Seed Isa 66.22 else there would be a great Inconsistency New Palates will find sweetness in this new Meat and new Wine else it will be lost upon them 11. The New Creature fits Persons for Death and Heaven To these to live is Christ and to dye gain Phil. 1.21 Living and Dying these are the Lord's Rom. 14. It s this that renders Persons meet for that heavenly Inheritance Col. 1.12 No Eyes can see God but of those that are pure in Heart Mat. 5.8 These and only these are wrought for this self-same thing 2 Cor. 5.5 Heaven is not like Noah's Ark that had clean and unclean Creatures brought into it Without Holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 Frogs came into Pharoah's Court but no unclean thing can enter Heaven Rev. 21.9 A sensual Pallate cannot taste the sweetness of that Wine in our Father's Kingdom Matth. 26.29 For its New Wine and renewed Souls are capable of taking pleasure in it O happy Soul that hath got Christ in the Arms of his Faith and in his Heart by this New Nature he may lift up his Head and say with Simeon Now Lord lettest thou thy servant depart in Peace according to thy Word for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation Luk. 2.29 30. And is not this available to Souls 12. Yea this New Creature is Heaven begun it is a considerable part of Heaven Holiness is a considerable Happiness it s the Seed and Embryo of that heavenly state Grace and Glory as they are joyned in a blessed connexion Psal 84.10 So they differ but in degree not in Specie Grace is Glory begun Glory is Grace consummated Grace is the Bud Glory is the Flower this New Creature is the Key of Paradise the inlet into Glory yea it is Salvation already 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us This blessed work of the New Creature is a quickning together with Christ and raiseth us up together and makes us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus And thus we are saved in our Representative Eph. 2.5 6 7. yea this Divine Principle is an Heaven begun not only as a Pledge but part of it The Scripture often tells us that God's Children have Eternal Life John 17.3 And this is 1. in precio in price for it is a purchased Possession Eph. 1.14.2 in promisso in promise for God hath promised Eternal Life to all that obey him Heb. 5.9.3 in semine in Seed this Water within the Believer is a Well springing up to Eternal Life John 4.14.4 in pignore in pledge and pawn this is called sometimes the Seal of the holy spirit Eph. 1.13 14. Sometimes the Earnest which is part of the thing to be enjoyed Sometimes the Witness of the Spirit which never bears its testimony to a Lye 1 John 5.10 He that believeth in thâ— Son of God hath the witness in himself for thâ— holy spirit beareth witness with our Spirits Româ— 8.16 And in these respects the New Creature is available in such a manner as no externaâ— Gospel-privileges or worldly enjoyments are to the Children of men Thus much for the third Head Chap. V. Some Inferences by way of Question aâ— Answer from the Premises FOr the Practical Improvement of this greâ— Truth I shall keep close to the Methâ— which the Holy Ghost prescribes in all Truthâ— 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by Inspiratâ— of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproâ— for Correction for Instruction in Righteousneâ— These are the Uses I shall make of this point 1. Doctrine or Information of the Judgmeâ— that our Minds may be informed in points fit 〈◊〉 be known Now there may be inquiry into Seven Poinâ— about this Doctrine of the New Creature whiâ— I shall reduce to Question and Answer 1. Quest Whether is the framing of this Nâ—â—reature in the Soul miraculous The Reason of this Question is because we have compared it to yea â—ewed a precedency above the first Creation which was a Miracle therefore it should seem that this also must be so Answ 1. Some things are Miracles yet not 〈◊〉 Creation as Stephen seeing Jesus at God's Right hand Acts 7. Or barren Sarah's conceiâ—ing Gen. 2 1. or the Sun 's going back or standing still Isa 38. For then Nature is only exâ—ended 2. Some things both a Miracle and a Creation as the Virgin Mary's conceiving and â—earing a Son yet remaining a Virgin Luke 1. â—5 Manna was both a Miracle and a Creation Exod. 16.22.3 Some things seem a Miracle as an Eclipse of the Sun seems a Miâ—acle to ignorant People but Mathematicians now the Cause 4. Some things are a Creation yet not a Miracle as the Conversion of a â—oul the subject is a rational Soul and so caâ—ble of a Principle of Grace and had once â—od's Image but it s lost and is recovered by 〈◊〉 Spiritual Creation of that which Man had â—st by his fall and folly and so 't is called 2. Quest Whether is there any Inclination in â—an towards this New Creation Or whether there 〈◊〉 any Spark of Good left in man upon his fall that â—ing improved by his Natural Faculties and diliâ—nce may grow up to a New Creature For it may â—m there is in man a Natural Conscience prompting â—n to good excusing him in doing it drawing him â—m Evil and accusing him upon the committing it 〈◊〉 Rom. 2.14 15. Answ 1. Those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Grecians call them common notices or Anâ— ticipations of Good are not in the Will but 〈◊〉 the Mind not in the Affections but Conscience nec vero cordis nomen pro sede affectuum seâ— tantum pro intellectu capitur Calv. in loc It was not ingraven in their Will to chuse it but the power of some Truths flashed in their Eyes thaâ— they could not but know them and have soâ— general liking of them so they could not bâ— know that Adultery and Stealing are naughtâ— the contrary good 2. But whether these weâ— left in man's Heart after the Fall as Relicks 〈◊〉 God's Image or introduced by God's Providence afterwards for the good of mankind aâ— to maintain Peace and Intercourse in Societiâ— is much disputed Mr. Capel of Tempt thinâ— the latter However 3. All our Protestâ— Writers affirm with the Scriptures that Maâ— Nature is universally depraved against 〈◊〉 Socinians that hold the Nature of Man is 〈◊〉 corrupted but say whatsoever Spot or Vicâ— in Man proceeds from frequent Acts of Sâ— and Custom in Sinning without the interâ— corruption of his Nature But the Scriptâ— tell us of Man's total degeneracy In me saâ— Paul i. e. in my Flesh dwells no good thing Roâ— 7.18 Our mind and conscience is defiled Tit. 1. â— There is none righteous no not one of all the race Mankind Rom. 3.9 10. And therefore neâ— a Sanctification throughout in Soul Spirit and Bâ— 1 Thes 5.23 Yea 4. There 's an utter imâ— tency in Man to renew himself Rom.
Objects my Soul is as a weaned Child Psal 13 1.12 New light begets new love new desires new delights Truth in the Understanding darting upon the Affections contracted in the Glass of Meditation inflames the Soul Did not our Hearts burn within us while he opened to us the Scriptures Luk. 24.32 The Sun in the Firmament sheds his Influence into the Bowels of the Earth but Light and Heat come together into Souls knowledge affects the Heart◠the more the Christian knows God the more he loves him The Soul risen with Christ cannot but set his affections on things above Col. 3.2 For where the treasure is there will the heart be also Matth. 6.21 Oh saith this Christian how good is God I love the Lord from my inmost Bowels Psal◠18.1 Mat. 22.37 With all my heart soul mind and might with my Soul have I desired thee in the night Isa 26.9 Even as the Hart panteth after the Water-brooks When shall I come and appear before God Psal 45.1 God even God alone is my exceeding joy Psal 43.4 I will take pleasure in nothing but in God This this is both my Duty and Privilege I hope I can call the Sabbath a delight Isa 58.13 14. And he promiseth I shall delight myself in the Lord My Comfort and Content is in communion with God and 't is an anticipation of Heavenly Joys I love the Word of God his testimonies are the rejoycing of my heart and I have rejoyced in the ways thereof more then in all Riches and delight my self in the Lord's Statutes Psal 119.14 Oh how the good Soul is ravished and transported in the Galleries of Love the Pleasures of the Soul are infinitely beyond the Pleasures of Sense Oh then Christian feel how the Pulse of thy Soul beats in a constant motion is thy Heart working God-wards in Duties of God's Worship or in daily Converse which way tends the bent of thy Soul Art thou truly troubled that thou canst not delight thy self in the Lord Psal 37.4 as thou oughtest Would thou give all the World that thou hadst but an Heart to love God more Canst thou say as Peter Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Joh 21 15-17 A Flame may be painted but a painted Flame cannot be felt I find the workings of Love kindled in my Bosom if I know any thing of my Heart and I have searched the Characters of true Love in the Scriptures and I find my Heart ecchoing thereto harmonizing therewith and I am told that this Love is the proper Character of this New Creature connatural with ingraven in the New Nature for he that dwells in Love dwelleth in God and God in him 1 John 4.16 Thus much for the Preparatives to and parts of this New Creature I proceed briefly to the Third Head which is the Properties of this New Creature and they are these Seven 1. It is an universal New Creature it 's not in part of the Soul but runs through the whole man soul body and spirit 1 Thes 5.23 It 's extensive and comprehensive takes in all Internal Powers External Members all Acts in all Faculties at all times in all employments as in the Law the whole Sacrifice was to be offered to God Lev. 18.9 So it is not acceptable to God if any part be with-held from God Rom. 12.1 This New Creature is as Leaven that runs through the whole lump Matth. 13.33 and puts a gracious Tincture into all the Faculties This is not a Limb or Member but a whole New Man yea the Christian is a perfect man having all the parts of a Saint though defective in point of degree our heavenly Father begets no Blind Lame Mad or Maimed Children there 's no Idiots in his Family A Christian indeed hath all Graces radically but the Hypocrite is mainly defective in something essentially requisite to make up a Saint he is a Cake half baked Dough on one side the Legs of the Lame are not equal 2. It is a vital self-moving New Creature I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Gal. 2.20 It s true it is hid from outward Observation as the Spring that moves the visible Hand for our Life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 But a vital Principle it is this gracious habit is to the Soul as the Soul is to the Body it 's a spark of divine Life kindled by the holy Spirit a Seed of God 1 Joh. 3.9 quickned within the Womb of the Earth by the influence of Heaven putting forth gracious Acts precious Fruits by excitations of assisting Grace after a nipping winter of Temptations or cold Autumn of Spiritual Decays his Spirit makes him willing Oh saith the Christian I am restless as a Bird out of the Nest or a Fish out of its proper Element of Water unsatisfied till I return to my God But the Hypocrite is but like a Pupper drest like a Saint moved by Art or as a Machin by something outward which the workman fastens to it but not informed by a Soul of its own so it s at last worn or broken and crumbles to nothing so doth the Hypocrite as one saith There is a vast difference betwixt Wool on the Sheep's back which clipt will grow again and the Wool on the Sheep's Skin on the Wolf's back which grows no more The living Saint still works upwards the graceless Soul is dead and puts forth no vital acts 3. It s a sensible new Greature it s not a dead inanimate Log but of a tender quick sensation and can easily discern what Profits or Prejudiceth it what helps or hurts it it groans under what it feels doth make against its being or well-being nothing doth it hurt so much as Sin or what hath a tendency to it any act of omission or commission lies heavy upon it pricks and wounds it and makes it bleed hence 't is called an heart of Flesh which is a soft and sensible thing defects of Grace inroads of Temptation intermissions of Duty or worldliness are more laid to heart by the New Creature then gross out-breakings of Sin in the Hypocrite whatsoever it perceives to be anoyance or disturbance is a grievous Affliction Oh saith the Soul I found at such a time God's withdrawing the assistance of his Spirit I puzzled and bungled in a Duty and could make nothing of it Wo is me what had I done to banish my God I find a weight on me and a Sin that easily besets me Heb. 12.1 Did I not quench grieve resist the Spirit was I not sluggish heartless formal Lord forgive me that Sin and quicken me with thy Grace The Hypocrite hath none of these Experiments Soul-exercises Agonies but runs on 〈◊〉 heartless Formality and customary Performance but knows nothing of God's access and his recess coming or going 4. It is a growing New Creature it never stands at a stay the Godly Man is compared to the Sun that shineth still brighter to the perfect day Prov. 4.18
changed into his Image 2 Cor. 3.18 Beholding the glory of the Lord therein I have begotten you saith Paul through the Gospel 1 Cor. 4.15 This is God's work-house where he shapes and forms this New Creature of how many an Ordinance may it be said this and that man was born there Psal 87.5 Oh therefore be constantly waiting at the Posts of VVisdom hear the most warm lively Preachers prepare for hearing set your selves as in the presence of God Say thus with thy self I am going to hear the VVord of the Living God which is the ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 apt and able to give life to dead Souls 1 Thes 2.15 It is not so much the word of Men but of God Oh that it may work effectually in my Soul It is not Man but God that is now treating with me God himself is now beseeching me the Minister praying me in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5.20 I perceive it sticks at me God hath declared he is Friends with me if my naughty Heart were at last prevail'd with to be reconciled to him O that this may be the Day this the Sermon wherein and whereby thou wilt mould and melt my Soul for thy self now Lord let thy words be as Spirit and Life to my Soul Oh for renewing Grace 5. Own Convictions by the VVord strike while the Iron is hot let not Impressions dye or wear off this lost both Felix and Agrippa their Souls Acts 24.25 26 27. stifled Convictions leave the Heart harder heated water cooled again is sooner frozen who knows how long the Spirit may strive when God is working work then put not off warnings when God convinceth thee of the evil of a Sin presently discard it when of a Duty fall close to the practice of it when a wound is made take heed left the Wind get in and it begin to fester and at last grow incurable Our Lord is standing at thy Door and knocking Rev. 3.20 He will not always wait thy leisure the Spirit will not always strive with thee Gen. 6.3 You must sail when the VVind blows There are candida tempora proper Seasons for every thing It s a dangerous thing for a Man not to know his time Eccles 9.12 If you miss the nick of opportunity it may never return the Market lasts not all the Year If the Tide have brought you thus far go with it it may never return to fetch you off Now is the accepted Time now is the Day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6.2 Not to morrow O quench not the Spirit 1 Thes 5.19 that would set you on a Fire for God Think you thus I have sitten out many a day of Grace lost many a golden Season 't is infinite mercy God is still calling if I lose this I may never have more yea I may be in Hell before another Sermon yea before Morning O that I could know the Day of my Visitation Luk. 19.4 O that now at last my Soul were effectually changed 6. Get thy Heart affected with thy Sin and Misery by nature and practice look on thy self as dead in Trespasses and Sins and so uncapable of quickening thy self Alas my Praying Reading hearing Reforming will never do the cure or effect the End I am sunk far below the possibility of humane or angelical help Means must be used but Means must not be rested in they cannot effect the End nay alas I am without strength Rom. 5.6 and can do nothing In me that is in my flesh dwells no good thing Rom. 7.18 I am a miserable Leper full of wounds bruises putrified sores Isa 1.5 Wo is me I am defiled in Adam and actually polluted I am a Sink a Sty a Dunghill of Sin a lump of Sin averse to all good propense to all Evil I am in the gall of bitterness and bonds of Iniquity Act. 8.23 Satan is leading me Hell-wards I must be chang'd or damn'd for ought I know I stand tottering over the brink of Eternal Misery I hang by the small Thread of my natural Life over everlasting Burnings my case is worse then the Beasts that are not capable of moral Evil or pain Acts 3.18 I am already condemned and waiting for the execution of the righteous Sentence in a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation Heb. 10.27 Another Step may set me past hope for any thing that I know This night Luk. 12.20 may Devils require my Soul and hurry it into the Infernal Lake O what will become of me whither am I going Lord awake my sleepy Conscience to see my danger that I may haste out of the Sodom of Fire and Brimstone to the Mountain God forbid I should stay another day in my unregenerate State 7. Learn to know and improve Jesus Christ The Life of Holiness as well as Righteousness is in him I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Gal. 2.20 There 's no Spiritual Life but what is derived from Christ who saith Because I live you shall live also John 14.19 Sinners are dead the nearer they come to Christ the more hope of Life as the nearer to the Sun the more light we only come to have the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 Nothing doth so transform a Sinner as looking on God through Christ the VVoman had vertue from him that did but touch the Hem of Christ's Garment none are Branches of this Vine but they have Life and Fruitfulness John 5.5 All that are grafted in this Olive partake of the root and fatness of that Olive-tree Rom. 11.17 Labour after Faith and Love Faith unites the Soul to Christ for he dwells in our hearts by faith Eph. 3.17 Love doth assimilate the Soul to God and the more we are like to God the more of his Image we have Faith is the radical ligament of a Soul to Christ Love is a voluntary mover of the Soul to Christ Faith is the receiver Love the worker Faith worketh by love Gal. 5.6 and both are absolutely necessary to the New Creature Christ is the Image of God and the New Creature is the Image of Christ and so of God Love sees all good in God-enjoyment as its End and in conformity to him as its means to attain that End Faith unites the Soul to God mystically Love morally there can be no New Creature without both these therefore to believe in God and to love God are both the only means to be like God and therein consists the New Creature â—erefore study these or you 'l never be New Creatures 8. Get divorced from Sin and Sinners you may and must amend your ways Jer. 1.3 if you cannot mend your Hearts Cease to do evil learn to do well Isal 1.16 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and return to the Lord Isal 55.7 Be no more slaves to your Lusts which are as
Nature of this New Creature take this Description of it The New Creature is a supernaturl Work of Gospel-Grace wrought in the Soul of a Sinner by the Word and Spirit of God changing the whole Man from an old state and course into a new thereby transforming it into the Divine Likeness and turning the Heart and Life to the rule of the Word in order to the glory of God and the Souls present and everlasting communion with him This is the New Creature I confess this Description is long but I cannot leave out any of the parts thereof I shall very briefly open the Branches of this description 1. For the general Nature of it I call it a Supernatural Work for it is above the power of nature to produce it it comes from above so he that 's born again John 3.3 Is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from above This perfect Gift comes down from the Father of Lights James 1.17 That Jerusalem that 's above is the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 This New Creature is no Herb that grows in Nature's Garden it s a Plant of Paradise Flesh and Blood cannot so much as reveal this to the sons of men Matth. 16.17 Therefore it s no wonder if learned Doctors such as Nicodemus laugh at such Doctrine as Fantastical Fancies and say How can these things be John 3.4 Or like Ezekiel's hearers who saith Ah Lord God they say of me Doth he not speak Parables Ezek. 20.49 For such wisdom is too high for a Fool. Psal 56.9 In God's light only must we see light Experience is the best Mistriss in these Cases We speak wisdom saith the Apostle among them that are perfect But the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2 6 14. This New Crerture is of a Coelestial Original and must have an heavenly Interpreter 2. In this Description we have the particular Nature of this New Creature I call it a Gospel-Grace it is no branch or fruit of the Old Covenant of Works for the Law maketh nothing perfect There was no Law which could give Life Gal. 3.2 21 28. But the New-Testament Dispensation called the Promise this only produceth the New Creation Objection You 'l say Had not Old-Testament Saints this New Creature Doth not David say Create in me a clean heart Psal 51.10 I Answer Old-Testament-Saints had a New-Testament-Spirit for they without us could not be made perfect Heb. 11.40 The same Gospel belonged to them and us and was preached to both Heb. 4.2 Abraham saw Christ's Day they all partaked of Gospel Grace John 8.56 both in Justification and Sanctification they were but different Editions of the same Gospel-Covenant they were as Children in Minority under Tutors and Governours Gal. 4.1 2 25. Gospel-Saints as Children at Age their state was under the Bond woman in Mount Sinai Ours is of Jerusalem which is free However that Gospel-Promise made known in the Old Testament belongs both to them and us Ezek. 36.26 A new Heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you This is the proper Gospel-Work in both Dispensations and sincere Believers of Old had experience of it tho' the Veil was upon the Face of Moses 2 Cor. 3.14 15. and the Hearts of Carnal Jews as it is on all Unbelievers to this day but Gospel-Grace renews Souls 3. Here 's the subject in which this New Creature is and that is in the Soul or Heart of a sinner There 's the Seat and Centre of this New Creation it s not meerly external in the Eye or Foot or Hand or Tongue but it s an internal work in the Soul the Christian is renewed in the Spirit of his Mind Ephes 4.23 Behold saith David thou desirest Truth in the inward parts in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know Wisdom Psal 51.6 It s called the hidden man of the heart 1 Pet. 3.4 Not but that it breaks out in Lip and Life but the Root and Spring lies under Ground out of the view of the world as the best Treasures are lock'd up the best Goods are under Deck or as Merchants Wares lie in a back Shop not exposed to the open view of the World A Christians Life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 Hence they are called God's hidden Ones Psal 83.3 And the King's Daughter is all glorious within Psal 45.13 These gracious Souls are like Kings in disguise and it doth not yet appear what they shall be 1 John 3.2 But when the Shell is broken the Pearl will appear all external Changes in men are but the change of the Clothes this the change of the Man and his Manners For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly but inwardly Right Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit not in the Letter whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 2.20 30. It is wrought by God and known to God who alone searcheth and sees the Heart 4. The Instrumental or Organical Cause of this New Man which is the Word of God Rom. 1.16 This is the power of God to Salvation James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us by the Word of Truth 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth for ever The Word is the Seed which being ingrafted in the Heart springeth up in obedience which is the Flower and visible product of the New Creature yea 't is properly the Gospel-Word Moses or the Law may bring us to the Borders but Joshua leads us into Canaan the terrors of the Law prepare the way as John Baptist but the Word of the Gospel is the door of Faith that takes Souls by the hand and leads them into the Chamber of Presence this is God's method to work this New Man by a powerful Gospel-Sermon so saith blessed Paul 1 Cor. 4.15 I have begotten you in Jesus Christ through the gospel there 's the Instrument Paul I have begotten you the means by the gospel the author in Jesus Christ faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.14 Prov. 8.34 Therefore let all lie at the Gates of Wisdom Expect not this New Creation if you turn your backs on God's Institutions 5. The Efficient Cause is the Holy Ghost The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us Rom. 5.5 Oh what a gracious Tincture doth the Spirit leave upon Hearts what a sweet Breath doth it breath into them which breaths out Love to God and Men How is this New Creature diffused into all the Faculties of the Soul by the Spirit This is both a Seal and an Earnest who hath also sealed us Eph. 6.13 14. and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts 2 Cor. 1.22 All good is conveyed to us by the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son especially this Saving Good of Conversion we are born again of Water and of the Spirit John 3.3 8.
