no farther than to speak to her self she saith to her self if I may but touch his garment I shall bâ—â—whole then Christ spake to her though she would not speak to him to overcome her bashfullness he called her daughter and to overcome her unbelief he bid her be of good comfort he had healed her From how little a spark how greata fire from how little a beginning how great a proceeding she desired but the hemm of his garment and had himself See John 3. 2. Nicodemus he came to Jesus by night who was so weak as being either afraid or ashamed to own Christ in the day he cometh to him by night One would have thought that Christ would have said to him Nicodemus is thy desire after me so saint as that thou fearest to come to me in the day time Or am l so unworthy as not to be owned but out of fight Hast thou either so low an esteem of me or bearest thou so little love to me Goe return as thou camest I will not accept of thee in the dark who wouldest not acknowledg me in the light No no Christ hath not one syllable of this he knew that Nicodemus was but a beginner and therefore entertaines him and insâ—ructs him in the new birth John 3. 5. Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God c. Consider there is none effect of election before illumination and effectual vocation the elâ—â—t themselves are said before to be children of wrath as well as others Ephes. 2. 3. Some affirme that in this act of Vocation the seeds or root of faith is wrought in the heart which may be true onely under correction I doe verily think it is not exercised but in part the Soul doth exercise but little more than to give credit to what is written which some call the faith of credence giving credit to what is written which others call the Faith of assent this undoubtedly is wrought in the heart either in the work of Illumination or in estectual Vocation now effectual Vocation or special effectual Calling is attended or accompanied with Viz. 1. The Faith of assent 2. Repentance 3. Conversion 4. Regeneration Now most of these words are used in Scripture to expresse the same work upon the soul as Mr Baxster affirmes or rather as the Scripture teacheth us c. 1. That special effectual Calling is attended or accompanied with the Faith of assent or credence See Mat. 8. 2. The Leper did assent to the power of Christ that he was able to clense him saying Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean surely Vocation is accompanied with a bare naked assent to every truth revealed by God 2. It is accompanied with Repentance which conteineth two things The first is a hearty sorrow that ever he sinned The second is a turning from that sinne to God or there is a turning from a state of sinne and misery unto God our only remedy this Repentance is wrought by the Ministry both of Law and Gospel the thunders of the Law terrifie and the dews of the Gospel mollifie there is nothing breaks the heart more than mercy nothing melts a man more than the mercies of God which he hath abused the consideration of this opens all the springs in thee the soul is not able to stand stubborn under it 2 Cor. 7. 9 10 11. 3. This special effectual Calling is accompanyed with Conversion which is a work of the Spirit of Christ in a sensible lost undone sinner by the Doctrine of Christ by which he effectually changeth the minde heart and life from the creature to God in Christ the parts of this Conversion are these three First it is a change of the minde Secondly of the heart Thirdly of the life c. In the moment of Conversion God works that blessed work which shall never be undone In a word that is wrought in an instant which shall remain for ever 4. This effectual Calling is accompanied with Regeneration which doth make so great a change that a man is as it were an other man so that this word Regeneration is more comprehensive than Conversion Repentance or Vocation 2 Cor. 5. 17. He that is in Christ is a new creature old things are past away behold all things are become new Mark every man that is in Christ that is thus converted every true Christian then is a new creature not in substance but in quality all things are become new a true converted man he hath new love new desires new sorrow new delight new resolution and a new conversion Vocation Conversion and Regeneration is wrought in an instant God in saying live makes the soul to live as it is in the first so it shall be in the second Resurrection in a moment in the twinkling of an eye whiles God speaks the word the dead shall rise 1 Cor. 15. 52 c. 3. The next step to get out of a state of death into a state of life is to trust or believe in the Lord. I know there be many that doth make this the first step to salvation which I hear them say but not prove sure I am no man can have grace without knowledge for who can hate sinne till he knoweth it and the evil of it and who can love God or believe in him till he know him to be merciful able and faithfull who can do the duty that he understandeth not or go the way to heaven that he is ignorant of so that illumination must needs be the first step but withall it is granted that the Spirit of God either in Illumination or Vocation doth cause the first act of faith in the heart and by that act a habit is effected and therewith the seed of all graces For the habit of faith saith Master Norton seemeth not to be infused alone before the other habits of saving grace The universal frame of saving grace is infused into the soul at once as one general habit so that the infusion of life into the heart or soul hath its being all at once and is uncapable of division into parts and so the habit of faith seemeth not to be infused alone before or after the other saving graces so that I am not speaking of what comes into the soul first but what the soul doth put forth and act first in order to its coming out of a state of nature into a state of grace Two things are here of an absolute necessity to our salvation the one is to believe unfainedly that Christ is the Redeemer of the world and that there is no other way of salvation but by him Acts 4. 12. Iohn 14. 6. Iohn 10. 1 7 8 9. The second is to accept of him as he is offered to us in the Gospel and so faith instates a soul in the possession of heaven whilst the body remains on the earth Now in this third step of trusting in God or believing in him the soul
