the best see Heb. 3.12 13-4 1 But be sure yours be a Godly Jealousie arising from a Sence of the Evil of Sin and your own weakness and not a meer Consciousness of your Hypocrital Hearts 2. If once this New Creature be truly framed in thy Heart it will be permanent and abiding not but that it is a Creature and so loseable of it self but by vertue of God's Covenant and Promise so it is an incorruptible seed a well of living waters springing up to everlasting life 1 Pet. 1.23 John 4.14 If once this Work be savingly wrought though it be but a Spark an Infant an Embryo of Grace the God of Heaven is concerned to look to his own Creature you shall be kept by the power of God through Faith to Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 None shall pluck you out of the Father's Hands John 10.28 Nothing can separate The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against you Mat. 16.6 Rom. 8.37 Fear not you have the Father's Care the Son's Prayer the Holy Ghost's abiding in you for ever Phil. 1.6 John 1.7.1 John 2.27 Hypocrites will be Apostates a rotten Core will spread to the Skin it s very rare to see an Hypocrite undiscovered till Death though the Foolish Virgins held out long yet it appeared at last they had no Oyl in their Vessels They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us 1 John 2.19 Take thou care of thy Sincerity and God will take care of thy Perseverance God will not renounce his own Image Christ will not forsake his own Members If thy state and standing were in thine own Hands thou wouldst as surely lose thy Integrity as Adam his Innocency but we are kept by the power of God through Faith to Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 There 's one thing I fear more than all the rest and that is a lazy sloathful luskish Spirit that will not take any Pains in God's Work nor in the concerns of the Soul but think Grace must drop into their gaping Mouths this Sloath hath killed thousands of Sinners Oh it will cost him trouble care pains and this he cannot brook And do Men think to grow Rich without labouring careful Endeavours and travelling to Markets And can they think to go to Heaven or get Grace without taking Pains It s true it s not meerly Pains that will do it but Sloath will lose it and without Pains-taking nothing that 's excellent will be obtained for Difficilia quae pulchra The more choice things are the hardlier are they come by I am sure Christians of Old laboured hard that they might be accepted of God 2 Cor. 5.9 And the Apostle tells the Hebrews that God doth not forget their work and labour of Love and urgeth them to shew the same diligence and not be sloathful but followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises Heb. 6.10 11 12. Let the slothful Person ask himself these Questions 1. Whether the Pains of Hell be not more intolerable than the Pains God calls for from him to escape it Or 2. Whether Heaven will not requite all his Pains to obtain it Or 3. Whether he take not more pains to scrape together a little Dirt of Wealth or a necessary supply of Wants Or 4. Whether thousands take not more pains to get to Hell then God requireth of him to travel to Heaven And let the wretched Sluggard know that by that time he hath been an Hour in those intolerable Torments he would be glad to be turned into the World again though upon the hardest terms of Obedience Mortification and acting all things within the verge of an humane Capacity would he not gladly accept the Conditions in order to Eternal Life But alas Men are made up so much of Sense and understand so little of Invisible Realities that they chuse rather to be damned Eternally than to endeavour to live Holily therefore mens destruction is of themselves Hos 13.9 They will not come to Christ that they may have life John 5.40 That 's a true Maxim nemo nolens bonus aut beatus est It is God's Ordination that men's own estimation choice and endeavours shall be the necessary preparative to their Fruition and hence it is that the slothful Servant was a wicked Servant and fared and sped according to his Sloth Matth. 25.26 Chap. IX Instructions for the Trial of our Spirits whether we be indeed New Creatures THe Fourth and Last use of this point is that which the Apostle calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Instruction in Righteousness and this I shall rank under these Fou◠Heads First Give a particular account of the Nature Parts and Properties of the two Creatures for helping our Spirits in the tryal of our States Secondly Give Some directions what those must do to obtain it that feel or fear they yet have it not Thirdly How such must act live or behave themselves as do find upon Scripture-grounds and good experience that this is savingly wrought within them Fourthly I shall Answer some Queries or Cases of Conscience for satisfaction