Being so by this Work of Grace Old things are past away and all things become new But of this more hereafter Qu. 2. What 's meant by New Ans 1. New in Scripture-language signifies 1. Another distinct and different from what was before So Exod. 1.8 There arose a new King over Aegypt i. e. another Thus this New Creature is distinct from the former as Caleb is said to have another Spirit Numb 14.24 i. e different and of another Nature than the rest of the Spyes yea what he himself formerly had Thus it is with the Convert 2. New signifies Strange not heard of before Numb 16.30 If the Lord make a new thing if the Earth open her Mouth an unheard of Wonder a Prodigy never known before So say they What new Doctrine is this thou bringest strange things to our Ears Acts 17.19 20. Thus the Work of Regeneration was strange even to a great Doctor among the Jews Job 3.34 3. New signifies something secret hidden not easily discerned or not manifest to all Isa 48.6 I have shewed thee new things from this time even hidden things And this work of the New Creature is much hid from the Eyes of others and sometimes kept secret from a man 's own observation Job 11.6 That he would shew thee the secrets of Wisdom And David saith In the hidden part thou shalt make me to know Wisdom Psal 51.6 4. New imports something excellent transcendent admirable Psal 33.3 Sing unto him a new Song Psal 42.10 Sing unto the Lord a new Song i. e. an excellent Song of the very best you can attain to Even so this is the chief of God's Works in the world and renders the Righteous more excellent then his Neighbour and a man of understanding is of an excellent Spirit Prov. 12.26 ch 17.27 The Text being thus opened I shall deduce an Observation relating to the preceeding Words of the Text Circumcision avails nothing nor Uncircumcision in this New Testament-Dispensation by Christ What is it it then that avails The Answer is The New Creature this indeed is available So this is set in contradistinction to the forementioned Privileges comprehended under this word Circumcision Doctrine 2. That a New Creature is only and every way available to the Souls of Men. Nothing else can avail any thing to mens Eternal Salvation but a New Creature and this is very available Understand this of things of this kind or nature for a New Creature must not be set in competition with the Eternal Love of God or Blood of Christ or sanctifying Operations of the Holy Spirit for application of Christ's purchaces to us A New Creature is but a Creature and cannot do the Work of the Infinite God who hath appropriated Salvation-Work to himself There is no Saviour besides me where is any other that may save them Hos 13.4.10 It is not any thing done by Man nor wrought in man that can save him from divine Wrath or advance him to Heaven No the Lord justifies sanctifies glorifies by Christ All the Causes of man's Salvation are without him Eph. 1.4 9. 1st There 's the Efficient Cause God's chusing us 2dly The Material Cause Christ's redeeming us 3dly The Formal the good pleasure of his Will 4thly The Final the praise of God's glorious Grace So then we do not put this New Creature in God's room as any cause at all of our Happiness but a necessary Qualification Disposition to which Salvation is annexed or as the Apostle phraseth it that which accompanieth Salvation Heb. 6.9 Things that accompany Salvation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that have Salvation i. e. commprehend it are contiguous to it touch it have Happiness annexed to it by the indispensible connexion of Grace and Glory by Covenant-Promise But more of this hereafter In the prosecution of this Doctrine I shall speak to these 4 Things in the Doctrinal part of it Viz. 1. Shew what this New Creature is 2. Why it is so called 3. Wherein it is available 4. Answer some Queries about it and so apply it 1. What is this New Creature Answer In opening this I shall explain These 2 things 1. The Names given to it 2. The Nature of it 1. For the Names or Titles given to this New Creature which are synonymous Expressions holding forth the same thing for Substance are such as these 1st It s called the forming of Christ in the womb of a Man's Heart Gal. 4.9 My little Children of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you Full glad would I be to see this blessed Embryo teamed in your Hearts 2dly It s called quickening Ephes 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead-in trespasses and sins Alas what dull Stocks and Lumps of Sin are we till animated with the spirit of Grace and quickned by a vital principle And this is done with Christ vers 5. by his Resurrection 3dly It s called Parturition or bringing forth by spiritual pangs of Soul-travail New Birth John 3.3 Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Convicting Grace brings a lively and lovely Offspring