creating word of God which is the immortall seede in the worke of regeneration Fourthly for the order in that the light was first made the first word that God spake was Let there be light and it was so So the beginning of this Creation is an infused light of knowledge Col. 3. 10. The image is renewed in knowledge and never could a world of beleevers have beene created or a Church raised but by the light of the Gospel Fiftly for the quality in that Creation all that GOD made was exceeding good but here is a further degree of goodnesse to which new creatures are made farre beyond them They were all exceeding good in their naturall goodnesse but this in a spirituall and supernaturall goodnesse And whereas man was made to the image of God hee is here also framed to the image of him that created him Col. 3. 10. But with this addition that he is now created to a more sure estate in that image Sixthly for relation in that the creature had absolute dependance on the Creatour for his being and wel-being as also for his working so this new creature must absolutely depend upon God both for new qualities and every new act and the motions of them for we also live and move and have being in him alone For as all motion is from the power of some first mover so must our dependance bee on him as well for working and moving in grace as for our being and beginning in it Thus we see what is meant by the new Creature and why so called The second generall point is how this new Creature may bee knowne seeing it is a note by which a man must discerne himselfe to be in Christ. Answ. A new Creature may be discerned by foure properties 1 By a new light of sound and saving knowledge for here the work beginneth This knowledge is not naturall nor historicall nor a generall knowledge of points in Divinity which even the devils are not without nor a bare knowledge in the Theory or speculation of divine things but a sound and saving knowledge whereby the mysteries of Gods Kingdome are not onely revealed but applyed and locked up to the change of the man into it selfe it transformeth a man into the image of Christ from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. 10. It is a practicall knowledge that keepeth a man from every evill way Pro. 2. and a wisedome full of mercy and good fruits Iames 3. 17. Then are ignorant persons no new creatures nor persons inlightned but not changed but haters of knowledge and the meanes are much lesse new Creatures Secondly because no creature can be both old and new at once the new creation may be known by the passing away of all things 2 Cor. 5. 17. In the old creature was a generall leprosie of sinne spread over all the parts and if this bee not in part cured thou art no new Creature No man can put the new man upon the old but must first put off the old man Ephes. 4. 22. Called the old conversation in times past 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So as if the old Adam live and prosper in thee thou art no new creature If thou beest as earthly minded as once thou wast if thy will be carried against the will of God if thy affections settle upon earthly and vaine things onely or principally if thy conversion be to the fashions of the world and thou livest according to nature thou didest never attaine this happy estate by new creation Here is no patching of a new peece upon an old if thou beest the same man thou wast borne thou hast no part in this businesse Thirdly in a new Creature the whole is created a new All things are now new first grace is totall in all parts as in the birth of a child the whole child is borne in all the parts This worke of Creation Christ compareth to the leaven hid in three peckes of meale till all bee leavened so God by a secret but powerfull worke changeth the whole man and all the parts I say the whole and parts of the new Creature are renewed and have attained a new nature which is called 2 Pet. 1. 4. a divine nature standing of divine and heavenly qualities The new Creature is sanctified throughout in spirit soule and body all is new both within and without See it in the particulars and apply them First the new Creature hath a new life by which it liveth now the life of God that is whereby God liveth in his Saints and the life of Christ from which hee was a stranger Hee liveth now the life of grace which when it is perfect in heaven doth become the life of glory hee hath begun eternall life below Secondly a new birth the new Creature is now borne of a new Father begetting him which is God by his Minister and a new mother sucking and feeding him which is the Church by her two breasts and Testaments Thirdly a new soule and here God beginneth wherein this condition differeth from the other there God made the body first and then breathed a living soule but here hee maketh the soule new first and worketh first a new spirit without guile or raigning hypocrisie secondly a new judgement or a new manner of esteeming things those things he accounted advantage are now losse he esteemeth of all things as they are helps to heaven thirdly new desires before hee desired earth profits and sinfull lusts to live at large out of the sight of God but now he desireth freedome from sin puritie of nature pardon of sinne the presence of God in his ordinances the comming of Christ the prosperity of the Gospel the salvation of all Gods people Fourthly new affections As First new joy in the law of God in Gods ordicances of Word and Sacraments Psal. 122. 1. in Gods people that excel in vertue yea and in afflictions for well-doing Rom. 5. 