to a stronger Faith Besides 4. We may distinguish betwixt a justified State and applications of Pardon to Souls there is forgiveness with God which must be daily sued out by Faith and Prayer Psal 130.4 4. Another difference betwixt this New Creature and Justification is that the Grace of the New Creature is never perfect in this Life the holiest Saints have some Spots and defects who can say I have made my Heart clean Prov. 20.9 I am pure from my Sin Eccle. 7.20 There 's not a just man on Earth that doth good and sinneth not Mat. 3.14 John Baptist needs a New Baptism all the Disciples need their first washing John 13. A Paul complains of a Body of Death Rom. 7.14 It s in Heaven only that the Spirits of just men are made perfect Heb. 12.23 Bat Justification is perfect there 's no Spot in the justified Cant. 4.7 Fair as the Moon Cant. 6.10 as to Sanctification clear as the Sun in respect of Justification Psal 51.7 white as Snow Isa 38.17 God deals with them as if they had never offended casting their Sins behind his Back into the depth of the Sea Mich. 7.18 Remembers them no more Jer. 31.34 Object But doth not God punish his for Sin Answ Those are not properly Acts of Vindictive Justice but Fatherly Chastisements coming from God not as a Judge upon a Malefactor but as an indulgent Father to his wandring and way-ward Child It s true Afflictions are materially the Curse but formally a Blessing being like a Water running through the blessed Mineral of Covenant-Love With reference to this Pardoning Grace Dr. Ames Medul p. 139. its worth noting what D. Ames observes that there 's fourfold Pardon 1st In God's decree and purpose foreseeing it Gal. 3.8 2dly In Christ's undertakings our Sins laid on him Isa 53.6 3dly Virtually upon the Christians first Relation to God Rom. 8.1 4thly Expresly applied upon the Believers Repentance acting of Faith and sence of pardon Rom. 5.1 And I may add there 's a Day of publick proclaiming this Pardon before the whole World Acts 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Chap. VI. An Use of Reproof and Conviction of sundry sorts A Second Use of this point is Reproof If a New Creature be available to Souls yea of such absolute necessity then what shall we say 1. Of non-pretenders to it 2. Of meer Pretenders to it 1. There are some in the World that plainly say in Words or Deeds that they are as they have been and so will continue they trouble not themselves about these new things but say I am Semper idem still the same I thank God I am no Turn-coat nor will I meddle with them that are given to change I love the old way To this Answer Take that Text with you Jeremiah 6.16 Stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the Old Paths where is the good old way and walk therein Mark it not simply the Old Way except it be good for there are many old ways that are not good Cain's way is old enough so was Balaam's and Core's yet there 's a Woe unto them that walk in those ways Jude 11. The Woman of Samaria boasted of the Antiquity that their Father Jacob gave them that Well that her Ancestors did worship in that Mountain John 4 12.-20.24 But our Lord teacheth her other Doctrines yea it was no good Plea of the Jews that they did as their Fathers in burning Incense to the Queen of Heaven though they pleaded great Success then say they We bad plenty of Victuals and saw no Evil Jer. 44.17 18. God answers them to the purpose Ver. 21.22 But let me say to you 1. That this Plea is a multiplication of the Fault if it be not a good way every Step you take in it is a new Error and brings new guilt vetustas Erroris seductio Errantis The way of the Wicked seduceth him Have you examin'd whether this be God's way or no If you be wrong the further you go the further you are from God 2. This continuing in old Customs without inquiry will harden your Hearts and make you more uncapable yea more unwilling to return Can the Ethiopian change his Skin and the Leopard his Spots then may ye also learn to do good that are accustomed to do evil Jer. 13.23 Custom in Sin takes away Conscience of Sin the more men travel the more brawny are their Feet 3. But what think you Adam went wrong and do you delight to follow him or rather should not the Old Man be crucified Rom. 6.6 You have no reason to bear big or brag of the Old Man which is corrupt according to deceitful Lusts but rather put on this new man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness Eph. 4.22 24. See a Parallel betwixt the first Adam and Second 1 Cor. 15.45 49. And then make your choice 4. You 'l never walk in Heaven's Road without a change Deceive not your selves you must be turned from your vain Conversation received by Tradition from your Fathers 1 Pet. â— 18 You will never walk in this New and Living Way without a New Heart You cannot serve God but it must be in the Newness of Spirit not in the Oldness of the Letter Rom. 7.6 You are