delivers us from the power of darkness and translates us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.13 which is a State of marvelous Light 1 Pet. 2.9 9. God created some things Actually other things Potentially or Vertually Gen. 1.11 12. And God said Let the Earth bring forth Grass the Herb yielding Seed the Tree yielding Fruit. Some things were made in their first Principles Production of Fruits in their proper kind as from Bees Honey from Vine Grapes and thence Wine Oyl from the Olive c. Thus it is in the New Creation God plants a Seed an Habit of Spritual Life which of its own Nature inclines the Christian to Acts of Holiness In every Habit there is a propensity to act so Faith worketh by Love Gal. 5.6 Repentance brings forth Fruits meet for such a Principle Matth. 3.18 Heavenly Acts are the genuine Fruits of a Saving Grace yea inseparable Companions 10. The same Hand that created doth uphold the Creature also it would crumble into its primitive nothing So God upholds all things by the Word of his Power Heb. 13. He doth not as an Artificer who makes a Clock a Watch a Ship or other Machin and leaves it to others to wind it up or maintain it but a divine Maintenancy is vouchsafed to every Creature which God hath made Creatures are but Shadows to the Body or as the Reflection of the Glass which vanisheth when the Face is turned away Psal 104.29 Thou hidest thy Face they are troubled thou takest away thy Breath they die and return to the Dust. In the Chain of Second Causes God stands at the upper end and actuates every thing thereof by his Influency Hâ—s 2.21 22. I will hear the Heavens and they shall hear the Earth and the Earth shall hear the Corn and Wine and Oyl and they shall hear Jezreel Thus it is with the New Creature Assisting-Grace supplies and actuates Received-Grace in every Duty and Exercise without Christ we can do nothing John 15.5 We must lean upon our Beloved every step of the way or we fall Cant. 8.5 Nothing will go forward without a daily Supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ Philippians 1.19 11. God had Glorious Ends in the Work of Creation The Lord made all things for himself Prov. 16.4 For his Service and Glory Thus the four and twenty Elders acknowledge Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Rev. 4.10 11. All Creatures have a tendency towards their Original and thereby declare that God is their Supreme Cause and ultimate End as all Rivers come from the Sea and run back into it Eccels 1.5 6 7. Every Creature leads Man to God for Rom. 11.36 of him as the Efficient Cause through him as the Conserving Cause and to him as the Final Cause are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen Yea further The Heavens declare the Glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his Handy-work Psal 19.1 Every Creature hath a legible Character of God's Power Wisdom Goodness ingraven upon it and hath a Mouth to preach something of the Magnificence of its Creator yea the visible Creature leads man to its visible maker nay further by that supply that the Ceature affords to Man it gives him abundant Cause of glorifying God hence saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatever ye do do all to the glory of God Much more doth the New Creature work directly to the attaining of God's high and glorious Ends as might be demonstrated 1. By its accomplishing God's pleasure Holiness is according to his Will 1 Thes 13.2 By working the Soul Godwards it sets the Affections on things above Col. 3.1 2.3 As it evidently demonstrates all God's glorious Attributes as being the lively Picture of the Deity ingraven on the Soul 4. And doth contribute much to the Soul 's advancing the glory of God as we shewed before 12. The whole Creation shall be burnt 2 Pet. 3.10 12. The heavens shall pass away with a great noise the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up Not that this glorious Structure shall be annihilated or turn'd into its first nothing I cannot think so but it shall be purified clarified and defecated from the filthy Dregs that Sin hath stained it with So I find Amesius say De mundi Elementis hoc unum dicam absumptum iri tantum ut novam qualitatem induant manente Substantia Calvin 2. Pet. 3. Elementa â—on erunt sublata sed mutata et â—urgata the Elements shall â—ot be quite taken away but â—hanged and purged the Substance shall remain only â—he corrupt qualities introduced by Sin shall be burged away For 1. In Peter 't is said The Heavens and the Earth are kept in store reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment Now Fire turns combustible Matter into its own Nature but doth not quite consume its matter it feeds on but purifies things all melting of Metals is not annihilating of them 2. Scripture rather asserts a mutation or changing of these material Heavens and Earth then total abolition Psal 102.25 26. Yea all of them shall wax old like a garment as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed The 70 render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou shalt fold them and thus the Apostle translates this Text Heb. 1.12 As a vesture shalt thou fold them up and they shall he changed Alluding to a Garment or a Book or Scrowl of Parchment when it s folded up there 's no Letters or Words visible thus it passeth away by a notable change 3. The whole Creation lies under the Curse and sad Effects of Sin which by a kind of natural Instinct it longs to be delivered from See Rom. 8.20 23 The whole creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together until now c. Calvin saith hunc locum accipio nullum esse Elementum nullamve mundi partem quae non veluti praesentis miseriae agnitione tacta in spem Resurrectionis intenta sit there 's no Element or part of the World but is touch'd with the sense of the Creature 's misery and longs for the hoped for Resurrection and surely God will not frustrate its expectation 4. There is something in those Texts that look this way Psal 93.1 The world also is stablished that it cannot be moved Eccles 1.4 The earth abideth for ever Eccles 3.14 Whatsoever God doth it shall be for ever Psal 119.90 Thou hast est ablished the earth and it abideth All these speak the World's continuance Obj. Job 14.12 So Man lieth down and riseth not till the Heavens be no more Answ i.e. Not for the uses they are now for the Heavenly Luminaries are but for the Terrestrial Bodies Gen. 1.15 16. But in that other State there 's no need of Sun or Stars as now Rev.