God over all blessed for â—ver equal with the Father in being majestie and glorie him in whom his Father See Mr. R. F. in his mystery of godliness pag. 7. delighted from all eternitie his own and his onelie begotten Son promised before to Adam Gen. 3. 15. preached to Abraham Gen. 12. 3. typified in the legal Sacrifices Gal. 3. 18. and prophesied of by Moses and all the Prophets Gen. 18. 18. and Gen. 26. 4. and pointed at by John the Lord sends his Son in the liknesse of sinfull slesh to condemn sin in the flesh him we are to hear and to wait upon in a broken-hearted and diligent use of meanes untill we be made partakers of his free saving grace c. And although in this great work I shall I fear rather lisp than speak plain yet I trust I shall not darken counsel by words without knowledge It is true sometimes a child of light doth walk in darknesse as to the footsteps of the Lord Psal 77. 19. Thy way is in the Sea and thy path in the great waters and thy footsteps are not known compare this with John 3. 8. The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof but canst nâ—t tell whence it cometh and whether it goeth so is every one that is born of the Spirit saith our Lord Christ c. From these and other Scriptures it doth appear that God doth not work in the same measure and method upon all in the work of conversion some are sanctified from the womb Jer. 1. 5. as Jeremiah was sanctified before he came out of his mothers womb and John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mothers womb Luk. 1. 15. Some are converted by a small still voice See 1 King 19. 11. 12. some must have a great and strong wind renting the mountaines of sinne in their hearts others must have an Earth-quake to awaken them some must be brought through the fire to burn up their drosse some menâ— flesh is harder to heal then others so some mens hearts a needle may do that to one which a launce will not do to another a frown to one which a blow will not do to another some men are of greater parts of greater places who are not so easily humbled some men are of crabbed and untowards spirits and knotty blocks had need of hard wedges some men have longer scores and greater rekonings have been greater sinners than others and though not alwayes yet ordinarily God doth proportion the sorrow to the sinne Again upon some the Lord doth intend to bestow a greater measure of grace than upon others and so he layeth a proportionable foundation some he intends to use as one of a thousand To comfort others therefore he doth exercise them with difficulties of higher nature that they may experimentally comfort others 2 Cor. 1. 4. and some he intends for great service great imployment either in Church or State and therefore he doth humble them the more at the bringing in as we may seâ— and read in the conversion of Paul Luther Augustin It is true all Gods people are souldiers but all his people are not Champions all are brought home or shall be but all are not brought home equally alike in every thing and though the conversion of a sinner be a great work yet when the Lord sets about it it is soon done Though conversion be a great work yet it is soon done Vocation regeneration and conversion is many times wrought in an instant God in saying Awake thou that sleepest arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee life makes the soul to awake arise and live in a moment in the twinkling of an eye Isa 45. 22. Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else Christ tells us in few words and the Apostle in as few John 3. 14. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wildernesse so must the Sonne of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should be saved Rom. 10. 9. If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved c. But to proceed consider these three things 1. What preparations conditions or qualifications should a man or woman find in themselves before they lay hold on Christ and the promises 2. How Conversion regeneration repentance and vocation agree or differ 3. The way step by step which the Lord in his ordinary dispensation in these Gospel dayes doth lead a soul as it were by the hand out of a state of nature into a state of grace c 1. What preparations conditions or qualifications should a manor woman find in themselves before they lay hold on Christ and apply the promises For answer hereunto take these considerations Viz. I know no qualifications preparations that are so required as that without it we should not come but there be some without which we will not come we must buy milk and wine although it be without money and without price Isa 55. 