overthrows the Devils Kingdom as the blowing of the Rams horns did fell down the walls of Jericho By this means the dead are raised to Life the blind are made to see Acts 26.18 and deaf ears are unstoped By the Gospel men are Translated out of the Kingdom of darkness into Christ's Kingdom of Light 7. God Regenerates men to and for holy and gracious ends and purposes They are created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God had before ordained that they should walk in them Eph. 2.10 That they that live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him that dyed for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5.15 That they should walk in newness of Life and not serve sin Rom. 6.4 6. God Crowns them with and makes them the subject of his special grace that they may be Agents of his glory in bringing forth fruit worthy of their new state God hath great ends in bestowing great grace and special ends in giving special grace God honours and beautifies men with his grace that they may therewith adorn his Gospel and exalt his name By Regeneration God makes men loving and lovely and meetens them for communion with himself I have I think said enough to or of the definition of Regeneration therefore shall say no more of it in this place Quest. Pray explain the great work of Regeneration more fully and shew us what those works of God on men are that do not amount to or ordinarily Issue in Regeneration that so we may clearly understand what Regeneration is not and also what it is Answ I shall first shew what t is not 2. What it is more fully First Meer light in the head is not Regeneration For men may have much Spiritual light without Spirittual Life Some are enlightened who fall away from the truth and become Apostates Heb. 6.4 5 6. and after they have known the way of Righteousness do turn from the holy commands of God to their own wicked ways 2 Pet. 2.21 22. And we read of some who knew their Lords will but did it not Luk. 12.47 which shews that they were never Regenerated Secondly Men may have many and great convictions of sin and of their miserable and wretched conditions by reason thereof they may be under much trouble of Spirit and cry out with tears and heart-grief and they may mourn and be in bitterness of Soul in the sight of their sad case and perishing state and yet all may be blown over and come to nothing but end in sin and eternal death Pharoah crys out I am wicked Exod. 9.27 and Saul saw his wickedness and wept 1 Sam. 24.16 and confessed his sin 1 Sam. 26.21 Wicked Ahab had conviction of and was greatly troubled for his sin and humbled himself 1 King 21.27 28 29. so the Israelites in the Wilderness and afterward Judas was troubled and crys I have sinned Matth. 26.3 4. yet none of them were Regenerated Thirdly Men may greatly reform their ways and look like New Creatures their Conversations may be white while their hearts are black they may have a clean outside when they are foul and abominable within they may appear beautiful to men whilest they are but whited Sepulchres and full of all manner of wickedness within Mat. 23.25 26 27 28. they may be washed and yet be still Swine 2 Pet. 2.22 and they may go for Saints amongst men whilest they are Devils within Judas was so and the Lord Jesus tells us that many go in Sheeps cloathing but are indeed Wolves Matth. 7.15 Therefore meer Reformation is not Regeneration Thou mayst forsake many sins whilest thou lovest them and perform many duties that thou lovest not but loathest Herod was a Reformer he did many good things Mark 6.20 but he was not a New Man Fourthly Thou mayst have much spiritual joy and yet be still an unregenerate man Herod heard John preach with gladness Mark 6.20 The stony-ground hearers had joy for a time in the good ways of God Mat. 13.20 Thou mayst have many tasts of the good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come Hebr. 6.4 5. yea thou mayst have such tasts of the Heavenly Gift as to raise thy Soul to delight in drawing nigh to God in his Ordinances of Divine Worship and continue in thy unregenerate state Isa 58.2 Fifthly Thou mayst believe the truths of the Gospel and on the Lord Jesus Christ and yet be in an unregenerate state and condition Simon Magus believed when in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity Act. 8.13.23 The rockie hearers did believe a while but were afterward Apostates Luk. 8.13 Christ his hearers are said to believe on him Joh. 8.30 yet in verse 44. he calls them the children of the Devil Ye are says he of your Father the Devil and his works ye will do The Hypocrites mentioned in Psal 106.12 13 14. were said to believe and so may you have Faith and believe and yet be Hypocrites still You may think you do believe aright unto Salvation when in truth you do not but delude your own Souls Sixthly Thou mayst be much in hearing and praying and yet be an unregenerate man Herod was a hearer of John Mark 6.20 Hypocrites in Ezekiel were great hearers of him and he was to them as a very lovely Song Ezek. 33.30 31 32. The three bad grounds were all hearers of the Gospel Matth. 13 18-22 but not a good hearer amongst them they were all stark naught and so mayst thou be also who art a great hearer of good men and then for praying or rather saying of prayers thou mayst pray often and long and yet be an hypocrite and an unregenerate man yea thou mayst have the gift of prayer and yet be a graceless man The Scribes and Pharisees made many and long prayers Matth. 23.14 So the hypocrites we read of in Job Chap. 27.8.10 Many make such prayers as God abhors and will not hear Isa 1.14 15. Seventhly Thou mayst be very strict and very severe in fasting and afflicting thy self and yet be an unregenerate man The Scribes and Pharisees fasted and afflicted themselves in the height of their hypocrisie Luke 18.12 I fast twice in the week And wherefore have we fasted and afflicted our souls say the hypocrites in Isa 58.3 and the like they did in Babylon Zach. 7.5 6. Eighthly Thou mayst be a charitable man I mean thou mayst give much Alms to the poor and yet be an unregenerate man The Scribes and Pharisees did so Mat. 6.1 2. Luk. 18.12 Ninthly Thou mayst be a zealous man for and in Religion and yet be in an unregenerate state Paul was so before his Regeneration Act. 22.3 Gal. 1.14 The Jews had a zeal for God when in their blindness and hardness of heart Rom. 10.2 Thou mayst be of a warm zealous spirit even whilest thou hast a carnal unregenerate heart Tenthly Thou mayst have much Integrity and do many good things uprightly or without designed guile or fraud towards God
leads theâ— to and directs them to walk in it 2 Cor. 4.6 Isa 30.20 21. but unregenerate men do stumble at it they know not whether they go because darkness hath blinded their eyes 1 Joh. 2.11 But the path of the Just is as the shining light that shining more and more unto the perfect day Pro. 4.18 5. They see and know in measure what Communion with God is or what it is to have Communion with God they might hear of such a thing before but now they know whaâ— it means They are called into the Fellowship of Christ 1 Cor. 1.9 1 Joh. 1.3 It is their promised priviledge and blessing and they have the real experimental knowledge of it Joâ— 14.21.23 But unregenerate men have iâ— not know it not it is none of their priviledge they desire they chuse it not They are in Fellowship with the World and their Lusts and are well satisfied and contented therewith But I may not inlarge 6. They see and know the Power of Godliness 2 Tim. 3.5 The Word and Spirit of Christ hath fallen and wrought on and iâ— them with Power and saving Efficacy brought them into and set up Godliness in power in them 1 Thes 1.5 Rom. 1.16 Their dearts and Souls are subdued to it and swallowed up in it the Form of Godliness is a poor empty thing to them without the power of it in their heart But it is not so with unregenerate men they see not any Religion or Godliness beyond the form or outside it is not formed or set up in their hearts and therefore see little or nothing in Religion Godliness or Religious matters But unregenerate men do see and find a glorious Excellency in it it is exceeding precious lovely and profitable to them They see that worth and Excellency in it as to cause them to love and honour it to prize value and esteem it as worthy of all acceptation to cherish keep and augment it to improve and practise it and to walk worthy of it to the glory of the Giver of it 7. They see and know the vanity and nothingness of the Creature and that they are not indeed such things as they verily thought them to be before their Regeneration Their Opinion of them is changed it is now quite another thing Before they looked on them and their having and enjoying them as their portion and happiness Oh thought they what a brave thing is it to be rich what happy men are they who have abundance of riches honours pleasures they doted on them as on their Gods and Lovers and their very imaginations of them ravished their hearts but now they see their folly and how they were mistaken and deluded in their judgments and imaginations They now see them to be but vanity and vexation of spirit in comparison of Christ Grace and Heavenly things Eccl. 1.2 Phil. 3.19 20. 'T is true they do not now simply contemn them but own them and use them as Gods Mercies thank and praise him for them but comparatively only with Christ Grace and Heavenly things Now they see that they are but left-hand and foot-stool Mercies that they are not worth the having nor coveting after but with and in Christ Grace Pardon and Holiness and in order to their living to God with them and enjoying of him in them But unregenerate men see them with other eyes and they have other thoughts of them They account them their good things as the only or chiefest good their great portion and happiness and accordingly they act walk and steer their course follow after them and greedily pursue them Luk. 16.25 Rom. 8.5 For indeed whatever they do profess or pretend to the contrary they do not see nor mind any higher good 8. They see and know the vanity and emptiness of that which they did bear upon and glory in namely their own Righteousness They once thought that they had that in them and such works were performed by them as would commend them unto God and incline his heart to love and pity them to accept and save them But now they see they were deceived that all their Righteousnesses are but filthy rags dirt and dung and that they are so far from being accepted or accounted of in Heaven as that they are matters of contempt and loathing Phil. 3.7 8. Isa 64.6 Matth. 23. So that that which was their glory is now their shame Their Gay Cloathing are now meer Rags in their account Why Because they see with other eyes and by a better light than they did before They see they were building themselves on a Sandy Bottom which would have sunk under them and they and it must have perished together had they not been taken off it by the power of Regenerating Grace But now this is all they have to glory in who are Professors of Godliness in an unregenerate state namely God I thank thee I am not as other men I fast twice in the week I give Tythes of all that I possess c. Luke 18.9 10 11 12. Phil. 3.7 9. They see and know the Lord Jesus Christ and his Gospel-will revealed in Scripture they are spiritualized and made spiritual men by Regeneration and thereby are enabled to judge all or of all spiritual things in measure 1 Cor. 2.15 They heard of Christ and his Will before but now they see and know him and it But more of this anone 10. They see and know in measure the great work of real Gospel-Obedience what it is how to be performed and also the holy Ghost his teachings helpings quickenings and comfortings in and to their Gospel-Obedience They see wide difference between meer doing of that which is good and that with and by meer natural helps and principles and that which is real Gospel Obedience of the heart in it Ro. 6.17 as likewise the Spirits helping their Infirmities Ro. 8.26 But Unregenerate men know nothing of these matters But I have done with this These are some and but some of the things matters and objects which by regenerating light they are enabled to see and discern as you that are regenerated can witness Now then try your selves by what hath been already said of seeing or of the seeing and knowing sense Secondly as Regenerate Persons can see and do know the matters and things they saw not before so secondly they are enabled to see and understand such spiritual things and matters which they had some knowledge of before their Regeneration more clearly plainly distinctly experimentally and powerfully then they did or could before For they had only a dim weak and general natural and spiritual light and sight before They did see but understood not what they saw Isa 6.9 They are like Men or Children that see some rare and pretious Jewels or Cordials but know not what they are neither understand the worth excellency and usefulness of them as Artificers do or like such as hear Musick in a strange Tone and Language they know not what it means
