the Angels desire to look into 1 Pet. 1.12 and are in continual ecstacy in the admiration of O the Love of God in sending Christ of Christ in becoming Man 1 Joh. 3.1 in taking any of the Sons of Men to be the Children of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God Rom. 11.33 There there only is something to be admired all the Glories of the World are but meer contemptible Pageantry he can trample them under his Feet with a better disdain then Diogenes trampled on Plato's bravery for he is in a sort crucified to the world Gal. 6.14.2 Cor. 4.18 And can pass by things seen with an holy scorn compared with things unseen which are Eternal This is the New Creature in the Mind 2. The New Creature is also manifest in the Conscience which though it be not a distinct Faculty but a compound of more yet it is of great use in the Soul of Man and its necessary that the Heart be sprinkled from an evil Conscience Heb. 10.22 which is done by the Blood of Christ and that the Conscience be purged from dead Works to serve the living God and this is effected by the Eternal Spirit Heb. 9.14 Now there are Four Offices of Conscience which the New Creature doth in good measure rectifie 1. As it is Index a guide a discoverer of Duty a bright Star in a dark Night an Hand in the Margin to shew us what is worth our observing a Schoolmaster to teach us a Monitor to shew our Mistakes and it must be regulated by the Word of God for Conscience is corrupted and is apt to be deceived and deceive us it is but an under-Officer and must it self be subject to God's Law hence the Christian seeks to regulate its dictates by the Word of Truth and Grace brings it to the rule What saith my Supreme Lord and Master I must follow thee no further than God's Law allows now the New Creature brings the Conscience to the Word and saith Thus far thou must go and no further the End of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure Heart and good Conscience and Faith unfeigned 1 Tim. 1.5 These are always Companions this is a good Conscience 2. Conscience is liber 't is a Book wherein are noted and writ down all a man's Actions Expressions yea his Thoughts and Imaginations so it is a wise and faithful Register to produce them as a faithful Witness for or against a man another day the Books were opened Rev. 20.12 One of those was the Book of Conscience Conscience is as a thousand Witnesses if good the Holy Ghost joyns with it my Conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost Rom. 9.1 And this is our rejoycing the testimony of our Conscience 2 Cor. 1.12 If the Person have done any thing amiss Conscience brings it to the man's remembrance as the Sin of Joseph's Brethren made them say We are verily guilty Gen 43.21 Now a faithful Witness will not lye A rectified Conscience will give in a true Testimony to promote Repentance which is therefore called a bethinking our selves 1 King 8.47 or Heb. a bringing back upon our Hearts Conscience hath a tenacious Memory and will speak true in its Excusings or Accusings Rom. 2.14 15. which is proper to Conscience as a Conscience but Grace regulates it and adds some force to it 3. As Conscience is judex a Judge to pass the Sentence upon a man as the verdict is brought in It 's true it is but a petty Judge under the Supreme Judge yet the Great God confirms its judicial Sentence 1 John 3.20 If our Hearts i.e. our Consciences condemn us God is greater than our Hearts and knoweth all things Every man may and must keep a privy Sessions within preparatory to the Great Assizes if he be but passive and is loath to hearken to this Sentence he is self-condemned and this is but praejudicium judicij a sad prognostick of his being condemned at God's Tribunal which he seeks to escape as Felix did but cannot But if he joyn issue with this Sentence and condemn himself actively and voluntarily he shall not be judged or condemned 1 Cor. 11.31 Now Grace in the Heart makes a Man do this I am the Man saith Conscience I confess both the Fact and Fault Aâ—rtthou so saith Conscience I must needs pass the Sentence upon thee according to God's righteous Law Well I yield saith the Soul I am convicted in this Court and cannot escape the Judgment of God I must flye to the City of Refuge 4. Conscience is vindex an anvenger a self-tormenter a guilty Person is one that torments or afflicts himself some do this sinfully by worldly Sorrow which causeth Death 2 Cor 7.10 The Christian must do it penitentially either for his own Sins or other mens so Lot vexed his righteous Soul with the Sodomites Sins 2 Pet. 2.7 8. The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he beat and Bastinado'd his righteous Soul The Godly Man must take the Whip of Conscience with the Hand of Grace and whip himself for his Sins or God will take it with his Hand and scourge him with it as he did David whose Heart smote him for numbring the People 2 Sam. 24.10 The Worm of Conscience gnawing at the Heart is an acute Pain and will be one of the Torments of the Wicked in Hell Mark 9.44 But the Godly Man prevents that by joyning issue with executing God's Sentence by self-excruciating trouble for Sin here this is a profitable use of Conscience by a free and voluntary seconding its severe Lashes to promote Godly Sorrow This for two parts of the New Creature that concern first the Mind secondly The Conscience Chap. X. A further tryal of the New Creature as to the Will and Affections the subjects of it and its Properties 3. ANother Subject wherein this New Creature resides is the Will and this is Cardo animae the hinge of the Soul the Master-Wheel upon which the whole Soul turns as an old Bowl receives a new Byas that turns it quite another way then what it had gone now the change of the Will is the main work of converting Grace There are Four Motions of the Will wherein the New Creature shews it self 1. In its Designs Aims Intentions The world and it self were the main drift of the VVill in a natural state all seek their own Phil. 2.21 the gratifying of the Flesh sensual Appetite and carnal Interest the universal Inquest is Who will shew us any good Psal 4.6 Oh for a good Bargain a cheap Purchase Another is for strong Drink or sweet Meats Plays or Pleasures another for Cap and Knee and Titles of Honour But the New Creature post-pones and scorns all these and designs the glorifying of God enjoyment of him let Chrst be magnified and my Soul glorified Phil. 20. And I can hate all other things God hath twisted them together and the Soul cannot part them
Work though Ministers are oft calling on you Sinners to look about you we tell you there 's a Cheat in the case Satan is busie to lay his Brats in God's Bed Counterfeit Coin is common our Warnings now will be thought of these frequent Summons will ring in your Ears our Sermons will have a Repetition in this or in another world Conscience will gall you and you cannot plead Ignorance or say non putâram I thought not of such a day How often do we tell you of the danger of dying in your old state and of that Sulphurous Lake that thousands are scolded in that once lived as securely as you now do and they are in an hopeless helpless Eternity and how can you tell but this may be the last day the last warning or overture of Grace the last knock at your Door God may say Away be gone out of my sight take him Devil I will no more be troubled with such a Miscreant But if after all this you be senceless and lie still while you are nailed in your Coffin you are dead twice dead and this Security is a confutation of that Principle that Adam and his Posterity by the Fall is not dead but sleepeth or only in a swound and languor but life is in him No no this sad Stupor or Spiritual Lethargy shews it 's not an excitation of a principle but an infusion of new Life all our shouting and rubbing and pricking will not recover Sinners we must leave them to a creating Power and to him that can raise the Dead But let me rather persuade you to look after this New-Creation-Work from the Advantage it will be to all sorts of Persons of every Age and Relation Oh! you Old Persons that are going off the Stage of the World dropping into the Grave and Eternity that have been long and not yet lived begin at last to turn over a new leaf seek a New Life that you may have Comfort and not terrour in your expiring Pangs yet there is hope God still waits to be gracious and stands knocking at your Door rise out of your Bed of sloth put back the Barr admit him with all his Graces make out for this Change against your last Change You Young People that have lately step'd into the World and slip'd thus far before you know where you are it may be young in Years old in Sin you are entring into a wicked world with wicked hearts Oh! look after this blessed Antidote that may prevent Infection be sure of a Pilot that may row you through this boisterous Sea safe to the Haven without new hearts you will make this bad World worse and be worse by it rather seek to amend it You that are entring into Callings or for changing Conditions you will be fit for nothing without this you will bring a Curse into every Relation and Vocation without this but this will make you fit for any thing and you will be attended with God's Blessing in all you set about You Married Persons I recommend this New Creature to you that you be sure to marry in the Lord then you will be Heirs together of the Grace of Life and pray praise God together have this sweet Relation perfum'd and meet in Glory You Rich Persons are Beggars without this this will make you rich and honourable the excellent in the Earth God's Jewels Favourites of Heaven And you poor that cannot get