his coming Matth. 24.44 Luke 12.35 36. 2 Pet. 3.11 12. Matth. 25.10 11 12 13 14. that he may praise and commend her bless and reward her Revel 19.7 Matth. 24.46 Now this cannot be done without Regeneration for that is their Ornament Beauty Honour and Glory Without Regeneration they are not fit for Contraction much less can they make themselves ready for the great Wedding day and the glorious Solemnity and state thereof The Lord Jesus will have but uncomely black and dirty Spouses of us without Regeneration notwithstanding our Election 2 Full and everlasting fruition of and Communion with the great and holy God This is the promised and designed state and portion of all Gods Elect number and this they are and shall be fitted for by Regeneration Election is the designing and appointing us to that happiness Regeneration is the preparing and meeting us for the enjoyment of it Election is the causes or Spring of Regeneration and Regeneration is the fruit of Election but the fruition and eternal enjoyment of God in Heaven is the end of both Men are no more capable of living in the presence and enjoyment of God in their state of sin than Swine are to live in a Kings Palace or Earthly Bodies in the Sun Regenerate persons shall meet the Lord in the Air and for ever be with him 1 Thes 4.17 They shall see him as he is 1 Joh. 3.2 and face to face as Paul speaks 1 Cor. 13.12 and they shall live with Christ for evermore in perfect holiness joy and glory Matth. 25. ult But this men cannot do nor obtain without Regeneration 1. Because of the unsuitableness of unregenerate mens hearts unto so glorious a state of holiness honour and dignity 2. Because God is a holy God He is glorious in Holiness yea Holiness its self and no uncircumcised heart can be admitted into his presence and men in their unchanged states are an abomination unto him who is the Fountain of Holiness 3. Because it is Gods own Ordinance which shall stand fast to all Generations namely that Regeneration shall precede and prepare the way to Glory and the everlasting fruition and enjoyment of God John 3.3.5.7 Rom. 8.29 30. It is Gods filed stated way with men that they must have their fruit unto holiness here before they can enjoy Communion in Heaven with him hereafter and it is Regeneration that puts men into a state of holiness here to qualifie and prepare them for Eternal Glory and Communion with the Father and Son in another World Thus I have presented you with the first grand reason or ground of the necessity of Regeneration namely the uses and ends God designs men to in their first and second Creation Now in the second place I am to shew you the necessity of Regeneration from the state whereinto Sin hath plunged us or by shewing our weakness wilfulness averseness and utter inability to obtain and prosecute those holy Ends of God without Regeneration Both Scripture and Experience will afford us sufficient proofs of this First then we are in gross and palpable darkness as hath been shewed we are in our sinful state not only in the dark but we are in darkness Eph. 5.8 This is called gross darkness to shew that it is exceeding great Isa 60.2 yea it is said that we are full of darkness and in great darkness Matth. 6.23 And the god of this World is said to bring us into and keep us in it 2 Cor. 4.4 It is such a darkness and blindness as that men know not where they are what they are nor where they are going How then can they answer or prosecute Gods Ends in Creating them in his own Image without Regeneration and therefore they stand in absolute need of Regeneration to make them Children of Light Eph. 5.8 such as the Apostle tells us the Thessalonians were by Regeneration 1 Thes 5.5 Men are commanded to walk as Children of Light 1 Thes 5.8 which Regenerating Light enables them to do It is only Regenerating Light and Knowledge that shews men the way wherein they should walk and the things that they should believe and do in order to Eternal Happiness and without which they stumble fall and perish 2 Let us take a further view of the condition and the utter incapacity we are in by Nature to answer or reach the ends of our first Creation and the ends and uses which God designed us to in forming and making us in his own Image and Likeness that thereby we may see the necessity of Regeneration for the restoring us in measure to our Primitive state and capacitating us to attain those ends and serve his designs which we are on many accounts indispensably bound to do I shall therefore present your unregenerate condition unto you for your conviction and quickning yet further and that with all possible brevity 2. We are by sin fallen from God and become real strangers to him we have lost him in the Fogs of Lusts and Blindness Ever since we were cast out of Paradise for sin we have been wandring in the Wilderness and howling Desarts and are Strangers and Forreigners to God and our selves Eph. 2.12.19 and also to all happiness and true blessedness 3 By Nature we are averse and unwilling to know our states sins and wickedness our misery and wretchedness and the right way to obtain deliverance from and out of them as also to know Christ and true Holiness and most of all to close comply and joyn Issues with God in his own way for our Salvation For although we are exceeding sinful and wretched and God hath told us so plainly and particularly and hath also shewed us the way to escape held out the Golden Scepter to us and proffered us his Hand to help us out yet we shut our eyes and stop our ears against him and his favours and refuse to accept his kindness and gracious proffers until Regeneration changes us and gives us new Spirits Matth. 23.37 Joh. 5.4 Pro. 1.24 ult 4 By Nature we are most vile filthy abominable and loathsome Creatures laden with sins lying in our blood unwashed full of all manner of Leprous spots and accursed Plague-sores hateful and contemptible compared to Dogs Swine Serpents Vipers and Adders Oh how doth the Holy Ghost in Scripture set us out and decipher us Rom. 3 10-20 Tit. 1. ult Rev. 3.17 Rev. 22.11.13 Matth. 23.33 Ezek. 16 2-11 Isa 1. Matth. 7.6 Eph. 2. with innumerable other like them 5 By Nature we are without strength we are as weak as water we are so impotent as that we cannot help our selves nor do any thing aright that God commands for by sin we lost all our spiritual strength and ability to do good or obey any Command of God By sin we depraved and deprived our selves of Light Life Holiness Strength and whatever was created with or given to us in our Creation and first make all is demolished and ruined Rom. 5.6 Rom. 8.3 Therefore in Regeneration
adore and admire him and to worship and serve him as our God But the knowledge of God being lost God hath provided means for the retriving of some and bringing them to the knowledge of himself again and this is done by Regeneration Hence they are renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created them Col. 3.10 Eph. 4. And Paul saith God that commanded light to shine out of darkness hath shined in mens hearts to give them the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 The having of this knowledge is Life Eternal Joh. 17.3 For this end God opened Pauls eyes Acts 22.14 and for this end he opens others eyes also and until men are Regenerated they are in darkness and know not God nor Christ the Mediator and therefore regenerates men that they may know both and whatever else is necessary to be known Men are like Moles and Bruits without the knowledge of God Jesus Christ his Grace and Laws 8 God Created Man to make him the Object of his Love Delight Complacency and Communion and therefore made him in his own likeness Gen. 5.1 beautified him with his own Image and Nature Gen. 1.27 2 Pet. 1.4 that thereby he might make him a lovely and suitable Object for those ends Man was the Flower Crown and Quintescence of the whole Creation not so much because he had a Reasonable Soul and a more Noble Nature but because he was created in the Image of God God puts the Accent on that part of his Workmanship several times Gen. 1.26 27.5 1. Eccl. 7. ult to which the Apostle alludes Col. 3.10 This was the Creature that God saw very good as fitted for these ends namely to be the objects of his love and delight Gen. 1.31 God made them after his own Heart meet and answerable to his gracious purposes and intentions but man quickly marr'd and disrobed himself and thereby made himself utterly uncapable and unworthy of Gods Delight Complacency and Communion so that now God had not a Creature left in the World to delight in and have Communion withal But that he might not be altogether destitute of some to take up withal he chose a certain number with a design to make them Vessels of Honour and to prepare them for this his special use namely to be his Companions to solace himself with them and rejoyce in them as with his Friends and Lovers Zeph. 3.17 Isa 63.3 4. The Book of Canticles abundantly declares it Now this he doth accomplish in and upon them in and by Regeneration or making them New Creatures By Regeneration God in measure and degree restores to them what they sinfully lost by their Rebellion against and Apostacy from God and reposes them with and of his Grace and Nature which they had deprived themselves of by which they lost that love delight and complacency that God had to and in them and that Communion he had with them whilest they kept their integrity and intended them for in creating them I say God restores to them and creates in them that which will for ever make them lovely and delightful unto him by regenerating them he puts his Grace and Spirit into them Ezek. 36.25 26 27. stamps and impresses his own glorious Nature and Image on them Col. 3.10 imputes the Righteousness of Christ to them 2 Cor. 5. ult and infuses his Holiness into the whole man and so makes them lovely and beautiful by the comeliness that he hath of his own put upon them Ezek. 16.14 Then he loves and delights then he takes complacency in them and then he enters into and holds communion with them with satisfaction for his own Image and Grace sake as well as for his own love and Sons sake Joh. 13.1 Pro. 8.17 Joh. 14.21.23 Pro. 15.8 Zeph. 3.17 Isa 63.3 4. 