flesh it is lost service but when In dentures are sealed in Regeneration that the man is bound to God by an hearty dedication of himself to his service and Christ hath given a considerable sum with him and undertaken for his faithfulness then the foul fals to Gods business with hand and heart and God esteems it as service and resolves to teach him the trade of pleasing God on earth that he may be fit to do it in heaven All the Ordinances of God should be for thy good If thou wert but born again and alive spiritually thou shouldst find the Word Prayer Singing Sacraments Sabbaths communion of Saints to be both refreshing and nourishing food to thy soul though now thou canst relish them no more then the white of an egg and receive no more good from them then from a dry chip then they would be as pipes to convey the water of life to chear and satisfie thy thirsty spirit If thou wert a child weak in grace Ordinances would be milk to thee if a strong man they would be strong meat though thy spiritual strength were never so small thou shouldest find they would increase it The father of eternity would take care so to nurse and feed thee that thou shouldst thrive 1 Pet. 2.2 As the head doth by the organs of sinews or nerves convey the animal spirits into the whole body and with them both sence and motion so thy head Christ Jesus would by those organs of Ordinances convey spiritual life sense and motion to thee his member Thou mightest hear the Word with much spiritual hunger and that being thy sauce would make thee both fall to and relish thy food When thou shouldst hear Christ speaking to thee and opening the Scriptures thine heart would burn within thee and as mettal melted be ready for any mould which God would cast thee into The Precepts of the word would be a light to thy feet and a lanthorn to thy paths thou wouldst love them for their purity find them to be exceeding pleasant and turn thy feet into those ways of peace Thine heart would in part answer Gods holy Law as the Counterpain the original Deed and thou shouldst so behold the face of the Lord in the glass of his Word that thou shouldst be changed into his image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 The threatnings of the word though they portend and speak dreadful thing as Nebuchadnezzars dream yet those fearful faithful dreams would belong to thine enemies and the interpretation of them to them that hate thee Those doleful threatnings of Gods wrath the delivering up of souls to go on in sin and the eternal torments of Hell like drones would buz about thine ears to keep thee wakeful but could not sting thee to make thee woful wert thou but alive in Christ thou shouldst be dead to the Law and all its curses Rom. 7.4 The promises would be precious also to thee if thou wert converted thou wouldst have the mouth of Faith with which thou shouldst suck much warm heart-cheering milk from those brests of consolation Isa 66.11 To thee the Promises would be encouragements to service the threatnings affrightments from sin the precepts directions to sanctity if thy heart were sorrowful the promises would enliven it if secure the threatnings would awaken it if full of doubts the precepts would counsel and advise it Of the Promises more in the next Head At a Sacrament Christ would sweetly feast thy soul bring thee into his Banqueting house and cause his Banner over thee to be love when others feed onely upon Elements thou shouldest feed on the Sacrament and finde his flesh to be meat indeed and his blood to be drink indeed when others stood at the door and are put off with some poor scraps as much as they came for thou shouldst be called in sit at his own table feasted with the fat things of his house drink of the rivers of his own pleasures continue under his shadow with great delight and know his fruit sweet unto thy taste when thou sawest with the eye of faith the board spred and richly furnished with variety of dainties all the Cordials and sweet-meats of the Gospel among the rest with that love which is better then wine thou shouldst hear a voice from the Spirit within thee Eat O Freind drink abundantly O Beloved which how ravishing it would be to thine ears and how refreshing to thine heart no tongue can tell O Reader hadst thou ever found at a Sacrament what it is to sup with Christ and Christ with thee thou wouldst scorn the life of an Emperor for the life of a new Creature In Prayer God and thy soul would sweetly converse together Thy petitions would ascend up to him and his righthand-kindnesses would descend on thee In this duty thou wouldst call turning his precepts into prayers and he would answer by turning his promises into performances Many many a blessing shouldst thou obtain kneeling This vessel would never return though somtimes it might seem to tarry long but richly laden The crop of Gods answer would be far greater then the seed of thy prayer out of which it grew The Prodigal desired but the liberty of a servant but the Father bestowed on him the dignity of a son the King asked life and thou gavest it him yea a length of days for ever and ever his glory is great in thy Salvation honour and majesty hast thou put upon him Ps 21.4 5. As a merchant in a morning will get Five hundred or a Thousand pound by a bargain truly thou shouldst by a duty in a morning or evening get thousands nay millions at a clap increase of grace a supply of thy spiritual wants the subduing of thy secret wickedness peace of conscience communion with God joy in the spirit which are more worth then the whole earth In brief Christ would be thy Shepherd feed thee in green pastures lead thee by the still waters and take care that thou be fat and flourishing As the root sendeth up its sap through the bark to all its living branches whereby they continue living and bring forth fruit so if thou wert but regenerated and a living branch thou shouldst derive the sap of grace through ordinances from Christ thy root whereby thou shouldst persevere in spiritual life and glorify God by bringing forth much fruit All the promises of God should be thy portion Reader thou art not able to conceive the unsearchable riches which are laid up in the promises Well may the Apostle call them exceeding great and precious promises 2 Pet. 1.4 The promises are the great Charter containing all the priviledges which were purchased by Christ like an apothecaries shop they are full of various salves for every sore of precious remedies for every malady of choice cordials to enliven thee with spiritual consolation in the saddest condition One promise is of unspeakable worth As every precious stone so every
