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A25247 Prima the first things, in reference to the middle and last things: or, the doctrine of regeneration, the new birth, the very beginning of a godly life. Delivered by Isaac Ambrose, minister of the Gospel at Preston in Amounderness in Lancashire.; Prima, media, & ultima. Prima. Ambrose, Isaac, 1604-1664. 1650 (1650) Wing A2964; ESTC R213988 65,629 80

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know the Spirit is above and the new birth or regeneration comes from the Spirit But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 why it is so or what moves the Spirit to do so besides his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the good pleasure of his will we cannot tell Or if we read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as others do Beda Erasm paraph. in loc the words then run thus Except a man be born again To this Nicodemus's reply seems more direct How can a man be born when he is old can he enter the second time into his mothers womb No question he took Christs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 onely thus he mistook that the second birth should be after the maner of the first birth and therefore he saith Can a man that is old such as he himself was be born again No saith our Savior that which is born of the flesh is flesh and there is but one birth after this maner but to be born again is to be born after the Spirit and this is that second birth A man is first born of the flesh Doct. and he must be again born of the Spirit Hence appears the difference of the first and second birth the first birth is of the earth earthy the second birth is of the Lord from heaven heavenly the first birth is of nature full of sin the second is of grace full of sanctity the first birth is originally of flesh and blood the second birth is originally of the Spirit and water In a word the first birth kills the second gives life generation lost us it must be regeneration that recovers us O blessed birth without which no birth is happy in comparison of which though it were to be born heir of the whole world all is but misery Heb. 11.24 this was Moses praise that he esteemed the reproach of Christ above all the treasures in Egypt rather would he be the son of God then to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter Heb. 11.24 No question it is a great dignity to be called the son in Law to a King 1 Sam. 18.23 Polan Syntag. l. 6. c. 37. Act. 8.37 Acts 10.47 Acts 16.14 Titus 2.5 but nothing in comparison of being the Son of God this sonship is that degree above which there needs no aspiring and under which there is no happiness no heaven no kingdom Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Thus far of the maner of the words which containing the new birth it appears in them the father of it is God the seed of it the Word the mother of it the Church the place of it whence from Heaven the time of it when after a man is once born then he must be again born Except a man be born again Secondly as you see the maner of the words containing the new birth so now see the maner of the new birth contained in the words I know it is not wrought in all after one maner nor is the maner known to us but onely so far forth as it is sensible in us and therefore we must consider man before baptism in baptism after baptism In some is the new birth wrought before baptism as in the eunuch under Candace Queen of the Aethiopians Acts 8.37 and in the Captain Cornelius together with his kinsmen and and near friends Acts 10.47 and in Lydia Acts 16.14 and so our charity tells us that every Infant dying before baptism is renewed by the Spirit but the maner of this working we know not for it is one of the secrets of the Spirit of God In others is the new birth wrought in Baptism which indeed is the Sacrament of the new birth and seal of Regeneration but howsoever in Paedo-Baptism we see the outward seal yet we see not we feel not the maner of the inward working for this also is the secret of the * Bellar. Tom. 2. de Sacram. Baptism c 10. habent fidem habitualem See Dr. Field concerning the Author of the grounds of the old and new Religion S. 2. Fides est in infantibus potentia inclinatione Ursinus parte secunda Catechis quest 74. Spiritus operatur in potentiis animae ipsorum ut Bellar habeut spiritum fidei Zanch. in cap. 2. ad Ephes spirit of God In others is the new birth wrought after Baptism so Polanus but whether after Baptism or in Baptism we will not dispute onely as the case stands with us this I affirm That there is no manifestation of the new birth until after Baptism But when after Baptism I answer whensoever men receive Christ by faith which though it be many years after yet then do they feel the power of God regenerate them and to work all things in them which he offered in Baptism Now the maner of this feeling or of Gods Spirit working proceeds usually thus There be certain steps of degrees say Divines by which it passeth and howsoever in those whom God hath blessed with that great favor of holy and Christian education the Spirit of God dropping grace into their hearts even very betimes these steps or degrees are not so easily perceived Yet in those men who have lived long in sin whose sins have been gross and great and grievous no sooner come they to a new birth but they can feel grace work in them step after step and these steps we shall reckon to the number of eight The first is a sight of sin and this our Savior reckons for the first work of the Spirit When he is come Iohn 16.8 he will reprove the world of sin John 16.8 Of sin how why thus no sooner begins this blessed change from nature to grace but the conscience wrought on by Gods word opens its book and presents to the soul a bed-roll of those many mighty hainous sins committed against God and man there he may read in bloody burning lines the abominations of his youth the sins of all his life and to bring them into method the Commandments of God stand as a remembrancer before his eyes the first tells him of his loving somewhat above God the second of his worshipping a false God or the true God after a false maner the third of his dishonoring the great and mighty name of God the fourth of his breaking the Lords days either in doing the works of the flesh or leaving undone the works of the Spirit nor is this all as against God so against his neighbor hath he sinned the fifth tells him of his stubbornness and disobedience the sixth of his passions and desire of revenge the seventh of his lewdness and lustful courses the eighth of his robberies and covetous thefts the ninth of his lyes and and slanders back-bitings and rash judgements the tenth of his covetous thoughts and motions of the heart to all maner of evil Good Lord what a number of evils yea what innumerable swarms of lawless thoughts and words and actions doth he