in him that is really united to him There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 A Virgin hath no right at all to the honors and treasures of a man notwithstanding some well wishes towards him till she be married to him and become one flesh with him so a Christian hath no right at all to the great and good things which are Christs till he be married to the Lord Jesus and become one Spirit with him Union is the ground of communion probably when the flood came many hung about the Ark but the waves quickly washt them off those onely that were in the Ark were saved thus all that hang only about Christ the true Ark by a general profession will be drowned will be damned when the deluge of wrath cometh they only that are in him by a real implantation shall be saved Now saith the Apostle and observe it Reader if any man be in Christ he is a new creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Therefore regeneration is required because by it the creature is planted into Christ Regeneration cutteth the man off from his own stock and grafteth him into the Lord Jesus Regeneration troweth the siner off from his own bottom and builds him on the Saviour as a sure foundation Regeneration is as it were the Minister which marrieth Christ and the soul together therein the soul giveth it self unfeignedly to Christ and Christ giveth himself really to the soul and thereby the sins and weaknesses of the soul the Wife become the Husbands and the riches and righteousness the home and heaven of Christ the Husbands become the Wives When God converteth a sinner he sendeth his Messenger as Abraham his Steward to provide a Wife for his only Son the Minister like the servant with Rebeckah treateth with the soul telling it how infinitely blessed his Masters Son is how rich even the heir of all things how beautiful even the fairest of ten thousands and altogether lovely how exceedingly this marriage will be for its advantage upon this the Spirit striking in the soul consenteth to take Christ for its Lord and Husband and so becometh the Spouse of the God of Isaac and hath heaven entailed on it for a Joynture I proceed now from the Explication to the Application of the Doctrine and it may be useful to us several ways FIrst By way of Information If without Regeneration men and women can never attain Salvation then it informeth us in the first place how gross and how great is the delusion of graceless and irreligious persons How exceedingly do most sinners cheat and cozen their own souls Reader it may be thou art a Drunkard a Swearer a Scoffer at godliness an Atheist in thy heart in thy soul and yet thou hopest to get to heaven O desperate delusion I tell thee either this Text which I write of and which is the word of the true and living God must be false which the Devil himself is not so great a Blasphemer as to think or thou art a brand for the unquenchable fire Do but look into the black list of those that are for utter darkness and thou mayst read thy very name written there in broad letters 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Know ye not that the unrightous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived O soul-cheater neither Forn cators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor Effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers noâ— Extortioners shall inherit the kingdom â—f God See Gal. 5.19 20 21. Gal. 6.7 8. Ephes 5.5 6. Friend I could name forty texts of Scripture which pass sentence of everlasting condemnation on thy soul and yet thou thinkest in despight of God and his word to be saved I assure thee prophane wretch thou comest short of hundreds which shall come short of heaven Many bid fair to the eyes of men by civility morality and common grace but come not up to the price to Regeneration and so miss of that place thou art every day adding sin to sin drunkenness to thirst posting in the road to hell and yet sayst that thou shalt arrive at heaven well within a few days it shall be tried whose words are truest God's or thine But if thou mayst be convinced of thy soul-flattery before it bring thee into endless misery I shall shew thee the utter impossibility of thy salvation while thou remainest in this condition There are four gates through which all must go that get into the new Jerusalem every one of which is shut lockt bar'd and bolted against thee 1. They that get to heaven must go through the gate of Election As all that were not reckoned by Genealogy were put by the Priesthood as being polluted Ezra 2.62 so all are excluded eternal life whose names are not written in the Lambs book of life Rev. 20. ult Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire Now this gate of Election is shut against prophaness thou hast not the least ground to imagine that thou art elected whilst thou art unconverted because God decreed all them to be sanctified whom he decreed to be saved Mark that 2 Thess 2.13 14. Who hath chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth The end and the way were both in Gods thoughts together Those whose names are registred in heaven their natures are regenerated on earth Whom he did predestinate them he also called Rom. 8.30 The first rise saith one and spring of mercy is Election which breaketh out by effectual Calling and so floweth down in the channels of Faith and Holiness till it lose it self in the ocean of glory Vocation is the outward expression of God's inward intention to save a sinner or the first impression of the seal upon the wax therefore Election