Cor. 15.10 Grace justifieth Rom 3.24 being justified freâ—ly by his Grace Grace glorifieth Ephes 2.8 For by grace are ye saved Grace doth lay both the foundation and the top-stone of glory that deserveth the thanks and praise of our beginning progress and perfection in holiness Every step in our ascent to mount Sion is free-stone Every link as one observeth well in the golden chain of mans salvation is richly enameled with Free-grace O how lively doth this lovely Attribute play its part from first to last in the recovery of lost man Thirdly Here is the instrumental cause I say by the Ministry of the Word Of his own will begat he us again by the word of truth Jam 1.18 Scripture is the ordinary means of conversion The Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation Rom. 1.16 God indeed is a free agent working when in what manner and by what means he pleaseth though he tieth us to means he doth not tie himself to means he doth sometimes make relations the instruments of Regeneration some by being matched to Christians have been married to Christ some matches which have begun in the flesh have ended in the spirit therefore the Apostle telleth the beleiving Wife she knoweth not but she may save her Husband and the beleiving Husband he knoweth not but he may save his wife 1 Cor. 7.16 1 Pet. 3.1 God hath made pious education effectual for childrens conversion The mornings draught of wholesom instruction hath preserved many young ones from infection by and perdition with others 2 Tim 3.15 Prov. 22.6 Some Masters have also been spiritual fathers to their servants there are those that by being of the family of the faithful have come to be of the family of Faith Acts 10.1 Iosh 24. God sometimes converteth by sufferings Affliction like the Shepherds dog hath brought those home into the fold of Christ which went astray like lost sheep God hath cast some Manasses and Prodigals that were hard mettal into some hot fire and thereby melted them and fitted them to receive his own impression and image Luke 15. 2 Chron 33.11 12 13. But usually the Minstry of the word is the pen in the hand of the Holy Ghost with which he writeth the Law of God in the heart The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul Psal 19.7 'T is the incorruptible seed of the word which by those spirituall husbandmen is thrown into the soil of mens hearts that through the influence of the Son of righteousnesse and dews of heaven springeth up in grace and holinesse 1 Pet. 1.23 Ordinarily there is no other way to beget grace then the word of grace and it tendeth not the least to Gods dishonour nay rather the weakness and meanness of the instrument in such cases commendeth the workman because he hath manifested this to be his pleasure it pleased him through the foolishnesse of preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1.21 He will give light to the world onely by the Sun though he could do otherwise therefore as some observe though light were made the first day yet the Sun was not made till the fourth day to shew that God could give light to the world without a Sun Thus God could convey the Spiritual light of holiness without the Sun of scripture but it is his will to make that his ordinary means It is the word which makes clean the filthy John 15.3 which sanctifieth the unholy John 17.17 which begetteth grace in those that were graceless Acts 2.37 For this cause it is called the ingrafted word James 1.21 for as the Cions of a good apple grafted into a crab-tree stock doth change the harsh sowr nature of it and maketh it sweet and pleasant so the word preached for of that he speaketh verse 19.20 can change the stony cannal earthly heart of man and make it soft spiritual and heavenly Some have indeed been converted by reading as Luther Augustine Junius and others confess they were but most commonly it is by hearing that mens souls come to live Rom. 10.14 There is a blessing for Readers and there may be a fish or two caught in the net that is let down in an heap but that is rare it is not the net lapped up together but haled out at length and spread all abroad that bringeth in the draught So it is the spreading out the word the dilating on the matter in hand which usually catcheth souls The Law like John Baptist prepareth the way of the Lord by opening and searching the festred wounds of the finner by making him sensible of his sores his sins and misery and heartily desire a Physician a Redeemer Rom. 7.9 then the Gospel perfecteth the cure by pouring oil into the wounds and binding them up by acquainting the soul with and interesting him in the free and rich mercy of God in Christ 2 Thes 2.14 The Law like Moses bringeth to the borders but the Gospel like Joshua leadeth into Canaan Thus the Scriptures as is wittily expressed by one are the bells which ring all in which call people into the Church of God The Poets speak of musick which hath made stones leap into walls this word of God hath turned stones into flesh of stones it hath raised children unto Abraham Fourthly Here is the formal cause of regeneration whereby God doth at first renew the whole man after his own image now because this is the cause which doth specifically difference a thing and this being opened its nature will best appear I shall speak the more to it and observe in it these four particulars 1 The act renew 2 The Subject the whole man 3 The pattern after his own image 4 The season or time at first 1 For the act I call it a renewing and so doth the Apostle Titus 3.5 Eph. 4.23 24 upon a double account partly because in Regeneration nature is not ruined but rectified The Convert is the same man but new made The Faculties of his soul are not destroyed but they are refined the same Viol but new tuned Christ gave not the blind man new eyes but a new sight to the old ones Christ did not give Lazarus a new body but enlivened his old body So God in Conversion doth not bestow a new understanding but a new light to the old nor a new Soul but a new life to the old one The powers of the man are like streams not dryed up but turned into another Channel The truth is that man by his fall from God is so exceedingly degenerated and polluted that repairing and mending will not serve he must be wholly and throughly new made as the house infected with the leptosie scraping would not do it must be pull'd down and new set up but as when an house pul'd down is new set up we use possibly the same timber and stones and materials which were in it before onely they are new squared and polished what is rotten or amiss in them is pared off and what
brains dasht out his great care is every day to conquer his corruptions The body of sin and death to which he is tied is as noisom to his soul as a dead body to his senses Lust is as burthensom to him as a withered arm which hangs on a man like a lump of lead Never did prisoner more ardently desire to be rid of his fetters then this Saint to be freed from subjection to his sins The distressed Jews did not groan so much under their Egyptian slavery as this true Israelite for spiritual liberty O wretched man that I am saith he who shall deliver me from this body of sin and death Rom. 7.29 His great end and endeavor in every providence and every Ordinance is not the repression but the ruine of this evil of sin If the Sun of mercy shine warm upon him he makes use of it to put out the kitchin fire of wickedness When God folaceth his spirit with extraordinary kindness the sacrifice of thanksgiving that he offereth up is the beast of some sin which he layeth on the Altar and poureth forth its blood before the Lord When the storm of affliction ariseth he enquireth for the Jonah which raised the tempest and endeavoureth that he may be cast over-board and drowned And as he makes use of divine Providences so likewise of divine Ordinances for the weakening his corruptions In prayer like the sick childe he pointeth at the place of his pain he indicteth accuseth and condemneth sin and intreateth that it may be executed his prayers and tears are his daily weapons wherewith he fighteth against his most inward and secret wickedness When he