1 Joh. 1.3 1 Cor. 1.9 These are some but not all the Ends of God in regenerating men which must be obtained in this world But besides these that concern this life there are others that concern Christ his coming and the Eternal states of Gods Elect. A word of these and I have done with this 1 The Elect are the Spouses of Christ by Christs Purchase and Gods Gift to him they were given to him Joh. 6.37 Joh. 10.29 that he might Marry them and take them into a Conjugal Relation as you have heard before in pursuance of Gods Ends in giving them to Christ he pays a price for them and purchases them for himself for although they are said to be given to Christ yet he could not get them out of Prison but by paying their debts and full ransom which Divine Justice demanded 1 Cor. 6.20 and then comes and requires his own and contracts and takes them to himself and by regenerating them he shews himself unto them and acquaints them with himself perswades them to consent to his Proposals and chuse him for their Husband and so by his Grace in their hearts they freely willingly and chearfully give their consent and Christ and they do mutually give themselves to each other and take each other into a Matrimonial state and resolution This cannot be done without Regeneration for men are not adorn'd with a personal loveliness and made meet for Christ until they are made partakers of the Divine Nature and are beautified with his Image which makes them meet Companions for him So they will by no means be perswaded to consent to have him for their Head and Husband and resign up themselves unto him until they have their hearts and states changed by his Spirit and Grace in Regeneration And therefore I say that Regeneration is absolutely necessary to bring persons into a Conjugal Relation to Christ But yet there is more to be done than what I have yet said and which I aim at in what I have spoken namely that the Contracted Bride is to make her self ready for the great Marriage day or for the compleatment of the Marriage Solemnities which shall be at Christ his second Personal coming when he shall receive his Bride unto himself and carry her home to his own Royal Palace in State and Glory John 14.3 Revel 19 1-8 Matth. 25.31 32. For this day and the great Solemnity of it Christ must have his Bride in a state and practical readiness to meet her Bridegroom in the Clouds where he will come with his Attendants in great State and send his Angels for his Bride to come to him where he will wait to receive and imbrace her and then will the Lord make his great Feast called the Supper of the Lamb and a Feast of fat things to which Feast and Marriage she must come ready deckt with all her Ornaments and Wedding Garments that she may be suitable unto her Husband For what hath been said see these Scriptures Matth. 25.32 33 34. 1 Thes 4.16 17. Rev. 19.9.17 Isa 25.6 Now I say the Lord Jesus exhorts her or them to get and make themselves ready for
Eternal Glorification BEGUN IN REGENERATION OR A DISCOURSE OF REGENERATION Wherein is shewed 1. What Regeneration is with the causes of it 2. The necessity of Regeneration in order to Salvation 3. The Lets and Hindrances of it 4. The certain Signs and Tokens of it 5. The small number or fewness of Regenerate Persons 6. Their Priviledges and Happiness 7. Their Duties and how they ought to walk Intended for the profit of all both REGENERATE and UNREGENERATE Persons By STEPHEN FORD Preacher of the Gospel in LONDON For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but a New Creature Gal. 6.15 London Printed for Nath. Crouch in Exchange Alley over against the Royal Exchange 1675. The Epistle Dedicatory To my much loved and regarded Friends the young men c. who have chosen me for your Instructor are of and continue your chearful attendance on the Lords Days Evening Lecture and to all other persons who do frequently wait on and encourage the same Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied unto you all SIRS THe great ends for which we are set and maintained in this world are 1. To get new hearts and prepare for another world that is to come 2. To live to and walk with God and serve our Generation and in and by our so doing to look for and receive from God the portion of Blessings he hath provided for and promised to bestow on us here We are all and every one of us indispensably bound to endeavour all we can to obtain and prosecute these ends because otherwise we shall all perish In this world we have our day of Grace to fit us for glory if we are wise and do faithfully improve it we shall assuredly reap the fruits of it in another world yea the earnest or first-fruits of it here You have but a little uncertain time here to run your Race in and to prepare for Eternal Life and if you neglect to do it to purpose here you will most certainly be shut out of Heaven hereafter Mat. 25 1-13 v. If you trifle in this matter and seem indifferent you are not wise but play the fool and err exceedingly as you will find to your cost at the last day if not before To prevent which and to make you truly wise sensible serious and diligent in and about your everlasting concerns I have written this little Book and do present it to your serious and faithful consideration and improvement and that in and with unfained love and cordial affection For I do assure you that I have bowels of love for you and with all my heart and soul do pray for and endeavour your Regeneration and Salvation which I hope you see and are convinced of by my constant free and unwearied labours amongst you according to my small Talent The great and holy God knows that I seek not yours but you as I hope you can all bear me witness having once and again told you that I had Dedicated my poor Labours as a Free-will Offering unto God and the service of your Souls and that I did not look for or expect any reward from you for my pains but your holy and spiritual improvement of them to the glory of God and your own Eternal Salvation The Truths here presented to your eyes to read were first you know preached to your ears to hear but knowing how treacherous and weak our memories are and how apt we are to let slip that which we hear and also fearing that the great Doctrine of Regeneration and your concernments in it might by this time be worn very much out of the minds and hearts of many of you I thought it a necessary and useful work to provide as well as I could for the reviving of it on you and fastening it in your hearts by writing and composing the sum and substance of what I preached to you which here I have done I have endeavoured to contract the whole within as narrow a compass as I could and to hold forth great Truths unto you with all possible plainness You may not expect a large Epistle from me because I want opportunity to do it at this time and therefore shall sum up all I have to say in a few words 1. I do entreat you to read and ponder well what you shall find here written and importune the Lord to give you much spiritual wisdom and understanding that you may be enabled to make a right judgment of the glorious Truths herein revealed 2. Look on the great Doctrine of Regeneration as a most weighty and important Doctrine to add for your selves as well as others that you stand in need of it and are indispensably bound to know and understand it as it is asserted and laid down in the Gospel and as written and set up in mens hearts in order to their Eternal Glorification yea and to know and experience the excellency and power of it in your own hearts 3. Apply what you read unto your selves examine and prove your own states and conditions by what you shall find in this Book search and see if the work of Regeneration be indeed wrought in your Souls and do not