resolve they will not do so whatever is said to confute and convince them of their errour but in that state they will abide in spite of God Angels and Men and that when God comes and proffers to Regenerate and make them New Creatures And hence it is that they stoutly and stubbornly resist and rise up in violent opposition against God and the word of his Grace disputing against and contending with him and the means he gives them for their change and in effect say we are well enough why should we trouble our selves yea why should God concern or trouble himself any further with us seeing we are in a state of Salvation already and may without any more ado be saved if God will Men are naturally such strangers to their own states as that they do not will not believe that Regeneration is needful and absolutely necessary for their Salvation or that it amounts to any more than a bare Reformation and change of practise Regeneration is such a Mystery and they are so captivated to their Ignorance Atheism and Unbelief as that they think it is but an idle story and a needlest thing especially if they are Moral honest men and great Professors of the Gospel Hence it was when Christ had to do with and intended to convert Nicodemus who was a Moral and Religious honest man that he presses the necessity of Regeneration on him with four Asseverations together Except a man namely thou and others be born again ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And marvel not at this ye must be born again Joh. 3.3.5.7 So in Matth. 18.3 Verily I say to you except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven And as they neither see nor believe in good earnest their need of Regeneration so they believe not that God hath a mind that he doth indeed propose intend or is really willing to Regenerate them but they dream as being under the power of their Infidelity and delusions and perswade themselves that whatever they read or hear Ministers report of these things that they are but Fictions and fancies of men and that there is no truth nor reality in it or if there be yet they are not concerned in what they say unto them for their effectual Conviction and Regeneration And therefore when Christ strives and his Ministers strive with them to get into their hearts and Regenerate them they defend themselves stand upon their ground and do all they can to prevent and hinder them Rom. 10. ult Heb. 3.1.15 Thus you see that Atheism and Unbelief is a Potent Enemy to Regeneration Secondly Hatred of God and Holiness and their great love strong and much endeared affection to their sins lusts and the world greatly opposes Regenerating Grace or the work of Regeneration in us That by Nature we are haters of God the Yoke of Christ and Power of Godliness you have heard before as also that we have great affection for and are much in love with our Lusts and the World Now that these are exceeding great Enemies to and obstructions of our Regeneration is evident in Luk. 14.16 17 18 19 20. God makes a Supper of Grace and favour for sinners makes it ready sets it on the Table and sends his Servants to invite them to come and eat but would they come no in no wise But why not why because they had other things to mind and as they thought of greater concernment One had a Wife another a Farm and another Oxen. These were the things they loved minded and so greatly delighted in these things lay so near their hearts as that they would not could not come nor could the most loving Invitation perswade them their worldly lusts were so strong This made them reject that Grace that was so freely and earnestly proffered them So Covetousness caused the young mâ—â— to reject Christ Grace and Heaven Luke 18.22 23 and made him resolve to lose all rather than forgo that bosom lust He stood it out stoutly and would not bow or yield an inch to Christ although his Life and Soul lay at stake for it And to the same purpose we read in Luk. 19.27 of some who were so wedded to their lusts and interests as that they peremptorily rejected Christs Yoke They preferred the service of Sin before the service of Christ and chose rather to have their Lusts to Reign over them than the Lord Jesus By Nature men are such Enemies to God and Godliness I mean the power of it as that they hate the Light that would shew them their errour acquaint them with God and bring to the saving knowledge of true happiness Joh. 3.19 20. And they are said to abhor God Zach. 11.8 and likewise the Word and Laws of God Levit. 26.15 The Scribes and Pharisees were Religious men and knew more than others did of the Will of God and yet they stifly opposed the Grace and Gospel of Christ that was brought to them for their Regeneration if they would accept it yea they hated the Lord Jesus Christ for proffering his Grace and Assistance to them and publishing the glad tydings of Salvation Joh. 15.24 25. And how desperately did the Jews set themselves against the Apostles Preaching Christ and Grace unto them what exceeding great enmity malignity malice and hatred did they express all along to and against their Preaching and tendering Christ and his Grace unto them for their Regeneration and Salvation you may see at large in the Acts. The Language of us all by Nature is we have loved strangers and after them we will go Jer. 2.25 and therefore as for the Word of the Lord which he hath spoken we will not do it Jer. 44.16 17. Moreover Pride is a strong and hostile Enemy to Regeneration Man is a very proud Creature and as full of Diabolical and Carnal Pride as a Toad is of Poyson This is the Lust that makes men scorn to come up to Christs terms or bow to his Proposals They disdain to be beholding to Free Grace for any thing and therefore will not hearken to any of Christs Offers Pride sets men in Battle-array against Christ to dispute and sight it out with him It is so strong a Fort such an impregnable Castle as that no strength can take and subdue it but Omnipotency that can do it but none else can Eph. 1.19 20. Psal 110.3 2 Cor. 10.4 5. This is the Lust that makes men so boldly and audaciously set their mouths against the Heavens Psal 73.9 and so pertinaciously contend with God it causes men to think highly of themselves and vilely of Christ Grace and a New State it makes them desperate and resolute in the way of their own hearts and turn a deaf Ear to the Lords Calls and Admonitions it causes them to trample on the Gospel Christ and his Blood and Righteousness and to harden their hearts against all reproofs and instructions All the Angels in Heaven or