1 2. By preparatory work we understand certain inherent qualifications according to the ordinary dispensation of God and so the soul is made sensible of sinne death and curse due to it before it passe through the new birth he must be convinced that the Law is holy just and good the precept holy the promise good the curse just a man must acknowledge himself a lawfull captive before the Lord will set him free all the preparations required in Gods ordinary way of dispensation before conversion may be reduced to these four heads 1. Revelation of Jesus Christ dying for the sinnes of the people according to the Gospel of free grace and so tenders pardon of sinne to all sinners that are sensible of sinne sinners that are broken hearted Isa 61. 1. broken and bruised Luk. 4. 18. that are weary and heavy laden Mat. 11. 28. poor sick sinners Mar. 2. 17. sensible of their misery and necessity of a remedy without which they perish eternally 2. After this sense of misery and want of mercy there will be an inquiring after a remedy Sirs what shall I do to be saved Rom. 16. 30. So Paul Lord what wilâ— thou have me to do Rom. 9. 6. 3. There will be a waiting upon God in the use of means for the obtaining of mercy But let the Reader consider that whatsoever preparations and qualifications there is required in any before conversion they are wrought in us by the singer of God who worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. So then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Rom. 9. 16. how was Paul disposed and affected when Christ calls him Acts 9. had not Pauls calling depended upon Gods choice at that time he had never been called here may
and heart doth in some measure exercise these four things 1. It doth look unto him 2. It doth come unto him 3. It doth receive him 4. It doth believe in him and lay hold on him 1. It doth look unto him Isa 45. 22. Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else Zach. 12. 10. And they shall look upon me whom they have peirced and mourn for him as one mourneth for his only sonne The soul looks upon an humbled Christ with an humble heart upon a broken Christ with a broken heart upon a bleeding Christ with a bleeding heart upon a wounded Christ with a wounded heart in a word this is such a look as sends a man away with another heart Psal 34. 5. They looked unto him and were lightened there is no change of the substance of the soul and body nor of the faculties of the soul and body but the qualities of the faculties are clearly changed so that men and women become as children in humility teachableness and beginning the world a new he hath a new heart and a new tongue new inclinations new intentions new desires new content and discontent new delight new anger new courage new fear new hope new thoughts in his heart and new work to do and yet as before there is no change of the substance of soul and body nor of the faculties of the soul but the qualities of the faculties are clearly changed c. 2. The soul doth not only look unto him but it doth come unto him Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest John 6. 37. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Some affirm that in the Greek this word hath three negatives thus I will in no wise no wise no wise cast out and if so Let the Reader consider these three things 1. The Lord doth call thee three times in one verse Isa 55. 1. come come come So in Rev. 22. 17. And the Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth come and let him that is athirst come 2. As there are three calls Come come come so there are three sorts of persons invited to come and all couched in the latter words of the 17th verse of Rev. 22. And whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely 1. What person soever he be Jew or Gentil Barbarian or Scythian Acts 10. 34. 35. Then Peter opened his mouth and said of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him 2. What finner soever he be he despiseth not the weeping Mary the begging Canaanite the intreating Publican the confessing Thief the adulteroâ—s Woman the denying Disciple the persecuting Paul Isa 1. 18. though your sinnes be as scarlet they shall be cleansed c. 3. What time soever a sinner doth come so it be before the sun is set the glasse out and the golden scepter taken in if it be at the eleventh houre or as the Thief upon the Cross at the last gasp it may be thou mayst obtain mercy 4. Lastly he doth assure those that come he will in no wise in no wise in no wise cast of Now lay all these together the Lord calls Come come come the persons that he calls are of three sorts 1 what person soever 2 what sinner soever 3 what time soever he come if he indeed come to me I will in no wise in no wise in no wise cast off 3. So there is not only a looking upon him and a coming to him but there is a receiving of him John 1. 12. but as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God by the habit of faith the soul doth passively receive Christ but by the act of faith the soul doth actively receive Christ In the first the soule is passive but in the second he is active there is a twofold receiving of Christ a passive and an active passive wherein the spirituall principle of grace is ingenerated or infused into the heart or soul and so we are received of Christ before we do receive Christ so that Christ in working the grace of faith receiveth us and by the act of faith we receive him so that Christ taketh the soul before the soul taketh him Now he that hath thus received the Son hath life 1 John 5. 12. he that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life Collo 2. 