perceiveth lust like Adonijah usurping the throne of his heart he goeth in to God as Bathsheba to David sighing and saying Did not my Lord promise his servant that the true Solomon should reign in my soul that Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace should sway the scepter in my spirit And now behold his foes which thou hast sworn to make his footstool have trayterously aspired to the Crown and forcibly made me subject to their commands As Esther he is very desirous of these Hamans destruction and watcheth continually for a fit opportunity to present his Petition to the King of Kings for that end and when in any duty he seeth the God of glory to hold out the golden Scepter of mercy towards him O then he beggeth for justice If I have found favour in thy sight O King and if it please the King let the life of my soul be given me at my Petition and the death of my sins at my request Did thy dear Son die for sin and shall thy poor servant live in sin shall not these thine enemies which would not have thee to reign over me be slain before thy face Order my steps by thy word and let not any iniquity have dominion over me Psal 119.133 Thus by prayer as by one main piece of his spiritual armour he becomes prevalent The Romans overcame their enemies sitting that is the Senate by their prudent counsels but the Christian kneeling by his holy valour he wrestleth with God and through the power of Christ gets the victory 2 Cor. 12.6 And because the devil of some lusts will not be cast out without fasting and prayer therefore he joyneth fasting to supplication and trieth to starve his corruptions Before-hand he fitteth himself for that day of purging out his ill humors by the preparatory potion of meditation The consideration of his sins how bloody and hainous in their nature how crying and crimson in their circumstances makes his physick work the better He thinketh before The day of mourning for offending my father is coming and then I will slay my brother Jacob my dearest and nearest sin This man bringeth under his natural body which he may lawfully cherish that he may abate the strength of the body of death as men sometimes in a feaver open a vain and let out their blood though it be not bad that they may weaken their enemy In reading and hearing the Law of God he setteth his lusts naked before that sword of the Spirit that they may be hewn by the Prophets and slain by the words of Gods mouth He desires that it may pierce deep to the dividing of soul and spirit of the joynts and marrow and to the discovering of the thoughts and intents of his heart His voice to the Minister is like the Prophets to his neighbour Smite me I pray thee and likes him best that in smiting wounds his sin most he approves of that Chirurgion that searcheth his wounds throughly though he put him to pain he rejoyceth that the Preacher revealeth to him his errors that he may follow them with Hue and cry till they are taken and punished and so Gods pursuit of him may be prevented If the Minister give him a bitter pill of reproof he doth not like a queasie stomach favour his malady and loath his medicine but takes it down willingly knowing that though such things be not toothsom yet they are wholesom and that they must be bitter things that breaks the bag of worms in his stomach sweet things will nourish and cherish them He is glad that the word is fire that thereby his dross may be consumed that it is water because his heart thereby may be washed and purified He hideth the word in his heart that he may not sin against God Psal 119.11 He goeth to the Lords Supper that the blood of his sins may be shed by the blood of the Saviour The Cross of Christ is the souls armour and sins terror there is life in it for the death of sin Pliny saith that the fasting spittle of a man will kill Serpents Sure I am the blood of Christ applied by faith will mortifie sin and therefore the Saint frequenteth the Sacrament He goeth to it as Naaman to Jordan to be cured of his spiritual leprosie when he approacheth the table of the Lord and seeth in the bread broken and the wine poured out by faith Jesus Christ crucified before his eyes O how his heart burneth within him in hatred and indignation against his sins and in desires after and delight in his Redeemer He beholdeth there the knives of his pride unbelief hypocrisie malice and the like all redded in the blood of the Mediator and now his eyes sparkle with fire and fury and his soul swelleth with wrath and revenge against them were but his hand answerable to his heart I mean his power to his will he would put sin to as much pain make it suffer as much shame cause it to undergo as cursed a death as ever Jesus Christ did Now this frame of spirit exceedingly pleasing to the King of Saints he bespeaks the soul at the Sacrament as Herod did the damsel Ask of me what thou wilt and I will give it thee to the half nay to the whole of my Kingdom The soul having before consulted with his regenerate part for this
20. Psal 109.16 Indeed as the rest so this faculty is renewed but in part and therefore as in the best room a spider may set up her cobweb in the best garments there will be dust so in the best memory there may be somewhat which is bad and filthy but the cleanly Christian no sooner spieth it but he sweeps it away This work of Regeneration doth also reach to the body the strong Castle of the soul being taken and sanctified the Town of the body commanded by it presently yieldeth The wheels and poises being right within the hand of the Dial will go right without When Satan sate on the Throne of the soul as King the members of the body which the Holy Ghost termeth in unregenerate persons weapons of unrighteousness Rom. 6.13 were his Militia and employed to defend his unjust Title to execute his ungodly designs to perform his hellish pleasure the head to plot the hands to act the feet to run the eyes to see the ears to hear the tongue to speak for him but as when an enemy is conquered and a Magazine in War is taken the General maketh use of those Arms and of that Ammunition for his service which before were employed against him so the strong man Satan being beaten out of his strong holds by Christ the stronger then he the members of the body which before were instruments of unrighteousness unto sin are now instruments of righteousness unto God Rom. 6.13 16. The eyes which before were wanton open and full of adultery 2 Pet. 2.14 are now lock'd down fast with a covenant not to look after a maid Job 31.1 They are turned away from beholding vanity Psal 101.3 The ears which before were as deaf as the adder not hearing the voice of the heavenly charmer do now hearken to what the Lord speaketh as soon as the wandring sheep is brought home to the fold of Christ he is known by his ear-mark He heareth Christs voice and followeth him John 10.27 Psa 85.8 The breath and speech which before were corrupt stinking as proceeding from rotten lungs an unsanctified heart Rom. 3. is now sweet seasoned with grace for the mans inward parts are sound Anatomists teach us that the heart tongue hang on one string The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom and his tongue talketh of Judgement for the Law of God is in his heart Psal 37.30 31. his lips speak the language of Canaan The sound of the mettal discovers it to be silver His very speech bewrayeth him as they said of Peter Matth. 