daily Bread this will make you rich in Faith Heirs of a Kingdom Oh what a Treasure is this fear of the Lord You poor Athenians that are always inquiring after News new Opinions new Inventions new Fashions here 's a brave and blessed piece of Novelty for you this New Creature will stand you in stead not so much to please your itching Ears as to profit your Languishing Souls Well I have done my poor Endeavour to effect this work upon your Hearts When we have said and done all we can we have done nothing at all except the Eternal Jehovah strike with the great Hammer O thou infinite Almighty God that hast made the Earth by thy Power hast established the World by thy Wisdom and stretched out the Heavens by thy discretion Jer. 10.12 Look into the Hearts of Sinners see what a Chaos of Confusion is by Sin brought upon the noble Soul go o're thy Work again mend what Sin hath marred put Light in the Understanding Power into the Will Rectitude into the Affections make Conscience do its office O that Corruption may be mortified Satan cast out a sound Principle introduced the Soul redintegrated and everlastingly saved I commend these my poor Labours into the Hands of God to use them as he sees good and to you that heard these Sermons and to others that shall take the pains to read them having delivered my Conscience in some measure of Uprightness whether the Effect answer my Pains and Aims or no And in this labour of Love I am willing to take my Leave of the World as to troubling it any further in this kind and commend you my Brethren to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to renew your hearts and build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all them which are sanctified Acts 20.32 which is the daily Prayer of A Poor Watch-man for Your Souls O. H. May 3. 95. THE CONTENTS Chap. I. THe Text opened a Doctrine raised and handled Page 1 Chap. II. What is meant by a New Creature Doctrine raised Page 13 Chap. III. Why this is called a New Creature A Parallel betwixt the Old Creation and this New Creation Page 30 Chap. IV. Wherein the New Creature is available to Souls Page 43 Chap. V. Some Inferences by way of Question and Answer from the Premises Page 56 Chap. VI. An Use of Reproof and Conviction of sundry sorts Page 69 Chap. VII An Use of Correction for Reforming Sinners Mistakes Page 94 Chap. VIII Some Objections of Sinners answered against their Endeavours to be New Creatures Page 110 Chap. IX Instructions for the Tryal of our Spirits whether we be indeed New Creatures Page 124 Chap. X. A further Tryal of the New Creature as to the Will and Affections the Subjects of it and its Properties Page 138 Chap. XI A Tryal of the New Creature by its Effects Consequences and Proper Operations Page 152 Chap. XII Directions what Means may be used for the obtaining this New Creature Page 164 Chap. XIII Instructions how those must behave themselves that are indeed New Creatures Page 177 Chap. XIV An Answer to some Cases of Conscience Page 189 Galatians vi 15. For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but a New Creature CHAP. I. The Text opened a Doctrine raised and handled SOme Interpreters think that this Text comes not in so much as a proof of the Assertion immediately preceding of the Apostle's glorying in Christ's Cross and his being crucified to the world ver 14. As it is a
to a stronger Faith Besides 4. We may distinguish betwixt a justified State and applications of Pardon to Souls there is forgiveness with God which must be daily sued out by Faith and Prayer Psal 130.4 4. Another difference betwixt this New Creature and Justification is that the Grace of the New Creature is never perfect in this Life the holiest Saints have some Spots and defects who can say I have made my Heart clean Prov. 20.9 I am pure from my Sin Eccle. 7.20 There 's not a just man on Earth that doth good and sinneth not Mat. 3.14 John Baptist needs a New Baptism all the Disciples need their first washing John 13. A Paul complains of a Body of Death Rom. 7.14 It s in Heaven only that the Spirits of just men are made perfect Heb. 12.23 Bat Justification is perfect there 's no Spot in the justified Cant. 4.7 Fair as the Moon Cant. 6.10 as to Sanctification clear as the Sun in respect of Justification Psal 51.7 white as Snow Isa 38.17 God deals with them as if they had never offended casting their Sins behind his Back into the depth of the Sea Mich. 7.18 Remembers them no more Jer. 31.34 Object But doth not God punish his for Sin Answ Those are not properly Acts of Vindictive Justice but Fatherly Chastisements coming from God not as a Judge upon a Malefactor but as an indulgent Father to his wandring and way-ward Child It s true Afflictions are materially the Curse but formally a Blessing being like a Water running through the blessed Mineral of Covenant-Love With reference to this Pardoning Grace Dr. Ames Medul p. 139. its worth noting what D. Ames observes that there 's fourfold Pardon 1st In God's decree and purpose foreseeing it Gal. 3.8 2dly In Christ's undertakings our Sins laid on him Isa 53.6 3dly Virtually upon the Christians first Relation to God Rom. 8.1 4thly Expresly applied upon the Believers Repentance acting of Faith and sence of pardon Rom. 5.1 And I may add there 's a Day of publick proclaiming this Pardon before the whole World Acts 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Chap. VI. An Use of Reproof and Conviction of sundry sorts A Second Use of this point is Reproof If a New Creature be available to Souls yea of such absolute necessity then what shall we say 1. Of non-pretenders to it 2. Of meer Pretenders to it 1. There are some in the World that plainly say in Words or Deeds that they are as they have been and so will continue they trouble not themselves about these new things but say I am Semper idem still the same I thank God I am no Turn-coat nor will I meddle with them that are given to change I love the old way To this Answer Take that Text with you Jeremiah 6.16 Stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the Old Paths where is the good old way and walk therein Mark it not simply the Old Way except it be good for there are many old ways that are not good Cain's way is old enough so was Balaam's and Core's yet there 's a Woe unto them that walk in those ways Jude 11. The Woman of Samaria boasted of the Antiquity that their Father Jacob gave them that Well that her Ancestors did worship in that Mountain John 4 12.-20.24 But our Lord teacheth her other Doctrines yea it was no good Plea of the Jews that they did as their Fathers in burning Incense to the Queen of Heaven though they pleaded great Success then say they We bad plenty of Victuals and saw no Evil Jer. 44.17 18. God answers them to the purpose Ver. 21.22 But let me say to you 1. That this Plea is a multiplication of the Fault if it be not a good way every Step you take in it is a new Error and brings new guilt vetustas Erroris seductio Errantis The way of the Wicked seduceth him Have you examin'd whether this be God's way or no If you be wrong the further you go the further you are from God 2. This continuing in old Customs without inquiry will harden your Hearts and make you more uncapable yea more unwilling to return Can the Ethiopian change his Skin and the Leopard his Spots then may ye also learn to do good that are accustomed to do evil Jer. 13.23 Custom in Sin takes away Conscience of Sin the more men travel the more brawny are their Feet 3. But what think you Adam went wrong and do you delight to follow him or rather should not the Old Man be crucified Rom. 6.6 You have no reason to bear big or brag of the Old Man which is corrupt according to deceitful Lusts but rather put on this new man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness Eph. 4.22 24. See a Parallel betwixt the first Adam and Second 1 Cor. 15.45 49. And then make your choice 4. You 'l never walk in Heaven's Road without a change Deceive not your selves you must be turned from your vain Conversation received by Tradition from your Fathers 1 Pet. â— 18 You will never walk in this New and Living Way without a New Heart You cannot serve God but it must be in the Newness of Spirit not in the Oldness of the Letter Rom. 7.6 You are undone if you dye as you are born you need not change your Religion for you profess the true Religion only you must see you be true to that Religion by a change of Heart and Life Except you be born again you cannot see the Kingdom of God John 3.3 Better never have been born then not be new born But more of this anon Tremble to think of appearing before God naked or in your old rotten Rags the Gibeonites might cheat Israel with their old Bottles Clouts Shoes Josh 9.4 but you cannot cousen God so An old frame is not fit for a new state old Hearts for new Heavens If you live after the Flesh you shall dye i. e. be damned Rom 8.13 but if you through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the Body you shall live i. e. be saved There are many more that are far from being New Creatures that have a black Brand of Reprobation printed on their Foreheads and disclaim any pretences to this New Creation-Work as 1st Such as have imbibed Atheistical Principles and say with their Tongues or in their Hearts there is no God Psal 14.1 at least Deists that deny God's Providence and Divine Revelations 2dly Prophane Scoffers at true Christian Piety and the Power of Godliness 2 Pet. 3. under the Name of Puritans loading Strictness in Religion with Names of Obloquy Scorn and Derision 3dly Profoundly ignorant of Gospel-Mysteries 1 Cor. 13.34 and the Essentials of Religion the knowledge whereof is of the highest importance and necessity and yet do scorn to learn 4thly Voluptuous Epicures Drunkards Adulterers and that