take up and deceive your Souls with a bare Reformation instead of real Regeneration with an external change only instead of an internal Oh! how many poor Souls are here among Great Professors who bless and speak peace to themselves and hope all is well with them that they are in Gods favour and shall certainly be saved because they have gotten some light in their heads and quiet in their minds good notions of good things and also a clean outside and form of godliness But if you have any pity for your Souls try and prove your selves to purpose until you know your conditions and take not up in any thing or attainments short of Regeneration for if you do you shall be shut out of Heaven 4. If you find upon search that the great and rare work of Regeneration is indeed wrought in your hearts and souls give glory to God and exalt the Lord Jesus Christ rejoyce and be exceeding glad for you are the blessed of the Lord you are the happy people and are sanctified and set apart for God and his holy works and ends and now you must unfainedly devote your selves and your all to him to live to and serve him with your all Now you must wholly mind how to please and honour him and to express your thankfulness in all possible hearty and filial obedience You must be wholly taken up with and imployed for God perfecting Holiness in his fear and bringing forth fruits whereby he may be glorified and you must in all your ways endeavour so to walk as to adorn the Gospel and have your good works shine in the world to the praise of God 5. You whom God hath Regenerated and given a well-grounded hope thereof put your selves under all the Ordinances of Christ and do not content your selves with some
to live always in a dependency on their Creator For although God made Man a perfect Creature filled him with his Grace and adorned him with his Image yet he was but a Creature and he was always to live and have his dependency on God for his subsistance and not to stand and continue in that state from and by himself but to depend wholly on him that made him This he was bound to do not only in point of prudence for his own security and peace but in point of duty as that which he was indispensably bound unto by the Law of his Creation His neglect of his duty in this occasioned his Dreadful Fall which ruined him I mean Adam and all his Posterity The same end doth God Regenerate men for namely that they may believe in Jesus Christ and in God the Father by him Joh. 14.1 1 Pet. 1.21 that they may trust commit themselves to him and live in a constant dependence on him Isa 26.4 Psal 37.3.5 Therefore doth he infuse his Faith into them when he Regenerates them Col. 1.12 and writes this Law in their hearts that they may obey it Jer. 31.33 Heb. 10.16 3 They were at first Created to love God with all their hearts and chiefest strongest and warmest love that they might esteem and love him as their highest and chiefest good and singular Object of all their affections This Law of our Creation we have exprest in Matth. 22.37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind So likewise this is Gods End in his second Creation or Regeneration and therefore doth he circumcise their hearts to love him Deut. 30.6 writes this Law in their hearts and sheds it abroad into them in Regeneration Rom. 5.5 that they may love him aright and that with his own love without which they cannot do it 4 The Lord Created Man to fear him to reverence and stand in awe of him as their great Soveraign Lord and King This Law was created with them and written in their hearts until sin had defaced and blotted it out This Law is also written in the Bible that men may remember what was written in their hearts in their Creation and know their duty and one of the ends for which they were Created how they have lost it and to provoke them to endeavour the recovery of it How often have we this Law exprest in Scripture Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God thou shalt stand in awe and sin not Deut. 6.13.24 Deut. 10.12.20 Psal 2.11 Psal 4.4 1 Pet. 2.17 It is a holy fear not a perplexing and heart-disquieting fear that is commanded it is a fear that is not an Adversary to Faith and Love as the forbidden fear is but it is useful for us and helpful to all other Graces Now in Regeneration God puts this fear into our hearts Jer. 32.39 40. that we may serve the Lord with reverence and godly fear Heb. 12.28 that we may not sin or depart from God Jer. 32. I will put my fear into their hearts and they shall not depart from me But I must hasten 5 God Created Man to obey him and yield him free loving and chearful subjection and obedience He formed them for his Subjects and Children that they should subject themselves unto his Laws and Authority and yield or give to him the obedience of Subjects to their Soveraign and of Children to their Creator and Begetter and accordingly they were Created with the Principle and Power of obedience and to this Created Principle God presently added a positive Law to try and exercise their obedience unto God Gen. 2.16 17. But of the Tree of Knowledge thou shalt not eat of it nor touch it The Image of God in which Adam and we in him were Created was such as fully enabled him and us had we kept it to have yielded all heart and practical obedience unto his whole will he wanted nothing to help him but he had all Grace in perfection to obey and conform to the whole Will of God at all times But Sin rooted the Principle and Power of Heart-obedience quite out of us so that men have now neither will nor power to obey the Will of God until they are regenerated by Grace But that God might not loose this End altogether for which he created Man he is pleased of his meer Grace to Regenerate and renew some of Mankind and thereby frame and mould them to such obedience as he at first intended them for for men cannot neither will they obey until Grace hath restored this old Power and Principle of obedience which they had lost And therefore he Regenerates and infuses this Power and Principle into men to make them willing Subjects and obedient Children 1 Pet. 1.14 Rom. 6.16 17 22. This was Gods End in sending Paul to convert the Gentiles Rom. 15.18 and this is powerfully effected in men in and by the work of Regeneration 6 That they might serve and worship him according to his revealed will God made men to worship and serve him externally as well as internally by loving fearing him and the like Christ mentions this in Matth. 4.10 when the Devil desired external worship from him It is written thou shalt worship the Lord thy God They were created in the Image of God to serve him with fear that is to worship God Psal 2.11 Heb. 12.28 Now God Regenerates men that they may by his Grace be enabled to do and perform that worship to him which he at first created them for and the Law of their Creation enjoyns them to that is to worship God in Spirit and Truth for such Christ tells us the Father seeks to worship him John 4.23 24. God works them for this self-same thing though not only for it says Paul 2 Cor. 5.5 Regeneration makes men together with the help of the Spirit worship God according to his own Will and appointment spiritually holily and acceptably through Jesus Christ Heb. 12.28 1 Pet. 2.5 Rom. 12.1 But assuredly there are not any such Worshippers in the World but Regenerate persons for all other men do what they do in the Worship of God without the Grace and Spirit of God and therefore cannot worship him in Spirit and Truth 7 God created Man in his own Image that they might know him and therefore gave them a sufficient light to see by and eyes to use that light revealed and made known himself unto them that they might clearly see him and always have him and his Will in their eyes The Image of God was Light and Knowledge as well as Righteousness and Holiness and therefore Adam knew and saw God so far as a Man was or in that state could be capable of knowing him which as it aggravated his sin so it heightned his happiness while he kept it The knowledge of God was absolutely necessary to help him and us in him to trust love fear and obey him so likewise to