6. As ye have therefore received Christ the Lord so walk ye in him He that truely receiveth Christ receiveth him in all his offices as a King Priest and Prophet this receiving of him is not an act of the understanding but an act of the will imbracing him and trusting on him 4. The heart doth believe in him and the soul layes hold on him so that forementioned place John 1. 12. they and they only becomes the Sons of God that doth believe in his name when the Jaylor Acts. 16 30. would know what he must do to be saved the apostles answered him and said Vers. 31. believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved so when the people asked Christ what they should do that they might work the works of God John 6. 28. Jesus answered and said unto them Vers. 29. this is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent So 1 John 3. 23. This is his commandment that we should believe in the name of his son Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 1. 12. I know saith the apostle whom I have believed there is the first act of faith of reliance and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have commited to his trust there is the second act of trust When the soul is brought over to assent unto that great truth that Christ is a Saviour and a Mediator it doth rowl and rest it self upon him and so trusteth on Christ for justification and consequently for salvation Psal 37. 5. Commit thy way to the Lord trust also in him Prov. 16. 3. Rowl thy works upon the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established Cast thy burthen upon the Lord Psal 28. 7. The Lord is my strength and my shield my heart trusteth in him The Lord is the Author and Finisher of our faith he doth command us to believe he doth enable us to believe and then commends us for believing so the Lord commends Nathaniel for his faith which was only the faith of his own powerful working so he commends David for his uprightnesse Hezekiah for his perfectness Moses for his meekness Cornelius for his devotion the Publican for his compunction the poor Widdow for her liberality and the woman of Canaan for her faith and importunity all which was only the work of his own grace in them
it self to God that made it and Christ that bought it and so his soul is carried forth to a secret resting relying leaning staying and hanging upon the mercy of God in Christ alone for life and happinesse Now he looks after and endeavours to be found in walking in the way of sanctification he reads and finds 1 Pet. 1. 2. that if he be elected to life it is through Sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and 2 Thes 2. 13. God hath chosen a people from the beginning to salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth He labours for holiness as well as happiness he reads and findeth that the word of God hath a purifying faculty in it John 15. 3. Ye are clean through the word that I have spoken to you Ps 119. 9. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way but by taking heed thereto according to thy word Ps 119. 11. Thy word-have I bid in mine heart that I might not sinne against thee Of Grace-begetting and Soul-converting means for all heedfully to attend upon that hope to enter into Heaven THere are springs of Grace or pipes of conveyance which if cut off or neglected we may live in sinne and die in sinne and at last go to hell but if we heedfully and frequently make use of them we may live in the fear of the Lord and die in his favour and enter into heaven these means are for the increasing holiness as well as for the attaining it and therefore we are not to satisfie our selves with making use of them now and then but frequently and willingly for the same meanes that doth work the work of Illumination doth also work the work of Conversion Vocation Regeneration Faith and Repentance c. And not only work and beget these in us but increase it and cause it to flourish and grow up from one degree of grace to another untill we come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ the means follow 1. Keep close to Grace-begetting and Soul-converting Ordinances 2. Dwell much upon the meditation of Grace-begetting Promises 3. Frequent the company of Grace-begetting and Soul-converting companions 4. Be frequent in the cherishing of Grace-begetting Considerations 5. Gather and treasure up Grace-begetting and Soul-converting Experiences 1. Keep close to Grace-begetting and Soul-converting Ordinances and they are these three 1. The hearing of the word preached 2. Reading of the Scriptures 3. Frequent and earnest Prayer First of the First 1. Hearing of the Word preached Acts 2. 37 41. it was by hearing Peter preach that the Jews were pricked at the heart and converted and three thousand added to the Church at once So Acts 26. 17 18. God sent Paul to preach for the opening of mens eyes and turning them from darkness to light by teaching sinners the way of God David assured himself they shall be converted to him Psal 51. 13. the word of god is the seed of life which is sown and takes root in thâ— hearts of them that God will save 1 Pet. 1. 23 25. It is the word of God which is the incorruptible seed by which we are born again it was those that had ears and heard not that were not converted and born again Mark 4. 12. c. as we should hear the word preached in order to conversion so for the begetting of faith in our hearts Luke 10. 17. Faith cometh by hearing Ephes 1. 