undone if you dye as you are born you need not change your Religion for you profess the true Religion only you must see you be true to that Religion by a change of Heart and Life Except you be born again you cannot see the Kingdom of God John 3.3 Better never have been born then not be new born But more of this anon Tremble to think of appearing before God naked or in your old rotten Rags the Gibeonites might cheat Israel with their old Bottles Clouts Shoes Josh 9.4 but you cannot cousen God so An old frame is not fit for a new state old Hearts for new Heavens If you live after the Flesh you shall dye i. e. be damned Rom 8.13 but if you through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the Body you shall live i. e. be saved There are many more that are far from being New Creatures that have a black Brand of Reprobation printed on their Foreheads and disclaim any pretences to this New Creation-Work as 1st Such as have imbibed Atheistical Principles and say with their Tongues or in their Hearts there is no God Psal 14.1 at least Deists that deny God's Providence and Divine Revelations 2dly Prophane Scoffers at true Christian Piety and the Power of Godliness 2 Pet. 3. under the Name of Puritans loading Strictness in Religion with Names of Obloquy Scorn and Derision 3dly Profoundly ignorant of Gospel-Mysteries 1 Cor. 13.34 and the Essentials of Religion the knowledge whereof is of the highest importance and necessity and yet do scorn to learn 4thly Voluptuous Epicures Drunkards Adulterers and that
Objects my Soul is as a weaned Child Psal 13 1.12 New light begets new love new desires new delights Truth in the Understanding darting upon the Affections contracted in the Glass of Meditation inflames the Soul Did not our Hearts burn within us while he opened to us the Scriptures Luk. 24.32 The Sun in the Firmament sheds his Influence into the Bowels of the Earth but Light and Heat come together into Souls knowledge affects the Heart◠the more the Christian knows God the more he loves him The Soul risen with Christ cannot but set his affections on things above Col. 3.2 For where the treasure is there will the heart be also Matth. 6.21 Oh saith this Christian how good is God I love the Lord from my inmost Bowels Psal◠18.1 Mat. 22.37 With all my heart soul mind and might with my Soul have I desired thee in the night Isa 26.9 Even as the Hart panteth after the Water-brooks When shall I come and appear before God Psal 45.1 God even God alone is my exceeding joy Psal 43.4 I will take pleasure in nothing but in God This this is both my Duty and Privilege I hope I can call the Sabbath a delight Isa 58.13 14. And he promiseth I shall delight myself in the Lord My Comfort and Content is in communion with God and 't is an anticipation of Heavenly Joys I love the Word of God his testimonies are the rejoycing of my heart and I have rejoyced in the ways thereof more then in all Riches and delight my self in the Lord's Statutes Psal 119.14 Oh how the good Soul is ravished and transported in the Galleries of Love the Pleasures of the Soul are infinitely beyond the Pleasures of Sense Oh then Christian feel how the Pulse of thy Soul beats in a constant motion is thy Heart working God-wards in Duties of God's Worship or in daily Converse which way tends the bent of thy Soul Art thou truly troubled that thou canst not delight thy self in the Lord Psal 37.4 as thou oughtest Would thou give all the World that thou hadst but an Heart to love God more Canst thou say as Peter Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Joh 21 15-17 A Flame may be painted but a painted Flame cannot be felt I find the workings of Love kindled in my Bosom if I know any thing of my Heart and I have searched the Characters of true Love in the Scriptures and I find my Heart ecchoing thereto harmonizing therewith and I am told that this Love is the proper Character of this New Creature connatural with ingraven in the New Nature for he that dwells in Love dwelleth in God and God in him 1 John 4.16 Thus much for the Preparatives to and parts of this New Creature I proceed briefly to the Third Head which is the Properties of this New Creature and they are these Seven 1. It is an universal New Creature it 's not in part of the Soul but runs through the whole man soul body and spirit 1 Thes 5.23 It 's extensive and comprehensive takes in all Internal Powers External Members all Acts in all Faculties at all times in all employments as in the Law the whole Sacrifice was to be offered to God Lev. 18.9 So it is not acceptable to God if any part be with-held from God Rom. 12.1 This New Creature is as Leaven that runs through the whole lump Matth. 