Death purchased their freedom and liberty Tit. 2.14 but it is made theirs by or in Regeneration Then he opens the Prison doors Isa 61.1 turns the Devil out of his Throne Luke 11.21 22. breaks off their bonds and brings them out sets them at liberty and lets them go free and all by virtue of his blood in pursuance of the Covenant Zach. 9.11 Now they are said to be free from sin and become the servants of God Rom. 6.22 and the wicked one toucheth them not 1 Joh. 5.18 In Regeneration Christ leads Captivity captive Eph. 4.8 It is a great real and Everlasting Freedom that men have in Regeneration they shall no more return into Captivity If therefore the Son shall make you free ye shall be free indeed Joh. 8.36 Hence they are ever after Regeneration called the Lords Free-men 1 Cor. 7.22 for by Regeneration they are put into the state of liberty not upon condition or for a time but for ever They are free from the Ruledom of Sin and Satan from the Law of sin and death by the Law of the Spirit of Life Rom. 8.2 By Regeneration they are made free to and for God and Holiness to serve him without fear in righteousness and holiness all their days Rom. 6.22 Luke 1.74 75. So that now they have nothing else to do or mind but how as Free-men to walk worthy of their new state to live unto God and bear fruit to his praise and glory for they are now in a secure state of freedom and liberty and need not fear the loss of it Fourthly By Regeneration we are put into a state of Relation to God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son In our unregenerate states we are the Children of the Devil Joh. 8.44 are his subjects and servants and also the servants of sin Rom. 6.17 18. and then we stood in no special Relations to Christ For when we are made free from sin by Regeneration then and not till then we become the Lords servants Rom. 6.22 God is indeed related to us as our Creator and we are related to him as we are his Creatures but this is no special Relation for the Devils are so related to God But Regeneration puts us into several special Relations 1. Into a Conjugal Relation Christ is Married to them and they to him 2 Cor. 11.2 Cant. 2.16 Christ is their Husband and they are his Wife as the Song of Solomon shews 2. God is their Father and they are his Children not as by the first Creation but by Regeneration Joh. 1.12 2 Cor. 6. ult Isa 9 6. Heb. 2. 3. Christ is their Head and they are his Members Eph. 5.30 4. Christ is their Lord and King and they are his Subjects and Servanti Col. 2.6 Rom. 6.16.22 Psal 2.6 5. Christ is their Shepherd and they are his Sheep Joh. 10.11.14.27 6. Christ is their Prophet and they are his Scholars Acts 3.22 23. These are some of the near Relations that Regenerate persons stand in to Christ and they are instated in them by Regeneration for then they are contracted to Christ I have says Paul espoused you to Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 namely by the means of his Preaching to them and so they are made Sons and Daughters Gal. 4.5 Fifthly In Regeneration men are put into a state of Righteousness and Justification not that they are Justified by Inherent Grace or because they are Regenerated but that God doth by Regenerating them enable them to take hold of Christ and believe in him unto Justification of Life Rom. 5.18 Rom. 3.22.25 So also for that God doth actually and personally justifie men when he Regenerates and makes them New Creatures Before Regeneration men are in a guilty state they are in an unrighteous and as such in a condemned state and condition but by the means of Regeneration they are enabled to believe receive and apply the Righteousness of Christ unto themselves and they can go to God the Father and take out his Acquittances and promised Discharges Pardons and Acceptance bring home and apply all unto themselves and so God accepts them acquits and forgives them discharges them of and justifies them from and against all Crimes Accusations and Indictments whatsoever and puts them into a Justified state or into a state of Righteousness and Justification upon their believing in him with the Faith given them in and by their Regeneration Rom. 8.33 34. 2 Cor. 5. ult Rom. 3.24.26 1 Cor. 1.30 Sixthly Regeneration puts men into a state of Friendship with God By Nature we are all Enemies to him and God seems to be and to carry himself towards us as an Enemy Rom. 5.10 Isa 63.10 yea we are by Nature worse and more than Enemies for being in Friendship with the World we are at Enmity with God Jam. 4.4 But Regeneration makes a great change for it makes us Friends to God and God carries himself Friendly towards us The old Enmity is turned into a sweet real and comfortable Friendship God carries himself Friendly and as a Cordial and great Friend to us and so do we in measure unto him we have his Heart opened to us in love and kindness and ours are opened unto him in duty love and obedience There is a great kindness familiarity and communication between God and Regenerate persons and they do greatly delight in one anothers company Isa 62.4 Isa 58. ult Pro. 15.8 This Friendship between God and New Creatures is a real not feigned Friendship it is a heart-endearing and Soul-knitting Friendship it is a pleasant and delightful Friendship it is a sure and well-grounded Friendship and it is a constant and perpetual Friendship it is such a knitting and fast Friendship as that neither Sip or Satan can possibly desolve In and ever after Regeneration God calls his New Creatures his Friends Luke 12.4 Joh. 15.13 14. Isa 41.8 Jam. 2.23 and God and them declare themselves true and choice Friends indeed to each other by their love and loving one another at all times which is the property of a true Friend Pro. 17.17 Seventhly and lastly They are by Regeneration put into a state of Grace By Nature men are not only sinful but they are in a state of sin and death they are dead in sin and sold under sin yea they are altogether sin Eph. 2.1 Rom. 3 10-20 As their services to God are so are they they are iniquity Isa 1.13 It is their name character and nature Rom. 5.8 Gal. 2.15 But Regeneration sets men in a state of Grace for although after Regeneration they have much sin and filthiness in them yet their state is accounted and called and it is really a holy state and after Regeneration men are never accounted and called sinners but Saints holy Brethren the People and Children of God and the like for they have their new Names from their new States As the Apostle speaks to the Ephesians Ye are saith he no more Strangers and Forreigners but Fellow-Citizens of the Saints Eph. 2.19 so