5. Thus he could never joy before Secondly new sorrowes not now for worldly things losses crosses shame sicknesse but for sin for want or weaknes of grace for spirituall judgements more than temporall for Iosephs affliction when the enemy prevaileth against the Church when Gods wrath breaketh out against his people Incourage thy selfe in these sorrowes which are a part of the new Creature Thirdly new love where hee most hated he loveth God most of all he loveth to obey him even when hee doth not hee loveth most that which most crosseth his owne nature thē smitings of the Word the crosse of Christ mortification fasting prayer Hee loveth dearely the honour of God and the place where his honour dwelleth he loveth the way to happinesse as well as happinesse it selfe Fourthly new hatred he hateth his sin as the greatest evill and his owne sinne more than another mans yea his most secret and deare sinnes most of all he hateth not persons now but sins he hateth all
Thirdly the want of this blessed worke strippeth us of all comfort at once and better were it to be no creature as no new creature First for the present if we be not new creatures wee usurpe all that we have because we have nothing in and by Christ For looke what tenure we had in the old Adam we have forfeited all nay the more endowments wee have of knowledge riches meanes place authority if not in Christ the greater will the abuse of them and consequently our owne damnation be Secondly for time to come it strippeth a man of all comfort of heaven of happinesse for except a man be borne a new hee shall never see the Kingdome of God To him that is not in Christ there is no hope of salvation and that not as a professed member but as one tied to the head first flesh and bloud shal not inherit the Kingdome of God Hearken silly people that have nothing more ordinary in your mouthes than this That God that made me will save me God saveth thee not because he made thee once unlesse hee make thee againe God saveth no man because he is his creature for who is not but because hee is a new creature if thou beest not created againe in the second Adam as thou wert once in the first thou canst not be saved Fourthly every wise man will lay out most diligently for that which will most bestead him and that which hee esteemeth best for himselfe and for his good and lasting estate Now if a man aske the Word what is the best thing in all the world it answereth us a new Creature Looke upon the heavens earth man beasts or any other creatures they are all old creatures and waxe old as a garment and tend all to dissolution they being not lasting themselves cannot yeeld a lasting happinesse Looke upon Princes Nobles Friends Wives Children where a man looketh for most content all flesh is grasse waxeth old and withereth Looke upon all the meanes and supports of life suppose it were Mannah from heaven and water out of the rocke this cannot preserve us from waxing old nor from dissolution the Fathers did eate Mannah and are dead onely the worke of sound grace in us which frameth us to be new creatures shall outlast the world The poorest man in the world with the least measure of sound grace shall outlast the Noble and Rich with contempt of the honours and profits of the world seeing this workemanship is ever new and falleth not to ruine as the former doe Secondly this is that which wee must sticke unto in time of temptation and triall for this creation and workemanship no created force can deface or demolish no more than any kinde of creature can be destroyed out of the world by all the power and art of men The gates of hell cannot prevaile against it he that giveth this creature a being continueth it in being Sometimes Sathan would make the childe of God beleeve that the whole worke is defaced and fallen to pieces Object Oh thou hast no grace at all but a vaine conceit of it or if thou hast any faith it is so weake it shall not hold out Ans. Yes but first I have faith and grace for I desire to beleeve and will hope above hope and above all that I can feele A sincere desire of good argueth a presence of that same good desired in some measure Secondly this smoaking Week shall not be quenched but dressed to clearenesse Thirdly though my selfe bee weake to hold any grace that I have yet I know that God who created it will uphold it his covenant is that as certainely as he created the heavens so certainely he will save Israel and put forth as mighty a power for the saving of his new creation as hee did in spreading the heavens at first Jsay 45. 17 18. Fourthly though I feele and confesse my grace to bee weake yet grace is not a ground of comfort to me as it is great or little but as it is an argument that I am in Christ who is my strength and salvation and in whom I have right to a new heaven and a new earth in which dwelleth righteousnesse Thirdly this is that which we must sticke unto for solid comfort in the day of death and of judgement first when thou gaspest for life this new workemanship will onely make thee able to commend thy selfe confidently to him as unto a faithfull creator a new death attendeth a new life secondly in the day of judgement this will make thee lift up thy head for there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ but thee the Lord will then bring with him to take possession of that new heaven wherein they shall be ever with the Lord. Fiftly without this new creature is no salvation Revelat. 21. 