and Vocation are both conjoyned Rev. 17.14 nay the one is put for the other 1 Cor. 1.26 27. because they are inseparable companions so that if thy name be written in the book of life thy nature would be renewed to live a spiritual life 2 Tim. 1.9 1 Pet. 1.2 Therefore Reader if ever thou reachest heaven in this estate of unholiness thou must make a blot not onely in the Bible but in the very Book of Life 2. All that get to heaven must go through the gate of Christs Passion There is no name under heaven given among men by which we may be saved but the name of Jesus Christ Acts 4.12 And it is the death of Christ which purchaseth eternal life for Christians as the sown seed by dying bringeth forth a plentiful increase so Christ by dying bringeth many Sons to glory Joh. 12.24 Heb. 2.10 but this gate is shut against thee for those for whom Christ purchased glory for them he purchased grace The Son of God laid down the same price for both so that if ever he deliver thee from the condemning power of sin he will deliver thee from
of the nature of the blessed God as he is in himself therefore the Holy Ghost doth speak of God by the most excellent beings which our understandings reach as Spirits are for God is questionless such a spiritual being as is far above the most enlarged understanding Besides we are so clog'd and piniond with flesh that we know but little yea very little of our own spirits much less what a Spirit God is But there thou shouldst if converted know him fully thy understanding should be enlarged and satisfied Those scales which now hang about thine intellectual eye should then fall off and thou that didst behold him upon earth in the galss of his Gospel shouldst then see him face to face as the Sun doth by his beams and brightness so enlighten the eye and the air that we see thereby not onely other creatures but its own most glorious body so God would by the beams and beauty of his majesty so irradiate thy minde that thou shouldst see both the comeliness of his creatures and the brightness of his own being Thou shouldst know the great mystery of the Trinity the love of the Father the wisdom of the Son the sweet fellowship of the Holy Ghost That Riddle which now puzleth thee should there be unfolded thou shouldst know how the Father begat the Son how the Spirit proceeded from Father and Son and the difference between the generation of the Son and procession of the Spirit Thou shouldst know God in the unity of his nature now the Saints know him most by his Attributes which indeed differ not at all from his Being they are but different manifestations of one individed essence and distinguished by us for our better understanding of the Divine Nature but they are all the same in him and in themselves and then we shall know so Thou shouldst know the Hypostatical Union Ioh. 14.20 how the Son of God became the Son of Man that wonder of wonders Emanuel God with us God and Man in one person would be clearly seen all those knots would be untied thou shouldst then plough with Gods heifer and understand all his ridles thou shouldst know all things in God that were to be known in a full manner in a large measure to thine infinite comfort and content Thou shouldst know all this and far more for thy good If a little knowledge of God here be so pleasant to the soul Psal 19.10 though it be but a glimpse of him in the dawning of themorning what satisfaction will the compleat knowledge of him yeild to see that Sun at noon day If it be life eternal to know God and Jesus Christ imperfectly what will it be to know them perfectly and so as to enjoy them fully surely such instruction will be better then silver and such knowledge then choice gold this wisdom is better then rubies and all that thou canst desire is not to be compared to it How much have many wasted their wealth dried their brains macerated their bodies for a little knowledge of Nature which when they had gone to their utmost could not satisfie them they might as soon have broke their necks as their fasts by such knowledge but of what inestimable value is the knowledge of the God of Nature is the knowledge of him in Christ here and O of what incomparable worth will it be to know him as we are known of him to see him face to face this will be without question the beatifical vision Fifthly thou shouldst know the extent and truth of all the promises in the word which concern thy welfare in the other world How various and how precious are the promises which relate to heaven God promiseth his children such as are born of him large portions when they shall come to age unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ And thou shouldst then find that God will make good his word to a title He promiseth that they shall rest from their labours and their works shall follow them That they shall be before the throne and serve him day and night in his temple and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them That they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them nor any heart For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes Rev. 7.3 ult He promiseth that they shall be with Christ where he is and behold his glory John 17.24 That they shall not be hurt of the second death That they shall eat of the tree of life which groweth in the midst of the Paradise of God That they shall be cloathed in white raiment and not blotted out of the book of life but confessed before the father and the holy Angels Rev. 2.7 11. and 3.5 Christ promiseth him that overcommeth will I make