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
resolve they will not do so whatever is said to confute and convince them of their errour but in that state they will abide in spite of God Angels and Men and that when God comes and proffers to Regenerate and make them New Creatures And hence it is that they stoutly and stubbornly resist and rise up in violent opposition against God and the word of his Grace disputing against and contending with him and the means he gives them for their change and in effect say we are well enough why should we trouble our selves yea why should God concern or trouble himself any further with us seeing we are in a state of Salvation already and may without any more ado be saved if God will Men are naturally such strangers to their own states as that they do not will not believe that Regeneration is needful and absolutely necessary for their Salvation or that it amounts to any more than a bare Reformation and change of practise Regeneration is such a Mystery and they are so captivated to their Ignorance Atheism and Unbelief as that they think it is but an idle story and a needlest thing especially if they are Moral honest men and great Professors of the Gospel Hence it was when Christ had to do with and intended to convert Nicodemus who was a Moral and Religious honest man that he presses the necessity of Regeneration on him with four Asseverations together Except a man namely thou and others be born again ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And marvel not at this ye must be born again Joh. 3.3.5.7 So in Matth. 18.3 Verily I say to you except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven And as they neither see nor believe in good earnest their need of Regeneration so they believe not that God hath a mind that he doth indeed propose intend or is really willing to Regenerate them but they dream as being under the power of their Infidelity and delusions and perswade themselves that whatever they read or hear Ministers report of these things that they are but Fictions and fancies of men and that there is no truth nor reality in it or if there be yet they are not concerned in what they say unto them for their effectual Conviction and Regeneration And therefore when Christ strives and his Ministers strive with them to get into their hearts and Regenerate them they defend themselves stand upon their ground and do all they can to prevent and hinder them Rom. 10. ult Heb. 3.1.15 Thus you see that Atheism and Unbelief is a Potent Enemy to Regeneration Secondly Hatred of God and Holiness and their great love strong and much endeared affection to their sins lusts and the world greatly opposes Regenerating Grace or the work of Regeneration in us That by Nature we are haters of God the Yoke of Christ and Power of Godliness you have heard before as also that we have great affection for and are much in love with our Lusts and the World Now that these are exceeding great Enemies to and obstructions of our Regeneration is evident in Luk. 14.16 17 18 19 20. God makes a Supper of Grace and favour for sinners makes it ready sets it on the Table and sends his Servants to invite them to come and eat but would they come no in no wise But why not why because they had other things to mind and as they thought of greater concernment One had a Wife another a Farm and another Oxen. These were the things they loved minded and so greatly delighted in these things lay so near their hearts as that they would not could not come nor could the most loving Invitation perswade them their worldly lusts were so strong This made them reject that Grace that was so freely and earnestly proffered them So Covetousness caused the young mâ—â— to reject Christ Grace and Heaven Luke 18.22 23 and made him resolve to lose all rather than forgo that bosom lust He stood it out stoutly and would not bow or yield an inch to Christ although his Life and Soul lay at stake for it And to the same purpose we read in Luk. 19.27 of some who were so wedded to their lusts and interests as that they peremptorily rejected Christs Yoke They preferred the service of Sin before the service of Christ and chose rather to have their Lusts to Reign over them than the Lord Jesus By Nature men are such Enemies to God and Godliness I mean the power of it as that they hate the Light that would shew them their errour acquaint them with God and bring to the saving knowledge of true happiness Joh. 3.19 20. And they are said to abhor God Zach. 11.8 and likewise the Word and Laws of God Levit. 26.15 The Scribes and Pharisees were Religious men and knew more than others did of the Will of God and yet they stifly opposed the Grace and Gospel of Christ that was brought to them for their Regeneration if they would accept it yea they hated the Lord Jesus Christ for proffering his Grace and Assistance to them and publishing the glad tydings of Salvation Joh. 15.24 25. And how desperately did the Jews set themselves against the Apostles Preaching Christ and Grace unto them what exceeding great enmity malignity malice and hatred did they express all along to and against their Preaching and tendering Christ and his Grace unto them for their Regeneration and Salvation you may see at large in the Acts. The Language of us all by Nature is we have loved strangers and after them we will go Jer. 2.25 and therefore as for the Word of the Lord which he hath spoken we will not do it Jer. 44.16 17. Moreover Pride is a strong and hostile Enemy to Regeneration Man is a very proud Creature and as full of Diabolical and Carnal Pride as a Toad is of Poyson This is the Lust that makes men scorn to come up to Christs terms or bow to his Proposals They disdain to be beholding to Free Grace for any thing and therefore will not hearken to any of Christs Offers Pride sets men in Battle-array against Christ to dispute and sight it out with him It is so strong a Fort such an impregnable Castle as that no strength can take and subdue it but Omnipotency that can do it but none else can Eph. 1.19 20. Psal 110.3 2 Cor. 10.4 5. This is the Lust that makes men so boldly and audaciously set their mouths against the Heavens Psal 73.9 and so pertinaciously contend with God it causes men to think highly of themselves and vilely of Christ Grace and a New State it makes them desperate and resolute in the way of their own hearts and turn a deaf Ear to the Lords Calls and Admonitions it causes them to trample on the Gospel Christ and his Blood and Righteousness and to harden their hearts against all reproofs and instructions All the Angels in Heaven or