and sanctified by the Spirit born of the Spirit and are Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.11 19. Nothing can search or reach the Heart but the Holy Ghost The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 and deep things of Men. An Angel is too short-sighted to see into Man's Heart too short-handed to reach the Conscience or make a New Creation God alone turns Stones into Flesh God shall enlarge Japheth and he shall dwell in the Tents of Shem Gen. 9.27 It is an Act of Power to make a People willing Psal 110.3 or Volunteers No man can come to Christ except the Father which sent him draw him Job 6.44 And God reacheth forth the Hand of the Spirit to attract Hearts to himself 6. The proper immediate Effect of this Work that is a change into a new Frame or Course by which the Sinner becomes new or another than what he was before this is the formalis Ratio genuine necessary Attendant yea intrinsick nature of this which we call the New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are past away behold all things are become new The Faculties are the same but new Qualities are put in as in a Lute the Strings are the same but 't is set to a new Tune In a River the Water is the same but 't is put into a new Channel the Bowl hath got a new Byass So the Convert said to the tempting Harlot Ego non sum Ego I am not I or as Paul said of himself who was before a Blasphemer a Persecutor but I obtained mercy 1 Tim. 1.13 i. e. converting Grace hath changed me Thus the same Apostle saith of the Corinthians Such were some of you but ye◠are washed but ye are sanctified 1 Cor. 6.11 Oh what a mighty change doth Grace make from Lying to Fearing an Oath from vain speaking to Holy Discourse from carelesness to the greatest concernedness about Soul affairs yea from Darkness to Light Eph. 5.8 From Death to Life from Satan to God Acts 26.18 The Man is now got into a new World as one observes from Ezek. 11.19 I will give them one Heart which that I may do I will cast it a new in order to this I will melt and soften it as one that hath many pieces of old Silver by them casts them into the Fire melts them and molds them into one Bowle Thus doth God with the divided Heart in renewing it and framing it for his use 7. Here 's yet further the compleatness of this Change it s not some external Acts Motions Conversation nor only Internal Cogitations Affections Workings of the Will and Conscience but the description goes further even to the State Constitution Relation of the Man and therefore I add changing the whole man from an old state to a new for every Man and Woman hath a state before God therefore Paul sends Timothy to know the state of the Philippians Phil. 2.19 This imports not a transient Act but a settled abiding Frame continued Relation Sinners are by Nature Children of wrath Eph. 2.3 Limbs of Satan Heirs of Hell this new Mold makes them Children of God Members of Christ Heirs of Heaven yea it puts them into an habitual tendency towards Heaven and heavenly things which is a kind of a second Nature in them this moves the holy Soul acting like it self as naturally upwards as a Stone moves downward therefore it s called a Divine Nature 2 Pet. 14. the acting follows the being of a thing Make the Tree good and the Fruit will be good Mat. 12.33 If a Watch be not well made it will never go well They say of the Peacock roast him as much as you will yet when cold his Flesh will be raw again So force a Carnal Heart to the highest strain of seeming Piety yet it will come to its old Complexion because there 's not a new Nature fill a Pond full of Water it will abate if there be not a Spring to supply it The New Creature is united to Christ and receives grace for grace John 1.61 8. Here 's the Pattern Copy Example according to which this New Creature is moulded it is the Soul 's being transformed into the divine likeness this Image of God consists in Knowledge in the Intellectual Faculties Righteousness in the Will Holiness in the Affections Col. 3.10 And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Eph. 4.24 That you put on the new man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness or holiness of truth As the Work of Grace in the Heart is a true Copy or Transcript of the Divine Image they agree as the Face in the Glass doth with the Face of the Man that looks in it or as the Image in the Wax with the Sculpture in the Seal from which it is derived Godliness is Godlikeness Summa Religionis est imitari quem Colis The Summ and Substance of our Religion is to imitate whom we worship not that its possible to be like God with a perfection of degree but Sincerity Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect Mat. 5.48 A Child hath the parts of a Man though not the bulk for the New Creature is in a daily increase and tendeth to perfection as a small Seed hath vertually the bigness of a grown Tree though little in its self But the Christian is like God man only can beget a man like himself So the Spirit only doth beget the Christian like God Now Divines Journal Christian Bemon part 2. pag. 173. take notice of a double Likeness a bare Similitude Snow and Milk are both white alike yet are not the Image one of another 2. Derivation deduced from another and so the Picture which is drawn every Line by the Face of a Man this is properly the Image of a man after whose Likeness it is made Thus by Holiness the Christian becomes the Image of Christ Rom. 8.29 Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son 9. There 's the Rule of this New Creature which is expressed by turning the Heart and Life to the Rule of the Word this either refers to the manner of framing the New Creature or the Rule by which the New Creature acts and moves being once formed As to the former the New Creature receives the Stamp Signature and Impression of the Word Rom. 6.17 But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin But ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you Or as it is more properly in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into which you were delivered i. e. the Soul is the Metal the Word is the Mould into which the Sinner is cast and thereby receives a new Stamp formed into a new Shape which naturally issues it self into a new
wallow in all Sensuality and Immorality without controul or remorse and glory in their shame Phil. 3.19 5thly Proud contentious revengeful hateful hating all about them Tit. 3.3 That evidently manifest the Fruits or Works of the Flesh Gal. 5.19 20. in bitter Revilings Suits at Law Variance about Trifles 6thly Covetous griping Muck-worms that make Gain their Godliness Gold their God Col. 3.5 These are Idolaters that are hard-hearted to the poor but please themselves with worldly Enjoyments Luk. 12.20 7thly Swearers prophane Takers of thâ— Name of God in vain foolish Talkers Jesters Lyars Eph. 5.4 5. think their Tongues aâ— their own and they may say what they list 8thly Neglecters of God's worship publick private secret never call on God except by horrid Imprecations yea that think it 's in vain to serve God Mal. 3.14 and hate such as do Such flagitious Offenders there are in the World yea in England that make a Scoff at the Name of the Spirit and Grace of Christ and will own no Regeneration but what they imagine they received in Baptism which yet they grosly contradict as if they would scorn and run counter to the Bible-Religion and Morality it self these profligate Wretches I remit to the righteous Judgment of the Great God because I have little hopes they will read such plain Treatises or hear any powerful Preachers and so are out of the Road of ordinary means of Grace or hopes of Good 2. But those I have at present to deal with are Pretenders and but meer Pretenders to this New Creation that have something like it but it will not prove the New Creature but a dead Carcase a lifeless Image of it Many of our constant diligent Attenders on all Ordinances are apt to say I thank God I hope I am a New Creature To which I Answer It 's well if it prove so but the Apostle saith Not he that commendeth himself is approved but whom the Lord commendeth 2 Cor. 10.18 And Solomon saith There is a way which seemeth right unto a man but the End thereof are the ways of Death Prov. 14.12 But Persons had need to beware taking Counters for Gold Pebbles for Pearls there 's much counterfeit Ware passeth for current Coin now adays May not an Angel be hang'd for a Sign when the Devil is within Are not many Professors like the Pharisees painted Sepulchers that appear Fair but within are full of Rottenness and dead mens Bones Matth. 23.27 28. Like a Golden Saddle stuff'd with Straw or Apothecaries Boxes with specious Titles but empty of useful Drugs So 't is said Aliud in titulo aliud in pyxide a specious Title but nothing within of what is promised Alas how many Professors have we known histrionically acting the part of Kings on the Stage that were Beggars in Rags when divested of their gilded Robes of a glorious Profession How many have the Complexion but not the Constitution of Saints one calls them deaf Nuts another Apples of Sodom a third Cockles and Darnel that make a fairer show then good Wheat but must be cast out There were some of Old that desired to make a fair shew in the Flesh Gal. 6.12 but are like vapouring Trades-men that bear big to gain Credit but if search'd into possibly not worth a Groat when their Debts are paid Such there always have been and it s well if the World be mended I shall briefly propound and Answer the Pleas that may make for their pretence 1st Plea I have heard that the New Creature consists in Knowledge and I thank God that hath given me a large share of that Answ We know that we all have knowledge 1 Cor. 8.1 Tit. 1.16 What kind of knowledge is yours Devils have more knowledge then you yet are not nor ever can be New Creatures a Toad hath a Pearl in its Head Poyson in it's Body thousands go knowingly to Hell and the more knowledge without Grace the more torment Luk. 12.47 2d Plea But I believe the Revelations of God give credit to the Gospel I can say the Creed am Orthodox no Heretick Answ That 's well so far but read Rom. 2.17 to ver 25. What canst thou say of thy self more then this professing Jew that rested in the Law made his boast of God approved of things more excellent who yet was condemned as a perfidious self-contradicting God-dishonouring wretch but thou believest so doth the Devil believe and tremble James 2.19 Thou mayst have an Orthodox Head and Heterodox Feet 3d. Plea I am come of Religious Parents that improved pleaded the Covenant for me trained me up in the Fear of God Answ John Baptist anticipates this Plea Mat. 3.9 Think not to say in your Hearts We have Abraham to our Father Matth. 8.12 The Children of the Kingdom may be cast into utter Darkness Alas Parental Privileges without Parents Principles signifie nothing Let our Lord Christ who will be Judge answer this vain Plea John 8 33-44 This may aggravate your Sin never save your Souls without Personal Piety 4th Plea I have made a credible Profession of my Faith am Baptized am admitted to the Lord's Supper joyn with God's People Answ So did Simon Magus believe professed his Faith was Baptized Acts 8 13.20-23 deceiv'd the purest Church on Earth for he proved a rotten Hypocrite so did Judas so did he that wanted the Wedding Garment Matth. 22.12 And how easie it is to cast a Mist before the Eyes of fallible men daily experience testifies See an Instance of some that partake of extraordinary Privileges Ordinances yet rejected 1 Cor. 10.5 5th Plea Yea but I am not only admitted but continue long with them hold up Society with them in publick private Exercises Answ So did the Foolish Virgins accompany the Wise till the last Hour with shining Lamps and when the Bridegroom came they all trimed their Lamps but at last it was found they had no Oyl in their Vessels and so were shut out see Matth. 25 1-12 And do you not read of some that pertinaciously maintain their Plea to the very last when the Door is shut and still begin to say We have eat and drunk in thy presence Luke 13.25 26 27. 6th Plea But I have had great Convictions of Conscience for the evil of Sin Justice of God these sure were pangs of the New Birth Answ Cain had these legal terrors yet was naught so had Saul so Judas yea Felix trembled upon Paul's preaching Acts 24.25 And all these were but as praejudicium judicij foretastes of that horrible Vengeance in the other World Some Sinners have a fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation Heb. 10.27 Oh look to your coming out of your Horrors of Conscience see you close with Christ 7th Plea Yes I have had strong perswasions in my Breast to close with Christ and do take him by Faith to be my Saviour Answ An almost Perswasion is one thing and a thorough Resolution is another Acts 26.27 28. Some barter but buy not
this Pearl of Pirce some are content with a Christ to pardon and save them but like him not as a King to rule them and mortifie their Lusts look to it there 's more sorts of Faith then saving the Apostle supposeth a man to have all Faith 1 Cor. 13.2 Yet not that which worketh by Love 1 Tim. 1.5 Feigned Faith is one thing Unfeigned is another 8th Plea But I confess all my Sins from the bottom of my Heart repent of them and am heartily sorry I have done amiss Answ So have many Hypocrites Reprobates so did Pharaoh Exod. 9.27 I have sinned this time the Lord is righteous and I and my People are wicked 1 Sam. 24.16 17-26 21 Twice did Saul confess his Folly yea lift up his Voice and wept and ingenuoussy said I have sinned So did Ahab humble himself King 21.27 And you find Judas repenting himself yea restoring and saying I have sinned in betraying Innocent Blood Matth. 27 34. Oh see yours be not a worldly Sorrow 2 Cor. 7.10 9th Plea But I take up strong Resolutions of better and new Obedience and do actually reform is not this the New Creature Answ No the New Creature always produceth Reformation but Reformation may be without the New Creature Herod feared John Baptist and when he heard him he did many things and heard him gladly Mark 6.20 Partial Reformation is no sound Evidence of Regeneration the unclean Spirit of scandalous sinning may go out of the Devil's Slave for a Season Matth. 12 43-45 Men may escape gross Pollutions yet be intangled in the Devil's Fetters 2 Pet. 20.23 10th Plea I do not only Reform but also Conform to the Will of God in keeping all his Commands this surely shews Grace Answ Yes if done from a right Principle according to rule for a right end with Faith in Jesus Christ but deceive not your selves outward Compliance doth not always testifie a New Creature the Young Gentleman in Matth. 19.20 said concerning the Commandments All these things have I kept from my Youth up what lack I yet Alas poor man he lacked the main Paul before Conversion saith of himself touching the Righteousness of the law blameless Phil. 3.6 11th Plea But I do not only Reform Conform but I Perform many good Duties I Read Pray Fast am serious in God's Worship Answ It 's well so far all do not so but remember those Hypocrites in Isa 58.2 That sought God daily delighted to know his ways yea the Pharisees made long Prayers Matth. 23.14 Yea they fasted and that twice a Week Luke 18.11,12 They were famous for Religious Exercises yet gross Hypocrites 12th Plea Those were only for Externals in Religion but I am for Internals also that God may have my Heart Answ Very well but it 's one thing to be sound in the Doctrinals another to be sincere in Practicals Experimentals it 's one thing to say it another thing to feel it and do it The Scribe in Mark 12.32 33. subscribed to the Truth of this great Doctrine of Loving the Lord with all the Heart Understanding Soul and Strength and repeats it yet was not of but only not far from the Kingdom of God vers 34. Yea you may take delight in approaching to God yet be bad Esay 38.2 13th Plea But I am upright in what I do I know nothing to my self but Integrity Conscience doth not accuse me to be an Hypocrite Answ It may be so because Conscience may be asleep and saith nothing or nothing to the purpose being blinded with Ignorance or besotted with self-conceit and want of self-searching But know there may be a moral Integrity in particular Acts when there is not a Gospel-integrity in point of State as in Heathen Abimelech see God's attestation to it Gen. 20.5 6. 14th Plea I have a Love to God Jesus Christ and follow him out of my dear and tender respects to him Answ It 's well if so but is it not self-love that engageth you to follow him as those John 6.26 Ye seek me not because ye saw the Miracles but because ye did eat of the Loaves and were filled Aug. complained 1200 Years ago vix diligitur Jesus propter Jesum Jesus is scarcely loved for Jesus sake he pays well for his Entertainment in the World's Coyn Let Christ and Carnal Interest part and then you 'l see what is the Master you 'l follow then a discovery will be made 15th Plea Well but I have suffered much for Christ his Cause and a Good Conscience a tryal hath been made of my Integrity Answ You have not yet resisted unto Blood striving against Sin Heb. 12.4 Yea the Apostle seems to suppose a Man may give his Body to be burnt and yet not have Charity 1 Cor. 13.3 And it may be as possible some may suffer in an humor for a good Cause as others pertinaciously in a bad the Thorny Ground Hearers past the brunt of Persecution Matth. 13.20 22. falling on the Stony Ground but were naught And the Apostle Paul supposeth the Galatians to have suffered many things in vain Gal. 3.4 Many things make up a Christian sufferer Men may bear the Cross and not follow Christ 16th Plea But I give liberally to the Poor of my Substance am much in the exercise of Charity to persons in necessity Answ The Apostle supposeth still that a Man may bestow all his Goods to feed the Poor yet not have Charity 1 Cor. 13.3 You 'l say this is a strange Paradox what is Charity but a free distribution But the Apostle distinguisheth betwixt an Hand-Charity and a Heart-Charity the poor Widow with half a Farthing and a free Heart gave more then all the other rich mens large distributions Matth. 6.1 2. Mark 12.41 44. Some give for Ostentation others of Necessity yea out of Covetousness you give nothing unless you give your selves first to God 2 Cor. 9.5 7.2 Cor. 8.5 17th Plea I am forward for Reformation in my place appear against Prophaneness Sabbath-breaking and am of a publick Spirit Answ It 's well done but see you mistake not how oft did the Jews find fault with our Lord for healing on the Sabbath day and his Disciciples for plucking Ears of Corn. Mark 12.1 2. Take heed blind Zeal transport you not but suppose it be against Sin see whether Self bear not sway as it did Jehu who was partial in his Reformation 2 King 10.28 29. At least temporary as Joash who was very zealous for Reforming whilst his good Uncle Jehoida lived 2 Chron. 24 2-18 18th Plea I thank God I have good Gifts in Discourse in Prayer and can edifie others that are apt to admire me Answ Gifts are one thing Grace another all gifted men are not gracious men who more eminent than Judas the traytor yet an Apostle and some will say in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesyed in thy Name Mat. 7.22 23. To whom he 'll say I never knew you depart from me The Devil hath finer Gifts then any of
no Heaven to him the Heavenly Jerusalem is another kind of thing then most take it to be What wild bald Conceptions have sensual Sots of Heaven as though it were Mahomet's Paradise or Heathens Elysian Fields wherein Men may only gratifie their Senses or wallow in Pleasures Alas a Man may say to these ignorant Souls as our Lord to Zebedee's Children You know not what you ask You would go to Heaven yes fain you would be saved but do you know what Heaven is I will tell you briefly Heaven consists in a freedom from all Sin a perfection of Grace injoyment of God employment in divine Praises love delight in God meditation on God Ecstacies and Ravishment of all the Soul's Faculties in immediate communion with him And what aukard Conceptions hath a carnal Heart of these blessed Privileges They would be no advantage to him at all but a torment to him that hates God runs from him cannot abide to come near him in any Duty likes not the Society of God's Saints delights in sinful Practices dallies with Satan's Temptations Can men imagine they shall take Cards and Dice Cups and Queans with them to Heaven Nay can Men take fair Houses full Bags or worldly Business into another world Can men make great Purchases gather great Rents or break Jests with their Companions in a future state Alas a poor carnal heart is weary of Duties much more will he be in Heaven Sermon is too long Prayer is tedious when will the Sabbath be gone Can these be fit to enjoy God in an eternal Sabbath of rest nay the poor guilty Sinner cares not for coming near to God the Sight of God is terrible to him as it was to fallen Adam indeed without converting Grace introducing this New Creature and Divine Nature the Soul would be altogether strange to God and any converse with an holy glorious God yea even the sanctified themselves by reason of the Remainders of Corruption in them have much ado to bring their Hearts to converse with God especially when they lie under the sense of Guilt even a Godly Peter then crys out Depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord Luk. 5.8 Much more will a graceless Soul not dare to come near to God an Hypocrite shall not come before him Job 13.16 He will not and God will not suffer him but a gracious Heart can truly say It is good for me to draw nigh to God Psal 73.28 Communion with God is his Heaven upon Earth Therefore this God will be his Salvation himself is his best Heaven but a carnal Heart knows not what this means and is therefore uncapable of Heaven Chap. VIII Some Objections of Sinners answered against their Endeavours to be New Creatures T IS much if a Carnal Heart and a Witty Head with the Devil's help have not something to say against the thing it self or their Attempts after it to excuse themselves 1. Object Who can in this World be so qualified for Heaven the best come infinitely short I have beard it said that as the Soul passeth out of the Body it is then perfected and qualified for its enjoyment of God no man can expect it before and though I cannot so delight in God and his Service now yet I hope God will perfect my Soul in the instant of its separation from the Body I Answer 1. There is an habitual and an actual disposedness for Heaven as I have at large explained in a Treatise on Col. 1.12 called Meetness for Heaven and every Child of God after the first Infusion of Grace into him and change of his State and Relation God-wards is put into a capacity for communion with God in this and in the other World but increase in Grace and exercise of Grace doth daily capacitate him for further communion with God no man can expect he shall be a perfect man till he be a man perfection of degrees follows that of parts you must first be in Christ or else you 'l not arrive to the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.12 13. 2. That Man feeds himself with a vain groundless hope of being saved and compleated at Death that 's careless and graceless in Life for he hath no promise to nourish such a Perswasion did God ever say Live as thou listest and at the Instant of Death I will infuse Spiritual Life into thy Soul trust me for that at thy expiring Breath I will give thee that then which will qualifie thee for Heaven and make thee then in love with me though thou never caredst for me all thy Life long Where do you find such a Promise and who but a mad man will put all to a desperate adventure at the last gasp You have more reason to fear he will not then to hope he will give you Grace nay you have a dreadful threatning that because he called and you refused you shall call and cry and he will not answer Prov. 1 24-28 And you have a terrible Instance of the fruitless Cries of the foolish Virgins Matth. 25.10 And who are you that the Great God should be at your beck He can and will hear the least whimper of a Child but regards not the howling of a Dog he may and will say Go to the Gods the Lusts you have served I know you not I own you not for mine This is not a time for getting but using Grace yea Death is a time for perfecting the Work of Grace Woe be to that wretched Caitiff that hangs his Eternal state on the uncertain working of the Principle of Life in the moment of Death 2d Object But if I have not yet the New Creature I may have there 's time enough before me I am young and yet in my full strength of an healthful Constitution and may live long Let old Persons that are going off the Stage look after this New Creature I have other things to mind Answ 1. Alas Man art thou certain thou shalt live till the next Year the next Month Week Day or Hour Have not many as young as thou art gone to the Grave before thee and what Assurance hast thou of thy Life another Moment For what is our Life but a vanishing Vapour James 4.14 It s a Bubble a Blast a Shadow a Dream Smoke Job 7.7 Yea every Man in best estate is altogether Vanity Psal 39.5 and 90 56. As flourishing Grass in the Morning cut down before Evening If you fall not by some force of outward Casualty you carry your Bane lurking in your Bosomes Have you a Lease of your Lives as Hezekiah had You have little reason to boast your selves of to Morrow for you little know what a big-bellied Day may bring forth Prov. 27.1 It may Land thy Soul in Eternity Therefore dispatch this main Work at present 2. The longer thou deferrest the more difficult wilt thou find it thy Heart will be daily more hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin Heb. 3.13 Jer. 13.23 Custom in