a pillar in the temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the City of my God which is new Jerusalem and I will write upon him my new name Rev. 3.12 That they which overcome shall sit down with him on his throne even as he hath overcome and is sit down with his father on his throne Revel 3.21 Look Psalm 16. ult and 17. ult Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 5.1 1 Cor. 13.12 Mat. 8.11 1 Pet. 1.4 Phil. 3.21 1 Thess 4.2 ult 1 John 3.2 Ephe. 5.25 26. All these promises and many more shall be fully accomplished There shall not one good thing of all that the Lord hath spoken be unfulfilled The expectation of the promises hath filled several of Gods Children with extasies and ravishments of spirit what joy then will the possession of them bring The very thought of a promise hath made them like Leviathan to laugh at the shaking of Spears at the threatning of their adversaries nay to kiss stakes and smile at fire and fagots O what then will the performance be The promises are large but our straitened minds cannot understand their breadth but then happy experience shall teach us their full latitude they are now like bones which have the sweetest meat upon them and the sweetest marrow in them but we are not able here to pick them clean nor to suck out half the marrow but then we shall taste and enjoy every thing in them Now when we read of drinking of the rivers of Gods pleasures of dwelling in his house of a kingdome and thrones and scepters and palms and crowns of glory and reigning with Christ for ever and ever our hearts are ready to faint as Jacob at the news of his Sons honour in Egypt and as the Queen of Sheba at the news of Solomons wisdom believed it not so we What God look upon such sinks of sin such clods of clay as we are and make our vile bodies like unto the
his grace which is able to bring you home who are out of Christ and to build you up who are in Christ and to give you an inheritance among them which are sanctified And subscribe myself Your Servant for Jesus sake GEORGE SWINNOCKE Ianuary 10. 1659. THere is now published two excellent Treatises of Mr. Jeremiah Burrough's one on the fifth of Matthew being many Sermons preached at Cripple gate upon all the Beatitudes And Gospel-Revelation in Three Treatises viz. 1. The Nature of God 2. The excellency of Christ And 3. The excellency of Mans Immortal Soul Both published by Will. Greenhil Will. Bridge Philip Nye John Yates Matthew Mead Will. Adderly Both sold by Tho. Parkhurst in Cheapside TO THE READER Christian Reader AS there are two things which commend a place the fruitfulness of the soil and the pleasantness of the situation the one suiting the necessities and the other the comforts of life So there are two things which commend a Book the worthiness of the Matter therein handled and the skilfulness of the hand that contrived it upon both accounts this gracious Treatise justly deserveth with good men acceptation and value The matter thereof viz. The Doctrine of Regeneration being of most absolute necessity to the being of a Christian and the manner of handling it being so quick and elegant as cannot but convince the Judgement and gratifie the Palate of the most serious Reader It being like the Land of Canaan full of milk and honey a sweetness which doth both nourish and cleanse And as once David did consecrate the Spoils of the Gentiles to the building of the Temple So hath the Authour adorned this his Spiritual Treatise with a sanctified application of many pertinent Histories in humane Authors to the attempering thereof the better unto the most delicate minds I shall not detain the Reader by any discourse on Regeneration the Nature and the Necessity whereof I finde so fully handled in this Book but shall commend the perusual thereof unto all sorts of Readers It being so written as may by Gods blessing be very likely to Convince and Convert those who are strangers to Regeneration if they will bring but Self-love to the reading of it and as may fill the mouths and hearts of those who are partakers of so great a benefit with praises unto God their heavenly Father by gracious Adoption and unto the Lord Christ their Second Adam and spiritual Father by powerful Regeneration to whose blessing I commend the Work the Author and the Reader ED. REYNOLDS January 31. 1659. To the READER Christian Reader IF there be any thing of importance it is the working out of Salvation Phil. 2.12 if there be any way or method to work it out it is by Sanctification 2 Thes 2.13 Which Sanctity begins in Regeneration and ends in Glorification The first of these is the subject of this ensuing Discourse Regeneration or the New birth hath various titles and appellations in Scripture yet all pointing to the same thing as it was the same Messiah though represented by severall types sometimes Regeneration is called the new creature Gal. 6.15 t is indeed a creation because it is beyond the sphere of natural causes to produce and it is a New creature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in opposition to the old man yet it is not new for substance Ipsam sane animam esse nemo sanae mentis ignorat Bern. but qualities Somtimes Regeneration is called a Resurrection Rev. 20.6 It is a rising from sin b Aug. Tom. there can be no rising to glory till there be first a rising from sin Somtimes it is called a transformation Rom. 12.