in a Regenerate state they are high noble and honourable They were wont to make the Lusts of the flesh of the eye and the pride of life the mark they shot at and the point scope and end of all their projects contrivements and endeavours but Regeneration hath sublimated and heightned their spirits caused them to see and carry on more worthy and glorious designs and ends their hearts are in measure suited to the Commands of God and the end of Christ his Death This the Apostle notably declares 2 Cor. 5.15 and that he died for all that they that live that is that are Regenerated and begotten again to a lively hope should not henceforth live unto themselves but to whom then why to him who died for them and rose again They are now partakers of the Divine Nature and are of a heavenly descent they are the spiritually natural and adopted Sons and Daughters of God the Off-spring and Royal Issue of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and therefore they must needs have aims ends and designs in their eyes and hearts according to their new Nature and Royal Spirits Now their Hearts and Souls are bent and set to live in the Court in the presence of the King to wait on and do homage to him to honour serve and please him to keep his favour and smiles of his countenance to know his pleasure and yield him free and chearful obedience thereunto to inrich themselves with his graces and Spirit and prepare themselves for full and everlasting Communion with himself Now they desire to hold up his Interest and Concerns in the world to inlarge and augment his Kingdom and to have their light so to shine in the world before men as that they may see their good works and be induced to glorifie God Matth. 5.16 These and such like glorious ends and designs are in the New Creatures eye but to live project and contrive to get and keep worldly riches honours pleasures beauty and a great name are things far beneath the Noble and excellent nature and spirit of the New Creature it is of a Christ-like Spirit and Nature and therefore it must of necessity have and design the same ends he doth Their old ends are passed away and new take place 5 New Rules or Laws Regeneration brings into a man and puts him under new Laws Orders and Rules All things are become new Before Regeneration they were ruled and governed by the will of the Flesh the counsels of the Flesh the suggestions of Satan and examples of carnal men and accordingly they walked and steered their course blest themselves in so doing promising peace and felicity to themselves in those ways of their own hearts Isa 66.3 1 Thes 5.3 But Regeneration puts into them and brings them under the Laws and Orders of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom into which they are translated Col. 1.3 The Laws written in the Gospel are by Regeneration written with the Finger of the Holy Ghost in their hearts so that now they have as it were two Bibles or Books of Laws the one in their hand the other in their hearts Jer. 31.33 Jer. 32.40 Heb. 8.10 11. Heb. 10.16 By these Laws and Rules they desire chuse and endeavour to walk under them to live and be subject to them and to none else The New Creature knows no other Lord Laws or Law-giver over it's Soul and Conscience but Christ it freely yields up its self to all chearful obedience to all his Laws and accounts it his happiness to walk by his Rules he honours them and is thankful for them These are his Laws upon choice and his obedience to them he esteems as a great priviledge and honour Deut. 4.8 He would not vary from them but have them continually before him in his eye heart and hand he makes them his delights and Councellours and they are the joy and rejoycing of his heart as David and Jeremy experienced When they vary from them or in any thing transgress them they are afflicted and when they conform to them they rejoyce Q. You said before that Regeneration signifies a change of state or a second state pray shew what is meant by a second or new state that Regeneration puts men into Answ I have shewed you already that Regeneration puts men into a new state of life it translates and raises them from spiritual death to spiritual life from darkness to light c. by the infusion of the Spirit Light and Life of Christ And several things have already been discoursed on which may not here be mentioned but shall refer you to what hath been said before Here I shall add secondly that Regeneration transplants men out of the old Adam into the new it takes them from the old stock and grafts them into the new out of the Earthy man and puts them into the Heavenly 1 Cor. 15. By Regeneration they are actually put into Christ and Christ into them they are taken out of the Kingdom of Satan and put into the Kingdom of Christ as these Scriptures shew Rom. 8.9 10. 2 Cor. 5.17 2 Cor. 13.5 Col. 1.13 Acts 26.18 Joh. 18.36 Men are first put into Christ by Election they are said to be chosen in Christ Eph. 1.4 and that before the Foundation of the World and they were united to Christ in his Incarnation when he took up our Nature into a Personal Union with the Divine but in Regeneration we are fully and compleatly actually and personally united to Christ with our own choise and free consent so that here is a great change indeed Regenerate persons are set into a new and living stock which will yield sufficient sap and nourishment to such grafts I am the Vine says Christ ye are the Branches Joh. 15.5 And hence it is that they bear much fruit unto Eternal Life after Regeneration Joh. 15.5 Joh. 4.36 By Regeneration we are made Subjects of his Kingdom and living Members of his Body 1 Cor. 6.15 Eph. 1. ult Eph. 5.30 They are now of another Kingdom and Corporation of another Root Stock and Body of another Family and Houshold Eph. 2.19 20. Thirdly Regeneration puts men into a state of liberty and freedom In their unregenerate state they are in bondage in prison and slavery to their Lusts Rom. 6.17 to Satan 2 Tim. 2. ult Eph. 2.2 They are also in bondage under the Law and enjoyned to keep every tittle of it on pain of Eternal Death Gal. 3.10 Rom. 6.14 They are also by Nature Children of wrath as they are sinners and transgressors of the Law Eph. 2.3 And they are as sinners under the damning Sentence of the Law Joh. 3.18 Moreover the Scripture tells us that all men while in their unregenerate states are Prisoners Isa 61.1 and Prisoners in the Pit Zach. 9.11 This and much more is their misery and bondage thraldom and slavery while in their state of sin but now Regeneration sets them at liberty and freedom Gal. 5.1.13 Christ hath by his
Pardon of all your Sins for time to come Exod. 34.6 7. Isa 55.7 Jer. 31.34 hence the Lord Jesus commands and directs them Namely you that are Gods Children to Pray Our Father forgive us our Trespasses Math. 6.12 And Paul tells us from Christ that there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 and if there be indeed no condemnation then no Sin unpardoned To the same purpose Christ speaks in Joh. 5.24 He that is passed from Death to Life as all Regenerate Persons are shall not come into Condemnation Therefore encourage your selves in true holiness hereby 2. You have the Promises of Cleansing and Healing you or of Gods sanctifying and purifying your hearts Hosea 14.4 For which end and purpose among other Christ gave himself Tit. 2.14 Eph. 5.25.26 And sets open the Fountain to flow in upon us Zach. 13.1 And Ezek. 36.25.26.27 I will sprinkle clean Water on them and they shall be clean and from all their filthiness and from all their Idols will I cleanse them 3. You have promises of perseverance in Godlyness unto the end of your race until you have finished your course here you shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 And my sheep follow me and I give to them eternal Life and they shall never Perish neither shall any take them out of my hand Joh. 10.27.28.29 Moreover God tells us that for our more certain and full assurance of our safety and security he will keep us water us every moment yea and keep us Night and Day Isa 27.2.3 And engages himself that whatever enemies beset us round about and seek to devour us that he will watch us and be our defence by being a wall of Fire round about us Zach. 2.5 God hath promised that he will put his fear into their hearts and they shall not depart from him Jer. 32.40 and that his Children shall call him my Father and shall not turn away from him Jer. 3.19 They have underneath them the Everlasting Armes and they are held in his hand They are safe within the walls of their Fathers house and are guarded with the holy Angells Their victory over all their enemies is sure because they are ever under the Conduct of their great Captain Christ and fight under his Banner in his cause and quarrel with his Armor of proof who hath all their enemies under his feet Their Lusts the world and Devil are all in subjection unto your great King and Captain And because the Victory is sure on our side as fighting under him he is stiled the Captain of our salvation And therefore you may be sure you shall not Perish For you have all possible security from him and his Father to strengthen and encourage to fence and arme you against all your own fears weakness and temptations whatsoever Even the Gates of Hell shall not be able to prevaile against you But if you are in a state of Grace you shall most certainly run your Race win the Prize and wear the Crown of Righteousness For you have their bonds for your security who are both able faithful to perform and make them good to you and to all who shall trust and rely on them for the doing of it 4. You have promises of Peace This is one of your husbands Legacies to you Joh. 14.27 Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you And in Joh. 16. ult In the world saith Christ ye shall have tribulation but in me ye shall have peace And Glory honour and peace to every man that worketh Righteousness Rom. 2.10 and as many as walk according to this Rule peace be to them Gal. 6.16 So in Phil. 4.7 And the peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds This Spiritual peace is a fruit of Gods Love and the mediation of Christ of our Justification and Sincerity of heart towards God and men For he is our peace Eph. 2.14 and being Justifyed by faith we have peace with God Rom. 5.1 Those that know and have experienced the great and sore Affliction and trouble of a wounded Conscience which none can bear Pro. 18.14 and the load and weight of guilt and fear on the Soul can give a better account of the worth and Excellency of this peace of God For indeed it is so great that it passeth all understanding Phill. 4.7 5. Satisfaction You have the promisses of being satisfied with good The meaning is not so to be satisfied with what we have as not to desire and seek for more of that and other mercies no but to be satisfied with and in the will and disposements of God and the measure of our present Enjoyments untill God shall augment them Joh. 4.14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst Isa 58.10 Jer. 31.14.25 It is a great mercy to have a satisfied and contented Spirit with Gods Allowance and at the same time to endeavour after more An unsatisfied Spirit is very sinful grievous vexatious to a mans own Soul He enjoys not what he hath that is not satisfied in the will of God â—â—ith his portion and measure God dispences â—is favours according to his sovereign wisdom Will and Grace he gives two Talents to one servant and to another five Math. 25. to declare and make known to men his soveraignty and dominion over them and that he doth in Heaven and Earth whatsoever pleaseth him That he will not dispose of his favors according to our wills but his one 6. You have promises of Assistance in your duties or of a supply of the Spirit of Grace and the Grace of the Spirit to enable you to performe them according to the will of God even to acceptation in Heaven Phill. 4.19 And my God shall supply all your wants Psal 84.11 The Lord God is a Sun and shield he will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly as all Regenerate men may do The holy Spirit is promised to help our Infirmities and enable us to do the will of God acceptably Rom. 8.26 27. Zach. 12.10 And fear not Jacob my Servant although thou art a worm a poor weak Creature yet seeing thou art a New Creature I will help thee yea I will strengthen thee yea I will uphold thee with the Right hand of my Righteousness Isa 41.10 13 14. He giveth power to the Saint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength That they that wait on him may encrease their strength to run and not be weary Isa 40.29 31. so that whatever God calls you to and sets you upon be sure that he will fully enable you to do it how weak soever you are in and of your selves For God is strong and faithful who hath promised it 7. Joy and Consolation God hath priviledged you with promises of rejoycing your hearts and of causing
sole and only Author of it without the help or assistance of men God needs none of their help neither can they afford him any at all towards their Renovation and therefore it is God alone For first men are all dead in sins and Trespasses Eph. 2.1 5. and therefore cannot move themselves to produce new habits or principles of that they have not nor can they set forward the great work of Regeneration in themselves for want of Life to act withall 2. Blind They are in gross darkness Isa 60.2 They cannot so much as see where nor what they are nor where they are going Joh. 12 35. They are born blind and continue such They see not the Light that shines round about them Joh. 1.5 much less can they direct themselves in procuring or forwarding their own Regeneration 3. There is nothing in them to make use of towards the production of it but very much to impede and hinder the work They will it not neither will they suffer God to do it until he hath mightily perswaded and bowed them to yield Phil. 2.13 Psal 110.3 therefore it is not in them to work it in themselves As they will not come to Christ that they may have Life Joh. 5.40 so they will not have him to come and create his Life in them Therefore it must be of God alone without the concurrance of second causes in men And I say 't is the work of God and not of one of the glorious persons only although the work be especially attributed to the holy Ghost but God the father hath his Almighty hand imployed in the work Eph. 1.19 20. 