21.23 Qu. What Use will Heavens and Earth be then of Answ As an Everlasting Monument of God's Power Wisdom and Goodness and possibly righteous Men shall dwell in this New Heaven and Earth and contemplate God in his glorious Works 2 Pet. 3.13 so Righteous is taken for Persons Isa 1.21 That New World shall be possessed only by Saints no Sinners with them Now if we apply all this to this New Creation whereof we are treating it will exactly square thereto Grace shall continue He that doth the will of God shall abide for ever â— John 2.17 This Principle is an immortal Seed and shall be cleansed from all Dregs of Sin and the Fruits thereof and the Spirits of Just Men shall be made perfect Heb. 12.23 Yea their Bodies shall be made like unto the glorious Body of our Lord Jesus Phil. 3.21 And though they may pass through the Fire 1 Cor. 3.13 not of Popish Purgatory of affliction or of the Spirit 's refining yet they shall lose nothing but Dross and shall come forth as Gold Thus I have run a Parallel betwixt the Old Creation and the New But this New Creation is 1. Better 2. More difficult then the Old 1. It s better though the first was perfect in its kind yet this is a more excellent Workmanship being of a more pure refined spiritual Nature and repairs what was decayed in the Old and brought about with more transcendent Love and Good will and hath a tendency to an Everlasting Concernment of precious Souls in the other world But of this more anon 2. This is a Creation in some respects more difficult then the former was This may seem a Paradox that the framing of this new Creation in the Heart of a Sinner is a greater work and of more difficulty then that of making this great Universe Heaven and Earth mistake not this difficulty is not respectu Dei fed rei not in respect of God's Omnipotency to whom all thing are possible and easie but with respect to the thing it self and our consideration of it thâ— appears to our apprehension in these four Respects 1. When God made the World he met with no opposition he Spake the Word and noâ— said no to it by contradiction But in this Neâ— Creation the World the Devil and Corruption within opposes this work sometimes custer in Sin however the Carnal mind is enmity it sâ— against God and fights against him Rom. 8.7 2. When God make the World it cost hiâ— but the speaking of a Word as was said bâ— in order to this New Creation it cost him dear even the giving of his own Son to become Man to live a Life of Sorrow to endure the painful shameful cursed Death of the Cross that Sinners might be reconciled to God and become like God 3. When God made the world he needed no nor used any Instruments in order to the effecting that Work But in this of the New Creation he sends Ministers labouring travelling and long waiting on Sinners to work on mens Hearts he chose Men like themselves endue them with Gifts gives them Compassionate Hearts weeping beseeching with earnest Intreaties to come in yet that will not do except the Spirit strive and prevail 4. When God made the World all was finished in Six Days Heaven and Earth were finished Gen. 2.1 And all the Host of them needed not a second hand to compleat them But he is carrying on this work of the New Creation many Years the whole Life of the Christian if he live a hundred Years it will be still defective in point of degree and never compleat till the Soul be landed in Heaven Chap. IV. Wherein the New Creature is available to Souls THe third main Head in the Doctrinal part is to demonstrate wherein this New Creature is only and every way available to the Souls of men And here lest I be mistaken I must premise two Caveats by way of exception the first refers to the Kind the second to the End of this availableness 1. For the Kind we must beware how we put the New Creature in the room of Christ it is not so available as our blessed Lord Jesus is who is the only Foundation on which the Church is built 1 Cor. 3.10 And able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7.25 No Creature must be set up in competition with him for there 's no Salvation in any other Acts 4.12 And herein I am afraid the Quakers are guilty of a gross Heresie who call us from a Christ without us to a Christ within us yea it hath been a dispute in the Plantation called Pensilvania whether we must believe only in a Christ within us or a Christ both within and without us and it was carried mostly in the former Sence But let no man be drawn from placing his intire confidence in Christ the Son of God both God and Man in one Person who suffered Death on the Cross to make attonement for Sinners and now sits on the right hand of God to make intercession for us 2. If by a Christ within they mean that called Light within either Free will or Natural Conscience or a power to help our selves without special Grace it s an exploded Error and it 's to be feared the Jesuits deliver their Popish stuff out of these mens Mouths with refined Language 3. If by Christ within be meant Christ's Person in the Believer that he is Christed or Goded 't is blasphemy 4. If by this expression Christ within us the hope of glory Col. 1.27 or Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith Eph. 3.17 It is as the Sun is in the House when the Beams or Rays thereof shine into it So Christ dwells in Souls by his Spirit Rom. 8.9 and its Graces and this is that which is called the New Creature and this is but a Creature and a weak one full of imperfections it s a Vein of Gold embased with Earth and dross not to be trusted to The Bride may highly prize her Husband's Picture if like him and drawn by his Hand but it is ridiculous to dote on that and slight her Husband and when she wants Money or Clothes to go not to her Husband for them but to his Picture Surely our Lord will not take it well if men honour his Image to the dishonour of his Person the Original is one thing the Copy is another Christ the object of our Faith and Grace and the Fruit of his Spirit are different Grace in the Heart is not so available as Christ in Heaven Let every thing have its due place 2. That which refers to the End is this Negative that the New Creature is not ordained to have a direct tendency to the justification of a Sinner God did not appoint it for that End That is Faith in Christ Rom. 3.20 21 22. in his Blood Merits and Satisfaction to Divine Justice apprehended by Faith alone And this excludes not only Man's merits but any gracious Habits wrought in man
course of Life according to Scripture-Rule This immediately after my Text ver 16. is called the Canon or Rule of the New Creature for 't is added As many as walk according to this Rule or Canon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peace be on them This is that Cynosura or Square that Architects have in their Building to level the Stones and Timber suitably ut singulae partes just a Symmetria cohaereant Calvin that all the parts of the Edifice may agree by a just proportion thus must thus will the Christian do his desire and design is to lie Square to the Word of God to have respect to all God's Commandments Psal 119.6 To walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless Luk. 1.6 Every Child of God is taught by God to walk by Rule All Callings have their proper Rule the Physician studies Galen the Lawyer his Littleton the Philosopher his Aristotle Plato yet in all Professions men may vary in their Methods in the same Calling because no Rule is so perfect but another may add to it But the standing Rule of God's Word is perfect Psal 19.7 able to make the man of God perfect 2 Tim. 3.17 Nothing must be added to it or taken from it The Christian is both drawn and determined by its authority more then by a whole team of humane Arguments 10. Lastly here 's the End of this New Creature which is twofold 1. the Glory of God 2. the Sonl's present and everlasting Communion with him Both these are wrap'd up together and are very consistent yea cannot be separated Now God's Glory is promoted by the New Creature 1. In this World 2. In the other 1. In this World the New Creature is only capable of glorifying God such a Soul is planted in Christ the true Vine and glorifies God by bringing forth much Fruit John 15.8 Being filled with the Fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God