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A94157 The door of salvation opened by the key of regeneration: or A treatise containing the nature, necessity, marks and means of regeneration; as also the duty of the regenerate. / By George Swinnocke, M.A. and pastor of Rickmersworth in Hertfordshire. Swinnock, George, 1627-1673. 1661 (1661) Wing S6272; Thomason E1817_1; ESTC R209823 254,830 512

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individual promise hath its vertue and value It is the saying of one Mallemus carere sale coe●o c Selveccer in Paedag. Christian We had better want meat drink air light all the elements then that one sweet sentence of our Saviour Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest Mat. 11.28 Mr. Burroughs saith that there is more of God in that one verse John 3.16 then in heaven and earth beside God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life And Mr. Baxter I remember In his Everlasting ●est hath an expression to this purpose That he would not for all the world that that verse John 17.24 had been left out of the bible Father I will also that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory One promise hath revived the saints when they have been almost dead with sorrow and held their heads up that they have not sunk in deep waters Melib. Adamus in vit Beza was refreshed by that John 10.27 28 29. Mr. Bilney that blessed Martyr by that 1 Tim. 1.15 Father Latimer at the stake by that 1 Cor. 10.13 Mr. Robert Bolten that famous preacher and eminent saint was comforted under a sad affliction by that Isa 26.3 Now if one promise be so pretious how happy shouldst thou be wert thou but regenerated to have an interest in all the promises That whole book should be thine wherein every leafe drops myrrhe and mercy love and life Thou mightst walk in the garden where those choice flowers pleasant fruits and sweet spices grow and abundantly delight thy soul with their fragrant smell and luscious taste The promise is to you and to your children and to then that are a far off and to as many as the Lord our God shall call Acts 2.39 Observe the silver thread upon which all the jewels of the promises hang To as many as the Lord our God shall call When thou art called and born of him all the promises would be thy portion As all the rivers meet in the Ocean so all the promises meet in regeneration I will name two or three promises that thou mayst see how well t would be with thee wert thou once in Christ All thy sins should be pardoned though they were never so great and greivous yet the blood of Jesus Christ would cleanse thee from them Didst thou but know what a great price was laid down to procure a pardon Heb. 9.22 14. what dreadful punishments sinners undergo in hel for want of pardon Jude 7. what sorrows and sighs broken bones and waterd couches the Saints suffer when they are but doubtful of their pardon Psa 38.1 2 3 4. thou wouldst say O blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiven and whose sin is covered blessed is he to whom the Lord imputeth not sin Psal 32.1 2. Now thou shouldst obtain this blessedness God would esteem thee perfectly righteous Solinus reports of a river in Boetia which maketh black sheep if washed therein white truly wert thou never so black a sinner yet thou shouldst be made white by the blood of the lamb Rev. 7.14 As all thy sins should be remitted so thy person should be adopted Thou shouldst of a child of wrath become the child of God Joh. 1.12 David reckoned it a great honour to be the Son in Law of King Saul Seemeth it saith he to Sauls servant A light thing to you to be a Kings son in Law seeing that I am vile and lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 18.23 O what is it then to be the Son of God of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Behold what manner of love hath the father loved us with that we should be called his children 1 John 3.1 The greatest admiration is too little for such infinite condescention yet this priviledge should be thine The boundless God who hath millions of glorious Angels for his servants would own feed cloath protect maintain and portion thee as his son Thou shouldst be sure to persevere in grace Being once in Christ thou shouldst be ever in Christ though the wind should blow and the waves beat against thee yet thou shouldst not fall being built upon the true rock The very gates of Hell should not prevail against thee Though thou mighst fall foully yet thou shouldst never fall finally because the seed of God would remain within thee 1 John 3.9 Phil. 1.6 1 Thes 5.23 24. Thy life would be hid in Christ as the sap in the root and therefore though thou mightst have thine Autumne yet thou shouldst spring again Thy stock of grace would not be in thine own but in Christs hands and for this cause thou couldst not possibly prove as Adam a bankrupt Though the flame of a zealous profession might be abated yet there would be fire on the hearth under the ashes true grace in thine heart the love of God