said to be Deaf Psal 58.4 Isa 42.18 19. although they had not lost their natural Sense of hearing yet the Scripture saith they were Deaf why because they had not Spiritual Ears to hear hence the Lord Jesus speaking to the Asian Churches bids such as had Eares to hear what the Spirit spake unto them Revel 2. and 3. Chapters Clearly implying that there were some among them that had not this Spiritual Sense of hearing the Voice of the holy Spirit but that there were others that had it And the Prophet tells the Jews that there were some that had Eares but were Deaf Isa 43.8 that is they had the natural but not the Spiritual sense of hearing the voice of God by his Prophets This Spiritual hearing sense imports not onely a hearing and taking in the words or matters they hear but also understanding them and receiving them into the understanding will and affection Ezek. 40.3.4 2 Thes 2.10 Pro. 7.1 Pro. 10 14. They are ready and swift to hear Jam. 1.19.21 Let Christ speak to them what he will they can and will hear him Speak Lord for thy servant heares 1 Sam. 3.2 is the language of his heart and Lord what wilt thou have me to do Acts. 9. doth God or good men instruct admonish exhort reprove charge rebuke them their Eares and hearts are open and ready to hear and receive it to love and understand it to keep and practice it or to improve all to the will of God Regenerate Persons are the good ground hearers Luk. 8.15 Math. 13. They have Eares to hear hearts to receive and understand what is revealed to them yea to keep and hold it fast convert the word into profit and turn all into the practice of Godlyness They and they only have learnt the mystery and Spiritual Art of hearing They are the only Wise Serious Humble Diligent Circumspect Careful Reverend Watchful Sincere Profitable and good Hearers They are taught to please and honour God better and advantage their own Souls in and by hearing They are the Persons and none but they who hear in hearing who do truely and faithfully endeavour to hear Christ in hearing of men and to hear that voice behind them saying this is the way walk ye in it which is promised in Isa 30.20.21 They are the men who do indeed make blessed earnings of hearing and who do unfainedly intend design and carry on right high and holy ends in hearing namely to know Christ his Will Grace Spirit Benefits Covenant and Promises to know themselves their Sins Deceits and Errors their increase or decrease in Grace and practical Godliness and to know how they ought to believe and carry themselves towards God and men in all conditions States and Relations better more clearly and Spiritually that so they may walk worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleasing and be fruitful in every good work adorn the Gospel of Christ and beautify their holy profession These are the men who hear that they may be cleansed and washed that they may be quickened to and strengthened in their duty and that their lusts may be destroyed by the word of Grace Joh. 15.3 Joh. 17.17 Eph. 5.25.26 2 Cor. 10.4.5 And that they may as in the Lords own way and appointment meet with Christ and Christ with them to express their dependance on and subjection to him and that they may be filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3.19 This is the hearing Ear and understanding heart that is rarely to be found in the world Fifthly Smelling In the natural body there is the Sense of Smelling so there is in the new Creature also Christ is full of sweet smells and Savours fitted and suited to a believers new sense and Christ hath provided for and given them a sense capable of receiveing and resenting it which adds much to their strength and Comfort and renders the Lord Jesus more sweet lovely and acceptable to them For the more senses they have to draw and take in of Christs Person Grace and lovelyness to themselves the more they get from Christ and the more pleasing and desirable he must needs be to them had the patural man only two or three senses to apprehend and take in objects and the good of them his life would not be so comfortable because as then many of the Creatures would be vain and useless to him so he would live without the use and comfort of them that are suited to the senses he wants and which he cannot receive nor take comfort and delight in without them And men are naturally best pleased and most satisfyed with variety of objects and matters It is much more so in Spiritual and heavenly matters and things Spiritual men love and delight much in heavenly varieties and therefore to delight and satisfy them to endear their Souls to Christ and incourage them in their Duty to him he hath given them many senses or subjects capable of apprehending and taking in variety of heavenly matters and things and that is not all but he hath also graciously provided all suitable varieties for them and presents them freely to their acceptance Thus Christ is to them a sweet smelling Savour Eph. 5.2 his death was so to God and his Person Graces and Benefits are so to them Cant. 5.13.2.13 Their Persons love and obedience are a sweet smelling savour to Christ Cant. 4.10.11 And so is Christ unto them Cant. 1.3 and it is powerful to excite and draw forth their strongest and dearest love to Christ Because of the savour of this good Oyntments therefore do the Virgins love thee And as it excites and draws forth their love to Christ so it gladdens and refreshes the hearts of new Creatures Psal 45.8 All thy Garments smell of Myrth c. whereby they have made thee glad Thus I have briefly run over and presented you a few considerations of the New Creature his spiritual senses what they are and of their nature work use and end to help you to make a true Judgment of your selves whether you are new Creatures indeed or only in name and pretence And be assured of this that if thou art indeed a Regenerate person thou mayest in some degree especially at sometimes find these spiritual senses in thee And if thou canst find them in any degree in thee thou mayest conclude that thou art a Child of God and really Regenerate For it is certain that unregenerate persons have them not in them but are real strangers if not Enemies to them and such as regard them not neither do they find them in any degree or measure in themselves they are in an unregenerate state and condition And that they have not these senses is evident for they are dead blind hard and wholly carnal as hath been shewed already And so much of the first Mark or Character of a new Creature I shall briefly dispatch the rest and then proceed to other heads propounded Secondly If thou art a new Creature indeed thou
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
That they may greatly rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God 1 Rom. 5.2 and for that glorious resurrection that is promised To this hope they are called in their Regeneration Eph. 1.18.44 and this is one of the fruits of the spirit in their hearts ever after 5. Joy Joy is another holy passion in good men There is the natural passion of joy in all men and there is the Spiritual passion of joy in Regenerate men There is the object or matter of joy and there is the joy it self and also the faculty or subject of joy The object or matters of joy and rejoycing to good men are Christ Grace and heavenly things Phill. 3.1.3 Phil. 44. Psal 4.4 Psal 32. ult 2 the joy its self which flows forth from these objects or matters of joy into their hearts For experience shews that sometimes the objects of joy are shut up and yield no joy at all to us when we do eye and mind them and would fain draw it out of them but they are like Clouds that give down no rain at all sometimes or as a Fountaine shut up 〈◊〉 sealed Cant. 4.12 But at other times they are opened to us and then the joy of the Lord refreshes and chears strengthens and warmes our Souls This is given us of God the Father Christ and the holy Spirit as a special expression of his Love and Grace to us The objects of joy will not afford it until he give it or command them to hand it out to us Psal 133.3 Rom. 14.17 Rom. 15.13 Gall. 5.22 Joh. 14. Job 15.11 Joh. 6.20 3 There is the faculty or subject of joy that is that which is onely capable of receiving the impressions of the joy of the Lord in the Soul and improving it aright This is that we call the affection or passion of joy and this is given to men namely as it is a Spiritual or new passion in Regeneration For thereby God makes them subjects capable of receiving and rightly embracing valuing and useing the heavenly joy he intends for and hath promised to give unto them in their walking with him in their Regenerate states Now they can and do rejoice in Christ Jesus Phill. 