13. in whom also ye trusted after ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of our salvation Isai 55. 3. hear and your soules shall live Now in the use of this blessed meanes observe these four rules and thou shalt never miscarry but get something by every Sermon thou hearest 1. Try the doctrines preached by the Scritures Act. 17. 11. they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so 2. Receive what thou findest agreeable to the word as from the Lord 1 Thess 2. 13. for this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of man but as it is in truth the word of God 3. Keep in memory as much of it as may be James 1. 25. Being not a forgetful hearer but a doer Heb. 2. 1 2. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest beed to the things which we have heard leâ—t at any time we should let them slip vers 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation 4. Indeavour to practise it thy self and communicate it to others Mat. 7. 26. Every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not is like unto a foolish man that built his house upon the sand James 1. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed therefore be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only deceiving your own souls 2. The next Faith-begetting and Soul-converting Ordinance is reading the Scriptures many a soul hath had happy experience of the benefit of reading the Word Psal 19. 7. for the Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul Acts 8. 28. The Eunuch was reading in Isaiah and in the 37th verse we read he was converted and baptised 1 Tim. 4. 13. Till I come give attendance to reading Rev. 1. 3. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophesie Acts 17. 11 12. They searched the Seriptures daily whether those things were so and many of them believed 3. The next Grace-begetting and Soul-converting Ordinance is frequent and â—arnest prayer prayer is a fruit of faith and yet prayer is a means for the begetting of faith as the Spirit is the fruit of prayer so prayer is the fruit of the Spirit Luke 11. 13. Compared with Rom. 8. 15. In the former place the Spirit is said to be the fruit of prayer in the latter place prayer is said to be the fruit of the Spirit whereby we cry Abba Father c. Isa 55. 6 7. Seek the Lord whilst he may be found call upon him while he is neer let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts c. James 1. 5. If any of you lack wisdome let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and â—pbraideth not and it shall be given him Joh. 4. 10. Jesus said unto her if thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee give me to drink thou wouldst have asked of him and he would have given thee living water 2. Dwell much upon Grace-breeding and soul converting promises there are promises of direction and supportation and promises of protection and promises of justification and sanctification and promises of
that doth beget or breed grace in us doth build up nourish and increase the same these forementioned means are both the begetters and the nourishers both the breeders and feeders of grace viz. Hearing the Word preached reading the Word prayer promises good company considerations and choice experiences all these are full to nourish and strengthen grace also the Sacraments were instituted and set up for this end to increase our grace and assure us of the pardon of our sinnes and the salvation of our soules Baptisme is a seal of our entrance into the Church of God the Supper of the Lord is a seal of our continuance in the same the former is a seal of our new birth the latter is a seal of our spiritual growthâ— in Baptisme some of our senses are exercised in the Lords Supper all our senses are or ought to be exercised this Ordinance is to be used often baptism but once for these is but one entrance into Christ but there are many degrees of growth in him Again Consider that we are to wait on God in the use of means frequently as we must not forsake our meals for our bodies so we are not to neglect our meals for our souls cut not off religious exercises too short turn not these holy duties into matter of fashion or form but come with an hungry appetite and that thou maist so do dip thy morsels often in the sharp sawce and sowr herb of humiliation look back and consider what once thou wast Now though we grant that the Ministery of the Word whether Law or Gospel is but as it were a dead letter and profiteth little without the Spirit 1 Cor. 3. 7. Neither is he that planteth any thing nor he that watereth but God that giveth the increase We cannot prevail with the blind to see nor with the deaf to hear or with the dead to live yet are we with diligence to attend upon God in the use of means for though the means cannot work without the Spirit the Spirit ordinarily will not work without the means Man is a reasonable creature therefore God proceedeth with him by way of arguments or means but because man in some sense is a dead creature therefore he must work in him that which he perswades him to he commandeth us who are unwilling to be willing and then by the powerful efficacy of the Spirit changing the will of unwillingness he makes us willing By the first he stands at the door and knocks Rev. 3. 20. By the second he opens the door and comes in and sups with us He in his Word calls upon us to will and to do the Spirit of Christ worketh in us both to will and to do God in the Creation spake the word that such a creature should be and therewithal sent forth a â—ower causing that creature to be according to his word So whilst the Angel revealeth unto Mary the conception of Christ the power of the Holy Ghost overshadowed her whence it was with her according to his word Luk. 1. 