of such Souls as are doubtful of their Sincerity or would be further informed in some Points about this New Creature All these I must briefly dispatch 1. It is of very great Concernment for every Rational Soul to know and be at some certainty whether he be a New Creature I might here refer the Reader to the Description of it in the beginning 1. I called it a Supernatural Grace as to the general Nature of it 2. For its particular Property or Nature I call'd it a Gospel-Grace in its specifial quality 3. As to its subject it is in the Soul of a Sinner 4. The Instrumental Cause of it is the Word of God 5. The Efficient Cause is the Holy Ghost 6. The proper immediate Effect is a great change 7. The Compleatness of this change in point of state Constitution Relation 8. The Pattern is the divine Image or Likeness 9. The Rule of it which is the Word of God 10. The End 't is the Glory of God and the Soul's Happinness in its communion with God You see then this New Creature is a very extensive and comprehensive thing it contains the whole Encuclopaedia as I may say or compass of Experimental and Practical Religion It is a Relation not one quality nor yet one single habit neither one Star nor yet a Constellation of Graces but a Relation or Rectitude and orderly Correspondence of the Faculties straining forth from the infusion of all those Habits and Qualities into Man Dr. Arrows Tract Sacr. pag. 138. as a Learned Man observes wherein the Appetite is subject to the Will the Will to Reason the rectifyed Reason to God and the Conversation corresponding to this inward Principle not compleatly or perfectly in point of degree as it was in Adam's Soul in the state of Innocency but by Integrity of the parts so
Nature of this New Creature take this Description of it The New Creature is a supernaturl Work of Gospel-Grace wrought in the Soul of a Sinner by the Word and Spirit of God changing the whole Man from an old state and course into a new thereby transforming it into the Divine Likeness and turning the Heart and Life to the rule of the Word in order to the glory of God and the Souls present and everlasting communion with him This is the New Creature I confess this Description is long but I cannot leave out any of the parts thereof I shall very briefly open the Branches of this description 1. For the general Nature of it I call it a Supernatural Work for it is above the power of nature to produce it it comes from above so he that 's born again John 3.3 Is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from above This perfect Gift comes down from the Father of Lights James 1.17 That Jerusalem that 's above is the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 This New Creature is no Herb that grows in Nature's Garden it s a Plant of Paradise Flesh and Blood cannot so much as reveal this to the sons of men Matth. 16.17 Therefore it s no wonder if learned Doctors such as Nicodemus laugh at such Doctrine as Fantastical Fancies and say How can these things be John 3.4 Or like Ezekiel's hearers who saith Ah Lord God they say of me Doth he not speak Parables Ezek. 20.49 For such wisdom is too high for a Fool. Psal 56.9 In God's light only must we see light Experience is the best Mistriss in these Cases We speak wisdom saith the Apostle among them that are perfect But the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2 6 14. This New Crerture is of a Coelestial Original and must have an heavenly Interpreter 2. In this Description we have the particular Nature of this New Creature I call it a Gospel-Grace it is no branch or fruit of the Old Covenant of Works for the Law maketh nothing perfect There was no Law which could give Life Gal. 3.2 21 28. But the New-Testament Dispensation called the Promise this only produceth the New Creation Objection You 'l say Had not Old-Testament Saints this New Creature Doth not David say Create in me a clean heart Psal 51.10 I Answer Old-Testament-Saints had a New-Testament-Spirit for they without us could not be made perfect Heb. 11.40 The same Gospel belonged to them and us and was preached to both Heb. 4.2 Abraham saw Christ's Day they all partaked of Gospel Grace John 8.56 both in Justification and Sanctification they were but different Editions of the same Gospel-Covenant they were as Children in Minority under Tutors and Governours Gal. 4.1 2 25. Gospel-Saints as Children at Age their state was under the Bond woman in Mount Sinai Ours is of Jerusalem which is free However that Gospel-Promise made known in the Old Testament belongs both to them and us Ezek. 36.26 A new Heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you This is the proper Gospel-Work in both Dispensations and sincere Believers of Old had experience of it tho' the Veil was upon the Face of Moses 2 Cor. 3.14 15. and the Hearts of Carnal Jews as it is on all