27. No uncleane thing can enter without holinesse no man shall see God O then stand not on any thing else Many things may bring thee in account with men but nothing but this into account with God not temporall or carnall but spirituall and internall First stand not on kindred that is a respect of old Adam no comfort in being of that old house but of a new family of the bloud of Christ. Maries highest priviledge was to beare Christ in her heart Secondly nor upon wealth if not rich in God in grace in good workes for that is a piece of the old earth Thirdly nor upon calling if Kings Prophets Apostles if not Kings and Prophets to God in Christ all are one Fourthly nor upon Circumcision Baptisme if a broken vow nor in profession as did the foolish Virgins wanting oyle Fifthly nor upon illumination and hearing the new Creature is not only illumination of mind but renovation of will See there be a new heart Sixthly nor an idle and fruitlesse course in Christianity Look to a new life that thou be a new lumpe and to a new course else thou art no new Creature When I see a Christian stand as an image in the Church without the powerfull motion of godlinesse can I thinke him a new Creature No as God inspired a living soule into the old Adam so here and motion is inseparable to life and all the motion is towards heaven Now having heard first what this new Creature is secondly the notes of him thirdly the meanes to be one fourthly the reasons of this new creation The Vse is first for instruction The worke of grace is a worke of Almighty power for it is a Creation and so peculiar to God alone To regenerate a man is as mighty a worke as to create a world nay more howsoever in Gods power simply considered nothing is easier or harder who could as easily have made so many worlds as creatures yet quâ—ad nos in respect of our judgement it must require a stronger power to create a new heart than to create a new world For as it is more easie for a Potter or Glasse
man to make a whole house full of pots or glasses than to take one broken all to peeces to set the sâ—eards together as strong and handsome as they were so is it here For wee may conceive a higher power First in setting an eternall frame than a temporary Secondly where a greater opposition and resistance is as here there being none in the other Thirdly that creation was to make something of nothing here of worse than nothing Fourthly in that Christ made man by a word but to this Christ must bee made a man and set his arme to his Word Luke 1. 51. Yea hee must set his side to it and sweat droppes of water and bloud before hee can produce it Fifthly as that was out of nothing so it cost nothing but this cost a greater price than heaven or earth could containe for God must shed his bloud to redeeme his Church Sixthly that was done in sixe dayes this is not perfected of a long time being done by degrees the whole life after conversion is little enough for it Seventhly that was one powerfull miracle but in every new creature are a number of miracles in every one a blinde man restored to sight a deafe man to hearing a man possessed with many devils dispossessed yea a dead man as Lazarns raised from the dead in every one a stone turned into flesh From this creating power I gather these conclusions First that the worke of Gods grace where God pleaseth to worke it can neither be resisted nor frustrated What Creature could resist the being and forming of it selfe Indeed before the worke of grace commeth wee cannot but resist it but in the instant of grace wee neither can nor will resist For God that found no will to grace hath made a will and doth so over-power and over-rule it as that Paul being converted shall as willingly preach Christ as ever before he persecuted him And no marvell seeing the Workeman is the spirit of strength and fortitude and the instruments which hee useth are mightie through God to cast downe all contrarieties The late refiners of Palegianisme and Popery followers of Arminius lest they should lose all nature hold the doctrine of free-will in man to his own conversion and say that possitis omnibus operationibus quibus ad conversionem in nobis operandam utitur Deus manet tamen ipsa conversio ità in nostra potestate ut possumus non converti that is Grant all the operations which God useth to worke conversion in us yet conversion so abideth in our owne power that we may be not converted and perpetually put a resistability in mans will to frustrate Gods worke of conversion Which rightly and plainly in few words to conceive First wee deny not but there is a rebellion and a resistance of grace in depraved nature quantum in se est that is so farre as it can to hinder grace Act. 7. You have alwayes resisted the Holy Ghost as your fathers did Nay in the regenerate themselves the flesh lusteth against the spirit Secondly but though wee grant some act of resisting yet wee deny any such resistance as is superans and prorsus impediens that is there is no such power or resistance in corruption as to frustrate Gods intention or altogether hinder the efficacy of his grace where he will put it forth so as it may remaine in our power to bee converted or not Which wee may prove by these testimonies of Scripture Ier. 31. 18 Convert me I shal be converted therfore the Lord worketh inresistably Ezek. 36. 26 A new heart I will give you Ob. Yea hee may give it but we may resist the gift and choose whether we will receive it Answ. No saith the text I will make you walke in my Statutes Acts. 16. 14. God opened the heart of Lidia Ob. Shee might have resisted Answer No the metaphor is taken from opening a doore or locke and hee that is the opener is hee that hath the key of David and hee openeth and no man shutteth Revelat 3. 7 which is as much as to say hee worketh irresistably Reason 1. If mans corruption could hinder the worke of Grace where God is pleased to worke it then Gods counsell and decree may bee hindred and frustrate for the Lord never intendeth any execution or action without any eternall decree But this position is contrary to Scripture Isay. 46. 