when he proffers you the use and enjoyment of all They are your Priviledges and you need them Christ hath commanded you to observe them all and appointed to nourish comfort and educate your Souls in his Churches and with his Ordinances there Therefore do as the Primitive Converts were wont to do joyn your selves to some Church or Society of Regenerate Christians that there you may be fed with the Bread of Life The doors stand open for you and the Lord Jesus waâ—ts there for you to invite you in and welcom you You need the Lords Supper to strengthen and confirm you and the Communion of Saint 〈◊〉 a Church-state as means to secure and preserve you But I can only mention these things leaving the inlargement of them to your selves 6. If you find any good or profit to your Souls in and by my Ministry and Writing bless God and ascribe all the glory to him for all belongs to him and to him only But forget not to pray for me that I may be enabled by Divine Assistance to fulfil my Ministry and continue to hand out the Gospel of Salvation to you that the Name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified and your Souls profited and that I may be blameless before God and Men. 7. And lastly Continue in the good work and ways you have taken in hand and begun to walk in Have your eyes always to Jesus Christ keep fast hold of him and let your whole dependance be on him In him are all your Springs and it is he that hath the keeping of your Stock of Grace He can and will supply you with all Grace and preserve you unto his Heavenly Kingdom Therefore live upon and stay your selves on him Run your Race and finish your course in his hand and you shall obtain the End of your Faith the Salvation of your Souls Which that you may do is the prayer and earnest desire of Your Cordial Friend S. F. ETERNAL GLORIFICATION BEGUN IN REGENERATION OR A Discourse of Regeneration From John 3.3 Jesus answered and said unto him verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Beloved I Shall begin this Lecture which you have desired and are now waiting on with the Doctrin of Regeneration because it is one of the great fundamental and Soul-saving Doctrins that you should first understand and be early and experimentally acquainted withall Here God begun with Ignorant and unregenerate Nicodemus and here he begins to open the door of everlasting Life unto such as he will save and by Regeneration you must begin to seek for and expect Salvation and eternal Glory It is the Lords fixed and constant way to send down and infuse into the hearts of men the first fruits of Heaven in order to his possessing them in the fullness of everlasting Glory in Heaven The seeds of special grace sown in the Soul in Regeneration are the earnests and first fruits of Heavens glory And as it is a certain Truth that without Regeneration here men cannot be saved hereafter so it is as certain that whoever are really Regenerated here they shall be saved hereafter This is a Truth that nearly concerns every one of you and therefore requires your serious attention and consideration for here God will begin to save you if ever you be saved The words in the Text are spoken by Jesus Christ unto Nicodemus as you may read in the 1. 2. verses The subject matter of the Text is or contains Regeneration or the Renovation of men in order to their eternal Salvation and they are spoken to and intended for us as well as Nicodemus because we are all by nature in as had and miserable a condition as he and stand in as much need of Regeneration and the Doctrin thereof as Nicodemus did when Christ spake these words to him and therefore observe how Christ words the matter verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again That is unless thou Nicodemus to whom I do now immediately direct my Doctrin and other persons in thy present case and condition except a man that is thou or any other man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God so vers 5. And it is observable how the Lord Jesus ushers in the matter or Doctrin of Regeneration in the Text and vers 5. t is with a double asseveration verily verily Text and again verily verily 5. vers which informs us of these four things First that the matter of Christ was speaking of was a very great and weighty matter indeed and such as Nicodemus and other men were indispensibly bound on pain of eternal death to take notice of and concern themselves about with all possible diligence and faithfulness for it was for their Lives except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God that is he cannot be saved And therefore he quickens and provokes the minds of men to ponder the matter and lay it to heart by his verily and verily I say c. 2. That we are dull of hearing and slow of heart to believe and apply this great Doctrin to our own Souls but to imagin and fancy that we stand in no or very little need of it and therefore may overlook slight and neglect it as