Fightings from without and Fears within I am shifting from Post to Pillar let me be dissettled till my Soul fix on Christ then shall not my Heart be troubled if believing in God I believe also in Christ John 14.1 Let me never be at rest till all ways are blockt up but this If I sit still I dye 2 King 7.4 If I go to the World I pine I will venture upon God's Promises Christ's Purchase if I must dye I will dye there but never did any dye at his Door 7. At last the troubled Spirit issues out its perplexed Thoughts in Complaints and Prayers God faith I have surely hearth Ephraim bemoaning himself Jer. 31.18 So methinks I see the disquieted Soul creep into a Corner to ease his burthened Spirit into God's Bosom in this manner Lord here I am as wicked a Malefactor as ever stood at thy Bar and as miserable a Beggar as ever lay at thy Door I was condemned as soon as convinced and have too too wofully improved the Stock of Original Sin in thousands of actual Rebellions I am twice dead in danger to be pluck'd up by the Roots Jude 1. and flung into the Fire of Hell many means hast thou used but nothing doth me good yet now thou hast brought me into the Wilderness Oh speak to my Heart Hos 2.14 Every Sin deserves damnation Oh how many Hells then do I deserve Thou art Righteous if thou damn me my Mouth is stopt I am found guilty before God Rom. 3.19 I am self-condemned thou shalt need no other Witness or Jury to find me guilty but Christ suffered and satisfied Justice for some poor Sinners and why not for me the chiefest of Sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 I find not one word in Scripture against it but a Proclamation of a general Pardon to all Christ with all his Benefits is offered to me in the Ministry of the Word upon the condition of Faith and Repentance It s true I can neither repent nor believe but they are both included in the absolute Grant of the Gospel-Covenant which gives what it requires Lord give me a Gospel-Repentance unto Life and Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ I hang on thee sweet Jesus who wast exalted on purpose to give Repentance and Forgiveness of Sins Acts 5.31 and the Faith of God's Elect. Thus much for Preparatives 2. The Parts of this New Creature lie in the renewing of the several Faculties of the Soul which consists 1st In the Mind and Understanding 2dly In the Conscience 3dly In the Will 4thly In the Affections which are the Motions of the Will 1. The New Creature consists much in the Mind which is called a renewing in the Spirit of the Mind Eph. 4.23 Interpreters have been much perplexed to know what is meant by the Spirit of the Mind Calvin saith Ego Simpliciter accipio Calv. in loc acsi dixisset renovemur non tantum quod ad inferiores Appetitus ant Concupiscentias quae palam sunt vitiosae sed etiam quod ad partem illam animae quae nobilissima praestantissima habetur i. e. be renewed not only in the inferiour Appetite and concupiscible Faculties but in that part of the Soul which is esteemed the most noble and excellent For the Mind is accounted a Queen and almost adored by Philosophers Now the Mind is renewed when there is 1. New Conceptions of things otherwise than ever before for a new Light set up in the Soul to see things after another manner the eyes of the understanding are now enlightned Eph. 1.18 Now he sees more Wickedness in his bad Heart then ever he did which makes him cry out as Job Behold I am vile Job 40.4 Lord thou art Heaven I am Hell said Mr. Hooper Now the Soul sees more Poyson and Malignity in Sin then ever before he sees it exceeding sinful Rom. 7.9 17. As striking at the Majesty clouding the Glory of the Holy God as crucifying Christ grieving the holy Spirit The New Creature begets other Conceptions of Christ as the Rose of Sharon Cant 5.9 the chief of ten thousand He looks on God's Commands as not at all grievous 1 John 5.3 but pleasant comfortable and profitable he looks on the Saints as the most excellent in the Earth Psal 16.3 Prov. 3.18 He hath got Eye-Salve to judge of things as they are The spiritual man judgeth all things 1 Cor. 2.15 2. The New Nature bringeth a New Memory he forgets Injuries and remembers Truths his Memory is sanctified and fortified he lays up things in his Heart as the Pot of Manna was laid up in the Ark he can abundantly utter the Memory of God's great goodness Psal 145.7 The New Creature is as a Phylactery to prompt and put him in mind of God's Law Numb 15.39 If he hath not a great Memory yet he hath a good Memory God brings Sins to remembrance committed many Years ago and the Soul is humbled for them as if but newly committed and though sometimes the best of God's Children are subject to slippery Memories and do need Monitors yet they have Minds clarified and apt to be tenacious of the things of God 2 Pet. 3.1 I stir up your pure minds by way remembrance An hint will bring God and good things into their Thoughts again but wicked men are described by this Character of forgetting God Psal 50.22 Do you make it your business to remember God upon your Beds and in all Places Psal 63.6 3. The New Creature hath a new Councellor formerly the Soul consulted with carnal Interest and base and by-ends even in things of Religion if the Practice of Religion did cross his low and selfish Designs he laid it down but as soon as this Principle is put within him he saith as Paul immediately I conferred not with Flesh and Blood Gal. 1.16 God's glory the good of his own and others Souls lay uppermost Now the Christian goes to the Sanctuary in arduous cases Psal 73.14 and makes the Scriptures those divine Oracles the chief Counsellors Psal 119.24 in his Works Natural Civil Spiritual and dare venture upon nothing but what he hath warrant from God for not What saith this Friend or the other Relation but what saith God in the case directly or by good Consequence See the difference betwixt good Jehoshaphat and Ahab 1 King 22.5 6. the former said Enquire I pray thee at the Word of the Lord to day The other made nothing of it they soâ—n forgat his Works they waited not for his Counsel Psal 108.13 And God gives them up to walk in their own Counsels Psal 81.12 4. The New Creature hath new Admiration the Carnal Heart wonders at trifling Novelties David prays Open thou mine Eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law Psal 119.18 There indeed he spies wonders of Power Wisdom Holiness Faithfulness and a display of all God's Attributes but especially of free Grace and Love in the Work of Redemption he sees no reason to admire any thing but things
the Angels desire to look into 1 Pet. 1.12 and are in continual ecstacy in the admiration of O the Love of God in sending Christ of Christ in becoming Man 1 Joh. 3.1 in taking any of the Sons of Men to be the Children of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God Rom. 11.33 There there only is something to be admired all the Glories of the World are but meer contemptible Pageantry he can trample them under his Feet with a better disdain then Diogenes trampled on Plato's bravery for he is in a sort crucified to the world Gal. 6.14.2 Cor. 4.18 And can pass by things seen with an holy scorn compared with things unseen which are Eternal This is the New Creature in the Mind 2. The New Creature is also manifest in the Conscience which though it be not a distinct Faculty but a compound of more yet it is of great use in the Soul of Man and its necessary that the Heart be sprinkled from an evil Conscience Heb. 10.22 which is done by the Blood of Christ and that the Conscience be purged from dead Works to serve the living God and this is effected by the Eternal Spirit Heb. 9.14 Now there are Four Offices of Conscience which the New Creature doth in good measure rectifie 1. As it is Index a guide a discoverer of Duty a bright Star in a dark Night an Hand in the Margin to shew us what is worth our observing a Schoolmaster to teach us a Monitor to shew our Mistakes and it must be regulated by the Word of God for Conscience is corrupted and is apt to be deceived and deceive us it is but an under-Officer and must it self be subject to God's Law hence the Christian seeks to regulate its dictates by the Word of Truth and Grace brings it to the rule What saith my Supreme Lord and Master I must follow thee no further than God's Law allows now the New Creature brings the Conscience to the Word and saith Thus far thou must go and no further the End of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure Heart and good Conscience and Faith unfeigned 1 Tim. 1.5 These are always Companions this is a good Conscience 2. Conscience is liber 't is a Book wherein are noted and writ down all a man's Actions Expressions yea his Thoughts and Imaginations so it is a wise and faithful Register to produce them as a faithful Witness for or against a man another day the Books were opened Rev. 20.12 One of those was the Book of Conscience Conscience is as a thousand Witnesses if good the Holy Ghost joyns with it my Conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost Rom. 9.1 And this is our rejoycing the testimony of our Conscience 2 Cor. 1.12 If the Person have done any thing amiss Conscience brings it to the man's remembrance as the Sin of Joseph's Brethren made them say We are verily guilty Gen 43.21 Now a faithful Witness will not lye A rectified Conscience will give in a true Testimony to promote Repentance which is therefore called a bethinking our selves 1 King 8.47 or Heb. a bringing back upon our Hearts Conscience hath a tenacious Memory and will speak true in its Excusings or Accusings Rom. 2.14 15. which is proper to Conscience as a Conscience but Grace regulates it and adds some force to it 3. As Conscience is judex a Judge to pass the Sentence upon a man as the verdict is brought in It 's true it is but a petty Judge under the Supreme Judge yet the Great God confirms its judicial Sentence 1 John 3.20 If our Hearts i.e. our Consciences condemn us God is greater than our Hearts and knoweth all things Every man may and must keep a privy Sessions within preparatory to the Great Assizes if he be but passive and is loath to hearken to this Sentence he is self-condemned and this is but praejudicium judicij a sad prognostick of his being condemned at God's Tribunal which he seeks to escape as Felix did but cannot But if he joyn issue with this Sentence and condemn himself actively and voluntarily he shall not be judged or condemned 1 Cor. 11.31 Now Grace in the Heart makes a Man do this I am the Man saith Conscience I confess both the Fact and Fault Aâ—rtthou so saith Conscience I must needs pass the Sentence upon thee according to God's righteous Law Well I yield saith the Soul I am convicted in this Court and cannot escape the Judgment of God I must flye to the City of Refuge 4. Conscience is vindex an anvenger a self-tormenter a guilty Person is one that torments or afflicts himself some do this sinfully by worldly Sorrow which causeth Death 2 Cor 7.10 The Christian must do it penitentially either for his own Sins or other mens so Lot vexed his righteous Soul with the Sodomites Sins 2 Pet. 2.7 8. The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he beat and Bastinado'd his righteous Soul The Godly Man must take the Whip of Conscience with the Hand of Grace and whip himself for his Sins or God will take it with his Hand and scourge him with it as he did David whose Heart smote him for numbring the People 2 Sam. 24.10 The Worm of Conscience gnawing at the Heart is an acute Pain and will be one of the Torments of the Wicked in Hell Mark 9.44 But the Godly Man prevents that by joyning issue with executing God's Sentence by self-excruciating trouble for Sin here this is a profitable use of Conscience by a free and voluntary seconding its severe Lashes to promote Godly Sorrow This for two parts of the New Creature that concern first the Mind secondly The Conscience Chap. X. A further tryal of the New Creature as to the Will and Affections the subjects of it and its Properties 3. ANother Subject wherein this New Creature resides is the Will and this is Cardo animae the hinge of the Soul the Master-Wheel upon which the whole Soul turns as an old Bowl receives a new Byas that turns it quite another way then what it had gone now the change of the Will is the main work of converting Grace There are Four Motions of the Will wherein the New Creature shews it self 1. In its Designs Aims Intentions The world and it self were the main drift of the VVill in a natural state all seek their own Phil. 2.21 the gratifying of the Flesh sensual Appetite and carnal Interest the universal Inquest is Who will shew us any good Psal 4.6 Oh for a good Bargain a cheap Purchase Another is for strong Drink or sweet Meats Plays or Pleasures another for Cap and Knee and Titles of Honour But the New Creature post-pones and scorns all these and designs the glorifying of God enjoyment of him let Chrst be magnified and my Soul glorified Phil. 20. And I can hate all other things God hath twisted them together and the Soul cannot part them
4.11 This Rent will I daily pay as a Tribute to the Crown of Heaven I am resolved to glorifie God in my Body and Soul which are his 1 Cor. 6.20 Better lose my Life then lose the End of my Life God's glory 5. New Worship is always a Companion of the New Creature It s true the carnal man might hear and read the Word Pray receive the Sacrament and perform the external Acts of Religion before but formally heartlesly hypocritically God knows having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof 2 Tim. 3.5 But as soon as the Grace of God hath formed the New Creature in the Heart then 't is said as of Paul Behold he prayeth Acts 9.11 Why did not Paul pray before Yes doubtless he was a Pharisee and Pharisees made long Prayers its likely had a great Gift of Prayer ay but now a Paul had the grace of Prayer behold he prays now he prays with a witness his Prayer hath all the Requisites essential to Prayer Oh now if you could lay your Ear to the Closet of this new born Saint what sighs and groans would you hear Rom. 8.26 What throbs and tears what self-loathing Confessions what heart-rending Complaints what Heaven-piercing Expostulations would you have What believing pleading of Promises what improvement of Christ's mediatorship this is not formal or heartless Canting As soon as ever this New Creature was formed the Soul was turned from Idols to serve the living and true God 1 Thes 1.9 i. e. as such a God in a sincere and lively manner in Spirit and in Truth John 4.24 If the Words be the same the workings of Heart are as different as a living man's tone from dead Organ-pipes the one hath Breath the other not The gracious soul engageth his Heart to approach unto God Jer. 30.21 Yea he also saith Let us lift up our Hearts with our Hands Lamen 3.41 i. e. oremus laboremus let us pray and use our utmost endeavour to obtain what we pray for the Hypocrites Tongue may wag but the New Creature sets the Heart a breathing Hands on working Feet on walking Oh how he is concerned in a Duty 6. A New War is commenced by the New Creature as soon as this New Creature peeps out Satan musters all the powers of darkness against it and now begins this holy War which never ceaseth while the Soul is in the â—ody and Oh how many a sharp skirmish hath the Christian with Satan and his armed Bands the carnal Heart holds correspondence with the Enemy and the Devil lets him alone and all his Goods or soul's Faculties are in peace Luk. 11.21 he sleeps quietly in the Devil's Tents little dreaming whither he is going or rather he is carried in a golden Dream into Satan's Territories or as Solomoâ—'s young Gallant with the Whore As an Ox goeth to the slaughter or as a Fool to the correction of the Stocks Prov. 7.22 But the converted soul sees his danger and struggles hard to extricate himself and when he is at liberty the Devil pursues him with rage sometimes otherwhiles with subtilty seeks to undermine him he is aware of both and is not ignorant of his devices 2 Cor. 2.11 One while he fights with spirituâ—â— weapons and so resists the Devil and he fleesâ— another while the soul retires to his strong hold by Faith and Prayer and is secured Thus the gracious soul is warring a good Warfare fighting the Fight of Faith 1 Tim. 1 18-6.12.2 Tim. 2.4 which is a good Fight he gets disintangâ— led from the affairs of this life and lays aside every weight that he may militate more strenuously and more successfully nor doth the good soul so fight as one that beats the Air 1 Cor. 9.26 laying about him at adventures but he spies his Enemy hath taken a view of them in Scripture-light le ts fly at the Faces of foreign and intestine Adversaries with spiritual scriptural Weapons and never sounds a Parly oâ— makes a Truce but disputes every Inch of hiâ— passage to Heaven thus this New Creature 〈◊〉 the Christian Champion 7. The New Creature finds out new company alas his old Companions grow stale wiâ— the Convert he cannot take delight in his old Comrades that would jest and be merry and seek to drive him out of his melancholy Dump with pleasant stories this is but as singing Song to an heavy Heart The good Heart is now sick of such vain company and bids them be gone they are of no use to him 'T is very observable three times and upon so many occasions doth David require all wicked men to depart from him Psal 6.8 Depart from me all ye workers of Iniquity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping q. d. I have got better company and comfort then you are Psal 119.115 Depart from me ye evil-doers for I will keep the Commandments of my God q. d. I have taken up other Resolutions and must have other Companions then you the last is Psal 139.19 Surely thou shalt slay the wicked O God depart therefore from me ye bloody men q. d. I am loath to fare as you fare and will not be found in your company this is Christian Policy as well as Piety 't is impossible the New Creature should take delight in his old Companions for what communion hath light with darkness 2 Cor. 6.14 15 17. what concord hath Christ with Belial There are in the world persons more suitable to his temper even Saints not in Heaven but that are in the Earth men excellent in whom is all his delight Psal 16.3 These these are his Companions Psal 119.63 the delight of his soul he loves them dearly because they are so like his Father in Heaven these are they he hopes to live with in the other world and he must associate with them in this he loves to discourse with them joyn in Prayer with them none such content he hath on Earth as in the communion of Saints 8. The new Creature needs and requires new Cordials new Food and Physick the world and all that it can afford that are wont to be so pleasant are all but dry Meat have no more savour then the white of an Egg the Soul hath now a more dainty and delicate Stomach then to be satisfied with such Husks and trash he sues for the tender Mercies of God Psal 119.77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me that I may live q. d. I know not how to live a natural Life and I cannot live a spiritual Life without these tender Mercies the Lord knoweth my squeamish and delicate Stomach and crowns me withloving-kindness and tender mercies Psal 103.4 Luther called the whole Turkish Empire but a Crumb cast to Dogs and often protested to God that he would not be put off with these low things even when he had a Silver Mine offered him Even an Heathen Seneca could say major sum ad majora natus I am greater and born to higher things then terrene
Cords to hold you in the Devil's Service and drag you down Hâ—llwards Prov. 5.22 This day give an everlasting Farewell to Sin Say to every Idol Get thee hence what have I any more to do with â—ols Isa 30.22 Hos 14.8 If you cannot stâ— up Sin by the Roots yet be sure to cut off its Iâ—ches its true this is not enough but this is soâ—ething and who knows what it may tend to â—nd end in Departing from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. â—â— is one part of the New Creature however you cannot find Mercy except you forsake as well as confess Sin Prov. 28.13 Spare but one Sin and God will not spare thee turn from all Sins and you shall live Ezek. 18.21 If you fall out with Sin there is some hopes and then away with Sinners forsake the foolish and live Prov. 9.6 But a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed Prov. 13.20 There 's no hopes of that Man that delights in vain Company how many have been jear'd or alur'd from hopeful beginnings by loose Companions if ever God begin this New Work upon you this will be the first Evidence of it yea and this is a singular help to it changing your Companions running from the Tents of the Wicked into the Society of the Godly I recommend this in a special manner to all Persons young and old and desire you to read and study Prov. 1.10 to 18. 2.12.20 4.14.18 2 Cor. 6.17 Be sure you joyn with Christian Society open your Cases to them beg their Counsel and Prayers Company is assimilating Sin is infectious Holiness imitable Let Communion of Saints be in your Practice as well as in your Creed New Society is a Sign and Means of new Hearts I despair of your being New Creatures in Old Company 9. Enter into a Solemn Covenant with the Lord by taking God as your chiefest Good and utmost End and by making a Deed of Gift of your selves entirely to the Lord. I shall not much need to inlarge upon this having treated on it fully elsewhere only as its subservient to this design Enter into an Oath and swear the Lord liveth Jer. 4.2 Deut. 26. and avouch him to be yours Do this understandingly solemnly resolutely deliberately Set some time apart set God before thine Eyes make him witness of the singleness of thy Heart that thou takest God the Father to love him trust in him depend on him resign up all to him God the Son as Prophet Priest King to be led by him justified and ruled by his Laws God the Holy Ghost to be enlightned to be fanctified comforted by him and when thou hast thus taken God for thy God and devoted thy self to him Soul and Body thou mayst expect and hope that the Lord will dwell in thee as in his Temple his House cleanse thee from Filthiness adorn thee with Graces enable thee for his Service that all the Persons of the Sacred Trinity will take up their lodging and residence in thy Soul that you may henceforth be an Habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2.20 21 22. This imports the New Creature we are speaking of and this is the way to obtain it To give up your selves to the Lord 2 Cor. 8.5 To be ordered according to his pleasure for his glory that he may be glorified both in Soul and Body which are his 1 Cor. 6.19 20. If thou voluntarily subscribe to the Equity of his Articles taking him with all the Sufferings attending the ways of Religion and yieldest up thy whole Interest to his dispose hating the Sins that he forbids practising the Duties that God commands walking in all the Ways of his appointment in his Worship and Ordinances this this is a coming up to the terms of the Covenant of Grace and then thou shalt have the Graces and Privileges of that Covenant which comprehends this New Creation 10. Down on thy Knees and beg this New Creature at the Hands of God say as David Create in me a clean Heart Oh God and renew a right Spirit within me Psal 51.10 Say Lord I am quite marred in the Old Adam and I cannot help my self Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Not one but thou hast promised in the Gospel to make all things new and in the New Covenant thou promisest a new heart Ezek. 36.6 This is the great Mercy O Lord I want and wait for and I ask thee nothing but what I have under thine own Hand in the Promise Oh that I were partaker of it yea thou hast promised to give thy holy spirit to them that ask it Luke 11.13 Now thy Spirit can sanctifie Hearts as Lightning cleanseth the Air as Fire refines Metals Lord seal up my Soul with the Holy Spirit of Promise set on me thine own Stamp as the Seal leaves its impress on the Wax Lord I shall never be acceptable to thee profitable to Men or comfortable to my self except I be renewed and become a New Creature I cannot without this live to any purpose and I cannot dye with any comfort Objection But God heareth not Sinners their Prayers are abomination Answ If you be resolved to go on in a course of Sinning or pray to gratifie a Lust as a Thief for a Prize you and your Prayers are abominable but if you be repenting returning Sinners and pray for Grace Pardon God will pity you and who knows but he may meet you in Mercy as he did the returning Prodigal Luk. 15.20 Repent then and pray God if perhaps the thoughts of thy Heart may be forgiven thee Acts 8.22 Thou art undone if thou give over Praying many have sped well at his Door and so mayst thou still ask seek and knock Chap. XIII Instructions how those must behave themselves that are indeed New Creatures A Third Head to be insisted upon in this Use of Instruction is to direct sincere Christians that do find by good proof that this New Creature is wrought in them how they should live walk and behave themselves in the World both towards God and Man 1. Use God's appointed means for clearing up the reality of this New Creature it 's one thing to be another thing to know that we are New Creatures Alas some sincere Souls walk at Uncertainties A Letter may be written saith one though it be not sealed So Grace may be writ in the Soul though the Spirit hath not set to its Seal partly to keep the Soul humble partly to punish some Sin But I must not handle the common place of Assurance the possibility the hindrances helps advantages nature or kinds of Assurance but give an hint Are the Figures of Grace ingraven upon the Dial of your Hearts pray and wait for the Sun of Righteousness shining on it that you may better see what time of day it is in your Hearts yet if you grope in the dark you may feel some Characters engraven however give diligence to make first your Calling then your Election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Your
Temple was built with such curious Care and costly Materials surely it was for Holy Use Sincere Christians are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good works Eph. 2.10 Now it becomes you to act as you are it would accent your Sin with a greater Circumflex if you sin that have such a curious Work of the Spirit in your Hearts as none in the World-have besides you you are consecrated Persons and by your Sin you prophane God's Temple other 's Sins are Theft your's Sacrilege because you rob God of what was devoted to him when God breathed such a noble Soul into Man's Body he designed him for higher Acts then meerly Sense as Beasts or to converse with Beasts 1 Cor. 3.3 So Christian thou art of an higher extraction then to walk as Men as carnal Men no Friend as thou hast received Christ so thou must walk in him Col. 2.6 O take heed of Sin it 's contrary to the Divine Nature God hath planted in thee now we know the more unnatural any Act is the more horrid as for a Woman to kill her own Child or a Man to be cruel to his own Flesh Oh take heed of Killing the Babe of Grace in thy Soul by Sin but live up to the Principles and Privileges 6. Attend upon God in all his Institutions and in all put forward for closer communion with him in all Duties and Ordinances as in hearing the Word Prayer Seals of the Covenant Christian Conference Communion of Saints these are the Air that the Christian breathes in the most wholsom for this New Creature Lord I have loved the habitation of thy House and the place where thine Honour dwells Psal 26.8 And he often cries out for the Living God Oh when saith he shall I come and appear before God Nothing lies nearer David's holy Heart then God's presence in his Ordinances Psal 42.1.63 1 2.84.1 2. It is or should be so with the New Creature but oh wait for the Spirit 's wafting over thy Soul to Jesus rest not in Ordinances they are but the Boat or Bridge to carry thy Soul over to God the Ordinance is lost and thy labour is in vain if thou do not enjoy God in Ordinances O labour to see Christ walking in the midst of the golden Candlesticks Rev. 2.1 Be sure you hold Christ in the Galleries Cant. 7.5 Ordinances are the golden Pipes that empty the golden Oyl out of themselves Zech. 4. Be sure that of his fulness you receive and Grace for Grace Joh. 1.16 The Holy Ghost sits in Ordinances as a Minister of State in his Office ready to distribute to every ones case as there is need thou art at the right Door wait his leisure and it shall not be in vain 7. Endeavour to propagate Religion do what thou canst to make others new Creatures thy Relations Neighbours and all thou art acquainted with this is the Duty yea the Property of the new Creature by Prayer Advice Example procuring the help of Ministers Christian Friends 't is true no man can propagate Grace to another it 's not in our own power to effect it but we must endeavour it Oh how Paul was concern'd for his Country-men the wilful unbelieving Jews Rom. 9.10 His Prayers Tears Wishes speak him their cordial Friend who were his bitter Enemies God commanded Abraham that all his House should be circumcised to have him go as far as he could to draw them into affinity with God true Grace makes men love Relations better than ever and causeth natural Affection to run in a spiritual Channel which vents it self for the good of their Souls Be concerned to make a Joynture of the Promises to thy VVife an entail of the Covenant to thy Children this is a thousand times better then leaving them thousands a Year Should not you desire that one Heaven may hold those hereafter that one House hold now Oh tremble to think when your House breaks up of one going to Heaven another to Hell and let your Charity extend it self to all you are acquainted with and let your Practices be convincing and winning to all about you Alas what multitudes are there that are unexperienced in this mighty work yet must feel it or never be happy do what thou canst to call in all to this blessed Feast yet there 's room Luk. 14.22 Hast thou none thou lovest so well as to wish them thy happiness There 's no Envy in Spiritual things the more and merrier and no less chear it will add some Pearls to thy Crown to win Souls If a Neighbour lock'd himself in a Room on design to murder himself wouldst thou not break open the Door and rescue him Oh happy Souls that are imployed and successful in this Soul-Charity I have long ago seen a Book writ by Mr. Reiner of Lincoln called The Rule of the New Creature to which I refer the Reader that can procure it at present I shall summ up my thoughts in these Twenty brief Rules of Direction 1. Reason right and Reckon streight let your Reason be regulated by the Word of God Luke 5.21.1 Pet. 3.15 It must follow Faith not give Law and measure to it be sure your Accounts be squared by the Golden Rule of Scripture 1 Cor. 4.3 Set all streight against the Reckoning Day Rom. 14.12 2. Baulk no Sufferings for Christ to avoid sin against Christ Be content to fill up Christ's Sufferings Col. 1.24 Nay be glad to suffer Matth. 5.11 But tremble to sin Sinless sufferings are sweet Heb. 11.26 But sweet sins will be Bitterness in the end Rev. 2.2 Bear any thing but Sin 3. Profess what you are and be what you profess Rom. 10.10 Matth. 10.32 33. Think not to dissemble with Men for worldly Ends but upon a just Cause and Call own Godliness be indeed Nathaniels John 1.47 Pretend not more then truth God knows the Heart Heb. 4.13 4. Serve God for Service not for Wages or rather let his Service be your Wages Psal 19.11 or reward so it is God himself is the Saints reward Gen. 17.1 Hypocrites make Religion a Mount to ascend to some other End let God be thy all Matth. 6.3 Psal 73.25 5. Be most for God when God seems most against thee its pure Faith and Love to hang closest to an angry God Job 13.15 Hos 6.3 To conceive most hopes through Christ when Sense and Reason make against you this is a Faith to be admired Matth. 15.28 6. Joyn pure Precepts to precious Promises look on Precepts as pure therefore lovely Psal 119.140 Dare not to divorce them though for your Spiritual Interest Heb. 8.10 Rom. 7.12 14 22. See to the Law within you and before you as well as plead the Promises of the Gospel for you 7. Be best when least in Mens sight God and Souls give each other their Loves when alone Cant. 7.12 Psal 17.25 Matth. 6.6 Make God your Witness not Men only Friends are most familiar when they are withdrawn from all other Company 8. Sail