Unbelievers to this day but Gospel-Grace renews Souls 3. Here 's the subject in which this New Creature is and that is in the Soul or Heart of a sinner There 's the Seat and Centre of this New Creation it s not meerly external in the Eye or Foot or Hand or Tongue but it s an internal work in the Soul the Christian is renewed in the Spirit of his Mind Ephes 4.23 Behold saith David thou desirest Truth in the inward parts in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know Wisdom Psal 51.6 It s called the hidden man of the heart 1 Pet. 3.4 Not but that it breaks out in Lip and Life but the Root and Spring lies under Ground out of the view of the world as the best Treasures are lock'd up the best Goods are under Deck or as Merchants Wares lie in a back Shop not exposed to the open view of the World A Christians Life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 Hence they are called God's hidden Ones Psal 83.3 And the King's Daughter is all glorious within Psal 45.13 These gracious Souls are like Kings in disguise and it doth not yet appear what they shall be 1 John 3.2 But when the Shell is broken the Pearl will appear all external Changes in men are but the change of the Clothes this the change of the Man and his Manners For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly but inwardly Right Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit not in the Letter whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 2.20 30. It is wrought by God and known to God who alone searcheth and sees the Heart 4. The Instrumental or Organical Cause of this New Man which is the Word of God Rom. 1.16 This is the power of God to Salvation James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us by the Word of Truth 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth for ever The Word is the Seed which being ingrafted in the Heart springeth up in obedience which is the Flower and visible product of the New Creature yea 't is properly the Gospel-Word Moses or the Law may bring us to the Borders but Joshua leads us into Canaan the terrors of the Law prepare the way as John Baptist but the Word of the Gospel is the door of Faith that takes Souls by the hand and leads them into the Chamber of Presence this is God's method to work this New Man by a powerful Gospel-Sermon so saith blessed Paul 1 Cor. 4.15 I have begotten you in Jesus Christ through the gospel there 's the Instrument Paul I have begotten you the means by the gospel the author in Jesus Christ faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.14 Prov. 8.34 Therefore let all lie at the Gates of Wisdom Expect not this New Creation if you turn your backs on God's Institutions 5. The Efficient Cause is the Holy Ghost The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us Rom. 5.5 Oh what a gracious Tincture doth the Spirit leave upon Hearts what a sweet Breath doth it breath into them which breaths out Love to God and Men How is this New Creature diffused into all the Faculties of the Soul by the Spirit This is both a Seal and an Earnest who hath also sealed us Eph. 6.13 14. and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts 2 Cor. 1.22 All good is conveyed to us by the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son especially this Saving Good of Conversion we are born again of Water and of the Spirit John 3.3 8.
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
or good Works done by man nay it also excludes Faith it self as the work of man any otherwise then as laying hold on Christ's Righteousness But this I affirm that this New Creature or the best Inherent Righteousness cannot justifie a Sinner before God's Tribunal For a Man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the Faith of Jesus Christ Gal. 2.16 And lest any should say it was by the Works only of the Ceremonial Law it s apparent the Apostle includes the Moral Law that observance thereof cannot justifie for the Gentiles were never bound to the Ceremonial Law yet he proves both Jews and Gentiles to be both under sin Rom. 3 9.-2.28 30. and both alike justified by Christ in the way of believing But where there is no Law there is no Transgression Rom. 4.15 Besides that Law that shews Sin is the moral Law For by the Law is the knowledge of sin Rom. 3.20 And 't is that Law that drives us out of Self to Christ and therefore it can never justifie us God hath nailed up that Door that none since the Fall can enter into Happiness by Law-Righteousness This way to Heaven is like the Northern Passage to the Indies whoever attempts it is sure to be frozen up before he gets half way thither Obj. But if a legal Righteousness by our own strength will not justifie a Sinner yet this New Creature or the habit or exercise of Evangelical Righteousness will surely justifie The Apostle himself Answers No and he instanceth