to thy soul would be everlasting love Jer. 33.3 The kindness of thy Redeemer to thee everlasting kindness Isa 54.8 The Spirit of Grace would abide in thee for ever Joh. 14.16 The Covenant into which thou shouldst enter with God would be an everlasting Covenant Hebr. 13.20 And in that very Covenant thy Saviour would undertake for thee that thou shouldst never depart away from him but abide in him for ever Jer 31.33.34 and 32.40 Christ himself would be ever in thee and Christ saith one may as soon die in Heaven at his Fathers right hand as in the heart of a Believer To sum up all the promises in one God would be thy God And how much wealth is in this golden mine would nonplus the tongues of all the men in the world to express and the understandings of all the Angels in Heaven to conceive This is the great new-Covenant Promise Hebr. 8.8 9 10. I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people The Author of all Promises is the matter of this Promise Surely t is the Main the Ocean a large Promise indeed when it contains him whom the heavens and Heaven of heavens can never contain The Book of Promises is as a glorious Crown but this is the most sparkling Diamond in it Friend dost thou consider what it is to have God for thy God All that God is would be thine the Father thine to adopt thee for his own Son the Son thine to purisie and present thee acceptable to the Father the Spirit thine to dwell in thee as a witness seal and earnest of thine everlasting inheritance All that is in God should be thine all his attributes and perfections should be laid out for thy profit His wisdom would be thine to direct thee his power thine to protect thee his grace thine to pardon thee his mercy thine to pitty thee his goodness thine to comfort thee and his glory thine to crown thee Thou canst not
to Jesus Christ and intreat him to put his hands on them and bless them Hannah by prayer obtaind a Samuel O let us pray hard that all our sons may be as gracious as Samuel and all our daughters as full of good works as Dorcas Zenophon said he never prayd that his son might live long but that he might live well Austin was a child of many prayers and did not perish Thirdly Do thine endeavor to regenerate them by instructing them in the precepts of God David and Bathsheba were often droping instruction into their son Solomon 1 Kings 28.9 Prov. 4.3 to 10. Pious education hath made an happy renovation in several souls Teach a childe the trade in his youth and he shall not depart from it when he is old Prov. 22.6 Others teach their children to lie and steal and to curse and sweare I have read a story of a wicked mother that perswaded her daughter to yield to the lust of a rich man in hope that he would marry her the daughter did yield but quickly after fell sick and died the mother hereupon fell distracted and cried out often O my daughters soul O my daughters soul I have murthered my daughters soul If others intice their relations to uncleanness shall not we encourage ours to holiness Whilst this world lasteth the Devil will have servants many many fathers bring up their children to his hand O wilt not thou endeavour that when thou art dead thy little ones may be a generation arising to praise God! Truly thy love to God must needs oblige thee to do thine utmost that his vast perfections and infinite excellencies may be declared and admired throughout all generations Melanthon on a day of prayer went out a little from his company very sorrowful and returned in a short time to them very joyful of which Luther asking him the reason he gave this account That there were yong Captains training up for he had heard many children learning and repeating their sound Catechism which would defend the cause of Christ The good man was exteamly cheared that though the Pope and Emperor sought to undermine the true Religion yet young children were learning to defend it Sure I am thou wilt die with the more comfort if thou canst have hopes that after thy decease the blessed God shall be exalted and his Gospel propagated in the place where thou dost dwell And O what a glorious heaven upon earth will thy house be if the gracious God shall so prosper thy pattern prayers and preceps that as thou like the Sun so thy wife like the Moon and thy children and servants like the Stars may all shine and sparkle with the light and heat of real holiness To end all Look on thy children servants and neighbours as passengers in a boat and do thou with thy fellow-converts row hard make use of all windes improve every opportunity to land them all safely at the Haven of Heaven Soli Deo Gloria FINIS An Alphabetical Table of the most principal matters contained in this Treatise A OVr Affections by nature corrupt Page 32. The Affections are renewed in regeneration p. 31 32. Good Affections not always a sign of regeneration Page 97 98 99. Affiance on Christ what it is Page 376 377. Afflictions somtimes instrumental for regeneration 16. Afflictions will try men 138 139. Afflictions make wicked men worse 222. Afflictions are sanctified to the regenerate Page 246. Christians are bound to labour for Assurance Page 130 131. It is possible for the regenerate to be Assured of their Salvation proved by several arguments Page 144 145 146. B The Body is renewed in regeneration Page 35 36. The Body of man is a curious peice Page 318. God alone can enable a man to believe Page 12 114. C THere is a great Change wrought in regeneration Page 5. 