35 38. So also whilst Jesus cried with a loud voice John 11. 43 44. Lazarus come forth there proceeded from him a power whereby he came forth So Luke 5 24. He commanded the man that was sick of the palsie to take up his bed and walk and conveyes a power together with the command whereby vers 25 He did immediately arise took up his bed and went to his house and glorified God So again Ezek. 2. 1 2. And he said unto me Son of man stand upon thy feet and I will speak unto thee and the Spirit entered into me when he spake and set me upon my feet and I heard him that spake unto me c. But in the use of these and the like precious means observe these cautions 1. Be sure that the means you make use of be means of Gods own appointment of his own providing to which he hath annexed his promise 2. Consider it is not the means singly that helps but Gods blessing upon the means without which the most likely means bringeth nothing to passe 3. Consider his blessing is dispensed not so much according to the means as according to the uprightnesse of the heart in the use of them 4. Consider notwithstanding all this we are to wait upon God in the use of them frequently as it is Gods way of conveyance for where ordinary means may do he will not use extraordinary The walls of Jericho must fall Josh 6. from vers 4. to ver 15. but they must use the means although but weak means that we might not slight the means So John 9. from the 1. verse to the 7th when our Saviour opened the eyes of the man that was born blind He made clay of spittle and annointed the eyes of the blind man and bid him go wash in the pool of Siloam and be went and washed and came seeing So the stone must be rowled from Lazarus grave and Moses must sinite the rock to get water for the Israelites all which are written for our learning to ingage us to be diligent in the use of means and presents us with our duty viz. that we should leave no means unattempted for the accomplishment of what God hath promised for the means are Gods pipes of conveyance which if we cut off how can we expect the things we want which God hath promised to give Christ did not discharge us from the debt of sinne to free us from the debt of service but therefore he did pay the one that we might wait upon him in the use of the other he that withdraws himself from the promise cannot long keep close to the precept and he that keeps at a distance from the use of means shall never attain the mercies conveyed to others therein The Sacraments were instituted and set up for this very end to increase and strengthen seal and establish us the Lord knew he had to deal with doubting staggering misgiving persons and therefore he doth not only give the promise his covenant and oath for the confirmation of us but to all these he annexeth his seal the Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper Here I shall give the Reader a brief accompt of the sum and substance of what hitherto in this Treatise hath been presented and so proceed c. We have began with mans creation and of his estate before he fell of the manner of his fall and the subtilty of Satan therein and of the miserable estate he fell into and how he can never be saved unless born again renewed and restored there are four Gates shut and five exceptions made against him there be amongst the Sons and Daughters of men eighteen sorts that shall not either see nor enter into the kingdome of God there be four strong reasons why he will execute justice upon them there are four sorts of changes and but one of them spiritual and saving Man is in misery and unable and unwilling to help
found in his own righteousness but in Christs righteousness all the rest he accounts as dung 10. He that is born again or truly converted hath his soul renewed in its facultiâ—s and vertues when the Lord made man in his own image Gen. 1. 26 27. Gen. 9. 6. which image of God in man consisteth not in any bodily shape but in the nature of the soul as it is a spiritual and immortal substance indued with three faculties Understanding Will and Memory as the Deitie hath three Father Sonne and Holy Ghost this image of God in man by his fall was defaced which by regeneration is again restored and renewed 1. In its faculties 2. In its senses 3 In its vertues 1. In its faculties 1. Understanding 2. Will. 3. Memory 1. The Understanding that by the fall was darkened is now again by regeneration â—nlightened Ephes 5. 8. Compared with Ephes 1. 18. 2. The Will that was inthralled is now renewed by which it doth choose the good and reject the evil 3. The Memory that since the fall of Man would forget the good that it should have reteyned and retein the evill that it should forget is now restored so as to treasure up spiritual things and let slip carnal things The Conscience which is Gods Deputy in man that did cease to do his Office being seared with an hot Iron 1 Tim. 4. 2. is now awakened and sits as Judge overall your Actions accusing in one thing excusing in another now if Conscience he not a Bridle it will be a Whip if it be not a Curb iâ— will be a Scourge if you will not hear the Warnings you shall feel the Lashes if it doth not restrain from Sin by admonition it will put uâ— to pain in sin by Contrition The Senses also they come to be exercised Heb. 5. 