and sanctified by the Spirit born of the Spirit and are Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.11 19. Nothing can search or reach the Heart but the Holy Ghost The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 and deep things of Men. An Angel is too short-sighted to see into Man's Heart too short-handed to reach the Conscience or make a New Creation God alone turns Stones into Flesh God shall enlarge Japheth and he shall dwell in the Tents of Shem Gen. 9.27 It is an Act of Power to make a People willing Psal 110.3 or Volunteers No man can come to Christ except the Father which sent him draw him Job 6.44 And God reacheth forth the Hand of the Spirit to attract Hearts to himself 6. The proper immediate Effect of this Work that is a change into a new Frame or Course by which the Sinner becomes new or another than what he was before this is the formalis Ratio genuine necessary Attendant yea intrinsick nature of this which we call the New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are past away behold all things are become new The Faculties are the same but new Qualities are put in as in a Lute the Strings are the same but 't is set to a new Tune In a River the Water is the same but 't is put into a new Channel the Bowl hath got a new Byass So the Convert said to the tempting Harlot Ego non sum Ego I am not I or as Paul said of himself who was before a Blasphemer a Persecutor but I obtained mercy 1 Tim. 1.13 i. e. converting Grace hath changed me Thus the same Apostle saith of the Corinthians Such were some of you but ye◠are washed but ye are sanctified 1 Cor. 6.11 Oh what a mighty change doth Grace make from Lying to Fearing an Oath from vain speaking to Holy Discourse from carelesness to the greatest concernedness about Soul affairs yea from Darkness to Light Eph. 5.8 From Death to Life from Satan to God Acts 26.18 The Man is now got into a new World as one observes from Ezek. 11.19 I will give them one Heart which that I may do I will cast it a new in order to this I will melt and soften it as one that hath many pieces of old Silver by them casts them into the Fire melts them and molds them into one Bowle Thus doth God with the divided Heart in renewing it and framing it for his use 7. Here 's yet further the compleatness of this Change it s not some external Acts Motions Conversation nor only Internal Cogitations Affections Workings of the Will and Conscience but the description goes further even to the State Constitution Relation of the Man and therefore I add changing the whole man from an old state to a new for every Man and Woman hath a state before God therefore Paul sends Timothy to know the state of the Philippians Phil. 2.19 This imports not a transient Act but a settled abiding Frame continued Relation Sinners are by Nature Children of wrath Eph. 2.3 Limbs of Satan Heirs of Hell this new Mold makes them Children of God Members of Christ Heirs of Heaven yea it puts them into an habitual tendency towards Heaven and heavenly things which is a kind of a second Nature in them this moves the holy Soul acting like it self as naturally upwards as a Stone moves downward therefore it s called a Divine Nature 2 Pet. 14. the acting follows the being of a thing Make the Tree good and the Fruit will be good Mat. 12.33 If a Watch be not well made it will never go well They say of the Peacock roast him as much as you will yet when cold his Flesh will be raw again So force a Carnal Heart to the highest strain of seeming Piety yet it will come to its old Complexion because there 's not a new Nature fill a Pond full of Water it will abate if there be not a Spring to supply it The New Creature is united to Christ and receives grace for grace John 1.61 8. Here 's the Pattern Copy Example according to which this New Creature is moulded it is the Soul 's being transformed into the divine likeness this Image of God consists in Knowledge in the Intellectual Faculties Righteousness in the Will Holiness in the Affections 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 That you put on the new man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness or holiness of truth As the Work of Grace in the Heart is a true Copy or Transcript of the Divine Image they agree as the Face in the Glass doth with the Face of the Man that looks in it or as the Image in the Wax with the Sculpture in the Seal from which it is derived Godliness is Godlikeness Summa Religionis est imitari quem Colis The Summ and Substance of our Religion is to imitate whom we worship not that its possible to be like God with a perfection of degree but Sincerity Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect Mat. 5.48 A Child hath the parts of a Man though not the bulk for the New Creature is in a daily increase and tendeth to perfection as a small Seed hath vertually the bigness of a grown Tree though little in its self But the Christian is like God man only can beget a man like himself So the Spirit only doth beget the Christian like God Now Divines Journal Christian Bemon part 2. pag. 173. take notice of a double Likeness a bare Similitude Snow and Milk are both white alike yet are not the Image one of another 2. Derivation deduced from another and so the Picture which is drawn every Line by the Face of a Man this is properly the Image of a man after whose Likeness it is made Thus by Holiness the Christian becomes the Image of Christ Rom. 8.29 Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son 9. There 's the Rule of this New Creature which is expressed by turning the Heart and Life to the Rule of the Word this either refers to the manner of framing the New Creature or the Rule by which the New Creature acts and moves being once formed As to the former the New Creature receives the Stamp Signature and Impression of the Word Rom. 6.17 But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin But ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you Or as it is more properly in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into which you were delivered i. e. the Soul is the Metal the Word is the Mould into which the Sinner is cast and thereby receives a new Stamp formed into a new Shape which naturally issues it self into a new
5.6 〈◊〉 we are all without strength cannot think a g◠thought 1 Cor. 3.4 Yea dead in Trespasses and Sins Eph. 2.1 And are meer Passives in the first Infusion of Spiritual Life Subjectum dei actionem suscipens a Subject capable of divine operations but in the power of Darkness lead captive by Satan at his pleasure Col. 1.13 Yea The Carnal Mind is enmity to God 1 Tim. 2.26 God works both to will and to do of his good pleasure Rom. 8.7 ut velimus in nobis sine nobis operatur Aug. 3. Quest Why then doth God and Man call upon us to turn our selves yea to make us a new heart and a new spirit Ezek. 18.31 if this be not in our power Doth he not mock us when he calls us to do that which he knows it is impossible for us to do Answ No for 1st It was once in our power to do good by his Donation and if we have lost it by our own Folly and cannot do what he requires we must hereby know that God hath not lost his Authority to command because we have lost our Ability to obey He will let us know his Soveraignty But 2dly God knows Man is a proud Creature and thinks he can do what he cannot And now God commands to convince him of his insufficiency that he may look uy to God for help Yet 3dly Though Man hath lost the Rectitude of his Faculties he hath not lost his Faculties he hath a Rational Soul if he have not Spiritual Grace Though carnal Persons be morally dead yet they are naturally alive Men have a self-reflecting Conscience which they may and must use It is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the Belly Prov. 20.27 4thly It was the saying of Augustin Twelve Hundred Year◠ago He that made thee without thee will not save thee without thee If thou be not an Efficient in thy own Conversion thou mayst and must be an Instrument in thy Salvation thou art bound to work out thy own Salvation Phil. 2.12 4. Quest What is a Man better for his endeavours unless God give him the Grace of this New Creature All that he can do will be to no purpose nothing can be pleasing to God or available to himself in his natural state For without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Answ 1. Though carnal men cannot do what God requires in a due manner yet God hath some respect to such as for the matter do something of their Duty God took notice of Ahab's humiliation and promiseth not to bring the Evil in his days 1 King 21.27 29. Jehoahax◠wa◠none of the best Kings Yet when he besought the Lord he hearkned to him 2 King 13.4 And upon Rehoboam's humiliation the Lord considerably remitted of his punishment 2 Chron. 12.6 7. And is not a relaxation or removal of outward punishment of some worth with you Yea though the young Gentleman's obedience was but poor stuff and he in his natural state yet Jesus beholding him loved him see Mark 10.20 21. Is this nothing 2. However such as frame not their Hearts and Doings to turn to God and through sloth or wilfulness neglect God's appointed Means of becoming New Creatures do First evidently declare themselves to be causes of their own damnation Secondly render themselves daily worse and worse and grow more unable to repent 2 Tim. 3.13 Thirdly provoke God to give them up to their own Hearts Lusts Psal 8.10 11. Fourthly make themselves manifold more the Children of Wrath Matth. 