in two famous Saints in the Old-Testament the one is Abraham the other David Rom. 4.1 6 Faithful Holy Abraham though no Idolater but circumcised offering his Son must not glory in any Habit or Acts of Grace And David though a Man after God's own Heart yet saith Enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Psal 143.2 If the Lord mark iniquity who can stand Psal 130.3 Holy Paul dare not stand in his own Righteousness at God's Bar but in the Righteousness which is of God by Faith Phil. 3.7.8 9. Indeed this imparted or inherent Holiness was infused into the Soul for other Ends than to justifie a Sinner before God from the guilt of any one Sin and yet this New Creature is very available to the Souls of men in these 12 cases 1. This New Creature rectifies the Soul's Faculties that were marred by Adam's Fall The former Structure though once a famous Edifice by the Fall was not only tottering but a ruinous House and lies in Rubbish this New Creation re-edifies it in a more stately sumptuous manner yea it is richly adorned thereby Prov. 1.9 They shall be an Ornament of Grace unto thy Head and Chains about thy Neck Prov. 12.26 ch 17.27 Thereby the Christian is more excellent then his Neighbour and of an excellent Spirit more excellent then himself was he is by this become like the Angels yea like God himself and though he be short of Adam in the degree of Grace yet upon better terms in point of duration and now great Grace is upon all true Believers Acts 4.33 Man by his Fall became like the Beasts that perish Psal 49.12 But this New Creature makes him better then other men All men are level as to God till this New Creation sets a divine Stamp on some The tongue of the Just is as choice Silver but the heart of the wicked is little worth Prov. 10.20 God only hath Soveraignty and Authority to rate his Creatures this is the Estimate he sets on his 2. This New Creature is the fruit and Evidence of Electing-Love this is the legible print of God's Heart from Eternity He hath chosen us Eph. 1.4 that we should be holy This is the proper product of free undeserved Grace Gal. 1.15 God calls by his Grace This is the glorious display of his Banner of Love over Souls In the Old Creation there was the strength of God's Arm in this there is the working of God's Bowels God found all mankind alike involved in Sin and Misery but Grace makes some to differ from others 1 Cor. 46.7 As a curious workman seeing a Forrest overgrowing his Ground marks some Trees designing to make of them some rare pieces of workmanship thus God carves his own Image on a common Log and sets it apart for himself this is an act of discriminating Love and when the Sinner sees it he must cry out Who am I O Lord God that thou hast brought me hitherto 2 Sam. 7.18 By the Grace of God I am what I am 1 Cor. 5.10 This this is a shedding abroad his love in my Heart Rom. 5.5 I read Love in every Line and Letter of this new Impression and doth not this avail a Soul much 3. This New Creation consecrates the Soul to be a receptacle for God and renders the Person acceptable to him God dwells in the humble and holy Heart Isa 57.15 There only he takes up his lodging when he hath perfumed the Heart with Mirrh and Frankincense Cant. 3.6 He lays himself in that sweet Bed Having builded this Mansion-House it becomes an habitation of God through the Spirit a Temple of the Holy Ghost Ephes 2.22.1 Cor. 6.17 19. God hath two Thrones in Heaven and in an Holy Heart The Soul and Body is a Sacrifice holy and acceptable to God Rom. 12.1 Happy Soul that is thus owned by the Great God no matter if men reject you if God accept you if men desert you yet if God possess you you are are happy when God casts out the Devil's baggage and saith This is my Rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it Psal 132.14 15. No bad House will be kept there where God dwells for he makes all welcome this is available 4. The first instant of this New Creation commenceth a Communion with God this is a consequence of the former and the peculiar privilege of a Saint Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son 1 John 1.3 This communion with God is a mystery to most men Every one that hangs about the Court doth not speak with the King many meddle with Duties but meet not with God It is good for me to draw night to God Psal 73.28 How oft doth the Christian cry out Oh when shall I come and appear before God Psal 63.2 This New Creature puts a Biass in the Soul God-wards it naturally mounts the Soul upwards to ingage his heart in approaching to God Jer. 30.21 And the Lord meets him that rejoyceth and worketh Righteousness Isa 64. Birds cannot converse with Men there 's not a suitableness of Nature an Hypocrite cannot dare not come before God Job 13.16 But a Saint dare draw near with boldness through Christ for he is like God and communio fundatur in Similitudine Communion is founded in Similitude 5. This New Creature evidenceth a Soul's interest in Christ and his union to him yea puts the poor Believer in