13.33 and puts a gracious Tincture into all the Faculties This is not a Limb or Member but a whole New Man yea the Christian is a perfect man having all the parts of a Saint though defective in point of degree our heavenly Father begets no Blind Lame Mad or Maimed Children there 's no Idiots in his Family A Christian indeed hath all Graces radically but the Hypocrite is mainly defective in something essentially requisite to make up a Saint he is a Cake half baked Dough on one side the Legs of the Lame are not equal 2. It is a vital self-moving New Creature I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Gal. 2.20 It s true it is hid from outward Observation as the Spring that moves the visible Hand for our Life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 But a vital Principle it is this gracious habit is to the Soul as the Soul is to the Body it 's a spark of divine Life kindled by the holy Spirit a Seed of God 1 Joh. 3.9 quickned within the Womb of the Earth by the influence of Heaven putting forth gracious Acts precious Fruits by excitations of assisting Grace after a nipping winter of Temptations or cold Autumn of Spiritual Decays his Spirit makes him willing Oh saith the Christian I am restless as a Bird out of the Nest or a Fish out of its proper Element of Water unsatisfied till I return to my God But the Hypocrite is but like a Pupper drest like a Saint moved by Art or as a Machin by something outward which the workman fastens to it but not informed by a Soul of its own so it s at last worn or broken and crumbles to nothing so doth the Hypocrite as one saith There is a vast difference betwixt Wool on the Sheep's back which clipt will grow again and the Wool on the Sheep's Skin on the Wolf's back which grows no more The living Saint still works upwards the graceless Soul is dead and puts forth no vital acts 3. It s a sensible new Greature it s not a dead inanimate Log but of a tender quick sensation and can easily discern what Profits or Prejudiceth it what helps or hurts it it groans under what it feels doth make against its being or well-being nothing doth it hurt so much as Sin or what hath a tendency to it any act of omission or commission lies heavy upon it pricks and wounds it and makes it bleed hence 't is called an heart of Flesh which is a soft and sensible thing defects of Grace inroads of Temptation intermissions of Duty or worldliness are more laid to heart by the New Creature then gross out-breakings of Sin in the Hypocrite whatsoever it perceives to be anoyance or disturbance is a grievous Affliction Oh saith the Soul I found at such a time God's withdrawing the assistance of his Spirit I puzzled and bungled in a Duty and could make nothing of it Wo is me what had I done to banish my God I find a weight on me and a Sin that easily besets me Heb. 12.1 Did I not quench grieve resist the Spirit was I not sluggish heartless formal Lord forgive me that Sin and quicken me with thy Grace The Hypocrite hath none of these Experiments Soul-exercises Agonies but runs on 〈◊〉 heartless Formality and customary Performance but knows nothing of God's access and his recess coming or going 4. It is a growing New Creature it never stands at a stay the Godly Man is compared to the Sun that shineth still brighter to the perfect day Prov. 4.18
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
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
Seed Isa 66.22 else there would be a great Inconsistency New Palates will find sweetness in this new Meat and new Wine else it will be lost upon them 11. The New Creature fits Persons for Death and Heaven To these to live is Christ and to dye gain Phil. 1.21 Living and Dying these are the Lord's Rom. 14. It s this that renders Persons meet for that heavenly Inheritance Col. 1.12 No Eyes can see God but of those that are pure in Heart Mat. 5.8 These and only these are wrought for this self-same thing 2 Cor. 5.5 Heaven is not like Noah's Ark that had clean and unclean Creatures brought into it Without Holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 Frogs came into Pharoah's Court but no unclean thing can enter Heaven Rev. 21.9 A sensual Pallate cannot taste the sweetness of that Wine in our Father's Kingdom Matth. 26.29 For its New Wine and renewed Souls are capable of taking pleasure in it O happy Soul that hath got Christ in the Arms of his Faith and in his Heart by this New Nature he may lift up his Head and say with Simeon Now Lord lettest thou thy servant depart in Peace according to thy Word for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation Luk. 2.29 30. And is not this available to Souls 12. Yea this New Creature is Heaven begun it is a considerable part of Heaven Holiness is a considerable Happiness it s the Seed and Embryo of that heavenly state Grace and Glory as they are joyned in a blessed connexion Psal 84.10 So they differ but in degree not in Specie Grace is Glory begun Glory is Grace consummated Grace is the Bud Glory is the Flower this New Creature is the Key of Paradise the inlet into Glory yea it is Salvation already 