into the World better than the product of Nature 4thly Such Converts are compared to little Children Mal. 18.3 Verily I say unto you except you be converted and become as little Children you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven i. e. You must needs have the Qualities and Dispositions both of Infants and bigger Children 5thly This work of God on the Soul is called a dying with Christ and a rising again with him Rom. 5.5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his Death we shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection Col. 3.1 All real Christians are risen with Christ hence it is called the first Resurrection Rev. 20.6 As if they were newly brought out of their Graves that had been long dead and useless 6thly It s called the Image of God on Souls Col. 3.10 And have put on the New Man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Eph. 4.24 The new man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness This new Creature is a blessed Resemblance of the Trinity of Persons in the renewing of the Mind Will and Affections conform to God 7thly It is called the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature i.e. Of those Divine Qualities whereby the Soul resembles God not only as a Picture doth a Man in outward Lineaments but as a Child doth his Father both in countenance and condition As the noble Qualities of an Immortal Soul shew there is a God so the renewed Faculties shew what that one God is But more of this hereafter Thus for the Names of this New Creature most of which are figurative Expressions denoting this same thing we are now treating of 2. For the
course of Life according to Scripture-Rule This immediately after my Text ver 16. is called the Canon or Rule of the New Creature for 't is added As many as walk according to this Rule or Canon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peace be on them This is that Cynosura or Square that Architects have in their Building to level the Stones and Timber suitably ut singulae partes just a Symmetria cohaereant Calvin that all the parts of the Edifice may agree by a just proportion thus must thus will the Christian do his desire and design is to lie Square to the Word of God to have respect to all God's Commandments Psal 119.6 To walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless Luk. 1.6 Every Child of God is taught by God to walk by Rule All Callings have their proper Rule the Physician studies Galen the Lawyer his Littleton the Philosopher his Aristotle Plato yet in all Professions men may vary in their Methods in the same Calling because no Rule is so perfect but another may add to it But the standing Rule of God's Word is perfect Psal 19.7 able to make the man of God perfect 2 Tim. 3.17 Nothing must be added to it or taken from it The Christian is both drawn and determined by its authority more then by a whole team of humane Arguments 10. Lastly here 's the End of this New Creature which is twofold 1. the Glory of God 2. the Sonl's present and everlasting Communion with him Both these are wrap'd up together and are very consistent yea cannot be separated Now God's Glory is promoted by the New Creature 1. In this World 2. In the other 1. In this World the New Creature is only capable of glorifying God such a Soul is planted in Christ the true Vine and glorifies God by bringing forth much Fruit John 15.8 Being filled with the Fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God Phil 1.11 The chief design of the true Christian and new Creature is to promote the glory of God actively and passively this is the first Petition in the Lord's Prayer and the first right Step the converted Soul takes Heaven-ward and he is content to be vilified so God may be glorified and if God be glorified by others what ever become of him he rejoyceth as Paul in preaching Christ by others to preach down his credit Phil. 1.18 2. And in the next World this New Creature will raise a glorious Monument to the glory of Jehovah When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe 2 Thes 1.10 The New Glory of this Creation will reflect more glory to the Author than that of the old one Oh what a glorious Sight will it be to see so many glorious Stars in the Firmament of Glory borrowing their Light from and reflecting Light to the Sun of Righteousness 2. The New Creature is the only Person on Earth that 's qualified for Communion with God he only can say Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ 1 John 1.3 'T is this New Creation that raiseth this clod of Clay above the Earth and ingageth the Heart to approach to God while others worship afar off Jer. 30.21 Exod. 24. These Holy Souls are they that worship in the Temple of God and the Altar Rev. 11.1 Psal 148.14 God admits them into his Presence as a People near unto him this is the Person that only