20 21. Two Changes absolutely necessary in all that would be saved Page 48 49. Christ is willing to instruct and encourage poor sinners 6. Christ is the onely way to heaven 47. Christ dyed to purchase holiness for all those for whom he purchased heaven 33.54.312 The Damned see the worth of Christ by woful experience 234 235. Nothing to be kept from Christ or carried to Christ by those that would close with him 407 408 409. The saved know the worth of Christ by happy experience Page 282 283. Civility no sign of regeneration Page 61 62. A Civil man is converted with much difficulty Page 118 119. Confidence of a mans good estate is not a sure sign of regeneration Page 85 86. The Conscience is renewed in regeneration 27. To follow the dictates of a natural Conscience is not a sure sign of regeneration Page 90 91. Consideration is a special help to regeneration Page 194 195 196. Conviction wrought before conversion 351. What Conviction is Page 352. The Spirit when he converteth a sinner Convinceth him of four things Of his sins 353.354 Of his misery 357 358. Of the insufficiency of all things in the world to help him 362. Of the willingness sutableness and sufficiency of Jesus Christ Page 365. The sinner rightly Convinced panteth exceedingly after Jesus Christ Page 368 369. Our Creation is an obligation to obedience Page 338 339. D MEn Deceive themselves in thinking to get to he aven without regeneration Page 51 52. Death will trie men throughly 141 142. Death may well be terrible to the unregenerate 226. Death will be comfortable to the regenerate Page 270. A man may abound in duties and yet be unregenerate 76. Wicked men sin in performing Duties 222. Though unregenerate persons sin in Duties yet they must not neglect them 436. Vide Ordinances E GOd Electeth to sanctification whom he electeth to salvation Page 53. The objection If I am elected I shall be saved how ever I live answered Page 440. Our Election ensured by ensuring our vocation Page 131. The torments of hell are Eternal 238. The Saints happiness in heaven is Eternal Page 293. The Equity of living to God Page 337 to 348. F THe difference between Faith and presumption Page 56. Faith wrought in the soul when it is regenerated Page 375 376. Faith is weak at first 378. True Faith accepteth Christ as a Lord. Page 380. The unspeakable Folly of sinners in not turning to God Page 298 299. G THe free Grace of God the onely moving cause of reg●neration 14. The Glory of God the final cause of regeneration 38. How t is accomplished 39 40 41. Communion with God on earth required in all that would get to heaven 56. The wrath of God known fully in hell Page 229. The good word of Godly men no sign of Regeneration Page 81 82. That God will be the God of his people is an unconceivable mercy 262 to 267. All Godly men grow in grace Page 183. Not always alike 186. Not all alike Page 185. Gifts no sign of Grace 183. Gifts and Grace differ much Page 74 75. H. HEaven not so easily obtained as the sleepy world
20. Psal 109.16 Indeed as the rest so this faculty is renewed but in part and therefore as in the best room a spider may set up her cobweb in the best garments there will be dust so in the best memory there may be somewhat which is bad and filthy but the cleanly Christian no sooner spieth it but he sweeps it away This work of Regeneration doth also reach to the body the strong Castle of the soul being taken and sanctified the Town of the body commanded by it presently yieldeth The wheels and poises being right within the hand of the Dial will go right without When Satan sate on the Throne of the soul as King the members of the body which the Holy Ghost termeth in unregenerate persons weapons of unrighteousness Rom. 6.13 were his Militia and employed to defend his unjust Title to execute his ungodly designs to perform his hellish pleasure the head to plot the hands to act the feet to run the eyes to see the ears to hear the tongue to speak for him but as when an enemy is conquered and a Magazine in War is taken the General maketh use of those Arms and of that Ammunition for his service which before were employed against him so the strong man Satan being beaten out of his strong holds by Christ the stronger then he the members of the body which before were instruments of unrighteousness unto sin are now instruments of righteousness unto God Rom. 6.13 16. The eyes which before were wanton open and full of adultery 2 Pet. 2.14 are now lock'd down fast with a covenant not to look after a maid Job 31.1 They are turned away from beholding vanity Psal 101.3 The ears which before were as deaf as the