most men do 3. That the Lord Jesus is very serious hearty and earnest with men in perswading them to seek after Regeneration and that he doth really and unfainedly desire to see them serious in that so great concern of theirs and to labour after it to purpose 4. That there is such a thing as Regeneration and that men may be Regenerated if they will not slight and oppose it These and other such things were in the eye and heart of Christ towards men in speaking thus to them which he would have them believe and think on in his verilies I shall have occasion in my proceedures to speak further to this Text and therefore shall speak no more of it now but proceed to what I intend to commend to your serious considerations These are the most material heads I am to discourse on which I shall do by way of Question and Answer Quest What is Regeneration wherein does it consist or what does it contain or import Answ Regeneration is a special powerful and saving work of God on a sinner changing and renewing his whole man by infusing a measure of the Spirit and special grace of Christ into him through the Ministry of the Gospel and that for holy and gracious ends and purposes This is the best definition I can give you of Regeneration and I think it will serve and do well enough if rightly understood and improved by you If any material thing be found wanting it may be afterward supplied I shall take abroad the parts of the definition and briefly clear and prove it and then proceed First You have the Author and Worker of Regeneration that is God God is the
overthrows the Devils Kingdom as the blowing of the Rams horns did fell down the walls of Jericho By this means the dead are raised to Life the blind are made to see Acts 26.18 and deaf ears are unstoped By the Gospel men are Translated out of the Kingdom of darkness into Christ's Kingdom of Light 7. God Regenerates men to and for holy and gracious ends and purposes They are created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God had before ordained that they should walk in them Eph. 2.10 That they that live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him that dyed for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5.15 That they should walk in newness of Life and not serve sin Rom. 6.4 6. God Crowns them with and makes them the subject of his special grace that they may be Agents of his glory in bringing forth fruit worthy of their new state God hath great ends in bestowing great grace and special ends in giving special grace God honours and beautifies men with his grace that they may therewith adorn his Gospel and exalt his name By Regeneration God makes men loving and lovely and meetens them for communion with himself I have I think said enough to or of the definition of Regeneration therefore shall say no more of it in this place Quest. Pray explain the great work of Regeneration more fully and shew us what those works of God on men are that do not amount to or ordinarily Issue in Regeneration that so we may clearly understand what Regeneration is not and also what it is Answ I shall first shew what t is not 2. What it is more fully First Meer light in the head is not Regeneration For men may have much Spiritual light without Spirittual Life Some are enlightened who fall away from the truth and become Apostates Heb. 6.4 5 6. and after they have known the way of Righteousness do turn from the holy commands of God to their own wicked ways 2 Pet. 2.21 22. And we read of some who knew their Lords will but did it not Luk. 12.47 which shews that they were never Regenerated Secondly Men may have many and great convictions of sin and of their miserable and wretched conditions by reason thereof they may be under much trouble of Spirit and cry out with tears and heart-grief and they may mourn and be in bitterness of Soul in the sight of their sad case and perishing state and yet all may be blown over and come to nothing but end in sin and eternal death Pharoah crys out I am wicked Exod. 9.27 and Saul saw his wickedness and wept 1 Sam. 24.16 and confessed his sin 1 Sam. 26.21 Wicked Ahab had conviction of and was greatly troubled for his sin and humbled himself 1 King 21.27 28 29. so the Israelites in the Wilderness and afterward Judas was troubled and crys I have sinned Matth. 26.3 4. yet none of them were Regenerated Thirdly Men may greatly reform their ways and look like New Creatures their Conversations may be white while their hearts are black they may have a clean outside when they are foul and abominable within they may appear beautiful to men whilest they are but whited Sepulchres and full of all manner of wickedness within Mat. 23.25 26 27 28. they may be washed and yet be still Swine 2 Pet. 2.22 and they may go for Saints amongst men whilest they are Devils within Judas was so and the Lord Jesus tells us that many go in Sheeps cloathing but are indeed Wolves Matth. 