1 Pet. 1.3 and so hath Jesus Christ his son too Joh. 5.21 Joh. 10.10 so it is also the holy Spirits work Joh. 3.5 Tit. 3.5 The Reasons why the Scripture tells us all the persons in the God-head have their hand in the work of Regeneration are First to shew and impress a deep sense of the exceeding greatness and excellency of the work on the hearts of Regenerate persons that they might be induced thereby to admire and value it and to have it in high esteem as a most excellent and glorious work indeed which had so many hands of infinite wisdom power and love exercised and imployed about the effecting of it 2. That they might be directed and provoked thereby to ascribe all the glory unto all the three persons and not to the holy Ghost only 'T is true that men unregenerate ought to use Gods means in order to Regeneration they are to hear the Gospel preached read the Scriptures and good Books and to pray to God to Regenerate them because God hath commanded them so to do Ezek. 36.25 26 27 37. Luk. 11.13 and also because they are the ways and means of Gods own appointing for their Regeneration whereby he will work it Jam. 1.18 Rom. 10. Joh. 15.3 But yet your using the means and waiting in them cannot Regenerate you until God put forth his Almighty power in them and form a new Creature in you God tells us again and again that it is his work alone and that there is none to help him Eph. 2.8 9 10. Tit. 3.5 to take off all boasting from men and that he that glories might glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1.31 'T is said to be a special powerful and saving work of God to distinguish it from those common and ordinary works or workings of God on many which never arises to or Issues in real Regeneration on their Souls First it is a special work it differs not only in the degree or measure of it but in the kind There is a specifical difference between what God works in and bestows upon such as he Regenerates and others who are never Regenerated although he bestows many Spiritual gifts on them 1. In the root and spring of his gifts and favours Namely his Love in Christ That is the Fountain and efficient cause of their Regeneration or of the grace and power whereby they are Regenerated Eph. 2.4 5. Deut. 7.6.7 c. God had loved and chosen them in the Lord Jesus to be a peculiar people unto himself and therefore Regenerates and makes them such by his grace But God doth not so love others neither hath he chosen them in Christ and Sanctified them to his use to be his peculiars and therefore he never effectually Regenerates them Rom. 9.21 22 23 24 25. And yet no one person is denied Regenerating grace but such as by their own wickedness do procure it unto themselves and therefore none shall have cause to complain of partial unjust or cruel dealing from the God of Truth with whom is no unrighteousness 2. There is a difference in the grace its self although it is hard to express and clear it to your Apprehensions yet a wide difference there is between the grace and gifts of the Spirit on men some are awakened enlightened and reformed by the holy Ghost which never are indeed Regenerated I shall not discourse of the differences here but only shall tell you that special grace hath virtue in it to enliven as well as to enlighten to quicken dead Souls and revive dead hearts as well as to enlighten the head Common grace may put Light into the head but never quickens and enlivens the heart but special grace doth both and that from its own nature and tendancy for it is given for that end Namely to cause the dead to live and the blind to see Spiritual things Spiritually 1 Cor. 2. There is a generative and renewing nature and virtue in the one that is not in the other But more of this elsewhere 3. There is also a specifical difference in the ends special grace is given by the God of Love and from the Love of God to some to conform them to and mould them for the Lords special use and service to make them lovely and aimable pleasing and delightful to him that he may delight in them and they in him and be made capable of Communion with himself 1 Cor. 1.9 Joh. 14.21 23. 1 Joh. 1.3 That they may be vessels of honour fitted for his use live to him and not unto themselves 2 Tim. 2.20 21. 2 Cor. 5.14 15. and also that they may live in the fruition and presence of God for ever in another world But now common graces are not given for these ends because they cannot effect them They leave men in as bad a state as they found them in Their hearts are not changed neither made new Creatures by them but remain under the reign and power of their lusts and are Lovers and obeyers of them under their common grace 2. It is the powerful work of God that is Regenerating grace is Irresistable It carries all before it and prevails It is mighty in opposing resisting and conquering all its Enemies to prosecute and obtain its ends which the common works of God are not as experience shews where Regenerating grace comes it dislodges Satan and
turns him out of his Throne Luk. 11.21.22 Luk. 10.18 It silences carnal self and fells down lusts Gal. 1.16 makes the old man bow down yea and all the strong-holds of sin and Satan fall before it 2 Cor. 10.4.5 It will not be baffled as common grace is for that gives place to Lusts and Temptations upon every assault but Regenerating grace is so mighty and powerful as that it takes the strongest Castles disarmes the stoutest Souldiers and levels the strongest and highest Bulworks of sin world and devil so that it effectually subdues and captivates all opposers and oppositions whatsoever and makes the whole Soul to yeild subjection to and comply with it It makes men willingly desert their old delights break their former confederacies and to put themselves under the yoke of Christ and chuse his service 3. It is a saving work of God It is not for a time as the common work of grace is Math. 13.20 21. but it is for ever Regeneration is little in the seed but grows to a great Tree Men are Regenerated for Salvation 2 Cor. 5.1 6. and it will not fail or miss of its end Regeneration is the eaâ—nest and first fruit of Salvation and Gods power is engaged to nourish and keep it to Salvation 1 Pet. 1 3 4 5. therefore they cannot lose the very end of it God would never bestow the grace of Regeneration on men if he had not first designed their eternal Salvation to be obtained in that way but he having decreed and appointed designed and determined the saving of Souls by or through Regeneration all that he Regenerates shall be saved And therefore I call it the saving work of God because it shall certainly Issue in their everlasting Salvation notwithstanding their oppositions weaknesses and sins 3. The subjects of Regeneration Namely sinners that is Ignorant vile wicked and abominable men Not such as have purified themselves made satisfaction to God for former injuries such as are worthy or meet for the grace of God or such as are friends and to whom God is engaged for any goodness of theirs or service they have done him no but God of his free grace Regenerates sinners while they are yet sinners and ungodly God finds them sinners and by Regeneration makes them Saints of hateful persons he makes them lovely and beloved of enmies he makes them friends and of strangers he makes them intimates God says unto men in their blood live Ezek. 16.6 Tit. 3.3 4 5. and the vilest of sinners he washes 1 Cor. 6.9 10.11 Rom. 3.9 20. Therefore here is great encouragement for all willing sinners how vile filthy and abominable soever they have been that they may be Regenerated and made new Creatures 4. Regeneration changes and renews the whole man It is powerful and effectual on the whole body Soul and Spirit to revive quicken and renew it It affects every part and 't is influential to prosecute and obtain its ends throughout As the natural Life diffuses its self into every part of the man so doth the new Spiritual Life in Regeneration 1 Thes 5.23 The understanding is thereby enlightened 1 Pet 2.9 2 Cor. 4.6 the will is sanctified and drawn to choose and close up with the promises Christ and the Covenant of grace and with the whole will of God Isa 56.4 Psal 119.30 Psal 110.3 Phil. 2.13 Col. 2.6 The mind is Spiritualized and set on heavenly objects Phil. 3.20 2 Cor. 3. ult Rom. 8.5 The affections are quickened enlivened and run Heaven-ward being risen to a new Life with Christ Col. 3.1 2. in a word the Conscience is made tender and active to do its work and the whole of his conversation is changed all things are become new 2 Cor. 5.17 The grace of God hath in measure seasoned and leavened the whole man within and without there is not a faculty or member of Soul or Body untoucht but grace runs thorow every part But more of this anon For I am now but pointing out to you the parts of the definition of Regeneration 5. Regeneration is wrought by infusing a measure of the holy Spirit and special grace of Christ into a man In Joh. 3.3 men are said to be born from Heaven and vers 5. to be born of the Spirit The Spirit is called the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8.9 and the grace of Christ 2 Cor. 13. ult and this Spirit and grace of Christ is said to be in men Rom. 8.11 and Christ by them dwells in men Eph. 3.17 and says God in the New Covenant I will put my Spirit within them and a new heart will I give them Sprinkle clean water on them and make them clean Ezek. 36.25 26 27. So he puts his fear into mens hearts Jer. 32.39 40. and sheds abroad his love in them Rom. 5.8 A Believers new state is twofold 1. A state of Justification 2. Regeneration Justification is Gods imputing the Righteousness of Christ to him acquitting and discharging him of Guilt and Condemnation pardoning all his sins revoking the Sentence of the Law given out against him removing the Curse and remitting the punishment due to him and graciously accounting and declaring him perfectly righteous in Christ and receiving and accepting him into favour and friendship 2 Cor. 5. ult 1 Cor. 1.30 Isa 53. Rom. 4. Gal. 3. This is not Regeneration though Justification and Regeneration are never separated for Regeneration is the work of God within us Justification is the Act of God without us Regeneration is not our Justification neither is Justification our Regeneration although all that are Regenerated are also Justified There is a great difference between the one and the other which we must carefully understand and consider well lest we confound what ought to be distinguished God doth not Justifie us by Regenerating us they are two distinct Acts or works of God towards us and so we ought to understand and make improvement of them Therefore I say in defining Regeneration that it is the work of God infusing the Spirit and Grace of Christ into us that you may distinguish it from Gods Act in Justifying us for many poor Souls do miserably confound them 6. Regeneration is wrought by the Ministry of the Gospel God doth ordinarily Regenerate men by the Preaching of the Gospel By mens Preaching and hearing of the Gospel the holy Ghost is given unto men to to change their hearts and make them new Creatures Acts 10.44 Gal 3.2 The Gospel shews us that faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.17 that is God works faith and all other graces in men by it as in and by his own ordinance By this Instrument he begets us again to a lively hope Jam. 1.18 1 Pet. 1.3 It is the power of God to Salvation Rom. 1.16 and Christ tells us Joh. 5.25 that the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God and they that hear shall live So Isa 55.3 This is Gods engin whereby he pulls down strong holds levels mountains and
and men Abimelech did so with respect to Abraham and Sarah Gen. 20.5 to which God gave his testimony namely that it was so indeed verse 6. Paul while unregenerate had a great deal of Moral Integrity I have says he walked in all good Conscience before God until this day Acts 23.1 Mark it I have walked in all good Conscience before God he speaks of his carriages towards God in his unconverted state To the same purpose he speaks of himself in Acts 26.4 5 9. But when he declares his sincerity and integrity in walking before God in his Regenerate State he gives us another account of it 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity or as the Greek word reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that in or with the simplicity and sincerity of God we have had our Conversation and also by says he the Grace of God to distinguish his Evangelical and gracious integrity from his moral and old sincerity or integrity he had whilest a Pharisee and in an unregenerate condition And Paul further tells us in Phil. 3.6 that concerning the Law he was blameless that is he did act and walk according to his Knowledge and Conscience These seeming Graces and good works look like Regeneration special Grace and real good works but in truth they are not so These are commonly taken for such and men conclude that they are Regenerate and in a happy condition because they find such things as these in and by themselves but assuredly such good things may be in you and done by you in your unregenerate states yea you may fear God and love God and be in many things conscientious men you may love the People of God desire their Society and wish your Souls in their condition and yet be unregenerate men you may be meek humble useful and desirable men and be taken and accepted respected and honoured by and of the best of men as good and holy men and all that while be in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity therefore it nearly concerns you to be serious and diligent in examining and trying your selves whether or no you be such as you seem to be lest you continue to seem to be what you are not and so delude men and deceive your own Souls harden your selves in a presumptious confidence and flatter your selves to everlasting destruction I could have presented you with many other things that look like Regeneration but I may speak something more of this matter when I shall characterize Regenerate persons or open Regeneration on another Head 2. But I shall now give you a fuller explication of the great work of Regeneration the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and signifies a new or second state This is a compound word of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 again and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Generation So Regeneration is a New Birth or as Peter expresses it a being born again 1 Pet. 1.23 The word is used in Tit. 3.5 and in Matth. 19.28 In Titus it is meant of the first Regeneration or change of state here but in Matthew it may import the state of Grace here and Glory hereafter The words in the Text and in 1 Pet. 1.23 which are rendred born again are of the same import and signifie the same thing or work of God on men and so do those expressions of begetting 1 Pet. 1.3 Jam. 1.18 Indeed the work of Regeneration is variously expressed and set out in Scripture by many significant and divers words and phrases to shew us that it is a great and glorious work of God on sinners to commend it the more to our consideration and acceptance to explain and make it the clearer to our understandings and to quicken and perswade us to seek after it in good earnest to esteem and value it and to move Regenerate persons to much thankfulness for it and to provoke to walk worthy of it to convince men that it is too great a work for them to do that they are beholding to Free Grace and Omnipotent Power for it and to lay them low and make them vile in their own eyes Now Regeneration is exprest and set out to us in the Gospel sometimes by renewing us Col. 3.10 Heb. 6.6 sometimes by making us partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and stamping the Image of God on us Col. 3.10 Eph. 4. sometimes 't is expressed by Gods writing his Law in our hearts Jer. 31.33 Heb. 10.16 and by circumcising hearts Deut. 30.6 sometimes by shedding abroad his love and putting his fear into them Rom. 5.5 Jer. 32.39 40. as also by quickning the dead Eph. 2.1.5 Joh. 5.21.25 sometimes by Creation or creating them in Christ Jesus unto good works Eph. 2.10 Col. 2.10 sometimes by putting off the old man and putting on the new Col. 2.9 10. Eph. 4.22 23 24. sometimes by translation or by translating us from death to life 1 Joh. 3.14 and out of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ Col. 1.13 sometimes by opening blind eyes and turning men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 26.18 sometimes by Gods working us to will and do Phil. 2.13 and working us for this self-same thing 2 Cor. 5.5 that is preparing us for another world and sometimes by calling us by his Grace Gal. 1.6 to be Saints to holiness 1 Pet. 1.14 and to newness of life Regeneration is held forth to us by such expressions and works of God in and upon us it includes all these and several other mentioned in Scripture But I have more to say for the unfolding and clearing this great truth to you who desire to learn First Regeneration Renovation or the New Birth is made up of all and every Grace of Christ I mean the seeds and first fruits of all Grace Christ imparts and infuses a measure of all his Grace in regenerating a man he opens the Fountain and Treasury of his Grace and Fulness by the hand of the Holy Ghost he conveys it into our hearts Joh. 16.13 14. yea and the Holy Spirit himself gets into men and dwells there Rom. 8.10 as I shewed you before Q. What are the Graces of Christ that constitutes and forms the New Creature or that makes the great Change Answ First Life We are all by Nature dead in sins not only as under the Damning Sentence of the Law but we are personally dead that is as the Body is dead without the Soul and Spirit that animates the Body so without the Spirit and Grace of Christ our Souls Bodies and Spirits are spiritually dead as being without spiritual life Eph. 2.1.5 Matth. 8.22 Joh. 5.25 Now when Christ Regenerates a man he infuses and conveys of his Life into him and that enlivens the whole man Hence Christ tells us that he is the Life Joh. 14.6 that he came to give Life Joh. 10.10 that he quickens whom he will and the dead shall hear