Robbing God and his soul of their due Aptness and Proness of heart to close up and fall in with temptation to Sin His Passion Anger Wrath Peevishness Vanity Frothyness Carnal Security departing of the heart from God and Duty and an aversness to it to envy and grudge at others prosperity and to revenge wrongs or injuries received from men and whatever other evils 〈◊〉 finds the heart enclined to so likewise its want of spiritualness of heart freedom and cheerfulness in the worship and service of God Also its hardness of heart unprofitableness under the means of Grace and unusefulness in the world These and many other lusts and sins are its burdens they oppress press him down These are the Mountains that lay on the back of the new Creature and it earnestly longs for and desires deliverance from them all Moreover they are greatly burdened with the Treachery and deceitfulness of their hearts their fears doubts and distractions in duty their want of heavenly mindedness love to God delighting in him and his service They are burdened and smart under the sense of the impurity of their hearts and great insensibility of Mercies and because God is not honoured and glorified by them as he should be They are burdened because their Lusts are so strong and powerful as that when they would do good they cannot And as they are burdened with these and many other Evils of their own so they feel a great weight in others sins likewise Rivers of waters run down their Eyes because other men are Transgressors of Gods I am Psal 119.136 And says Paul who is weak and I am nor weak 2 Cor. 11.29 And ye are puffed up and have not rather Mourned 1 Cor. 5.2 You should have been afflicted in Spirit for your Brothers sin because God was dishonoured and his Gospel Blasphemed his People shamed and the world stumbled by reason of it Now they are burdened wounded and bleed under the sense of wicked mens prophaneness debauchery and contempt of the Gospel of Christ But they are mostly wounded with the evils and miscarriages of Professours and such as they hope are the People of God Their Pride Worldliness Frothyness Back-bitings negligence and carelesness in the matters of God their censorious and rash Judgings of one another their want of Love Kindness and Charity to each other and their brawlings and contentions one with another and their coldness and lukewarmness in Religion with other their sins do deeply wound and pierce them to the heart and that because they are a shame and dishonour to their Father Husband and Head his Name and People and because him whom they love and honour is not glorifyed in and by them And further as they are burdened and wounded with other sins and miscarriages so likewise with the Reproaches and other sufferings of good Men. Who is afflicted and I burn not says Paul 2 Cor. 11.29 Their Brethrens Bonds are their Bonds Heb. 13.3 their Reproaches Pains Losses Poverty Weaknesses and Persecutions are their own They are in Pain Bonds Poverty c. with them They have Spirits to rejoyce with them that rejoyce and weep with them that weep Rom. 12.15 16. And it must needs be so because they are Fellow-Members of the same Spiritual Body joyned to Christ their Head and if they are not sympathizers with and Fellow-feelers of each others Afflictions it is certain they are not living but dead Members whatever they profess themselves to be or pretend to 1 Cor. 12.25 26 27. read and ponder that Scripture New Creatures have a feeling of many other Burdens also The Temptations of the Devil snares and allurements of the world are their heavy and grievous Burdens They grown under them and earnestly desire to be delivered from them They find by woful experience that the Devil shoots his Fiery Darts at them and labours Night and Day by his Wiles to draw them from God and to entangle them in Sin Eph. 6. They know that he hath his Devices or Methods 2 Cor. 2.11 and that he doth like a Lyon walk up and down seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 and therefore are fain to be always on their guard to keep Watch and Ward against him Nighâ— and Day that he surprize them not and draâ— or tempt them to Sin They know that he 〈◊〉 a subtle and strong Enemy and how he haâ—â— prevailed over good men and caused them 〈◊〉 sin As David Peter and others and therefore they are afraid of him knowing their dangeâ— and the evils he may stir and move them unto if he should prevail The World likewise namely the good things of it are in soâ— sense burthensome to him not as they 〈◊〉 good things but as they are powerful to Sâ—duce and insnare the mind and affections draw them from God and Heavenly thing To carnalize the Mind deaden or cool 〈◊〉 Affections and take off the Spiritual taste favour and relish of Heavenly things the heart from duty and serious striving to enter is at the straight Gate Luk. 13.24 The world is like Pitch to our evil natures we can hardly touch it without being defiled with it like coals of fire in the bosome that will burn us and like a hedge of Thorns that will prick and tear us as experience shews The Lord Jesus knows how dangerous and pernicious the good things of this world would be to his disciples Souls and therefore charges them to take heed and beware of them lest at any time Mark it lest at any time you be insnared with them Luk. 21.34 2. As the feeling sense is sensible of smarts and cries out under the burdens and weights of these evils so it is deeply sensible of the great love and Grace of Christ to him he is heartily affected with his Rich mercy Eph 2. â— and the unsearchable Riches of Gods Grace to him Evil and good Grace and Sin affect him he is not onely deeply sensible of what he is and hath done to God but what God is to and hath done for him he is affected with the best things as well as the worst with matters of joy as well as sorrow he hath his Eye as well on the bright side of the Cloud as on the dark side of it and he is impressed with Gods goodness and holyness as well as with his own badness and vileness he takes in one as well as another and both make powerful impression on his feeling Sense The same Sense is capable of joy and Sorrow and there are in his view suitable objects and matters for both and he is really sensible of both But I hasten Fourthly Hearing New Creatures have a new Sense of Hearing The hearing Sense is appointed and given to men to receive and take in words spoken without which they know not what is spoken to them Now as men have the natural sense of hearing so Regenerate Persons have a new spiritual sense of hearing given them in Regeneration until then they are