26.73 to belong to Jesus His feet before made haste to shed blood they ran to evil were the Devils Laquey to go on his errands Rom. 3.15 Prov. 1.16 but now they are turned to Gods testimonies they run the way of Gods Commandments Psal 119.1 59 His hands before were full of oppression violence bribery and extortion Psal 26.10 Prov. 6.17 Satans servants to make up that work which he cut out but now they are lifted up to Gods Law and word thus in their places are all the faculties of the soul and members of the body Obedients to Gods Precepts and serviceable to his Will Thirdly I observe in this formal cause the pattern it is a renewing of the whole man after the image of God Mans loss and misery by his fall consisteth in these two things 1. He lost Gods image and likeness 2. Gods favour and love Now that the second Adam might recover us to Gods love he doth imprint on us Gods image for likeness is the ground of love Therefore the regnerate are said to be partakers of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and the new man which they put on in conversion is said to be after God and after the image of him that created them Ephes 4.23 Col 3.10 The Law of God is written in their hearts Heb. 8.10 which Law is nothing but a conformity or likeness to the nature and will of the Lord. The corrupt image of Satan and the old Adam is defaced therefore it 's called a putting off the old man Col. 3.9 Ephes 4.23 the pure image of God is introduced therefore it s called a putting on the new man Ephes 4.24 which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness and a being holy as God is holy 1 Pet. 1.14 15 16. And indeed all these new born children do so far as they are regenerate compleatly resemble their father Their godliness is nothing but Godlikeness a beam of the divine glory a representation of Gods own perfections As the wax bears the image of the seal and the glass of the face so doth the new creature bear the image of his Creator David was a man after Gods own heart because a man in some measure after Gods own holiness Fourthly I observe in this formal cause the season I say it is a work of Gods Spirit whereby he doth at first renew the whole man after his own image These words at first do distinguish regeneration from Sanctification Sanctification is a constant progressive renewing of the whole man whereby the new creature doth daily more and more dye unto sin and live unto God Regeneration is the birth Sanctification is the growth of this Babe of Grace In Regeneration the Sun of holiness rises in Sanctification it keepeth its course and shineth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day Prov. 4.18 The former is a specifical change from Nature to Grace Ephes 5.8 The latter is a gradual change from one degree of grace to another Psal 84.7 whereby the Christian goeth from strength to strength till he appear before God in Sion As Creation and Preservation differ so do Conversion and Sanctification Creation is the production of something out of nothing preservation is a continued Creation or Creation every moment in a new edition Conversion is a new Creation 2 Cor. 5.17 The making of new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness Sanctification is a continued Conversion or conversion every moment in a newer and more correct edition Thus much for the formal cause of Regeneration A renewing of the whole man at first after Gods image Fifthly Here is in the definition the Final causes of Regeneration The glory of God and the salvation of his elect The first is the more the other the less principal end They are both joyned together in God's decree and intention and in the Saints calling and the execution of his decree The Lord made all things for himself Prov. 16.4 but especially the new creation that being his Masterpiece and choyce work is particularly designed for the credit of the Workman All thy works shall praise thee O God and the Saints shall bless thee Psal 145.10 All Gods works do praise him even the earth and heavens and bruits analogically after a manner by serving him in their places and stations and giving others matter and occasion of praising him Sinners may praise him formally after their maner as Trumpets make a loud noise
time he is at war with them walks contrary to them and is preparing for them the instruments of eternal death Like Agag to the very hour of execution they are confident of a Pardon and go with their hearts full of hopes into the very place of despair They die willingly as they tell us and their neighbours commend them saying they died like lambs when rather like Solomons ox who goeth to the slaughter so died they going to the den of roaring Lions and the place of Dragons They had no Bands in their deaths who were in bondage to the devil Ps 73.4 As a man that is asleep upon the Mast of a Ship he is in a golden Dream and his thoughts upon large Revenues rich treasures Kingdomes and Diadems which he hath already in his own possession but in that very hour wherein he is solacing himself in his vain imaginations a storm ariseth the man is tumbled off the Mast and drowned Thus many have golden dreams strong presumptions of their salvation when alas they do but befool themselves are all the while upon the brink of hell and are tumbled into it before they are aware Reader look to this likewise that thou build not on such a weak bottome for this may happen both to prophane men and to hypocrites It is said of Pigmalion that he drew a picture so lively that he deceived himself and taking the picture for a person fell in love with his own picture I tell thee thou mayst spin so fine a thread and weave so curious a web of painted cloth feigned godliness that thou mayest deceive thy self and take it to be fine linnen the righteousness of the Saints and mayest thence gather that thy soul is safe when in all thou dost thou art unsound If confidence or not doubting our estates will prove them out of danger then the ignorant stupid seared sinners must certainly be saved which the Scriptures flatly deny Socrates who lived according to his natural conscience died with much calmness and confidence speaking of those who put him to death that they might kill him but could not hurt him yet was without the knowledge of Jesus Christ in whose name alone is salvation Eightly To follow the light within thee or to obey the Dictates of a natural conscience is no sound evidence for heaven A man may follow the light within him to the chambers of utter darkness The Jesuite in the Quaker would make this the infallible testimony of a mans uprightness and sincerity nay he plucks Christ from his Throne and sets the light within him in his room making it more then a mark even the meritorious cause of salvation but Reader I shall clearly prove that 't is so far from being worthy of our affiance that it is not so much as an evidence for heaven because conscience by nature is corrupted as much as the other faculties Their minds and consciences saith the Holy Ghost are defiled Tit. 1.15 The nature of conscience is good but the conscience of nature is evil It savours not the things of God it is not purged with the blood of Christ it is wholly blind in the matters of Christianity nay 't is a Rebel against God Now if I follow a blind guide am I ever like to enter in at the straight gate Is it rational arguing that I am in