10. My counsell shall stand Isay 14. 27. Hath the LORD determined who shall frustrate it Therefore the Lord effecteth his counsell irresistably Secondly if mans corrupt will can hinder the efficacy of Gods Grace where hee will please to bestow it then the corrupt and finite will of man is of more power than the omnipotent power of God which hee alwaies putteth forth in the worke of mans conversion Ephes. 1. 19. The Apostle prayeth they may know what is the greatnesse of the power of God in them that beleeve Why how great even the same which hee put forth when hee raised Christ from the dead and the same power hee putteth forth in raysing us from the dead Who ever saw a dead man either helpe or hinder his owne quickning So as we conclude this putting of GODS grace and aid under the power of man and the not putting of mans will under the power of him who quickneth where hee will Iohn 5. 21. to say that God by his omnipotent power doth not incline our wils to his will or that hee hath not our wills more in his power than our selves have all this is the Pelagian Heresie Let sharpe wits busie themselves in it as much as they will God setteth not forth his grace as Chapmen doe their wares to see whether a customer will chuse and buy or not Is his power almighty then it is not resistable If it be resisted how is it almighty Object But the word which is the meanes of creation may be resisted Answ. 1. The word it selfe without the presence and concomitance of the spirit is not an able instrument of conversion for Paul is nothing Appollos nothing Secondly the word as an ordained instrument of Gods will to effect this or that attended with the spirit of fortitude can no more bee resisted than the omnipotent will of God but now it doth ever that for which it is sent Isa. 55. Conclus 2. The gift of saving grace is no exciting or reviving grace as Papists and Pelagians teach but it is more even a creating grace which is a framing of something out of flat nothing in grace and godlinesse If it were so that every man had such an internum principium that is an inward principle as they speake of to dispose himselfe to will that which is truely good or if a man were but halfe dead and wounded as the Samaritan here were no creation If in conversion Christ onely removed an impediment as the Goaler when hee taketh off the prisoners shackles and
hee were only an instrument to helpe us to save our selves this were to cease to bee a second creator But Christ remaineth a Saviour and hath not resigned his worke over to us to bee Saviours of our selves Conclus 3. Nothing in us either in being or foreseene to bee in us was any cause of Gods decree thus to create us the second time more than the first for Creatio est causa totius entis that is Creation is the cause of the whole beeing secondly what faith or good workes could bee foreseene in them who were all in a forelorne and lost estate All the sonnes of the first Adam must needes bee beheld in the state of sin and death before the second Adam take them in hand thirdly Non ens nihil agit adens that is That which hath no beeing doth nothing to a beeing How can that which hath no beeing at all perswade to the being of it selfe Concl. 4. Neither the Word nor Sacraments have any power in themselves to conferre grace This were to Idolize them and to set them up for gods The Minister may allure and perswade grace but Gods power must worke it For what is Paul what is Apollos if God give not the increase In the ministery may bee suavis motus but in God only is fortius tractus that is in the ministery is a sweet motion but God onely strongly drawes us and then wee run after him Cant. 1. 3. Objection The Gospel is the power of GOD to salvation Rom. 1. Answer That is only when the Lord in it putteth forth this creating power else it becommeth a savour of death unto death For in this ministery God onely must bee depended on for working and increasing of Grace He must bee of infinite power that can conferre grace for it is a creation Is creation to bee ascribed to any power which is not almighty Gods grace raiseth dead men in sinnes can any but the almighty power do this It rescueth us from the strong man that keepeth hold till a stronger come and must it not bee an almighty power that must doe this It lifteth us to an unutterable glorious estate in heaven must not this be the working of an almighty power Esteeme therefore the ministery Gods instrument but all the power to be from God as in Lazarus raising the principall efficient was Gods Almighty power the voyce was his instrument which power by his voyce restored the spirit of naturall life to this dead body Conclus 5. It is not in our owne power to repent when wee will nor so soone done as wee thinke nor so easie a thing as most conceive For it is a creation a worke of almighty power A worke of as much difficulty to make a new heart as a new world There needeth no such power to worke such a fancie as men dreame Repentance to bee to this worke the same power is required as commanded light out of darkenesse the same power which raised Christ out of the earth and lifted him to heaven Colos. 1. 12. Tellest thou me that thou canst repent when thou list I will assoone beleeve thee to tell mee thou canst make a world when thou listest Conclusion 6. Whosoever is a new creature may finde in himselfe the effects of this mighty power When God had created the world a man could looke nō where but hee should espie the effects of God his Almighty power in severall kindes of creatures First a number of things which were dead were now quickned with life so must every new creature bee called effectually out of the death of sin and finde in himselfe a new life that he may truly say after a sort as Christ I was dead but am alive Revelat. 