A New Creature Or A Short DISCOURSE OPENING The Nature Properties and Necessity of the Great Work of the New Creation upon the Souls of Men. BEING Some Plain DISCOURSES on Galatians vi 15. By O. H. an Unworthy Minister of the Gospel Rev. xxi 5. Behold I make all Things new Aug. de civit Dei lib. 11. cap. 21. Nec Autor est excellentior Deo nec Ars efficacior Dei verbo nec causa melior quam ut bonum creetur à bono Deo LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns the lower end of Cheapside 1695. AN EPISTLE TO My Dear Friends and Beloved Hearers at N. in Yorkshire My dearly Beloved TWO Sorts of Doctrine I have always judged necessary and very seasonable 1. What concerns the Person Natures Offices and Undertakings of our Lord Jesus Christ in all his mediatory Latitude 2. That which relates to a saving Internal Work of Grace upon the hearts of Men which is the Spring of all External Motions These are as standing Dishes requisite in every Feast and to the pursuit whereof my Heart hath been much inclined the former I have largely treated upon from 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save Sinners of whom I am chief Which contains the Summ and Substance of our Christian Faith the Marrow of the Gospel the Quintescence of our Happiness nor doth any Minister need to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the Power of God to Salvation 〈◊〉 every one that believeth Rom. 1.16 And though this may seem to be out of fashion amongst some that would be esteemed rational Preachers and think treating of Christ as but a conceited Canting though the great Apostle of the Gentiles mentions the Name of Christ nine several times in his Ten first Verses of 1 Cor. 1. and in his Epistles some hundreds of times yea and glories in it and professeth 1 Cor. 2 2. I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified But I wave this Subject for the present 2. That which hath respect to the inner Man especially the New Man a saving Work in the Soul is the Subject before us which my Heart hath been much set upon and after my Pilgrimage and Travels amongst you above Forty Four Years in many Difficulties not without some success of my poor Labours knowing that shortly I must put off this my Tabernacle 2 Pet. 1.14 I was willing to leave one Legacy more behind me as a standing Testimony to surviving Posterity of my ancient endeared Love to your precious Souls and a mean of your spiritual good when my Mouth is stop'd with Dust And having lately treated on this Subject some of you desired me to Print it which I was the more willing to do upon these Motives 1. Because I am sure the Subject is of daily important and universal use 2. I have not seen any full Treatise upon this Subject 3. Most need it 4. Some were greatly alarm'd in hearing it and who knows what good the presenting it to the Eye as well as to the Ear may do It 's true it is simply and plainly drest not with Ornaments of Art or Rhetorical Flourishes to set it off to the Learned being calculated in intelligible Language to vulgar Capacities and possibly it may prove more profitable to Country Hearers nor ought it to offend any that much of this Treatise is in Scripture dialect in words The Holy Ghost teacheth 1 Cor. 2.13 which the Spiritual Man cannot but approve and Love And now my dear Neighbours and Friends God knows and you know From the first day that I came to you after what manner I have been with you at all Seasons Acts 20.18 My Tears Temptations Banishment Imprisonment Confiscations Night Travels and Preachings Fastings Watchings Incouragements Discouragements and I may truly appeal to the Searcher of Hearts wha the same Apostle said of his Galatians My little Children of whom I travail in Birth again until Christ be formed in you Gal. 4.19 Alas what are you better for having Christ revealed to you unless he be revealed in you Gal. 1.16 Oh! wo will be to you if you prove Christless after your hearing so much of Christ Words signifie little without a Work every work will not serve turn but what is genuine and accompany Salvation I will say to you as Dr. Harris to his Children in his last Will and Testament Think how you and I shall endure the Sight the Thought one of another at the Last Day if you appear in the Old Adam much less shall you stand before Christ unless you shew the Image of Christ in you and therefore never cease till you be made New Creatures and study well what that is Thus he Alas Sirs you may make a shift to pass through this world unsuspected many Moralists yea Christians may subscribe their Names to your Testimonial and give you the Right Hand of fellowship in this world when you must be set at the Left in th◠next Things will not then be carried as they are now Deal faithfully with God and your own Souls see you have the Root of the Matter the Life of Grace you may herd amongst the Sheep now and be found amongst Goats at last A King will give his Subjects liberty to travel into another King's Dominions reserving their Loyalty to their own King Papists in Queen Elizabeth's days being commanded to go to Church or be punished sent to the Pope for a Resolution of this Case of Conscience His Answer was They might comply but Fili da mihi cor My Son give me thy Heart Thus the Devil will give you leave to read pray hear receive attend on Ordinances but as long as he hath you fast by the Heart-strings you are still his Slaves none of God's Servants for the Soul is the Man As a man thinketh in his Heart so is he Prov. 23.7 As a man's Principles are stated so he receives his denomination a good or a bad a Jew or an Heathen a Saint or a Bruit If you have a Beast's Heart in the shape of a Man God will esteem you no better than a Beast And it 's an usual Saying It is better be a Beast than be like a Beast It is the Saying of a Learned Man Some make the Image of the Living God hewn out of the Stock of a dead Tree But the New Creature is not such a lifeless thing as many imagine It is the Spirit of power of love and of a sound mind Baxter's Life of Faith pag. 122. 2 Tim. 17. This Text saith a good Divine doth express the three parts of God's Image in the New Creature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 certainly this vital Principle hath strong and vigorous motions God-wards and against Sin It s an holy Spark working upwards to God and forwards streight for Heaven Most Professors are mistaken in this great
Work though Ministers are oft calling on you Sinners to look about you we tell you there 's a Cheat in the case Satan is busie to lay his Brats in God's Bed Counterfeit Coin is common our Warnings now will be thought of these frequent Summons will ring in your Ears our Sermons will have a Repetition in this or in another world Conscience will gall you and you cannot plead Ignorance or say non putâram I thought not of such a day How often do we tell you of the danger of dying in your old state and of that Sulphurous Lake that thousands are scolded in that once lived as securely as you now do and they are in an hopeless helpless Eternity and how can you tell but this may be the last day the last warning or overture of Grace the last knock at your Door God may say Away be gone out of my sight take him Devil I will no more be troubled with such a Miscreant But if after all this you be senceless and lie still while you are nailed in your Coffin you are dead twice dead and this Security is a confutation of that Principle that Adam and his Posterity by the Fall is not dead but sleepeth or only in a swound and languor but life is in him No no this sad Stupor or Spiritual Lethargy shews it 's not an excitation of a principle but an infusion of new Life all our shouting and rubbing and pricking will not recover Sinners we must leave them to a creating Power and to him that can raise the Dead But let me rather persuade you to look after this New-Creation-Work from the Advantage it will be to all sorts of Persons of every Age and Relation Oh! you Old Persons that are going off the Stage of the World dropping into the Grave and Eternity that have been long and not yet lived begin at last to turn over a new leaf seek a New Life that you may have Comfort and not terrour in your expiring Pangs yet there is hope God still waits to be gracious and stands knocking at your Door rise out of your Bed of sloth put back the Barr admit him with all his Graces make out for this Change against your last Change You Young People that have lately step'd into the World and slip'd thus far before you know where you are it may be young in Years old in Sin you are entring into a wicked world with wicked hearts Oh! look after this blessed Antidote that may prevent Infection be sure of a Pilot that may row you through this boisterous Sea safe to the Haven without new hearts you will make this bad World worse and be worse by it rather seek to amend it You that are entring into Callings or for changing Conditions you will be fit for nothing without this you will bring a Curse into every Relation and Vocation without this but this will make you fit for any thing and you will be attended with God's Blessing in all you set about You Married Persons I recommend this New Creature to you that you be sure to marry in the Lord then you will be Heirs together of the Grace of Life and pray praise God together have this sweet Relation perfum'd and meet in Glory You Rich Persons are Beggars without this this will make you rich and honourable the excellent in the Earth God's Jewels Favourites of Heaven And you poor that cannot get daily Bread this will make you rich in Faith Heirs of a Kingdom Oh what a Treasure is this fear of the Lord You poor Athenians that are always inquiring after News new Opinions new Inventions new Fashions here 's a brave and blessed piece of Novelty for you this New Creature will stand you in stead not so much to please your itching Ears as to profit your Languishing Souls Well I have done my poor Endeavour to effect this work upon your Hearts When we have said and done all we can we have done nothing at all except the Eternal Jehovah strike with the great Hammer O thou infinite Almighty God that hast made the Earth by thy Power hast established the World by thy Wisdom and stretched out the Heavens by thy discretion Jer. 10.12 Look into the Hearts of Sinners see what a Chaos of Confusion is by Sin brought upon the noble Soul go o're thy Work again mend what Sin hath marred put Light in the Understanding Power into the Will Rectitude into the Affections make Conscience do its office O that Corruption may be mortified Satan cast out a sound Principle introduced the Soul redintegrated and everlastingly saved I commend these my poor Labours into the Hands of God to use them as he sees good and to you that heard these Sermons and to others that shall take the pains to read them having delivered my Conscience in some measure of Uprightness whether the Effect answer my Pains and Aims or no And in this labour of Love I am willing to take my Leave of the World as to troubling it any further in this kind and commend you my Brethren to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to renew your hearts and build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all them which are sanctified Acts 20.32 which is the daily Prayer of A Poor Watch-man for Your Souls O. H. May 3. 95. THE CONTENTS Chap. I. THe Text opened a Doctrine raised and handled Page 1 Chap. II. What is meant by a New Creature Doctrine raised Page 13 Chap. III. Why this is called a New Creature A Parallel betwixt the Old Creation and this New Creation Page 30 Chap. IV. Wherein the New Creature is available to Souls Page 43 Chap. V. Some Inferences by way of Question and Answer from the Premises Page 56 Chap. VI. An Use of Reproof and Conviction of sundry sorts Page 69 Chap. VII An Use of Correction for Reforming Sinners Mistakes Page 94 Chap. VIII Some Objections of Sinners answered against their Endeavours to be New Creatures Page 110 Chap. IX Instructions for the Tryal of our Spirits whether we be indeed New Creatures Page 124 Chap. X. A further Tryal of the New Creature as to the Will and Affections the Subjects of it and its Properties Page 138 Chap. XI A Tryal of the New Creature by its Effects Consequences and Proper Operations Page 152 Chap. XII Directions what Means may be used for the obtaining this New Creature Page 164 Chap. XIII Instructions how those must behave themselves that are indeed New Creatures Page 177 Chap. XIV An Answer to some Cases of Conscience Page 189 Galatians vi 15. For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but a New Creature CHAP. I. The Text opened a Doctrine raised and handled SOme Interpreters think that this Text comes not in so much as a proof of the Assertion immediately preceding of the Apostle's glorying in Christ's Cross and his being crucified to the world ver 14. As it is a
conclusion of the main Doctrine delivered in this Epistle viz. That a Sinner is not justified by the Law but by Faith in Jesus Christ q. d. hoc est quod dico et repeto et extremis verbis contendo I urge this first and last with the greatest ardour and importunity let Jews and Judaizing Christians say what they will or can this I resolutely affirm that now in the Gospel-state as settled by Christ it is of no great moment whether a Man be a Jew or a Gentile It 's true under the Law there was something of privilege in Circumcision as it was a badge of God's Covenant with Abraham's Seed and the Uncircumcised were Strangers to the Covenants of Promise and had no right to Church-Membership but now in the Gospel God is the God of the believing Gentiles as well as of the Jews for there is not one God in the Old Testament and another in the New as the Manichees dream'd but it is one God that shall justifie the Circumcision by Faith and Uncircumcision through Faith Rom. 3.29 30. i. e. both one way so they be sincere Saints for God regards not any for being Circumcised nor rejects any for the want of it but looks at real Sanctification of Heart and Life This is a sound and apposite dependance of the words but Calvin adjoyns them to the foregoing Verse The Reason why the blessed Apostle is crucified to the World and the World to him is because in Christ in whom he is planted the chief thing available is a New Creature other things are insignificant the truth of this the Apostle had before demonstrated quia Scilicet veritas Evangelij omnes legis figuras absorbeat exinaniat because the Gospel-Truth makes void legal Figures so both Interpretations come to one It 's observable that this Phrase is three times used with different Conclusions 1 Cor. 7.19 Circumcision is nothing and Uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the Commandments of God Again Gal. 5.6 For in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Uncircumcision but Faith which worketh by Love And in this Text But a New Creature They all conspire in this one Sence That in this New Testament-Dispensation by Christ no Privileges are efficacious to the Salvation of a Soul without a working Faith accompanied with a Principle of Grace in the Heart and an Holy Life agreeable to the Rule of God's holy Word thus there 's a due consistency in these necessary Qualifications for in Spiritual Means Marks Methods of Salvation there is a blessed Combination Confederacy and Concatenation not a Link of this Golden Chain can be wanting the true Religion is of one piece there 's no loose Joynt but all the parts make up one entire Body and compleat System of Christianity But to come to the Words in which we have the negative and positive parts of our Religion wherein it doth not consist and wherein it doth Suppose Men had excellent Privileges and choice Advantages these would not of themselves attain the Ends viz. God's glory and Man's happiness By this Word in Christ Jesus some understand in the Christian Religion others in the Church or Kingdom of Christ others in the Gospel-Dispensation in negotio salutis obtinendae per Christum in the business of obtaining Salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ The Doctrine of the Gospel is called the Faith of Jesus Christ Rom. 3.22 wherein and whereby the Glorious design of saving Sinners by Jesus Christ doth eminently and evidently appear called the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 And he hath brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel or through the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 Circumcision was to the Jews a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.11 a Badge and Cognizance whereby an Israelite was distinguished from other People to be God's peculiar Heritage it both ingaged to Duty and entailed many Privileges see Rom. 9.4 By it s not availing any thing is signified its ineffectualness to attain these two great Ends 1. The justifying of a Sinner before God 2. The Salvation of a Soul with God not that I think the New Creature justifies as I shall shew hereafter but it is in a justified Person and these external Privileges avail not to our Justification and the want of them hinders not but in this case there is neither Greek nor Jew Circumcision nor Uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian Bond nor Free but Christ is all and in all Col. 3.11 Hence observe Doctrine 1. That the richest Privileges and most glorious Professions avail no Man without a New Creature The Jews boasted of their Privileges and by consequence Gospel-Professours are apt to bear themselves big with what they think to be of great worth but they all signifie nothing in the sight of God if they be not New Creatures Men may please themselves with external Shews Professions Privileges as to be born of Godly Parents to be baptized living under pure and powerful Ordinances associating with the best Saints in the purest Churches sitting down at the Lord's Supper making credible Profession performing Religious Duties yea suffering much for the Religion of God all these together will not avail a Soul in order to his Eternal Happiness without being a New Creature mistake me not I do not say but these are good in their places and great Mercies and Duties Observe 1. Things that hinder or oppose the New Creature are hurtful in their own Nature and to be laid aside as Sin and the Old Man Eph. 4.22 2. Things that further not this New Creature in our Hearts are comparatively useless though lawful as the Profits Pleasures Honours of this world 3. Things that do further the Work of the New Creature by God's appointment are not of themselves sufficient to attain their End without the concurrence of divine Grace as Preaching Prayer Seals they are but means 4. Things good in themselves may by man's abuse prove rather Snares and Hindrances then Helps and Furtherances in Heaven's Road Circumcision was once good and God's Ordinance but when some Judaizers affirmed that except Christians were Circumcised after the manner of Moses they could not be saved Acts 15.1 9 10. The Apostles determine the point saying that God put no difference between Jews and Gentiles and this was a Yoke that neither they nor their Fathers were able to bear and so it was not only laid aside as other legal Ceremonies which became not only mortuae but mortiferae dead but deadly so the Apostle affirms that if ye be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing Gal. 5.2 Nay the best Duties Ordinances Privileges rested in short of Christ will rather ruin then raise us undo us than endow us with Grace here or glory hereafter see Rom. 9.31 32.10.3 But this is a great Truth that all the Privileges in the world without this New Creature can never of themselves render a Soul acceptable to God or bring
course of Life according to Scripture-Rule This immediately after my Text ver 16. is called the Canon or Rule of the New Creature for 't is added As many as walk according to this Rule or Canon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peace be on them This is that Cynosura or Square that Architects have in their Building to level the Stones and Timber suitably ut singulae partes just a Symmetria cohaereant Calvin that all the parts of the Edifice may agree by a just proportion thus must thus will the Christian do his desire and design is to lie Square to the Word of God to have respect to all God's Commandments Psal 119.6 To walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless Luk. 1.6 Every Child of God is taught by God to walk by Rule All Callings have their proper Rule the Physician studies Galen the Lawyer his Littleton the Philosopher his Aristotle Plato yet in all Professions men may vary in their Methods in the same Calling because no Rule is so perfect but another may add to it But the standing Rule of God's Word is perfect Psal 19.7 able to make the man of God perfect 2 Tim. 3.17 Nothing must be added to it or taken from it The Christian is both drawn and determined by its authority more then by a whole team of humane Arguments 10. Lastly here 's the End of this New Creature which is twofold 1. the Glory of God 2. the Sonl's present and everlasting Communion with him Both these are wrap'd up together and are very consistent yea cannot be separated Now God's Glory is promoted by the New Creature 1. In this World 2. In the other 1. In this World the New Creature is only capable of glorifying God such a Soul is planted in Christ the true Vine and glorifies God by bringing forth much Fruit John 15.8 Being filled with the Fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God Phil 1.11 The chief design of the true Christian and new Creature is to promote the glory of God actively and passively this is the first Petition in the Lord's Prayer and the first right Step the converted Soul takes Heaven-ward and he is content to be vilified so God may be glorified and if God be glorified by others what ever become of him he rejoyceth as Paul in preaching Christ by others to preach down his credit Phil. 1.18 2. And in the next World this New Creature will raise a glorious Monument to the glory of Jehovah When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe 2 Thes 1.10 The New Glory of this Creation will reflect more glory to the Author than that of the old one Oh what a glorious Sight will it be to see so many glorious Stars in the Firmament of Glory borrowing their Light from and reflecting Light to the Sun of Righteousness 2. The New Creature is the only Person on Earth that 's qualified for Communion with God he only can say Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ 1 John 1.3 'T is this New Creation that raiseth this clod of Clay above the Earth and ingageth the Heart to approach to God while others worship afar off Jer. 30.21 Exod. 24. These Holy Souls are they that worship in the Temple of God and the Altar Rev. 11.1 Psal 148.14 God admits them into his Presence as a People near unto him this is the Person that only sanctifies God's Name in his Worship and is satisfied with the fatness of God's House here 's the blessed Merchant that trades in rich Pearls that goes from Port to Port from Ordinance to Ordinance not to see Places but to take in his Lading of Communications from God of Graces Privileges Assurance and Comforts Thus I have briefly opened the nature of this blessed Work of the New Creature Chap. III. Why this is called a New Creature A Paralel betwixt the Old Creation and this New Creation 2. THe Second general Head in the Doctrinal Part is briefly to give the Reasons why the Holy Ghost gives this Saving Conversion the Title of a New Creature or as the Word is of this New Creation Now the Answer is Because in many things it bears some proportion and resemblance with the first spacious Universe of Heaven and Earth this magnificent Structure I shall run the Paralel betwixt them in these 12 Particulars for the Information of our Judgments 1. God is the first and only Cause of the Creation of the World not Angels or created Intelligences who though they be mighty yet are not Almighty it s the peculiar prerogative of Elohim the infinite God to create God orders the Jews in Babylon to repeat that famous Sentence in the Chaldee Language to confute their Idolatry in Jer. 10.11 Thus shall ye say unto them the Gods that have not made the Heavens and the Earth even they shall perish from the Earth and from under these Heavens The Reason is given in the Hebrew Language Ver. 12. He hath made the Earth by his Power he hath established the World by his Wisdom and hath stretched out the Heavens by his discretion VidWeem 's Image of God in Man p. 3 In the business of Creation Divines say Deus est causa Simpliciter in Creatione at Essendi hoc in aliis God is the only Simple Cause in Creation but in his other Works he is only the Cause of being this or that So none can create this New Man it may be said Have we not all one Father hath not one great God created us We are God's workmanship it s the same mighty power that raised Christ from the Dead that gives Faith to the Souls of Men and quickens the Dead Mal. 2.10 Eph. 2.10 Eph. 1.20 Rom. 4.17 2. God made all things of Nothing i.e. of things that had no Existence before he made them He calleth those things which be not as though they were Rom. 4.17 Indeed they tell us that Nothing is taken in a threefold Sence 1st It s taken privatively so an Idol is nothing 1 Cor. 8.4 Isa 40.17 i.e. it hath no Divinity in it 2dly Comparatively so all the World is nothing before God 3dly Nothing Negatively or Simply so there was no Fruit upon the Fig-tree Mark 11.13 In this Sence God made the World of Nothing there was no Praeexistent Matter for God to work upon Just thus in the New Creation when God comes to work upon a Sinner he finds no Principle of Grace or inclination to good in him I know saith blessed Paul that in me that is in my Flesh dwelleth no good thing Rom. 7.18 Nay there is much Evil in us yea yet worse there 's antipathy to what is good within our naughty Hearts Thus as in the First Creation God produceth an habit from the negation he works a Principle of Grace where there was no such thing 3. God made all things by