my Princes favour because I obey my Captain when he is a traytor I do not say that a natural conscience hath no good in it but I am sure 't is in the account of God an evil conscience opposing and resisting him Like an ignis fatuus as pure and perfect a light as the Quakers make it it leadeth men out of Gods high way into those bogs and quagmires wherein they sink and perish I question not but the heathens did follow their polluted consciences in their idolatrous practices And sure I am that Paul might thank his corrupt conscience for persecuting Jesus Christ I verily thought saith he that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Christ Acts 26,9 Mark the words they are full of weight Pauls conscience told him 't was his duty to suppress Christianity Was not his obedience to the commands of this conscience a sad sign that he was to be saved Further Christ telleth his Disciples John 16.2 That they who killed them should think they did God good service Observe here was pure light within men that made them think that they did God the greatest service in doing his Church the greatest disservice Tertul. tells us that Maximinian the Emperor esteemed Christianorum sanguinem diis gratissimam esse victimam the blood of Christians to be an acceptable sacrifice to the gods Is any man so mad as not to think that if such a Pilot steer the ship by answering to its motion must needs be cast away Saul would out of conscience have slain the Gibeonites 2 Sam. 21.2 and broken the Covenant which had been sworn to by the Israelites His conscience was evil and could not speak his condition to be good an evil conscience will call bitter sweet darkness light evil good It will leave plain precepts and walk by extraordinary Providences Isa 36.18 19 20. Jer. 50.7 It preferreth a strong impulsion of its own spirit before that word which is the will of Gods spirit Isa 36.9 10. it esteemeth a supposed Revelation above that Scripture which is indoubtedly of Divine inspiration 2 Pet. 1.19 It placeth often most of its Religion in Penance abstinence and outward acts of mortification in external signs of humility will-worship and neglecting the body Col. 2. ult of many of which God may say as to the Jews Who hath required these things at your hands Isa 1.12 It makes men keep a a great stir about cuffs ribbands hatbands as the Pharisees about pots and cups when their hearts are full of pride and malice robbing even Christ of the glory of our redemption and hating Christians for not daring to joyn in their cursed opinion Friend wil following such a conscience speak thee to be a true Christian Conscience is indeed a rule but regula regulata prius quam regulans such a rule as must be ruled by Gods word before it can be a right rule for our works To the Law and to the testimonies if conscience speak not according to this word it is because there is much pretended no true light in it Scripture is the compass by which conscience must bend its course or else 't will never land its passengers at the desired haven It is no farther liberty of conscience but licentiousness then it is regulated by the Scripture One office of conscience is Magistratical and Legislative to command and give Laws to man We read of the heathen that in regard of their consciences They were a Law to themselves Rom. 2.14 Conscientia mille Reges mille leges But though conscience be a King over the other faculties yet it is a subject subordinate to God
others all spiritual children are not brought forth with the same strength and labour I shall mention three or four sorts of persons who are not so soon as others perswaded to real and unfeigned piety and truly my end is that they may be powerfully roused and effectually renewed before they be eternally ruined First The meer civil moral man This man Narcissus like dotes on himself and thereby is hardly brought to deny himself the more the tooth is fast'ned to the gum the harder it is to part them the more the man like a tree is rooted in the earth of self the more difficult to stock him up The civil man looks on himself in the glass of scandalous sinners lives and finding his face so clean and fair in comparison of theirs he falls extraordinarily in love with himself which many times proves his destruction He takes his civility for sanctity that which is less then the shadow for the substance and without question 't is not easie to make him eager after godliness when he is confident he hath it already a profane person is not seldom sooner convinced and converted then this conceited civilian for that man will sooner acknowledge himself sick but this Patient though sick unto death looks on himself as whole and so to have no need of a Physician In this sense I suppose the words of our Lord are spoken That Publicans and Harlots go into the Kingdom of God before Scribes and Pharisees Matth. 21.31 As a ship that is under sail though in a contrary course is sooner brought about then one that lieth aground in the Harbor can be lanched forth so he that is in motion though in a sinful conversation is often sooner reduced then he that lieth still in the thoughts of his own good condition As I can sooner overtake a childe that runneth from me then my shadow which tarrieth nigh me so it s easier to recover a gross offender then this shadow of the Civilian for though he run not so far from grace as the other yet he will be sure to keep his distance He useth his outward unblameableness as a shield to fence off the power of godliness he usually compareth himself with them that are very evil as a coward choosing a weak adversary and because he much excelleth them therefore concludeth that he is very good Reader It is far from my thoughts to discourage civility much less to encourage open impiety though the whole will of God must be taught what use soever corrupt hearts will make of it but to make thee watchfull that thy outward harmlesness prove not a hinderance to inward holiness Secondly The Hypocrite is one who is with more difficulty then ordinary converted Hypocrisie is like a fistula which hath a very small orifice but many turnings and windings in the body like coney-burrows so that 't is very hardly discerned and cured this man seems to be what a Saint is indeed and because he is like a godly man performing the same duties and forbearing the same iniquities as to the external part therefore he gathers that he is one indeed but he embraceth a cloud instead of Juno he appeareth to be near the Kingdom of God but never careth to come at it as a parallel line he keeps a scantling with the way of godliness but never meeteth with it There is some particular exception which this man hath taken against Christ and his ways that though he may often cheapen yet he seldom buyeth the pearl of price he escapes storms and Pirats at Sea and makes shiprack in the Haven where destruction is no less sure but much more miserable he escapes the gross lusts of Publicans and Harlots and yet is further then both from eternal life It is harder to convince this man of his sins then others If I tell a drunkard a swearer or an adulterer of his transgressions and the necessity of conversion this mans foul conversation is a forcible conviction to him yea and his own conscience will possibly flye in his face take part with me and give evidence against him but if I tell an Hypocrite of the necessity of sanctification