3.3 in his love and Grace and in his will and their duty Rom. 7.22 Psal 40. now they praise God with joyful lips Psal 63.5 and shout for joy of heart Psal 32. ult Now they rejoyce and work righteousness and walk on in their way rejoycing Acts 8.39 Isa 64.5 Their hearts are full of great and unspeakable joy at some seasons so as that their Vessels can now hold no more 1 Pet. 1.8 With this Holy Joy in their hearts they can run and not be weary walk and not faint Isa 40. ult Neh. 8.10 6. Sorrow This is in a sense a contrary passion or affection to that of Joy There is a natural and carnal sorrow and a holy and spiritual sorrow or grief of heart the first is common to all men the second is only found in Regenerate men Sorrow in a natural sense is an evil but in a spiritual sense it is a good passion Joy and sorrow are strong and vehement working passions in men when strongly imprest and deeply affected with real or supposed evil or good There is a worldly and there is a godly sorrow 2 Cor. 7.10 Regeneration brings into and sets up the godly sorrow in men and thereby they are enabled to sorrow after a godly manner 2 Cor. 7.9 This passion is moved and imprest and the acts of godly sorrow are produced by several and these different objects and matters First their own lusts sins and God-provoking abominations their vileness and filthiness and their former contempts of Christ and despising slighting and rejecting his Love Grace Yoke Promises and Kindnesses These and many other evils and the serious thoughts and considerations of them do break and wound their hearts and cause much inward grief anguish and sorrow of heart and make them cry out unclean unclean what shall we do or how shall we appear before the holy and righteous God Acts 2.35 36 37 Acts 16. This causes them to sigh and mourn and erercise revengeful thoughts against themselves and to take indignation of themselves condemn abhor and loath themselves Ezek. 36.31 2 Cor. 7.11 And secondly the serious thoughts and considerations of the God Christ Grace Love and Kindness they have sinned against They see know and lay to heart who they have grieved wounded and dishonoured namely their God who had thoughts of love and peace for them when they were in their blood Ezek. 16. Jer. 29. They hope they had an interest in his heart and that he loved them before they loved God yea when they hated him and would have none of his counsel 1 Joh. 4.19 Pro. 1. They likewise see and consider the great Love and Grace of Christ and what great things he hath done and suffered for them to saâ—â— them from the wrath that is to come 1 Thes 1. ult The thoughts of the exceeding great patience and long-suffering of God towards them his pittying them and waiting on and for them that he might be gracious to them Isa 30.18 Rom. 2.4 5. Rom. 10. ult his standing at the door and knocking for them to have admission into their hearts Rev. 3.20 and how willing and importunate he was to be at peace and in friendship with them how basely and unworthily they carried themselves towards him and how they turned a deaf ear to his Calls and Invitations and made him wait so long for their acceptance of him even until his Locks were wet with the dew of the right Cant. 5. This works grief and raises great sorrow in their hearts So when they consider how their sins have stabb'd and murdred the Lord Jesus and put him to open shame Heb. 6 6. how they pulled down the wrath and Curse of God on him Gal. 3.12 and how he poured out sighs tears yea his precious Blood and Soul for them Isa 53. and likewise how their sins were imputed to and laid on him and how he was Crucified and killed for them and all to save them and instate them in his own Glory and Eternal Blessedness 2 Cor. 5. ult Joh. 10. Joh. 17. and how ungratefully they have demeaned themselves to him Oh! how doth this work on them how do these things irritate and cause sorrow and bitterness of Soul in them Now they can indeed look on him whom they have pierced and mourn and be in real bitterness of Soul as for their First-born Zach. 12.10 These and many other things which I cannot now mention do greatly melt them and provoke holy Sorrow and Repentance unto Life for as Christ his Love Grace and Sufferings do work on their passion of Joy irritates and provokes it so they do work on and cause much sorrow and grief of heart through the helps of the Spirit likewise The same objects and matters do work savingly and effectually on both namely to
neither do they desire there should be their minds and thoughts are wholly taken up about making provision for their Pride Covetousness Carnal Security Vain Glory Good Opinion of themselves and other filthy Lusts and they make themselves their Drudges and humble servants Rom. 13. ult And hence they are said to serve sin Rom. 6.6.17.20 But new Creatures know and account their Lusts their greatest Enemies and prosecute them with implacuble enmity and hatred They know either they must destroy their Lusts or they will destroy them They know that they have trucifyed the Son of God and put him to open shame and they know that they have greatly wronged their own Souls Pro. 8. ult And therefore they will give them no Quarter but stab them to the heart whatever it cost them to do it 4. Watching They are called to and imployed in the work of watching and guarding themselves against all their enemies This is another of their Special and peculiar works and businesses It is spetial and peculiar to new or regenerate men though it is the duty of all men yet none but they are conscientiously and dutifully imploying and exercising themselves in it But good men are 1 Joh. 5.18 But he that is begotten of God keepeth himself That is they do watch aâ—me and guard themselves so David did Psal 102.7 Psal 130.6 and the Scripture makes it one of the Special properties of good servants as well as their workes Habak 2.1 which Christ pronounces Blessed Revel 16.15 2 Cor. 11.27 Luk. 12.37 Regenerate men are beset with enemies which watch their opportunities to assault and betray them and that they know They know that Satan watches them and Lusts watch and the world watches to hurt and mischief their Souls and therefore they watch them and prepare against them It is true that good men are apt to be too negligent in this duty and need stirings up to it and it is as true that they do ordinarily practice this duty and worke They are moved to it 1 by the will and command of God God requires them to watch guard themselves Mark 13.33 34 37. 1 Their own hearts Pro. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence 2 the Devil 1 Pet. 5.8 Be Sober be Vigilant for your adversary the Devil as a Roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour 3 The World Luk. 21.34.36 4 To watch unto prayer and all other duties Col. 4. and Acts 20.31 1 The Calls to and opportunities for them that through heedlesness and inadvertency we let them not slip away from us without imbracing and improving them to the Glory of God and our Souls profit or advantage of others 2 That we may close in and joyn Issues with God and his designes in giving them to us and that in the time and season of them and that freely and readily 2 They are moved to a fervent attendance on this work and duty by and from their dangers They are in continual danger of assaults and surprizalls from them and therefore they must be always upon their watch to prevent their designs discover their plots and foyl them in their Attempts 3 From their own security and comfort they are moved to this worke It is easier keeping an Enemy out of the Garison of the heart then dealing with and driving him out â—hen admitted in Their own as well as Christs honour safety and happiness is much concerned in their so doing God hath 1 committed themselves to their own keeping and given them the care and charge of themselves 1 Joh. 5.21 Pro. 4.23 Jam. 1. ult 'T is true â—â—at God doth watch over and keep them in especially manner also Isa 27.3 1 Pet. â—5 and that when they are most careful to â—eep themselves 2 God hath intrusted them with power light will and abilities to keep themselves and in their doing of it in obedience to his will he hath promised to keep and secure them from Sin and danger likewise 1 Pet. 5.7.2 Tim. 4.18 They watch and keep themselves dutifully in order to their safety and God keeps and watches them powerfully and effectually so as that the sâ—es of Hell shall not prevaile against them Math. 16.18 But they cannot so keep and secure themselves with their utmost diligence This I say is the work and imployment of regenerate persons they and they only live in the practice of it Unregenerate persons do no way concern themselves in this great and special work They know it not they love it not neither have they hearts to do it withal They think it a work of supererogation and that such as are busied about it are more strict and precise than they should be They fear neither God Sin World nor Devil neither are they sensible of the danger they are in of destruction but go on securely in the wayes of their own hearts and speak peace unto themselves presuming that no evil shall come to them 5 They are employing and exercising themselves in worshiping God according to his own will and Appointment namely to worship God in Spirit and Truth and that with his own worship We are they sayes Paul of himself and other Saints who worship God in Spirit Psal 3.3 They are convinced that they must and that God will so be worshiped of them Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth For this self-same thing though not onely doth God Regenerate men and thereby lays in and sets up a principle of divine worship in them that so they may readily do it according to the will of God For sayes Christ the Father seeketh such to worship him Joh. 4.23 that is that the Father doth by Christs Gospel and the holy Ghost call and regenerate teach and Spirit some to worship him It is their desire choice care and study to draw nigh to God in all parts of his worship with true hearts Heb. 10.22 and to worship God sincerely and Spiritually To please and honour him to sanctify his name and holy worship and to give unto the Lord the honâ—â—â— due unto his name to comply with his holy will and ends to make his praise glorious Psal 29.1 2. Psal 66.2 This is also one of their high and noble works holy and Spiritual imployments and that wherein their Souls delight to this they are called for this they are in part fitted and qualified in their Regeneration and this is their work and business ever â—â—er Thus it is with you and so is your â—ractice if you are Regenerated Unregeneâ—â—te men are strangers and adversaries to this peculiar work and duty of new Creatures they know it not they do it not neither conâ—â—rn themselves with it They take up in and are satisfied with the Letter without the Spirit with the form without the Truth and â—â—er of Godliness and they imagine that they have done God good service when they have spent some time in external duties and ordiâ—ances without the great