1. 18. Though it be with him as it was with Lazarus after hee was raised that hee carry a while the bands and napkins of death about him yet hee hath heard the voyce of Christ quickning him and hee is alive againe Secondly Gods power appeared in inlightening of the world at first so must thou finde this second creation powerfull in the understanding changing it and inabling it to discerne the things of God though contrary to sense and nature yea foolish and absurd to reason Every new creature must truely say with the blinde man Iohn 2. Where as I was blinde I am sure I see and get his eyes daily cleered to see Gods favour smiting killing to espie righteousnesse in a cloude of miserable earth heaven in the midst of hell In looking upon the creatures the nearer Adam could behold them the more did the power of God shine in every part of every creature so in this new creature The greatest power is most observable in the most noble faculties and abilities Thirdly what a power discovered it selfe in the change of that confusion in such rankes or orders of the creatures And no lesse power is seene in the change of the new creature Of a Lyon hee is become a Lambe of a proud rebell hee is become humble and lowly as hard a thing as it is for a Cammell to passe through a Needles eye a stronge is come to cast out those confusions of lust and concupiscence once so powerfull commanders over us Fourthly What a power is discovered in upholding the creatures in their kinde so here in the new creature to continue and uphold the worke of grace in the middest of our corruptions is as strange and powerfull as to make fire burne and increase in the water Fifthly what a power is put forth in ordering the severall wils of the severall creatures So in the new Creature who readily denyeth his owne will reason wisedome liberty life and all to give up it selfe to Gods will in all things How marveilous is it that of so rebellious a will it should bee framed to cheerefull obedience of Gods commandements thinking none of them grievous Sixthly what mighty and divine power is that that over-ruleth all the motions of the creatures which else would turne to the dissolution of the whole The same is put forth in the motions of the new creature inward and outward To quicken us with heavenly desires and affctions is not lesse wonderous than to see lead flying upward or iron float on the water as to love GOD and his Word and ministers all which set themselves against the swinge of corrupt nature of his deare and profitable sinnes To make Gods ordinances worship Sabbath his delight to which hee was as heavy as a Beare to a stake To rejoyce in losses and crosses for Christ rather than feare them which nature in times past hated above hell To hate the workes of the flesh which formerly were meate and drinke and sweet morsels under the tongue and thought it as necessary as water to a fish Here is Digitus Dei Gods finger a workemanship of God a new creature Seventhly how mightily did Gods power manifest it selfe in over-comming all
diligent in the calling of a new creature that is the calling of a Christian Wee must neither be idle nor unfruitfull in the worke of the Lord. This is a notable meanes to attaine to the perfection of the new creature For as every creature in nature mooveth from imperfect to perfect so it is in grace which our Saviour expresseth by the corne in the field Marke 4. which first riseth to a blade and then moveth to an eare and then to ripe corne in the eare So the new creature riseth by degrees to perfction The exercise of the body causeth growth which is not so much action as strength of action Not the trade but diligence in the trade and calling increaseth the stroke The diligent hand maketh rich so diligence in the meanes of grace and earnestnesse in good things addeth unto the stocke of grace Therefore as Paul forgetting what is behind let us presse hard to the marke and high calling Phil. 3. 13. Fourthly to demeane our selves as new creatures we must converse among new creatures Every creature by nature gather to their likes Birds of a feather Beasts of one kinde For every Creature hath agreement and sympathy with his kinde and things thrive best among their like Even so the new man will be among new men A Dove of Christ cannot affect nor thrive to live among Ravens Nor the Sheep of Christ among the Swine that wallow in earthlinesse and lust The new creature contemneth a vile person but honoureth them that feare the Lord. First joyne thy selfe now to the societie of the Saints For as the Lord at first made man a sociable creature above all the rest so when hee maketh him a new creature it is not to thrust him into a cloyster but to live in holy and fruitfull society and shine as lights not thrust under bushels but set in candlestickes in the midst of a froward generation Secondly admire this new workemanship in the meanest beginnings of grace and that in the meanest professor of godlinesse and honour it above the creation of a Duke or a Prince that professeth against it Esteeme a godly man not according to his first birth but according to his new birth I know no man after the flesh saith Paul that is not according to their minority in the first creation but according to the state into which they are new borne and brought into by a second creation And therefore men despise the new creature because they see nothing but a peece of old earth upon them which is base in outward appearance And so they beheld Christ himselfe and saw no forme and beauty on him They gaze on the earthen vessell but see no hidden treasure Thirdly agreement in judgement and opinion knitteth men in societie Rom. 15. 