7.15 Therefore meer Reformation is not Regeneration Thou mayst forsake many sins whilest thou lovest them and perform many duties that thou lovest not but loathest Herod was a Reformer he did many good things Mark 6.20 but he was not a New Man Fourthly Thou mayst have much spiritual joy and yet be still an unregenerate man Herod heard John preach with gladness Mark 6.20 The stony-ground hearers had joy for a time in the good ways of God Mat. 13.20 Thou mayst have many tasts of the good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come Hebr. 6.4 5. yea thou mayst have such tasts of the Heavenly Gift as to raise thy Soul to delight in drawing nigh to God in his Ordinances of Divine Worship and continue in thy unregenerate state Isa 58.2 Fifthly Thou mayst believe the truths of the Gospel and on the Lord Jesus Christ and yet be in an unregenerate state and condition Simon Magus believed when in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity Act. 8.13.23 The rockie hearers did believe a while but were afterward Apostates Luk. 8.13 Christ his hearers are said to believe on him Joh. 8.30 yet in verse 44. he calls them the children of the Devil Ye are says he of your Father the Devil and his works ye will do The Hypocrites mentioned in Psal 106.12 13 14. were said to believe and so may you have Faith and believe and yet be Hypocrites still You may think you do believe aright unto Salvation when in truth you do not but delude your own Souls Sixthly Thou mayst be much in hearing and praying and yet be an unregenerate man Herod was a hearer of John Mark 6.20 Hypocrites in Ezekiel were great hearers of him and he was to them as a very lovely Song Ezek. 33.30 31 32. The three bad grounds were all hearers of the Gospel Matth. 13 18-22 but not a good hearer amongst them they were all stark naught and so mayst thou be also who art a great hearer of good men and then for praying or rather saying of prayers thou mayst pray often and long and yet be an hypocrite and an unregenerate man yea thou mayst have the gift of prayer and yet be a graceless man The Scribes and Pharisees made many and long prayers Matth. 23.14 So the hypocrites we read of in Job Chap. 27.8.10 Many make such prayers as God abhors and will not hear Isa 1.14 15. Seventhly Thou mayst be very strict and very severe in fasting and afflicting thy self and yet be an unregenerate man The Scribes and Pharisees fasted and afflicted themselves in the height of their hypocrisie Luke 18.12 I fast twice in the week And wherefore have we fasted and afflicted our souls say the hypocrites in Isa 58.3 and the like they did in Babylon Zach. 7.5 6. Eighthly Thou mayst be a charitable man I mean thou mayst give much Alms to the poor and yet be an unregenerate man The Scribes and Pharisees did so Mat. 6.1 2. Luk. 18.12 Ninthly Thou mayst be a zealous man for and in Religion and yet be in an unregenerate state Paul was so before his Regeneration Act. 22.3 Gal. 1.14 The Jews had a zeal for God when in their blindness and hardness of heart Rom. 10.2 Thou mayst be of a warm zealous spirit even whilest thou hast a carnal unregenerate heart Tenthly Thou mayst have much Integrity and do many good things uprightly or without designed guile or fraud towards God
in a Regenerate state they are high noble and honourable They were wont to make the Lusts of the flesh of the eye and the pride of life the mark they shot at and the point scope and end of all their projects contrivements and endeavours but Regeneration hath sublimated and heightned their spirits caused them to see and carry on more worthy and glorious designs and ends their hearts are in measure suited to the Commands of God and the end of Christ his Death This the Apostle notably declares 2 Cor. 5.15 and that he died for all that they that live that is that are Regenerated and begotten again to a lively hope should not henceforth live unto themselves but to whom then why to him who died for them and rose again They are now partakers of the Divine Nature and are of a heavenly descent they are the spiritually natural and adopted Sons and Daughters of God the Off-spring and Royal Issue of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and therefore they must needs have aims ends and designs in their eyes and hearts according to their new Nature and Royal Spirits Now their Hearts and Souls are bent and set to live in the Court in the presence of the King to wait on and do homage to him to honour serve and please him to keep his favour and smiles of his countenance to know his pleasure and yield him free and chearful obedience thereunto to inrich themselves with his graces and Spirit and prepare themselves for full and everlasting Communion with himself Now they desire to hold up his Interest and Concerns in the world to inlarge and augment his Kingdom and to have their light so to shine in the world before men as that they may see their good works and be induced to glorifie God Matth. 5.16 These and such like glorious ends and designs are in the New Creatures eye but to live project and contrive to get and keep worldly riches honours pleasures beauty and a great name are things far beneath the Noble and excellent nature and spirit of the New Creature it is of a Christ-like Spirit and Nature and therefore it must of necessity have and design the same ends he doth Their old ends are passed away and new take place 5 New Rules or Laws Regeneration brings into a man and puts him under new Laws Orders and Rules All things are become new Before Regeneration they were ruled and governed by the will of the Flesh the counsels of the Flesh the suggestions of Satan and examples of carnal men and accordingly they walked and steered their course blest themselves in so doing promising peace and felicity to themselves in those ways of their own hearts Isa 66.3 1 Thes 5.3 But Regeneration puts into them and brings them under the Laws and Orders of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom into which they are translated Col. 1.3 The Laws written in the Gospel are by Regeneration written with the Finger of the Holy Ghost in their hearts so that now they have as it were two Bibles or Books of Laws the one in their hand the other in their hearts Jer. 31.33 Jer. 32.40 Heb. 8.10 11. Heb. 10.16 By these Laws and Rules they desire chuse and endeavour to walk under them to live and be subject to them and to none else The New Creature knows no other Lord Laws or Law-giver over it's Soul and Conscience but Christ it freely yields up its self to all chearful obedience to all his Laws