and pursue him with the pieces of the Law he presently betakes himself like the beasts to his den of duties and therein shelters himself nay his naturall conscience being fed and bribed with a few performances may plead for him at least not say a word against him Besides when this man is convinced of his lost estate it s harder to break this mans heart then anothers for his heart hath not onely a naturall hardness but an extrordinary acquired hardness such an hardness as is acquired by duties and ordinances Now as where the Sun is most powerful there are the hardest mettalls so where the Sun-shine of spirituall blessings is most plentifully enjoyed and thus wretchedly abused there are the hardest hearts No softning like Gospel softening no hardening like Gospel hardening Tell a man that never heard of the Gospel or very seldom when he is convinced of his sins and misery of the love of God in sending his onely Son into the world to die that poor sinners might not perish tell him of the infinite love of Christ in giving himself a Sacrifice for his soul how freely Christ invites him how fully he provides for him how willing he is to accept him how welcome he will make him O how this man sometimes falls a weeping wringing his hands and renting his heart that ever he should abuse such love and mercy refuse such incomparable merits walk in the whole course of his heart and life unworthy of such a blessed glorious holy and gracious God the word of God doth wound this man to the soul but say all this and much more to an Hypocrite his heart is like the rock not at all moved The promises of God do not cleanse him from pollutions but they are as physick to which his body hath been much used which stirs him not at all nor purgeth away any ill humours Threatnings do not work with him be they never so dreadful and terrible as a Smiths Dog being accustomed to it he can sleep securely though the sparkes of the Forge flye about him nay though the flames of hell flash in his face Reader if thou shouldst be one of this sort for the Lords sake mind soundness with speed for hypocrisy will harden thine heart insensibly and every day widen the breach betwixt God and thy soul Thirdly The rich man The man that is rich in this world is hardly brought to mind the riches of the other world his heavy load of earth doth much hinder him in his journey to heaven His riches claspe about his affections as the Jvy about the Oake sucking out the heart of it for its own leaves and berries This man taketh up with his present possessions in comparison whereof he disesteemeth the Saints reversions As a Vessel that is exceedingly laden when it meets with storms and tempests
him he esteemeth the word of Gods mouth more then his appointed food Job 23.12 Mark not then varieties or superfluous fare but then daily necessary food the former might be spared but this for the preservation of life is necessarily required but Gods word was before this Spiritual dainties are most delightful to them that have special grace And truly 't is no wonder that the childe doth so exceedingly long for and love that which is as it were his father I will never forget thy precepts for by them thou hast quickened me Psal 119.93 Some men say they shall never forget such a friend the longest day that they have to live What 's the reason they will tell us they were nigh death either by fire or water or some disease and under God such men saved their lives so saith David I le never forget Gods Law the longest day I shall live why what 's the matter Alas I was nigh death next door to eternal damnation there was but a thin paper-wall of life between me and everlasting wo and under God the Word helped me it saved my soul I will never forget thy precepts for with them thou hast quickened me If Alexander could say That he was more bound to his Tutor Aristotle then to his Father Philip because he had only his being from the latter when he had his well-being from the former and therefore he prized him so much How much therefore doth the true Christian value that word which is instrumental to his being in Christ here and his everlasting wel-being with Christ hereafter So for prayer the regenerate person cannot live without it and fellowship with God in it He is like a full vessel his heart filled with complaints against sin with longings after Christ and his likeness if you will not give it vent 't will burst Prayer is his breathing Godward without breathing the body could not live it would be inflamed and burnt up with the heat of its own entrails no more could the soul unless the Saint should breath often towards heaven crying Abba Father Spiritual breath was the first sign of Pauls spiritual birth Behold he prayeth Act. 9.11 So I might speak of other Ordinances of God for there is a constant trade driven between the Convert and heaven which is carried on by several commodities and if this commerce were broken off he could not subsist He findeth the means of grace as needful to keep grace and soul together as meat to keep life and soul together his heart though fired with this spiritual life is like green wood which will burn no longer then it s blown with the bellows of Ordinances Reader How dost thou find thine appetite unto the bread and water of life dost thou hunger after the Word Prayer Sacraments Commonion of Saints and the Lords day canst thou feed on them with delight dost thou rise from Table with an appetite longing to sit down again Canst thou lay as the Psalmist I watch and am as the Sparrow upon the house top Psal 102.7 Observe the Sparrow upon the top of an house looketh on this side and that side of the house it looketh this way and that way and round about if he can spy any corn and food and when it can see any it flieth to that place and pecks it up so dost thou watch for and resort to the Ordinances of God which are the food of thy soul what sayst thou It may be thou art for high language oratorical expressions such Sermons only are pleasing to thee the dish must be set out with many flowers on which thou lookest more then at the meat Believe it as there is no greater sign of a foul stomack then to loath solid meat and to pick sallats or feed on ashes so there is hardlier a greater sign of an unsanctified heart then to loath the solid food of the word and to pick the flowers of mans wisdom in a Sermon or to feed on the world Or possibly thou art one of the new-fangled opinionists of our unhappy times that are above Ordinances I must tell thee That to live above Ordinances is to live below a Saint He that doth not reckon the means of Grace his greatest priviledge on this side the place of Glory may well question whether ever he enjoyed God in them methinks the begger should know that door again at which he had a large alms a full bait James 1.18 19. 