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
turns him out of his Throne Luk. 11.21.22 Luk. 10.18 It silences carnal self and fells down lusts Gal. 1.16 makes the old man bow down yea and all the strong-holds of sin and Satan fall before it 2 Cor. 10.4.5 It will not be baffled as common grace is for that gives place to Lusts and Temptations upon every assault but Regenerating grace is so mighty and powerful as that it takes the strongest Castles disarmes the stoutest Souldiers and levels the strongest and highest Bulworks of sin world and devil so that it effectually subdues and captivates all opposers and oppositions whatsoever and makes the whole Soul to yeild subjection to and comply with it It makes men willingly desert their old delights break their former confederacies and to put themselves under the yoke of Christ and chuse his service 3. It is a saving work of God It is not for a time as the common work of grace is Math. 13.20 21. but it is for ever Regeneration is little in the seed but grows to a great Tree Men are Regenerated for Salvation 2 Cor. 5.1 6. and it will not fail or miss of its end Regeneration is the eaâ—nest and first fruit of Salvation and Gods power is engaged to nourish and keep it to Salvation 1 Pet. 1 3 4 5. therefore they cannot lose the very end of it God would never bestow the grace of Regeneration on men if he had not first designed their eternal Salvation to be obtained in that way but he having decreed and appointed designed and determined the saving of Souls by or through Regeneration all that he Regenerates shall be saved And therefore I call it the saving work of God because it shall certainly Issue in their everlasting Salvation notwithstanding their oppositions weaknesses and sins 3. The subjects of Regeneration Namely sinners that is Ignorant vile wicked and abominable men Not such as have purified themselves made satisfaction to God for former injuries such as are worthy or meet for the grace of God or such as are friends and to whom God is engaged for any goodness of theirs or service they have done him no but God of his free grace Regenerates sinners while they are yet sinners and ungodly God finds them sinners and by Regeneration makes them Saints of hateful persons he makes them lovely and beloved of enmies he makes them friends and of strangers he makes them intimates God says unto men in their blood live Ezek. 16.6 Tit. 3.3 4 5. and the vilest of sinners he washes 1 Cor. 6.9 10.11 Rom. 3.9 20. Therefore here is great encouragement for all willing sinners how vile filthy and abominable soever they have been that they may be Regenerated and made new Creatures 4. Regeneration changes and renews the whole man It is powerful and effectual on the whole body Soul and Spirit to revive quicken and renew it It affects every part and 't is influential to prosecute and obtain its ends throughout As the natural Life diffuses its self into every part of the man so doth the new Spiritual Life in Regeneration 1 Thes 5.23 The understanding is thereby enlightened 1 Pet 2.9 2 Cor. 4.6 the will is sanctified and drawn to choose and close up with the promises Christ and the Covenant of grace and with the whole will of God Isa 56.4 Psal 119.30 Psal 110.3 Phil. 2.13 Col. 2.6 The mind is Spiritualized and set on heavenly objects Phil. 3.20 2 Cor. 3. ult Rom. 8.5 The affections are quickened enlivened and run Heaven-ward being risen to a new Life with Christ Col. 3.1 2. in a word the Conscience is made tender and active to do its work and the whole of his conversation is changed all things are become new 2 Cor. 5.17 The grace of God hath in measure seasoned and leavened the whole man within and without there is not a faculty or member of Soul or Body untoucht but grace runs thorow every part But more of this anon For I am now but pointing out to you the parts of the definition of Regeneration 5. Regeneration is wrought by infusing a measure of the holy Spirit and special grace of Christ into a man In Joh. 3.3 men are said to be born from Heaven and vers 5. to be born of the Spirit The Spirit is called the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8.9 and the grace of Christ 2 Cor. 13. ult and this Spirit and grace of Christ is said to be in men Rom. 8.11 and Christ by them dwells in men Eph. 3.17 and says God in the New Covenant I will put my Spirit within them and a new heart will I give them Sprinkle clean water on them and make them clean Ezek. 36.25 26 27. So he puts his fear into mens hearts Jer. 32.39 40. and sheds abroad his love in them Rom. 5.8 A Believers new state is twofold 1. A state of Justification 2. Regeneration Justification is Gods imputing the Righteousness of Christ to him acquitting and discharging him of Guilt and Condemnation pardoning all his sins revoking the Sentence of the Law given out against him removing the Curse and remitting the punishment due to him and graciously accounting and declaring him perfectly righteous in Christ and receiving and accepting him into favour and friendship 2 Cor. 5. ult 1 Cor. 1.30 Isa 53. Rom. 4. Gal. 3. This is not Regeneration though Justification and Regeneration are never separated for Regeneration is the work of God within us Justification is the Act of God without us Regeneration is not our Justification neither is Justification our Regeneration although all that are Regenerated are also Justified There is a great difference between the one and the other which we must carefully understand and consider well lest we confound what ought to be distinguished God doth not Justifie us by Regenerating us they are two distinct Acts or works of God towards us and so we ought to understand and make improvement of them Therefore I say in defining Regeneration that it is the work of God infusing the Spirit and Grace of Christ into us that you may distinguish it from Gods Act in Justifying us for many poor Souls do miserably confound them 6. Regeneration is wrought by the Ministry of the Gospel God doth ordinarily Regenerate men by the Preaching of the Gospel By mens Preaching and hearing of the Gospel the holy Ghost is given unto men to to change their hearts and make them new Creatures Acts 10.44 Gal 3.2 The Gospel shews us that faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.17 that is God works faith and all other graces in men by it as in and by his own ordinance By this Instrument he begets us again to a lively hope Jam. 1.18 1 Pet. 1.3 It is the power of God to Salvation Rom. 1.16 and Christ tells us Joh. 5.25 that the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God and they that hear shall live So Isa 55.3 This is Gods engin whereby he pulls down strong holds levels mountains and