Phil 1.11 The chief design of the true Christian and new Creature is to promote the glory of God actively and passively this is the first Petition in the Lord's Prayer and the first right Step the converted Soul takes Heaven-ward and he is content to be vilified so God may be glorified and if God be glorified by others what ever become of him he rejoyceth as Paul in preaching Christ by others to preach down his credit Phil. 1.18 2. And in the next World this New Creature will raise a glorious Monument to the glory of Jehovah When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe 2 Thes 1.10 The New Glory of this Creation will reflect more glory to the Author than that of the old one Oh what a glorious Sight will it be to see so many glorious Stars in the Firmament of Glory borrowing their Light from and reflecting Light to the Sun of Righteousness 2. The New Creature is the only Person on Earth that 's qualified for Communion with God he only can say Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ 1 John 1.3 'T is this New Creation that raiseth this clod of Clay above the Earth and ingageth the Heart to approach to God while others worship afar off Jer. 30.21 Exod. 24. These Holy Souls are they that worship in the Temple of God and the Altar Rev. 11.1 Psal 148.14 God admits them into his Presence as a People near unto him this is the Person that only sanctifies God's Name in his Worship and is satisfied with the fatness of God's House here 's the blessed Merchant that trades in rich Pearls that goes from Port to Port from Ordinance to Ordinance not to see Places but to take in his Lading of Communications from God of Graces Privileges Assurance and Comforts Thus I have briefly opened the nature of this blessed Work of the New Creature Chap. III. Why this is called a New Creature A Paralel betwixt the Old Creation and this New Creation 2. THe Second general Head in the Doctrinal Part is briefly to give the Reasons why the Holy Ghost gives this Saving Conversion the Title of a New Creature or as the Word is of this New Creation Now the Answer is Because in many things it bears some proportion and resemblance with the first spacious Universe of Heaven and Earth this magnificent Structure I shall run the Paralel betwixt them in these 12 Particulars for the Information of our Judgments 1. God is the first and only Cause of the Creation of the World not Angels or created Intelligences who though they be mighty yet are not Almighty it s the peculiar prerogative of Elohim the infinite God to create God orders the Jews in Babylon to repeat that famous Sentence in the Chaldee Language to confute their Idolatry in Jer. 10.11 Thus shall ye say unto them the Gods that have not made the Heavens and the Earth even they shall perish from the Earth and from under these Heavens The Reason is given in the Hebrew Language Ver. 12. He hath made the Earth by his Power he hath established the World by his Wisdom and hath stretched out the Heavens by his discretion VidWeem 's Image of God in Man p. 3 In the business of Creation Divines say Deus est causa Simpliciter in Creatione at Essendi hoc in aliis God is the only Simple Cause in Creation but in his other Works he is only the Cause of being this or that So none can create this New Man it may be said Have we not all one Father hath not one great God created us We are God's workmanship it s the same mighty power that raised Christ from the Dead that gives Faith to the Souls of Men and quickens the Dead Mal. 2.10 Eph. 2.10 Eph. 1.20 Rom. 4.17 2. God made all things of Nothing i.e. of things that had no Existence before he made them He calleth those things which be not as though they were Rom. 4.17 Indeed they tell us that Nothing is taken in a threefold Sence 1st It s taken privatively so an Idol is nothing 1 Cor. 8.4 Isa 40.17 i.e. it hath no Divinity in it 2dly Comparatively so all the World is nothing before God 3dly Nothing Negatively or Simply so there was no Fruit upon the Fig-tree Mark 11.13 In this Sence God made the World of Nothing there was no Praeexistent Matter for God to work upon Just thus in the New Creation when God comes to work upon a Sinner he finds no Principle of Grace or inclination to good in him I know saith blessed Paul that in me that is in my Flesh dwelleth no good thing Rom. 7.18 Nay there is much Evil in us yea yet worse there 's antipathy to what is good within our naughty Hearts Thus as in the First Creation God produceth an habit from the negation he works a Principle of Grace where there was no such thing 3. God made all things by
4.11 This Rent will I daily pay as a Tribute to the Crown of Heaven I am resolved to glorifie God in my Body and Soul which are his 1 Cor. 6.20 Better lose my Life then lose the End of my Life God's glory 5. New Worship is always a Companion of the New Creature It s true the carnal man might hear and read the Word Pray receive the Sacrament and perform the external Acts of Religion before but formally heartlesly hypocritically God knows having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof 2 Tim. 3.5 But as soon as the Grace of God hath formed the New Creature in the Heart then 't is said as of Paul Behold he prayeth Acts 9.11 Why did not Paul pray before Yes doubtless he was a Pharisee and Pharisees made long Prayers its likely had a great Gift of Prayer ay but now a Paul had the grace of Prayer behold he prays now he prays with a witness his Prayer hath all the Requisites essential to Prayer Oh now if you could lay your Ear to the Closet of this new born Saint what sighs and groans would you hear Rom. 8.26 What throbs and tears what self-loathing Confessions what heart-rending Complaints what Heaven-piercing Expostulations would you have What believing pleading of Promises what improvement of Christ's mediatorship this is not formal or heartless Canting As soon as ever this New Creature was formed the Soul was turned from Idols to serve the living and true God 1 Thes 1.9 i. e. as such a God in a sincere and lively manner in Spirit and in Truth John 4.24 If the Words be the same the workings of Heart are as different as a living man's tone from dead Organ-pipes the one hath Breath the other not The gracious soul engageth his Heart to approach unto God Jer. 30.21 Yea he also saith Let us lift up our Hearts with our Hands Lamen 3.41 i. e. oremus laboremus let us pray and use our utmost endeavour to obtain what we pray for the Hypocrites Tongue may wag but the New Creature sets the Heart a breathing Hands on working Feet on walking Oh how he is concerned in a Duty 6. A New War is commenced by the New Creature as soon as this New Creature peeps out Satan musters all the powers of darkness against it and now begins this holy War which never ceaseth while the Soul is in the â—ody and Oh how many a sharp skirmish hath the Christian with Satan and his armed Bands the carnal Heart holds correspondence with the Enemy and the Devil lets him alone and all his Goods or soul's Faculties are in peace Luk. 11.21 he sleeps quietly in the Devil's Tents little dreaming whither he is going or rather he is carried in a golden Dream into Satan's Territories or as Solomoâ—'s young Gallant with the Whore As an Ox goeth to the slaughter or as a Fool to the correction of the Stocks Prov. 7.22 But the converted soul sees his danger and struggles hard to extricate himself and when he is at liberty the Devil pursues him with rage sometimes otherwhiles with subtilty seeks to undermine him he is aware of both and is not ignorant of his devices 2 Cor. 2.11 One while he fights with spirituâ—â— weapons and so resists the Devil and he fleesâ— another while the soul retires to his strong hold by Faith and Prayer and is secured Thus the gracious soul is warring a good Warfare fighting the Fight of Faith 1 Tim. 1 18-6.12.2 Tim. 2.4 which is a good Fight he gets disintangâ— led from the affairs of this life and lays aside every weight that he may militate more strenuously and more successfully nor doth the good soul so fight as one that beats the Air 1 Cor. 9.26 laying about him at adventures but he spies his Enemy hath taken a view of them in Scripture-light le ts fly at the Faces of foreign and intestine Adversaries with spiritual scriptural Weapons and never sounds a Parly