6. The new Creatures have but one faith one Lord one hope one religion one profession And herein thou must agree with them Gal. 6. 16. They have one rule Hardly shall we finde a new Creature among the Papists who say they are of the old Religion which indeed in sundry senses may be called old though it be a new device and humane policy First because it is every way agreeable to the old man a pleaser of naturall corruption requiring nothing which corrupt nature will not willingly afford Secondly it may be said to be old because it can never beget a new creature Thirdly it is so old and doting as that it is tottering and falling to ruine as it selfe hath shifted long since off the foundation laid by the Prophets and Apostles Fourthly conformity and similitude of manners linke men together in good or evill Phil. 3. 17. Looke on them which walke so walke with the wise The surest band of societie in the new creature is the similitude of manners and converse in the communion of Saints where each one chooseth his companion for the grace of God hee espieth in him and from whom hee may hope to get good He never looketh to gather grapes of thornes nor figges of thistles and therefore his delight is in the fellowship of Saints in Gods house in their houses in publike duties of Gods worship in private duties of edification Who would looke for these new Creatures in Tavernes Play-houses Ale-houses places of riotous meeting and hellish resort where ordinarily is no mention of grace but to disgrace and wound it and all the friends of it Follow the light side of the cloud and not the darke side of it Fifthly to demeane our selves as new Creatures wee must live to the good of others No Creature liveth for it selfe but for the whole The Sunne shineth not for it selfe but for the world Trees beare not fruit for themselves Nor doe clouds breed raine for themselves but to water the earth So the new creature must not onely be good but doe good to others The Commandement is Gal. 6. Doe good unto all but especially to the houshold of Faith These trees of righteousnesse must be laden with fruits that every man may gather and taste A private man but a publike good Light is a most communicative and diffusive Creature and the more it imparteth it hath never the lesse Much more the light of grace it feares nothing so much as a bushell as truth feareth nothing but to be hid Aske thy selfe of what good use art thou in the world that professest thy selfe a new creature Art thou a private minded man a worldling a man without bowels and compassion a man without hands from whom nothing can be wrung for God for his Church his ministerie or any good use thou art farre from a new creature and as yet an unprofitable lumpe of earth without sense of Heaven Christs whole life was in doing good to all Vse 4. Let no man pretend his old man as a plea to maintaine his lusts Oh I was angry saith one and I cannot beare an injury it is my nature to be hastie And I saith another was overcome in company with drinke and my nature is to be soone overcome and so in other lusts But hast thou not now made a good plea is it not all one to say thou art no new Creature who hast nothing but nature in thee Why art thou a Christian and no new Creature Or a new creature without the spirit which lusteth and subdueth the rising of the flesh Others by the same plea excuse the sinnes of their callings Others doe so and I must doe as other men but a new Creature must differ from all old and sinfull courses Others follow the courses of the world with full spirits in every new disguised fashion of apparell in excessive pride in riotous gaming feasting c. and say it is the fashion course and custome of the age and time But wert thou a new creature thou wouldst not then plead for the old corruption of the world A new creature is called out of the world and hath a new constitution and
light without light and can I know God without Gods teaching 2 I see the more light the Creature hath the more excellent profitable and usefull it is the Starres more excellent than stones for their light the Sunne than the Starres Of stones the more light and shining the more price and value and vertue are they of So should I thinke of my selfe the more light of God and grace I can get sure the more worthy I am and of others as they excell in knowledge and grace so should I thinke of them as of stars which differ in glory according to the proportion of their light 3 I see the greater light obscure the lesse and it is absurd to light a candle to the Sunne Why then should I sticke unto worldly wisedome worldly comforts earthly contentments which are as candles to the Sun the great light of the day of heavenly wisedome spirituall comforts durable contentments 4 I see the light bringeth comfort and refreshing draweth all eyes unto it all Creatures follow it but hatefull Bats and Owles c. When I have slept all night the light wakeneth mee raiseth me to the actions of the day Oh what joy bringeth it to the soule when God sheweth himselfe lightsome to it should not his glorious light be the sweetest object of the eye of my soule Why should not this light awaken my soule and raise mee from the sleepe of sin and lusts If light goe away darkenesse succeedeth in darkenesse none can see the way before him O therefore why should not I lay fast hold of the Lord who is my light and walke in his light by which alone I can hold the plaine and direct way to eternall life and