and accounts it his happiness to walk by his Rules he honours them and is thankful for them These are his Laws upon choice and his obedience to them he esteems as a great priviledge and honour Deut. 4.8 He would not vary from them but have them continually before him in his eye heart and hand he makes them his delights and Councellours and they are the joy and rejoycing of his heart as David and Jeremy experienced When they vary from them or in any thing transgress them they are afflicted and when they conform to them they rejoyce Q. You said before that Regeneration signifies a change of state or a second state pray shew what is meant by a second or new state that Regeneration puts men into Answ I have shewed you already that Regeneration puts men into a new state of life it translates and raises them from spiritual death to spiritual life from darkness to light c. by the infusion of the Spirit Light and Life of Christ And several things have already been discoursed on which may not here be mentioned but shall refer you to what hath been said before Here I shall add secondly that Regeneration transplants men out of the old Adam into the new it takes them from the old stock and grafts them into the new out of the Earthy man and puts them into the Heavenly 1 Cor. 15. By Regeneration they are actually put into Christ and Christ into them they are taken out of the Kingdom of Satan and put into the Kingdom of Christ as these Scriptures shew Rom. 8.9 10. 2 Cor. 5.17 2 Cor. 13.5 Col. 1.13 Acts 26.18 Joh. 18.36 Men are first put into Christ by Election they are said to be chosen in Christ Eph. 1.4 and that before the Foundation of the World and they were united to Christ in his Incarnation when he took up our Nature into a Personal Union with the Divine but in Regeneration we are fully and compleatly actually and personally united to Christ with our own choise and free consent so that here is a great change indeed Regenerate persons are set into a new and living stock which will yield sufficient sap and nourishment to such grafts I am the Vine says Christ ye are the Branches Joh. 15.5 And hence it is that they bear much fruit unto Eternal Life after Regeneration Joh. 15.5 Joh. 4.36 By Regeneration we are made Subjects of his Kingdom and living Members of his Body 1 Cor. 6.15 Eph. 1. ult Eph. 5.30 They are now of another Kingdom and Corporation of another Root Stock and Body of another Family and Houshold Eph. 2.19 20. Thirdly Regeneration puts men into a state of liberty and freedom In their unregenerate state they are in bondage in prison and slavery to their Lusts Rom. 6.17 to Satan 2 Tim. 2. ult Eph. 2.2 They are also in bondage under the Law and enjoyned to keep every tittle of it on pain of Eternal Death Gal. 3.10 Rom. 6.14 They are also by Nature Children of wrath as they are sinners and transgressors of the Law Eph. 2.3 And they are as sinners under the damning Sentence of the Law Joh. 3.18 Moreover the Scripture tells us that all men while in their unregenerate states are Prisoners Isa 61.1 and Prisoners in the Pit Zach. 9.11 This and much more is their misery and bondage thraldom and slavery while in their state of sin but now Regeneration sets them at liberty and freedom Gal. 5.1.13 Christ hath by his
it may be said and that truly of all Regenerate persons that they are no more sinners although they sin but holy and beloved Col. 3.12 It is and may be called a state of Grace on many accounts I 'le name a few and so dismiss this Head 1. Because they are ingrafted into Christ who is their Root Revel 22.16 the Stock and Vine in whom they are set by Regeneration Job 15.2.5 2. Because they are in favour with God he loves the New Creature with the love of complacency and delight because it is his very Image and Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Col. 3.10 and he hath great favour and kindness for them as such Tit. 3.4 5. 3. Because they are under the Conduct and Power of Grace For as before sin reigned unto death in and over them so now the Grace of Christ reigns through righteousness unto Eternal Life Rom. 5. ult 4. Because of their Relation to God They were the Children of the Devil but now the Children of God So their new Relation puts them into a new State 5. Because of their work and service their work was to serve sin Rom. 6. but now to serve God It is now their only work and business to live unto God in all sincere Gospel-obedience Holiness is their Aim Trade and Principle 't is stated in their hearts moulded and framed there and expressed in their endeavours 6. Because they are in an abiding and lasting state it is not transient but their Regeneration shall be perfected in Glorification Phil. 1 6. Rom. 8.30 Thus you have heard what Regeneration is I have opened it as plainly as I can unto you that you may understand it and make a judgment of your own states whether you are indeed in a Regenerate state and condition CHAP. II. Shewing the absolute necessity of Regeneration Q. IS there an absolute necessity of Regeneration Answ Yea there is an absolute necessity of it We have it from the Mouth of Christ himself in the Text and verse 5. Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God And again Verily verily I say unto you except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And in vers 7. Marvel not that I said unto you you must be born again And this great Truth is confirmed as by the so often repeating and reiterating of it so likewise by no less than four Verities or Asseverations So that you see there is an absolute necessity of it But I shall not leave it so but further prove and demonstrate this great Truth that so much and so nearly concerns us all by shewing 1. The necessity of it from the ends and uses for which men were created and are regenerated 2. From the utter inability and incapacity they are in to obtain or prosecute those holy Ends of God whilest in their unregenerate states First let us enquire into the ends and uses of Gods Creations his first and second Creating work 1. Here. 2. Hereafter 1 God created Man in his own Image Gen. 1.26 27. He was pleased to make us glorious and excellent Creatures indeed God made man upright Eccl. 7.29 he stampt the impressions of his own Wisdom Knowledge Holiness and Righteousness on us he made us capable of knowing trusting loving pleasing and enjoying him for ever God Created us with pure and unspotted Natures with free and holy dispositions and inclinations with all abilities of will and power to will and do that which was good and pleasing in his sight and as such he delighted in us and was refreshed in our Communion with him Gen. 1.31 God looked on this Noble Piece of his Workmanship and tells us it was very good not only good as his other works were said to be Gen. 1.18.21 but saith God they are very good Hence it is that they are said to be Crown'd with Glory and Honour Psal 8.4 5. Now in allusion and conformity to this his first Creating of Man the Gospel informs us is his work in recreating or regenerating him They are Gods workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works Eph. 2.10 renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Col. 3.10 Eph. 4.24 Sanctified to the Lords use and made partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Thus the second Greation or Regeneration answers to the first is commensurate to it although in some things afterward to be spoken of it exceeds it and is the same with it in kind and degree in likeness and reality Secondly The ends of both these Creations are the same namely to glorifie God and enjoy him for ever Isa 43.21 This people have I formed for my self they shall shew forth my praise 2 Cor. 5.15 That they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto God 1 Cor. 10.31 Whatever ye do do all to the glory of God And as to glorifie him by living to him so also to live with him and enjoy him for ever 1 Thes 4.17 Joh. 17.24 2 Cor. 5 1-6 But more particularly 1 They were at first created in the Image of God to hold forth the great and distinguishing goodness of God to them beyond what it was to other Creatures for the Excellency and Glory of their Make and Nature their state and capacity loudly proclaims the Wisdom Power Soveraignty and Goodness of God to them All Creatures were as Clay in the hand of the Potter in his Eye and Hand to make and form of it what manner of Creatures he pleased But he was pleased to make and form Man of the dust of the ground put a reasonable Soul into him and stamp his own Image of Knowledge Righteousness and Holiness upon him that in this state and condition he might commend and shew forth the transcendent and glorious Excellency of the Maker Thus Man is said to be the Image and Glory of God 1 Cor. 11.7 so in Regeneration God declares and holds forth his distinguishing Love Wisdom Power and Soveraign Grace his Holiness and Righteousness by restoring them to their Primitive state and restamping his Image upon them after they had wickedly and shamefully defaced and utterly marr'd it by their own wicked inventions Eccl. 7. ult and that when they were his vile and hateful Enemies Rom. 5.10 By this work of God on them whom he Regenerates he holds forth his Soveraign Attributes especially his Soveraign Love and Power distinguishing Goodness and the exceeding riches of his Grace Eph. 2.4 5. Rom. 9.23 24. Rom. 11.33 Eph. 1.19 20. This is one of the glorious ends of God in Regenerating men 2 That they might trust in and live upon him This is a homage which all reasonable Creatures do owe to their Soveraign Creator namely to trust him with the keeping of themselves commit all to him and relye upon him for all things 1 Pet. 4. ult It was one of the Natural Laws that was concreated with them and put into their hearts in their first make
but slight and disesteem all without Regeneration Without Regeneration we cannot willingly be nothing that Christ may be all in all nor be laid in the dust and debased that he may be magnified and exalted nor suffer diminution to greaten him We cannot walk uprightly with God nor indeed set our affections on things above as we are indispensably bound to do without Regeneration We cannot walk humbly with God nor be adorned and cloathed with Humility be meek and of poor and contrite spirits without Regeneration Without Regeneration we cannot ought not be Church-members nor rightly participate of the Lords Supper For these great and distinguishing Priviledges belong to and were appointed only for New Creatures In a word we cannot be saved nor walk in the right way to Heaven nor have Communion with God here or hereafter without Regeneration And therefore Regeneration is absolutely needful for these all these and several other ends and purposes It is absolutely necessary that we be saved from wrath to come and instated in Eternal Glory and that in order thereunto we be Regenerated and made new Creatures That we be such indeed and so do and walk as hath been said in order to our glorifying of God here and Eternal Salvation hereafter which we cannot be do nor obtain but in and by Regeneration but in and by Regeneration we may and shall and that because God hath so appointed and promised it It is Gods fixed stated way and it shall stand inviolably namely that he will save men in and by Regeneration and that such as are Regenerated shall be saved and such as are not shall most certainly be damned Therefore let no man flatter himself with vain hopes of ever getting to Heaven in any