25.15 Are more inexcusable and sink themselves deeper in Hell And is this any way desirable 3. But though such poor Souls cannot with all their endeavours make themselves New Creatures yet we may say of such as our Lord said of the Scribe Mark 12.33 34. When he saw that he answered discreetly Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God You are in an hopeful way to Heaven while you are endeavouring in the use of God's appointed means 4. And who can tell what these Labours will produce It s true thou canst not deserve Grace ex congruo to challenge it of Debt for the work done nor can I say that Grace is due to thee by any Promise for all the Promises of God are made in Christ 2 Cor. 1.20 But I have something yet to say for thy Encouragement For 1st thou hast to deal with a God of infinite Goodness that hath Sworn he delights not in the death of a Sinner Exod. 34.7 Ezek. 33.11 And who knows what he may do for thee 2dly God hath yet spared thy Life and is sending terms of Reconciliation to thee a vile Sinner 2 Cor. 5.20 and stands knocking at thy Door while thou knockest at his A general Pardon is proclaimed Mark 16.15 thou hast no cause to despair 3dly Didst thou ever meet with any that came sad and disappointed from his Door Did he ever say to any Seek ye me◠in vain Isa 1. Nay doth he not say Those that come unto me I will in no wife cast off John 6.37 4thly And doth he not say Those that seek me early shall find me Prov. 8 Doth not the Gospel promise what the Law commands God doth graciously undertake to do what he requires us to do he bids you make you a new Heart and the same God saith I will put a new Spirit within them Ezek. 11.19 O put him to it and try him what he will do the Means I shall suggest hereafter This only in Answer to this Question 5. Quest Is not the New Creature begot in the Ordinance of Baptism which is called the washing or Laver of Regeneration Tit. 3.5 then we need no more Answ 1. Baptism as Circumcision of Old is a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.11 And supports Faith either in the Parent or in the Child or Party baptized for the Promise is to you and to your Children Acts 2.38 The Apostles baptized Believers Now the Effect is not before the Cause If they were Regenerated before Baptism could not be the Cause of Regeneration 2. Yet some have been baptized upon the Profession of their Faith that never were regenerated as Simon Magus who was still in the gall of bitterness Acts 8.13 23. So it was but a Sign no proper Cause which would have had its certain Effect 3. If Baptism were the Cause of Regeneration then no unbaptized Children were regenerate and so could not be saved if dying in Innocency but David believed his Child's Salvation 2 Sam. 12.23 tho' not Circumcised by vertue of the Covenant 4. It is a groundless Popish Doctrine to think that Sacraments confer Grace ex opere operato meerly because used that they stamp an indelible Character on the Party baptized it s but an External Act and cannot reach the Heart or Conscience no more then Old Testament Rites could do Heb. 10.1 3. Nor is it in the power of the holiest Minister on Earth or Angel in Heaven its
you all yet he 's a damned Fiend in Hell Gifts come upon another Errand than Grace 1 Cor. 12.7 Gifts are given to profit others Grace for a man's own Soul 19th Plea I am verily perswaded I am sound at Heart my Conscience flyes not in my Face yea I have great Peace Joy and Comfort within Answ God knows whether your Peace be of the right Stamp or no I have told you there 's a Peace of the Devil 's speaking and that may arise from Conscience's Sleep Security I now tell you of a Joy rising from the common workings of the Spirit the stony Ground hearers anon with Joy received the Word Mat. 13.20 but had no Root Luk. 8.13 It 's not to tell what Joy and Triumph some may conceive upon a Mistake Some taste of the good Word yea of the heavenly Gift Gal. 6.3 James 1.22 Yet fall away totally and finally Heb. 6.4 5 6. Look to your selves thousands deceive themselves in this weighty Affair 20th Plea You are seeking to drive us to despair but that I will never do I will hope well still say what you will Answ There 's a double despair 1st Good and Necessary a despair of ever being saved in the state of Nature wherein we are born and this God brings the Sinner to in order to planting sound Hope and sincere Faith in the Soul 2dly There 's an Evil sinful despair of obtaining Mercy at God's hands through Christ God forbid we should drive Sinners to this despair no no it s the former we aim at Such as Paul felt Rom 7.9 I was alive without the Law once but when the Commandment came sin revived and I dyed ie I saw my self in a damnable state no hopes of Salvation while I continued in the state of Nature we are sure till Souls see themselves condemned they will never look after a Pardon it 's this we drive men to Therefore 2dly there 's a twofold Hope 1. A bad a false rotten Hope that 's built upon mens Fansie and Imagination Job 8.14 11.20 This will be swept away like a Spiders-Web give up the Ghost what hath the Hypocrite gained by his hope when God taketh away his Soul ch 27.8 It 's the best Office we can do the Sinner to break the Heart of this groundless Hope that we might bring in a better Hope Hence 2. There 's a good Hope through Grace an Hope that will not make ashamed 2 Thes 2.17 Rom. 5.5 An Hope that rests upon the Promises of Grace in the Gospel it s this that will do Men good at the last but men must be sure to observe and comply with the terms of the Promise else it is groundless presumption A Prince hath as much reason to be offended with him that keeps not close to his Commission as with another that acts without a Commission The Israelites of Old saith one durst make God and his Promise a Leaning-stock for their foul Elbows to rest on Isa 48.2 They call themselves the holy City and stay themselves upon the God of Israel See also Micah 3.11 Nothing more common yet nothing more dangerous for such are more bold then welcome for though a Prince may be so condescending as to let a poor Sick or Wounded Man especially in his Service fainting and unable to go alone upon his humble request make use of his Arm rather then perish in the Street yet would reject a reeling Drunkard if he desired to lean on him thus a poor bleeding humble Penitent is entertained when a presumptuous Rebel is kickt off with infinite abhorrency we must incourage the former and convince the latter that their Hope may be dasht and another Hope begot again a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3.1 John 3.3 that teacheth Persons to cleanse themselves be planted in the Soul For the wicked is driven away in his wickedness but the righteous hath hope in his Death Prov-14 32. Chap. VII An Use of Correction for Reforming Sinners Mistakes MY third Use is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Correction or Castigation of what is amiss in order to a Restitution of the Souls of Sinners to their pristin rectitude for that 's the notion of this Word for it signifies not only Correction of Manners but rectifying of inward Faculties as Criticks observe I must confess the Work is arduous and indeed 't is impossible for a finite Creature to work this New Creature the best Ministers are but Instruments and what can the Ax do without the Hand to move it or the Sword without the Hand to wield it Who then is Paul and who is Apollos but Ministers by whom ye believed 1 Cor. 3.5 I am said worthy Mr. Baxter but a Peâ— for God to write with Well then shall we do nothing because we cannot do all He thaâ— set us a work is able to second our Work with his Benediction the World hath been form'â— new by this blessed Word of Truth I shall therefore make one Experiment more to see what the great God will do for a New Creation upon the Souls of Men humbly imploring the Blessing of Heaven upon my poor Endeavours In prosecuting this Point I shall use some perswasive Arguments to prevail with pooâ— Sinners to look after it in due time 2. Answer what Objections Sinners can make against it and so make way for the next Use of Instruction 7. For Motives Arguments I shall not repeat any thing drawn ab utili the advantages thereof used in the Doctrinal part as 1. Rectifying the Souls Faculties 2. Evidencing Electing Love 3. Consecrating the Soul for God 4. Fitting it for Communion with God 5. Entituling to Christ 6. Producing true Joy 7. Intailing all things profitable 8. Putting the Soul into a safe State 9. As rendring them useful 10. Fitting them for Gospel-Privileges 11. Preparing them for Death and Heaven 12. Yea is an Heaven begun All these might be improved as strong Arguments to perswade Sinners to press after it But I shall further draw some Arguments à periculo from the danger Sinners are in till they become New Creatures 1. If you are not New Creatures you are not true Christians For if any man be in Christ he is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 i.e. Whoever is worthy the Name of Christian fit for so high a Character he must necessarily be a New Creature or else he arrogates to himself an high Title not belonging to him And alas what will a bare Name signifie nomen inane crimen immane arrogating such an high Title is a piece of high Presumption nay it s no less then Blasphemy when men call themselves Jews or Chriâ—tians and are not Rev. 2.9 Even as it is Treason against the rightful Soveraign for any Subâ—ect to intitle himself King what horrid Presumption are graceless Sinners guilty of for whatever you may account your selves God accounts you no better then Heathens uncircumcised Judah is ranked with Aegypt Edom Ammon Moab in Scripture Jer. 9.26 Are ye not as children of