the specifical difference between common and peculiar grace that makes a man to be what he seems to be it makes and really qualifies a man a truly godly and gracious man it makes the heart face and tongue of a man the same towards God and men it makes a man entire and wholly for God Christ and Holiness according to his holy profession it brings up and musters all graces sets them in their places and directs them all unto God in duties and to those holy ends for which he hath appointed them to be performed Gospel-sincerity is a special gift of God bestowed on men in Regeneration 2 Cor. 1.12 that in the simplicity and sincerity of God we have had our Conversation among you says Paul and he tells the Colosians that they had heard and known the Grace of God in truth Col. 1.6 Gospel-sincerity hath all grace in the Womb of it by it the Holy Ghost makes men a peculiar people unto God qualifies and fits them for all spiritual and holy imployments and Religious Exercises for acceptance and Communion with God This is it that makes men lovely and desirable to God and man that makes them true and faithful to God that draws forth and ingages their hearts to God and causes them to yield up their wills to the Will of God Without Gospel-sincerity men are but whited Sepulchres and like the Apples of Sodom beautiful without but rotten and abominable within Mens Religion I mean their profession of it without Gospel-sincerity is vain and unsavoury Gospel-sincerity is that which makes us like God Jer. 22.41 and that which spiritualizes and persumes all our duties All our duties must be done and profession of godliness made in Gospel-sincerity or God will abhor both us and them Joshua 24.14 Heb. 10.22 Joh. 4.23 24. Isai 1. Therefore that God may have some to serve him in Spirit and Truth he Regenerates them and makes them New Creatures by putting his own Nature and stamping his own Image into and upon them and so they are made holy and sincere in measure like unto himself This is another glorious part of Regeneration These are some and but some of the graces of Christ that makes forms and constitutes the Heavenly Babe the New Creature There are many other graces of Christ given to men in their Regeneration to make a compleat New Creature as Joy Temperance Patience and several other which I shall not now insist on nor mention because I have many other Truths to open to you on this Subject Let me then advise you who think you are Regenerated to examine and try your selves if you can find indeed these graces of Christ in you and if you you can and do find them in you really you may be sure that all other graces that have not been mentioned are in you and that you are in a state of Regeneration but if there be none of these graces in you then you are in an unregenerate state and condition Q. What have you further to say and declare of Regeneration Answ I say that the Holy Ghost gets into a man when he Regenerates him and brings in all the Graces of Christ with him Joh. 16.7 8 13 14. as was shewed before Rom 8.9 10 11. And Christ is said to be in Regenerate men by his Spirit and graces 2 Cor. 5.17 and by regenerating them he works in them new principles habits dispositions and ends and he sets up in their hearts and souls new Laws namely his own to direct and guide them to rule and order them All things are become new in him and to him that is Regenerated 2 Cor. 5.17 1 There are new that is divine and heavenly Principles in him there is Divine Light to see withal and New Life to walk withal in the ways of God there is Love to move and incline his heart to his duty Life to quicken and Light to direct and guide him so that his duties proceed from his new Principles of Light Life Faith and Love All things are become new in him 2 New Habits His new Principles are become fixed stated habits in his Soul he doth not move and act in the things of God by Forreign causes and external motives only as he did before Regeneration but he acts and brings forth fruit from a stock of grace in his heart In Matth. 12.35 Christ tells us that a good man out of the good tâ—easure of the heart bringeth forth good things that is from a gracious fixed habit His good works do naturally flow from him he is fixed and resolved at all times to do and comply with the Will of God in all states and conditâ—ons whatsoever not only when he hears or feels some stirring word or provoking judgment to quicken and irritate him but also at other times when none of these things do occur Thus we find David and Paul Psal 57.7 Psal 119. Acts 20.24 Acts 2. All things are new 3 New dispositions Regeneration disposes us to every good word and work it is an habitual disposition though it be sometimes stronger sometimes weaker yet they do genuinely mind and will God their duty and eternal happiness Rom. 7.18 For to will says he is present with â—ne but how to do it he knew not And the same Apostle shews us that 't is so with all good men Gal. 5.17 and they are said to be spiritually minded Rom. 8.5 6. that is the bent inclination desire and intention of their hearts were so Thus Regenerate men are said to be ready to every good work Acts 17.11 Tit. 3 1. 2 Cor. 8.11 Rom. 1.15 Regeneration disposes them to pray in secret Acts 9.11 to hear and learn the Will of God Acts 17.11 so to be delivered from all sin Rom. 7.24 to perfect holiness Phil. 3.13 14. and as these so all other things and duties whatsoever It is true that the carnal spirit in Regenerate persons doth greatly oppose and draw them backward but yet that hinders not their holy dispositions and inclinations but they will breathe and operate in them with a notwithstanding as good men do experience And indeed this is one of Gods great and holy ends in regenerating men namely to move and incline their hearts unto himself and his holy will that they may move will aed act freely by his Life and Power within them that their habitual inclinations and dispositions may be suited to his will and the things above and that his external motives may sweetly and freely draw and not force and drive them to himself and their duty Hence the Spouse prays Christ to draw her and she will run after him Cant. 1.4 shewing thereby which way she was disposed and bent 4 New ends and designs All things are become new with regenerate persons and therefore needs they must have new ends and designs in their eyes and hearts in their wills understandings judgments minds and affections as their ends and designs in things before Regeneration were base low and sordid so now
conditions states and ways and imagin that all others should have the same opinion of them that we our selves have And therefore conclude that such as think and speak otherwise of them are too uncharitable and censorious This is one of the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of Regeneration and causes many to tune a deaf ear to all convincing and regenerating Truths that are handed out unto them Besides the vain groundless hopes they have formed to themselves and are greatly in love withal that they are in a good and safe condition although they are not so good as they should be whatever men and the word of God shall say to the contrary of or against them The Jews gives us many proofs and evidences of it for when the Lord Jesus Preached to and discoursed with them about their states to convince and regenerate them Oh! how did they labour to fence off all the words of Truth spoken to them how did they strive dispute and set themselves against the Gospel of their Salvation and that upon the grounds before mentioned yea those very persons which sometimes were convinced in their Consciences that they were sinners Joh. 8.9 I say even these men did ordinarily harden themselves against the Word of Christ upon their vain hopes high priviledges proud and high conceits they had of themselves Joh. 8.33.39 48. ult Joh. 9. Joh. 10. Math. 9. Read these Chapters throughout and you will find what I have said abundantly confirmed and as it was with them so I am afraid it is with many of you do not you conceit and stoutly perswade your selves that you are in a safe and happy state and condition before God that you shall undoubtedly be saved notwithstanding the Truth of God Ministers of Christ yea and sometimes your own Consciences testify the contrary also and tell you plainly That you are yet in the gall of bitterness and bond of Iniquity do not you encourage and support your selves fortify and arm your selves under and against all convictions with many vain and groundless hopes and delusive conceits of your blessed states or that you are in a happy case and condition although you never experienced any real change in your hearts nor any special grace of Christ in your poor deluded perishing Souls But yet I say unregenerate persons may know and have a shrewd guess that they themselves are not unregenerated but in a state of sin and under the wrath of God Simon Magat was so Acts 8.24 Pharoah Exod. 9.27 unregenerate men have three means if I may so call them to help them to the knowledge and conviction of their bad conditions First the word of God written but especially Preached and so it is the word of conviction in the hand of an Ordinance appointed and designed thereunto by the great God Act. 26.18 2 Their own natural Consciences and principles of Nature that are in all men not feared which are subjects capable of impressions from the Word of God namely of its light and convincing power and also natural Reason helped by the Word so that when they hear the certain Characters of unregenerate persons laid down from Gods Word they may reflect on themselves and apply them to themselves if they will They may reason thus why if these are certain Characters or Signs of an evil or unregenerate man or state as I cannot but conclude they are then am I in such a state for I find them in and upon me I cannot deny it As thus Is gross ignorance of Jesus Christ the grace of God Sin and Duty a certain sign of an unregenerate person surely then I am an unregenerate person for I am grosly ignorant of these things So when they hear Characters or Signs laid down of a regenerate man then to examin themselves and reason thus Why I find not any of these in my self which I should if I was regenerate and therefore I am in an unregenerate state and condition much might be done this way by unregenerate men towards their conviction and knowledge I mean not saving knowledge of their States would such men practise it but that they will not no because they love their carnal ease and peace and therefore they are willingly ignorant of their unregenerate state And as they have these means or helps to know their evil States so 3 the holy Spirit of God to stir up Conscience in and by the Word The Spirit speaks sometimes to them not as the Spirit of Adoption but of Bondage whose voice is louder quicker and pierceth further unto and into their Consciences than the word of its self can do and tells them plainly that they are in a damnable state and condition and shall assuredly perish for ever except they be regenerate here Gen. 6.3 This awakens and affrights them this humbles and abases them and makes them cry out undone undone we are lost Oh! what shall we do to be saved Acts 2.37 And here I might add that not only these said means may help them to the knowledge of their states but also the discourses carriages and conversations of some Regenerate persons that they are concerned withal and may make observations of and compare themselves with them and them with themselves and conclude clearly that there is a vast difference between such and themselves the states of the one and of the other And if these be Regenerate persons and Regenerate persons be indeed such and so and so qualified graced and spirited as they seem to be then that they themselves are undoubtedly in an Unregenerate condition for that they are not such persons neither have any of their qualifications or any like them Matth. 5.16 Now if Unregenerate men would improve and rationally use these means or helps towards the knowledge and conviction of their states they might undoubtedly know them better than they do But there needs no further proof of this truth namely that unregenerate persons may know they are in a bad condition then the Gripes and trouble of Conscience their fears trembling and consternations in and under the apprehensions of Death and Judgment together with their wishes protestations resolutions and promises on their Death-beds These do all proclaim this Truth Q. May not Gods people such as are Regenerate know that they are so and be sufficiently assured of their Regeneration A. They may for first God hath promised the knowledge of it unto them in their obedient and holy walkings with God in that state Hosea 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. Isa 32.17 Prov. 2.1 â—7 So the Spirit witnesseth with our Spirit that we are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 2. The people of God have had certain and clear assurance or a sufficient knowledge of their Regenerate states and the Spirit of God hath recorded it for our learning and encouragement Enoch had it Heb. 11.5 and the Apostle John speaking in the name of Believers or regenerate persons saith We know that we are of