sanctifies God's Name in his Worship and is satisfied with the fatness of God's House here 's the blessed Merchant that trades in rich Pearls that goes from Port to Port from Ordinance to Ordinance not to see Places but to take in his Lading of Communications from God of Graces Privileges Assurance and Comforts Thus I have briefly opened the nature of this blessed Work of the New Creature Chap. III. Why this is called a New Creature A Paralel betwixt the Old Creation and this New Creation 2. THe Second general Head in the Doctrinal Part is briefly to give the Reasons why the Holy Ghost gives this Saving Conversion the Title of a New Creature or as the Word is of this New Creation Now the Answer is Because in many things it bears some proportion and resemblance with the first spacious Universe of Heaven and Earth this magnificent Structure I shall run the Paralel betwixt them in these 12 Particulars for the Information of our Judgments 1. God is the first and only Cause of the Creation of the World not Angels or created Intelligences who though they be mighty yet are not Almighty it s the peculiar prerogative of Elohim the infinite God to create God orders the Jews in Babylon to repeat that famous Sentence in the Chaldee Language to confute their Idolatry in Jer. 10.11 Thus shall ye say unto them the Gods that have not made the Heavens and the Earth even they shall perish from the Earth and from under these Heavens The Reason is given in the Hebrew Language Ver. 12. He hath made the Earth by his Power he hath established the World by his Wisdom and hath stretched out the Heavens by his discretion VidWeem 's Image of God in Man p. 3 In the business of Creation Divines say Deus est causa Simpliciter in Creatione at Essendi hoc in aliis God is the only Simple Cause in Creation but in his other Works he is only the Cause of being this or that So none can create this New Man it may be said Have we not all one Father hath not one great God created us We are God's workmanship it s the same mighty power that raised Christ from the Dead that gives Faith to the Souls of Men and quickens the Dead Mal. 2.10 Eph. 2.10 Eph. 1.20 Rom. 4.17 2. God made all things of Nothing i.e. of things that had no Existence before he made them He calleth those things which be not as though they were Rom. 4.17 Indeed they tell us that Nothing is taken in a threefold Sence 1st It s taken privatively so an Idol is nothing 1 Cor. 8.4 Isa 40.17 i.e. it hath no Divinity in it 2dly Comparatively so all the World is nothing before God 3dly Nothing Negatively or Simply so there was no Fruit upon the Fig-tree Mark 11.13 In this Sence God made the World of Nothing there was no Praeexistent Matter for God to work upon Just thus in the New Creation when God comes to work upon a Sinner he finds no Principle of Grace or inclination to good in him I know saith blessed Paul that in me that is in my Flesh dwelleth no good thing Rom. 7.18 Nay there is much Evil in us yea yet worse there 's antipathy to what is good within our naughty Hearts Thus as in the First Creation God produceth an habit from the negation he works a Principle of Grace where there was no such thing 3. God made all things by
this Pearl of Pirce some are content with a Christ to pardon and save them but like him not as a King to rule them and mortifie their Lusts look to it there 's more sorts of Faith then saving the Apostle supposeth a man to have all Faith 1 Cor. 13.2 Yet not that which worketh by Love 1 Tim. 1.5 Feigned Faith is one thing Unfeigned is another 8th Plea But I confess all my Sins from the bottom of my Heart repent of them and am heartily sorry I have done amiss Answ So have many Hypocrites Reprobates so did Pharaoh Exod. 9.27 I have sinned this time the Lord is righteous and I and my People are wicked 1 Sam. 24.16 17-26 21 Twice did Saul confess his Folly yea lift up his Voice and wept and ingenuoussy said I have sinned So did Ahab humble himself King 21.27 And you find Judas repenting himself yea restoring and saying I have sinned in betraying Innocent Blood Matth. 27 34. Oh see yours be not a worldly Sorrow 2 Cor. 7.10 9th Plea But I take up strong Resolutions of better and new Obedience and do actually reform is not this the New Creature Answ No the New Creature always produceth Reformation but Reformation may be without the New Creature Herod feared John Baptist and when he heard him he did many things and heard him gladly Mark 6.20 Partial Reformation is no sound Evidence of Regeneration the unclean Spirit of scandalous sinning may go out of the Devil's Slave for a Season Matth. 12 43-45 Men may escape gross Pollutions yet be intangled in the Devil's Fetters 2 Pet. 20.23 10th Plea I do not only Reform but also Conform to the Will of God in keeping all his Commands this surely shews Grace Answ Yes if done from a right Principle according to rule for a right end with Faith in Jesus Christ but deceive not your selves outward Compliance doth not always testifie a New Creature the Young Gentleman in Matth. 