or that have the faith to believe in him to 〈◊〉 saving of their Souls Heb. 10. ult There are many indeed that have a Faith and pretend to believe in Christ so John 8 31. Acts 8. but very few have that faith to do so in Truth neither do they much if at all desire and seek after such a Faith but are pleased and satisfied well enough without it Oh! how few are there who have the Faith of Gods Elect and their pretious Faith that do Believe through â—race and have that Faith which purifies the heart and leads them forth and carries them out of themselves to Christ to take up in him only Tit. 1 1. 2 Pet. 1 1. Acts 15 9 Acts 18 27. This they could and would do indeed were they Regenerated for as hath been shewed all such as are Regenerated do so in and by the light and power of Christs grace in Regeneration 7. How few are there among the great multilades of professors that love God the Lord Jesus Christ his Grace Laws People and Gospel Obedience â—â—re or so much as they do their own Lusts the world and their own carnal profits pleasures and honours Oh! how few are there that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Eph. 6. ult and with their whole hearts Math. 22.37 how few are there to be found that have their hearts circumcised to love the Lord and that have had the holy Ghost sheding abroad the love of God into their hearts as all regenerate persons have Deut. 30.6 Rom. 5.5 Is it not apparent that the most of professors are strong and greedy fervent and zealous Lovers of the world and carnal self 2 Tim. 3.2 men shall in the last dayes sayes Paul be lovers of themselves and of pleasures more then God Vers 4. And is it not really so now with the greater number of professors which shews they are in an unregenerate state and condition For were they new Creatures indeed they would love God Jesus Christ and heavenly things as the great and onely objects of their lovely delight choice and complacency All other things would be to them as they were to regenerate Paul namely diâ—â— and dung in comparison of Christ Grace Gospel-obedience Holyness Heaven and heavenly things Phil. 3. 8. How few are there who have or are about the great work of Crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts in good earnest which were they â—ew Creatures indeed they would assuredly be much concerned in and busying themselves about as one of their great and indispensible workes and businesses For all regenerate persons are seriously exercising themselves in this work Gall. 5.24 they 〈◊〉 purifying their hearts by faith and perfecting holiness in the fear of God Acts. 15.9 1 Joh. 3.3 2 Co. 7.1 But so are not the Generality of professors they are strangers if not eneâ—ies to this work They are as was said in 〈◊〉 with them they are their joy and deâ—ight and who will seek and unfainedly endeavour to destroy them they love deilght and take pleasure in These are onely the works of regenerate men 9. How few are there who do unfainedly repent 〈◊〉 their Sins and mourn night and day for their transgressions are in real bitterness of soul and abase Judge and condemn themselves which if they were regenerated they would 〈◊〉 They would humble themselves be ashamed of themselves for uncovering their nakedness and laying open their shame before God and men and they would repent in dust and Ashes withall their hearts and Souls Job 42.5.6 Izek. 36.31 For this is the New Creatures dayly worke Regenerate men have that berefit of Christ his Resurrection and Ascension as well as others namely Repentance Acts 5.31 and that great grant and fruit of the Covenant of Grace and the blood of it Acts 11.18 Heb. 13.20 Repentance unto Life By the power of which they practice Repentance They have it in their hearts and act it in their walkings They mark and observe what they should be and what Errors and mistakes they are guilty of mourn for it and labor to mend them But do the multitude of professors do so no not in the least they cast these things out of all serious Consideration it is a work they loath and wholly neglect It is too low and base business for them to mind or concern 10. How few are there among the multitudes of professors who make it their business to please and honour God to fear and reverence him and to worship him in Spirit and Truth This or these matters would be strong and powerful on their hearts and Souls and they would labour to do it indeed were they regenerated For all regenerate men have it so on their hearts and they do really aim at and endeavour it as was before proved Phill. 3.3 God hath wrought in them that which is well-pleasing in his sight Heb. 13.21 and to worship him in Spirit and Truth Joh. 4.23 They are formed by Grace to honour and magnifie God and to make it their work and business Isa 43.21 and are created in Christ Jesus unto this and all other good works Eph. 2.10 They are renewed in knowledge to understand them and with power and will to do them Coll. 3.10 Phil. 2.13 Psal 110.3 But where are such persons to be found among Professors O! how few how this are they sown and how rarely do they appear if compared with others how few have the power of Godliness in comparison of them who take up with the meer forme how few professors are Spiritually minded persons who set their Affections on things above and not on things below Coll. 3.1 2 Rom. 8.5.6 and that have thee Conversation or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Trade in heaven Phil. 3.20 how few are their who guard and watch themselves and their Souls adversaries and keep their hearts with all diligence or above before all things Pro. 4 23. how few are there who labour and make it their Trade and business to be fruitful in every good worke and dound in the work of the Lord to bear much fruit unto Eternal Life and all that God may be glorified and their own Souls profited and saved by Grace Coll. 1.10 1 Cor. 15. ult Jâ—b 15.8 Rom. 6.22 How few are there who do unfainedly minde and labour to walk sincerely and uprightly with God and before him and to adorn the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Surely very few do and are so indeed Only a little little flock do they and they only are such persons within and walk so without as hath been shewed From which Proofs and Instances we may certainly conclude that there are but a very few a small number of Regenerate persons among the multitudes of professors I have I think said enough for the confirming and clearing of this Truth although I could say much more to and of it were it needful Now then what use and Improvement should we all make of this Truth Surely it is a great Truth and
Pardon of all your Sins for time to come Exod. 34.6 7. Isa 55.7 Jer. 31.34 hence the Lord Jesus commands and directs them Namely you that are Gods Children to Pray Our Father forgive us our Trespasses Math. 6.12 And Paul tells us from Christ that there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 and if there be indeed no condemnation then no Sin unpardoned To the same purpose Christ speaks in Joh. 5.24 He that is passed from Death to Life as all Regenerate Persons are shall not come into Condemnation Therefore encourage your selves in true holiness hereby 2. You have the Promises of Cleansing and Healing you or of Gods sanctifying and purifying your hearts Hosea 14.4 For which end and purpose among other Christ gave himself Tit. 2.14 Eph. 5.25.26 And sets open the Fountain to flow in upon us Zach. 13.1 And Ezek. 36.25.26.27 I will sprinkle clean Water on them and they shall be clean and from all their filthiness and from all their Idols will I cleanse them 3. You have promises of perseverance in Godlyness unto the end of your race until you have finished your course here you shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 And my sheep follow me and I give to them eternal Life and they shall never Perish neither shall any take them out of my hand Joh. 10.27.28.29 Moreover God tells us that for our more certain and full assurance of our safety and security