God is the Christians chief supream End in his natural civil spiritual acts the New Man aims at the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 Oh that my Soul may obtain fellowship with God 1 John 1.3 Psal 73.25 I will trample on sinful worldly self and spurn away this dirty Dunghill in comparison of God's Glory and Salvation of my own Soul all other things will neither please nor profit this high-bred Creature infused into the Soul 2. The Elective Power of the Will the New Creature chuseth the most proper means to attain these high Ends as he chuseth God for his only End so in the first place he chuseth Christ as the only Way Truth and Life John 14.6.1 51. By whom he may ascend to God as the Ladder of Jacob for there 's no coming to the Father but by the Son The Will therefore consists to have Christ upon his own terms and chuseth him above the World John 1.12 May I have Christ I will cast all others as Dung at my Heels Phil. 7.7 8 9. Away with them away with them I will refuse Crowns and Scepters in comparison of or in competition with Christ the New Creature comes off freely in his choice of Christ is not forced to him as his last shift to escape damning but by a sweet tendency and propensity of the Will touched and attracted with the Loadstone of divine Grace To me to live is Christ Phil. 1.21 as well as he is good to dye with yea the New Creature chuseth the Precepts the Promises the Patterns of the Word Psal 119.30 111. The way of Faith and Holiness to walk in in order to the attaining Happiness and he never repents this blessed Choice 3. There 's a cleaving act of the Will a peremptory resolved adhereing to God and his ways the Will is fixed determined for God whatever shall be said against he is not off and on like a double-minded man unstable in all his ways James 1.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hanging in suspence halting betwixt two Opinions 1 King 18.21 but cleaves to the Lord with purpose of Heart Acts 11.23 as Ruth was stedfastly minded to go with Naomi Ruth 1.16 17 18. All men on Earth and all the Devils in Hell shall not alter this resolution I will go and return to my Father Luk. 15.17 I am purposed that my Mouth shall not transgress Psal 17.3 Let others do as they list as they dare answer I and my House will serve the Lord John 24.15 I must not be guided by Example or Carnal Reason but by the Word of God and having made my choice by the Grace of God I will not be altered as long as I breath no Sufferings shall daunt me no Allurements shall entice me from my God 4. There 's a resigning act of the Will by which it gives up it self to the Will of God the New Creature melts and molds the Will of man into the Will of God as our Lord said Not my will but thine be done Matth. 26.39 And those gracious Souls Acts 21.13 said The will of the Lord be done Hence Luther durst Pray fiat volunt as mea Let my Will be done but came off thus Mine Lord because my Will shall be thine There shall be but one Will betwixt us this hath been the Language of all the Holy Men in Scripture Eli David Paul Let the Lord do as seems good to him 1 Sam. 8.10.2 Sam. 15.25 This Harmony of Wills is a glorious Fruit of the New Creation and sweet and certain Character of the New Creature this brings Serenity to the Soul in all states when Wind and Tide go both one way there 's no Storm so when the Christian acquiesceth in God's will there 's great Peace in the Soul 4. The last Subject wherein the New Creature is formed in the Affections these are the Motions of the Will the Will is the primum movens or mobile the main Wheel that carries the Affections along with it the Affections are either 1. disliking or 2. liking Aversations or Approbations of these Faculties of the Soul and both of them are reduced to sweet Order and Harmony according to Scripture-Rule 1. The disliking or disapproving Affections the Stream is quite turned into another Channel the Soul loaths what it before loved and bears an implacable hatred yea antipathy not only to Sin but to all appearances of it 1 Thes 5.22 and Avenues that lead to it or proceed from it hating even the Garment spotted by the Flesh Jude 23. as one detests a Coat with the Plague in it as a man's Stomach riseth against some kind of Meats or a Toad for its poysonful quality or a Serpent for its Sting or rather for its loathsome Nature David saith I hate and abhor Lying Psal 119.163 He cannot use words enough to express his Antipathy to Hypocrisie And true hatred is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against all the Kinds of what we hate I hate every false way ver 104. saith the same Holy Man The New Creature makes the Christian