light 5. I see the light in an instant presenting it self as the lightning is suddenly dispersed from one side of heaven to another If I be in darkenesse and desertion the Lord my light can and will suddenly present himselfe with joy and comfort to my soule 6 Was I darkenesse now I am light in the Lord that is enlightned by the Word of truth 2. Enlightening others by holy instruction and conversation Thus we must be wary and walke as in the light In the Heavens consider wee all the light bodies as the 1. Sunne 2. Moone 3. Starres These rightly considered will bring much light to the eyes of the minde and though we have in the Church a superiour meanes by the voyce of the Scriptures yet wee may not despise the day breake because the noone is brighter Quest. But why doth the Prophet here not mention the Sun but the Moone and Starres Ans. When a man beholdeth the Moone and Stars the Sun is absent as in the night It seemes it was his manner to walke forth in the night season to behold and contemplate the Lords greatnesse and goodnesse in these servants of the night and wee should finde some times of the night not unfruitfully spent if wee would take up this practice But if the glory of God shine so much in these obscure lights and if David could so teach and admonish his heart by them how much more by the brightnesse of the Sunne And if David by day looke upon the Heavens as Psalme 19. 1. he can say The Heavens declare the glory of God because in them hee hath set a Tabernacle for the Sunne which commeth forth as a bridegroome out of his chamber arraied with nuptiall and glorious garments turning all eyes towards him and as a Gyant strong and speedy to make a swift and long course such as even our thoughts want wings to follow 1 When I behold the Sunne in his wounderfull magnitude being an hundred sixty and sixe times at least bigger than all the vast body of the earth how can I choose but be ledde unto the Lord and say Great is the Lord great is his power and there is no end of his goodnesse For how much greater is the Creator of the Sun and Heavens than the things created 2 When I behold the pulchritude and brightnesse of the Sunne which is such as blindeth and destroyeth my sight as too weake to behold it what infinite light and brightnesse must I conceive in the Father of lights in that bright and eternall Sunne who never setteth in whom is no shadow of change who can but here admire at the majesty of the Creatour 3 When I behold the Sun ever in his motion never standing still but by miracle never slacking his motion but alwayes keeping the same pace should not I learne to be constant in my motion never to be idle or make stop in my course or duty 2 When I see that God himselfe and his Word is as the soule and spring of the Suns motion hee commandeth him to come forth as a Gyant to run his race hee can stop him in his race and by a word command him to stand still or runne backe I must learne hereby to be sure that Gods Word as a soule giveth life to my actions my motions and courses I must move where his word bids mee I must stand and be every thing at his word 3 When I see the Sun in his motion keepe his bounds and zodiacke never going without his owne line but precisely keeping his course and not so much as slugging therein must not I learne hence to containe my selfe within the bounds of my calling and his command 4 When I see the Sun in all his motions carry heate light comfort and direction and is the chiefe ornament of this inferiour world and that he goeth no where but the world is better for him should not I in all my course strive to be profitable and by the light of my conversation be comforting directing and shining to others in good workes And when I see the Sun impart his light and shine unpartially on good and bad I must learne to doe good to all good bad friends enemies envying my light to none no more than the Sun doth his to any 4 Doe I see the Sun set every day and rise every day Salomon would have me see therein my owne misery and vanity Eccles. 1. 4. Thus hath the Sunne continued his course for many generations But I rise but once and have but one day of naturall life allotted me and if my selfe and others once set and the night of my life be come there is no more returning to this life 5 I see this glorious sun sometime clouded sometime eclipsed and this calleth on me to see the eclypse of heavenly light in my selfe my sin hath reached unto heaven and often inverteth even the order of nature in obscuring light bodies for light bodies not to shine is besides their nature As in the death of Christ God would let the world see her sinne in crucifying the Sonne of God Never see the Sunne hide his comfortable presence but confesse thou deservest never to see it any more 6 I see sometime the Sunne by his extreame heate
scorch and burne up the plants and fruits of the earth Herein our Lord in the Parable hath directed mans eyes to behold the persecution and affliction of the Church which often scorcheth the greennesse of grace and maketh many professors wither and fall away Cant. 1. 5. I am blacke for the Sunne hath looked on mee and indeed 1 The Sunne doth not more ordinarily or daily arise than persecution daily waiteth on the Word 2 As the Sun-beames diffuse and disperse themselves into every place and no man can hide himselfe from the heate of the Sunne Psalme 19. 