he will keep us water us every moment yea and keep us Night and Day Isa 27.2.3 And engages himself that whatever enemies beset us round about and seek to devour us that he will watch us and be our defence by being a wall of Fire round about us Zach. 2.5 God hath promised that he will put his fear into their hearts and they shall not depart from him Jer. 32.40 and that his Children shall call him my Father and shall not turn away from him Jer. 3.19 They have underneath them the Everlasting Armes and they are held in his hand They are safe within the walls of their Fathers house and are guarded with the holy Angells Their victory over all their enemies is sure because they are ever under the Conduct of their great Captain Christ and fight under his Banner in his cause and quarrel with his Armor of proof who hath all their enemies under his feet Their Lusts the world and Devil are all in subjection unto your great King and Captain And because the Victory is sure on our side as fighting under him he is stiled the Captain of our salvation And therefore you may be sure you shall not Perish For you have all possible security from him and his Father to strengthen and encourage to fence and arme you against all your own fears weakness and temptations whatsoever Even the Gates of Hell shall not be able to prevaile against you But if you are in a state of Grace you shall most certainly run your Race win the Prize and wear the Crown of Righteousness For you have their bonds for your security who are both able faithful to perform and make them good to you and to all who shall trust and rely on them for the doing of it 4. You have promises of Peace This is one of your husbands Legacies to you Joh. 14.27 Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you And in Joh. 16. ult In the world saith Christ ye shall have tribulation but in me ye shall have peace And Glory honour and peace to every man that worketh Righteousness Rom. 2.10 and as many as walk according to this Rule peace be to them Gal. 6.16 So in Phil. 4.7 And the peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds This Spiritual peace is a fruit of Gods Love and the mediation of Christ of our Justification and Sincerity of heart towards God and men For he is our peace Eph. 2.14 and being Justifyed by faith we have peace with God Rom. 5.1 Those that know and have experienced the great and sore Affliction and trouble of a wounded Conscience which none can bear Pro. 18.14 and the load and weight of guilt and fear on the Soul can give a better account of the worth and Excellency of this peace of God For indeed it is so great that it passeth all understanding Phill. 4.7 5. Satisfaction You have the promisses of being satisfied with good The meaning is not so to be satisfied with what we have as not to desire and seek for more of that and other mercies no but to be satisfied with and in the will and disposements of God and the measure of our present Enjoyments untill God shall augment them Joh. 4.14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst Isa 58.10 Jer. 31.14.25 It is a great mercy to have a satisfied and contented Spirit with Gods Allowance and at the same time to endeavour after more An unsatisfied Spirit is very sinful grievous vexatious to a mans own Soul He enjoys not what he hath that is not satisfied in the will of God â—â—ith his portion and measure God dispences â—is favours according to his sovereign wisdom Will and Grace he gives two Talents to one servant and to another five Math. 25. to declare and make known to men his soveraignty and dominion over them and that he doth in Heaven and Earth whatsoever pleaseth him That he will not dispose of his favors according to our wills but his one 6. You have promises of Assistance in your duties or of a supply of the Spirit of Grace and the Grace of the Spirit to enable you to performe them according to the will of God even to acceptation in Heaven Phill. 4.19 And my God shall supply all your wants Psal 84.11 The Lord God is a Sun and shield he will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly as all Regenerate men may do The holy Spirit is promised to help our Infirmities and enable us to do the will of God acceptably Rom. 8.26 27. Zach. 12.10 And fear not Jacob my Servant although thou art a worm a poor weak Creature yet seeing thou art a New Creature I will help thee yea I will strengthen thee yea I will uphold thee with the Right hand of my Righteousness Isa 41.10 13 14. He giveth power to the Saint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength That they that wait on him may encrease their strength to run and not be weary Isa 40.29 31. so that whatever God calls you to and sets you upon be sure that he will fully enable you to do it how weak soever you are in and of your selves For God is strong and faithful who hath promised it 7. Joy and Consolation God hath priviledged you with promises of rejoycing your hearts and of causing
with our Goâ—â— and Father You shall forever be fed at youâ— Fathers and eat at his Table with him 〈◊〉 he will make all sorts of Spiritual provisiâ—â— for you because you are his adopted Châ—â—dren and in his house You shall for ever 〈◊〉 upon no worser fare than the Bread of 〈◊〉 that came down from heaven Joh. 6. And yâ—â— â—â—all for ever Drink of the Rivers of his pleasures â—â—ely of the Fountain of Life Psal 36.8 and 〈◊〉 shall never want You are in an adopted â—â—â—e and may expect all provisions from him 〈◊〉 hath Adopted you for he will not deny you any good thing nor fail to make ready for 〈◊〉 your daily bread Therefore look on 〈◊〉 great dignity and Priviledge of yours apply it to your selves suck out all the marâ—ow and sweetness of it and comfort your selves with it to the enabling and encouraging you in your Wilderness Journy work aâ—d condition You know it so amongst men â—â—th respect to worldly Inheritances Such as are entayled or entitled to them will often think on them and comforting themselves in â—ope of possessing and enjoying the good of â—â—em after a few years Why do you so â—uch more For your Inheritance to which you are Adopted is a much more glorious certain and rich Inheritance than any worldly one can be and it is an Incorruptible and â—ternal Inheritance that you are entituled to The Lord Jesus the Elder Brother and Heir is gone to take possession of your Inheritances for you who are Regenerated and made by Adoption fellow Heirs of Salvation 8. Vnion and Communion You are Vnited to Christ and made one Body with him or you are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his â—â—es Eph. 5.30 as you heard before and therefore shall not insist on it here This Union is exprest and set forth unto us by many things As by natural Vnions that are between the Head and Members in the Natural Body Eph. 5.23 Eph. 1.22 23. Eph. 4.15 by the natural union and oneness that is between the Vine and Branches Joh. 15.1 2 4 5. so also between Voluntary and Conjugal Relations as Husband and Wife Eph. 5. Friends and Friends John 15. Now from this Union flows Communion of Persons and Estates What the Lord Jesus hath is theirs and whatever they have is Christs Christ is theirs and all his fulness and Riches theirs he can withhold 〈◊〉 good thing from them neither doth he account any thing he hath to be so his own but that they have a kind of propriety and Interest in it and may claim it of him What he hath received of his Father it was for them he deposited all their stock and Portion in his hand that he might impart and communicate it 〈◊〉 them which he doth and will do and thâ—â— most faithfully carefully wisely and seasonbly For this end he gives them free and 〈◊〉 access to him and invites them not to be straâ—gers to him but come and apply themselveâ— freely and constantly to him and ask of 〈◊〉 what they will John 14.13 14. John 15. â— John 16. All which he holds forth to theâ— in and by the hand of Promises Ask what yâ— will and it shall be done to you John 15.7 Joâ—â— 16.24 In like manner Regenerate Men 〈◊〉 open hearted to Christ in degree they 〈◊〉 willingly design and dedicate their all to 〈◊〉 All their love and affections all their strenâ— and abilities and all their earnings and 〈◊〉 tings They give him their service and 〈◊〉 age their hearts hands and Souls and the fruits of their experiences of his Grace and love to them Christ and they do Visit one mother in the Galleries and in their Closets There they do unbosome themselves and open the secrets of their hearts to each other This is another of your great Dignities and Priviledges But having spoken something of this before I shall say no more of it here You should consider this Truth and make the best of it you can 9. You are priviledged and dignified with the holy Angels Guard and Attendance They are by nature more noble and excellent Creatures then you and yet they wait on you and keep guard round about you night and day They love and honour you and are ready to do you any service