cause joy and sorrow in the same New Creature These are some of the holy spiritual affections and passions which are formed in the Soul in Regeneration and if you are indeed Regenerate persons you can in some degree experience them in your hearts therefore try and examine your selves by them if you are in a Regenerate state and condition Seventhly The New Creature is full of spiritual and heavenly desires after Divine Matters and Concernments Isa 26.8 Psal 10.17 2 Chron. 15.15 Pro. 11.23 Unregenerate men are full of carnal worldly desires Eph. 2.3 of which they make their boast Psal 10.3 But the New Creatures heart is full of spiritual desires their desires are ascending not descending they came from Heaven and like Fire they do naturally bend and ascend thither from whence they came they greatly desire to be holy and conformable in heart and life to the Will of God they greatly desire to know and see Jesus Christ and to have intimate and constant Communion with him Psal 63.1 2. Exod. 33. They that are Regenerated desire the death and destruction of all their Lusts and the thorough cleansing of their hearts of all sin Psal 51. Rom. 7. They desire to love God as he is to be loved to fear him as he is to be feared to trust him as he is to be trusted to serve and please him as he ought to be served and pleased and to honour and glorifie him as he ought to be honoured and glorified They desire that Christ may rule in their hearts and that he will pull down all his Enemies there that so he may Reign alone so as that they may not serve sin or carnal Self any more they defire to have their hearts always in Heaven and to be spiritually-minded continually they desire the coming of Christ and that his Kingdom may be established above the tops of the Mountains and be exalted above the Hills Isa 2.2 3. Rev. 22. ult They desire that his Name may be great among the Gentiles and find acceptance among the Jews They desire that the Gospel may run and be glorified and find acceptance among all sorts of men and they desire to see a great Spirit of Humility Zeal and Gospel-Holiness upon Professors of the good ways of Jesus Christ In a word they desire whatever God tells them he desires of or for them Doth God desire them to be holy in all manner of Conversation and to be fruitful in every good work why they desire the same too Doth God will and desire that they should love the Brethren 1 Pet. 1.22 be good and charitable to the poor simpathize with and help them in their afflictions Mat. 25. why they desire the same also Would God have them single and sincere hearted to himself and all men and do to all men as they would have them do to themselves why they do will and desire the same likewise Would God have them seek his glory in all their ways watch and guard their hearts render good for evil be in his fear all the day long Pro. 23.17 not depart from God but give him their hearts walk with him and perfect holiness in his fear 2 Cor. 7.1 why the same they greatly will and desire also So that as Daniel was said to be a man of desires Dan. 9.23 margin so all Regenerate persons are men of desires They are fuller of heavenly desires after divine things than of all other good things They desire to have what they cannot get as yet and to do that which they cannot do But they are as it were made up of desires after the doing and obtainment of them Regenerate mens desires are good and great desires they shew what a man is and by them they may know their States whether they be Regenerate or unregenerate persons If the desires of a man be wholly or mostly after the things of the flesh there is a carnal man if after holyness Christ and heavenly things there is a Spiritual man indeed For as the flood of thy desires are so art thou Performanes are short but desires are long obtainments are few but desires are many in all reall Regenerate persons To will and desire they find when they find not how to perform and act their desires Eightly New Creatures or Regenerate Persons are born to and imployed in great special and peculiar works and services namely such as other men and they themselves were strangers to before They loathed the very names of them and would by no means be perswaded to mind or consider them before But now they are their works their chosen desired loved and highly esteemed works and services They are their acceptable and most delightful works now because they are the works of God and for God their Father and also because their hearts and Souls are by the Grace of Regeneration suited to them The Laws of them are written in their hearts and in all the faculties of their Souls Jer. 3.33 Heb. 8.10 Heb. 10.16 so that they are natural to and in them Now all natural works or actions are pleasant and delightful to men and so are New Creatures acts works and services to them I delight to do thy will O God says David how so why the Law of God was written in his heart Psal 40.8 Heb. 10. so Paul Rom. 7.22 They are born to and for them and they are created with and in them Ephes 2.10 For we are his work-manship Created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath ordained that we should walk in them so Rom. 7.4.6 First they were Elected Chosen and Ordained to and for them Eph. 2.10 Eph. 1.4 1 Pet. 2.9.2 we are Redeemed to and for them Tit. 2.14 1 Pet. 2.9 2 Cor. 14.15 3 we are called and Regenerated to and for them 1 Pet. 1.15 1 Pet. 2.9 Eph 2.10 They are by Election Redemption and Regeneration made a Special and peculiar People unto God and for holy and special works in which works and Services they are ever exercised after their Regeneration God ever imploys them and they walk and excercise themselves in them as their great Trade and businesse Phil 3.20 These Special and peculiar works and Services of Regenerate men are many I shall name but a few of them to you at this time They are Born again as with the Love of God in their hearts so to Love God withall their heart all their daies Deut. 30.6 Rom. 5.5 This is their care worke and excercise and that not only to love God simply but to love him Sincerly Heartily Strongly Purely Fervently and Constantly and Obediently To love God as God and as their God as their great and everlasting and as their Gracious Kind and Loving God to love him in the Superlative degree as their chiefest and only good This work they love and delight in they contrive and project it study and endeavour to do it as they ought and this they resolve on and use all means to obtain it They