21.23 Qu. What Use will Heavens and Earth be then of Answ As an Everlasting Monument of God's Power Wisdom and Goodness and possibly righteous Men shall dwell in this New Heaven and Earth and contemplate God in his glorious Works 2 Pet. 3.13 so Righteous is taken for Persons Isa 1.21 That New World shall be possessed only by Saints no Sinners with them Now if we apply all this to this New Creation whereof we are treating it will exactly square thereto Grace shall continue He that doth the will of God shall abide for ever â— John 2.17 This Principle is an immortal Seed and shall be cleansed from all Dregs of Sin and the Fruits thereof and the Spirits of Just Men shall be made perfect Heb. 12.23 Yea their Bodies shall be made like unto the glorious Body of our Lord Jesus Phil. 3.21 And though they may pass through the Fire 1 Cor. 3.13 not of Popish Purgatory of affliction or of the Spirit 's refining yet they shall lose nothing but Dross and shall come forth as Gold Thus I have run a Parallel betwixt the Old Creation and the New But this New Creation is 1. Better 2. More difficult then the Old 1. It s better though the first was perfect in its kind yet this is a more excellent Workmanship being of a more pure refined spiritual Nature and repairs what was decayed in the Old and brought about with more transcendent Love and Good will and hath a tendency to an Everlasting Concernment of precious Souls in the other world But of this more anon 2. This is a Creation in some respects more difficult then the former was This may seem a Paradox that the framing of this new Creation in the Heart of a Sinner is a greater work and of more difficulty then that of making this great Universe Heaven and Earth mistake not this difficulty is not respectu Dei fed rei not in respect of God's Omnipotency to whom all thing are possible and easie but with respect to the thing it self and our consideration of it thâ— appears to our apprehension in these four Respects 1. When God made the World he met with no opposition he Spake the Word and noâ— said no to it by contradiction But in this Neâ— Creation the World the Devil and Corruption within opposes this work sometimes custer in Sin however the Carnal mind is enmity it sâ— against God and fights against him Rom. 8.7 2. When God make the World it cost hiâ— but the speaking of a Word as was said bâ— in order to this New Creation it cost him dear even the giving of his own Son to become Man to live a Life of Sorrow to endure the painful shameful cursed Death of the Cross that Sinners might be reconciled to God and become like God 3. When God made the world he needed no nor used any Instruments in order to the effecting that Work But in this of the New Creation he sends Ministers labouring travelling and long waiting on Sinners to work on mens Hearts he chose Men like themselves endue them with Gifts gives them Compassionate Hearts weeping beseeching with earnest Intreaties to come in yet that will not do except the Spirit strive and prevail 4. When God made the World all was finished in Six Days Heaven and Earth were finished Gen. 2.1 And all the Host of them needed not a second hand to compleat them But he is carrying on this work of the New Creation many Years the whole Life of the Christian if he live a hundred Years it will be still defective in point of degree and never compleat till the Soul be landed in Heaven Chap. IV. Wherein the New Creature is available to Souls THe third main Head in the Doctrinal part is to demonstrate wherein this New Creature is only and every way available to the Souls of men And here lest I be mistaken I must premise two Caveats by way of exception the first refers to the Kind the second to the End of this availableness 1. For the Kind we must beware how we put the New Creature in the room of Christ it is not so available as our blessed Lord Jesus is who is the only Foundation on which the Church is built 1 Cor. 3.10 And able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7.25 No Creature must be set up in competition with him for there 's no Salvation in any other Acts 4.12 And herein I am afraid the Quakers are guilty of a gross Heresie who call us from a Christ without us to a Christ within us yea it hath been a dispute in the Plantation called Pensilvania whether we must believe only in a Christ within us or a Christ both within and without us and it was carried mostly in the former Sence But let no man be drawn from placing his intire confidence in Christ the Son of God both God and Man in one Person who suffered Death on the Cross to make attonement for Sinners and now sits on the right hand of God to make intercession for us 2. If by a Christ within they mean that called Light within either Free will or Natural Conscience or a power to help our selves without special Grace it s an exploded Error and it 's to be feared the Jesuits deliver their Popish stuff out of these mens Mouths with refined Language 3. If by Christ within be meant Christ's Person in the Believer that he is Christed or Goded 't is blasphemy 4. If by this expression Christ within us the hope of glory Col. 1.27 or Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith Eph. 3.17 It is as the Sun is in the House when the Beams or Rays thereof shine into it So Christ dwells in Souls by his Spirit Rom. 8.9 and its Graces and this is that which is called the New Creature and this is but a Creature and a weak one full of imperfections it s a Vein of Gold embased with Earth and dross not to be trusted to The Bride may highly prize her Husband's Picture if like him and drawn by his Hand but it is ridiculous to dote on that and slight her Husband and when she wants Money or Clothes to go not to her Husband for them but to his Picture Surely our Lord will not take it well if men honour his Image to the dishonour of his Person the Original is one thing the Copy is another Christ the object of our Faith and Grace and the Fruit of his Spirit are different Grace in the Heart is not so available as Christ in Heaven Let every thing have its due place 2. That which refers to the End is this Negative that the New Creature is not ordained to have a direct tendency to the justification of a Sinner God did not appoint it for that End That is Faith in Christ Rom. 3.20 21 22. in his Blood Merits and Satisfaction to Divine Justice apprehended by Faith alone And this excludes not only Man's merits but any gracious Habits wrought in man
or good Works done by man nay it also excludes Faith it self as the work of man any otherwise then as laying hold on Christ's Righteousness But this I affirm that this New Creature or the best Inherent Righteousness cannot justifie a Sinner before God's Tribunal For a Man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the Faith of Jesus Christ Gal. 2.16 And lest any should say it was by the Works only of the Ceremonial Law it s apparent the Apostle includes the Moral Law that observance thereof cannot justifie for the Gentiles were never bound to the Ceremonial Law yet he proves both Jews and Gentiles to be both under sin Rom. 3 9.-2.28 30. and both alike justified by Christ in the way of believing But where there is no Law there is no Transgression Rom. 4.15 Besides that Law that shews Sin is the moral Law For by the Law is the knowledge of sin Rom. 3.20 And 't is that Law that drives us out of Self to Christ and therefore it can never justifie us God hath nailed up that Door that none since the Fall can enter into Happiness by Law-Righteousness This way to Heaven is like the Northern Passage to the Indies whoever attempts it is sure to be frozen up before he gets half way thither Obj. But if a legal Righteousness by our own strength will not justifie a Sinner yet this New Creature or the habit or exercise of Evangelical Righteousness will surely justifie The Apostle himself Answers No and he instanceth in two famous Saints in the Old-Testament the one is Abraham the other David Rom. 4.1 6 Faithful Holy Abraham though no Idolater but circumcised offering his Son must not glory in any Habit or Acts of Grace And David though a Man after God's own Heart yet saith Enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Psal 143.2 If the Lord mark iniquity who can stand Psal 130.3 Holy Paul dare not stand in his own Righteousness at God's Bar but in the Righteousness which is of God by Faith Phil. 3.7.8 9. Indeed this imparted or inherent Holiness was infused into the Soul for other Ends than to justifie a Sinner before God from the guilt of any one Sin and yet this New Creature is very available to the Souls of men in these 12 cases 1. This New Creature rectifies the Soul's Faculties that were marred by Adam's Fall The former Structure though once a famous Edifice by the Fall was not only tottering but a ruinous House and lies in Rubbish this New Creation re-edifies it in a more stately sumptuous manner yea it is richly adorned thereby Prov. 1.9 They shall be an Ornament of Grace unto thy Head and Chains about thy Neck Prov. 12.26 ch 17.27 Thereby the Christian is more excellent then his Neighbour and of an excellent Spirit more excellent then himself was he is by this become like the Angels yea like God himself and though he be short of Adam in the degree of Grace yet upon better terms in point of duration and now great Grace is upon all true Believers Acts 4.33 Man by his Fall became like the Beasts that perish Psal 49.12 But this New Creature makes him better then other men All men are level as to God till this New Creation sets a divine Stamp on some The tongue of the Just is as choice Silver but the heart of the wicked is little worth Prov. 10.20 God only hath Soveraignty and Authority to rate his Creatures this is the Estimate he sets on his 2. This New Creature is the fruit and Evidence of Electing-Love this is the legible print of God's Heart from Eternity He hath chosen us Eph. 1.4 that we should be holy This is the proper product of free undeserved Grace Gal. 1.15 God calls by his Grace This is the glorious display of his Banner of Love over Souls In the Old Creation there was the strength of God's Arm in this there is the working of God's Bowels God found all mankind alike involved in Sin and Misery but Grace makes some to differ from others 1 Cor. 46.7 As a curious workman seeing a Forrest overgrowing his Ground marks some Trees designing to make of them some rare pieces of workmanship thus God carves his own Image on a common Log and sets it apart for himself this is an act of discriminating Love and when the Sinner sees it he must cry out Who am I O Lord God that thou hast brought me hitherto 2 Sam. 7.18 By the Grace of God I am what I am 1 Cor. 5.10 This this is a shedding abroad his love in my Heart Rom. 5.5 I read Love in every Line and Letter of this new Impression and doth not this avail a Soul much 3. This New Creation consecrates the Soul to be a receptacle for God and renders the Person acceptable to him God dwells in the humble and holy Heart Isa 57.15 There only he takes up his lodging when he hath perfumed the Heart with Mirrh and Frankincense Cant. 3.6 He lays himself in that sweet Bed Having builded this Mansion-House it becomes an habitation of God through the Spirit a Temple of the Holy Ghost Ephes 2.22.1 Cor. 6.17 19. God hath two Thrones in Heaven and in an Holy Heart The Soul and Body is a Sacrifice holy and acceptable to God Rom. 12.1 Happy Soul that is thus owned by the Great God no matter if men reject you if God accept you if men desert you yet if God possess you you are are happy when God casts out the Devil's baggage and saith This is my Rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it Psal 132.14 15. No bad House will be kept there where God dwells for he makes all welcome this is available 4. The first instant of this New Creation commenceth a Communion with God this is a consequence of the former and the peculiar privilege of a Saint Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son 1 John 1.3 This communion with God is a mystery to most men Every one that hangs about the Court doth not speak with the King many meddle with Duties but meet not with God It is good for me to draw night to God Psal 73.28 How oft doth the Christian cry out Oh when shall I come and appear before God Psal 63.2 This New Creature puts a Biass in the Soul God-wards it naturally mounts the Soul upwards to ingage his heart in approaching to God Jer. 30.21 And the Lord meets him that rejoyceth and worketh Righteousness Isa 64. Birds cannot converse with Men there 's not a suitableness of Nature an Hypocrite cannot dare not come before God Job 13.16 But a Saint dare draw near with boldness through Christ for he is like God and communio fundatur in Similitudine Communion is founded in Similitude 5. This New Creature evidenceth a Soul's interest in Christ and his union to him yea puts the poor Believer in
a capacity of sucking Influence from him as the Child in the Womb draws nourishment from the Mother's Navel this Churches Navel never wanteth Liquor Cant. 7.2 It is this New Creature that evidenceth our interest in Christ If any man be in Christ he is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 This was one End of our Lord 's giving himself for us to purchase to himself a peculiar People Tit. 2.14 Christ's Cross was both an Altar and a Laver to expiate and to purge to sanctifie and justifie you shall find continual supplies of Grace from Christ and of his fulness receive grace for grace John 1.16 The New Creature hath a constant Spring to feed it to recruit it in its decays God still saith My Grace shall be sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 So he becomes indefectible the New Creature needs not to fear famishing having these Breasts of Consolation to suck Isa 66.11 and as a Store-house to go to so saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 5.10 The God of all Grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you Surely then this New Creature avails much 6. The New Creature is the inlet to true Joy Peace Satisfaction though in its first Infancy there be a casting down yet it is in order to a lifting up Light is sown for the Righteous Psal 97.11 It may for a season lie in the Furrows of Gospel-sorrow They that sow in tears shall reap in joy Psal 126.5 6. Just like the Pangs of a Child-bearing Woman that end in comfort John 16.21 The Kingdom of God is righteousness peace and joy in the holy ghost Rom. 14.17 all Joy comes in at this Door that 's but a Bastard yea diabolical Peace that is not a Companion of the New Creature when a strong man armed keepeth the Palace his goods are in peace Luke 11.21 22. The Palace is the Heart the Goods are the Soul's faculties the Strong Man is the Devil the Soul hath never quiet day in God's way till Satan be dispossessed and a rightful Lord introduced that is our Lord Jesus It s true there are oft Furrows in the Face of the new Creature but they are for Sin and for want of the Sence of its inbeing but in God's time he will rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 Yea sorrowful Sufferings will at last yield the peaceable fruits of Righteousness Heb. 12.11 And is this worth nothing 7. This New Creature hath all things profitable entailed upon it Godliness is profitable to all things yea Godliness with contentment is great gain 1. Tim. 4 8-6.6 All the good things of Heaven and Earth are made sure by Covenant-title to this New Creature All things are yours saith God 1 Cor. 3.21 Every thing turns to advantage the Christian is the true Chymist to extract Gold out of every thing All things work together for good to him Rom. 8.28 though not singly yet joyntly in composition with other Ingredients he gains to this New Man by outward Losses Every Mercy Ordinance Providence Affliction is a Talent by which he is a gainer Mat. 25.27 If he fight with Satan he gets Ground at last In petty Skirmishes the Carthaginians got some small Victories but the Romans came off Conquerors at last So the Godly Soul may receive some Foils but at last he shall be more than a Conqueror yea a triumpher through the Captain of his Salvation Rom. 3.37 8. The New Creature renders the Person that hath it safe in a safe condition He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty Psal 91.1 The Holy Angels are a royal Guard to these New-born Babes of Salvation Heb. 1.14 Many are the dangers the New Creature is exposed to but one Angel is as a whole Camp to incompass and deliver God-fearing Souls Psal 34 7-6.18 But the God of Angels is nigh to them and saves them in Spirituals God will secure them from Seduction and the evil of Temptation It is not possible that the Elect shall be finally and damnably seduced Mat. 24.24 for Grace establisheth the Heart and they that are of us shall no doubt continue with us Heb. 13.9 They shall be kept by his mighty power through Faith to Salvation 1 John 2.19 1 Pet. 1.5 And we know that these Souls that are born of God are so kept that the wicked One toucheth them not 1 John 5.18 God will keep them that they shall not be tempted above what they are able 1 Cor. 10.13 God will furnish his Child with Armour of proof against Satan's assaults this Breast-plate may be shot at but never shot through the Christians Bow abides in strength and he stands as a Rock in the midst of Waves Rev. 3.8 9 10. He can neither be stormed nor undermined if the Saints have but a little strength yet it shall be lasting yea everlasting 9. The New Creature makes Christians that possess it useful and profitable to all about them It is natural for this New Creature to propagate its kind as Sin so Grace is assimilating how sollicitous was the Church for her little Sister that had no Breasts when she should be spoken for Cant. 8.8 How did the blessed Apostle Paul pant after the Conversion of his Country-men the Jews Rom. 9 1.-10.1 The Godly Soul labours to do good to all about him both good and bad He would fain pluck Sinners out of the Fire of Hell Jude 22. and ingage them for Heaven and he spurs on his Brethren in Heaven's-Road by Counsels Admonitions Prayers Example and all holy Exercises in Christian Communion yea this New Creature where ever it is makes such the Pillars of the Place and Nation where they live Ten Righteous Persons might have saved Sodom Gen. 18.19 22. And Lot's presence there bound the Angels Hands till he was gone the Godly Soul shall never know while he lives what use he was of in the world Every Godly Soul is a fruitful Tree that brings forth Fruit in due season yea in old age Psal 1 3.-92.14 10. This New Creature fits Souls for Gospel-Privileges it is only the New Creature that is a Vessel qualify'd to receive the new Wine of the Gospel Mat. 9.16 17. In the Gospel all things are new Rev. 21.5 There 's a New Name Rev. 3.12 New Church Jerusalem Rev. 21.1 New Way Heb. 10.19 New Covenant Heb. 8.10 A New Commandment John 13.32 New Sacraments Matth. 26 26-28.19 New Relation 1 Pet. 2.9 A New Condition 2 Pet. 3.13 And a New Song Rev. 14.3 Yea New Heavens and a New Earth And surely it is very fit that Christians should have New Hearts which God promiseth in the New Covenant Ezek. 36.26 A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you New Qualifications fit Persons for new Dispensations therefore God joyns the new Heavens and new Earth with the new
5.6 〈◊〉 we are all without strength cannot think a g◠thought 1 Cor. 3.4 Yea dead in Trespasses and Sins Eph. 2.1 And are meer Passives in the first Infusion of Spiritual Life Subjectum dei actionem suscipens a Subject capable of divine operations but in the power of Darkness lead captive by Satan at his pleasure Col. 1.13 Yea The Carnal Mind is enmity to God 1 Tim. 2.26 God works both to will and to do of his good pleasure Rom. 8.7 ut velimus in nobis sine nobis operatur Aug. 3. Quest Why then doth God and Man call upon us to turn our selves yea to make us a new heart and a new spirit Ezek. 18.31 if this be not in our power Doth he not mock us when he calls us to do that which he knows it is impossible for us to do Answ No for 1st It was once in our power to do good by his Donation and if we have lost it by our own Folly and cannot do what he requires we must hereby know that God hath not lost his Authority to command because we have lost our Ability to obey He will let us know his Soveraignty But 2dly God knows Man is a proud Creature and thinks he can do what he cannot And now God commands to convince him of his insufficiency that he may look uy to God for help Yet 3dly Though Man hath lost the Rectitude of his Faculties he hath not lost his Faculties he hath a Rational Soul if he have not Spiritual Grace Though carnal Persons be morally dead yet they are naturally alive Men have a self-reflecting Conscience which they may and must use It is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the Belly Prov. 20.27 4thly It was the saying of Augustin Twelve Hundred Year◠ago He that made thee without thee will not save thee without thee If thou be not an Efficient in thy own Conversion thou mayst and must be an Instrument in thy Salvation thou art bound to work out thy own Salvation Phil. 2.12 4. Quest What is a Man better for his endeavours unless God give him the Grace of this New Creature All that he can do will be to no purpose nothing can be pleasing to God or available to himself in his natural state For without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Answ 1. Though carnal men cannot do what God requires in a due manner yet God hath some respect to such as for the matter do something of their Duty God took notice of Ahab's humiliation and promiseth not to bring the Evil in his days 1 King 21.27 29. Jehoahax◠wa◠none of the best Kings Yet when he besought the Lord he hearkned to him 2 King 13.4 And upon Rehoboam's humiliation the Lord considerably remitted of his punishment 2 Chron. 12.6 7. And is not a relaxation or removal of outward punishment of some worth with you Yea though the young Gentleman's obedience was but poor stuff and he in his natural state yet Jesus beholding him loved him see Mark 10.20 21. Is this nothing 2. However such as frame not their Hearts and Doings to turn to God and through sloth or wilfulness neglect God's appointed Means of becoming New Creatures do First evidently declare themselves to be causes of their own damnation Secondly render themselves daily worse and worse and grow more unable to repent 2 Tim. 3.13 Thirdly provoke God to give them up to their own Hearts Lusts Psal 8.10 11. Fourthly make themselves manifold more the Children of Wrath Matth. 25.15 Are more inexcusable and sink themselves deeper in Hell And is this any way desirable 3. But though such poor Souls cannot with all their endeavours make themselves New Creatures yet we may say of such as our Lord said of the Scribe Mark 12.33 34. When he saw that he answered discreetly Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God You are in an hopeful way to Heaven while you are endeavouring in the use of God's appointed means 4. And who can tell what these Labours will produce It s true thou canst not deserve Grace ex congruo to challenge it of Debt for the work done nor can I say that Grace is due to thee by any Promise for all the Promises of God are made in Christ 2 Cor. 1.20 But I have something yet to say for thy Encouragement For 1st thou hast to deal with a God of infinite Goodness that hath Sworn he delights not in the death of a Sinner Exod. 34.7 Ezek. 33.11 And who knows what he may do for thee 2dly God hath yet spared thy Life and is sending terms of Reconciliation to thee a vile Sinner 2 Cor. 5.20 and stands knocking at thy Door while thou knockest at his A general Pardon is proclaimed Mark 16.15 thou hast no cause to despair 3dly Didst thou ever meet with any that came sad and disappointed from his Door Did he ever say to any Seek ye me◠in vain Isa 1. Nay doth he not say Those that come unto me I will in no wife cast off John 6.37 4thly And doth he not say Those that seek me early shall find me Prov. 8 Doth not the Gospel promise what the Law commands God doth graciously undertake to do what he requires us to do he bids you make you a new Heart and the same God saith I will put a new Spirit within them Ezek. 11.19 O put him to it and try him what he will do the Means I shall suggest hereafter This only in Answer to this Question 5. Quest Is not the New Creature begot in the Ordinance of Baptism which is called the washing or Laver of Regeneration Tit. 3.5 then we need no more Answ 1. Baptism as Circumcision of Old is a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.11 And supports Faith either in the Parent or in the Child or Party baptized for the Promise is to you and to your Children Acts 2.38 The Apostles baptized Believers Now the Effect is not before the Cause If they were Regenerated before Baptism could not be the Cause of Regeneration 2. Yet some have been baptized upon the Profession of their Faith that never were regenerated as Simon Magus who was still in the gall of bitterness Acts 8.13 23. So it was but a Sign no proper Cause which would have had its certain Effect 3. If Baptism were the Cause of Regeneration then no unbaptized Children were regenerate and so could not be saved if dying in Innocency but David believed his Child's Salvation 2 Sam. 12.23 tho' not Circumcised by vertue of the Covenant 4. It is a groundless Popish Doctrine to think that Sacraments confer Grace ex opere operato meerly because used that they stamp an indelible Character on the Party baptized it s but an External Act and cannot reach the Heart or Conscience no more then Old Testament Rites could do Heb. 10.1 3. Nor is it in the power of the holiest Minister on Earth or Angel in Heaven its