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us This blessed work of the New Creature is a quickning together with Christ and raiseth us up together and makes us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus And thus we are saved in our Representative Eph. 2.5 6 7. yea this Divine Principle is an Heaven begun not only as a Pledge but part of it The Scripture often tells us that God's Children have Eternal Life John 17.3 And this is 1. in precio in price for it is a purchased Possession Eph. 1.14.2 in promisso in promise for God hath promised Eternal Life to all that obey him Heb. 5.9.3 in semine in Seed this Water within the Believer is a Well springing up to Eternal Life John 4.14.4 in pignore in pledge and pawn this is called sometimes the Seal of the holy spirit Eph. 1.13 14. Sometimes the Earnest which is part of the thing to be enjoyed Sometimes the Witness of the Spirit which never bears its testimony to a Lye 1 John 5.10 He that believeth in thâ— Son of God hath the witness in himself for thâ— holy spirit beareth witness with our Spirits Româ— 8.16 And in these respects the New Creature is available in such a manner as no externaâ— Gospel-privileges or worldly enjoyments are to the Children of men Thus much for the third Head Chap. V. Some Inferences by way of Question aâ— Answer from the Premises FOr the Practical Improvement of this greâ— Truth I shall keep close to the Methâ— which the Holy Ghost prescribes in all Truthâ— 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by Inspiratâ— of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproâ— for Correction for Instruction in Righteousneâ— These are the Uses I shall make of this point 1. Doctrine or Information of the Judgmeâ— that our Minds may be informed in points fit 〈◊〉 be known Now there may be inquiry into Seven Poinâ— about this Doctrine of the New Creature whiâ— I shall reduce to Question and Answer 1. Quest Whether is the framing of this Nâ—â—reature in the Soul miraculous The Reason of this Question is because we have compared it to yea â—ewed a precedency above the first Creation which was a Miracle therefore it should seem that this also must be so Answ 1. Some things are Miracles yet not 〈◊〉 Creation as Stephen seeing Jesus at God's Right hand Acts 7. Or barren Sarah's conceiâ—ing Gen. 2 1. or the Sun 's going back or standing still Isa 38. For then Nature is only exâ—ended 2. Some things both a Miracle and a Creation as the Virgin Mary's conceiving and â—earing a Son yet remaining a Virgin Luke 1. â—5 Manna was both a Miracle and a Creation Exod. 16.22.3 Some things seem a Miracle as an Eclipse of the Sun seems a Miâ—acle to ignorant People but Mathematicians now the Cause 4. Some things are a Creation yet not a Miracle as the Conversion of a â—oul the subject is a rational Soul and so caâ—ble of a Principle of Grace and had once â—od's Image but it s lost and is recovered by 〈◊〉 Spiritual Creation of that which Man had â—st by his fall and folly and so 't is called 2. Quest Whether is there any Inclination in â—an towards this New Creation Or whether there 〈◊〉 any Spark of Good left in man upon his fall that â—ing improved by his Natural Faculties and diliâ—nce may grow up to a New Creature For it may â—m there is in man a Natural Conscience prompting â—n to good excusing him in doing it drawing him â—m Evil and accusing him upon the committing it 〈◊〉 Rom. 2.14 15. Answ 1. Those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Grecians call them common notices or Anâ— ticipations of Good are not in the Will but 〈◊〉 the Mind not in the Affections but Conscience nec vero cordis nomen pro sede affectuum seâ— tantum pro intellectu capitur Calv. in loc It was not ingraven in their Will to chuse it but the power of some Truths flashed in their Eyes thaâ— they could not but know them and have soâ— general liking of them so they could not bâ— know that Adultery and Stealing are naughtâ— the contrary good 2. But whether these weâ— left in man's Heart after the Fall as Relicks 〈◊〉 God's Image or introduced by God's Providence afterwards for the good of mankind aâ— to maintain Peace and Intercourse in Societiâ— is much disputed Mr. Capel of Tempt thinâ— the latter However 3. All our Protestâ— Writers affirm with the Scriptures that Maâ— Nature is universally depraved against 〈◊〉 Socinians that hold the Nature of Man is 〈◊〉 corrupted but say whatsoever Spot or Vicâ— in Man proceeds from frequent Acts of Sâ— and Custom in Sinning without the interâ— corruption of his Nature But the Scriptâ— tell us of Man's total degeneracy In me saâ— Paul i. e. in my Flesh dwells no good thing Roâ— 7.18 Our mind and conscience is defiled Tit. 1. â— There is none righteous no not one of all the race Mankind Rom. 3.9 10. And therefore neâ— a Sanctification throughout in Soul Spirit and Bâ— 1 Thes 5.23 Yea 4. There 's an utter imâ— tency in Man to renew himself Rom.