a Jaylor to keep and order him So when we had rebelled against God transgressed his holy Law hearkned to and obeyed the Devil rather then God Gen. 3. then God gave up and delivered them over to Satan as his Jaylor as they were condemned Rebels that had thrown off his Authority and Government and chosen the Devils counsel and service before his Then says God take them Jaylor let them be thy servants and subjects seeing they do so well like thy service and advice They are weary of and do refuse my easy yoke â—e now put them under thine do thou rule over them Hence the Scripture calls him their God and Prince and tells us that we are his Captives and Bond-men or Servants 2 Tim. 2. ult Heb. 2.14.15 But from this Cruel Lord you are set at liberty in your regeneration Then the Lord Christ commands the Devil to deliver you up to him and let Prisoners go free Isa 61.1 2 They are mine faith Christ for they were given to me Joh. 10.29 And of them which thou hast given me I will lose none Joh. 6.39 For although they were thine as they were Rebels against God and therefore delivered to thee yet now they are and shall be mine Heb. 2.15 Regenerate men are so delivered from Satan and brought out of his kingdome as never more to return again to their old Service and bondage For when the Son makes men free they are and shall be free indeed Joh 8.36 It is true that the Devil will never cease to vex and disquiet you to tempt and disturb you and to afflict and distract you but be of good Chear he shall never have the rule and dominion over you any more but you shall prevaile against and rule over him For you are not his but Christs Servants and subjects 3. You are freed from the Law as a Law and Covenant of works So that as such it shall neither Command Condemn or Curse you for you are dâ—livered from it and brought under the Law to Christ 1 Cor. 9.21 That is you are under the matter and precepts of the Law to be a Rule of your obedience and walking with God as it is Gospellized in the hand of the Mediatour annexed to the Covenant of Grace and made the preceptive part of it and as it is as it were moulded and fitted to the state frame and Condition of new Creatures or the Children of God and to the nature of their Gospel obedience But otherwise as was said you are not under it but delivered from it by Christ in your Regeneration For being made new Creatures and married to Christ you are brought under the new Law and Covenant Rom. 8.1.2 Rom. 6.14 Rom. 7 1-7 I will Says God Cause you to pass under the Rod and bring you into the bond of the Covenant Ezek. 20.37 The matter of the Law is the Rule of your obedience as it is the Revelation of the mind and will of God and as his Authority over you is in it requiring your subjection and conformity thereunto so you are under it and it commands you but not simply as a Law of workes as in its first make and promulgation for and to men as Gods reasonable Creatures and by or as respecting him as their Creator and Sovereign Lord only or mostly no but as their reconciled Father and God and respecting them as his Children begotten by him unto Obedience that is Gospel filial obedience and newness of Life 1 Pet. 1.3.4 Rom. 6.4 Rom. 7.6 For as men are created in Christ Jesus unto good works and made new Creatures by his Grace so all things are become new in to and for them 2 Cor. 5.17 Their State is changed their Relation Changed their obedience and some of the ends of it in a Sense are changed also So that now they are dead to the Law and are not under it but under the Law of Grace This is another of your Liberties and Immunities 4. You are freed from Guilt and grounded fears I do not say you are freed from the Just Accusations of Conscience when you sin or groundless distracting fears but from guilt as it bindes you over to Eternal punishment and wrath of God and from grounded fears thereof for your Miscarriages It is a choice mercy and a great priviledge to have our Consciences speaking to us telling us of and accusing us for Sinning and to have the passion of fear in us to affright us from and keep or hold us back from sin But it is a grevious bondage to be and lye under that guilt which binds us over to punishment and that which makes us afraid of God his Law and Justice filling us with amazing disquieting and dreadful thoughts of God Or else God would not have promised to give his people deliverance from them as his great mercy and kindness to them in Christ as he hath done Pro. 1. ult Luk. 1.73.74 And Christ would not have shed his pretious blood for their deliverance as he hath done Heb. 9.14 if the one had not been a great Judgment to them namely their being under such Guilt and fears and their deliverance from them their great and invaluable mercy 5. You are freed from the curse and wrath of God For in and by Regeneration you are enabled to and you do believe in and accept of him who hath born the Curse and Wrath of God and delivered you 1 Thes 1. ult Gal. 3.13 So that now the Curse of the Law is taken off from your Souls and you are and shall be blessed yea the blessing of Abraham is come on you upon the removal of the Curs and you are now really blessed and so called by the great God Gal. 3.14 Math. 5.2.12 and not onely blessed your selves but a blessing also to others Isa 19.24 Pro. 11.11 So likewise the Wrath of God is turned into love to them Eph. 2.4 and they shall never fall under his wrath and curse any more although they do fall into Sin But if Regenerate men do carelesly or wilfully Sin as David and Peter did they shall feell the effects of his fatherly displeasure and smart for their follies but the Curse and Wrath of God shall never return againe upon their Souls This is another of your great and Glorious Priviledges who are Regenerated But all other men are under the wrath and curse of God although they will not believe they are so yet nevertheless they are Joh. 3. ult Gal. 3.10 6 You are freed from Blindness of mind and Hardness of heart under which you were held in your unregenerate states and conditions You were then Darkness and held fast under gross Darkness Eph. 5.8 1 Pet. 2.9 1 Joh. 2.11 Your Lusts and the Devil yea the Justice of God also had blinded the Eies of your mindes so that you saw not knew not your Sin danger or misery now the way how to escape and obtain deliverance You were ready to â—â—mble into Hell Flames every moment but understood it