oâ— makes a Truce but disputes every Inch of hiâ— passage to Heaven thus this New Creature 〈◊〉 the Christian Champion 7. The New Creature finds out new company alas his old Companions grow stale wiâ— the Convert he cannot take delight in his old Comrades that would jest and be merry and seek to drive him out of his melancholy Dump with pleasant stories this is but as singing Song to an heavy Heart The good Heart is now sick of such vain company and bids them be gone they are of no use to him 'T is very observable three times and upon so many occasions doth David require all wicked men to depart from him Psal 6.8 Depart from me all ye workers of Iniquity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping q. d. I have got better company and comfort then you are Psal 119.115 Depart from me ye evil-doers for I will keep the Commandments of my God q. d. I have taken up other Resolutions and must have other Companions then you the last is Psal 139.19 Surely thou shalt slay the wicked O God depart therefore from me ye bloody men q. d. I am loath to fare as you fare and will not be found in your company this is Christian Policy as well as Piety 't is impossible the New Creature should take delight in his old Companions for what communion hath light with darkness 2 Cor. 6.14 15 17. what concord hath Christ with Belial There are in the world persons more suitable to his temper even Saints not in Heaven but that are in the Earth men excellent in whom is all his delight Psal 16.3 These these are his Companions Psal 119.63 the delight of his soul he loves them dearly because they are so like his Father in Heaven these are they he hopes to live with in the other world and he must associate with them in this he loves to discourse with them joyn in Prayer with them none such content he hath on Earth as in the communion of Saints 8. The new Creature needs and requires new Cordials new Food and Physick the world and all that it can afford that are wont to be so pleasant are all but dry Meat have no more savour then the white of an Egg the Soul hath now a more dainty and delicate Stomach then to be satisfied with such Husks and trash he sues for the tender Mercies of God Psal 119.77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me that I may live q. d. I know not how to live a natural Life and I cannot live a spiritual Life without these tender Mercies the Lord knoweth my squeamish and delicate Stomach and crowns me withloving-kindness and tender mercies Psal 103.4 Luther called the whole Turkish Empire but a Crumb cast to Dogs and often protested to God that he would not be put off with these low things even when he had a Silver Mine offered him Even an Heathen Seneca could say major sum ad majora natus I am greater and born to higher things then terrene
Work though Ministers are oft calling on you Sinners to look about you we tell you there 's a Cheat in the case Satan is busie to lay his Brats in God's Bed Counterfeit Coin is common our Warnings now will be thought of these frequent Summons will ring in your Ears our Sermons will have a Repetition in this or in another world Conscience will gall you and you cannot plead Ignorance or say non putâram I thought not of such a day How often do we tell you of the danger of dying in your old state and of that Sulphurous Lake that thousands are scolded in that once lived as securely as you now do and they are in an hopeless helpless Eternity and how can you tell but this may be the last day the last warning or overture of Grace the last knock at your Door God may say Away be gone out of my sight take him Devil I will no more be troubled with such a Miscreant But if after all this you be senceless and lie still while you are nailed in your Coffin you are dead twice dead and this Security is a confutation of that Principle that Adam and his Posterity by the Fall is not dead but sleepeth or only in a swound and languor but life is in him No no this sad Stupor or Spiritual Lethargy shews it 's not an excitation of a principle but an infusion of new Life all our shouting and rubbing and pricking will not recover Sinners we must leave them to a creating Power and to him that can raise the Dead But let me rather persuade you to look after this New-Creation-Work from the Advantage it will be to all sorts of Persons of every Age and Relation Oh! you Old Persons that are going off the Stage of the World dropping into the Grave and Eternity that have been long and not yet lived begin at last to turn over a new leaf seek a New Life that you may have Comfort and not terrour in your expiring Pangs yet there is hope God still waits to be gracious and stands knocking at your Door rise out of your Bed of sloth put back the Barr admit him with all his Graces make out for this Change against your last Change You Young People that have lately step'd into the World and slip'd thus far before you know where you are it may be young in Years old in Sin you are entring into a wicked world with wicked hearts Oh! look after this blessed Antidote that may prevent Infection be sure of a Pilot that may row you through this boisterous Sea safe to the Haven without new hearts you will make this bad World worse and be worse by it rather seek to amend it You that are entring into Callings or for changing Conditions you will be fit for nothing without this you will bring a Curse into every Relation and Vocation without this but this will make you fit for any thing and you will be attended with God's Blessing in all you set about You Married Persons I recommend this New Creature to you that you be sure to marry in the Lord then you will be Heirs together of the Grace of Life and pray praise God together have this sweet Relation perfum'd and meet in Glory You Rich Persons are Beggars without this this will make you rich and honourable the excellent in the Earth God's Jewels Favourites of Heaven And you poor that cannot get daily Bread this will make you rich in Faith Heirs of a Kingdom Oh what a Treasure is this fear of the Lord You poor Athenians that are always inquiring after News new Opinions new Inventions new Fashions here 's a brave and blessed piece of Novelty for you this New Creature will stand you in stead not so much to please your itching Ears as to profit your Languishing Souls Well I have done my poor Endeavour to effect this work upon your Hearts When we have said and done all we can we have done nothing at all except the Eternal Jehovah strike with the great Hammer O thou infinite Almighty God that hast made the Earth by thy Power hast established the World by thy Wisdom and stretched out the Heavens by thy discretion Jer. 10.12 Look into the Hearts of Sinners see what a Chaos of Confusion is by Sin brought upon the noble Soul go o're thy Work again mend what Sin hath marred put Light in the Understanding Power into the Will Rectitude into the Affections make Conscience do its office O that Corruption may be mortified Satan cast out a sound Principle introduced the Soul redintegrated and everlastingly saved I commend these my poor Labours into the Hands of God to use them as he sees good and to you that heard these Sermons and to others that shall take the pains to read them having delivered my Conscience in some measure of Uprightness whether the Effect answer my Pains and Aims or no And in this labour of Love I am willing to take my Leave of the World as to troubling it any further in this kind and commend you my Brethren to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to renew your hearts and build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all them which are sanctified Acts 20.32 which is the daily Prayer of A Poor Watch-man for Your Souls O. H. May 3. 95. THE CONTENTS Chap. I. THe Text opened a Doctrine raised and handled Page 1 Chap. II. What is meant by a New Creature Doctrine raised Page 13 Chap. III. Why this is called a New Creature A Parallel betwixt the Old Creation and this New Creation Page 30 Chap. IV. Wherein the New Creature is available to Souls Page 43 Chap. V. Some Inferences by way of Question and Answer from the Premises Page 56 Chap. VI. An Use of Reproof and Conviction of sundry sorts Page 69 Chap. VII An Use of Correction for Reforming Sinners Mistakes Page 94 Chap. VIII Some Objections of Sinners answered against their Endeavours to be New Creatures Page 110 Chap. IX Instructions for the Tryal of our Spirits whether we be indeed New Creatures Page 124 Chap. X. A further Tryal of the New Creature as to the Will and Affections the Subjects of it and its Properties Page 138 Chap. XI A Tryal of the New Creature by its Effects Consequences and Proper Operations Page 152 Chap. XII Directions what Means may be used for the obtaining this New Creature Page 164 Chap. XIII Instructions how those must behave themselves that are indeed New Creatures Page 177 Chap. XIV An Answer to some Cases of Conscience Page 189 Galatians vi 15. For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but a New Creature CHAP. I. The Text opened a Doctrine raised and handled SOme Interpreters think that this Text comes not in so much as a proof of the Assertion immediately preceding of the Apostle's glorying in Christ's Cross and his being crucified to the world ver 14. As it is a