not only angry at Sin as against his Interest or as a Man may be with his Wife or Child in a fit of Passion and entertains good Thoughts of them again when the Passion is over but there 's an implacable Enmity commenced in the Heart against all Sin yea there 's an hatred of wicked mens persons for their Sin 's sake Psal 139.21 22. which otherwise the Soul loves as he would not hate the Devil but for Sin O how weary am I of this Body of Death I know not how to bear it it s like a stinking dead Carcase that at once both burdens me with its weight Rom. 7.24 and poysons me with its stink 'T is this and this alone that makes me send forth quotidianos mutigus daily groans and Mournings Oh that I could put a Bill of Divorce into the Hands of my dearest Lust never to meddle with it again I will never be reconciled to Sin more I will cut off my Right hand-Sin and run the Knife of the Law into the very Heart of my dearest Lusts I will study their utter extirpation I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to God Ezra 9.6 because of my Spots of guilt and filth never did any thing lie so near my Heart as my Sin against God I will declare mine Iniquity and be very sorry for my Sin Psal 58.18 For the future I will stand in awe that I may not sin Psal 4.4 I will fear Sin more then Hell I cannot bear them that are evil Rev. 2.2 Though I have patience to bear any Affliction I behold transgressors and am grieved Psal 119.58 136. and shed many Tears for the dishonour they bring to my God Oh that Sin were banish'd out of the World or my Soul withdrawn from the wicked world 2. As for the liking Affections the renewed Soul can truly say as David I have set my affections to the house of my God 2 Chron. 30.3 As to inferior
Cords to hold you in the Devil's Service and drag you down Hâ—llwards Prov. 5.22 This day give an everlasting Farewell to Sin Say to every Idol Get thee hence what have I any more to do with â—ols Isa 30.22 Hos 14.8 If you cannot stâ— up Sin by the Roots yet be sure to cut off its Iâ—ches its true this is not enough but this is soâ—ething and who knows what it may tend to â—nd end in Departing from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. â—â— is one part of the New Creature however you cannot find Mercy except you forsake as well as confess Sin Prov. 28.13 Spare but one Sin and God will not spare thee turn from all Sins and you shall live Ezek. 18.21 If you fall out with Sin there is some hopes and then away with Sinners forsake the foolish and live Prov. 9.6 But a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed Prov. 13.20 There 's no hopes of that Man that delights in vain Company how many have been jear'd or alur'd from hopeful beginnings by loose Companions if ever God begin this New Work upon you this will be the first Evidence of it yea and this is a singular help to it changing your Companions running from the Tents of the Wicked into the Society of the Godly I recommend this in a special manner to all Persons young and old and desire you to read and study Prov. 1.10 to 18. 2.12.20 4.14.18 2 Cor. 6.17 Be sure you joyn with Christian Society open your Cases to them beg their Counsel and Prayers Company is assimilating Sin is infectious Holiness imitable Let Communion of Saints be in your Practice as well as in your Creed New Society is a Sign and Means of new Hearts I despair of your being New Creatures in Old Company 9. Enter into a Solemn Covenant with the Lord by taking God as your chiefest Good and utmost End and by making a Deed of Gift of your selves entirely to the Lord. I shall not much need to inlarge upon this having treated on it fully elsewhere only as its subservient to this design Enter into an Oath and swear the Lord liveth Jer. 4.2 Deut. 26. and avouch him to be yours Do this understandingly solemnly resolutely deliberately Set some time apart set God before thine Eyes make him witness of the singleness of thy Heart that thou takest God the Father to love him trust in him depend on him resign up all to him God the Son as Prophet Priest King to be led by him justified and ruled by his Laws God the Holy Ghost to be enlightned to be fanctified comforted by him and when thou hast thus taken God for thy God and devoted thy self to him Soul and Body thou mayst expect and hope that the Lord will dwell in thee as in his Temple his House cleanse thee from Filthiness adorn thee with Graces enable thee for his Service that all the Persons of the Sacred Trinity will take up their lodging and residence in thy Soul that you may henceforth be an Habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2.20 21 22. This imports the New Creature we are speaking of and this is the way to obtain it To give up your selves to the Lord 2 Cor. 8.5 To be ordered according to his pleasure for his glory that he may be glorified both in