us that 〈◊〉 should be called the Children of God Behold what manner of love is this I cannot conceive much less express how great and admirable his love is to his children God onely knows how much he loves them but they do not know it no nor yet can they tell how much they do love God For love between them and God and God and them is unmeasurable innumerable unsearchable and past finding out Their love to Christ is as strong as Death that many waters cannot quench Cant. 8.6.7 O! then how great is his love to them New creatures are sick of love to Christ it is so fervent strong and working Cant. 5.8 How much more strong and fervent is Christs love to them 'T is true that Christ is a far more lovely and desirable object of and for their love and delight than themselves are for Christs for he is the fairest of Ten thousands and altogether lovely â—â—t 5.10 ult But then they have not so â—uch love for Christ in their hearts as he â—â—th for them The Lord Jesus looks on his â—â—w Creatures his Spouses like a true and â—â—hement Lover indeed Like one that is enaâ—ored and ravished with them hence we have â—â—â—en such expressions falling and droping â—â—om his pure Lips How faire and how pleasant â—â—t thou O Love for delights Cant. 7.6 And â—â—ou hast ravished my heart my Sister my Spouse â—â—â—u hast ravished my heart with own of thine eies â—ith one chaine of thy Neck Cant. 4.9 By all which expressions of his he commends and sets out his exceeding great love to his people Oh! what a rich and invaluable priviledge is this to be so much and lye so deep iâ— the love and affections of the great God and the Lord Jesus Christ He loved you before your Regeneration so as to make you truely lovely with his Grace and Spirit with his Righteousness and holyness But now he loves you as most lovely and dilightful persons indeed He loves you now with the love of delight joy and complacency as was shewed You are his delight and Crown of rejoycing your Countenance is comely and your voice sweet to him Cant. 2.14 His Love to you is true and hearty strong and fervent fruitful and profitable and it is everlasting and unchangable he loves you notwithstanding your many unlovely carriages towards him and with all your personal deformities he taketh pleasure in you and refreshes as it were himself with you he cannot endure to see you slight and forget him or to suffer your minds and affections to depart from him he delights in you and in his love to or loving of you and the like he doth in your love to or loving of him The more you love him the more be sure he will unbosome himself and open unto you the hidden Treasures of his love Prov. 8.21 For his great love to you causes him to desire and call for love from you Seventhly You have the priviledge and great dignity of Adoption You were Vagabous and Miserable Beggars cast out to the loathing of your Persons None pitied you or took you in none hearkned to you nor cared for you neither had you any hand stretched out to help you until you came to the Lords door But there you found compassion and mercy there you found provision ready for you You knockt but once there before the the Lord of Glory came himself and opened the door to you and invited you into his house He hastned to bring the Fatted Calf and called for his best Robes took off your filthy Rags and put oâ— his own Garments of Grace Righteousness and holyness on you then he writ his own name on you and Stampt divine nature upon you and made you beautiful and desirable He gave you a new name when he made you new Creatures which is your honour and glory and the he said of and unto you These shall be my sons and daughters 2 Cor. 6. ult And hence forth he accounts and calls them so These are my Sons and my Daughters which I have formed for my self and taken into my house and family Ezek. 16.20 Isa 43.21 For they are my first born They were born for and unto me as in that of Ezekiel I have appointed and ordained them to live in my house as my Sons and Daughters and they shall go no more out or returne to their former estate again For they must abide with me for ever For the Son though not the Servant abideth for ever in his Fathers house or family as the Son of such a Father Joh. 8.35 I have says God put in their names their new names for and intituled them unto an Eternal Inheritance Coll. 1.12 Heb. 9.15 Eph. 1.11.14 1 Pet. 1.4 I have made them my heirs yea joynt heirs with my Christ whom I have given to be the heir of all things Heb. 1.2 Rom. 8.17 These shall in due time be put into the possession of their Inheritance for it is reserved in heaven for them and I will keep them for it 1 Pet. 1.4.5 and in the mean time they have and shall keep in their hands their hearts the Earnest and first fruits of it namely the holy Spirit of Promise He is the Spirit of adoption to and in them Rom. 8.14.15 Gal. 4.5 by and as working and fitting them for it and the meetening them to live as Children in their heavenly Fathers house and to demean themselves there as they ought to do So likewise to Seal up and confirm their Inheritance to them and bear witness to the reallity and Truth of it namely that there is such an Inheritance reserved for them and that they are appointed for and chosen to it and also to the Truth and faithfulness of God who hath promised it Rom. 8.16 Eph. 1.13.14 In their Scriptures he is called a witnesser and a Sealer Now to what doth he Seal and witness but to the hearts and faith of the adopted that there is such an Inheritance entailed on them that they shall possess and enjoy it and to thâ—â— faithfulness Truth and Alsufficiency of God who hath promised it and must do it for them Besides this there is another priviledge in you adoption which is your boldness and Intimacy with your God and Father notwithstanding the Infinite distance that there is between you and him which you have mentioned in Gal. 4.6 And because ye are Sons God hath sent foâ—â— the Spirit of his Son into your hearts Crying Abâ—â— Father And in Rom. 8.15 but ye have received 〈◊〉 Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father That is we may now in and by your Adoption and the Spirit thereof in our hearts conveâ—â— familiarly Intimately and boldly with God through Jesus Christ We may draw near to 〈◊〉 in full Assurance of Faith as commanded Hâ— 10.22 And boldly Heb. 4. ult And that because we are adopted Children in our Father house and can come to and converse in wiâ—â— and by the Spirit of Adoption