God That we are translated from Death to Life and hereby know we that we are in him 1 John 2.5.3.14.5.19 And Paul tells us that they namely he and other Regenerate Persons had received the Spirit that they might know the things which were freely given to them of God 1 Cor. 2.12 Now if it was certainly known by the Saints of old such as run their Race before us then we may obtain it now for we live under the same God Christ Grace Promises Love Spirit and means of assurance that they did and we have as much need of it as they had upon all accounts And as we have these and many other Scripture Evidences or Examples I mean the Saints mentioned in Scripture so we have had many undoubted Testimonies of it in and from many good men in our days and the latter Ages before us How that some on their Death-Beds others in the days of their prosperity others in their tryals and temptations Some in one Ordinance of God and some in another some in Prison and some at the Stake some under the loss of their Goods and Reproaches for Christs sake have gotten clear and heart ravishing Assurance of their Regeneration and blessed States I say we have this Truth confirmed to us by their worthy Testimonies and glorious Experiences And assuredly what they had we also may obtain in the same way in and by the use of the same means and in the same or like case and condition 2. God hath commanded Regenerate Persons and so hath made it their Duty to get and keep assurance of their new States and God would never have prescribed such a means and commanded our diligent use of it as our duty in order to the obtainment of the end but that the said end is attainable by and shall most certainly be obtained in the faithful constant use of it For as his commands makes the work or means our duty so the End propounded namely of the duty to be done by us is the obtainment of assurance so I say it is an object of our Faith and Hope And upon Gods propounding it to us as the end of the duty commended we are to believe and hope in the performance of the duty to obtain the end that is assurance of our being translated from Death to Life namely that God will bless his own means to effect and accomplish his own ends to and in us and he will by no means disappoint us or make us ashamed of our trusting him hoping in and waiting for him to grant us the end he presented to us commanded us to seek it that we might find it and which we have endeavoured with all our hearts to obtain in his own way Isa 49.20 Isa 54.4 Now God hath charged us to examin and prove our selves 2 Cor. 13.5 And to give diligence to make our Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 And to worship him in full assurance of Faith Heb. 10.22 that is in the certain perswasion of Gods Truth All-sufficiency and Faithfulness in his Promises and of Christ his being a High-Priest over the House of God vers 21. So likewise of our Interest and Right to and in all 4. God hath given us many Rules and Marks in his Word to help us in our Tryals of our states and to make a comfortable and satisfactory judgment of them whether we are indeed Regenerate or no. Very much of the New Testament was written for that end that we might know we have Eternal Life saith John 1 Joh. 5.13 All which Scripture had been to little or no purpose if assurance after all were not attainable But it is evident that it is attainable and that all Regenerate persons may attain unto and obtain it because God hath given them such proper and suitable means and helps for the obtainment of it There are many of them scattered up and down the Scriptures I 'le name one or two that in 1 Joh. 3.14 We know that we are passed from death to life because we love the Brethren that is here is a certain and infallible sign or mark of a New Creature his loving of good men that is if you can really say and soundly experience that you do love a holy man or gracious men as such rightly truly heartily with a spiritual and special love because they are such and belong to Christ why then you may conclude that you are in a state of Grace and passed from death to life So that if I can make good the lesser Proposition the Gospel will prove and make good the first or greater Proposition thus He that loves the Brethren that is rightly and in a true Gospel sense is passed from death to life but I do so love the Brethren therefore I am passed from death to life Now that which we have to do in the case is this namely to get the clear proof of the second part thus I do know that I do so love the Brethren according to the true purport and meaning of that and other Texts of Scripture and then conclude from this Scripture and others of the like import that I am passed from death to life that is I am Regenerated 2. An other sign or mark of Regenerate men laid down in Scripture is this that they desire the sincere Milk of the Word that they may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2.2 Now if I am a Babe in Christ I do desire the sincere Milk of the Word of God that I may not only eat it but eat it to grow thereby to grow up in Christ Grace and in the practise and fruits of holiness and if I do so desire the sincere Milk of the Word then I am at least a Babe or young Child of God But this is not my work or present design and therefore do but little more than mention these things namely to shew that Unregenerate and Regenerate persons may know the states and conditions wherein they are the one in and by sin the other in and by Grace But I thought good to say a little of it and but a little as a preparative to that which I have further to say and which was mainly intended as the subject matter of this Chapter Q. What are some of the most certain Signs Characters or Marks of Regenerate and Vnregenerate persons or states A. Much hath been said already in opening the work of Regeneration what it was and what was contained in it as you may see in that Chapter and therefore I shall say the less here But yet I shall endeavour to present so much unto you in this Chapter or Head as shall fully answer and resolve the Question First A Regenerate person hath new life It is a New Creature Gal. 6.15 and it is a living lively Creature it is not born dead but alive it is alive to God to live unto him in newness of life Rom. 6.4.10.11 To bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7.4 And men are created in Christ Jesus unto
said to be Deaf Psal 58.4 Isa 42.18 19. although they had not lost their natural Sense of hearing yet the Scripture saith they were Deaf why because they had not Spiritual Ears to hear hence the Lord Jesus speaking to the Asian Churches bids such as had Eares to hear what the Spirit spake unto them Revel 2. and 3. Chapters Clearly implying that there were some among them that had not this Spiritual Sense of hearing the Voice of the holy Spirit but that there were others that had it And the Prophet tells the Jews that there were some that had Eares but were Deaf Isa 43.8 that is they had the natural but not the Spiritual sense of hearing the voice of God by his Prophets This Spiritual hearing sense imports not onely a hearing and taking in the words or matters they hear but also understanding them and receiving them into the understanding will and affection Ezek. 40.3.4 2 Thes 2.10 Pro. 7.1 Pro. 10 14. They are ready and swift to hear Jam. 1.19.21 Let Christ speak to them what he will they can and will hear him Speak Lord for thy servant heares 1 Sam. 3.2 is the language of his heart and Lord what wilt thou have me to do Acts. 9. doth God or good men instruct admonish exhort reprove charge rebuke them their Eares and hearts are open and ready to hear and receive it to love and understand it to keep and practice it or to improve all to the will of God Regenerate Persons are the good ground hearers Luk. 8.15 Math. 13. They have Eares to hear hearts to receive and understand what is revealed to them yea to keep and hold it fast convert the word into profit and turn all into the practice of Godlyness They and they only have learnt the mystery and Spiritual Art of hearing They are the only Wise Serious Humble Diligent Circumspect Careful Reverend Watchful Sincere Profitable and good Hearers They are taught to please and honour God better and advantage their own Souls in and by hearing They are the Persons and none but they who hear in hearing who do truely and faithfully endeavour to hear Christ in hearing of men and to hear that voice behind them saying this is the way walk ye in it which is promised in Isa 30.20.21 They are the men who do indeed make blessed earnings of hearing and who do unfainedly intend design and carry on right high and holy ends in hearing namely to know Christ his Will Grace Spirit Benefits Covenant and Promises to know themselves their Sins Deceits and Errors their increase or decrease in Grace and practical Godliness and to know how they ought to believe and carry themselves towards God and men in all conditions States and Relations better more clearly and Spiritually that so they may walk worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleasing and be fruitful in every good work adorn the Gospel of Christ and beautify their holy profession These are the men who hear that they may be cleansed and washed that they may be quickened to and strengthened in their duty and that their lusts may be destroyed by the word of Grace Joh. 15.3 Joh. 17.17 Eph. 5.25.26 2 Cor. 10.4.5 And that they may as in the Lords own way and appointment meet with Christ and Christ with them to express their dependance on and subjection to him and that they may be filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3.19 This is the hearing Ear and understanding heart that is rarely to be found in the world Fifthly Smelling In the natural body there is the Sense of Smelling so there is in the new Creature also Christ is full of sweet smells and Savours fitted and suited to a believers new sense and Christ hath provided for and given them a sense capable of receiveing and resenting it which adds much to their strength and Comfort and renders the Lord Jesus more sweet lovely and acceptable to them For the more senses they have to draw and take in of Christs Person Grace and lovelyness to themselves the more they get from Christ and the more pleasing and desirable he must needs be to them had the patural man only two or three senses to apprehend and take in objects and the good of them his life would not be so comfortable because as then many of the Creatures would be vain and useless to him so he would live without the use and comfort of them that are suited to the senses he wants and which he cannot receive nor take comfort and delight in without them And men are naturally best pleased and most satisfyed with variety of objects and matters It is much more so in Spiritual and heavenly matters and things Spiritual men love and delight much in heavenly varieties and therefore to delight and satisfy them to endear their Souls to Christ and incourage them in their Duty to him he hath given them many senses or subjects capable of apprehending and taking in variety of heavenly matters and things and that is not all but he hath also graciously provided all suitable varieties for them and presents them freely to their acceptance Thus Christ is to them a sweet smelling Savour Eph. 5.2 his death was so to God and his Person Graces and Benefits are so to them Cant. 5.13.2.13 Their Persons love and obedience are a sweet smelling savour to Christ Cant. 4.10.11 And so is Christ unto them Cant. 1.3 and it is powerful to excite and draw forth their strongest and dearest love to Christ Because of the savour of this good Oyntments therefore do the Virgins love thee And as it excites and draws forth their love to Christ so it gladdens and refreshes the hearts of new Creatures Psal 45.8 All thy Garments smell of Myrth c. whereby they have made thee glad Thus I have briefly run over and presented you a few considerations of the New Creature his spiritual senses what they are and of their nature work use and end to help you to make a true Judgment of your selves whether you are new Creatures indeed or only in name and pretence And be assured of this that if thou art indeed a Regenerate person thou mayest in some degree especially at sometimes find these spiritual senses in thee And if thou canst find them in any degree in thee thou mayest conclude that thou art a Child of God and really Regenerate For it is certain that unregenerate persons have them not in them but are real strangers if not Enemies to them and such as regard them not neither do they find them in any degree or measure in themselves they are in an unregenerate state and condition And that they have not these senses is evident for they are dead blind hard and wholly carnal as hath been shewed already And so much of the first Mark or Character of a new Creature I shall briefly dispatch the rest and then proceed to other heads propounded Secondly If thou art a new Creature indeed thou