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
Fightings from without and Fears within I am shifting from Post to Pillar let me be dissettled till my Soul fix on Christ then shall not my Heart be troubled if believing in God I believe also in Christ John 14.1 Let me never be at rest till all ways are blockt up but this If I sit still I dye 2 King 7.4 If I go to the World I pine I will venture upon God's Promises Christ's Purchase if I must dye I will dye there but never did any dye at his Door 7. At last the troubled Spirit issues out its perplexed Thoughts in Complaints and Prayers God faith I have surely hearth Ephraim bemoaning himself Jer. 31.18 So methinks I see the disquieted Soul creep into a Corner to ease his burthened Spirit into God's Bosom in this manner Lord here I am as wicked a Malefactor as ever stood at thy Bar and as miserable a Beggar as ever lay at thy Door I was condemned as soon as convinced and have too too wofully improved the Stock of Original Sin in thousands of actual Rebellions I am twice dead in danger to be pluck'd up by the Roots Jude 1. and flung into the Fire of Hell many means hast thou used but nothing doth me good yet now thou hast brought me into the Wilderness Oh speak to my Heart Hos 2.14 Every Sin deserves damnation Oh how many Hells then do I deserve Thou art Righteous if thou damn me my Mouth is stopt I am found guilty before God Rom. 3.19 I am self-condemned thou shalt need no other Witness or Jury to find me guilty but Christ suffered and satisfied Justice for some poor Sinners and why not for me the chiefest of Sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 I find not one word in Scripture against it but a Proclamation of a general Pardon to all Christ with all his Benefits is offered to me in the Ministry of the Word upon the condition of Faith and Repentance It s true I can neither repent nor believe but they are both included in the absolute Grant of the Gospel-Covenant which gives what it requires Lord give me a Gospel-Repentance unto Life and Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ I hang on thee sweet Jesus who wast exalted on purpose to give Repentance and Forgiveness of Sins Acts 5.31 and the Faith of God's Elect. Thus much for Preparatives 2. The Parts of this New Creature lie in the renewing of the several Faculties of the Soul which consists 1st In the Mind and Understanding 2dly In the Conscience 3dly In the Will 4thly In the Affections which are the Motions of the Will 1. The New Creature consists much in the Mind which is called a renewing in the Spirit of the Mind Eph. 4.23 Interpreters have been much perplexed to know what is meant by the Spirit of the Mind Calvin saith Ego Simpliciter accipio Calv. in loc acsi dixisset renovemur non tantum quod ad inferiores Appetitus ant Concupiscentias quae palam sunt vitiosae sed etiam quod ad partem illam animae quae nobilissima praestantissima habetur i. e. be renewed not only in the inferiour Appetite and concupiscible Faculties but in that part of the Soul which is esteemed the most noble and excellent For the Mind is accounted a Queen and almost adored by Philosophers Now the Mind is renewed when there is 1. New Conceptions of things otherwise than ever before for a new Light set up in the Soul to see things after another manner the eyes of the understanding are now enlightned Eph. 1.18 Now he sees more Wickedness in his bad Heart then ever he did which makes him cry out as Job Behold I am vile Job 40.4 Lord thou art Heaven I am Hell said Mr. Hooper Now the Soul sees more Poyson and Malignity in Sin then ever before he sees it exceeding sinful Rom. 7.9 17. As striking at the Majesty clouding the Glory of the Holy God as crucifying Christ grieving the holy Spirit The New Creature begets other Conceptions of Christ as the Rose of Sharon Cant 5.9 the chief of ten thousand He looks on God's Commands as not at all grievous 1 John 5.3 but pleasant comfortable and profitable he looks on the Saints as the most excellent in the Earth Psal 16.3 Prov. 3.18 He hath got Eye-Salve to judge of things as they are The spiritual man judgeth all things 1 Cor. 2.15 2. The New Nature bringeth a New Memory he forgets Injuries and remembers Truths his Memory is sanctified and fortified he lays up things in his Heart as the Pot of Manna was laid up in the Ark he can abundantly utter the Memory of God's great