3. So doe the beames of this Sunne of persecution dart into every place where the Sunne of grace shineth in the Church No godly man can hide himselfe from the heate of this Sunne but one time or other it will finde him out 3 The Sunne hath not more beames to scorch and dry up the moysture of the earth than Sathan and the wicked world have to dry up the moysture of grace where it is not sound sometimes by armies of inward and spirituall temptations sometimes by open tyranny and hostility That is not a true marke of a true Church which Bellarmine designeth outward splendor and prosperity but the Crosse and Persecution 7 But above all other the sweetest use of the Sunne is to see in it Iesus Christ the Sonne of righteousnesse Mal. 4. 2. Rev. 1. 12. For 1. As there is but one Sunne in the heavens so but one Sonne of righteousnesse the onely begotten Son of God Ioh. 1. 14. and as this Sunne is not onely light but the fountaine of light and in it selfe a body of most surpassing and shining light So Iesus Christ is light in his essence an heavenly light as the Sunne a light that none can reach or attaine the light of the world as the Sunne is a light in whom is no darkenesse so his face shineth as the brightest Sunne Rev. 1. 16. and as in the middest of Planets inlighteneth those that are about him 2. I see of all creatures the Sunne most admirable all the world admireth it A great part doe idolatrously adore it And the whole Church must admire her Sunne yea let all the Angels of heaven adore him as tenne thousand times passing the Sunne of the world For 1. That is but a meere creature though very glorious but this is the mighty God the maker of that 2 That serveth the outward man in things of this life But this the inward man in things spirituall and eternall 3 That riseth and shineth on good and bad but this onely on the good onely on his Ierusalem Esay 60. 1. 4 That rising obscureth the starres but this inlighteneth all beleevers who by his presence shine as lights in the worlds darknesse 5 That may be eclypsed and darkened and though it rise every day it every day setteth but this Sunne of the Church being eternall shall never lose or lessen his shine and glory and once risen shall never set more Esay 60. 20. 3. I admire the sunne for his purity and piercing nature the sun is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of many eyes who disperseth from himselfe on all sides infinite beames of light as so many eyes on every creature and none can hide it selfe from this great eye of the world and so pure that looking on all filthinesse contracteth none But how much more am I to admire the surpassing purity of Christ whose most piercing eye none can avoyde for all things are naked to him with whom we have to deale and so pure is this son that though hee was borne of sinners lived and conversed with sinners yea died with and for sinners and as a sinner yet no man could justly accuse him of sin but hee remained in his nature and life purer than the sun in his strength And must not the Saints imitate this their Son though they live amongst sinners and see much foule behaviour amongst men yet to keepe themselves pure in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation 4. I behold the Sunne a most powerfull creature for though his body be in heaven yet his comfortable beames reach to the extreame parts of the earth May I not now behold Iesus Christ being in heaven bodily and ascended thither in that his flesh yet by his spirit grace and power present with his Church in all parts of the world unto the end Mat. 28. 10. And as the Sun rising commeth forth as a Gyant to run his course and maketh such haste in his way as no created force can hinder him So this powerfull Sonne of his Church maketh haste in his way to her all created power of men and Angels cannot hinder him Hee skippeth over mountaines and hils in his haste unto her 5 What comfort have we by the sunne and shall we not have the same in Christ 1. Doth the sun drive away the darkenesse of the night and doth not Christ the thicke mists of sinnes the darkenesse of ignorance errour wrath damnation and of hell it selfe But for the sun of the world were a perpetuall night much more by the absence of this sunne of righteousnesse were it so in the Church 2. Doth the sun by his beames give direction for this naturall life c. So doth Iesus Christ by his beames of wisedome and grace directing us worke in us spirituall and heavenly life What can a man doe commendably without the Sunne So what is that wee can doe that can be acceptable without Christ 3. Is the sun under God the life quickner and comforter of the world otherwise dead and see â—e not Christ quickning al the elect dead in sins and trespasses warming them with beames of his love which as sunne-beames doe reflect backe on himselfe 4 Doth the Sun make and preserve the seasons of the yeare Summer Winter Spring Autumne See Iesus Christ having all seasons in his hand the seed-time of grace here that harvest of glory hereafter Hee appointeth the summer and prosperity of his Church and changeth it into a sharpe winter of adversity All vicissitudes and changes of the Church are appointed by his wisedome Daniel 2. 21. Whence wee may learne a number of duties As 1. Doe all creatures rejoyce in the Sun but hatefull Bats and Owles doe they follow the Sun thrive and prosper in the sunne turne after the sun as Mari-gold Dazy Turnesole c. Should not new creatures draw neere and follow this Sun to prosper it it Doe we open our windowes and doores to take in the beames of the Sun and not open the doores of our hearts for the Word that the beames from Christ may inlighten and warme us 2. When the Sun riseth men goe forth to labour When Christ our Sonne is risen and present in his offers and ordinances wee must worke and walke before the night come 3 Men in the Sun walke uprightly in a misty night to stumble and fall is more hurt than shame but to fall at noone is