thing as Nominal without Real Christianity some have a Name to live but are dead Rev. 3.1 Have high Titles but bad Hearts vicious Lives profess they know God but in Works they deny him Tit. 1.16 That have Heaven in their Mouths and Hell in their Minds that soar high but design low there may be a real Heathen under a Christian Name Ad Ecclesiam non pertinent omnes qui sunt intus All Church-Members are not Members of Christ they are not all Israel that are of Israel Rom. 9.6 A fine Title may be on some Boxes that have nothing within to Answer it Judah that was uncircumcised in heart may be ranked with Aegypt Edom Moab Ammon some may cry out The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord Jer. 9.26 The Church the Church they are right Church-Members that yet do wickedly and think their Privileges will excuse them as though thereby they were delivered to do all manner of abominations Jer. 7.4.16 They shall know one day that an empty Name without the Thing is but a great crime that it will rather aggravate their Condemnation then tend to their Salvation Alas how many are providential not principled Christians that have nothing more to plead for their Christianity then that they were born in a Christian Country and in their Infancy were baptized and since do as other Folks do go to Church and carry civilly and pass amongst men for down-right honest men But God judgeth not as man judgeth when Persons stand before the awful Tribunal of the righteous Judge Names and Titles and Privileges will signifie nothing such Varnish will melt off before the Fire of God's wrath nothing then will signifie but the inner Garment of Sanctification and the upper Garment of Christ's Righteousness for our Justification to cover all defects of the former this is fine Linnen clean and white Rev. 19.8 This is the Righteousness of Saints 4. Yet Privileges are not to be slighted nor Ordinances to be despis'd As you are not to rest in Circumcision or Baptism as tho' this were enough so you are not to cast off God's Institutions as if they were of no worth there 's a medium betwixt an abuse and total neglect Men may abuse Meat and Drink yet must not lay them aside Ordinances can do us no good without the concurrence of Divine Grace man lives not by Bread only but by God's blessing therewith Deut. 8.3 Must Bread be cast out upon this Pretence Surely no it becomes us to obey God in Hearing Praying Reading Meditating and Attending on God in his own ways the Seals of the Covenant are not insignificant Ceremonies Ordinances are canales gratiae Channels and Conduit-Pipes through which God conveys his Grace to Souls These are Golden Pipes through which the Olive Branches empty the golden Oyl out of themselves Zech. 4.13 Souls shall the Bucket be thrown away because it hath not Water in it self without letting it down into the Well by the Chain of Faith Shall the Bridge or Boat be slighted because of it self it cannot carry us over the River Nay rather let us get upon it and walk get into it and Row and wait for the Gale of the Spirit to waft us over Privileges are good the Fruits of Christ's purchace the Pledges of God's Love they must be made use of tho' not trusted to or boasted of you must be very thankful for fruitful under pure and powerful Ordinances let God have the glory look you after the advantage of Privileges set them in their places not in God's room let none say thè Table of the Lord is contemptible Mal. 1.7 Nor on the other hand let not presuming Souls say Let us fetch the Ark of the Covenant that it may save us 1 Sam. 4.3 Alas what can the Ark of God avail us if the God of the Ark leave us Let our dependance be on God in the way of his appointments Affect not to be above but go beyond all Ordinances God is present in all that we may despise none he withdraws in some sometimes in all that we may idolize none when you enter upon a Duty look up to the blessed Jesus make Conscience of yea make it your business to get communion with God therein If you miss of God in Ordinances you lose your end yea you lose your Souls If you find God glory in the Lord boast not of the Duty or Ordinances sit not down in the Porch but make forward to the Holy of Holies press to the City of Refuge lay your Sacrifices at the Door of the Tabernacle put your Offering into the High-Priest's hand thank God for inlargements but depend not on them If you make your Services your Saviours you will perish with them when you have done all say I am still an unprofitable Servant Luke 17.10 I have but done my Duty nay I have not done my Duty my best Righteousnesses are not only too scant a Covering but also filthy Rags Isa 64.6 My very Duties as well as Sins may undoe me yea I find Hell-Torment the upshot of Privileges and further Advancement by Privileges through a non-improvement of them sinks deeper in Hell as Corazin Capernaum Mat. 11.21 24 For Privileges to graceless Souls do take away the Cloak that might cover the foulness of Sin and so do rather aggravate than extenuate it John 15.22 24. I must therefore look for something else than Privileges that is a New Creature Chap. II. What is meant by a New Creature Doctrine raised THe main Point in the Text and which I principally designed is concerning the New Creature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 New Creation locutio est Christiana it s a Speech peculiar and proper to the New-Testament dispensation 2 Cor. 5.17 If any man be in Christ he is a new creature i. e. If a man be a true Christian formed to the Gospel Pattern and Rule and Ends he is and must be and cannot but be of a new Frame and Stamp So it was prophesyed of Old concerning Gospel Times and Dispensations Behold the former things are come to pass and new things do I declare Isa 42.9 ch 65.17 Behold I create new heavens and new earth yea all things new So here he frames a Work of Saving Grace in the Hearts of all his Saints It signifies a new noble heavenly Disposition opposed to the antiquated corrupt state of Nature derived from the first Adam called the Old Man Que. Why is this called a Creature Ans 1. Because it is produced only by the Almighty Power of God whose peculiar prerogative it is to Create 2. Because as a Creature it hath a real Existence as this visible frame of the Universe hath If there be a Heaven and Earth there is a new Creation in the Soul of Man it s no Fiction Chimaera or Imagination of man's brain 3. Creation makes a mighty change so doth this Work of Conversion vehementem mutationem significat as Creation changeth a thing from a non-existence to a real