Soul and Body which are his 1 Cor. 6.19 20. If thou voluntarily subscribe to the Equity of his Articles taking him with all the Sufferings attending the ways of Religion and yieldest up thy whole Interest to his dispose hating the Sins that he forbids practising the Duties that God commands walking in all the Ways of his appointment in his Worship and Ordinances this this is a coming up to the terms of the Covenant of Grace and then thou shalt have the Graces and Privileges of that Covenant which comprehends this New Creation 10. Down on thy Knees and beg this New Creature at the Hands of God say as David Create in me a clean Heart Oh God and renew a right Spirit within me Psal 51.10 Say Lord I am quite marred in the Old Adam and I cannot help my self Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Not one but thou hast promised in the Gospel to make all things new and in the New Covenant thou promisest a new heart Ezek. 36.6 This is the great Mercy O Lord I want and wait for and I ask thee nothing but what I have under thine own Hand in the Promise Oh that I were partaker of it yea thou hast promised to give thy holy spirit to them that ask it Luke 11.13 Now thy Spirit can sanctifie Hearts as Lightning cleanseth the Air as Fire refines Metals Lord seal up my Soul with the Holy Spirit of Promise set on me thine own Stamp as the Seal leaves its impress on the Wax Lord I shall never be acceptable to thee profitable to Men or comfortable to my self except I be renewed and become a New Creature I cannot without this live to any purpose and I cannot dye with any comfort Objection But God heareth not Sinners their Prayers are abomination Answ If you be resolved to go on in a course of Sinning or pray to gratifie a Lust as a Thief for a Prize you and your Prayers are abominable but if you be repenting returning Sinners and pray for Grace Pardon God will pity you and who knows but he may meet you in Mercy as he did the returning Prodigal Luk. 15.20 Repent then and pray God if perhaps the thoughts of thy Heart may be forgiven thee Acts 8.22 Thou art undone if thou give over Praying many have sped well at his Door and so mayst thou still ask seek and knock Chap. XIII Instructions how those must behave themselves that are indeed New Creatures A Third Head to be insisted upon in this Use of Instruction is to direct sincere Christians that do find by good proof that this New Creature is wrought in them how they should live walk and behave themselves in the World both towards God and Man 1. Use God's appointed means for clearing up the reality of this New Creature it 's one thing to be another thing to know that we are New Creatures Alas some sincere Souls walk at Uncertainties A Letter may be written saith one though it be not sealed So Grace may be writ in the Soul though the Spirit hath not set to its Seal partly to keep the Soul humble partly to punish some Sin But I must not handle the common place of Assurance the possibility the hindrances helps advantages nature or kinds of Assurance but give an hint Are the Figures of Grace ingraven upon the Dial of your Hearts pray and wait for the Sun of Righteousness shining on it that you may better see what time of day it is in your Hearts yet if you grope in the dark you may feel some Characters engraven however give diligence to make first your Calling then your Election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Your
and sanctified by the Spirit born of the Spirit and are Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.11 19. Nothing can search or reach the Heart but the Holy Ghost The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 and deep things of Men. An Angel is too short-sighted to see into Man's Heart too short-handed to reach the Conscience or make a New Creation God alone turns Stones into Flesh God shall enlarge Japheth and he shall dwell in the Tents of Shem Gen. 9.27 It is an Act of Power to make a People willing Psal 110.3 or Volunteers No man can come to Christ except the Father which sent him draw him Job 6.44 And God reacheth forth the Hand of the Spirit to attract Hearts to himself 6. The proper immediate Effect of this Work that is a change into a new Frame or Course by which the Sinner becomes new or another than what he was before this is the formalis Ratio genuine necessary Attendant yea intrinsick nature of this which we call the New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are past away behold all things are become new The Faculties are the same but new Qualities are put in as in a Lute the Strings are the same but 't is set to a new Tune In a River the Water is the same but 't is put into a new Channel the Bowl hath got a new Byass So the Convert said to the tempting Harlot Ego non sum Ego I am not I or as Paul said of himself who was before a Blasphemer a Persecutor