hee were only an instrument to helpe us to save our selves this were to cease to bee a second creator But Christ remaineth a Saviour and hath not resigned his worke over to us to bee Saviours of our selves Conclus 3. Nothing in us either in being or foreseene to bee in us was any cause of Gods decree thus to create us the second time more than the first for Creatio est causa totius entis that is Creation is the cause of the whole beeing secondly what faith or good workes could bee foreseene in them who were all in a forelorne and lost estate All the sonnes of the first Adam must needes bee beheld in the state of sin and death before the second Adam take them in hand thirdly Non ens nihil agit adens that is That which hath no beeing doth nothing to a beeing How can that which hath no beeing at all perswade to the being of it selfe Concl. 4. Neither the Word nor Sacraments have any power in themselves to conferre grace This were to Idolize them and to set them up for gods The Minister may allure and perswade grace but Gods power must worke it For what is Paul what is Apollos if God give not the increase In the ministery may bee suavis motus but in God only is fortius tractus that is in the ministery is a sweet motion but God onely strongly drawes us and then wee run after him Cant. 1. 3. Objection The Gospel is the power of GOD to salvation Rom. 1. Answer That is only when the Lord in it putteth forth this creating power else it becommeth a savour of death unto death For in this ministery God onely must bee depended on for working and increasing of Grace He must bee of infinite power that can conferre grace for it is a creation Is creation to bee ascribed to any power which is not almighty Gods grace raiseth dead men in sinnes can any but the almighty power do this It rescueth us from the strong man that keepeth hold till a stronger come and must it not bee an almighty power that must doe this It lifteth us to an unutterable glorious estate in heaven must not this be the working of an almighty power Esteeme therefore the ministery Gods instrument but all the power to be from God as in Lazarus raising the principall efficient was Gods Almighty power the voyce was his instrument which power by his voyce restored the spirit of naturall life to this dead body Conclus 5. It is not in our owne power to repent when wee will nor so soone done as wee thinke nor so easie a thing as most conceive For it is a creation a worke of almighty power A worke of as much difficulty to make a new heart as a new world There needeth no such power to worke such a fancie as men dreame Repentance to bee to this worke the same power is required as commanded light out of darkenesse the same power which raised Christ out of the earth and lifted him to heaven Colos. 1. 12. Tellest thou me that thou canst repent when thou list I will assoone beleeve thee to tell mee thou canst make a world when thou listest Conclusion 6. Whosoever is a new creature may finde in himselfe the effects of this mighty power When God had created the world a man could looke nō where but hee should espie the effects of God his Almighty power in severall kindes of creatures First a number of things which were dead were now quickned with life so must every new creature bee called effectually out of the death of sin and finde in himselfe a new life that he may truly say after a sort as Christ I was dead but am alive Revelat. 1. 18. Though it be with him as it was with Lazarus after hee was raised that hee carry a while the bands and napkins of death about him yet hee hath heard the voyce of Christ quickning him and hee is alive againe Secondly Gods power appeared in inlightening of the world at first so must thou finde this second creation powerfull in the understanding changing it and inabling it to discerne the things of God though contrary to sense and nature yea foolish and absurd to reason Every new creature must truely say with the blinde man Iohn 2. Where as I was blinde I am sure I see and get his eyes daily cleered to see Gods favour smiting killing to espie righteousnesse in a cloude of miserable earth heaven in the midst of hell In looking upon the creatures the nearer Adam could behold them the more did the power of God shine in every part of every creature so in this new creature The greatest power is most observable in the most noble faculties and abilities Thirdly what a power discovered it selfe in the change of that confusion in such rankes or orders of the creatures And no lesse power is seene in the change of the new creature Of a Lyon hee is become a Lambe of a proud rebell hee is become humble and lowly as hard a thing as it is for a Cammell to passe through a Needles eye a stronge is come to cast out those confusions of lust and concupiscence once so powerfull commanders over us Fourthly What a power is discovered in upholding the creatures in their kinde so here in the new creature to continue and uphold the worke of grace in the middest of our corruptions is as strange and powerfull as to make fire burne and increase in the water Fifthly what a power is put forth in ordering the severall wils of the severall creatures So in the new Creature who readily denyeth his owne will reason wisedome liberty life and all to give up it selfe to Gods will in all things How marveilous is it that of so rebellious a will it should bee framed to cheerefull obedience of Gods commandements thinking none of them grievous Sixthly what mighty and divine power is that that over-ruleth all the motions of the creatures which else would turne to the dissolution of the whole The same is put forth in the motions of the new creature inward and outward To quicken us with heavenly desires and affctions is not lesse wonderous than to see lead flying upward or iron float on the water as to love GOD and his Word and ministers all which set themselves against the swinge of corrupt nature of his deare and profitable sinnes To make Gods ordinances worship Sabbath his delight to which hee was as heavy as a Beare to a stake To rejoyce in losses and crosses for Christ rather than feare them which nature in times past hated above hell To hate the workes of the flesh which formerly were meate and drinke and sweet morsels under the tongue and thought it as necessary as water to a fish Here is Digitus Dei Gods finger a workemanship of God a new creature Seventhly how mightily did Gods power manifest it selfe in over-comming all