and Souls to magnify and honour him Psal 103.1.2 Cant. 5.10 ult They lay a Charge on themselves and command as it were their all to bless and glorify him Now what can you say to this mark Can you say it is so with you do you find it in you and do you experience it indeed or do you not can you say in deed and in Truth that whatever the performance be yet the frame bent choice inclination and disposition of your hearts and endevours of your hands are fully and frequently set and resolved to exalt serve please and magnify the great God and Jesus Christ your Lord and King your Glory and Crown Fifthly The new Creature hath a hungring and thursting desire and earnest longing after Jesus Christ after Interest in and Communion with him after a clearer and more distinct knowledge of him and acquaintance with him and whatsoever is his as his Lawes Promises Blood Graces or what ever else they hear is in him or hath relation to or proceeds from him The new Creature is like Noahs Dove that can rest the sole of its foot only on and in this Ark of the Everlasting Covenant All other Foundations are but broken Reeds and Ropes of Sand to him Christ and the Covenant of Grace the faithfulness and All-sufficiency of God are his only Anchor Holds and Rocky Grounds upon which he can rest himself and on which he casts and roles himself The New Man is the only wise Builder for he chuses the Rock of Ages to Build upon and none else Math. 7.25 Math. 16.18 Phil. 3.7 8. The Foundation which God hath laid in the Covenant of Grace for men to Build themselves their Faith and Hope upon that they desire chuse hunger and seek after and cannot be satisfied without 1 Cor. 3.11 Psal 73.25 26. The Regenerate persons take up in rest build and stay themselves The Lord is my Rock says David Psal 18.2 so says every New Creature the Lord Jesus Christ shall be my only Rock and Foundation my hopes notions self-righteousness good works and performances my self-supposed abilities Professions Priviledges and Reformations shall no more be my Foundations as they have been No but Christ and the Covenant of Grace the Faithfulness and All-sufficiency of God shall be my Foundation and resting Place I will build my self and all my hopes confidences and expectations wholly and altogether on them for they and they only can bare the weight of my Soul and eternal Salvation which I must build upon them But unregenerate men have other bottoms and foundations to rest and build themselves upon they little or nothing at all concern themselves in good earnest with the Foundation God hath laid but form a great many to themselves and build all their confidences hopes and expectations on them and say they are safe and secure no evil shall come to them Math. 7.26 Thus did the foolish Virgins Math. 25.1 and thus did Paul before his Regeneration Phil. 3.6 7. But it was otherwise after his Regeneration then his whole Soul and mind was carried forth to Christ with all possible earnestness and importunity Phil. 3.8 Their thousand of Rams and ten thousand Rivers of Oyl now are nothing to them as once they were Micah 6.7 no but now ten thousand of worlds for a sure and certain bottom or foundation to rest and build my poor shaken and tossed Soul upon is the voice and cry of all Regenerate men before they clearly find Christ so as to build upon him and commit all their present and everlasting concerns on him And as they have a hungering and thirsting desire c. after Christ for their foundation to build upon so also to have him in their armes and hearts to have more and clearer knowledg of and intimate acquaintance and communion with him His absence is grievous to them but his presence and favour his smiles and acquaintance is better to them then Life Psal 30.5 Psal 4.6 They greatly desire to see and know their glorious King arrayed with all his Royal Robes approaching and comeing neare unto and opening himselfe unto them to impart the secrets of his Love and Grace unto them and thereby allure and draw them unto himself Psal 63.1.2 Cant. 4. ult Psal 25.14 Sixthly A new Creature hath all holy Spiritual passions and affections The natural man you know hath many natural passions and affections so the new man hath many Spiritual and heavenly passions and affections The naturall man hath many evil and sinful affections and passions and the Spiritual man hath many divine and holy affections and passions I shall name some and but a few of them 1. Love As Regeneration makes men lovely acceptable and desirable to God Men and Angels Ezek. 16. so it makes them exceeding loveing and affectionate men to God and men Before regeneration they are Self-lovers Sin-lovers and World-lovers but by the new Nature and Spirit they have received from Heaven they are no more such but God-lovers Christ-lovers Grace-lovers Duty-lovers and Saint-lovers Now they have new affections for new objects and matters They have operating Affections to and for God They single out God Christ and Holyness they chuse and single out from other objects and things the Grace and Spirit the Laws Promises People and Ordinances of Christ for their Love and to set their strongest warmest and heavenly Affections upon The affections or passion of love in them is stirred Moved Warmed and Enflamed by the Love of God the Grace and Loveliness of Christ that is declared and represented to them in and by the Gospel Oh how doth this passion somtimes work and act in them towards these objects and things It is so full as that they are not able to vent or express it especially when Christ appears to them and puts in his hand as it were by the hole of the door the heart as that they can but sigh and sob cry and weep out a little of this strong and working affection This did Mary Magdalen Luk. 7.38 she stood at his Feet weeping and washed the feet of Christ with her Tears but what was the ground of her so doing see Verse 47. why it was her ardent love and affection to Christ she did so for she loved much namely Christ Oh! what a strong passion of love was she in How did her Affection work towards Christ so likewise did Peters too Joh. 12. Lord saith he thou knowest that I love thee but how much or how strong his love and affection to Christ was he could not express David also gives us another Testimony of it Psal 119.97 Oh! how I Love thy Law and elsewhere sayes he I love them exceedingly I do love them with a greater and more affectionate love than I can express and so was his love moved and drawn out to good men Psal 16.3 2. Hatred These are opposite and contrary passions in men namely Love and Hatred In our unregenerate States we do Love what we should hate