goodness Psal 145.7 The New Creature is as a Phylactery to prompt and put him in mind of God's Law Numb 15.39 If he hath not a great Memory yet he hath a good Memory God brings Sins to remembrance committed many Years ago and the Soul is humbled for them as if but newly committed and though sometimes the best of God's Children are subject to slippery Memories and do need Monitors yet they have Minds clarified and apt to be tenacious of the things of God 2 Pet. 3.1 I stir up your pure minds by way remembrance An hint will bring God and good things into their Thoughts again but wicked men are described by this Character of forgetting God Psal 50.22 Do you make it your business to remember God upon your Beds and in all Places Psal 63.6 3. The New Creature hath a new Councellor formerly the Soul consulted with carnal Interest and base and by-ends even in things of Religion if the Practice of Religion did cross his low and selfish Designs he laid it down but as soon as this Principle is put within him he saith as Paul immediately I conferred not with Flesh and Blood Gal. 1.16 God's glory the good of his own and others Souls lay uppermost Now the Christian goes to the Sanctuary in arduous cases Psal 73.14 and makes the Scriptures those divine Oracles the chief Counsellors Psal 119.24 in his Works Natural Civil Spiritual and dare venture upon nothing but what he hath warrant from God for not What saith this Friend or the other Relation but what saith God in the case directly or by good Consequence See the difference betwixt good Jehoshaphat and Ahab 1 King 22.5 6. the former said Enquire I pray thee at the Word of the Lord to day The other made nothing of it they soâ—n forgat his Works they waited not for his Counsel Psal 108.13 And God gives them up to walk in their own Counsels Psal 81.12 4. The New Creature hath new Admiration the Carnal Heart wonders at trifling Novelties David prays Open thou mine Eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law Psal 119.18 There indeed he spies wonders of Power Wisdom Holiness Faithfulness and a display of all God's Attributes but especially of free Grace and Love in the Work of Redemption he sees no reason to admire any thing but things
low but aim high conclude you have not attained to Perfection Phil. 3.13 15. Rom. 12. but still be designing it be not high-minded yet mind highest things aspire to be better then others yet esteem others better than you Phil. 2.3 4. 9. Do all you must not all you may Eph. 5.15.1 Cor. 10.23 walk to the height of a Command not to the utmost of lawful liberty go not near the Pit's brink stand fast in your Christian liberty Gal. 5.1 13. but do not always use it 10. Be best when others are worst be as Noah in the Old World Gen. 6.9 19. Lot in Sodom Timothy in Ephesus Joshua among the Israelites be hottest in coldest Weather brightest in the darkest Night Savour of Heaven in Hell Neh. 5 20-5.15 Phil. 2.15 11. Be Rational when most Spiritual do nothing at hap-hazard or with a blind Zeal let all Services be reasonable Rom. 12.1 Ezek. 18. God's Will is our Rule and his ways are equal the highest Reason in Man is to comply with God's pleasure 12. Naturalize Religion and Spiritualize the World let Godliness be as second nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Phil. 2.20 Let common Objects Occurrences be well improved to good Ends and Purposes Mercies Afflictions Spiritual Chymists turn all to Gold Rom. 8.28 13. Be dead living and lively in thoughts of Death Col. 3.3 Gal. 6.14 A Child of God is a Paradox dead to the World crucified yet the most active and vigorous Person in the World you must have the best Death and best Life then fear not Death 14. Suit Grace to every case in confessing Sin mourn in begging Mercy working Desires in Thanksgiving Joyfulness yet rejoyce with trembling 1 Cor. 15.30 55. Heb. 2.14 Psal 38.18 Matth. 5.4 Psal 2.11 Phil. 1.2 Psal 26.12 in Prosperity have Humility in Adversity Contentment your Foot must still stand in an even place 15. Let your life be a Comment on your Faith let your believing and living be harmonious let Doctrine of Faith Grace of Faith Life of Faith sweetly correspond Doctrine according to Godliness Godliness according to Truth James 2.18 1 Tim. 1.5 Tit. 1.1 Rom. 2.18 23 24. Jer. 32.19 Let not Head and Hands be contradictory 16. Eye God that eyes you in all you do think the King of Heaven sees thee the Omnipresent God is in the room with thee the Omniscient God knows thy Heart approve thy Heart to God let thine Eyes be ever on him towards him Psal 35.15.26 3. 