Christ his infinite and co-eternal Son All things were made by him i. e. by this Essential Word and without him was not any thing made that was made John 1.3 By him were all things created visible and invisible By this Heir of all things he made the Worlds both according to the Matter and Form thereof Col. 1.16 Heb. 1.2 And thus it is in the New Creation for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works Eph. 2.10 As Christ is the First-born of the Creatures after whom the New Creature is formed for God in his naked Majesty is invisible not obvious clearly either to corporal Eyes or humane Minds but Christ is the express Image of his Person Heb. 1.3 and manifests the glorious Perfections of the infinite God That as we have born the Image of the earthly Adam we should bear the Image of the heavenly 1 Cor. 15.45 49. That is Christ thus in the Incarnation God was Man in Regeneration Man becomes like God 4. God created all things with a Word So saith the Apostle Through Faith we understand that the Worlds were framed by the VVord of God Heb. 11.3 God's Fiat or Let it be produced the whole Fabrick of Heaven and Earth By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made and all the Host of them by the Breath of his Mouth Psal 33.6 Art needeth many Helps Nature needeth few God needeth none nor doth use any Instrument in the Creation for nothing can intervene betwixt the First Cause and the First Effect it is an immediate Product of his arbitrary Will and Pleasure So it is in this New Creation James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth God speaks the Word and the Sinner is converted If it be said That Ministers are Instruments in Conversion I Answer But still they are nothing neither is he that planteth any thing 1 Cor. 3.7 They need God God needs not them he can do his Work without them yea in the first Infusion of a Principle of Saving Grace there 's nothing of Instrumentality it s done Immediately 5. God made all things good and perfect at first 1 Tim. 4.4 Gen. 1.31 Every Creature of God is good And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good quia nec temere nec frustra factum nothing was made either unadvisedly or to no purpose A thing may be said to be good as it is correspondent to the Idea of the Divine Wisdom or as it is fit for that use to which it is designed and for which it serves It needs not be enquired whether God could not have made the World or its parts better or more perfect for if we consider the World in respect of the whole so it is perfect both as to its degrees and parts But as to its parts severally God could have made them better as in a Camp there are Captains Souldiers and a General in some respect if a Souldier were a Captain he were better but in respect of the whole Camp which consists of Superiors and Inferiors he is better as a Souldier So in this New Creature it is perfect in its kind in subserviency to God's great Ends though defective in point of degree in this World hence God's Children are said to be not perfect as having not attained Phil. 3.12 Yet they are perfect Ver. 15. To be sure this New Creation is good as will appear anon 7. Though God from Eternity purposed to create the World yet the World was created but in Time not from Eternity Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth God worketh all things according to the Counsel of his own Will Eph. 1.11 It s true all things had a kind of Being in God as in the Cause whence all things flow in the Eternal Mind or Idea according to which all things were framed but they had not their real or actual Existence till God in his Wisdom thought good to produce them In thy Book saith David Psal 116.16 were all my Members written Thus it is in this New Creation God hath a Book of Life and such as are in the Book of Life shall in time be savingly Converted Called Sanctified Justified Glorified Thus runs the Golden Chain Rom. 8.29.30 As many as were ordained to Eternal Life shall believe All such as the Father gives to Christ shall come to him John 6.37 He hath chosen us in Christ before the Foundation of the World that we should be holy Eph. 1.4 So then this New Creation in time is the result and effect of God's determination before all Time see 2 Thes 2.13 7. The Creation of the World was gradual both as to Time and as to Manner In point of Time God made the World in Six Days Gen. 1. Not but that God could have dispatch'd all in a Moment but for sundry weighty Reasons he took every day a moment to do the work of that day in Thus God is perfecting this New Creation all the time of a Christian's Life and for his manner or method of working God proceeded from imperfect to perfect first God made a confused Chaos then he made the Elements then orta ex Elementis what ariseth from them First he made things without Life then things having Life Man that was the Master-piece of the whole Creation he made the last Even thus doth Grace proceed in the New Creation he first forms a Chaos some confusion of Spirit by a legal Work first comes a Spirit of Bondage to fear then a Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 First some glimmering Light in the Mind then the Day-Star ariseth in the Soul 2 Pet. 1. And the Sun of Righteousness comes with healing under his Wings Mal. 4.2 And the Grace of God grows till the Christian comes unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ Eph. 4.13 8. The first thing that God created was Light Gen. 13.4 God said Let there be Light and there was Light In this he proceeds from total Privation to Habit it is hard to describe this Light possibly it was a bright lucid Body like the Fiery Cloud in the Wilderness giving imperfect Light successively moving over the several parts of the Earth and afterwards condensed increased perfected and gathered together in the Sun the Apostle applies this to the workings of God's Spirit in converting a Sinner 2 Cor. 4.6 For God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ The first thing a Limner draws in a Picture is the Eye the first Lineament of this gracious new Man is Saving Knowledge God will not dwell in a dark House and therefore first he beats out Windows in his Habitation without knowledge the heart is not good Prov. 19.2 The Devil's Kingdom is a Kingdom of Darkness Christ's of Light Converting Grace
a capacity of sucking Influence from him as the Child in the Womb draws nourishment from the Mother's Navel this Churches Navel never wanteth Liquor Cant. 7.2 It is this New Creature that evidenceth our interest in Christ If any man be in Christ he is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 This was one End of our Lord 's giving himself for us to purchase to himself a peculiar People Tit. 2.14 Christ's Cross was both an Altar and a Laver to expiate and to purge to sanctifie and justifie you shall find continual supplies of Grace from Christ and of his fulness receive grace for grace John 1.16 The New Creature hath a constant Spring to feed it to recruit it in its decays God still saith My Grace shall be sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 So he becomes indefectible the New Creature needs not to fear famishing having these Breasts of Consolation to suck Isa 66.11 and as a Store-house to go to so saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 5.10 The God of all Grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you Surely then this New Creature avails much 6. The New Creature is the inlet to true Joy Peace Satisfaction though in its first Infancy there be a casting down yet it is in order to a lifting up Light is sown for the Righteous Psal 97.11 It may for a season lie in the Furrows of Gospel-sorrow They that sow in tears shall reap in joy Psal 126.5 6. Just like the Pangs of a Child-bearing Woman that end in comfort John 16.21 The Kingdom of God is righteousness peace and joy in the holy ghost Rom. 14.17 all Joy comes in at this Door that 's but a Bastard yea diabolical Peace that is not a Companion of the New Creature when a strong man armed keepeth the Palace his goods are in peace Luke 11.21 22. The Palace is the Heart the Goods are the Soul's faculties the Strong Man is the Devil the Soul hath never quiet day in God's way till Satan be dispossessed and a rightful Lord introduced that is our Lord Jesus It s true there are oft Furrows in the Face of the new Creature but they are for Sin and for want of the Sence of its inbeing but in God's time he will rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 Yea sorrowful Sufferings will at last yield the peaceable fruits of Righteousness Heb. 12.11 And is this worth nothing 7. This New Creature hath all things profitable entailed upon it Godliness is profitable to all things yea Godliness with contentment is great gain 1. Tim. 4 8-6.6 All the good things of Heaven and Earth are made sure by Covenant-title to this New Creature All things are yours saith God 1 Cor. 3.21 Every thing turns to advantage the Christian is the true Chymist to extract Gold out of