14. to discern both good and evil the Sense of Hearing is frequently exercised in hearing the joyfull sound and the Sense of Seeing is exercised in beholding the wonderfull works of God and the Sense of Smelling is exercised smelling a sweet savour in Christ and all his wayes and so for the rest of the Senses they are ever now and then exercised about spiritual things The Vertues of the Soul or graces of the Spirit they begin also to be employâ—d about matters of great concernment viz. Faith endeavours to believe and lay hold on God for what he hath promised Hope anchors upon the promise and waits with patience for a supply of all its wants Love is exerciâ—â—d in loving of God his Ordinances and People and sometimes in doing good to his enemies Prudence iâ— a verâ—â—â— whereby we foresee how things arâ— to be done in respect of time place and mâ—nner and what will be the event of each bâ—siness which is undertaken prudence in our hearts to guide our thoughts and in our mouths to order our speeches it is prudence in the evils of sin to choose none and in the evils of punishment to choose the lesser 2 Sam. 24. 12. Another Vertue which begins to be exercised is Temperance which moderates our desires and brings the Appetite under a rule of reason then Constancy or Perseverance is another Vertue whereby a man is resolved to persevere to the end in the knowledge profession and worship of God Justice is another Vertue which giveth every man his due it binds us to give due to God to our Parents and Kindred and to exercise Verity and Equity in all that we do lo what a wonderfull change is here yet notwithstanding all this the Soul is the same after conversion as it was before and so it shall be after the resurrection the same there being the same faculties only thus changed the Soul is renewed and restored to its primitive institution and so its purity and blessednesse is or shall be greater than ever it was before c. Thus the Regenerate doth partake of another begetting of another birth of another nature that a man should be the same and not the same the same man for Body yet as different in quality as if another soul did dwell in the same body he of a lyon iâ— become a lamb of a wolfe a sheep of a Saul a Paul of a persecuter a friend of the persecuted here is a blessed change indeed Wouldst thou know whether thou art regenerated art thou one whom God hath enlightned art thou one whom he hath called art thou one who art washed purged renewed sanctyfied examine thy heart throughly deceits lie low and false evidence is the fruit of a slight search Art thou one whose heart is taken with Christ when God delights in us thereupon we come to delight in him God knows us and thereupon we come to know him John 10. 14. God apprehends us and thereupon we come to apprehend him he chuseth us and thereupon we chuse him he loves us and therefore we love him 1 John 4. 19. his heart is taken with us and thereupon we come to be taken with him take thy evidences from the carriage of thy spirit neither at the best nor at the worst but the middle way which is most thy frame for if thou look upon thy self at the worst thou mayst be discouraged if at the best thou mayst be deceived neither judg of thy self by particular actions but look upon the universal frame and benâ— of thy spirit art thou heavy laden with the weight of thy offences dost thou groan under the yoak and tyrannie of manifold temptations Come unto me saith Christ I will refresh the Mat. 11. 28. Doest thou thirst after the wayes of grace loe I am the living spring saith Christ Come drinks hâ—râ— is my blood that was shed for many for the remission of sinnes are the wounds of thy transgressions so deep that they â—annot be searched or so old that they corrupt and purâ—fie loe here is the good Samaritan that will either eind them up or powr in oyle and wine are there any seeds of true life began is there any motion of repentance in thy soul will thy pulse of remorse heat a little hast thou but a touch of sorrow a spark of contrition a grain of faith a drop of self denyal surely he that hath began this good work will finish it Philip. 1. 6. Surely he will more and more inform thy mind conform thy will reform thy life and tranâ—form the whole man into the likeness of the heavenly patterne a man that is born again may be weak in respect of life in whom the spirit breathâ— though feintly whose pulse beats but feebly whose heart pants after Christ but weakly in whom Christ who is the wisdome of the father shines though through many clouds very dimly who indeed reâ—â—ives Christ and his free gâ—â—â—â— though with a shaking hand who hopes that Christ will not cast him off though not sure he will take him up he hath a desire to fear the name of the Lord hâ— hath a willing mind 2 Cor. 8. 12 and this is