1 Pet. 2.2 3 4. A childe indeed may forbear his meat either in a fit of sullenness or under some disease but if he be a childe his dogged fit will be over he will get the mastery of his distemper and fall to his food again Secondly The new-born creature groweth in Grace the picture of a childe groweth not but a living childe doth After generation followeth augmentation the same word which breeds the new man feeds him and enables him to grow thereby 1 Pet. 2.2 As the same blood of which the babe is bred in the womb strikes up into the mothers breasts and by a further concoction becometh milk and so nourisheth it The good seed of the word falling into the foil of an honest heart makes it abundant in the work of the Lord Common Grace sometimes like Joshua's Sun standeth still but usually like the dial of Ahaz it goeth ten degrees backward when special grace like the morning light shineth brighter and brighter to perfect day Prov. 4.18 First the blade next the ear then the full corn first they who are begotten of God become little children next young men then old men and fathers 1 Joh. 2.1 12 13 14. The unfound Christian is like the Manna for the Israelites daily use which did corrupt and putrifie or like a pond of water which quickly drieth up when true Christianity as the Manna in the Ark doth keep sweet and as the waters of the Sanctuary is up first to the ankles then to the knees then to the loyns and at last became a River so deep that none could pass over it Ezek. 47.3 4 5. If Grace be true there is a natural tendency in it to growth as there is in seed cast into the earth There is vertually in a little plant the bigness and height of a great tree towards which it is putting forth it self with more and more strength every day So there is in that seed of Grace planted in the soul at conversion vertually that perfection of grace which Christ hath appointed that man unto towards which its putting it self forth every day He that hath clean hands groweth stronger and stronger Job 17.9 They go from strength to strength till they appear before God in Sion Psal 84. This River of living waters runneth along notwithstanding many turnings and windings till it empty it self into the Ocean and grace commence glory The grain of mustard-seed groweth into a tree and the smoaking flax is blown into a flame The least spark of true holiness cannot be put out
Had he studied a thousand years for a name he could not have called it by a worse name then its own sinful sin Luther saith that could a man but see perfectly the evil of his sins on earth it would be an hell to him such a frightful ugly monster is sin Look on sin which way thou wilt and it is exceeding sinful the evil of evils Take it in its nature it is a deviation from Gods Law a wandring from his word a casting his Law behinde the back the Law is strait sin is crookedness Psal 125.5 The Law is holy sin is defilement Rom. 7.12 2 Cor. 7.1 The Law is just sin is unrighteousness 1 John 1.7 The Law is liberty sin is bondage Jam. 2.8 12. 2 Tim. 2.26 Sin is a defacing of Gods image it blots and blurs that fair and beautiful writing not onely meritoriously as it provokes God to withdraw his Grace but physically Numb 15.30 Rom. 2.23 24. 2 Sam. 12.12 as one contrary expels another Hereby it dishonours Gods name and reproacheth his Majesty for what greater disgrace can be done to a Prince then to tread his orders under foot and tear and scratch and deface his picture Nay Lev. 22.26 Zec. 11.8 Rom. 8.7 Rom. 1.30 1 Sa. 15.23 Isa 1.2 Rom. 6 16. Psal 14.1 it s a defying and fighting against God a walking contrary to him a daring of him it is enmity against him loathing him hatred of him contrariety to him it is against his Soveraignity and so is rebellion against his mercy and so is unkindness against his justice and so is unrighteousness against his wisdom and so is folly against his will Omne seccatu est deicidium and so is stubbornness Were it strong enough it would ungod him were the sinners power according to his corrupt heart he would pluck God out of Heaven I would I were above God saith Spira When the body of sin is nailed as a thief on the Cross yet even then it will rage as he and spit out poison against Heaven Reader Canst thou finde in thine heart to hug and embrace such a Traytor against the gracious and blessed God! To stretch out thine hand against God as every sinner doth and strengthen thy self against the Almighty Vid. Car. in loc 10 this purpose Job 15.25 Stretch out thine hand against God! No man should lift up a word against God our mouthes should shew forth his praise Stretch out thine hand against God! no man should lift up a thought against God our meditations of him should be for him Stretch out thine hand against God every man should bow down and worship before God and be satisfied in what ever he saith and doth Stretch out thine hand against God! thou art bound to stretch out thine heart and hand and tongue to think and speak and act and all for God and all little enough Take sin in its effect and what evil is like it Eccl. 1.3 it is the cause of all other evils Dost thou consider the emptiness vanity and vexation in the creatures the heavens fighting against man the earth bearing thorns and briars the diseases in mens bodies the burning Feavor watery Dropsie aking teeth running Gout wracking Stone renting Collick the quivering lips trembling loins gastly looks of dying men The horrors of conscience flashes of the infernal fire curses of the Law wrath of God torments of Hell all these are the fruits of sin All misery calleth sin mother this is the root of bitterness upon which they grow the wages of sin is death Rom. 6.21 ult and 5.12 that big-bellied word Death hath all these woful brats in its belly and Sin is the father that begat them Sin turned Adam out of Paradise Angels into Devils Sodom and Gomorah into ashes flourishing Families Cities Kingdoms into ruinous heaps Sin shuts heaven against man laid the foundation of that dark vault of hell Sin kindled the fire of hell Sin feeds it with fuel and will keep it burning for ever Oh what an evil is sin who would not hate it more then hell Is it good to play with such fire as sin is didst thou believe sin to be the cause of all this thou wouldst never open thy heart or mouth more for it Dost thou know that as where the effect is good the cause is better so where the effect is bad the cause is worse Can there be worse effects then eternal separation from God and suffering the vengeance of eternal fire how bad is sin then which is the cause of them Take sin as a punishment and 't is the evil the only evil there is no suffering like to this to be given up to a course of sining Reader take heed of continuing an hour longer in thine ungodly practices it may be thou hast been ready to think it a great happiness to sin without controle to run in the road of the flesh and to meet with no rubs to prosper though thou art wicked I tell thee and think of it the longest day thou livest for it highly concerneth thee that the infinite God never claps a more dreadful curse on any man or woman on this side hell then to give them up to sin If God should give thee up to the sword famine most painful diseases to thy most cruel potent and malicious enemies to be wrackt by them at pleasure these were nothing to this to be given up to one sin When God hath used his rods scourging men and they will not reform then he takes this ax and presently execution followeth to be delivered up to the power of men may be the lot of Gods sons but to be delivered up to the power of sin is the portion of Rebels of Reprobates This is the stinging whip with which God punisheth Ephrahim 2 Tim. 3.13 2 â—hess 2.10 11. Ephraim is joyned to Idols there is his impiety but what grievous punishment shall he have for his God-provoking Idolatry Let him alone Hos 4.17 It is not I will send the raging pestilence or cruel famine or bloody sword but he is joyned to idols let him alone I will not have him disturbed or molested but he shall have his will though it prove his everlasting woe Rom. 1.21 22. Psal 81.11 12. Hos 8.11 It is a woe with a witness 1 Cor 5. comp with 2 Cor. 7. for God to let thy lusts like so many ravenous Lions loose upon thee and to lay the reins of thy sins upon thy own neck We read of one delivered up to Satan yet he was saved but never of any delivered up to their sins but they were damned It was a sad sight which Abraham saw when he beheld flakes of fire rained from heaven upon the Sodomites but it was a sadder which Lot beheld when he saw the fire of hell burning in their hearts and breaking out in their lives and his righteous soul was vexed therewith Reader have a care that thou never in thy heart plead more for