to a stronger Faith Besides 4. We may distinguish betwixt a justified State and applications of Pardon to Souls there is forgiveness with God which must be daily sued out by Faith and Prayer Psal 130.4 4. Another difference betwixt this New Creature and Justification is that the Grace of the New Creature is never perfect in this Life the holiest Saints have some Spots and defects who can say I have made my Heart clean Prov. 20.9 I am pure from my Sin Eccle. 7.20 There 's not a just man on Earth that doth good and sinneth not Mat. 3.14 John Baptist needs a New Baptism all the Disciples need their first washing John 13. A Paul complains of a Body of Death Rom. 7.14 It s in Heaven only that the Spirits of just men are made perfect Heb. 12.23 Bat Justification is perfect there 's no Spot in the justified Cant. 4.7 Fair as the Moon Cant. 6.10 as to Sanctification clear as the Sun in respect of Justification Psal 51.7 white as Snow Isa 38.17 God deals with them as if they had never offended casting their Sins behind his Back into the depth of the Sea Mich. 7.18 Remembers them no more Jer. 31.34 Object But doth not God punish his for Sin Answ Those are not properly Acts of Vindictive Justice but Fatherly Chastisements coming from God not as a Judge upon a Malefactor but as an indulgent Father to his wandring and way-ward Child It s true Afflictions are materially the Curse but formally a Blessing being like a Water running through the blessed Mineral of Covenant-Love With reference to this Pardoning Grace Dr. Ames Medul p. 139. its worth noting what D. Ames observes that there 's fourfold Pardon 1st In God's decree and purpose foreseeing it Gal. 3.8 2dly In Christ's undertakings our Sins laid on him Isa 53.6 3dly Virtually upon the Christians first Relation to God Rom. 8.1 4thly Expresly applied upon the Believers Repentance acting of Faith and sence of pardon Rom. 5.1 And I may add there 's a Day of publick proclaiming this Pardon before the whole World Acts 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Chap. VI. An Use of Reproof and Conviction of sundry sorts A Second Use of this point is Reproof If a New Creature be available to Souls yea of such absolute necessity then what shall we say 1. Of non-pretenders to it 2. Of meer Pretenders to it 1. There are some in the World that plainly say in Words or Deeds that they are as they have been and so will continue they trouble not themselves about these new things but say I am Semper idem still the same I thank God I am no Turn-coat nor will I meddle with them that are given to change I love the old way To this Answer Take that Text with you Jeremiah 6.16 Stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the Old Paths where is the good old way and walk therein Mark it not simply the Old Way except it be good for there are many old ways that are not good Cain's way is old enough so was Balaam's and Core's yet there 's a Woe unto them that walk in those ways Jude 11. The Woman of Samaria boasted of the Antiquity that their Father Jacob gave them that Well that her Ancestors did worship in that Mountain John 4 12.-20.24 But our Lord teacheth her other Doctrines yea it was no good Plea of the Jews that they did as their Fathers in burning Incense to the Queen of Heaven though they pleaded great Success then say they We bad plenty of Victuals and saw no Evil Jer. 44.17 18. God answers them to the purpose Ver. 21.22 But let me say to you 1. That this Plea is a multiplication of the Fault if it be not a good way every Step you take in it is a new Error and brings new guilt vetustas Erroris seductio Errantis The way of the Wicked seduceth him Have you examin'd whether this be God's way or no If you be wrong the further you go the further you are from God 2. This continuing in old Customs without inquiry will harden your Hearts and make you more uncapable yea more unwilling to return Can the Ethiopian change his Skin and the Leopard his Spots then may ye also learn to do good that are accustomed to do evil Jer. 13.23 Custom in Sin takes away Conscience of Sin the more men travel the more brawny are their Feet 3. But what think you Adam went wrong and do you delight to follow him or rather should not the Old Man be crucified Rom. 6.6 You have no reason to bear big or brag of the Old Man which is corrupt according to deceitful Lusts but rather put on this new man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness Eph. 4.22 24. See a Parallel betwixt the first Adam and Second 1 Cor. 15.45 49. And then make your choice 4. You 'l never walk in Heaven's Road without a change Deceive not your selves you must be turned from your vain Conversation received by Tradition from your Fathers 1 Pet. â— 18 You will never walk in this New and Living Way without a New Heart You cannot serve God but it must be in the Newness of Spirit not in the Oldness of the Letter Rom. 7.6 You are undone if you dye as you are born you need not change your Religion for you profess the true Religion only you must see you be true to that Religion by a change of Heart and Life Except you be born again you cannot see the Kingdom of God John 3.3 Better never have been born then not be new born But more of this anon Tremble to think of appearing before God naked or in your old rotten Rags the Gibeonites might cheat Israel with their old Bottles Clouts Shoes Josh 9.4 but you cannot cousen God so An old frame is not fit for a new state old Hearts for new Heavens If you live after the Flesh you shall dye i. e. be damned Rom 8.13 but if you through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the Body you shall live i. e. be saved There are many more that are far from being New Creatures that have a black Brand of Reprobation printed on their Foreheads and disclaim any pretences to this New Creation-Work as 1st Such as have imbibed Atheistical Principles and say with their Tongues or in their Hearts there is no God Psal 14.1 at least Deists that deny God's Providence and Divine Revelations 2dly Prophane Scoffers at true Christian Piety and the Power of Godliness 2 Pet. 3. under the Name of Puritans loading Strictness in Religion with Names of Obloquy Scorn and Derision 3dly Profoundly ignorant of Gospel-Mysteries 1 Cor. 13.34 and the Essentials of Religion the knowledge whereof is of the highest importance and necessity and yet do scorn to learn 4thly Voluptuous Epicures Drunkards Adulterers and that
you all yet he 's a damned Fiend in Hell Gifts come upon another Errand than Grace 1 Cor. 12.7 Gifts are given to profit others Grace for a man's own Soul 19th Plea I am verily perswaded I am sound at Heart my Conscience flyes not in my Face yea I have great Peace Joy and Comfort within Answ God knows whether your Peace be of the right Stamp or no I have told you there 's a Peace of the Devil 's speaking and that may arise from Conscience's Sleep Security I now tell you of a Joy rising from the common workings of the Spirit the stony Ground hearers anon with Joy received the Word Mat. 13.20 but had no Root Luk. 8.13 It 's not to tell what Joy and Triumph some may conceive upon a Mistake Some taste of the good Word yea of the heavenly Gift Gal. 6.3 James 1.22 Yet fall away totally and finally Heb. 6.4 5 6. Look to your selves thousands deceive themselves in this weighty Affair 20th Plea You are seeking to drive us to despair but that I will never do I will hope well still say what you will Answ There 's a double despair 1st Good and Necessary a despair of ever being saved in the state of Nature wherein we are born and this God brings the Sinner to in order to planting sound Hope and sincere Faith in the Soul 2dly There 's an Evil sinful despair of obtaining Mercy at God's hands through Christ God forbid we should drive Sinners to this despair no no it s the former we aim at Such as Paul felt Rom 7.9 I was alive without the Law once but when the Commandment came sin revived and I dyed ie I saw my self in a damnable state no hopes of Salvation while I continued in the state of Nature we are sure till Souls see themselves condemned they will never look after a Pardon it 's this we drive men to Therefore 2dly there 's a twofold Hope 1. A bad a false rotten Hope that 's built upon mens Fansie and Imagination Job 8.14 11.20 This will be swept away like a Spiders-Web give up the Ghost what hath the Hypocrite gained by his hope when God taketh away his Soul ch 27.8 It 's the best Office we can do the Sinner to break the Heart of this groundless Hope that we might bring in a better Hope Hence 2. There 's a good Hope through Grace an Hope that will not make ashamed 2 Thes 2.17 Rom. 5.5 An Hope that rests upon the Promises of Grace in the Gospel it s this that will do Men good at the last but men must be sure to observe and comply with the terms of the Promise else it is groundless presumption A Prince hath as much reason to be offended with him that keeps not close to his Commission as with another that acts without a Commission The Israelites of Old saith one durst make God and his Promise a Leaning-stock for their foul Elbows to rest on Isa 48.2 They call themselves the holy City and stay themselves upon the God of Israel See also Micah 3.11 Nothing more common yet nothing more dangerous for such are more bold then welcome for though a Prince may be so condescending as to let a poor Sick or Wounded Man especially in his Service fainting and unable to go alone upon his humble request make use of his Arm rather then perish in the Street yet would reject a reeling Drunkard if he desired to lean on him thus a poor bleeding humble Penitent is entertained when a presumptuous Rebel is kickt off with infinite abhorrency we must incourage the former and convince the latter that their Hope may be dasht and another Hope begot again a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3.1 John 3.3 that teacheth Persons to cleanse themselves be planted in the Soul For the wicked is driven away in his wickedness but the righteous hath hope in his Death Prov-14 32. Chap. VII An Use of Correction for Reforming Sinners Mistakes MY third Use is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Correction or Castigation of what is amiss in order to a Restitution of the Souls of Sinners to their pristin rectitude for that 's the notion of this Word for it signifies not only Correction of Manners but rectifying of inward Faculties as Criticks observe I must confess the Work is arduous and indeed 't is impossible for a finite Creature to work this New Creature the best Ministers are but Instruments and what can the Ax do without the Hand to move it or the Sword without the Hand to wield it Who then is Paul and who is Apollos but Ministers by whom ye believed 1 Cor. 3.5 I am said worthy Mr. Baxter but a Peâ— for God to write with Well then shall we do nothing because we cannot do all He thaâ— set us a work is able to second our Work with his Benediction the World hath been form'â— new by this blessed Word of Truth I shall therefore make one Experiment more to see what the great God will do for a New Creation upon the Souls of Men humbly imploring the Blessing of Heaven upon my poor Endeavours In prosecuting this Point I shall use some perswasive Arguments to prevail with pooâ— Sinners to look after it in due time 2. Answer what Objections Sinners can make against it and so make way for the next Use of Instruction 7. For Motives Arguments I shall not repeat any thing drawn ab utili the advantages thereof used in the Doctrinal part as 1. Rectifying the Souls Faculties 2. Evidencing Electing Love 3. Consecrating the Soul for God 4. Fitting it for Communion with God 5. Entituling to Christ 6. Producing true Joy 7. Intailing all things profitable 8. Putting the Soul into a safe State 9. As rendring them useful 10. Fitting them for Gospel-Privileges 11. Preparing them for Death and Heaven 12. Yea is an Heaven begun All these might be improved as strong Arguments to perswade Sinners to press after it But I shall further draw some Arguments à periculo from the danger Sinners are in till they become New Creatures 1. If you are not New Creatures you are not true Christians For if any man be in Christ he is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 i.e. Whoever is worthy the Name of Christian fit for so high a Character he must necessarily be a New Creature or else he arrogates to himself an high Title not belonging to him And alas what will a bare Name signifie nomen inane crimen immane arrogating such an high Title is a piece of high Presumption nay it s no less then Blasphemy when men call themselves Jews or Chriâ—tians and are not Rev. 2.9 Even as it is Treason against the rightful Soveraign for any Subâ—ect to intitle himself King what horrid Presumption are graceless Sinners guilty of for whatever you may account your selves God accounts you no better then Heathens uncircumcised Judah is ranked with Aegypt Edom Ammon Moab in Scripture Jer. 9.26 Are ye not as children of
Aethiopians to me O children of Israel saith the Lord Amos 9.7 Prophane Saul is called a Cushite Psal 7 54 and 59. And graceless Jews though of the true Religion are accounted as Strangers and God esteems wicked Princes rulers of Sodom and People of Gomorrah Isa 1.10 though his People by Profession And what if God account you that brag of the Christian Name no better then Jews Mahometans Heathens You are like to fare no better than they 2. You will fare worse then they God will judge you according to the Helps and Advantages you have had it will be worse with you than Sodom and Gomorrah Tyre and Sidon Matth 11 20-24 Yea the Men of Nineveh and Queen of the South shall rise up in Judgment against Graceless Professors of the true Religion Matth. 12.41 42. Oh how dreadful a Rebuke will this be They may say If we had heard so much of Christ and Gospel-Grace we would have framed more to compliance therewith we knew not what estate we were in or what would be the astonishing Consequence thereof as you heard from day to day we never pretended such high Principles nor were engaged by Baptism to be God's Servants Subjects Soldiers as you were Now we know that the Soldier that hath taken Press-Money and is false or fights none or is a Renegado hath the heaviest doom Mat. 24.51 The Hypocrites are free Denizons of Hell it s their proper place You had better been born in India then in England in Turkey then within the Pale of the Church and not be New Creatures yea better have been no Creatures or vilest Creatures than not be New Creature as our Lord said of Judas It had been better if he had never been born John 1. So say I. and not new born If you lived and dyed as Beasts there 's an End of you you would feel neither Weal nor Woe but it will be otherwise with you Wo wo to you that ever you were born Lord have mercy on you 3. If you be not New Creatures you are Slaves to and bear the Image of the Devil you are lead captive by him at his pleasure 2 Tim 2.26 Yea you are his willing Slaves its converting Grace only that brings out of the power of Satan Acts 26.18 But they are invisible Fetters for he holds his black Hand over the Sinners Eye and worketh effectually in his heart 2 Cor. 4.4 Eph. 2.2 that the poor Slave will not believe his Slavery but thinks he is a Freeman though he be holden with the cords of his sins Prov. 5.22 and drag'd apace Hell-wards O worse then Aegyptian Bondage or Turkish Slavery who would abide it Yea without this New Creation you have the Devil's Image upon you you are the very Picture of that infernal Fiend so that if it be asked whose Image and Superscription is this It must be answered Satan's Our Lord tells the Jews You are of your Father the Devil John 8.44 Your Envy is the Devil's Eye your Hypocrisie the Devil 's cloven Foot your Lying the Devil's Tongue your carnal Policy the Devil's Head your Pride and Self-conceit the Devil 's lofty Countenance and all these will end in the Devil's despair Oh tremble to carry such a resemblance to God's enemy It 's storyed that when they brough Tamerlane a Pot of Gold he asked what Stam◠was upon it when he understood it had th◠Roman Stamp he utterly refused it Even 〈◊〉 will God reject you if the Devil's stamp be o◠you you 'l be no currant Money with God th◠you have golden Gifts 4. If you be not New Creatures God an◠you are fallen out there 's an enmity and anti◠pathy betwixt the holy God and your carn◠Hearts and this is the height of a Creatures S◠and misery It is very observable that in th◠middle of that black Bed-roll of Heathens Sins Rom. 1.29 30 31. that cursed Root and Sprin◠haters of God being in the midst it diffuset its malignant Influence backward and forwards to actuate all those Sins Not that the Creatur◠can directly intend to be an Enemy to God b◠that a graceless Person is interpretatively an◠consequentially an enemy to God the chiefe good as he is an enemy to Holiness Justic◠Truth which are divine Perfections so God at counts them that are Enemies to his Soveraig◠ry Luk. 19.27 yea the carnal mind is enm◠it self against God Rom. 8.7 And S◠turns God to be an Enemy Zech. 11.8 Isa 6.10 And there 's no Person that God hates an◠despiseth so much as this hypocritical Pretende Psal 73.20 O Lord when thou awakest the shalt despise their Image Either it is spoken wicked men's Prosperity which God slights 〈◊〉 but an imaginary thing or else the Image of temporary Profession with their phantastical Faith Piety Devotion which now the rotten-hearted hypocrite danceth about in in his pleased thoughts as a man in a Dream conceits himself a great Prince but a Day is coming that this great Idol shall be broken and the Worshippers of it hissed down to Hell with greatest Shame and Disdain for 't is said of the Ape because he hath the Face but not the Soul of a Man he is the most ridiculous and odious of all Creatures Thus an hypocritical Judas is more abhorred of the Lord then a bloody Pilate for 't is an high Crime for an ignoble Person to counterfeit himself to be a King's Son and a false Friend is more detested than an open Enemy Such are those that pretend friendship to God and are his real Enemies 5. If you be not New Creatures you are not capable of getting good by any Ordinances and Providences nothing will do you good for you want a Principle and Capacity to improve any thing you are spiritually dead dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2.1 It is this New Creation alone that puts Life into you Preaching to you is but surdo canere as singing to a deaf man speaking to a Stone that which is nourishing Food to a living man corrupts and turns to putrefaction in a dead Man's Mouth though the Sinner breaths yet he lives not naturally alive spiritually dead this is the worst kind of Death for he is alienated from the Life of God Eph. 4.18 Heb. 9.14 As his Works are but dead works so his Soul is but a dead rotten Carcase It s true a poor carnal dead Sinner that is naturally alive may hear a sound in the Ministry of the Word but receives not the Sence conceives not aright of the Significancy of what he hears It s worth your observing that it s said of Saul's Companions Acts 7.9 They heard a Voice yet it s said Acts 22.9 They heard not the voice of him that spake to me Are not these inconsistent No they heard indeed a Sound but nothing distinctly or they might hear a Voice but not Christ's as Saul did even so in an Ordinance men may hear distinctly the Voice of a Man but not the Voice of God
Sin will make Conscience more brawny A Sickness may easily be cured at first but when it gets into the Nerves Bones or strikes to the Heart it becomes incurable impregnable So it is with Soul-maladies Oh what mischief may a Thief do if suffered to lodge one Night in your Houses Besides the Life or Death of the Soul may hang upon this nick of Time he oft limits it to a Day Now is the accepted time now is the day of Salvation Heb. 4.7.2 Cor. 6.2 Who can tell but God may say after this day My Spirit shall strive no more with them Gen. 6.3 You may provoke God to withdraw Oh how many Instances have we of thousands that have lost their Day and have been undone forever 3d. Object If I become a New Creature there will be so much strictness and severity in Praying Reading Watching Holy Walking that it will never be abiden it will make me Melancholy and rob me of the Joy and Comfort of my Life Answ 1. Though the possessor of the New Creature lose sensual delights which are Madness rather then true joy Eccles 2.2 Yet he may retain the lawful Comforts of his Life It s true that he must lay aside lascivious Jests wanton Songs unlawful Gaming excessive Drinking blasphemous Stage-plays Filthiness But there 's no real Content in these to a generous Spirit that bring Guilt and Wrath but the gracious Soul may take as much or more real Pleasure in Relations and Worldly Enjoyments keeping the due Circumstances of Time End Measure and Freedom from Scandal as another Man nay now he tastes the Blessing of God in his Enjoyments as he hath a right to them in Christ as they are cleansed from the Curse sugared with God's Love helping him in God's Service towards Heaven and the New Creature puts Wisdom into the Christian to set every thing in its Place and Order so that the Godly Man enjoys himself with more sweetness in a mean condition then many wicked men in their Abundance 2. A Man hath never true solid Joy and Peace till he be a New Creature this and this only lays the Foundation of strong Consolation Serious Godliness is no such melancholy Life as the Carnal World do imagine Suppose the Christian do labour toil and take pains in God's Service Love oyls the Wheels of his Soul and he takes as much pleasure therein as Jacob for Rachel God spices every step of his way Wisdom's ways are pleasantness Prov. 3.17 The severest Commands of God are not grievous 1 John 5.3 but delightful the Spirit helps his Infirmities Rom. 8.26 Inlargeth his Heart he mounts up with Wings as Eagles he is sure his Gains will answer his Pains He that digs in a Golden Mine is paid for every stroke he strikes nay there 's a praemium ante praemium a Reward at present In keeping thy Commandments there iâ— great Reward Psal 19 11. You hear of the Saints sorrow for Sin grief for God's withdrawing vexing with Satan's assaults but you see not their Joy a stranger intermeddles not with his Joy Prov. 14.10 He hath Comforts that none know of or can deprive him of yea he hath more Comfort in his Tears for Sin than a wicked man hath in gratifying his Senses in committing Sin in the midst of the carnal man's Joy his Heart is sad in the midst of the Christians sorrow for Sin his Heart is full of Joy do but try a Godly Course and you would not exchange it for the Wicked's Rant 4th Object But if I leave my old Companions they will laugh me to scorn I shall be accounted a Fool a Dotard a Schismatick a Fanatick all that 's naught and this I cannot brook and indeed I know not how to discard and disoblige my old intimate Comrades Answ 1. If owning God and saving your precious Souls be a disobliging of them they are better lost then found Carnal Friends are dear but God dearer Religion binds you to forsake your own People and your Father's House Psal 45.10 To hate Father and Mother in comparison of or standing in competition with Christ Matth. 10.37 And it s the best Match you can make You 'l not repent it to foregoe those Syren Songs of bewitching Companions that lead you down to Hell for the Society of Saints to forsake such incarnate Devils for the ministry of blessed Angels yea to renounce the Devil for communion with an holy God you have little reason to be afraid or ashamed of such an exchange 2. As for their hatred scorn or reproach read Isa 51.78 Fear ye not the reproach of men neither be ye afraid of their Revilings The Tongue of such wicked Villains are no Slanders better be reviled then praised by some Our Lord saith Woe be to you when all men speak well of you When the Papists called Luther an Apostate he accounted himself a blessed Apostate from the Synagogue of Satan to the Church of God And what if an Ishmael mock Isaac or a Shimei rail at David are they worse for lying Tongues bespattering them Glorious Stars may be called by ugly Names as Bear Dragon but are glorious still so may you be An Heathen Seneca could say and glory in it mala de me loquuntur sed mali They speak evil of me but they are evil men And is it not better to be reproached by bad men for being good then to be damned by God for being bad Doth not Christ bid you rejoyce and be exceeding glad Matth. 5.10 Surely you may wear these as Trophies and Badges of Honour So did Paul glory in Christ's Cross as an old Soldier Gal. 6.17 in his Scars received in the Wars for his Prince The Christians of Old rejoyced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of Christ Acts 5.41 They looked on that Reproach as their greatest Honour and Ornament You deserve not the Name of Christian if you will not bear a foul Word from the foul Mouths of men for him that despised the Shame for your sakes Heb. 12.2 If meâ— clip your Credit to make it good weight with God and rub your Crown with Dirt to make it brighter you 'l be no losers if you be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are you for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you 1 Peâ— 4.14 5th Object I see no such Beauty or Excellency in these Puritans and Precisians that pretend to be New Creatures they are no better than their Neighbours all are Sinners and so are they nay I have seen them slip into Scandalous Sins they are Proud and Envious and Covetous they are but a pack of Hypocrites Answ 1. Take heed of speaking Evil of the Persons and Things that you know not Carnal Persons are not competent Judges of God's Children Psal 83.5 These are hidden Ones Kings in disguise It doth not yet appear what they are or shall be 1 John 3.2 The King's Daughter is all glorious within Psal 43.13 The Life of Saints is
hid with Christ in God Acts 3.3 You know not what they do in Corners much less do you know their Consciences take heed of rash judgment you know neither their best nor their worst there 's a Vail upon the face of their Souls there is an hidden man of the heart which is invisible to the Eyes of Spectators and if these gracious Souls should open their Experiences to you you would judge them Paradoxes Riddles or meer Enthusiasms Wisdom is too high for a Fool learned Nicodemus hath odd and aukard Conceptions of the New Birth John 3.4 The natural man knoweth not the things of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.14 If you had new Eyes you would be fitter to judge of things that differ Suspend your Censures call not them Hypocrites whom God will own for Children a blind man is not fit to judge of distinct Colours 2. It s true all are Sinners yet there 's a vast difference of Sinners 1 John 3 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not work sin he makes not sinning his trade his business is to walk in the Ways of God and if he be overtaken with a fault Gal. 6.1 he discovers it mourns for it riseth out of his Falls by Repentance he hates Sin more becomes more watchful and jealous of himself prays desires strength from Christ to crucifie the Flesh and Sin hath not dominion over him Gal. 5.24 Rom. 6.14 but he makes progress in Mortification and ordinarily this Child of God doth not fall into any gross and scandalous Sin or if at any time God do's suffer him to fall foully in Judgment to a wicked World yet it costs him dear it may be broken Bones as it did David and God can heal his Backslidings and make him more humble after however there 's a vast difference betwixt a Sheep stepping into the Mire and a Swine wallowing in the Mire Some are and some are not the Spots of God's Children Deut. 32.6 You have more need to judge your selves then censure others to be Hypocrites Hear what Reverend Mr. Hildersham saith in this case What some say of Professors these Gadders after Sermons Hild. on Psal 51. pag. 642 these holy Brethren that stand so much upon Sincerity can abide nothing that savours of Popery these precise Fools must be Singular forsooth dare not Swear they are no better than Hypocrites He Answers tho' these things be found in some Hypocrites yet they are no Signs to know an Hypocrite by nor are they Hypocrites that do thus thou that scornest a Man for this bewrayest the Prophaneness of thy own Heart and openest thy Mouth against Heaven Psal 73.9 6th Obj. You told us this Work is Creation-Work Can a Man create himself Sure it s not in the power of a dead man to make himself alive So you said Sinners are dead this is the Work of Omnipotency God must do all Alas what can Man do of himself Answ 1. You are not naturally dead tho' spiritually dead yet you are alive God hath given you rational Souls Faculties capable of knowing loving and enjoying God you are not senseless Stocks or Stones nor meer Brutes there is in you a remote aptitude if not a present promptness to receive Grace you have the noble Faculty of a self-reflecting Conscience that is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the Belly Prov. 20.27 It can discover moral Good and Evil yea it can excuse or accuse in what you do good or amiss Rom. 2.14 15. You might be much better if you minded this Light within you the Light of Natural Conscience How can you expect more till you improve what you have Nature can do little towards Grace yet Moral Principles cherished and improved may be some Fence against vicious Inclinations and prevent a Custom in sinful Practices however its dangerous to imprison the common Notices of a Deity Rom. 1.18 or Moral Duty this is the Road to obliterate them this shuts the Door against Grace and opens the Sluce of Vice nourish what 's good in thee who can tell what it may come to at last 2. God commands the use of Means and though he hath not bound himself yet he hath bound every man to his utmost power to be tending towards God Divines say That tho' no Exercise of Common Grace can merit Special Grace yet God is not wanting in his further Grace to those that have made a due improvement of Common Grace and done what in them lay towards their own Salvation Your business is to work out your own Salvation Phil. 2.12 For 't is God that worketh in you the will and the deed It is an Old Saying of St. Augustin He that made thee without thee will not save thee without thee God loves to second man's endeavours he is never wanting to the diligent lex jubet gratia juvat the Precept commands the Gospel-Promise will assist God hath not lost his right to command though we have no Might to obey his Authority must sway with us though we have not ability to do his requirement praecipit Deus quod ipse praestat he bids us up and be doing and he will take us by the Hand and help us Try Man in so necessary a Work as thy Soul 's eternal Happiness thou hast lost much labour in other cases thou mayst not lose it in this there 's a May-be in it and that 's warrant enough for such a Venture Be laborious and thou mayst be gracious 7th Obj. But I may as well sit still as rise up to fall I shall never hold out I see so many Temptations of a cunning Devil oppositions of a furious World and strong Corruptions of a treacherous Heart that I do foresee I shall not be able to stand I had better not begin at all then begin in the Spirit and end in the Flesh and so sink my apostate Soul deeper Answ 1. Art thou in good earnest that makest this Objection or dost thou Complement with God and make it an Excuse and Evasion If the latter and this be but to save thee a labour of being serious in Religion thy case is lamentable thou hast yet but sleight thoughts of God thy Soul or of Heaven that makest such frivolous Excuses to incur a certain Damnation But if thou be in good earnest it will put thee upon the search of thy Heart whether thou be sincere that thou mayst persevere that thou mayst not build upon a Sandy Foundation and if indeed thou art jealous of thy self and afraid of Apostacy this very Fear is the best Fence against falling away I will saith God put my fear in their hearts Jer. 32.40 and they shall not depart from me Blessed is he that feareth always Prov. 28.14 This Godly Fear will make you avoid Sin and all its occasions improve Talents time and means of Grace put you upon all methods to grow in Grace and gain Assurance A caution is necessary to