Answ The best way to mortifie our flesh with the Affections and Lusts is to meditate on the mercies of God which is one of the most powerfull Arguments to perswade and prevail with a Soul to leave sin Psal 26. 3 4. For thy loving kindnesse is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth 1 John 3. 3. he that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure I have read of five men that were studying what was the best way to mortifie sin The first said to meditate of death the second said to meditate of judgement to come the third said to meditate on the joys of Heaven the fourth said to meditate on the torments of Hell which is the wages of sin the fifth said to meditate on the blood and sufferings of Iesus Christ And certainly the last is the strongest motive of all to mortifie sin surely it is the appearance of Gods grace to us which works a hope of glory in us and this hope of glory doth purifie 1 Ioh. 3. 3. both in kind and degree 2 Cor. 7. 1. Let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit Rom. 8. 13. And so by the Spirit we come to mortifie the deeds of the flesh he that hath the strongest Faith hath the holyest life Sanctification ariseth from Justification let us then make war against our Lusts in the strength of Christ still seeking unto him for assisting grace for as we have said before in this Treatise strength to perform any duty to exercise any grace to subdue any Lust to resist any temptation to bear any affliction is derived only from Christ Quest What is or who is the object of Faith A. God the Father Son holy Ghost is the object of saving Faith no man was ever saved without this for no man ever called upon God but by the help of the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. 3. As no man can say that Jesus is the Christ so neither can any man say that God is God but by the holy Ghost neither did God ever hear any man that prayed unto him for salvation but for his Sons sake we are in order not in time to believe first in Christ by Christ in God 1 pet 1. 21. Who by him do believe in God We are commanded to believe in Christ 1 Joh 3. 23. and this is his commandement that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ for Christ as Redeemer is the mediate not the ultimate object of Faith for we believe by Christ in God as before As Christ is the object of divine worship Asts 7. 59. And of saving hope Collo 1. 27. And of our greatest love 1 Cor. 16. 22. And of our absolute service Rom. 14. 9. 18. So he is the object of our divine Faith together with the Father and the Holy Ghost so John 14. 1. compared with Acts 20 21. as God in Trinity is the object of Faith so the Scripture seems to be the ground of Faith First the Lord presents us with a command to believe 1 Ioh. 3. 23. and a promise of Salvation to them that believe Mar. 16. 16. and it is the duty of all that do hear the Gospel to believe Mar. 1. 15. Iohn 3. 18. Iohn 15. 22. 16. 7. In the begetting or breeding of Faith in the heart is manifested both the inability of Man and the ability of God here appears the evil of the Spirit of corrupt nature and the good of the Spirit of Grace Sarah her conceiving of Isaac whose birth was a figure of Regeneration was a great work a miracle so Mary her conception of Christ by the power command and blessing of the holy Ghost was also a great work a miracle but for Christ to be formed in the Soul by believing is as great if not a greater work see Ephes 1. 19 20. Quest What incouragement and grounds are there to provoke or perswade us to believe Answ There are many I will instance only in a few which may be reduced to these two heads viz. 1. The benefits in doing it 2. The hurt or danger in neglecting it 1. The benefits that doe attend those that doe believe and they are these 1. By believing we honour God our Creator Christ our Redeemer and the holy Ghost our Sanctifier Iohn 3. 33 compared with Rom. 3. 34. 2. By believing we come to be established Isay 7. 9. 3. By believing we shall be kept in perfect peace Isay 26. 34. compared with Rom. 5. 1. 4. Whosoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed Rom 9. 33. 5. Our naked believing in God and cleaving to him in his free promises will carry down all our distempers at once and fill our Souls with joy and peace in believing 6. This is the way to have God take pleasure in us Psalm 147. 11. the Lord taketh pleasure in those that hope in his mercy Psalm 33. 18. the eyes of the Lord is upon them that fear him upon them that hope in his mercy 7. Our believing doth instate the Soul in the possession of Heaven whiles the body remains on â—arth Iohn 3. 36. 8. For our incouragement to believe consider Christ outbids all Merchants for thy Soul he out-bids the World Sin and Sathan they do not present pardon remission redemption salvation but Christ doth present these and many more such like choyse things 2. Let us consider the evil of Unbelief and the misery that doth attend it it is a dishonouring of God a denying of Christ it as much as in it lyeth makes void the great Counsel of God and purposes of his mercy viz. 1. We do what lyes in us make void Gods end in sending Christ his end was that we might believe and live for ever in blessednesse 2. We as much as in us lyes make void the death of Christ all his sufferings and bloodshed to be to no purpose 3. We make void what lyes in us the great counsel of God and all the thoughts of his wisedom in contriving such a way to advance his glory in the salvation of man 4. By continuing in a state of Unbelief we rob Christ of the reward and fruit of all his sufferings and death 5. We wrong God by our Unbelief we obscure his glory we limit his power we contemn his wisedom we give a lye to his truth we abuse his love we slight and reject all the Precious thoughts of his mercy and grace we proclaim the Devil a Conquerour and lift him up above Christ himself Iuâ—as did sin more by Unbelief and despairing than by his betraying of Christ as might be gathered from Scripture 6. We hasten damnation to our selves Iohn 3. 18 36 Were we in Adams created innocency then we need not to look after a Saviour but we are all fallen but we are broken but we are sold under sin but we are transgressors from the wombe but we are by nature the children of disobedience and wrath What shall I say more