Step thou takest the next Breath thou breathest for any thing thou knowest the Word of Coumission may be gone out Cut it down why cumbereth it the Ground Luk. 13.7 9. At least it may be the last Year Week Day or Hour of Indulgence mad Man that thou art to stand in the place where all God's Arrows fly thou art the Center where all the â—urses of Law and Gospel meet The Roman Emperor wondered that Knight slept so securely that was in abundance of Debt and sent for his Pillow Surely thy Pillow is very soft or thy Heart very hard that can sleep in such Debts to Justice and not fear an Arrest to carry thee to the Prison of Hell the Plague is running on thee and a Lord have mercy on thee is upon thy Door and will not this alarum thee to look about thee 9. The possibility of obtaining this New Creature will aggravate thy Misery hadst thou been in Turkey or India and never heard of the first Creation or the Fall or means of recovery or a possibility of being made New by the Second Adam thy case had been excusable at least more tolerable so saith our Saviour If I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had Sin but now they have no cloak for their Sin John 15.22 The old Sinner must go into Old Tophet Isa 30.33 And the damned Caitiff will have nothing to ease his Torments not a drop of Honey in his bitter Gall there was to be no Oyl nor Frankincense in the Offering of Jealousie Numb 5.15 Why so because it was a Memorial bringing Iniquity to remembrance Just so this dreadful Memorial in Hell will bring the Sinners slighting of Grace hardening his Heart against the Reproofs of the Word Motions of the Spirit Checks of Conscience Counsels of Ministers and all these will be as Scorpions to sting thee as Oyl to the Flame to burn hotter Oh woe is me Ministers warned me told me of my danger I heeded them not I did not believe that things would ever come to this pass Oh that I had regarded the things that belong to my Peace but now it s too late my Day is over my Sun is set the Door is shut the Gulf is fixed and my Soul shut up in everlasting Darkness these will be your despairing Groans another Day Oh take warning while it is called to day for there will be nothing to mitigate but much to aggravate your Miseries and thus those two Scriptures are reconciled Rev. 14.10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his Indignation i. e. without the least Ingredient of Comfort no Sugar in that bitter Cup of Wormwood but Psal 75.8 In the Hand of the Lord there is a Cup and the Wine is red it is full of mixture i. e. of dreadful Ingredients to aggravate the Sorrows of damned Miscreants yea these wicked Souls shall drink the Dregs thereof and wring them out i.e. their Hearts shall meditate Terror and their Consciences shall squeeze out the astonishing Circumstances of their by-past Lives and that Worm shall never dye but be gnawing at their Heart-strings for evermore 10. Lastly You must undoubtedly be shut out of Heaven if you live and dye without this New Creature I told you that this New Creature fits for Heaven in the Reasons of the Point I will now tell you some Reasons why its impossible any Soul that wants it should go to Heaven nay it s as possible for a Devil to be saved as a poor unregenerate Sinner For 1. A Soul without this New Creature hath no Interest in Christ For if any man be in Christ he is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 This is clear and 't is as clear that there is no Salvation in any other then in Christ Acts 4.12 You must mount to Heaven alone if you think to ascend any other way then upon the Ladder of Jacob as Constantin told Acesius long ago it s a vain attempt and its a meer Phrensie to divide assunder what God hath joyned so inviolably together Holiness and Happiness a new Nature and a new State if you rend them God will rend you 2. It s impossible you should walk in the way to Heaven without being New Creatures for the End can never be attained without the Use of the means Reason tells us that he that would arrive at London must go by Land or Water in Ships or on Horseback Coach or on Foot or by some means or other or he can never come thither So it is here God hath prescribed Means and Methods for attaining Eternal Happiness and bids us enter in at the strait gate Matth. 7.13 14. Yea strive to enter in at the strait Gate And adds That many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able Luk. 13.24 How shall they then enter that neither strive nor seek nor make any Essay to enter And how can they seek or strive that have to strength nay that have no life as a graceless Soul is who is is dead in Trespasses and Sins and till the Grace of God infuse new Life into him with this New Creature he can neither stir Hand nor Foot in a Spiritual Sense Heaven-ward and is not likely to come thither 3. Nay he that wants the New Creature hath no Heart Mind or Will to be saved and God saves no Man against his Will but his Grace makes them truly willing and this change of the Will is a considerable part of the New Creature and 't is a Sovereign Act of free Grace thy people shall be willing in the day of thy Power Psal 110.3 None follow the Captain of our Salvation to Heaven but Volunteers and there 's great need of a vigorous Will for Heaven must be taken by Storm The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Matth. 11.12 No man will be obedient except he be willing there must be the Imprimis of a willing Mind before there be an active Hand 2 Cor. 8.12 a worshipping Knee or a walking Foot they whose Spirits do not make them willing will not remove from Sin or move one step Heaven-wards and hence it is that our blessed Saviour chargeth mens disowning him upon their Wills You will not come to me that you may have life John 5.40 And why will ye dye O house of Israel Ezek. 18.3 This is the true reason of Sinners undoing they will not chuse Salvation and so consequentially and interpretatively they damn and destroy themselves Hoâ— 13 9 If a man will not eat he will not live if a man drink Poâ—son he will dye and he that will not use means of Salvation cannot be saved how shall we escape if we neglect much more wilfully reject so great Salvation Heb 2.3 And how should it be otherwise if Men be not converted and become New Creatures 4. What should the old Creature do in Heaven Heaven would be
no Heaven to him the Heavenly Jerusalem is another kind of thing then most take it to be What wild bald Conceptions have sensual Sots of Heaven as though it were Mahomet's Paradise or Heathens Elysian Fields wherein Men may only gratifie their Senses or wallow in Pleasures Alas a Man may say to these ignorant Souls as our Lord to Zebedee's Children You know not what you ask You would go to Heaven yes fain you would be saved but do you know what Heaven is I will tell you briefly Heaven consists in a freedom from all Sin a perfection of Grace injoyment of God employment in divine Praises love delight in God meditation on God Ecstacies and Ravishment of all the Soul's Faculties in immediate communion with him And what aukard Conceptions hath a carnal Heart of these blessed Privileges They would be no advantage to him at all but a torment to him that hates God runs from him cannot abide to come near him in any Duty likes not the Society of God's Saints delights in sinful Practices dallies with Satan's Temptations Can men imagine they shall take Cards and Dice Cups and Queans with them to Heaven Nay can Men take fair Houses full Bags or worldly Business into another world Can men make great Purchases gather great Rents or break Jests with their Companions in a future state Alas a poor carnal heart is weary of Duties much more will he be in Heaven Sermon is too long Prayer is tedious when will the Sabbath be gone Can these be fit to enjoy God in an eternal Sabbath of rest nay the poor guilty Sinner cares not for coming near to God the Sight of God is terrible to him as it was to fallen Adam indeed without converting Grace introducing this New Creature and Divine Nature the Soul would be altogether strange to God and any converse with an holy glorious God yea even the sanctified themselves by reason of the Remainders of Corruption in them have much ado to bring their Hearts to converse with God especially when they lie under the sense of Guilt even a Godly Peter then crys out Depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord Luk. 5.8 Much more will a graceless Soul not dare to come near to God an Hypocrite shall not come before him Job 13.16 He will not and God will not suffer him but a gracious Heart can truly say It is good for me to draw nigh to God Psal 73.28 Communion with God is his Heaven upon Earth Therefore this God will be his Salvation himself is his best Heaven but a carnal Heart knows not what this means and is therefore uncapable of Heaven Chap. VIII Some Objections of Sinners answered against their Endeavours to be New Creatures T IS much if a Carnal Heart and a Witty Head with the Devil's help have not something to say against the thing it self or their Attempts after it to excuse themselves 1. Object Who can in this World be so qualified for Heaven the best come infinitely short I have beard it said that as the Soul passeth out of the Body it is then perfected and qualified for its enjoyment of God no man can expect it before and though I cannot so delight in God and his Service now yet I hope God will perfect my Soul in the instant of its separation from the Body I Answer 1. There is an habitual and an actual disposedness for Heaven as I have at large explained in a Treatise on Col. 1.12 called Meetness for Heaven and every Child of God after the first Infusion of Grace into him and change of his State and Relation God-wards is put into a capacity for communion with God in this and in the other World but increase in Grace and exercise of Grace doth daily capacitate him for further communion with God no man can expect he shall be a perfect man till he be a man perfection of degrees follows that of parts you must first be in Christ or else you 'l not arrive to the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.12 13. 