19.20 said concerning the Commandments All these things have I kept from my Youth up what lack I yet Alas poor man he lacked the main Paul before Conversion saith of himself touching the Righteousness of the law blameless Phil. 3.6 11th Plea But I do not only Reform Conform but I Perform many good Duties I Read Pray Fast am serious in God's Worship Answ It 's well so far all do not so but remember those Hypocrites in Isa 58.2 That sought God daily delighted to know his ways yea the Pharisees made long Prayers Matth. 23.14 Yea they fasted and that twice a Week Luke 18.11,12 They were famous for Religious Exercises yet gross Hypocrites 12th Plea Those were only for Externals in Religion but I am for Internals also that God may have my Heart Answ Very well but it 's one thing to be sound in the Doctrinals another to be sincere in Practicals Experimentals it 's one thing to say it another thing to feel it and do it The Scribe in Mark 12.32 33. subscribed to the Truth of this great Doctrine of Loving the Lord with all the Heart Understanding Soul and Strength and repeats it yet was not of but only not far from the Kingdom of God vers 34. Yea you may take delight in approaching to God yet be bad Esay 38.2 13th Plea But I am upright in what I do I know nothing to my self but Integrity Conscience doth not accuse me to be an Hypocrite Answ It may be so because Conscience may be asleep and saith nothing or nothing to the purpose being blinded with Ignorance or besotted with self-conceit and want of self-searching But know there may be a moral Integrity in particular Acts when there is not a Gospel-integrity in point of State as in Heathen Abimelech see God's attestation to it Gen. 20.5 6. 14th Plea I have a Love to God Jesus Christ and follow him out of my dear and tender respects to him Answ It 's well if so but is it not self-love that engageth you to follow him as those John 6.26 Ye seek me not because ye saw the Miracles but because ye did eat of the Loaves and were filled Aug. complained 1200 Years ago vix diligitur Jesus propter Jesum Jesus is scarcely loved for Jesus sake he pays well for his Entertainment in the World's Coyn Let Christ and Carnal Interest part and then you 'l see what is the Master you 'l follow then a discovery will be made 15th Plea Well but I have suffered much for Christ his Cause and a Good Conscience a tryal hath been made of my Integrity Answ You have not yet resisted unto Blood striving against Sin Heb. 12.4 Yea the Apostle seems to suppose a Man may give his Body to be burnt and yet not have Charity 1 Cor. 13.3 And it may be as possible some may suffer in an humor for a good Cause as others pertinaciously in a bad the Thorny Ground Hearers past the brunt of Persecution Matth. 13.20 22. falling on the Stony Ground but were naught And the Apostle Paul supposeth the Galatians to have suffered many things in vain Gal. 3.4 Many things make up a Christian sufferer Men may bear the Cross and not follow Christ 16th Plea But I give liberally to the Poor of my Substance am much in the exercise of Charity to persons in necessity Answ The Apostle supposeth still that a Man may bestow all his Goods to feed the Poor yet not have Charity 1 Cor. 13.3 You 'l say this is a strange Paradox what is Charity but a free distribution But the Apostle distinguisheth betwixt an Hand-Charity and a Heart-Charity the poor Widow with half a Farthing and a free Heart gave more then all the other rich mens large distributions Matth. 6.1 2. Mark 12.41 44. Some give for Ostentation others of Necessity yea out of Covetousness you give nothing unless you give your selves first to God 2 Cor. 9.5 7.2 Cor. 8.5 17th Plea I am forward for Reformation in my place appear against Prophaneness Sabbath-breaking and am of a publick Spirit Answ It 's well done but see you mistake not how oft did the Jews find fault with our Lord for healing on the Sabbath day and his Disciciples for plucking Ears of Corn. Mark 12.1 2. Take heed blind Zeal transport you not but suppose it be against Sin see whether Self bear not sway as it did Jehu who was partial in his Reformation 2 King 10.28 29. At least temporary as Joash who was very zealous for Reforming whilst his good Uncle Jehoida lived 2 Chron. 24 2-18 18th Plea I thank God I have good Gifts in Discourse in Prayer and can edifie others that are apt to admire me Answ Gifts are one thing Grace another all gifted men are not gracious men who more eminent than Judas the traytor yet an Apostle and some will say in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesyed in thy Name Mat. 7.22 23. To whom he 'll say I never knew you depart from me The Devil hath finer Gifts then any of