17. Eccho to divine Calls when God hath a Mouth to speak have an Ear Tongue say Here I am Word or Rod a call to Duty from Sin what 's the meaning of this Oh that I could attain God's end and not resist or quench the holy Spirit 1 Sam. 3. Psal 27.8 Mich. 6.9 1 Thes 5.19 18. Observe and make up daily decays keep up your Watch that you sin not Matth. 26.41.1 John 2.2 But if you sin lie not in it but rise mourn act Faith on Christ your great Advocate let not an ill matter go on quickly recover your first Love Rev. 2.4 5. 19. Give no Offence carelesly and take no Offence causlesly let there be no occasion of stumbling in you 1 John 2.10 Matth. 7.1 Judge not uncharitably take all that 's said and done by the right handle make no sinister Constructions 1 Cor. 10.32 20. When you have done all Luke 17.10 Phil. 3.7 8. Say all this is as nothing at all to appease God's Wrath or satisfie Justice in an absolute Sense and to do what 's required in a comparative sense without Christ I can do nothing John 15.5 Thus I have briefly touch'd the Rules of this New Creature which I leave to the Reader 's further Consideration and Practice Chap. XIV An ANSWER to some Cases of Conscience 4. THe last Head which I propounded in this Use of Instruction is Answering some Cases of Conscience that Godly Souls are apt to make in this case wherein I must be very brief 1st Case Whether is it possible that a Man can be a New Creature and not know it since it is so remarkable a change Answ I have hinted at this before but observe it you must distinguish betwixt a reflexive sense of a change in Heart and Life and a due apprehension of this change morally considered as Saving many a Soul can truly say something hath been done but I know not whether the thing which may be entituled A New Creature I am much in the dark about it I cannot but say I have had Convictions and something like Conversion though not Consolation I am kept still in innitency upon a Promise though I cannot say I have assurance of my Interest in the Covenant Precious Mr. Paul Bains could say Sustentation I have but Suavities Spiritual I do not experience So you may have the Root though not the Flower VVater of Sanctification though not the Oyl of Gladness wait on God and in due time you may have this cleared up to you If you follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the Morning Hos 6.3 Grace and Peace shall not be long parted Light is sown for the Righteous and Joy for the upright in Heart Psal 97.11 It 's not lost but laid up and hid in the Furrows of the Believer's Bosom 2d Case Whether is it possible that he that 's a New Creature should have a self-accusing self-condemning Conscience Answ You must distinguish of Consciences condemning a man's self 1. Passively when our Hearts censure us and we stifle them such a one indeed is self-condemned 2. If we be Active in condemning our selves it 's a good Sign and a great Duty as we shewed before but the meaning of this Query refers to the State of the Man whether the Conscience of a New Creature may censure the real Christian and tell him he is an Hypocrite To which I Answer If Conscience act according to the Rule of the VVord it must be regarded as God's Officer speaking by his authority but if it speak not in God's Name and by his order we may appeal to the Higher Court of the Holy Scriptures and it 's certain that Conscience may be corrupted and it is often used by Satan to deceive good Men as well as bad and they shall at last have their action against Satan for false Imprisonment and disturbing their Peace Your best course therefore is to have recourse to the VVord for Conscience is but an under Officer and must be accountable for its Verdict Remember it 's one thing to have Hypocrisie in thy Heart another thing to be an Hypocrite the best will find much Guilt within them which Conscience rebukes them for and they bewail it but they are not therefore Hypocrites 3d. Case Whether may God carry it strangely as if he were an Enemy to a New Creature that should seem to be his darling Answ Thou art a Stranger to Scripture and the Experiences of all God's Children if thou think God must always be dandling this
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.