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind In the incarnation Christ did assume our humane nature in Regeneration we partake of his divine nature by Baptism we have Christs Name by the new birth his image the change wrought in the new birth is wonderful the man is alter idem like Caleb of another Spirit It is said of Alex. Severus that he could play on the viol he could carve or paint but after he was Emperour he was never seen to do any of these things it was below him So though man by nature be proud malitious expert in all the works of the flesh yet when once he is begoten of the seed of the word Jam. 1.18 now he is quite altered ad changed from what he was 1 Cor. 6.11 but yet every change doth not denominate the new birth there may be an external partial temporary change yet all these may be false conceptions then â—birth implyes a new heart Habet suos impetus pietas Quin tiâ—s dec 6. the will like the primum mobile is caryed with an holy violence heaven-ward and the affections as the other orbes move along with it before this new birth there are spiritual pangs though there is magis minus all have not the like pangs all feel the same hammer of the Law though some are bruised more by it then others Regeneration hath an universal influence Grace perfumes and consecrates the whole soul though the Saints are Regenerate but in part yet in every part 1 Thes 5.23 This New birth is not arbitrary but necessary Jo. 3.7 you must be born again other things are for conveniency this is of necessity a Generatus damnatus nifi regeneratus Austin better never have been born if not born again Generation damnes without Regeneration the new birth is a glorious birth it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from above Joh. 3.7 A true Saint is of the blood royall he is born of God 1 John 3.9 That is the best pedigres which is fetched from heaven Regeneration is the signature and engraving of the Holy Ghost upon the soul the new born Christian is decked with the spangles of holiness the Angels glory the new birth is a victorious birth Whatsoever is born of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 overcometh the world 1 Joh. 5.4 It conquers the worlds musick and fornaoe The new birth is an happy and a joyful birth at our first birth we come weeping into the world but at our new birth there is cause of joy now we are begotten unto a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3 How may we leap for joy when Christ is formed in our hearts t is matter of joy that Christ took our flesh but it is greater joy that we partake of his spirit we are to calculate our nativity from our new birth The Persians did solemnize with triumph regum natalitia the birth days of their Kings oh how may Christians with gladness remember and celebrate their spiritual birth day I mean that time when they began to be born of water and the spirit To conclude this new birth is an everlasting birth 1 Joh. 3.9 His seed remains in him he who is truly Regenerate dies not the Second death The new born creature never growes old he outlives death Rev. 20.6 on
much pleasure so when a man is a young sinner conscience is tender like a a queasie stomach troubled much with the least thing that offends it but continuance in sin makes conscience seared and brawny that afterwards the sinner like the Ostrich can digest iron and like the Turkish slaves feed on Opium and his stomach not at all recoil or complain It is reported of the Cretians that when they cursed their enemies they did not wish fire in their houses nor a dagger at their hearts but that which would bring greater wo ut mala consuetudine delectentur that they might delight in an evil custom for custom is not another nurture but another nature and that which is natural is not easily reduced Some say there is no transplanting trees after seven years rooting I am sure it is hard to transplant them out of a state of nature into a state of grace who have been seventy years rooting in the earth old servants will not easily leave their masters they will many times have their ears boared and be everlasting slaves rather then be made free T is with old sinners saith one as with them who have lived long under a Government Gurnals Armour they like to be as they are though but ill rather then to think of a change or like those who in a journey have gone out of their way all day such will rather take a new path over hedge and ditch then think of going so far back to be set right Old sinner for the sake of thy soul proceed no further knowest thou not that every step thou takest in thine unconverted state maketh thy condemnation more deep thy condition more dangerous and thy conversion more difficult Is it not high time for thee to begin to work out thy salvation when the sun of thy life is setting Ah 't is one of the saddest spectacles in the world to behold a man full of silver hoary hairs that is void of a golden sanctified heart surely of all men alive thou hast cause to abound in sorrow who doest to this day abide in thy sins THe second Use which I shall make of this doctrine shall be by way of Examination If without the second birth thou canst not escape the second death nor obtain eternal life Then Reader Try whether thou art new born or no commune with thy heart and see whether this work be done that thou mayst know how thou shalt fare in the other world Wherefore brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 The first fountain of our felicity is election and the manifestation of this is our calling by vocation God bringeth to pass in time what he appointed from eternity As a word is an outward thought and a thought an inward word so vocation