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
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
themselves and not at all to God 14 No man can be made free of the Heavenly City and Spiritual Corporation nor be set at liberty from bondage and thraldome but in and by Regeneration All men are by Nature in bondage to the Devil and Lusts as you heard before but Regeneration is the year or day of Release and Enlargement to imprisoned Souls for then comes Jesus Christ opens the Prison doors and brings out his Prisoners Joh. 8.36 Gal. 5.1.13 until then they lye in the Dungeon of darkness bound hand and foot with Fetters of Iron and shut in under Impenitency Ignorance and Vnbelief and cannot get forth until the Jubilee comes and proclaims Liberty to them Isa 61.1 2. Zach. 2.11 Then are they made Free Citizens of the New Jerusalem and have their Freedom given them to live and Trade in Heaven for heavenly and everlasting Commodities Eph. 2.19 Phil. 3.20 Behold the necessity then of Regeneration 15 No man can be actually and personally justified pardoned and acquitted without Regeneration but are held under the Guilt and Curse of the Law for they must first believe unto Justification of life before they can obtain a discharge and take out an Acquittance under the Hand and Seal of the Holy Ghost Eph. 1.13 Rom. 5.18 but this they cannot do for want of Faith until they are Regenerated and thereby made partakers of this glorious Grace 16 No man can fear God aright namely with a godly filial fear nor indeed can he stand in awe of God and sin not or walk in the fear of God all the day long as commanded Pro. 23.17 Psal 4.4 until they be Regenerated for who can so fear and reverence God until God put it into his heart to do it Jer. 32.39 40. for if they could and had they wherewithal to do it without this Grace of God to what purpose hath God promised to do it himself and declared it to be a choise and singular Gift and Grace of his own giving and working in their hearts I will says God put my fear into their hearts that they may not depart from me and that they may fear me for ever And how can men fear God with a filial or Child-like fear until they are made Children by Regeneration and begotten again by his Word and Spirit 1 Pet. 1.3 Jam. 1.18 Joh. 3.5 17 No man can make the Glory of God his greatest end and aim and really design to please and honour God in his words and deeds without Regeneration therefore it is absolutely necessary We are indispensably bound to make God the chief and great aim and end of all our undertakings and to seek design and endeavour with all possible seriousness and diligence to please honour and exalt him 1 Cor. 10.31 Col. 3.23 Pro. 3.9 Col. 1.10 1 Thes 4.1 But this we cannot do until a new Spring of Life and Divine Principles be put into us by Regeneration for we are by Nature wholly selfish are quite swallowed up in sinful carnal self Self is the principle motive and end of all our thoughts words and deeds Self-pleasure profit ease honour and security have only Self in the bottom and top of every Good as well as Evil in Religious as well as Civil works And how can it be otherwise with us the Fountain of our Natures being so miserably corrupted and depraved as it is And it is a truth that the Streams cannot rise higher than the Fountains from whence they come 18 No man can be the object of Gods delight and complacency until he be Regenerated because they have nothing that is lovely and desirable in them Before Regeneration men are hateful vile and abominable in the sight of God as hath been shewed as they are sinners and unwashed It is the Nature and Image of God that is the Object of Gods delight and complacency in men for the God of Holiness cannot look on iniquity he is of purer eyes than to do so Habuk. 1.13 and this Nature and Image we have not until we are Regenerated and made New Creatures by Grace for till then God looks on us as in our blood Ezek. 16. Rom. 3. 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. and stamps his own Nature and Image on us to make us clean pure lovely and delightful in his eyes He beautifies men with his Ornaments that he may take pleasure in and rejoyce with them Zach. 3.17 19 No man can claim a Right unto and Interest in the Covenant and Promises without Regeneration for they are not under neither have they any interest in them whilest they lay in their blood and continue in their state of Enmity against God No man can be interested in the Promises and Covenant of Grace and Life that is not interested in Christ and no man is interested in Christ until he be a New Creature All the Promises are in Christ 2 Cor. 1.20 and they are made ours by virtue of our having of and being in Christ and when we are in Christ all is ours 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. and not till then then we may claim and use them as ours but not till then 20 No man can be in a state of Grace and Life without Regeneration no man can be a holy gracious and good man until he be Regenerated Whatever good things he may have act and do yet he is in a state of sin and death still until he pass under Regeneration He may be washed without yet he is a Swine still he may put on Sheeps cloathing but he is a Wolf still he may be enlightned but is in a state of darkness still and he may believe many Truths and yet be an Vnbeliever still 2 Pet. 2.20.22 Matth. 7.15 Heb. 6.4 Joh. 8.30.44 Acts 8.13.23 But I see I must contract my self lest I run beyond my intentions and therefore shall briefly sum up what I have further to say on this Head that I may presently dismiss it Therefore I say that as we stand in absolute need of Regeneration for the Reasons and Ends already named so likewise for those that follow which I shall but name We cannot take up in God as in our portion satisfaction and only happiness without Regeneration neither can we chuse him for the great and only delight of our Souls without it We cannot have our wills bowed to and swallowed up into the Will of God nor freely chearfully and dutifully yield up our selves to his disposement without Regeneration We cannot rejoyce in Christ Jesus nor in tribulation and bearing the Cross nor yet in doing good and working Righteousness without Regeneration We cannot be dutifully and thankfully patient under and contented with an afflicted state and condition nor demean and carry our selves well in it without Regeneration We cannot be fruitful in every good work nor bear fruit unto Eternal Life without Regeneration We cannot highly esteem and set a due nor a right value on Christ his Person Blood Laws and Grace nor on the great love and kindness of God