but I obtained mercy 1 Tim. 1.13 i. e. converting Grace hath changed me Thus the same Apostle saith of the Corinthians Such were some of you but ye◠are washed but ye are sanctified 1 Cor. 6.11 Oh what a mighty change doth Grace make from Lying to Fearing an Oath from vain speaking to Holy Discourse from carelesness to the greatest concernedness about Soul affairs yea from Darkness to Light Eph. 5.8 From Death to Life from Satan to God Acts 26.18 The Man is now got into a new World as one observes from Ezek. 11.19 I will give them one Heart which that I may do I will cast it a new in order to this I will melt and soften it as one that hath many pieces of old Silver by them casts them into the Fire melts them and molds them into one Bowle Thus doth God with the divided Heart in renewing it and framing it for his use 7. Here 's yet further the compleatness of this Change it s not some external Acts Motions Conversation nor only Internal Cogitations Affections Workings of the Will and Conscience but the description goes further even to the State Constitution Relation of the Man and therefore I add changing the whole man from an old state to a new for every Man and Woman hath a state before God therefore Paul sends Timothy to know the state of the Philippians Phil. 2.19 This imports not a transient Act but a settled abiding Frame continued Relation Sinners are by Nature Children of wrath Eph. 2.3 Limbs of Satan Heirs of Hell this new Mold makes them Children of God Members of Christ Heirs of Heaven yea it puts them into an habitual tendency towards Heaven and heavenly things which is a kind of a second Nature in them this moves the holy Soul acting like it self as naturally upwards as a Stone moves downward therefore it s called a Divine Nature 2 Pet. 14. the acting follows the being of a thing Make the Tree good and the Fruit will be good Mat. 12.33 If a Watch be not well made it will never go well They say of the Peacock roast him as much as you will yet when cold his Flesh will be raw again So force a Carnal Heart to the highest strain of seeming Piety yet it will come to its old Complexion because there 's not a new Nature fill a Pond full of Water it will abate if there be not a Spring to supply it The New Creature is united to Christ and receives grace for grace John 1.61 8. Here 's the Pattern Copy Example according to which this New Creature is moulded it is the Soul 's being transformed into the divine likeness this Image of God consists in Knowledge in the Intellectual Faculties Righteousness in the Will Holiness in the Affections Col. 3.10 And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Eph. 4.24 That you put on the new man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness or holiness of truth As the Work of Grace in the Heart is a true Copy or Transcript of the Divine Image they agree as the Face in the Glass doth with the Face of the Man that looks in it or as the Image in the Wax with the Sculpture in the Seal from which it is derived Godliness is Godlikeness Summa Religionis est imitari quem Colis The Summ and Substance of our Religion is to imitate whom we worship not that its possible to be like God with a perfection of degree but Sincerity Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect Mat. 5.48 A Child hath the parts of a Man though not the bulk for the New Creature is in a daily increase and tendeth to perfection as a small Seed hath vertually the bigness of a grown Tree though little in its self But the Christian is like God man only can beget a man like himself So the Spirit only doth beget the Christian like God Now Divines Journal Christian Bemon part 2. pag. 173. take notice of a double Likeness a bare Similitude Snow and Milk are both white alike yet are not the Image one of another 2. Derivation deduced from another and so the Picture which is drawn every Line by the Face of a Man this is properly the Image of a man after whose Likeness it is made Thus by Holiness the Christian becomes the Image of Christ Rom. 8.29 Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son 9. There 's the Rule of this New Creature which is expressed by turning the Heart and Life to the Rule of the Word this either refers to the manner of framing the New Creature or the Rule by which the New Creature acts and moves being once formed As to the former the New Creature receives the Stamp Signature and Impression of the Word Rom. 6.17 But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin But ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you Or as it is more properly in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into which you were delivered i. e. the Soul is the Metal the Word is the Mould into which the Sinner is cast and thereby receives a new Stamp formed into a new Shape which naturally issues it self into a new