is outward election or election put into act and made visible and election is inward vocation or Gods intention to convert and save Election is eternal calling Calling is a temporal election so that by ensuring thy calling thou ensurest thy election make thy calling sure be not satisfied to let thy salvation hang in suspence to follow Christ as the people followed Saul trembling not knowing how it shall fare with thee but strive for full assurance that an abundant entrance may be ministred unto you into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.11 I have read of an old wicked Usurer who had nothing in his mouth but It is good to be sure if his servant went to receive money he would follow after him and being asked the reason would answer It is good to be sure If he had told his money once he would do it a second yea a third time saying It is good to be sure If he locked his door himself he would arise out of his bed to feel it locked still pleading for his reason It is good to be sure It came to pass that this man fell desperately sick his servant calleth to him desirous to make him sensible of his sins Master have you been at prayers yea John saith he Sir said the servant go to prayers again you know 'T is good to be sure That 's more then needs saith the Usurer I am sure enough of that Truly this mans heart is the resemblance of most men they are all for security in bargains sales and purchases if they buy an inheritance on earth how sure will they make it the tenure shall be as strong as the brawn of the Law or the brains of Lawyers can devise what Bonds Deeds Fines Recoveries Leases Evidences and if any scruple collateral security are there to ensure it but alas who ensures the inheritance above how few are there that take any pains to secure their right to those everliving pleasures Like Jacob though in another sense men put their right hand of care caution and diligence upon the younger Son the body and their left hand on the elder the soul How few make their calling and election sure But Reader if thou wouldest make sure thy predestination and fore-appointment to glory it must be done by making sure thy Regeneration and translation into a state of grace Thou canst not ascend into heaven and see thy name written in the Lambs book of life but thou mayst descend into thine own heart and see it by the seeds and principles of a spiritual life as if any man would know whether the sun shineth or no he need but look on the ground and see the reflection of its beams and not on the body of the Sun which will but the more dazzle his eyes the pattern is known by the picture the cause by the effect the original by the copy Election by regeneration the soul that is conformed to Gods Law may know that he is inrolled in Gods list If I have chosen God I may safely conclude that God hath chosen me The Historian reporteth how a Senator relating to his son the great honors decreed to a number of Souldiers Tacitus whose names were written in a book the Son was importunate to see the book the Father shewed him the out-side it seemed so glorious that the son desired him to open it by no means saith the Father it is sealed by the Council then saith the son Tell me if my name be there the Father saith The names are secret to the Senate the Son studying how he might get some satisfaction desired his Father to declare the merits of those inscribed Soldiers which the Father doing and the Son consulting with his own heart found himself to be none of them Reader though the Book of life which includeth the names of those whose heads are destined to glorious Diadems be secret yet the deserts of those inscribed there are open they are as a chosen generation a peculiar people so also an holy nation a royal Priesthood a called company a sanctified society a regenerated remnant they are culled out of the world called by the word
thy folly in making and continuing a League with them to thine extream and unconceiveable disadvantage I shall endeavour to set before thee though briefly the far greater felicity which thou shouldst obtain in the other World As whilst thou continuest in this world thou shouldst be a blessed soul so when thou enterest into the other world thou shouldst be a glorious Saint And this Reader is the best wine which Christ keeps for his Ghests till the last though how good it is none can tell but they that have tasted it Truly what Nazianzen said of Basil I may say of this glorious Saint There wants nothing but his own tongue to commend him The Subject is large and weighty and sure I am that it would require the words not onely of a Saint but an Angel to do it according to its worth I shall onely give thee a say briefly of that which glorified Saints enjoy fully First thou shouldst know what perfection of holiness is if thou wert but new born this one thought would fill thy soul with marrow and fatness and cause thy mouth to praise God with joyfull lips One dram of holiness infinitely surpasseth in the esteem of a Saint all the Kingdoms and Empires of this world how much then is perfect holiness worth In heaven thou shouldst have it There thou shouldst be before the throne without fault and serve him day and night in his temple Rev. 14.5 What price doth a Saint set upon and what pains doth he take for a little holiness If thou wouldst know why he hideth the word in his heart t is that he might not sin against God the purging out of sinful humours is the end for which he takes that phisick Why he readeth and heareth so diligently t