neither do they desire there should be their minds and thoughts are wholly taken up about making provision for their Pride Covetousness Carnal Security Vain Glory Good Opinion of themselves and other filthy Lusts and they make themselves their Drudges and humble servants Rom. 13. ult And hence they are said to serve sin Rom. 6.6.17.20 But new Creatures know and account their Lusts their greatest Enemies and prosecute them with implacuble enmity and hatred They know either they must destroy their Lusts or they will destroy them They know that they have trucifyed the Son of God and put him to open shame and they know that they have greatly wronged their own Souls Pro. 8. ult And therefore they will give them no Quarter but stab them to the heart whatever it cost them to do it 4. Watching They are called to and imployed in the work of watching and guarding themselves against all their enemies This is another of their Special and peculiar works and businesses It is spetial and peculiar to new or regenerate men though it is the duty of all men yet none but they are conscientiously and dutifully imploying and exercising themselves in it But good men are 1 Joh. 5.18 But he that is begotten of God keepeth himself That is they do watch aâ—me and guard themselves so David did Psal 102.7 Psal 130.6 and the Scripture makes it one of the Special properties of good servants as well as their workes Habak 2.1 which Christ pronounces Blessed Revel 16.15 2 Cor. 11.27 Luk. 12.37 Regenerate men are beset with enemies which watch their opportunities to assault and betray them and that they know They know that Satan watches them and Lusts watch and the world watches to hurt and mischief their Souls and therefore they watch them and prepare against them It is true that good men are apt to be too negligent in this duty and need stirings up to it and it is as true that they do ordinarily practice this duty and worke They are moved to it 1 by the will and command of God God requires them to watch guard themselves Mark 13.33 34 37. 1 Their own hearts Pro. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence 2 the Devil 1 Pet. 5.8 Be Sober be Vigilant for your adversary the Devil as a Roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour 3 The World Luk. 21.34.36 4 To watch unto prayer and all other duties Col. 4. and Acts 20.31 1 The Calls to and opportunities for them that through heedlesness and inadvertency we let them not slip away from us without imbracing and improving them to the Glory of God and our Souls profit or advantage of others 2 That we may close in and joyn Issues with God and his designes in giving them to us and that in the time and season of them and that freely and readily 2 They are moved to a fervent attendance on this work and duty by and from their dangers They are in continual danger of assaults and surprizalls from them and therefore they must be always upon their watch to prevent their designs discover their plots and foyl them in their Attempts 3 From their own security and comfort they are moved to this worke It is easier keeping an Enemy out of the Garison of the heart then dealing with and driving him out â—hen admitted in Their own as well as Christs honour safety and happiness is much concerned in their so doing God hath 1 committed themselves to their own keeping and given them the care and charge of themselves 1 Joh. 5.21 Pro. 4.23 Jam. 1. ult 'T is true â—â—at God doth watch over and keep them in especially manner also Isa 27.3 1 Pet. â—5 and that when they are most careful to â—eep themselves 2 God hath intrusted them with power light will and abilities to keep themselves and in their doing of it in obedience to his will he hath promised to keep and secure them from Sin and danger likewise 1 Pet. 5.7.2 Tim. 4.18 They watch and keep themselves dutifully in order to their safety and God keeps and watches them powerfully and effectually so as that the sâ—es of Hell shall not prevaile against them Math. 16.18 But they cannot so keep and secure themselves with their utmost diligence This I say is the work and imployment of regenerate persons they and they only live in the practice of it Unregenerate persons do no way concern themselves in this great and special work They know it not they love it not neither have they hearts to do it withal They think it a work of supererogation and that such as are busied about it are more strict and precise than they should be They fear neither God Sin World nor Devil neither are they sensible of the danger they are in of destruction but go on securely in the wayes of their own hearts and speak peace unto themselves presuming that no evil shall come to them 5 They are employing and exercising themselves in worshiping God according to his own will and Appointment namely to worship God in Spirit and Truth and that with his own worship We are they sayes Paul of himself and other Saints who worship God in Spirit Psal 3.3 They are convinced that they must and that God will so be worshiped of them Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth For this self-same thing though not onely doth God Regenerate men and thereby lays in and sets up a principle of divine worship in them that so they may readily do it according to the will of God For sayes Christ the Father seeketh such to worship him Joh. 4.23 that is that the Father doth by Christs Gospel and the holy Ghost call and regenerate teach and Spirit some to worship him It is their desire choice care and study to draw nigh to God in all parts of his worship with true hearts Heb. 10.22 and to worship God sincerely and Spiritually To please and honour him to sanctify his name and holy worship and to give unto the Lord the honâ—â—â— due unto his name to comply with his holy will and ends to make his praise glorious Psal 29.1 2. Psal 66.2 This is also one of their high and noble works holy and Spiritual imployments and that wherein their Souls delight to this they are called for this they are in part fitted and qualified in their Regeneration and this is their work and business ever â—â—er Thus it is with you and so is your â—ractice if you are Regenerated Unregeneâ—â—te men are strangers and adversaries to this peculiar work and duty of new Creatures they know it not they do it not neither conâ—â—rn themselves with it They take up in and are satisfied with the Letter without the Spirit with the form without the Truth and â—â—er of Godliness and they imagine that they have done God good service when they have spent some time in external duties and ordiâ—ances without the great
or that have the faith to believe in him to 〈◊〉 saving of their Souls Heb. 10. ult There are many indeed that have a Faith and pretend to believe in Christ so John 8 31. Acts 8. but very few have that faith to do so in Truth neither do they much if at all desire and seek after such a Faith but are pleased and satisfied well enough without it Oh! how few are there who have the Faith of Gods Elect and their pretious Faith that do Believe through â—race and have that Faith which purifies the heart and leads them forth and carries them out of themselves to Christ to take up in him only Tit. 1 1. 2 Pet. 1 1. Acts 15 9 Acts 18 27. This they could and would do indeed were they Regenerated for as hath been shewed all such as are Regenerated do so in and by the light and power of Christs grace in Regeneration 7. How few are there among the great multilades of professors that love God the Lord Jesus Christ his Grace Laws People and Gospel Obedience â—â—re or so much as they do their own Lusts the world and their own carnal profits pleasures and honours Oh! how few are there that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Eph. 6. ult and with their whole hearts Math. 22.37 how few are there to be found that have their hearts circumcised to love the Lord and that have had the holy Ghost sheding abroad the love of God into their hearts as all regenerate persons have Deut. 30.6 Rom. 5.5 Is it not apparent that the most of professors are strong and greedy fervent and zealous Lovers of the world and carnal self 2 Tim. 3.2 men shall in the last dayes sayes Paul be lovers of themselves and of pleasures more then God Vers 4. And is it not really so now with the greater number of professors which shews they are in an unregenerate state and condition For were they new Creatures indeed they would love God Jesus Christ and heavenly things as the great and onely objects of their lovely delight choice and complacency All other things would be to them as they were to regenerate Paul namely diâ—â— and dung in comparison of Christ Grace Gospel-obedience Holyness Heaven and heavenly things Phil. 3. 8. How few are there who have or are about the great work of Crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts in good earnest which were they â—ew Creatures indeed they would assuredly be much concerned in and busying themselves about as one of their great and indispensible workes and businesses For all regenerate persons are seriously exercising themselves in this work Gall. 5.24 they 〈◊〉 purifying their hearts by faith and perfecting holiness in the fear of God Acts. 15.9 1 Joh. 3.3 2 Co. 7.1 But so are not the Generality of professors they are strangers if not eneâ—ies to this work They are as was said in 〈◊〉 with them they are their joy and deâ—ight and who will seek and unfainedly endeavour to destroy them they love deilght and take pleasure in These are onely the works of regenerate men 9. How few are there who do unfainedly repent 〈◊〉 their Sins and mourn night and day for their transgressions are in real bitterness of soul and abase Judge and condemn themselves which if they were regenerated they would 〈◊〉 They would humble themselves be ashamed of themselves for uncovering their nakedness and laying open their shame before God and men and they would repent in dust and Ashes withall their hearts and Souls Job 42.5.6 Izek. 36.31 For this is the New Creatures dayly worke Regenerate men have that berefit of Christ his Resurrection and Ascension as well as others namely Repentance Acts 5.31 and that great grant and fruit of the Covenant of Grace and the blood of it Acts 11.18 Heb. 13.20 Repentance unto Life By the power of which they practice Repentance They have it in their hearts and act it in their walkings They mark and observe what they should be and what Errors and mistakes they are guilty of mourn for it and labor to mend them But do the multitude of professors do so no not in the least they cast these things out of all serious Consideration it is a work they loath and wholly neglect It is too low and base business for them to mind or concern 10. How few are there among the multitudes of professors who make it their business to please and honour God to fear and reverence him and to worship him in Spirit and Truth This or these matters would be strong and powerful on their hearts and Souls and they would labour to do it indeed were they regenerated For all regenerate men have it so on their hearts and they do really aim at and endeavour it as was before proved Phill. 3.3 God hath wrought in them that which is well-pleasing in his sight Heb. 13.21 and to worship him in Spirit and Truth Joh. 4.23 They are formed by Grace to honour and magnifie God and to make it their work and business Isa 43.21 and are created in Christ Jesus unto this and all other good works Eph. 2.10 They are renewed in knowledge to understand them and with power and will to do them Coll. 3.10 Phil. 2.13 Psal 110.3 But where are such persons to be found among Professors O! how few how this are they sown and how rarely do they appear if compared with others how few have the power of Godliness in comparison of them who take up with the meer forme how few professors are Spiritually minded persons who set their Affections on things above and not on things below Coll. 3.1 2 Rom. 8.5.6 and that have thee Conversation or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Trade in heaven Phil. 3.20 how few are their who guard and watch themselves and their Souls adversaries and keep their hearts with all diligence or above before all things Pro. 4 23. how few are there who labour and make it their Trade and business to be fruitful in every good worke and dound in the work of the Lord to bear much fruit unto Eternal Life and all that God may be glorified and their own Souls profited and saved by Grace Coll. 1.10 1 Cor. 15. ult Jâ—b 15.8 Rom. 6.22 How few are there who do unfainedly minde and labour to walk sincerely and uprightly with God and before him and to adorn the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Surely very few do and are so indeed Only a little little flock do they and they only are such persons within and walk so without as hath been shewed From which Proofs and Instances we may certainly conclude that there are but a very few a small number of Regenerate persons among the multitudes of professors I have I think said enough for the confirming and clearing of this Truth although I could say much more to and of it were it needful Now then what use and Improvement should we all make of this Truth Surely it is a great Truth and
of his glorious Grace namely in the practise and performance of all the Duties he expects and requires of you Your whole conversation before men and the frame disposition and carriage of your hearts before God must of necessity be as becomes the Gospel of Christ Phil. 1.27 All your thoughts cares and abilities must now be exercised in and laid out about your living to walking with and pleasing of God in walking worthy of your high Calling holding up the Honour Glory and Reputation of your New states and conditions and in setting off and commending the excellency of Gods Grace and your Regeneration to all men as you have occasion and opportunity to do You must manifest and declare in the whole trade and course of your lives what and who you are that you are indeed what or that which you seem to be in your Profession You must walk and carry your selves as new Creatures towards all your Relations and towards all such as you converse with and have to do withal Your special and becoming works and carriages must shew and demonstrate whose and what you are to men and your principles ends and frames of heart must declare what your state and condition is unto your own Consciences 2 Cor. 1.12 John 13.35 Now in prosecuting this Head I shall briefly shew you 1. what your Duties are or what frames of heart works and carriages God requires of and expects from you as his New Creatures 2. What Enemies and obstructions you will meet withall to hinder you in your so walking 3. shew you what Bonds and Obligations God hath laid on you so to walk and carry your selves towards God and Men as shall be opened and represented unto you briefly First then I shall shew you some of your â—uties and how you ought to walk in your â—egenerate states and the first that I shall â—ame is Thankfulness Your whole life should â—e spent in praising and thanking God for â—egenerating and making you new Creatures and for those other appurtenances or Mercies that are joyned with and annexed to your Regeneration Your happiness and the love and kindness of God to you in Regenerating you are so exceeding great as that Eternity will be too little to thank and bless God for them Now God hath therefore made you New Creatures and delivered you from and out your old states put you under his Grace and formed you for himself that you should adore and admire thank and praise bless and glorifie his holy Name and his unspeakable grace to you Psal 50.15 Thus was holy David his Trade and Practise as you may find every where in his Psal 10.3 1 2. Psal 89 1. Psal 104 1. Thus. he presses on others likewise Psal 105.1 2 3. Psal 118 1 2. And the Apostle charges us in every thing to give thanks and praise 1 Thes 5.8 and tells us That this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us You must thank God with your hearts as well as your lips and with your works and carriages as well as with your Tongues all must be exercised in and employed about this work You have grace to do it withal therefore you must do it as becomes such A deep sense of your unregenerate states and what the evil and misery of them was Of what you are delivered from and called to in your Regeneration as also a deep and working sense of the exceeding riches of Gods Grace and what he hath laid out and expended on you to put you into a state and condition to thank and praise him acceptably is very necessary for you to quicken and stir up your hearts and open your mouths to this great Work and Duty God minds and takes special notice of what you do in this matter and also how you do it and what your omissions are at any time Hezekiah had received a new life from God and he neglects to praise and thank him he did it not as he might and was bound to have done it This God takes notice of and Records it for our Learning 2 Chron. 