2. That Man feeds himself with a vain groundless hope of being saved and compleated at Death that 's careless and graceless in Life for he hath no promise to nourish such a Perswasion did God ever say Live as thou listest and at the Instant of Death I will infuse Spiritual Life into thy Soul trust me for that at thy expiring Breath I will give thee that then which will qualifie thee for Heaven and make thee then in love with me though thou never caredst for me all thy Life long Where do you find such a Promise and who but a mad man will put all to a desperate adventure at the last gasp You have more reason to fear he will not then to hope he will give you Grace nay you have a dreadful threatning that because he called and you refused you shall call and cry and he will not answer Prov. 1 24-28 And you have a terrible Instance of the fruitless Cries of the foolish Virgins Matth. 25.10 And who are you that the Great God should be at your beck He can and will hear the least whimper of a Child but regards not the howling of a Dog he may and will say Go to the Gods the Lusts you have served I know you not I own you not for mine This is not a time for getting but using Grace yea Death is a time for perfecting the Work of Grace Woe be to that wretched Caitiff that hangs his Eternal state on the uncertain working of the Principle of Life in the moment of Death 2d Object But if I have not yet the New Creature I may have there 's time enough before me I am young and yet in my full strength of an healthful Constitution and may live long Let old Persons that are going off the Stage look after this New Creature I have other things to mind Answ 1. Alas Man art thou certain thou shalt live till the next Year the next Month Week Day or Hour Have not many as young as thou art gone to the Grave before thee and what Assurance hast thou of thy Life another Moment For what is our Life but a vanishing Vapour James 4.14 It s a Bubble a Blast a Shadow a Dream Smoke Job 7.7 Yea every Man in best estate is altogether Vanity Psal 39.5 and 90 56. As flourishing Grass in the Morning cut down before Evening If you fall not by some force of outward Casualty you carry your Bane lurking in your Bosomes Have you a Lease of your Lives as Hezekiah had You have little reason to boast your selves of to Morrow for you little know what a big-bellied Day may bring forth Prov. 27.1 It may Land thy Soul in Eternity Therefore dispatch this main Work at present 2. The longer thou deferrest the more difficult wilt thou find it thy Heart will be daily more hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin Heb. 3.13 Jer. 13.23 Custom in
Sin will make Conscience more brawny A Sickness may easily be cured at first but when it gets into the Nerves Bones or strikes to the Heart it becomes incurable impregnable So it is with Soul-maladies Oh what mischief may a Thief do if suffered to lodge one Night in your Houses Besides the Life or Death of the Soul may hang upon this nick of Time he oft limits it to a Day Now is the accepted time now is the day of Salvation Heb. 4.7.2 Cor. 6.2 Who can tell but God may say after this day My Spirit shall strive no more with them Gen. 6.3 You may provoke God to withdraw Oh how many Instances have we of thousands that have lost their Day and have been undone forever 3d. Object If I become a New Creature there will be so much strictness and severity in Praying Reading Watching Holy Walking that it will never be abiden it will make me Melancholy and rob me of the Joy and Comfort of my Life Answ 1. Though the possessor of the New Creature lose sensual delights which are Madness rather then true joy Eccles 2.2 Yet he may retain the lawful Comforts of his Life It s true that he must lay aside lascivious Jests wanton Songs unlawful Gaming excessive Drinking blasphemous Stage-plays Filthiness But there 's no real Content in these to a generous Spirit that bring Guilt and Wrath but the gracious Soul may take as much or more real Pleasure in Relations and Worldly Enjoyments keeping the due Circumstances of Time End Measure and Freedom from Scandal as another Man nay now he tastes the Blessing of God in his Enjoyments as he hath a right to them in Christ as they are cleansed from the Curse sugared with God's Love helping him in God's Service towards Heaven and the New Creature puts Wisdom into the Christian to set every thing in its Place and Order so that the Godly Man enjoys himself with more sweetness in a mean condition then many wicked men in their Abundance 2. A Man hath never true solid Joy and Peace till he be a New Creature this and this only lays the Foundation of strong Consolation Serious Godliness is no such melancholy Life as the Carnal World do imagine Suppose the Christian do labour toil and take pains in God's Service Love oyls the Wheels of his Soul and he takes as much pleasure therein as Jacob for Rachel God spices every step of his way Wisdom's ways are pleasantness Prov. 3.17 The severest Commands of God are not grievous 1 John 5.3 but delightful the Spirit helps his Infirmities Rom. 8.26 Inlargeth his Heart he mounts up with Wings as Eagles he is sure his Gains will answer his Pains He that digs in a Golden Mine is paid for every stroke he strikes nay there 's a praemium ante praemium a Reward at present In keeping thy Commandments there iâ— great Reward Psal 19 11. You hear of the Saints sorrow for Sin grief for God's withdrawing vexing with Satan's assaults but you see not their Joy a stranger intermeddles not with his Joy Prov. 14.10 He hath Comforts that none know of or can deprive him of yea he hath more Comfort in his Tears for Sin than a wicked man hath in gratifying his Senses in committing Sin in the midst of the carnal man's Joy his Heart is sad in the midst of the Christians sorrow for Sin his Heart is full of Joy do but try a Godly Course and you would not exchange it for the Wicked's Rant 4th Object But if I leave my old Companions they will laugh me to scorn I shall be accounted a Fool a Dotard a Schismatick a Fanatick all that 's naught and this I cannot brook and indeed I know not how to discard and disoblige my old intimate Comrades Answ 1. If owning God and saving your precious Souls be a disobliging of them they are better lost then found Carnal Friends are dear but God dearer Religion binds you to forsake your own People and your Father's House Psal 45.10 To hate Father and Mother in comparison of or standing in competition with Christ Matth. 10.37 And it s the best Match you can make You 'l not repent it to foregoe those Syren Songs of bewitching Companions that lead you down to Hell for the Society of Saints to forsake such incarnate Devils for the ministry of blessed Angels yea to renounce the Devil for communion with an holy God you have little reason to be afraid or ashamed of such an exchange 2. As for their hatred scorn or reproach read Isa 51.78 Fear ye not the reproach of men neither be ye afraid of their Revilings The Tongue of such wicked Villains are no Slanders better be reviled then praised by some Our Lord saith Woe be to you when all men speak well of you When the Papists called Luther an Apostate he accounted himself a blessed Apostate from the Synagogue of Satan to the Church of God And what if an Ishmael mock Isaac or a Shimei rail at David are they worse for lying Tongues bespattering them Glorious Stars may be called by ugly Names as Bear Dragon but are glorious still so may you be An Heathen Seneca could say and glory in it mala de me loquuntur sed mali They speak evil of me but they are evil men And is it not better to be reproached by bad men for being good then to be damned by God for being bad Doth not Christ bid you rejoyce and be exceeding glad Matth. 5.10 Surely you may wear these as Trophies and Badges of Honour So did Paul glory in Christ's Cross as an old Soldier Gal. 6.17 in his Scars received in the Wars for his Prince The Christians of Old rejoyced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of Christ Acts 5.41 They looked on that Reproach as their greatest Honour and Ornament You deserve not the Name of Christian if you will not bear a foul Word from the foul Mouths of men for him that despised the Shame for your sakes Heb. 12.2 If meâ— clip your Credit to make it good weight with God and rub your Crown with Dirt to make it brighter you 'l be no losers if you be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are you for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you 1 Peâ— 4.14 5th Object I see no such Beauty or Excellency in these Puritans and Precisians that pretend to be New Creatures they are no better than their Neighbours all are Sinners and so are they nay I have seen them slip into Scandalous Sins they are Proud and Envious and Covetous they are but a pack of Hypocrites Answ 1. Take heed of speaking Evil of the Persons and Things that you know not Carnal Persons are not competent Judges of God's Children Psal 83.5 These are hidden Ones Kings in disguise It doth not yet appear what they are or shall be 1 John 3.2 The King's Daughter is all glorious within Psal 43.13 The Life of Saints is