other way for the purposes and Ordinances of God shall stand to all Generations and he will do all his pleasure Isa 46.10 11. He hath said it and shall he not do it Who can turn his hand or alter his mind and who durst say it shall not be so when he says it shall O how bold and daring are men that contradict God hoâ— audaciously presumptions are they who confidently expect Salvation hereafter without concerning themselves about Regeneration here Seeing God hath peremptorily resolved the case and told men so that unless they are born again they cannot shall not see the Kingdom of God Joh. 3. and that without Holiness they shall not see God Heb. 12.14 Therefore I do exhort and beseech you iâ— the Name of Jesus Christ to look after and seriously concern your selves about Regeneration and never sit down satisfied with your conditions until you find the Great Change but go to God and entreat him for Christ hiâ— sake to give you his Spirit and Regenerating Grace and make you New Creatures that you may be enabled to walk with and live to God here and be saved in his own way hereafter and that he would now with all possible speed work his own Regenerating work with power in your hearts CHAP. III. Of the hinderances and obstructions that lye in the way of Regeneration Q. ARe there any lets hinderances or obstructions in the way of Regeneration to impede and hinder it A. There are very many and great obstructions in the way of Gods Regenerating men insomuch as that it is a wonder that any are Regenerated God met with no lets or hindrances in his first Creating of us but in his remaking us he meets with many He made us reasonable Creatures without opposition but when he comes to make us New Creatures he finds nothing else but impediments contradiction and fightings against him Hence 't is said Gen. 6.3 His spirit shall not always strive with man And how often would I have gathered you but ye would not Matth. 23.37 And Christ tells the Jews that they would not come to him Joh. 8.40 though he had all the day long stretched out his hand to them Rom. 10. ult Q. What are those contradictions hinderances and oppositions the work of Regeneration meets withal to impede and obstruct it and from whom are they or from whom do they arise A. These obstructions contradictions and oppositions that lye in the way to impede â—nd hinder our Regeneration are within and without us they proceed and arise from our Lusts World and Devil Regeneration meeâ—â— with strong oppositions from our Lusts and it is made exceeding hard and difficult from the state and condition we are in before Regeneration Q. Pray shew us what those Lusts are which lay in the way of Regeneration to oppose impede and obstruct it What are those Iusts A. First Atheism and Vnbelief These Lusts abound and are exceeding strong and active in us to hinder our Regeneration Sin hath made us Fools and Fools say in their hearts there is no God Psal 14.1 When God speaks men will not hear him neither do they believe it to be his voice Exod. 5.1 2. Who is the Lord says Pharach Men are by Nature so Atheistical as that they will not believe that God sees or regards their works and therefore do imbolden themselves in suming and following their Lusts and devillish devices with this perswasion that no eye sees them and that there is no hand to punish them Psal 10.11 Psal 64.5 Isa 29.15 They imagine and conclude then that if God see not their ways nor takes notice of their wickedness that no evil shall fall on them for â—â— Jer. 23.17 yea they are confident they shâ—â— have peace and that while they are addiâ—â— drunkenness to thirst that is one sin to anotheâ— with all greediness Deut. 29.19 20. 1 Theâ— 5.3 This Atheism is deeply rooted in aâ— men by Nature in Professors of the Name Truths and good ways of God as well as in professed Turks and Heathens as is shewed in the said Scriptures And the infidelity of mens hearts is such as that they will not believe that they do really stand in need of Regeneration even those men who profess to believe there is a God that he sees and takes notice of their states and ways that the Scriptures of God are true that God rules in and governs the World and that he hath punishments for the unjust and will recompence their way on their heads and render to every man according to his works Rom. 2.6 I fay those men that do so believe do not see and believe indeed their own present states and their own necessity of Regeneration but flatter themselves in the vain and groundless imaginations of their own hearts that if they mend their ways reform without and turn from vicious courses and practises to the eternal practise of Vertue that in so doing they may obtain happiness and do well enough hereafter although they stick there and never are Regenerated Hence it is that they conclude that 't is in vain and a kind of superstition in them to trouble and concern themselves to look any further or seek after a change of heart and state but