32.24 25. Christ healed ten Lepers and takes notice but of one of them that returned thanks and praise to God Luk. 17.17 18. Secondly Make your Regeneration sure to your selves This is your duty and a part of your new work this you must and this you may do God would have you to live in assurance and walk in full assurance of Faith and therefore he hath made it your duty that you must do and your Priviledge which you may obtain and enjoy Examin your selves therefore whether you are in the Faith and under Regeneration or no 2 Cor. 13.5 And give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Other men do not this work neither indeed can they do it for they want materials to do it aright and to purpose But it must be one of your works and businesses to get and keep Assurance of your new States for is is your work and duty and you will stand in daily need of it to encourage strengthen and quicken to and in other duties and comfortable walking with God as you ought to do God will Seal and confirm his own work in you if he find you dutifully and diligently endeavouring after it For he hath so Sealed and confirmed others Eph. 1.14 Eph. 4.30 And he hath promised to do it for you Hosea 6.3 Pro. 2.1 7. If you live in doubt and walk in darkness in this matter Know that it is ordinarily your own faults which you may and must amend It is because you are negligent careless and do not all you may to get and keep assurance It is because you slight and undervalue it and grieve the holy Spirit who is appointed to be your Regenerator and Sealer Eph. 4.29.30 He doth not will not help you to Assurance because he sees you negligent to help your selves to it Therefore do your duty and make use of his meanes by which he will do it for you and without which he will not but leave you in the Wilderness of doubts darkness fears and heart-wounding distractions and perplexities 3. Fix and resolve on a Trade of Godlyness and universal respect and obedience unto the whole will of God and your duty Mould and form set up and intend in your Judgments hearts and consciences a course way and trade of holiness and walking with God in conformity to his will as such Take heed beware of delusions in your progress You will be tempted and inveagled to take up with Parts and Pieces of your work and duty and to be partial in the Laws of God accounting some duties indispensible and great and others little and dispensible and so of Sins too You will be tempted to look on this Sin as great and therefore you must avoid it that 's well but you will be tempted to look on other Sins as little and next to none and then dispence with the commission of them or not be
sweetest and most pleasant of all things to the Tast yea altogether sweet if his fruit be so much more is he himself But his fruit the dropping of his Grace is so Cant. 2.3 How much more sweet must himself be unto Believers who is the Root and fountain of all those drops or friuts Zach. 13.1 Revel 22.16 Christ is the desire of all these new senses as he is said to be of all Nations Habak 2.7 And he is most desirable to the Tast He is the bread of Life that came down from Heaven Which is meat indeed for he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever Joh. 6.48.50.51.55 Christ is the most pretious desirable sweet bread that ever any did eat It hath such a pleasant relish savour and comforting quality it doth so refresh and cherish the Soul of a Child of God as that he greatly disires it longs after it Covets to get and keep it and as it were impatiently seeks and waits for it It is so good as that it will never surfeit him all other things how good and pleasant soever they be are nothing to him without this This is the great dish that makes the Word Ordinances and all other dishes a feast indeed 'T is that which relishes and makes all other food sweet nourishing excellent and delightful Hence they cry out in the fullnesse of all other things if they find not Christ there Oh! where is Christ let him come into my Garden my Soul the best and only dish that should feast us and satisfy us is not here till he come I cannot eat nor be Satisfyed Cant. 4. ult Saith a gracious heart Let Christ be my bread and I shall be fully satisfyed he is my all in all things Coll. 3.11 and without him I cannot may not will not be satisfyed Oh! give me Christ in all or I dye for my Soul will Wither and famish whatever else I have whatever else I feed upon But Christ alone if it so please him will satisfy me though he give me nothing else 5. Experiences are sweet and pleasant to the Taste They are invaluable mercies when new Creatures can bring forth out of their Treasures new and old experiences and say this and that I have found This Assistance I have found in such a duty and that comfort I have found in that duty In such a strait I found such and such seasonable helps supports and deliverances When I was sad I found God comforting me In doubt of my state I found God saying to me be of good chear thy Sins are forgiven thee When my heart was hardened by Sin he melted it and when much straitened and shut up he enlarged it when the guilt of my Sins lay heavy on my Conscience he applyed the blood of the everlasting Covenant Heb. 13.20 and so relieved and eased me and when I thought he was angry with me and had shut out my Prayers he answered them Oh how sweet are these and such like experiences to the Tast of new creatures I could give you an account of many more had I time This spiritual sense hath a thirsting appetite It is always with accompanied a hungering and thirsting Appetite after all Spiritual and Heavenly things that he knows or thinks may be good for him he hungers and thirsts after Christ his Blood Grace Righteousness Ordinances Word Experiences Heaven and the presence of Christ and when he findes them Oh how sweet comfortable and pleasing are they Then he saith now is my Soul satisfyed as with marrow and fatness my Soul shall praise thee with joyful Lips Psal 63.5 2. As he Tasts and hath a hungring and thirsting appetite after Spiritual things so it loaths and nausiates the Sins vanities and follies that he once delighted in and fed himself withal he can neither tast nor digest them they are no waies toothsome to him but odious hateful and abominable They are now as filthy poyson to him As meat wherwith a man hath surfeited himself is to him so are these Sins and vanities unto a new Creature They are all like nasty stinking Carrion to him he abhorrs the sight smell and taste of them and cannot endure they should be nigh him The very thoughts of them are grievous to him Psal 119. Roâ— 7. They shall be no more his food but loathing They were never so sweet as now they are bitter to him 1 Jer. 2.19 They were once his pleasant Bread but now his bitter Poyson They were his Suger and Honey wherewith he was delighted but now they are Gall and Wormwood to him His stomack raises up against them and he can no more endure them nor be reconciled to them Thirdly Feeling Feeling is another Sense of the new Creature For as the natural man hath the Sense of feeling what doth touch or burden it so hath the new Creature the like Sense too The new creatures feeling sense is sensible of and burdened with many evils weights and oppressions that he is afflicted withal But first not with the Yoke and Service of Christ The Old man indeed is greatly burdened with it and complaines sadly of the tediousness and wearisomness of it Mal. 1.13 and when will the Sabboth be gone Amos 8.5 But the new Creature is not afflicted with nor weary of it but findes it and accounts it as the Scripture reports it to be namely an Easy and light Yoke Math. 11. ult And her way are ways of pleasantness Pro. 3.17 And his commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5.3 Yea they find that in keeping of them or the right observing of them is great reward Psal 19. 2. Neither is the Chastising and afflicting will of God as such their burden or the real burden of the new Creature For that is swallowed up in the will of God and that over-ballances all because it is the will of God who loves him and he loves God It is matter of joy to him that the will of God is done although he suffer under it And the new creature knows that it is but a Fatherly chastisement The fruit of great love Care wisdom and Faithfulness not to hurt him but profit him not to wound but to heal the man not to destroy but to save him Rom. 8.28 Heb. 12. Isa 27. 2. But in the second place the new Creature is sensible of afflicted burdened and oppressed with other matters As 1. his Lusts and Sins These are the heavy burdens that presse him down and makes him cry out with Paul and David O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death Rom. 7.24 And with David There is no rest in my Bones by reason of my Sin Psal 38. and who can understand his errors Cleans thou me from my Sins Psal 19. and Psal 51. There are many of them of his unbelief earthly-mindedness covetousness desires after worldly things hypocrisy formality and too often indifferency and lukewarmness of Spirit in the worship of God His deadness and carelesness
Robbing God and his soul of their due Aptness and Proness of heart to close up and fall in with temptation to Sin His Passion Anger Wrath Peevishness Vanity Frothyness Carnal Security departing of the heart from God and Duty and an aversness to it to envy and grudge at others prosperity and to revenge wrongs or injuries received from men and whatever other evils 〈◊〉 finds the heart enclined to so likewise its want of spiritualness of heart freedom and cheerfulness in the worship and service of God Also its hardness of heart unprofitableness under the means of Grace and unusefulness in the world These and many other lusts and sins are its burdens they oppress press him down These are the Mountains that lay on the back of the new Creature and it earnestly longs for and desires deliverance from them all Moreover they are greatly burdened with the Treachery and deceitfulness of their hearts their fears doubts and distractions in duty their want of heavenly mindedness love to God delighting in him and his service They are burdened and smart under the sense of the impurity of their hearts and great insensibility of Mercies and because God is not honoured and glorified by them as he should be They are burdened because their Lusts are so strong and powerful as that when they would do good they cannot And as they are burdened with these and many other Evils of their own so they feel a great weight in others sins likewise Rivers of waters run down their Eyes because other men are Transgressors of Gods I am Psal 119.136 And says Paul who is weak and I am nor weak 2 Cor. 11.29 And ye are puffed up and have not rather Mourned 1 Cor. 5.2 You should have been afflicted in Spirit for your Brothers sin because God was dishonoured and his Gospel Blasphemed his People shamed and the world stumbled by reason of it Now they are burdened wounded and bleed under the sense of wicked mens prophaneness debauchery and contempt of the Gospel of Christ But they are mostly wounded with the evils and miscarriages of Professours and such as they hope are the People of God Their Pride Worldliness Frothyness Back-bitings negligence and carelesness in the matters of God their censorious and rash Judgings of one another their want of Love Kindness and Charity to each other and their brawlings and contentions one with another and their coldness and lukewarmness in Religion with other their sins do deeply wound and pierce them to the heart and that because they are a shame and dishonour to their Father Husband and Head his Name and People and because him whom they love and honour is not glorifyed in and by them And further as they are burdened and wounded with other sins and miscarriages so likewise with the Reproaches and other sufferings of good Men. Who is afflicted and I burn not says Paul 2 Cor. 11.29 Their Brethrens Bonds are their Bonds Heb. 13.3 their Reproaches Pains Losses Poverty Weaknesses and Persecutions are their own They are in Pain Bonds Poverty c. with them They have Spirits to rejoyce with them that rejoyce and weep with them that weep Rom. 12.15 16. And it must needs be so because they are Fellow-Members of the same Spiritual Body joyned to Christ their Head and if they are not sympathizers with and Fellow-feelers of each others Afflictions it is certain they are not living but dead Members whatever they profess themselves to be or pretend to 1 Cor. 12.25 26 27. read and ponder that Scripture New Creatures have a feeling of many other Burdens also The Temptations of the Devil snares and allurements of the world are their heavy and grievous Burdens They grown under them and earnestly desire to be delivered from them They find by woful experience that the Devil shoots his Fiery Darts at them and labours Night and Day by his Wiles to draw them from God and to entangle them in Sin Eph. 6. They know that he hath his Devices or Methods 2 Cor. 2.11 and that he doth like a Lyon walk up and down seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 and therefore are fain to be always on their guard to keep Watch and Ward against him Nighâ— and Day that he surprize them not and draâ— or tempt them to Sin They know that he 〈◊〉 a subtle and strong Enemy and how he haâ—â— prevailed over good men and caused them 〈◊〉 sin As David Peter and others and therefore they are afraid of him knowing their dangeâ— and the evils he may stir and move them unto if he should prevail The World likewise namely the good things of it are in soâ— sense burthensome to him not as they 〈◊〉 good things but as they are powerful to Sâ—duce and insnare the mind and affections draw them from God and Heavenly thing To carnalize the Mind deaden or cool 〈◊〉 Affections and take off the Spiritual taste favour and relish of Heavenly things the heart from duty and serious striving to enter is at the straight Gate Luk. 13.24 The world is like Pitch to our evil natures we can hardly touch it without being defiled with it like coals of fire in the bosome that will burn us and like a hedge of Thorns that will prick and tear us as experience shews The Lord Jesus knows how dangerous and pernicious the good things of this world would be to his disciples Souls and therefore charges them to take heed and beware of them lest at any time Mark it lest at any time you be insnared with them Luk. 21.34 2. As the feeling sense is sensible of smarts and cries out under the burdens and weights of these evils so it is deeply sensible of the great love and Grace of Christ to him he is heartily affected with his Rich mercy Eph 2. â— and the unsearchable Riches of Gods Grace to him Evil and good Grace and Sin affect him he is not onely deeply sensible of what he is and hath done to God but what God is to and hath done for him he is affected with the best things as well as the worst with matters of joy as well as sorrow he hath his Eye as well on the bright side of the Cloud as on the dark side of it and he is impressed with Gods goodness and holyness as well as with his own badness and vileness he takes in one as well as another and both make powerful impression on his feeling Sense The same Sense is capable of joy and Sorrow and there are in his view suitable objects and matters for both and he is really sensible of both But I hasten Fourthly Hearing New Creatures have a new Sense of Hearing The hearing Sense is appointed and given to men to receive and take in words spoken without which they know not what is spoken to them Now as men have the natural sense of hearing so Regenerate Persons have a new spiritual sense of hearing given them in Regeneration until then they are