is that he might be sanctified through Gods truth cleansing is the reason why he useth that water Why he prayeth so frequently and so fervently t is that he might have a clean heart created and a right spirit renewed within him Grace is the chief alms for which he knocks and begs so hard at the beautifull gate of Gods Temple why he goeth to the sacrament t is that he might grow in sanctity he goeth to the death of his Saviour for the death of his sins and his great design in that spiritual feast is so to feed that he might get some more spiritual strength Nay how contented can he be under very sad crosses if they may but make him more like to Christ he can patiently bear the pain of lancing and cutting so it may but let out corruption He can take bitter pills for the removing of inward diseases and the furthering of his souls health and more willingly spend all be hath for the cure of his issue of sin then ever the widow did for the cure of her issue of blood Now Reader thou shouldst have the vessel of thy soul filled with this water of life One drop of which is so precious as thou hast heard to the regenerate Thou shouldst have a perfection of degrees as well as of parts and enjoy so much of these true riches that thou shouldst not desire one grain more Thou shouldst be a book wherein the image of God should be written in a fair large print and there should be no errata's in thee Sin now is like the Ivy in the wall cut it never so much yet it will sprout out again but as grace mortifieth it here glory shall nullify it in heaven Wert thou in Christ t would be no small comfort to think the time is comming when thou shalt never offend God more never deal unkindly with Christ more Thou shouldst by blessed experience know the truth of those Scriptures Whosoever is born of God sinneth not for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God 1 John 3.9 Christ loved his Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Ephes 5.25 26 27. The body of death should die with the death of thy body Thou shouldst not be taken away in thy sins but from thy sins It would be impossible for thee to sin there because of thine happy sight of God there Sin is an aversion from God and conversion to the creature Now thou shouldst enjoy such soul ravishing sweetness in the blessed God and that so fully that thou couldst not leave so excellent a good for any creature thy graces here in their minority and nonage would be then in their maturity If that holiness which is but in part on earth would be so beautiful in thine eyes that it would ravish thine heart more then all the glory of this lower world what would perfect holiness in heaven be If the picture or image of God be so comely in its rough draught here below Ah how lovely a peice will it be in all its perfections when Gods Novissima manus his last hand shall come upon it above 1 John 3.2 Secondly thou shouldst know what compleat happiness is Thine holiness and happiness like twins would grow up and come to their full age together thy perfect purity there would cause perfect peace Thy day of light and gladness in heaven could never be overcast with the smallest cloud because sins that are the vapours out of which they breed could not ascend so high Thy freedom from evil would be full thy fruition of good would be full and therefore thy felicity must needs be full Thy body there would be free from the diseases and deformity to which it is liable and with which it is affected here The errors of the first would be corrected in its second edition A body of vileness shall be a body of glory All those miseries which fright and molest thee now would then forsake thee No evil durst arrest thee when thou shalt walk in the presence of Sions King In this thou shouldst be like irrational creatures that thy misery should end with thy life And in this resemble the blessed Angels that thou shouldst alwayes behold the face of thy father In his presence is fulness of joy When the Sun beholdeth the Moon with his full aspect then the Moon is at the Full. In heaven the Sun of righteousness would ever look on thee with his favourable face in so full a degree that thou shouldst be at the Full of thy light and happiness God is an universal good the soul of man hath a kind of an infinite appetite It desireth this pleasure and that treasure and when it hath them it is like a dropsicall body as thirsty as ever for those creatures having but a particular limited goodness can never satisfy but God will supply all the souls wants because he is infinite and universal good and answereth all things Thou shouldst ever be at the
cause thee to blossom and bud and ripen in the fruits of holiness There is mercy with thee that thou mayst be feared Psal 130.4 Why doth he send the nipping winter of adversity but to kill the hurtful weeds of thy lusts This is his end in afflicting even the taking avay of sin Isa 27.9 He useth the flail that the huskes may flie off when one key will not open the door of thy heart he will try another Why doth he interweave mercy and affliction that his providences towards the children of men are chequer-work white and black black and white mercy and affliction affliction and mercy but because his infinite wisdom seeth that this mixture will suit best with his ends the purifying and renewing his creature If all the year were summer the sap of the trees would be quite exhausted if all were winter it would be quite buried If thou hadst nothing in thy body but natural heat it would burn thee up if nothing but