every thing All things work together for good to him Rom. 8.28 though not singly yet joyntly in composition with other Ingredients he gains to this New Man by outward Losses Every Mercy Ordinance Providence Affliction is a Talent by which he is a gainer Mat. 25.27 If he fight with Satan he gets Ground at last In petty Skirmishes the Carthaginians got some small Victories but the Romans came off Conquerors at last So the Godly Soul may receive some Foils but at last he shall be more than a Conqueror yea a triumpher through the Captain of his Salvation Rom. 3.37 8. The New Creature renders the Person that hath it safe in a safe condition He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty Psal 91.1 The Holy Angels are a royal Guard to these New-born Babes of Salvation Heb. 1.14 Many are the dangers the New Creature is exposed to but one Angel is as a whole Camp to incompass and deliver God-fearing Souls Psal 34 7-6.18 But the God of Angels is nigh to them and saves them in Spirituals God will secure them from Seduction and the evil of Temptation It is not possible that the Elect shall be finally and damnably seduced Mat. 24.24 for Grace establisheth the Heart and they that are of us shall no doubt continue with us Heb. 13.9 They shall be kept by his mighty power through Faith to Salvation 1 John 2.19 1 Pet. 1.5 And we know that these Souls that are born of God are so kept that the wicked One toucheth them not 1 John 5.18 God will keep them that they shall not be tempted above what they are able 1 Cor. 10.13 God will furnish his Child with Armour of proof against Satan's assaults this Breast-plate may be shot at but never shot through the Christians Bow abides in strength and he stands as a Rock in the midst of Waves Rev. 3.8 9 10. He can neither be stormed nor undermined if the Saints have but a little strength yet it shall be lasting yea everlasting 9. The New Creature makes Christians that possess it useful and profitable to all about them It is natural for this New Creature to propagate its kind as Sin so Grace is assimilating how sollicitous was the Church for her little Sister that had no Breasts when she should be spoken for Cant. 8.8 How did the blessed Apostle Paul pant after the Conversion of his Country-men the Jews Rom. 9 1.-10.1 The Godly Soul labours to do good to all about him both good and bad He would fain pluck Sinners out of the Fire of Hell Jude 22. and ingage them for Heaven and he spurs on his Brethren in Heaven's-Road by Counsels Admonitions Prayers Example and all holy Exercises in Christian Communion yea this New Creature where ever it is makes such the Pillars of the Place and Nation where they live Ten Righteous Persons might have saved Sodom Gen. 18.19 22. And Lot's presence there bound the Angels Hands till he was gone the Godly Soul shall never know while he lives what use he was of in the world Every Godly Soul is a fruitful Tree that brings forth Fruit in due season yea in old age Psal 1 3.-92.14 10. This New Creature fits Souls for Gospel-Privileges it is only the New Creature that is a Vessel qualify'd to receive the new Wine of the Gospel Mat. 9.16 17. In the Gospel all things are new Rev. 21.5 There 's a New Name Rev. 3.12 New Church Jerusalem Rev. 21.1 New Way Heb. 10.19 New Covenant Heb. 8.10 A New Commandment John 13.32 New Sacraments Matth. 26 26-28.19 New Relation 1 Pet. 2.9 A New Condition 2 Pet. 3.13 And a New Song Rev. 14.3 Yea New Heavens and a New Earth And surely it is very fit that Christians should have New Hearts which God promiseth in the New Covenant Ezek. 36.26 A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you New Qualifications fit Persons for new Dispensations therefore God joyns the new Heavens and new Earth with the new
no Heaven to him the Heavenly Jerusalem is another kind of thing then most take it to be What wild bald Conceptions have sensual Sots of Heaven as though it were Mahomet's Paradise or Heathens Elysian Fields wherein Men may only gratifie their Senses or wallow in Pleasures Alas a Man may say to these ignorant Souls as our Lord to Zebedee's Children You know not what you ask You would go to Heaven yes fain you would be saved but do you know what Heaven is I will tell you briefly Heaven consists in a freedom from all Sin a perfection of Grace injoyment of God employment in divine Praises love delight in God meditation on God Ecstacies and Ravishment of all the Soul's Faculties in immediate communion with him And what aukard Conceptions hath a carnal Heart of these blessed Privileges They would be no advantage to him at all but a torment to him that hates God runs from him cannot abide to come near him in any Duty likes not the Society of God's Saints delights in sinful Practices dallies with Satan's Temptations Can men imagine they shall take Cards and Dice Cups and Queans with them to Heaven Nay can Men take fair Houses full Bags or worldly Business into another world Can men make great Purchases gather great Rents or break Jests with their Companions in a future state Alas a poor carnal heart is weary of Duties much more will he be in Heaven Sermon is too long Prayer is tedious when will the Sabbath be gone Can these be fit to enjoy God in an eternal Sabbath of rest nay the poor guilty Sinner cares not for coming near to God the Sight of God is terrible to him as it was to fallen Adam indeed without converting Grace introducing this New Creature and Divine Nature the Soul would be altogether strange to God and any converse with an holy glorious God yea even the sanctified themselves by reason of the Remainders of Corruption in them have much ado to bring their Hearts to converse with God especially when they lie under the sense of Guilt even a Godly Peter then crys out Depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord Luk. 5.8 Much more will a graceless Soul not dare to come near to God an Hypocrite shall not come before him Job 13.16 He will not and God will not suffer him but a gracious Heart can truly say It is good for me to draw nigh to God Psal 73.28 Communion with God is his Heaven upon Earth Therefore this God will be his Salvation himself is his best Heaven but a carnal Heart knows not what this means and is therefore uncapable of Heaven Chap. VIII Some Objections of Sinners answered against their Endeavours to be New Creatures T IS much if a Carnal Heart and a Witty Head with the Devil's help have not something to say against the thing it self or their Attempts after it to excuse themselves 1. Object Who can in this World be so qualified for Heaven the best come infinitely short I have beard it said that as the Soul passeth out of the Body it is then perfected and qualified for its enjoyment of God no man can expect it before and though I cannot so delight in God and his Service now yet I hope God will perfect my Soul in the instant of its separation from the Body I Answer 1. There is an habitual and an actual disposedness for Heaven as I have at large explained in a Treatise on Col. 1.12 called Meetness for Heaven and every Child of God after the first Infusion of Grace into him and change of his State and Relation God-wards is put into a capacity for communion with God in this and in the other World but increase in Grace and exercise of Grace doth daily capacitate him for further communion with God no man can expect he shall be a perfect man till he be a man perfection of degrees follows that of parts you must first be in Christ or else you 'l not arrive to the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.12 13. 2. That Man feeds himself with a vain groundless hope of being saved and compleated at Death that 's careless and graceless in Life for he hath no promise to nourish such a Perswasion did God ever say Live as thou listest and at the Instant of Death I will infuse Spiritual Life into thy Soul trust me for that at thy expiring Breath I will give thee that then which will qualifie thee for Heaven and make thee then in love with me though thou never caredst for me all thy Life long Where do you find such a Promise and who but a mad man will put all to a desperate adventure at the last gasp You have more reason to fear he will not then to hope he will give you Grace nay you have a dreadful threatning that because he called and you refused you shall call and cry and he will not answer Prov. 1 24-28 And you have a terrible Instance of the fruitless Cries of the foolish Virgins Matth. 