That they may greatly rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God 1 Rom. 5.2 and for that glorious resurrection that is promised To this hope they are called in their Regeneration Eph. 1.18.44 and this is one of the fruits of the spirit in their hearts ever after 5. Joy Joy is another holy passion in good men There is the natural passion of joy in all men and there is the Spiritual passion of joy in Regenerate men There is the object or matter of joy and there is the joy it self and also the faculty or subject of joy The object or matters of joy and rejoycing to good men are Christ Grace and heavenly things Phill. 3.1.3 Phil. 44. Psal 4.4 Psal 32. ult 2 the joy its self which flows forth from these objects or matters of joy into their hearts For experience shews that sometimes the objects of joy are shut up and yield no joy at all to us when we do eye and mind them and would fain draw it out of them but they are like Clouds that give down no rain at all sometimes or as a Fountaine shut up 〈◊〉 sealed Cant. 4.12 But at other times they are opened to us and then the joy of the Lord refreshes and chears strengthens and warmes our Souls This is given us of God the Father Christ and the holy Spirit as a special expression of his Love and Grace to us The objects of joy will not afford it until he give it or command them to hand it out to us Psal 133.3 Rom. 14.17 Rom. 15.13 Gall. 5.22 Joh. 14. Job 15.11 Joh. 6.20 3 There is the faculty or subject of joy that is that which is onely capable of receiving the impressions of the joy of the Lord in the Soul and improving it aright This is that we call the affection or passion of joy and this is given to men namely as it is a Spiritual or new passion in Regeneration For thereby God makes them subjects capable of receiving and rightly embracing valuing and useing the heavenly joy he intends for and hath promised to give unto them in their walking with him in their Regenerate states Now they can and do rejoice in Christ Jesus Phill. 3.3 in his love and Grace and in his will and their duty Rom. 7.22 Psal 40. now they praise God with joyful lips Psal 63.5 and shout for joy of heart Psal 32. ult Now they rejoyce and work righteousness and walk on in their way rejoycing Acts 8.39 Isa 64.5 Their hearts are full of great and unspeakable joy at some seasons so as that their Vessels can now hold no more 1 Pet. 1.8 With this Holy Joy in their hearts they can run and not be weary walk and not faint Isa 40. ult Neh. 8.10 6. Sorrow This is in a sense a contrary passion or affection to that of Joy There is a natural and carnal sorrow and a holy and spiritual sorrow or grief of heart the first is common to all men the second is only found in Regenerate men Sorrow in a natural sense is an evil but in a spiritual sense it is a good passion Joy and sorrow are strong and vehement working passions in men when strongly imprest and deeply affected with real or supposed evil or good There is a worldly and there is a godly sorrow 2 Cor. 7.10 Regeneration brings into and sets up the godly sorrow in men and thereby they are enabled to sorrow after a godly manner 2 Cor. 7.9 This passion is moved and imprest and the acts of godly sorrow are produced by several and these different objects and matters First their own lusts sins and God-provoking abominations their vileness and filthiness and their former contempts of Christ and despising slighting and rejecting his Love Grace Yoke Promises and Kindnesses These and many other evils and the serious thoughts and considerations of them do break and wound their hearts and cause much inward grief anguish and sorrow of heart and make them cry out unclean unclean what shall we do or how shall we appear before the holy and righteous God Acts 2.35 36 37 Acts 16. This causes them to sigh and mourn and erercise revengeful thoughts against themselves and to take indignation of themselves condemn abhor and loath themselves Ezek. 36.31 2 Cor. 7.11 And secondly the serious thoughts and considerations of the God Christ Grace Love and Kindness they have sinned against They see know and lay to heart who they have grieved wounded and dishonoured namely their God who had thoughts of love and peace for them when they were in their blood Ezek. 16. Jer. 29. They hope they had an interest in his heart and that he loved them before they loved God yea when they hated him and would have none of his counsel 1 Joh. 4.19 Pro. 1. They likewise see and consider the great Love and Grace of Christ and what great things he hath done and suffered for them to saâ—â— them from the wrath that is to come 1 Thes 1. ult The thoughts of the exceeding great patience and long-suffering of God towards them his pittying them and waiting on and for them that he might be gracious to them Isa 30.18 Rom. 2.4 5. Rom. 10. ult his standing at the door and knocking for them to have admission into their hearts Rev. 3.20 and how willing and importunate he was to be at peace and in friendship with them how basely and unworthily they carried themselves towards him and how they turned a deaf ear to his Calls and Invitations and made him wait so long for their acceptance of him even until his Locks were wet with the dew of the right Cant. 5. This works grief and raises great sorrow in their hearts So when they consider how their sins have stabb'd and murdred the Lord Jesus and put him to open shame Heb. 6 6. how they pulled down the wrath and Curse of God on him Gal. 3.12 and how he poured out sighs tears yea his precious Blood and Soul for them Isa 53. and likewise how their sins were imputed to and laid on him and how he was Crucified and killed for them and all to save them and instate them in his own Glory and Eternal Blessedness 2 Cor. 5. ult Joh. 10. Joh. 17. and how ungratefully they have demeaned themselves to him Oh! how doth this work on them how do these things irritate and cause sorrow and bitterness of Soul in them Now they can indeed look on him whom they have pierced and mourn and be in real bitterness of Soul as for their First-born Zach. 12.10 These and many other things which I cannot now mention do greatly melt them and provoke holy Sorrow and Repentance unto Life for as Christ his Love Grace and Sufferings do work on their passion of Joy irritates and provokes it so they do work on and cause much sorrow and grief of heart through the helps of the Spirit likewise The same objects and matters do work savingly and effectually on both namely to
cause joy and sorrow in the same New Creature These are some of the holy spiritual affections and passions which are formed in the Soul in Regeneration and if you are indeed Regenerate persons you can in some degree experience them in your hearts therefore try and examine your selves by them if you are in a Regenerate state and condition Seventhly The New Creature is full of spiritual and heavenly desires after Divine Matters and Concernments Isa 26.8 Psal 10.17 2 Chron. 15.15 Pro. 11.23 Unregenerate men are full of carnal worldly desires Eph. 2.3 of which they make their boast Psal 10.3 But the New Creatures heart is full of spiritual desires their desires are ascending not descending they came from Heaven and like Fire they do naturally bend and ascend thither from whence they came they greatly desire to be holy and conformable in heart and life to the Will of God they greatly desire to know and see Jesus Christ and to have intimate and constant Communion with him Psal 63.1 2. Exod. 33. They that are Regenerated desire the death and destruction of all their Lusts and the thorough cleansing of their hearts of all sin Psal 51. Rom. 7. They desire to love God as he is to be loved to fear him as he is to be feared to trust him as he is to be trusted to serve and please him as he ought to be served and pleased and to honour and glorifie him as he ought to be honoured and glorified They desire that Christ may rule in their hearts and that he will pull down all his Enemies there that so he may Reign alone so as that they may not serve sin or carnal Self any more they defire to have their hearts always in Heaven and to be spiritually-minded continually they desire the coming of Christ and that his Kingdom may be established above the tops of the Mountains and be exalted above the Hills Isa 2.2 3. Rev. 22. ult They desire that his Name may be great among the Gentiles and find acceptance among the Jews They desire that the Gospel may run and be glorified and find acceptance among all sorts of men and they desire to see a great Spirit of Humility Zeal and Gospel-Holiness upon Professors of the good ways of Jesus Christ In a word they desire whatever God tells them he desires of or for them Doth God desire them to be holy in all manner of Conversation and to be fruitful in every good work why they desire the same too Doth God will and desire that they should love the Brethren 1 Pet. 1.22 be good and charitable to the poor simpathize with and help them in their afflictions Mat. 25. why they desire the same also Would God have them single and sincere hearted to himself and all men and do to all men as they would have them do to themselves why they do will and desire the same likewise Would God have them seek his glory in all their ways watch and guard their hearts render good for evil be in his fear all the day long Pro. 23.17 not depart from God but give him their hearts walk with him and perfect holiness in his fear 2 Cor. 7.1 why the same they greatly will and desire also So that as Daniel was said to be a man of desires Dan. 9.23 margin so all Regenerate persons are men of desires They are fuller of heavenly desires after divine things than of all other good things They desire to have what they cannot get as yet and to do that which they cannot do But they are as it were made up of desires after the doing and obtainment of them Regenerate mens desires are good and great desires they shew what a man is and by them they may know their States whether they be Regenerate or unregenerate persons If the desires of a man be wholly or mostly after the things of the flesh there is a carnal man if after holyness Christ and heavenly things there is a Spiritual man indeed For as the flood of thy desires are so art thou Performanes are short but desires are long obtainments are few but desires are many in all reall Regenerate persons To will and desire they find when they find not how to perform and act their desires Eightly New Creatures or Regenerate Persons are born to and imployed in great special and peculiar works and services namely such as other men and they themselves were strangers to before They loathed the very names of them and would by no means be perswaded to mind or consider them before But now they are their works their chosen desired loved and highly esteemed works and services They are their acceptable and most delightful works now because they are the works of God and for God their Father and also because their hearts and Souls are by the Grace of Regeneration suited to them The Laws of them are written in their hearts and in all the faculties of their Souls Jer. 3.33 Heb. 8.10 Heb. 10.16 so that they are natural to and in them Now all natural works or actions are pleasant and delightful to men and so are New Creatures acts works and services to them I delight to do thy will O God says David how so why the Law of God was written in his heart Psal 40.8 Heb. 10. so Paul Rom. 7.22 They are born to and for them and they are created with and in them Ephes 2.10 For we are his work-manship Created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath ordained that we should walk in them so Rom. 7.4.6 First they were Elected Chosen and Ordained to and for them Eph. 2.10 Eph. 1.4 1 Pet. 2.9.2 we are Redeemed to and for them Tit. 2.14 1 Pet. 2.9 2 Cor. 14.15 3 we are called and Regenerated to and for them 1 Pet. 1.15 1 Pet. 2.9 Eph 2.10 They are by Election Redemption and Regeneration made a Special and peculiar People unto God and for holy and special works in which works and Services they are ever exercised after their Regeneration God ever imploys them and they walk and excercise themselves in them as their great Trade and businesse Phil 3.20 These Special and peculiar works and Services of Regenerate men are many I shall name but a few of them to you at this time They are Born again as with the Love of God in their hearts so to Love God withall their heart all their daies Deut. 30.6 Rom. 5.5 This is their care worke and excercise and that not only to love God simply but to love him Sincerly Heartily Strongly Purely Fervently and Constantly and Obediently To love God as God and as their God as their great and everlasting and as their Gracious Kind and Loving God to love him in the Superlative degree as their chiefest and only good This work they love and delight in they contrive and project it study and endeavour to do it as they ought and this they resolve on and use all means to obtain it They