and hate what we should Love We Love Gods enemies and hate his friends we hate his Laws Rods Yoke Waies People and love our Lusts the World Self and the Service of sin But Regeneration sets holy and God Pleasing Love and hatred in us So that now by the power of his Regenerating Grace we love that which we should love and hate that we should hate that which was our duty to have done before now we can do Now we can and do love holiness and hate loath and abhor our lusts and sins Now we hate the workes of the flesh and love the workes of the Spirit And as the passion of love is strong and intense on its Objects so is this of hatred likewise The man in whom this new holy hatred is did never more really heartily and fervently love his lusts and the fulfilling of them than he doth now hate abominate and endeavour to destroy them 1. Cor. 9. ult Gal. 5.24 They that are Christs namely by Regeneration have Crucified the flesh with the Affections and Lusts David tells us that this Affection or Passion was strong in him as well as that of love Psal 119.104.113 I hate every false way and I hate vain thoughts but thy Law do I love Blessed Paul Speaks likewise to the same purpose of himself Rom. 7.15 But what I hate that do I. I do sin its true But I can say that my sin is the great and only Object of my hatred that 's as true also God hates all Iniquity in all men Psal 45.8 Ja. 44.4 and he puts the same Affection or passion into his people in Regeneration that they may hate it also All sin is exceeding sinful loathsome and abominable to the new creature for its own sake in its own nature and as it is hateful to God The evil and pernitious effects and Consequences of it makes or renders it the object of their constant hatred also They that are Spiritual minded and are in the pursuit after Grace Christ and Holyness to perfect it is the fear of God as Commanded 2. Cor. 7.1 do hate their sin because it hath deprived them of and spotted the Image of God in which they were created Gen. 1.26 2 Because it hath robbed God of his due Worship and Service for which he Created them 3 Because it hath occasioned the great debasement and Suffering of the Lord Jesus For had not men Sinned Christ had not Suffered 4 Because it grieves and vexes the holy Spirit of God Isa 63. Eph 4.30 5 Because sin devides and separates between God and them Isa 59.1.2 6 Because it doth defile and pollute all their holy things and would quite marr and spoyl them did not their great High Priest appear for them to purifie their Offerings Exod. 28.38 7 Because Sin doth clog and burden them so as that they cannot Run their Race nor do that good they desire and are resolved to do in this world Heb. 12.1 Rom. 7. 8 Because their sinful hearts draw them off from God and indisposes them to and for their walking with God 9 Because it betrays them into the hand of their great Adversary the Devil and strengthens him against them 10 Because by sin God is dishonoured and his holy Name blasphemed his Truths despised and his blessed ways rejected These and such like considerations of sin greatly provokes and stirs up the holy hatred of sin in all Regenerate men as they can experience There is in them a universal perpetual and irreconcilable hatred of all sin especially such of their own sins as do more easily beset them Heb. 12.1 They hate the very name and appearance of sin all the Germents spotted with the flesh Jude 23. They dare not knowingly parly or hold correspondency with sin because the thought or consideration of it is most hateful and abominable 3. Fear New Creatures are the only real fearers of God The all-seeing Eye the Holiness Righteousness Goodness and Authority of God do awe them and cause them to fear and tremble before him Hosea 3.5 Isa 66.1.2 Jer. 32.39 40. They do now approach nigh to God and worship him with a holy and Godly fear and are enabled to walk in the fear of the Lord all the day long Psal 2.11 Heb. 12.28 Prov. 23.17 They are afraid of sin and temptations to it and dare not knowingly and deliberately come nean them but avoid and eschew the appearances and occasions of evil They are more afraid of the cause then the effects the sin then the punishment The thoughts of their danger they are always in and their aptness and proneness to transgress by reason of the deceitfulness and treachery of their hearts the strength and power of Lusts snares of the World and Satans fi◠〈◊〉 Darts do make them jealous fearful circumspect and watchful They see such a Majesty Excellency and glorious Presence in the holy God and Jesus Christ in his Names Offices Obedience Blood Love and Grace in his Laws Promises Ways and Ordinances which causes them to fear and reverence them erceedingly Psal 89.7 4. Hope Hope is another holy Passion or Affection in the New Creature Their hope is set on God the Father and Christ his Son Psal 78.7 Tit. 2.13 and on all the good things held out to them in the Promises called the blessed Hope Tit. 2.13 They have Christ in them the hope of Glory Col. 1.27 and they have Christ without them with all his fulness in the Covenant and Promises and in Heaven for them as their hope Every man hath the natural passion of hope but gracious men have the spiritual hope They hope for all the good of the covenant of grace fullness of Christs Grace and whatever may make them holy hear and happy hereafter The natural hope of unregenerate men is a groundless hope and the great things it is exercised about are but vain perishing worldly things and groundless hopes for a happiness heareafter Job 8.13.14 hence they are said to be withâ—â—â— hope in the world because they want the real spiritual and well grounded hope Eph. 2.12 1 Thes 4.13 But Regenerate men have a holy spiritual and well grounded hope and they by out and cast the Anchor of their hope on â—â—â—ings that are sure and unmovable on spiritual heavenly Soul-saving and eternal matâ—â—s and their hope is impressed provoked â—â—eng thened and quickned by them to hope more strongly steadily and constantly for the enjoyment of them They hope to obtain eternal Life in the Lords own way Tit. 1.2 not in the wayes of their own evil hearts as other men do They hope for the coming of Christ the exaltation and setting up of his Kingdome themselves to be like him and to see 〈◊〉 as be is 1 Joh. 3.2.3 Tit. 2.13 They hope for more light life and holiness from Christ and for greater measures of his Spirit to be poured out upon them in this world and they hope for more and more joy and peace in Believing Rom. 15.13