely to recover his soul and thereby in all probability misseth salvation Some say that Samsons mother was forbidden wine and strong drink all the while she was with child of him partly because that wine and strong drink are naught for the child in the womb I am confident that carnal diversions that To put back thy pangs by earthly affaires much more by wine and strong drink is infiniely prejudicial to the babe of grace and many to one but it may cause thine eternal miscarriage Friend that which in this case I would advise thee to do is to betake thy self to thy closet or chamber and there to fall down before the most high God and to accuse indict and condemne thy self for thy sins poure out thy soul before the Lord in acknowledging the pollution of thy nature the transgressions of thy life with all their bloody aggravations confessing the righteousness of the law and thy obnoxiousness thereby to the infinite and eternal wrath of the Lord. O now is the onely time to repent with that repeniance which is never to be repented of if ever thou wouldst draw water and pour it out before the Lord it must be now the spirit hath thawed the tap neglect this season and it may freeze again speedily When Nathan came from God to David after his fall when he had lain in his impenitency many months and told him of his sins and convinced him that he was worthy to die what doth David do doth he run to his crown or honour or power in the world No. Doth he hastily snatch at the promises No but he goeth to God as appeares by the title and body of the 51. Psalm bewaileth his original and actual sins condemneth himself justifieth God offereth up the sacrifice of a broken heart beggeth hard for pardon and holiness O do thou follow this blessed pattern if thy body were sick of a violent feaver and nature were so far thy friend as when thou wast in thy bed to put thee into a fine sweat and thereby give thee hope of evacuating the ill humours which cause thy disease through the pores what wouldst thou do in this case wouldst thou rise presently and run into the cold aire or wouldst thou not rather abide still in thy bed and if need were call for more cloaths to increase thy sweat whereby thy body might be perfectly cured Thus it is in the state of thy soul thou art sick unto death the Spirit of God is so much thy friend as to help thee to sweat out thy distemper by humiliation and godly sorrow t were a madness in thee now to run to the open air of the world or to do any thing which might hinder this sweating thy onely way is to encourage and increase it by betaking thy self to thy chamber and there to look into thy heart and consider how full it is of unholiness to look back upon thy life and consider how contrary it hath been to the Divinâ—law to look up to God and consider the Majesty holiness and mercy which are in him whom thou hast provoked this is the way to continue and increase thy humiliation and thereby for the spirit delighteth to proceed in assisting those that thus cherish his motions to be perfectly healed Duties now are the Spirits pleasant garden in which he will delight to walk with thee they are like bellows to blow up the heavenly fire into a flame or as
the House of which thou descendest nor disgrace the Family of Faith to which thou belongest Should such a man as I flie said Nehemiah Think with thy self Should such a man as I that am inrollâ—d in the Book of life regenerated by the Spirit of God redeemed from my vain conversation with the precious blood of Christ should such a man as I dishonor my Father grieve my Comforter by frothy language unseemly carriage or being guilty of any thing in my practices that is unsutable to my great and honorable priviledge The Father hath chosen me to be a vessel of honor shall I defile my self with the filth of sin The Son hath bought me with a vast sum shall not I yield my self up wholy to his service The Spirit hath made my heart its habitation and shall I suffer in it the least unholiness I can never pay God for his boundless love but I will endeavor to praise him by a spotless life O Friend walk worthy of the calling wherewith thou art called Ephes 4.1 There is a comliness peculiar to thine effectual calling If a Scholler hath another manner of carriage then a Scullion and a Courtier then a Carter surely a Christian must lead a different life from them that are dead in sins and trespasses Thy calling is high Phil. 3.14 and therefore thou shouldst walk above the men of the world Men that are called to high Offices will carry themselves answerable to their places Princes do not live like Peasants Thou art called to be a Son of God a coheir with Christ a Citizen of Sion The Son of a King must like Absolom be without blemish from top to toe That ye may be blameless and harmless the sons of God without rebuke Phil. 2.15 Adoption is a translation out of one Family into another and doth disoblige thee from the Laws of Satan and his Family and oblige thee to the rules and orders of Christ and his House into which thou art taken Thou art called to be a King Rev. 1.5 It is not for Kings to drink wine nor Princes strong drink Pro. 31. that is immoderately such a sin is very bad in a Subject but much worse in a Soveraign as a spot in scarlet is worse then in sackcloth The transgressions of others have much rebellion and obstinacy in them but thy sins have more of unkindness and treachery as being against the Covenant Thou art called to reign with Christ in Heaven O walk worthy of him that hath called thee unto his Kingdom and glory 1 Thes 2.12 Thou that hast hopes to be like Christ in glory shouldst labour as for life to be like him in grace 1 John 3.3 Plutarch in vit Iul. Caes Caesar when he heard that Brutus conspired against him would not believe it but said He looks for this skin meaning he expecteth to be my heir to succeed me in the Empire and therefore he will not be so unworthy as to plot against me Reader hath not Christ more cause to expect that thy present deportment should be answerable to thy future preferment Thy calling is holy 2 Tim. 1.9 and therefore thy carriage should be holy other callings may put glory upon a man but cannot infuse grace into a man other callings may change thy condition but this hath changed thy disposition Thou art called to be a Saint shouldst thou not then live as a Saint 1 Cor. 1.2 Alexander would often bid a Captain of his name Recordare nominis Alexander Remember that thou art called Alexander that the Captain remembring his name might do nothing unworthy of it Truly so say I to thee Remember that thou art called to be a Saint to be a Christian and do not by the unexemplariness of thy life cause that worthy name by which thou art called to be blasphemed Thy calling is heavenly Hebr. 3.1 and therefore thy conversation should be in Heaven it is from God and therefore must lead thee to God O how stately is the deportment of wordlings when they are called to high employments how little should all the things on earth be in thine eyes who art fixed in heaven Themistocles walking with one by the Sea-side and seeing a precious treasure on the earth said to his fellow-traveller Do thou take it up fer thou art not Themistocles If the men of the world whose portions are in this life have their affections set on things below and their conversations on earth remember that thy treasure is in heaven and thine heart must be there also live as one that belongs to another Country In a word study strive labour endeavour watch pray hear read meditate that thou mayst in private in publick upon all occasions in all companies in all manner of conversation shew forth the praises of him who hath called thee out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 2.9 10. Secondly As thou shouldst be thankful to God so also faithful to men Thou art converted thy self do thine utmost to convert others The Lepers coming into the Syrian Camp and finding food enough to relieve themselves and many others ready to perish with hunger they first feasted themselves and afterwards say one to another We do not well this day is a day of good tydings and we hold our peace if we tarry till the morning light some mischief will befall us now therefore come that we may go and tell the Kings houshold 2. Kings 7.9 The time was when thou like the Lepers wast famishing thy soul with the huskes of the world now God hath fed thee with the fat things of his house dost thou well to hold thy peace Consider them that are pinched with hunger and call them to Gods Courts tell them what large provision he maketh how the table is spread his oxen his fatlings are killed all things ready he wanteth onely comers and company thou dost well to take hold for thy self but thou dost ill if thou with-holdst from others Israel was commanded to pity strangers because they were once strangers in the Land of Egypt Shouldst not thou compassionate them that are strangers from the Covenant of Promise aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel carried captive by the Devil at his will considering that thou wast in that house of bondage in as great slavery to Satan and subjection to sin as others and it was nothing but Grace and Mercy that redeemed thee Put them in minde saith the Apostle to be gentle shewing all meekness unto all men Why upon what consideration For we ourselves also were sometimes foollish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures but after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost 3 Tit. 1. to 8. Wicked men are like those that are drowning they catch hold on others and if it be possible make them sink with