their Directions about Conversion which is co-incident with this to whom I refer the Reader Yet this must not be understood as though it were in any man's power to change his own Heart no more than he can create himself or put life into a dead Carcase but it becomes Men 1. Not to hinder or obstruct the strivings of the Spirit that may work this Grace 2. To improve their natural Faculties to the utmost in order to the attaining of this End I shall but briefly lay before you what a natural man can do by the help of common Providence and what he must do as he will answer the contrary another day to that God that hath given him a Command and rational Faculties capable of compliance 1. Own and improve natural Principles such there are that are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 innate notions common to man as man endowed with Reason as That there is a God that this God must needs be an excellent Being the ultimate End of all things the chiefest Good that all things depend upon him and must be reduced to him that this God must be worshipped that his Will is the Rule of man's Obedience that there is moral good and evil that there will be a retribution in this or in another world Natural Conscience even of Heathens discovers something of these grand Principles for so saith the blessed Apostle Rom. 2.14 15. That though the Gentiles have not the written Law before their Eyes yet they have a transcript thereof in their Hearts which declares to them some Good and Evil and Conscience accordingly excuseth them if they do well and accuseth them if they do evil Rom. 1.18 24. The imprisoning of these Truths in Unrighteousness produced a judicial hardening and giving them up to Uncleanness and rendred them to be without excuse and can we think that Men now disclaiming and obliterating these notices of Religion will fare better Surely no So on the contrary the way to obtain more is to improve what we have I say not that God is bound to give special Grace to such as improve common but an instance can hardly be produced to the contrary and this is God's method in vouchsafing his Grace to engage Souls to cherish and excite moral Principles by diligent endeavours which God usually seconds with his blessing yea this course doth naturally tend to weaken vicious Inclinations Set your selves about this work and you little know what it may come to at the last Oh that unconverted Sinners had but the Integrity of King Abimelech to act according to that Light they have Gen. 20.6 and restraining Grace God affords them which the Lord ca◠Integrity which yet is but moral yet is good so far as it goes and a mean of more 2. Be jealous lest you be mistaken in this point lest you mistake the Nature of this New Creature or lest your own Hearts deceive you for they are deceitful and desperately wicked Jer. 17.9 And Satan will be in danger to cast in a Brat of his own in the room of this New Creature Counterfeit Grace may look like Saving Grace Reformation looks like Regeneration how often is a Bristol Stone taken for a Pearl◠painted Grapes once cheated living Birds yo◠must first get a Scriptural definition of thi◠New Creature To the Law and to the Testimony◠Isa 8.20 Judge your selves by that word tha◠must judge you at the last Day Rom. 2.16 Be afraid of Self-deceit Blessed is he that feareth always you live in the midst of Cheats a deceitful Heart deceivable Lusts a deceitful World and a cunning Devil all set against you and we are apt to believe that to be true we would have to be so but put the case to thy self What if I be mistaken I read of some that think themselves something when they are nothing Gal. 6.3 Others put a false Syllogism upon themselves deceiving their own selves James 1.22 What if this be my case VVhat if I be in a golden Dream imagining I am bound for Heaven when I am descending into the Pit what if I be found without the Oyl of Grace in the Vessel of my Heart a foolish Virgin amongst the wise Mat. 25.1 10. What if I prove the only Guest at the Gospel-feast without a VVedding-Garment Matth. 22.12 13. and be struck speechless Oh what an astonishing disappointment will it be hath none proved such why may not I Some have gone off the Stage with a Lye in their Right hand Isa 44 20-50.11 and have lain down in Sorrow notwithstanding the Sparks of their own kindling O what need have I to fear lest a promise being left of entring into Rest I should really come short of it Heb. 4.1 3. Deal faithfully with your own Souls in self-examination Flatter not your selves but examine not only your Actions but the Internals of your Souls how your Principles are stated you may do it for God hath given you a Self-reflecting Faculty The Spirit of a man is the Candle of the Lord Prov. 20.27 that searcheth the inward parts of the Belly You must do it you are commanded to commune with your own heart to examine your selves Psal 4.4.2 Cor. 13.5 Gal. 6.4 Psal 77.6 prove your work God's Servants have made diligent search and will you continue Strangers to your own Hearts will you be so unkind Neighbours as never to ask your Hearts how they do or will you be put off with afrivolous or delatory Answer Oh Sirs come to a point drive your selves to this Dilemma I am either a New Creature or not a Child of God or of the Devil I am bound either for Heaven or Hell I had not need to hang in suspence about this weighty case I will now put this doubt out of doubt I cannot rest satisfied with uncertainties in so weighty a concern God forbid I should weigh it light or be mistaken I must not take Preparatives for parts of the New Creature the Porch for the House I will try and try again and prove my marks by Scripture-rule and appeal to God for the Sincerity of my Heart Examine me O Lord and prove me and try my Reins and my Heart Psal 26 2. I must be a new Man or no man in Christ I will not be put off with morality or uncertainty irresolvedness breeds disquietness I am determined to make something of it 4. Attend diligently on the most powerful Ministry not such a dull formal heartless Preaching as will rock you asleep in Security or sow Pillows to your Arm-holes Ezek. 13.17 22. Preaching placentia promising Life in a sinful State crying peace peace when God proclaims war against you thousands are undone by Flatteries Oh wait on a rouzing convincing Ministry which is the power of God to Salvation Rom. 1.16 The Seed the proper method of working divine Grace Gal. 4.19 where Christ is formed in Sinners Souls the Glass in which you may behold the Face of your Hearts James 1.25 By which you may be
low but aim high conclude you have not attained to Perfection Phil. 3.13 15. Rom. 12. but still be designing it be not high-minded yet mind highest things aspire to be better then others yet esteem others better than you Phil. 2.3 4. 9. Do all you must not all you may Eph. 5.15.1 Cor. 10.23 walk to the height of a Command not to the utmost of lawful liberty go not near the Pit's brink stand fast in your Christian liberty Gal. 5.1 13. but do not always use it 10. Be best when others are worst be as Noah in the Old World Gen. 6.9 19. Lot in Sodom Timothy in Ephesus Joshua among the Israelites be hottest in coldest Weather brightest in the darkest Night Savour of Heaven in Hell Neh. 5 20-5.15 Phil. 2.15 11. Be Rational when most Spiritual do nothing at hap-hazard or with a blind Zeal let all Services be reasonable Rom. 12.1 Ezek. 18. God's Will is our Rule and his ways are equal the highest Reason in Man is to comply with God's pleasure 12. Naturalize Religion and Spiritualize the World let Godliness be as second nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Phil. 2.20 Let common Objects Occurrences be well improved to good Ends and Purposes Mercies Afflictions Spiritual Chymists turn all to Gold Rom. 8.28 13. Be dead living and lively in thoughts of Death Col. 3.3 Gal. 6.14 A Child of God is a Paradox dead to the World crucified yet the most active and vigorous Person in the World you must have the best Death and best Life then fear not Death 14. Suit Grace to every case in confessing Sin mourn in begging Mercy working Desires in Thanksgiving Joyfulness yet rejoyce with trembling 1 Cor. 15.30 55. Heb. 2.14 Psal 38.18 Matth. 5.4 Psal 2.11 Phil. 1.2 Psal 26.12 in Prosperity have Humility in Adversity Contentment your Foot must still stand in an even place 15. Let your life be a Comment on your Faith let your believing and living be harmonious let Doctrine of Faith Grace of Faith Life of Faith sweetly correspond Doctrine according to Godliness Godliness according to Truth James 2.18 1 Tim. 1.5 Tit. 1.1 Rom. 2.18 23 24. Jer. 32.19 Let not Head and Hands be contradictory 16. Eye God that eyes you in all you do think the King of Heaven sees thee the Omnipresent God is in the room with thee the Omniscient God knows thy Heart approve thy Heart to God let thine Eyes be ever on him towards him Psal 35.15.26 3. 17. Eccho to divine Calls when God hath a Mouth to speak have an Ear Tongue say Here I am Word or Rod a call to Duty from Sin what 's the meaning of this Oh that I could attain God's end and not resist or quench the holy Spirit 1 Sam. 3. Psal 27.8 Mich. 6.9 1 Thes 5.19 18. Observe and make up daily decays keep up your Watch that you sin not Matth. 26.41.1 John 2.2 But if you sin lie not in it but rise mourn act Faith on Christ your great Advocate let not an ill matter go on quickly recover your first Love Rev. 2.4 5. 19. Give no Offence carelesly and take no Offence causlesly let there be no occasion of stumbling in you 1 John 2.10 Matth. 