moisture it would drown thee therefore thy radical moisture allayeth thy natural heat and thy natural heat giveth bounds to thy radical moisture and each well tempered make an excellent constitution of body If thou hadst nothing but mercy thou wouldst be wanton and conceited if nothing but misery thou wouldst be too much dejected therefore God sendeth mercy to make thee cheerful and misery to keep thee awful The good Physician tempers his drugs wisely and weigheth them exactly and so prescribes and gives them as they may best conduce to the carrying on of his own end the spiritual health of his Patients Fifthly Regeneration will appear to be excellent in that it is the special work of God himself Grace is the immediate creatue of God man can ruine but not renew himself Which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God John 1.13 Man may lay some claim though there also God is the principal to the fatherhood of our fleshly beings but God onely can lay claim to the fatherhood of our spiritual beings Holiness is a beam of light darted forth from none but the Sun of righteousness We are his workmanship Ephes 2.10 His workmanship both by way of efficiency and excellency How beautiful is that structure which hath such a Builder what a rare work must that be which hath such a workman Surely that is a choice plant which is of Gods own planting O who would not be in love with so fair a child for the fathers sake The creation of our outward beings as we are men Iob 10.8 1.10 is the work of God Thy hands have made me and fashioned me Psal 119.77 God makes every man as well as the first man Nature and natural causes are nothing but the order in which and the tools with which he is pleased to work Now this work of God is excellent it is the Master-piece of the visible Creation Man is the fair workmanship of a wise Artificer saith one Heathen The bold attempt of daring nature saith another One of the Ancients calleth man The Miracle of miracles Another The measure of all things A third The worlds Epitome The world in a small volume The body which is the worst half of man Psal 1 â—9 14.15 is curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth and made in secret as curious workmen when they have some choice piece in hand they perfect it in private and then bring it forth to the light for men to gaze on In thy book were all my members written Psal 139.14 15. A skilful Architect who is to set up some stately building will draw a model of it in his book or upon a table before he will adventure to set it up to be sure that it shall be done exactly So to shew what an exact piece the body of man is God is said to work it by the book But the soul which is Gods work too is a more exquisite piece the body is as it were the sheath Dan. 7.15 the soul is the glittering sword the body is but the cabinet this is the jewel 't is by this that man claims kindred with the Angels in Heaven and surpasseth all creatures on Earth Consider then if this work of Gods hands this visible Creation be so excellent how excellent is the invisible Creation the creating man in Christ unto good works Surely that is curious work workmanship indeed The Tables of stone hewed immediately by the hand of God and on which he had with his own fingers written the Law was such a piece that mortal eyes could not behold it without astonishment and admiration What a rare Manuscript was that where the book the matter the writing were all of Gods own making and doing But the writing of the Law in the fleshly tables of the heart by the Spirit of God is much more glorious I am very willing Friend to convince thee of the excellency of Regeneration and therefore would speak more to this head Think of what thou pleasest which thin eunderstanding can judge excellent and thou shalt finde the image of God far more excellent Is wealth excellent Luk. 16.11 1 Tim. 6 7. Mat 6.19 â—0 Prov. 8.18 this is the true riches others are but the shadow this is the substance other riches are but for a short time these are for ever durable riches and righteousness Other riches will go only as brass farthings in some particular places in this beggarly low world of earth but these like gold and silver go in all countries are currant coyn even in the higher world of Heaven Is wisdom excellent this is wisdom the fear of the Lord is the beginning the word fignifieth the apex the top the perfection of wisdom Prov. 1.7 Job 28.2 The pious man is the prudent man He alone can judge rightly of things set a due price upon things propound to himself the noblest ends and use the best means therefore he is called by way of eminency A man of wisdom Mic. 6.9 The knowing subtle Pharisees for want of this were but learned fools Matth. 23.17 Sinner and Fool are Synonima's in Scripture The English word Fool is thought to come from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth wicked Is beauty excellent Grace is the greatest beauty the beauty of holiness Psal 110.5 O how comely is the new creature never any saw it but fell in love with it The Spouse of Christ is the fairest among women Thou art all fair my love thou art all fair Cant. 4.1 Godliness is such a beauty that as I have said before God himself is taken with it Sin is a spot a defilement this beauty is inward it sits upon the face of the most noble part of man the Soul and thereby is the more comely its lasting not liable to the rage of a disease or wrinckles of old age but always increasing whilst here to a greater perfection Is pleasure excellent Godliness is