25.10 And who are you that the Great God should be at your beck He can and will hear the least whimper of a Child but regards not the howling of a Dog he may and will say Go to the Gods the Lusts you have served I know you not I own you not for mine This is not a time for getting but using Grace yea Death is a time for perfecting the Work of Grace Woe be to that wretched Caitiff that hangs his Eternal state on the uncertain working of the Principle of Life in the moment of Death 2d Object But if I have not yet the New Creature I may have there 's time enough before me I am young and yet in my full strength of an healthful Constitution and may live long Let old Persons that are going off the Stage look after this New Creature I have other things to mind Answ 1. Alas Man art thou certain thou shalt live till the next Year the next Month Week Day or Hour Have not many as young as thou art gone to the Grave before thee and what Assurance hast thou of thy Life another Moment For what is our Life but a vanishing Vapour James 4.14 It s a Bubble a Blast a Shadow a Dream Smoke Job 7.7 Yea every Man in best estate is altogether Vanity Psal 39.5 and 90 56. As flourishing Grass in the Morning cut down before Evening If you fall not by some force of outward Casualty you carry your Bane lurking in your Bosomes Have you a Lease of your Lives as Hezekiah had You have little reason to boast your selves of to Morrow for you little know what a big-bellied Day may bring forth Prov. 27.1 It may Land thy Soul in Eternity Therefore dispatch this main Work at present 2. The longer thou deferrest the more difficult wilt thou find it thy Heart will be daily more hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin Heb. 3.13 Jer. 13.23 Custom in
Objects Will not a Christian much more say so The Christian hath Meat to eat that Men know not ofâ— spiritual Manna Angels Food is the Christians Diet John 4.32 the fatness of God's house yea marrow and fatness Psal 36.9 63.5 19.10 God's word is as hony and hony-comb better then necessary food yea Jesus Christ himself the bread of Life John 6.55 The New Creature finds full contentment in Christ through a promise It s worth observing that spiritual delights are suited to all the spiritual senses melos in aure mel in ore Musick in the Ear his Mouth is most sweet Wine to the taste yea his Love is better then Wine Cant 5.16 as Oyntment poured forth to the Smell ch 1.2.3 12 13. ch 2.6 8 3. yea as Spiknard Myrrh his Embraces to the touch and feeling His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me As for the sight my beloved is white and ruddy Cant. 5 10-16 he is altogether lovely in all his parts and comely proportion You see the New Creature hath its Senses as well as the Body and spiritual good things gratifie them who by reason of use have their Senses exercised to discern good and evil Heb. 5.14 9. The New Creature hath a new home our being upon Earth in these Houses of Clay Job 4.19 is our short home our being under the Earth is our long home Eccle. 12.5 7. Rom. 6.23 In the Grave Hell is the sinner's last and everlasting Home Heaven is the Saints best eternal home 2 Cor. 5.6 8. Knowing that whilst we are at home in the Body we are absent from the Lord but we are willing rather to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord. A poor graceless Wretch is well where he is like that carnal Cardinal that would not change his part in Paris for his part in Paradise Such as these are men of the world whose portion is in this life Psal 17.14 These are written in the Earth possibly as recorded and renowned among the great Ones of it Jer. 17.15 But there 's a Generation of the Sons of men that are not of this world whose Names are written in Heaven John 15.9 And are travelling towards the New Jerusalem thence they came and thither they are bound Jerusalem which is above is free which is the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 'T is thither the New Creature tendeth there it would gladly be it is troubled at whatsoever stops it in its motion homewards Rom. 8.23 Not only they i.e. the other Creatures but our selves also which have the first fruits of the spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our Body Oh blessed Jubile when shall the dawning of that glorious day appear How long must I dwell in Meshech or in the Tents of Kedar Psal 120.5 How long shall I abide on this side Jordan Oh that once at last I might inhabit that goodly Mount and Lebanon Why is his Chariot so long in coming why stay the VVheels of his Chariot Come Lord Jesus come quickly break down the walls of this earthly Tabernacle and cloath me with that house from Heaven 2 Cor. 5.1 2. How long shall â— be tost on this tumultuous Sea when shall I reach the Haven I long to be with Christ Phil. 1.23 among the Spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12 23-11.13 14 15 16. Here I am a Stranger and Pilgrim and am seeking another Country thither I am hasting there I would be that this disguise may be pluckt off that when he shall appear I may be like him and see him as he is 1. John 3.1 2. My best Life is yet hid but when Christ who is my Life shall appear then shall I also appear with him in glory Col. 3.3 4. For this I hope and wait and Pray and long 10. The New Creature begets new Apprehensions of it self in all this he was darkness but now he is light in the Lord Eph. 5.8 The poor old Creature thinks well of himself and his doings he imagines he can Pray perform Duty and when he hath by the strength of his Gifts come off finely then he applauds himself as Bernard said of himself bene fecisti Bernarde well done now God is beholding to thee and owes thee a kindness as the Hypocrital Jews Isa 58.3 And the Pharisees Luk. 18.11 But this New Creature will teach its possessour another Lesson when he hath done all alas he is an unprofitable Servant Luk. 17.9 My Righteousnesses are but as filthy rags Isa 64.6 Still I am an unclean thing I deserve nothing but wrath if I justifie my self mine own Mouth shall condemn me Job 9.20 My Spiritual Duties need Spiritualizing my Repentance needs repenting of my Exercise of Grace needs a gracious Pardon My Lord Jesus must take away the Iniquity of my holy things perfume my poor Services and offer my Prayers with his much Incense upon the golden Altar Exod. 28.58 before the Throne Rev. 8.3 I dare not stand before God in my best suit of Inherent Righteousness If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquity Oh Lord who can stand Psal 1 30.3 In thy sight shall no man living be justified Psal 143.2 If I look at the New Creature there 's many defects therein if I reflect on the purest actings of Grace alas they are imperfect I must be found in Christ or I am lost for ever Phil. 3.9 Not having mine own Righteousness which is of the Law but that which is by the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith Oh my Lord when I am standing before the Angel of the Lord Satan stands at my right hand to resist me and justly he may for I am cloathed with filthy Garments Oh speak the word that mine Iniquity may pass away from me and cloath me with change of Rayment Zech. 3.1 4. My change of Principles will not do without an upper Garment to cover all my Defects and Faults there I stick there I must stand righteous before God at the Great Day The summ of all this is contained in that excellent Text with which I conclude this Head Phil. 3.3 For we are the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the Flesh Chap. XII Directions what Means may be used for the obtaining this New Creature I Am sensible I have insisted too long upon the First Head of this last Use of Instruction concerning the Evidences of this work in our Souls from its Preparatives Parts Properties and Effects I shall be the briefer in the rest 2. The next is to give some Instructions to those that feel or fear they are not yet New Creatures how they are to behave themselves and what course they are to take that they may become New Creatures I am much prevented in this by the worthy labours of those excellent Men Mr. Baxter Mr. Jos Allein and many others in