the best see Heb. 3.12 13-4 1 But be sure yours be a Godly Jealousie arising from a Sence of the Evil of Sin and your own weakness and not a meer Consciousness of your Hypocrital Hearts 2. If once this New Creature be truly framed in thy Heart it will be permanent and abiding not but that it is a Creature and so loseable of it self but by vertue of God's Covenant and Promise so it is an incorruptible seed a well of living waters springing up to everlasting life 1 Pet. 1.23 John 4.14 If once this Work be savingly wrought though it be but a Spark an Infant an Embryo of Grace the God of Heaven is concerned to look to his own Creature you shall be kept by the power of God through Faith to Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 None shall pluck you out of the Father's Hands John 10.28 Nothing can separate The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against you Mat. 16.6 Rom. 8.37 Fear not you have the Father's Care the Son's Prayer the Holy Ghost's abiding in you for ever Phil. 1.6 John 1.7.1 John 2.27 Hypocrites will be Apostates a rotten Core will spread to the Skin it s very rare to see an Hypocrite undiscovered till Death though the Foolish Virgins held out long yet it appeared at last they had no Oyl in their Vessels They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us 1 John 2.19 Take thou care of thy Sincerity and God will take care of thy Perseverance God will not renounce his own Image Christ will not forsake his own Members If thy state and standing were in thine own Hands thou wouldst as surely lose thy Integrity as Adam his Innocency but we are kept by the power of God through Faith to Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 There 's one thing I fear more than all the rest and that is a lazy sloathful luskish Spirit that will not take any Pains in God's Work nor in the concerns of the Soul but think Grace must drop into their gaping Mouths this Sloath hath killed thousands of Sinners Oh it will cost him trouble care pains and this he cannot brook And do Men think to grow Rich without labouring careful Endeavours and travelling to Markets And can they think to go to Heaven or get Grace without taking Pains It s true it s not meerly Pains that will do it but Sloath will lose it and without Pains-taking nothing that 's excellent will be obtained for Difficilia quae pulchra The more choice things are the hardlier are they come by I am sure Christians of Old laboured hard that they might be accepted of God 2 Cor. 5.9 And the Apostle tells the Hebrews that God doth not forget their work and labour of Love and urgeth them to shew the same diligence and not be sloathful but followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises Heb. 6.10 11 12. Let the slothful Person ask himself these Questions 1. Whether the Pains of Hell be not more intolerable than the Pains God calls for from him to escape it Or 2. Whether Heaven will not requite all his Pains to obtain it Or 3. Whether he take not more pains to scrape together a little Dirt of Wealth or a necessary supply of Wants Or 4. Whether thousands take not more pains to get to Hell then God requireth of him to travel to Heaven And let the wretched Sluggard know that by that time he hath been an Hour in those intolerable Torments he would be glad to be turned into the World again though upon the hardest terms of Obedience Mortification and acting all things within the verge of an humane Capacity would he not gladly accept the Conditions in order to Eternal Life But alas Men are made up so much of Sense and understand so little of Invisible Realities that they chuse rather to be damned Eternally than to endeavour to live Holily therefore mens destruction is of themselves Hos 13.9 They will not come to Christ that they may have life John 5.40 That 's a true Maxim nemo nolens bonus aut beatus est It is God's Ordination that men's own estimation choice and endeavours shall be the necessary preparative to their Fruition and hence it is that the slothful Servant was a wicked Servant and fared and sped according to his Sloth Matth. 25.26 Chap. IX Instructions for the Trial of our Spirits whether we be indeed New Creatures THe Fourth and Last use of this point is that which the Apostle calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Instruction in Righteousness and this I shall rank under these Fou◠Heads First Give a particular account of the Nature Parts and Properties of the two Creatures for helping our Spirits in the tryal of our States Secondly Give Some directions what those must do to obtain it that feel or fear they yet have it not Thirdly How such must act live or behave themselves as do find upon Scripture-grounds and good experience that this is savingly wrought within them Fourthly I shall Answer some Queries or Cases of Conscience for satisfaction of such Souls as are doubtful of their Sincerity or would be further informed in some Points about this New Creature All these I must briefly dispatch 1. It is of very great Concernment for every Rational Soul to know and be at some certainty whether he be a New Creature I might here refer the Reader to the Description of it in the beginning 1. I called it a Supernatural Grace as to the general Nature of it 2. For its particular Property or Nature I call'd it a Gospel-Grace in its specifial quality 3. As to its subject it is in the Soul of a Sinner 4. The Instrumental Cause of it is the Word of God 5. The Efficient Cause is the Holy Ghost 6. The proper immediate Effect is a great change 7. The Compleatness of this change in point of state Constitution Relation 8. The Pattern is the divine Image or Likeness 9. The Rule of it which is the Word of God 10. The End 't is the Glory of God and the Soul's Happinness in its communion with God You see then this New Creature is a very extensive and comprehensive thing it contains the whole Encuclopaedia as I may say or compass of Experimental and Practical Religion It is a Relation not one quality nor yet one single habit neither one Star nor yet a Constellation of Graces but a Relation or Rectitude and orderly Correspondence of the Faculties straining forth from the infusion of all those Habits and Qualities into Man Dr. Arrows Tract Sacr. pag. 138. as a Learned Man observes wherein the Appetite is subject to the Will the Will to Reason the rectifyed Reason to God and the Conversation corresponding to this inward Principle not compleatly or perfectly in point of degree as it was in Adam's Soul in the state of Innocency but by Integrity of the parts so
God is the Christians chief supream End in his natural civil spiritual acts the New Man aims at the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 Oh that my Soul may obtain fellowship with God 1 John 1.3 Psal 73.25 I will trample on sinful worldly self and spurn away this dirty Dunghill in comparison of God's Glory and Salvation of my own Soul all other things will neither please nor profit this high-bred Creature infused into the Soul 2. The Elective Power of the Will the New Creature chuseth the most proper means to attain these high Ends as he chuseth God for his only End so in the first place he chuseth Christ as the only Way Truth and Life John 14.6.1 51. By whom he may ascend to God as the Ladder of Jacob for there 's no coming to the Father but by the Son The Will therefore consists to have Christ upon his own terms and chuseth him above the World John 1.12 May I have Christ I will cast all others as Dung at my Heels Phil. 7.7 8 9. Away with them away with them I will refuse Crowns and Scepters in comparison of or in competition with Christ the New Creature comes off freely in his choice of Christ is not forced to him as his last shift to escape damning but by a sweet tendency and propensity of the Will touched and attracted with the Loadstone of divine Grace To me to live is Christ Phil. 1.21 as well as he is good to dye with yea the New Creature chuseth the Precepts the Promises the Patterns of the Word Psal 119.30 111. The way of Faith and Holiness to walk in in order to the attaining Happiness and he never repents this blessed Choice 3. There 's a cleaving act of the Will a peremptory resolved adhereing to God and his ways the Will is fixed determined for God whatever shall be said against he is not off and on like a double-minded man unstable in all his ways James 1.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hanging in suspence halting betwixt two Opinions 1 King 18.21 but cleaves to the Lord with purpose of Heart Acts 11.23 as Ruth was stedfastly minded to go with Naomi Ruth 1.16 17 18. All men on Earth and all the Devils in Hell shall not alter this resolution I will go and return to my Father Luk. 15.17 I am purposed that my Mouth shall not transgress Psal 17.3 Let others do as they list as they dare answer I and my House will serve the Lord John 24.15 I must not be guided by Example or Carnal Reason but by the Word of God and having made my choice by the Grace of God I will not be altered as long as I breath no Sufferings shall daunt me no Allurements shall entice me from my God 4. There 's a resigning act of the Will by which it gives up it self to the Will of God the New Creature melts and molds the Will of man into the Will of God as our Lord said Not my will but thine be done Matth. 26.39 And those gracious Souls Acts 21.13 said The will of the Lord be done Hence Luther durst Pray fiat volunt as mea Let my Will be done but came off thus Mine Lord because my Will shall be thine There shall be but one Will betwixt us this hath been the Language of all the Holy Men in Scripture Eli David Paul Let the Lord do as seems good to him 1 Sam. 8.10.2 Sam. 15.25 This Harmony of Wills is a glorious Fruit of the New Creation and sweet and certain Character of the New Creature this brings Serenity to the Soul in all states when Wind and Tide go both one way there 's no Storm so when the Christian acquiesceth in God's will there 's great Peace in the Soul 4. The last Subject wherein the New Creature is formed in the Affections these are the Motions of the Will the Will is the primum movens or mobile the main Wheel that carries the Affections along with it the Affections are either 1. disliking or 2. liking Aversations or Approbations of these Faculties of the Soul and both of them are reduced to sweet Order and Harmony according to Scripture-Rule 1. The disliking or disapproving Affections the Stream is quite turned into another Channel the Soul loaths what it before loved and bears an implacable hatred yea antipathy not only to Sin but to all appearances of it 1 Thes 5.22 and Avenues that lead to it or proceed from it hating even the Garment spotted by the Flesh Jude 23. as one detests a Coat with the Plague in it as a man's Stomach riseth against some kind of Meats or a Toad for its poysonful quality or a Serpent for its Sting or rather for its loathsome Nature David saith I hate and abhor Lying Psal 119.163 He cannot use words enough to express his Antipathy to Hypocrisie And true hatred is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against all the Kinds of what we hate I hate every false way ver 104. saith the same Holy Man The New Creature makes the Christian not only angry at Sin as against his Interest or as a Man may be with his Wife or Child in a fit of Passion and entertains good Thoughts of them again when the Passion is over but there 's an implacable Enmity commenced in the Heart against all Sin yea there 's an hatred of wicked mens persons for their Sin 's sake Psal 139.21 22. which otherwise the Soul loves as he would not hate the Devil but for Sin O how weary am I of this Body of Death I know not how to bear it it s like a stinking dead Carcase that at once both burdens me with its weight Rom. 7.24 and poysons me with its stink 'T is this and this alone that makes me send forth quotidianos mutigus daily groans and Mournings Oh that I could put a Bill of Divorce into the Hands of my dearest Lust never to meddle with it again I will never be reconciled to Sin more I will cut off my Right hand-Sin and run the Knife of the Law into the very Heart of my dearest Lusts I will study their utter extirpation I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to God Ezra 9.6 because of my Spots of guilt and filth never did any thing lie so near my Heart as my Sin against God I will declare mine Iniquity and be very sorry for my Sin Psal 58.18 For the future I will stand in awe that I may not sin Psal 4.4 I will fear Sin more then Hell I cannot bear them that are evil Rev. 2.2 Though I have patience to bear any Affliction I behold transgressors and am grieved Psal 119.58 136. and shed many Tears for the dishonour they bring to my God Oh that Sin were banish'd out of the World or my Soul withdrawn from the wicked world 2. As for the liking Affections the renewed Soul can truly say as David I have set my affections to the house of my God 2 Chron. 30.3 As to inferior
to Calves of the stall Mal. 4.2 that are still growing as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2.2 3. It s the duty of Saints yea their property to grow stronger and stronger Job 17.9 To perfect holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 For the New Creature helps eggs on the Child of God to improve his Talents to use God's appointed means for increase to derive Vertue from Jesus Christ that he may increase with the increase of God Col. 2.19 This New Creature begets a new Appetite which in this imperfect state makes him gape and long after more and he never saith he hath enough in this lower World It s said of the Crocodile quamdiu vivit crescit so the Saint he grows as long as he lives Oh saith the Soul I am short still defective the greatest part of what I have attained is the least part of what I want Oh that I could be more like God! be changed into his Image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3.18 I can never be enough like God this is the clearest evidence of the Truth of Grace a dead Picture will not grow as a living Child a dead Stake grows not as a living Plant Lord make me more humble holy heavenly self-denying watchful fruitful 5. It is a depending New Creature it makes the Soul sensible of its own weakness it feels not its own Feet it cannot stand alone therefore leans on its Beloved Cant. 8.5 every step through this Wilderness state Wo be to me saith the Soul if I be alone I have long found it by too dear-bought Experience I am like a Staff and shall stand no longer then I am upheld by an Almighty Hand if God bid me come upon the fluid Waves and reach out his Hand I will venture as Peter my Feet shall not fail if Faith fail not Lord hold up my goings in thy path that my Foot-steps slip not Psal 17.5 Alas without thee I can do nothing John 5.5 But by thee I can run through a Troop and by my God I can leap over a Wall Psal 18.29 I am able to do all things through Christ that strengthens me Phil. 4.13 I find by experience that the least difficulty overmatcheth me without divine assistance and the greatest Mountains become a plain before Zerubabel My Lord of Hosts who out of weakness can make strong if he say My Grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.7 I will encounter a Goliah and in the Name of the Lord do wonders my only Strength is in thine all-sufficient Grace by the Grace of God I am what I am 1 Cor. 15.10 do what I do 6. It s a wakeful New Creature the Soul never sleeps Grace in the Soul is still waking I sleep but my Heart wakes Cant. 5.2 The wise Virgins as well as the foolish may take a Nod Matth. 25.6 7. But they are quickly awak'd with the Bridegroom 's coming Grace may lie in the dull habit or as a Spark of Fire in the Ashes but it will revive there needs not a new Life to be put in but a stirring up that vital Principle it may seem a Paradox that the Christian is distinguished from his Heart a suspension of the Actings of spiritual Liveliness and Vivacity there may be whereby the Senses are at present bound up by indisposition to Duty yet a Principle of Grace inclining to motion there may be thus there 's two different Natures in the Child of God like two distinct Persons so Paul Rom. 7.20 If I do that I would not it is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me So he distinguisheth oft betwixt I and I these different Natures have opposite Actings in the worst state of a Christian's spiritual dulness he is very apprehensive things are not right with him there 's some Convictions Challenges Purposes Protestations of the inward Man against this lazy frame it displeaseth him and he hath some faint and languid Struglings to raise himself The New Creature gives not full consent though it can act little vigorously but ther 's a lusting against each other Gal. 5.17 Peter's Faith did not act yet not totally fail when he denyed his Master For Christ's Prayer was heard for him Luk. 22.32 There is some tendency in the Heart God-wards in the Saints lowest Ebbs he 's not satisfied in his Sleepiness 7. It is an abiding New Creature it will remain and overcome all Oppositions and continue as long as the Soul continues as was said before it is an immortal Seed the world passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever 1 John 2.17 This anointing abideth in them and causeth them to abide in him ver 27. This Principle will be as a well of water springing up into everlasting Life Joh. 4.14 This fear of the Lord endureth for ever Psal 19.9 His Righteousness endureth for ever Psal 112.3 Morality withers and Decays but Sincerity will run paralel with the Life of God and Line of Eternity If thou art an Apostate thou wast never such a New Creature as I have described If you continue in my Word then are you my Disciples indeed John 8.31 Look you to your Sincerity and God will look to your Perseverance nay that Principle will be attended with an holy Jealousie which is the aw-band of the Soul and a special Preservation against Apostacy Jer. 32.40 I will put my fear in their Hearts that they shall not depart from me This Fear will teach them to incline God-wards and abhor what tends to departing from God Scripture makes this a clear evidence of a state oâ— Grace Col. 1.21 23. of interest in Christ Heb. 3 6-14 And the contrary of a Soul going off 1 John 2.19 Try your selves by this Character Do you persevere Objection How can I evidence my self to be a New Creature I am not yet at the End of my Journey who knows what I may do or be I have a backsliding Heart I may fall away before I dye Answ It s true thou canst not presage what may come but thou mayst guess at time to come from what thou hast met with in times past thou hast had experience of the operations of Grace witnessings of God's Spirit healing of Backslidings conquest of some strong Lusts victory over the World vanquishing Satan's assaults so that thou canst set up Samuel's Stone Ebenezer Hitherto hath the Lord helped 2 Sam. 7.12 And dost thou not find it on Record Phil. 1.6 Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good Work in you will perform it till the day of Jesus Christ Hath Doth Will is the Scripture-Logick its true you are not absolute Conquerorss till the last Enemy be destroyed which is Death but Scripture stile reckons sincere Combatants to be Conquerors Ye are of God little Children and have overcome them 1 John 4 4-5.4 And this is the victory that overcometh
the world even our Faith yea we are more than conquerors through him that loved us Rom. 8.37 And 't is often said To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life Rev. 2.7 Mark it it s not said to him that hath overcome but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to him that is overcoming Dost thou keep thy ground fight still though sometimes thou art foiled Yet dost thou not gain ground by thy falls mourn for Sin and grow more watchful As long as thou art in the Field against Sin Sin is not on the Throne in thy Heart And if sin have not dominion over you you are not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6.14 This Victory may be to acceptation with God though not with satisfaction to thy self Chap. XI A trial of the New Creature by its Effects Consequences and proper Operations 4. THe last way of discovering the truth of the New Creature in the Soul is by its proper Fruits and Effects as the Tree is known by its Fruits and the quality of the Spring by its Streams that issue from it I can but name these 1. The New Creature produceth a New Tongue New Speech New Expressions the Soul that was wont to speak the Language of Ashdod now speaks the Language of Canaan his Tongue was wont to Swear Lye Curse rail at Religion or vain Jangling idle Tales impertinent Stories or at best but of Weather Trading News now he changeth his Note The mouth of the Righteous speaketh Wisdom and his tongue talketh of Judgment Psal 37.30 31. Why so the law of his God is in his heart Out of the abundance of the Heart his Mouth speaks Matth. 12.34 What say you Sirs do you speak as becometh Saints not Filthiness foolish Talking or Jesting Eph. 5.3 4. Is your Speech always with Grace seasoned with Salt Col. 4.6 Not corrupt Communication but that which is good to the use of edifying Eph. 4.29 31. Do you exhort and provoke one another to Love and good Works Heb. 10.24 25. Do you speak reverently of God his Word and Works Do you with one Mind and one Mouth glorifie God Rom. 15.6 Edifie Saints and convince Gainsayers Ribauldry Barbarology and Railing are far from a Godly man's Mouth rather giving of Thanks asking and answering serious Questions with his Tongue which is his glory 2. New Works Not only New Expressions but New Actions The New Creature ingageth Men to a New Course of Life to cast off the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light to walk honestly as in the day Rom. 13.12 13 14. What a change doth it make in mens Employments their Backs are now where their Faces were and their Faces where their Backs were This Grace of God teacheth them to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously godly yea to be zealous of good works Tit. 2.11 12 14. They are wont to work hard for the world now they work out their Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 They used to follow Sports and Stage-playes now they find other employments Reading Praying Meditating examining their Consciences mortifying Lusts they find something else to do now then to spend their time in Idleness and inventing Pastimes to pass away their time they have many Graces to exercise Duties to perform personal and relative they have no time to be Idle but must fill up their time with profitable Employment to God's glory and their own good account Oh how busie is a Child of God striving to enter in at the strait gate Luk. 13.24 taking the kingdom of heaven by violence Matth. 11.12 And giving diligence to make their calling and election sure 1 Pet. 1.10 and that their Master may not find them idle but that they may be found of him in Peace 3. A New Rule suitable to the New Creature alas in time past the poor Sinner walked according to the course of this World Eph. 2.2 1 Pet. 1.18 The old Traditions and Customs of men were wont to be the carnal man's Canon he followed the multitude by conformity to the world but now the rule of the new creature is the Star he Stears his Course by Rom. 12.2 Gal. 6.16 Bring me a warrant from the Word in a plain Text or a direct unstrained Consequence to bottom my obedience upon or you say nothing God's will is my rule of obedience that only binds Conscience and the New Creature lies square to every Command The authority of God sways it because there 's something in the Soul that suits and lies square to every precept if he cannot keep any yet he hath respect to all God's Commandments Psal 119.6 He is as it were four-square lies square to every thing God makes his duty but an Hypocrite is like a round Globe toucheth in some Corner omits all but what his Interest or Fancy calls him to in that juncture yea if he should keep all yet offend in one point he is guilty of all James 2.10 A true Christian is of a Catholick Spirit an Universalist like Zechariah and Elizabeth that walked in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless Luke 1.6 These were indeed righteous if there be Circumcision of Heart there will be circumspection in Life See then you walk circumspectly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 5.15 according to command and to the height of every Command baulk none abate nothing of what God makes Duty 4. A new End design Alas Self is the End and great Idol of a carnal Heart till Grace rectifie and regulate it All seek their own Phil. 2.21 Matth. 6.2 self-ease pleasure self-profit self-honour or applause the Water will rise no higher then the Spring New Grace changeth the Biass of the Soul as a Ship sailing Westward there comes a strong Gale of Wind and carries it directly into the East Self-seeking is so natural that till Grace alter the constitution of the Soul the sinner will never be beaten off self-denyal is the first and last Lesson our Lord teacheth his Disciples Matth. 16.24 This is the first Step and highest Round in Jacob's Ladder hath thy soul so far learned it as to makes God's glory communion with him the chief aim of thy Duties Studies Endeavours canst thou soul throw thy self in the Dust that God may be on the Throne disappear that God may only be seen as John Baptist said He must increase but I must decrease John 3.30 If any good be done it s not I but the grace of God with me 1 Cor. 15.10 Let him alone have the glory let the Crown be set no where but on Christ's Head Psal 151. Cant. 3.11 It becomes him best I will cast down my Crown before the Throne and say Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power Rev. 4.10 11. As all the Lines tend to the center so shall all my Actions tend only to thy glory Let God in all things be glorified though I be vilified 1 Pet.