7.1 Judge not uncharitably take all that 's said and done by the right handle make no sinister Constructions 1 Cor. 10.32 20. When you have done all Luke 17.10 Phil. 3.7 8. Say all this is as nothing at all to appease God's Wrath or satisfie Justice in an absolute Sense and to do what 's required in a comparative sense without Christ I can do nothing John 15.5 Thus I have briefly touch'd the Rules of this New Creature which I leave to the Reader 's further Consideration and Practice Chap. XIV An ANSWER to some Cases of Conscience 4. THe last Head which I propounded in this Use of Instruction is Answering some Cases of Conscience that Godly Souls are apt to make in this case wherein I must be very brief 1st Case Whether is it possible that a Man can be a New Creature and not know it since it is so remarkable a change Answ I have hinted at this before but observe it you must distinguish betwixt a reflexive sense of a change in Heart and Life and a due apprehension of this change morally considered as Saving many a Soul can truly say something hath been done but I know not whether the thing which may be entituled A New Creature I am much in the dark about it I cannot but say I have had Convictions and something like Conversion though not Consolation I am kept still in innitency upon a Promise though I cannot say I have assurance of my Interest in the Covenant Precious Mr. Paul Bains could say Sustentation I have but Suavities Spiritual I do not experience So you may have the Root though not the Flower VVater of Sanctification though not the Oyl of Gladness wait on God and in due time you may have this cleared up to you If you follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the Morning Hos 6.3 Grace and Peace shall not be long parted Light is sown for the Righteous and Joy for the upright in Heart Psal 97.11 It 's not lost but laid up and hid in the Furrows of the Believer's Bosom 2d Case Whether is it possible that he that 's a New Creature should have a self-accusing self-condemning Conscience Answ You must distinguish of Consciences condemning a man's self 1. Passively when our Hearts censure us and we stifle them such a one indeed is self-condemned 2. If we be Active in condemning our selves it 's a good Sign and a great Duty as we shewed before but the meaning of this Query refers to the State of the Man whether the Conscience of a New Creature may censure the real Christian and tell him he is an Hypocrite To which I Answer If Conscience act according to the Rule of the VVord it must be regarded as God's Officer speaking by his authority but if it speak not in God's Name and by his order we may appeal to the Higher Court of the Holy Scriptures and it 's certain that Conscience may be corrupted and it is often used by Satan to deceive good Men as well as bad and they shall at last have their action against Satan for false Imprisonment and disturbing their Peace Your best course therefore is to have recourse to the VVord for Conscience is but an under Officer and must be accountable for its Verdict Remember it 's one thing to have Hypocrisie in thy Heart another thing to be an Hypocrite the best will find much Guilt within them which Conscience rebukes them for and they bewail it but they are not therefore Hypocrites 3d. Case Whether may God carry it strangely as if he were an Enemy to a New Creature that should seem to be his darling Answ Thou art a Stranger to Scripture and the Experiences of all God's Children if thou think God must always be dandling this
live Thou dost reckon thy self to be as in the Belly of Hell with Jonah while thou art yok'd with such thoughts and sendest many a deep groan to Heaven against them and at somtimes dost obtain some help against them and gettest near thy God in duty But I shall add no more of these Cases but only add two VVords as a Close of this Discourse That if poor doubting Souls would instead of their Complainings and Objections but do these two things it would tend more to their Satisfaction and the Glory of God 1. That they would spend that time in examining their own Consciences which they take up in fruitless Complaints Alas many Professors have got an Art of whining and complaining to Ministers and Christian Friends and think to be better thought of for such complaints but this is a sad Judgment of God for Persons to pine away in their Iniquity and yet mourn one towards another Ezek. 24.23 If poor Souls would spend that time in searching their own Consciences and Conversations it would tend more to the clearing up the Sincerity of their Hearts and Saving Work of Grace Fall to this Sirs enter into your Closets commune with your own Hearts deal faithfully and effectually put not off your selves with unproved Conceits and groundless Imaginations but go through-stitch with the Work ransak your Hearts they are your own be not put off with such mannerly Excuses as Rachel's Take such an Account as you must give to God let no lust escape your view or the least Grace be belyed or denyed with any scorn or disregard When David thought of God he was troubled and expresseth many discontented Murmurings but when he communed with his own Heart Psal 77.36 40. he clears God and condemns his Unbelief indites the Thief and clears his Conscience of that troublesome Jonah in his Bosome Thus plaindealing evidenceth a Christian's State sooner then wrangling and yet still thou art at a loss Appeal to God and say as Job Thou knowest that I am not wicked Job 10.7 Or as Peter Thou knowest that I love thee John 21.15 Or as David Do not I hate them that hate thee Search me O God and know my Heart Psal 139.21 23. As wise Physicians trust not their own Judgment about their own Health so the Saint knows God's Line reacheth lower then his own and to his Judgment he will stand 2. Instead of complaining fall vigorously upon the work of Sanctification to mortifie beloved Lusts to cut off a right Hand and pluck out a right Eye Matth. 5.29 When you have search'd out the Leaven purge it out 1 Cor. 5.7 Lay aside every Weight and the Sin which doth most easily beset you Heb. 12.1 Run the Sword of the Spirit to the Heart of every Lust Lay the Ax to the root of the Tree stub up Sin by the Roots if a vain Thought a proud lustful worldly passionate Thought arise in your Hearts suppress it militate against it crucifie the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts Gal. 5.24 So will you evidence your selves to be Christ's 2 Cor. 7.1 be daily perfecting Holiness in the fear of God Observe wherein you missed it in such a Duty and be still mending it as Apelles when he had drawn a Picture was ever and anon spying Defects and then mended it with his Pencil so do you Observe what Conscience said Oh my Soul in such a Duty thou wast cold distracted unbelieving hard vain-glorious in such an Affliction thou wast froward peevish discontented in such a company thou spakest idlely or wast guilty of sinful silence In the enjoyment of such a Mercy or in thy posperous state how proud secure self-conceited slighting others wast thou Oh mourn for this Fault watch against it for the future walk more closely with God maintain daily Intercourse with God and thine own Conscience thereby you will be better acquainted with God and your own Souls and discern better how your Principles are stated For if you walk according to this Rule Peace shall be upon you Gal. 6.16 Hence the blessed Apostle 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the Testimony of our Conscience that in Simplicity and Godly Sincerity not in fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the World Dying Hezekiah could plead this with God in his Appeal Isa 38.1 Oh Sirs learn to eâ—ercise every Grace to every Duty the Exercise of Grace is the clearest Evidence of Grace both to our selves and others as he confuted his Antagonist that disputed against Motion by starting up and walking So do you walk with God hereby do we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments 1 John 2.3 6. If you walk as he walked you evidence that you abide in him as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1.15 If you expect that God's Spirit will witness with your Spirits and so subscribe your Certificate for Heaven you must be uniform and universal in your course of Godliness both in your Worship and Walking walking before God and with God Gen. 5 24-17.1 Then indeed will you be found upright or perfect But if thou have any close Box in the Cabinet of thy Heart wherein thou layest up and hidest any beloved Lust or if thou roylest these Waters by any uneven walking or stoppest thy Travels in Heaven's Road by idleness sleeping or stepping back and losing thy first Love then no wonder if thou canst not discern this Stamp of God's Image upon thy Soul but callest thy very state into question Yet above all I advise thee to stop the Mouth of Conscience with that only that satisfied the Justice of God Nothing can reconcile a Man to himself but that which reconciled God and Man It was Dr. Sibs Advice When the Water of Sanctification runs muddy betake your selves to the Blood of Justification There there must lie your Comfort and Confidence by this only must you answer all the Objections raised by Satan and Conscience from Justice Law or whatsoever opposeth your Peace rising from the Defects and Imperfections of Grace or this New Creature within you And indeed the best of us must anchor and center here as to out Justification Acceptation with God or composedness of Conscience Come then let us go in this Gospel-way to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the Blood of Sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel Heb. 12.24 〈◊〉 So be it FINIS