they can and you are greatly engaged to them for the honour and service they do you They do you much good for they are Ministering Spirits sent forth to Minister unto the Heirs of Salvation such as you are they secure you from and guard you against Devils and they support and uphold you in and with their hands Heb. 1. ult Psal 91 10 11. Psal 34.7 Math. 4. When you are Journying they go with you and when you lie down they watch at your Beds-side The holy Angels rejoyce in and with you Luk. 15.7 10. They are glad at your Regeneration and Salvation and they no way envy your prosperity or disdain your service as below them Whatever they do for you they do it freely faithfully chearfully and with delight Thus you see what you are born to and what Dignities and Priviledges are conferred on you and do attend your New states and conditions Apply them to your selves and lay them near your hearts lodge them in your minds and realize them to your selves for they are yours and do belong to you as you are New Creatures or in a state of Grace Use them as Divine Cordials and drink freely of them continually to strengthen and encourage your hearts and hands in the work of the Lord. For it is your Fathers will you should so do because he knows you need them and gives them into your hands for these ends and purposes And now what follows but that you endeavour to walk worthy of your new State Priviledges and Dignities Which will be the matter of the next Chapter CHAP. VII Shewing how you ought to walk and carry your selves in your Regenerate States and what God looks for and expects from you Q. WHat is the Work or what are the works and duties of New-Creatures in their Regenerate states how ought they to walk and carry themselves towards God and Men what doth God require of and expect from them A. They have great and special works and duties to do and perform to God and Men in which they must exercise and imploy themselves all their days They must never be Idle and unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ or their new States 2 Pet. 1.8 Regenerate persons must abound in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15. ult and make it their whole work and business to bring forth fruit to God Rom. 7.4 that God may be glorified in and by them John 15.8 God expects singular things and special works from you for the whole Revenue of his Glory is intrusted with and in your hands and with other of his New Creatures and he hath and will give grace and assistance enough to enable you to live to the praise
22.37 That is thou shalt not faile to serve thy God with thy all Thus David did Psal 119.10 With my whole heart have I sought thee And in Psal 103.1.2 Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy name For doing this the poor Widow was much commended namely for casting into the Treasury her all Mark 12.41 ult Her mites was her offering to God the matter was small indeed not worth the minding among men I but it was her all and so it was of great account with Christ The question is not about the quantity whether the offering be much or little but whether it be thy all or no. We are often tempted to put off God with part of our all and with pretence for our so doing But let us take heed and beware of this grosse and horrible Hipocrisy for God will not long winck at it When we have been tempted to do so then we are put upon studying and makeing excuses when we have Napkind up our Talents and not brought them forth then we had them not and when we have laid aside our strength or not stir'd it up to practice then alass we are poor weak Creatures then we complain of wants and weaknesses when in truth it is our wickedness and carelesness But take heed and beware of this Temptation and deceit Sixthly You must be singular and peculiar in all things and in all your wayes towards God and men There should yea there must be as great a difference between you and unregenerate men as between light and darkness good and evil For you are a holy people unto God Children of light and a Special and a peculiar people indeed Deut. 7.6 Eph. 5.8 Tit. 2.14 You are of a divine make and of a heavenly descent and are born to and for higher and more noble Acts Works and Employments and to more excellent frames carriages than others are Therefore you must exceed and go beyond others in all manner of holy conversations and godliness that thereby you may declare and hold forth your distinguishing Characters and manifest what Grace can do beyond nature I shall for brevity sake give you but hints of several things that you should be singular in In the general you must be singular in all those works frames of heart carriages duties and deportments which are yours or in an especial manner required of you as new creatures and which other men are unacquainted withall 1. As First The excercise of all Graces in external duties In all the worship and ordinances of God and in all religious matters you must call up bring forth and exercise all the Graces of the Spirit There must not one hooff be left behind of your Graces when you worship God but all must be employed in it Your faith Love knowledge zeal hope patience c. whatever is entrusted in your hands to worke and worship God withall must concur and work together in the doing of it 2. Self-denial This is alwaies necessary in all your walkings with God For one accursed Self or other will alwaies be interposing opposing and intercepting of you to hinder and obstruct you or to mar and utterly spoil your duties and performances You are called off from serving and gratifying self to the serving and pleasing of God and you are called to the constant work of Self-denial and therefore you must do it Againe you must be singular in Watching and guarding in keeping and defending your selves against all your spiritual Enemies within and without and you must keep on and make continual use of your Spiritual Armour and fight down all such Adversaries as raise up against you Eph. 6 11-18 1 Tim. 6.12 These are some of the many workes and duties that you must be continually exercised about and employed in 〈◊〉 which you shall find true peace and comfort Secondly You must expect many assaults and â—â—â—ng attempts upon you from all the Enemies of your Souls The Devil world and Lusts will continually endeavour to tempt draw and ensnare you to and in all evil They will not let you â—one but be alwayes watching you and improveing all their opportunities against you â—ight and day in all places and businesses to â—â—tice and perswade you to sin against God and men to cause you to rob God wrong your own Souls and injure men and they are Subtle and potent But I may not enlarge at present And therefore shall only mention some of the many obligations God hath laid on and encouragements he hath given you to walk with 〈◊〉 unto all well pleasing in your new states Remember what God hath made you what excellent pieces of his Work-manship you are and what expences the Lord Jesus hath been at and hid out to make you a peculiar people unto himself He will never leave you nor forsake you but water you every moment keep you night and day supply all your wants keep you by his mighty power and guide you by his Counsels until he shall receive you unto his glory Heb. 13.5 Phill. 4.19 Isa 27.3 1 Pet. 1.5 Psal 73.24 The holy Ghost shall abide with you for ever Joh. 14.16 impart to and convey into your Souls all the fullness of Christ Joh. 16.13.14.15 and whatever Christ hath is yours His Joy Peace Life Light Strength Love and Glory is your 1 Cor. 3. and you may go to and have free access to him for all that is his FINIS Reader I intreat thee to mend and pass 〈◊〉 charitable Judgment on the faults thou wilâ— find in thy Reading which are not thâ— Authors but the Printers The chiefest 〈◊〉 them are here noted PAge 3. l. 14. put out of p. 20. l. 4. put out word p. 25. l. 〈◊〉 for hypocrisy r. apostacy p. 28. l. 12. for hearers r. feaâ—â— p. 49. l. 13. for verities r. verilies p. 59. l. 8. r. repossessâ— p. 62. l. 28. r. meetening p. 63. l. 25. r. fixed p. 70. l. 9. 〈◊〉 for knowing r. making l. 33. put of before or p. 71. l. 12. 〈◊〉 can p. 72. l. 31. for will r. we p. 85. l. 21. r. external p. 1â— l. 8. r. they p. 118. l. 6. r. shining p. 119. l. 12. r. Regenerâ—â—â— p. 124. l. 30. r. will p. 129. l. 11. r. accompanied with p. 1â— l. 23. for of r. as p. 137. l. 9. for will 5. glory p. 139. l. 31. 〈◊〉 this r. thy p. 145. l. 13. r. abase p. 148. l. 34. r. laid p. 1â— l. 18. r. cause p. 155. l. 20. put out the l. 21. r. upon p. 160. 〈◊〉 r. Jer. p. 173. l. 25. r. unregenerate p. 177. l. 22. for but r. 〈◊〉 p. 179. l. 9. r. an p. 185. l. 20. for to r. do p. 188. l. 7. 〈◊〉 that p. 192. l. 13. r. the l. 32. r. conversion p. 196. l. 17. 〈◊〉 out ly p. 197. l. 34. r. and themselves about p. 200. l. 13. â— unregenerate p. 204. l. 2. for now r. know p. 207. l. 11.1 〈◊〉 p. 208. l. 34. for now r. nor p. 214. l. 22. r. bequeathed p. 2â— l. 10. r. own p. 223. l. 32. r. your