happiness consists in being and your comfort in knowing you are New Creatures Heb. 6.10 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end Another Text calls for a full assurance of Faith in drawing nigh to God Heb. 10.22 Another speaks of Assurance of understanding yea full Assurance yea Riches of full assurance Col. 2.2 Then indeed thy Heart will be comforted to the purpose O labour after much Grace much Comfort or the joy of the Lord is your strength Neh. 8.10 and will chear up your Hearts in every condition and affliction O Brethren content not your selves to live at Uncertainties or under Doubts but use all means to attain to the highest pitch of Assurance that is attainable in this world 2. Thank God for this rich mercy of the New Creation in your Souls will you bless God for the good Creatures that nourish your Bodies and will you not adore him for this new and more excellent Creature in your inward man Say as the blessed Apostle 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead Next to Christ's blessed Undertakings for you this is the greatest mercy God vouchsafed to you to form Christ in your Souls Alas what were you better then the rest of the corrupt Mass of Mankind that lay in the Ordure of Sin What desert was there in you that you should be raised up to sit with Princes even with the Princes of his People to be made like Angels Surely you that are such Patterns of Mercy must be Trumpets of God's Praise you that were stinking Carcases incarnate Devils to be made by this New Creation a chosen Generation a royal Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar People what is this for but that you should shew forth the Praises of him who hath called you out of Darkness into his marvelous Light 1 Pet. 2.9 O admire free Grace and say with David Who am I O Lord God and what is my House that thou hast brought me hitherto 2 Sam. 7.18 How many Millions of pretending Christians know nothing of this great Work experimentally this is as Life from the Dead infinitely better then natural Life and all the comforts there of 3. Take heed of declining or Apostasy The New Creature is but a Creature it may fail yea it will fail if not supported by an Almighty Hand and if God be provoked he may justly withdraw and leave us to our selves then we fall as a Staff supported by an Hand its true the Covenant secures real Saints from falling finally but imperfect Grace exposeth them to falling foully as David Peter Be jealous of thy self Blessed is he that feareth always Prov. 28.14 Be not secure that exposeth to Satan's Temptations Sleep levels all the Wise Man is no wiser then a Fool to project his own safety or the Strong Man better than the Weak to defend himself the best of Saints in Spiritual Slumber becomes as Sampson but like another man watch that you enter not into Temptation Matth. 26.41 It 's worth watching to keep the House from Robbing Sleeping one Night may keep thee waking many Nights in Sorrow as it did David The sleepy Christian oft loseth God's Presence as Christ withdrew from the sleepy Spouse Cant. 5.2 4. A sleepy Soul is not capable of improving Christ or Grace put the sweetest Wine in a sleepy Man's Hand it will be spilt And if at any time you take a Nap rouze up your selves gird on your Armour rally your routed Forces Remember whence you are fallen repent do your first Works Rev. 2.5 Awake out of your Lethargy lest it end in Apostasy when thou hast fallen shew this New Creature is in thee by a rebound upwards in renewed Purposes against Sin recover thy Spiritual strength activity and familiarity with God be restless till Matters be set right again like a Bird from its Nest a Stone from its Center or as undigested Meat on a sick Stomach that hath no ease till Sin be pickt up by a Vomit of Repentance and renewed Acts of Faith Look to your selves that we lose not those things which we have wrought but that we receive a full reward 2 John 8. 4. Get this New Creature increased be not content with the habit if you say you have enough you have no Grace your business is to perfect Holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 To grow in Grace that you may be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might 2 Pet. 3.18 2 Tim. 2.1 Dead things grow not Children grow and are fed by that by which they were bred as new born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word that you may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2.2 Be often sucking the Breasts and you will grow up to further maturity There is saith one much Scurf on the Face of this new born Babe of Grace which by degrees will wear off as it grows up and so be more discernable growth helps to see its truth blow up this Spark into a Flame and it will be visible An Hypocrite grows not no more than the Hands Arms Legs of a pictured Child on the Wall let it be there never so long Oh strive to grow every day better to grow from strength to strength Psal 84.7 reaching after Perfection in Grace to run the Race set before you to get daily more power against Corruption He is a careful and skilful Physician that evacuates the Disease and corroborates or strengthens the Body you must do both the Old Man and New Creature are like Weights in Ballances as the one ascends the other descends as the Earth and Sea where the one loseth the other gaineth Oh be still on the gaining Hand improve all Mercies Afflictions Ordinances Providences for nourishing this New Creature in your Souls when you are grown most you will still be defective something will still be lacking in your Faith Love Humility 1 Thes 3.10 You know but in part and are not yet ripe 5. Live up to this New Creature live at the rate of Persons so principled walk worthy of God who hath called you into his Kingdom and glory worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called 1 Thes 2.12 Let your Conversation be as becometh the Gospel Eph. 4.1 Phil. 1.27 There 's an Only upon this as a most comprehensive Word you must act above the rate of carnal men Soberly Righteously Godly Tit. 2.12 If you be singled out to be New Creatures what singular thing do you Matth. 5.47 What do you more then others Remember Sirs you are New Creatures an old Heart would have served well enough to have done the Devil's drudgery withal you are new born to higher Employment now you must serve not in the oldness of the Letter but in the newness of the Spirit Rom. 7.6 When the
low but aim high conclude you have not attained to Perfection Phil. 3.13 15. Rom. 12. but still be designing it be not high-minded yet mind highest things aspire to be better then others yet esteem others better than you Phil. 2.3 4. 9. Do all you must not all you may Eph. 5.15.1 Cor. 10.23 walk to the height of a Command not to the utmost of lawful liberty go not near the Pit's brink stand fast in your Christian liberty Gal. 5.1 13. but do not always use it 10. Be best when others are worst be as Noah in the Old World Gen. 6.9 19. Lot in Sodom Timothy in Ephesus Joshua among the Israelites be hottest in coldest Weather brightest in the darkest Night Savour of Heaven in Hell Neh. 5 20-5.15 Phil. 2.15 11. Be Rational when most Spiritual do nothing at hap-hazard or with a blind Zeal let all Services be reasonable Rom. 12.1 Ezek. 18. God's Will is our Rule and his ways are equal the highest Reason in Man is to comply with God's pleasure 12. Naturalize Religion and Spiritualize the World let Godliness be as second nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Phil. 2.20 Let common Objects Occurrences be well improved to good Ends and Purposes Mercies Afflictions Spiritual Chymists turn all to Gold Rom. 8.28 13. Be dead living and lively in thoughts of Death Col. 3.3 Gal. 6.14 A Child of God is a Paradox dead to the World crucified yet the most active and vigorous Person in the World you must have the best Death and best Life then fear not Death 14. Suit Grace to every case in confessing Sin mourn in begging Mercy working Desires in Thanksgiving Joyfulness yet rejoyce with trembling 1 Cor. 15.30 55. Heb. 2.14 Psal 38.18 Matth. 5.4 Psal 2.11 Phil. 1.2 Psal 26.12 in Prosperity have Humility in Adversity Contentment your Foot must still stand in an even place 15. Let your life be a Comment on your Faith let your believing and living be harmonious let Doctrine of Faith Grace of Faith Life of Faith sweetly correspond Doctrine according to Godliness Godliness according to Truth James 2.18 1 Tim. 1.5 Tit. 1.1 Rom. 2.18 23 24. Jer. 32.19 Let not Head and Hands be contradictory 16. Eye God that eyes you in all you do think the King of Heaven sees thee the Omnipresent God is in the room with thee the Omniscient God knows thy Heart approve thy Heart to God let thine Eyes be ever on him towards him Psal 35.15.26 3. 17. Eccho to divine Calls when God hath a Mouth to speak have an Ear Tongue say Here I am Word or Rod a call to Duty from Sin what 's the meaning of this Oh that I could attain God's end and not resist or quench the holy Spirit 1 Sam. 3. Psal 27.8 Mich. 6.9 1 Thes 5.19 18. Observe and make up daily decays keep up your Watch that you sin not Matth. 26.41.1 John 2.2 But if you sin lie not in it but rise mourn act Faith on Christ your great Advocate let not an ill matter go on quickly recover your first Love Rev. 2.4 5. 19. Give no Offence carelesly and take no Offence causlesly let there be no occasion of stumbling in you 1 John 2.10 Matth. 7.1 Judge not uncharitably take all that 's said and done by the right handle make no sinister Constructions 1 Cor. 10.32 20. When you have done all Luke 17.10 Phil. 3.7 8. Say all this is as nothing at all to appease God's Wrath or satisfie Justice in an absolute Sense and to do what 's required in a comparative sense without Christ I can do nothing John 15.5 Thus I have briefly touch'd the Rules of this New Creature which I leave to the Reader 's further Consideration and Practice Chap. XIV An ANSWER to some Cases of Conscience 4. THe last Head which I propounded in this Use of Instruction is Answering some Cases of Conscience that Godly Souls are apt to make in this case wherein I must be very brief 1st Case Whether is it possible that a Man can be a New Creature and not know it since it is so remarkable a change Answ I have hinted at this before but observe it you must distinguish betwixt a reflexive sense of a change in Heart and Life and a due apprehension of this change morally considered as Saving many a Soul can truly say something hath been done but I know not whether the thing which may be entituled A New Creature I am much in the dark about it I cannot but say I have had Convictions and something like Conversion though not Consolation I am kept still in innitency upon a Promise though I cannot say I have assurance of my Interest in the Covenant Precious Mr. Paul Bains could say Sustentation I have but Suavities Spiritual I do not experience So you may have the Root though not the Flower VVater of Sanctification though not the Oyl of Gladness wait on God and in due time you may have this cleared up to you If you follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the Morning Hos 6.3 Grace and Peace shall not be long parted Light is sown for the Righteous and Joy for the upright in Heart Psal 97.11 It 's not lost but laid up and hid in the Furrows of the Believer's Bosom 2d Case Whether is it possible that he that 's a New Creature should have a self-accusing self-condemning Conscience Answ You must distinguish of Consciences condemning a man's self 1. Passively when our Hearts censure us and we stifle them such a one indeed is self-condemned 2. If we be Active in condemning our selves it 's a good Sign and a great Duty as we shewed before but the meaning of this Query refers to the State of the Man whether the Conscience of a New Creature may censure the real Christian and tell him he is an Hypocrite To which I Answer If Conscience act according to the Rule of the VVord it must be regarded as God's Officer speaking by his authority but if it speak not in God's Name and by his order we may appeal to the Higher Court of the Holy Scriptures and it 's certain that Conscience may be corrupted and it is often used by Satan to deceive good Men as well as bad and they shall at last have their action against Satan for false Imprisonment and disturbing their Peace Your best course therefore is to have recourse to the VVord for Conscience is but an under Officer and must be accountable for its Verdict Remember it 's one thing to have Hypocrisie in thy Heart another thing to be an Hypocrite the best will find much Guilt within them which Conscience rebukes them for and they bewail it but they are not therefore Hypocrites 3d. Case Whether may God carry it strangely as if he were an Enemy to a New Creature that should seem to be his darling Answ Thou art a Stranger to Scripture and the Experiences of all God's Children if thou think God must always be dandling this
New Creature on his Knee or giving it the Kisses of his Mouth no no he hath reserved these Sweat-meats for the upper Table in Heaven there 's great reason thou should have his Frowns as well as Smiles to humble thy Heart exercise thy Graces discover the necessity of Christ the desireableness of Heaven God can and may without any impediment to his Love hide it for a season from his own dearest Child David indeed called in question God's Love and Faithfulness when he hid his Face but at last he found that it was his Infirmity and doubtless lamented it as his Sin God hath given abundant Security in his Promises of his Love without present sense you must not think much at him if he do not come to visit you and take you up in his Arms as oft as you would have him Thou needst some purging Physick as well as Cordials a Son may need a Frown as well as a Smile from his Father God is a free Agent his Kisses are his own but it s well thou art so sensible of his Access and Recess his Smiles and Frowns it 's a sign of some Spiritual Life in thy Soul 4th Case But you said the New Creature grows I find it otherwise I cannot see that I grow in Grace nay I decline and go backwards what think you of that I Answer As the Christian grows in Grace so he grows in Light to discover his state and sees more vileness in himself and is still more sensible of decays in Grace which keeps him humble self-denying and vile in his own Eyes that 's growth too bless God for it but observe it grains of allowance must be given to Old Age when natural parts decay and Persons may not be so quick and lively as formerly yet may be more solid and increasing in Experiences Mr. Greenham said It 's an hard and rare thing to keep up young Zeal with old Discetion Dost thou not keep up a more constant course of Duty settled Resolutions for God Is not thy Heart more deaded to the world taken up with things unseen Art thou not more composed under Afflictions dost thou not more discover and bewail Spiritual Sins Dost thou not long more after the good of Relations take more delight in God's VVord breathe after more of God's Presence in Ordinances Speak out Man deal faithfully bear not false witness against thy self yet it 's true the growing Tree meets with a fall of the Leaf a sharp Winter yet doth a Spring come it grows in the Summer Peter's Fall was recruited to geater boldness for God but I hope thou art not a backslider in Heart Prov. 14.14 To dislike the ways of God Thou art but overtaken with a Sin against thy strong Purposes Gal. 6.1 When thou sleepest doth not thy Heart wake Cant. 5.2 Thou art not pleased with this declining state Thy Spirit is willing but thy Flesh is weak Matth. 26.41 5th Case But alas I have such strong impetuous yea imperious workings of Corruption in my Heart as never any had that hath a principle of Grace None like me Is it possible I should be a New Creature I Answer The Heart knows its own bitterness and wickedness Prov. 14.10 Every gracious Soul thinks his own Heart worst because he knows it best But who told thee that thy Heart was so bad Was it always thus with thee Was there not a time that thou thoughtest thy Heart was as good as any Bodies Is it not Spiritual Light that makes these strange Discoveries Whatsoever doth make manifest is Light Eph. 5.13 Did not Sin revive upon the coming of the Commandment Rom. 7.9 But Friend let me ask thee Dost thou think that upon the planting of this New Creature in thy Soul Sin should be utterly extirpated that thou shouldst hear no more of it Dost thou not find even blessed Paul groaning still under a Body of Death Rom. 7.24 Will not the Flesh still lust against the Spirit Gal. 5.17 Surely thou knowest little of a Christian state if thou imaginest a total Immunity from the Body and Indwelling of Sin in this world It s well if Sin be not upon the Throne though thou hast it in the Field to fight with the Gospel-privilege is Sin shall not have dominion over thee because thou art under Grace Rom. 6.14 6th Case But what will you say by a Man that cannot give a precise account of the Time and Manner of the forming of this New Creature in his Heart that never had such terrors as some have I Answer Will any say the River Nilus is no River because men never found out the Head of it God is a free Agent and hath different Seasons and Manners of working Some were wrought upon in their younger days and were religiously educated and never stept aside into gross Sins and God steals in gently upon them and opens their Hearts as he did Lydia's Acts 16.14 and gently attracts them to himself picking the Lock as it were without much noise whenas he breaks the Wards in others with astonishing Convictions as he dealt with Paul and Luther and famous Mr. Bolton Some are of mild and gentle Natures and God sees they cannot bear hard blows which some others need of sturdy and stubborn Spirits Do not murmur but thank God that he hath come so sweetly into thy Soul he knows thy frame and constitution See the Work be there and a Scriptural work and leave God to his liberty But this thou canst say through Grace it is not with thee now as it hath been as the blind man said I may be ignorant of some Circumstances But one thâ— I know that whereas I was blind now I see John 9.25 Things are otherwise represented to me and my Spirit working otherwise within then formerly So that I may say as Rebekah with her Twins in her Womb If it be so or not so why am I thus 7th Case But alas no Body knows what a frame of Spirit I have in my Prayers such Distractions and Diversions I have from God as cannot be consistent with the New Creature in any what think you Answer I say 't is sad that such Vermin should crawl in God's Sanctuary especially when thou art in God's immediate worship but dost thou approve of them and make them welcome Are they not troublesome Guests Do they not forcibly assault thee as so many unmannerly Guests Suppose in your Family as you are kneeling in Prayer a company of Roysters stand under your VVindow roaring and hollowing though it disturb you would you thence question your Sincerity in the Duty And 't is all one whether the disturbance be in the Room or in the Bosom since both are disliked as a burden to thee Mr. Tho. Shepard Treat of Distract I often reflect on a passage I read many Years ago The good Lord keep the Hearts of his People under a due sense of their Distractions for they are never like to be rid of them while they