oyle to the lamps which will keep them ever burning Philosophers tell us that elementary fire wants no fuell though culinary doth Divines tell us that the Spirit of God needs not ordinances for he is infinite in power but that he will not work without them where he affords them is manifestly his pleasure Reader if thou art humbled as I have before spoken thou lookest on thy self as a vile creature even as a dog I would have thee now very careful that thou wait patiently for the bountiful house-keeper of the world is preparing some good food for thee and do not eatch too hastily at the childrens bread the promises lest it be taken from thee and thou meet with a blow When a wound is deep there is much wisdome required to keep it some time open with a tent and not to heal it up too soon lest its cure be imperfect Do thou wait Gods leisure bemoaning thy sins abhorring thy self praying fervently for thy soul and be confident that Jesus Christ who is already upon his way will arise upon thee speedily with healing under his wings It may be that this tender able Physitian cometh nearer to thee he doth not onely shew thee the nature and danger of thy disease and make thee who wert before sensless apprebensive of it by feeling thy sickness but doth also discover to thee an excellent and costly remedy which hath cured many of thy very disease and will unquesionably heal thee if thou wilt but accept it thankfully and apply it prudently I mean the spirit presenteth to thee when thou art full of anguish and sorrow that rare salve of the blood of Jesus Christ which spread upon a promise is the onely healing plaister for a wounded conscience He acquainteth thee with the alsufficiency of Jesus Christ to save sinners that he is a Saviour of Gods own appointing one in whom God hath given under his hand that he is well pleased a redeemer that hath in him infinite meritoriousness because he is the onely begotten of the father if he sheweth thee long bils of others debts which have been canceld by the blood of Christ and assureth thee that he is not onely able but truly willing to save thee that he was wounded for thy transgressions and bruised for thine iniquities and by his stripes thou mayst be healed The Holy Ghost possibly setteth the King of Saints before thee in all his robes and riches and righteousness as it were thus bespeaking thee Come poor sinner that lyest weltring in thy blood hearken to me and thou shalt see what I can and will do for thee though by thy wilful breach of the Law thou art liable to such endless boundless fury as thou couldst neither abide nor avoid yet I will be a Skreen between thee and the unquenchable fire I le satisfy the law and pacify my father I le not onely deliver thee from sin and Satan wrath and death and damnation but adopt thee for a Son interest thee in that inestimable treasure the covenant of grace and make thee an heir of the eternal weight of glory and all this thou shalt have freely and surely if thou wilt but accept me thankefully and heartily for thy Saviour and Lord. At the hearing of which loving language thou probably art amazed and ready to say as Mephibosheth when David told him that he should eat bread at his table continually What is thy servant that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am Thou admirest the riches of Christs merits the freeness of his mercy and the happiness of his members thy soul begins to be exceedingly in love with him and affectionately longing after him O thinkest thou Had I but Christ for my portion though I were never so poor in temporals I could be heartily contented Now Christian the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto thee thou art now upon thy quickening be but careful there and thou art made for ever I know that thy broken heart is willing to go to Jesus Christ but have a care that thou carry nothing to him that thou keep nothing from him thy miscariage in either of these may quite break off the bargain between Christ and thy soul as near as t is driven I say carry nothing to Christ Thy next step must be quite out of thine own doors the Devil knoweth how to slay thee as well by thy righteousness thy mournful contrition for sin as by thine unrighteousness thy wilful commission of sin which made Austin say That repentance damneth more then sin nay thy trusting upon thy prayers or tears or any good in thee doth alter the nature of them and turn them into sin in this many stick they are hardly brought off from their own bottoms When mens houses are on fire their covetousness to save their goods hath often lost them their lives when mens souls are in a flame their pride to carry out with them their good prayers and good desires and good resolutions hath lost them eternal life they will pay some of their brass-farthings towards the reckoning and God therefore makes them pay the whole shot O how unwilling is the creature to be beholden to Christ his Surety for the payment of all his debts though he be a meer bankrupt yet he hopes he may compound with his Creditor and pay something towards his satisfaction and this ariseth partly from his ignorance of that righteousness which alone can satisfie the Law or pacifie the Lord For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness Rom. 10.3 They were ignorant first how perfect that righteousness must be for which God will justifie a sinner that if there be the least spot in it his pure eyes cannot accept it secondly they were ignorant how compleat that righteousness is which the Law requireth how the Law reacheth to the inward as well as the outward man how it damneth for the smallest idle word wandring thought or complying motion of the heart with sin Did they but know that that righteousness which pleaseth God for their justification must answer the Law in its full latitude and all its dimensions they would not offer their drossy duties no nor their golden graces for currant coin which being weighed in that ballance of the Sanctuary must needs be found infinitely too light Partly from his pride For they being ignorant of the righteousness of God and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God Rom. 10.3 Mark They have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God Proud man esteems it submission a condescention to be beholden to Jesus Christ for remission and salvation he hath though a beggers purse yet a proud heart and is loth to trouble Jesus Christ so much and to take all his mercies as almes out of the basket of the Redeemers merits Reader now thou art in a storm if thou lovest thy soul do not run to shelter