adder not hearing the voice of the heavenly charmer do now hearken to what the Lord speaketh as soon as the wandring sheep is brought home to the fold of Christ he is known by his ear-mark He heareth Christs voice and followeth him John 10.27 Psa 85.8 The breath and speech which before were corrupt stinking as proceeding from rotten lungs an unsanctified heart Rom. 3. is now sweet seasoned with grace for the mans inward parts are sound Anatomists teach us that the heart tongue hang on one string The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom and his tongue talketh of Judgement for the Law of God is in his heart Psal 37.30 31. his lips speak the language of Canaan The sound of the mettal discovers it to be silver His very speech bewrayeth him as they said of Peter Matth. 26.73 to belong to Jesus His feet before made haste to shed blood they ran to evil were the Devils Laquey to go on his errands Rom. 3.15 Prov. 1.16 but now they are turned to Gods testimonies they run the way of Gods Commandments Psal 119.1 59 His hands before were full of oppression violence bribery and extortion Psal 26.10 Prov. 6.17 Satans servants to make up that work which he cut out but now they are lifted up to Gods Law and word thus in their places are all the faculties of the soul and members of the body Obedients to Gods Precepts and serviceable to his Will Thirdly I observe in this formal cause the pattern it is a renewing of the whole man after the image of God Mans loss and misery by his fall consisteth in these two things 1. He lost Gods image and likeness 2. Gods favour and love Now that the second Adam might recover us to Gods love he doth imprint on us Gods image for likeness is the ground of love Therefore the regnerate are said to be partakers of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and the new man which they put on in conversion is said to be after God and after the image of him that created them Ephes 4.23 Col 3.10 The Law of God is written in their hearts Heb. 8.10 which Law is nothing but a conformity or likeness to the nature and will of the Lord. The corrupt image of Satan and the old Adam is defaced therefore it 's called a putting off the old man Col. 3.9 Ephes 4.23 the pure image of God is introduced therefore it s called a putting on the new man Ephes 4.24 which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness and a being holy as God is holy 1 Pet. 1.14 15 16. And indeed all these new born children do so far as they are regenerate compleatly resemble their father Their godliness is nothing but Godlikeness a beam of the divine glory a representation of Gods own perfections As the wax bears the image of the seal and the glass of the face so doth the new creature bear the image of his Creator David was a man after Gods own heart because a man in some measure after Gods own holiness Fourthly I observe in this formal cause the season I say it is a work of Gods Spirit whereby he doth at first renew the whole man after his own image These words at first do distinguish regeneration from Sanctification Sanctification is a constant progressive renewing of the whole man whereby the new creature doth daily more and more dye unto sin and live unto God Regeneration is the birth Sanctification is the growth of this Babe of Grace In Regeneration the Sun of holiness rises in Sanctification it keepeth its course and shineth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day Prov. 4.18 The former is a specifical change from Nature to Grace Ephes 5.8 The latter is a gradual change from one degree of grace to another Psal 84.7 whereby the Christian goeth from strength to strength till he appear before God in Sion As Creation and Preservation differ so do Conversion and Sanctification Creation is the production of something out of nothing preservation is a continued Creation or Creation every moment in a new edition Conversion is a new Creation 2 Cor. 5.17 The making of new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness Sanctification is a continued Conversion or conversion every moment in a newer and more correct edition Thus much for the formal cause of Regeneration A renewing of the whole man at first after Gods image Fifthly Here is in the definition the Final causes of Regeneration The glory of God and the salvation of his elect The first is the more the other the less principal end They are both joyned together in God's decree and intention and in the Saints calling and the execution of his decree The Lord made all things for himself Prov. 16.4 but especially the new creation that being his Masterpiece and choyce work is particularly designed for the credit of the Workman All thy works shall praise thee O God and the Saints shall bless thee Psal 145.10 All Gods works do praise him even the earth and heavens and bruits analogically after a manner by serving him in their places and stations and giving others matter and occasion of praising him Sinners may praise him formally after their maner as Trumpets make a loud noise