frame of life answerable to that calling but contrary to the world The defence is worse than the fault The last Vse is a ground of consolation to all Gods children in that they are new creatures The priviledges of the new creature are like that white stone and the new name Revel 2. 17. which no man knoweth but hee that receiveth it The stranger entereth not into his joy I speake now of childrens bread which is not cast to dogs and of things that are riddles to the greatest part of the world It could not be but that men in hearing what honour all the Saints have in their new estate should reach at them as men ravished if the vaile were not over our hearts as over the Iewes when Moses was read But the covenant was ever sealed amongst the disciples These priviledges of the new creature are in respect First of their renovation and newnesse and this both of their nature and condition First hee hath attained a new and divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. And this both in respect of a new father and a new image For wheras we be children of wrath of disobedience and of our father the devill whose workes wee doe Iohn 8. and by nature the seed of the wicked wee by the second creation become the sonnes of God the seed of Christ and Gods very off-spring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 17. 28. For now of his own good will he begate us by the Word of truth Iames 1. 17. and what a dignity and honor is this to be Gods children Kings children Seemeth it a small thing saith David to be sonne in law to a King what am I or what is my fathers house to be sonne to a King In the first creation thou sayest to corruption Thou art my father in the second thou sayest to God Thou art my father 1. Iohn 3. 1. And secondly whereas wee beare the image of the first Adam in sinne and corruption and by sinne no childe can be liker his father than wee are like the Devill By this second creation wee attaine a new image of the second Adam wherein we resemble our heavenly Father Oh what a forlorne estate was that in the first Adam wherein the image of God by the fall became as a dead child having some lineaments and image of the father but a loathsome and rotten carkase left onely as a monument of that image which once was there to leave them without excuse Rom. 1. 20. But now wee are renewed to the Image of God againe which the Apostle placeth in first knowledge secondly holinesse and righteousnesse For knowledge whereas in the first Adam wee are as blinde as Moles our mindes are in darknesse more miserable than that of Egypt a comfortable light of saving knowledge is created in our mindes which are renewed in knowledge A Sunne of grace and righteousnesse is risen to us and our eyes are open to behold it A sanctified knowledge not of the History of Christ but of the vertue and power of Christ in our owne new workmanship Not a speculative but a feeling knowledge not like that of carnall men and hypocrites whose knowledge of the truth reflecteth not on themselves being like to stone vessels which hold sweet waters but are not sweetned by it but it is a knowledge changing the minde and man into it selfe 2 Cor. 3. 10. And for holinesse the Saints carry upon them the image of God both inwardly and outwardly In the soule the new Creature resembleth God himselfe in holy wisedome truth purity and so in many his most holy attributes and in holy affections Loving where God loveth approving what hee approveth hating what he hateth delighting in the persons most in whom God most delighteth shewing kindnesse patience mercy even to enemies as the Lord himselfe doth And for outward holinesse of obedience and conversation whereas when hee was in the old Adam hee walked in the wayes of the world without God and without hope expressing the old Adam in all bad customes and habits of sinne and the man being wholly dead in sin onely his sin was alive Now being a new creature he beareth holines written in his fore-head as being made a Priest unto God A new man hath new manners new obedience new carriage and conversation he now walketh after Christ the most absolute patterne of all purity and holinesse Oh what a comfortable change is here for whosoever beareth this image of God in any measure are deare unto the Lord how pleasing is it to a father to see his owne favour countenance and conditions upon his children and commonly children that most resemble their father are dearer unto them Secondly this renovation is unto a new condition and this in a new Covenant Life Inheritance First for the first In our old creation God had covenanted nothing but wrath which by sinne wee incurred now we are become enemies of God and God to us he is whetting his glittering sword upon the edge of which we cast our selves Our necks are laid on the blocke and all ready to execution hee pleased to grant us a pardon and renew with us another covenant of grace whereby hee hath both discharged the offence and released the punishment and yet more bestoweth righteousnesse upon us and entereth into perfect reconciliation beholding us as friends Iames 2. 23. Abraham was the friend of God as a man after his owne heart so David Act. â—3 22. as beloved of God Let the new creature cast out the spirit of bondage to feare now thy sins are forgiven the Law satisfied Gods wrath appeased all old bonds discharged go in peace Secondly for the second whereas all the sonnes of Adam were altogether dead in sin neither was it possible that our first Parents being altogether dead to God and without the life of God could convey any life of God to their posterity no more than a roote or stocke of a tree altogether dead could beare any live branches no more than men and women naturally dead can bring forth living children What an happy change is made in the new creature by regeneration and incorporation into Christ who hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. And who hath quickned us being dead in sins and trespasses Ephes. 2. 4. Now what a distance is betweene life and death especially life to grace and death in sin So much is the comfort of a new creature above a man unregenerate Object Alas I finde not this life of God but am assailed and daily foiled by sinne Answ. Our life created in Christ is not altogether perfect in this world but some remnant of the old Adam will still bewray it selfe For as in a field the dead carkases remaine to shew what a victory is atchieved so the carkases of sinnes remaine to shew what a victory we have by Christ but without life and power to conquer us or if any life be in sinne
vessels we let them slip For First how weake an account can wee give unto God as we must of all the good lessons we have heard and ought to have remembred Secondly how could we continue the same men from yeare to yeare unchanged if the word did continue in us Thirdly what strangers are many of us to the Scripture and grounds of Religion whereas if it did dwell in us it would be as well knowne unto us as those that are in house with us Fourthly how far is it to seeke and absent from us when our mindes understand it not our hearts affect it not our consciences are not guided by it nor our actions nor the creatures are sanctified by it as 1 Tim. 4. 4. How plaine is it now that thou art not in Christ who wilt not affoord his Word a resting place in thy soule Remember that place 1 Iohn 2. 24. If that which yee have heard from the beginning shall remaine in you yee shall continue in the Son and in the Father The fift note Examine whether thou hast the Spirit of Christ. This is made a note of such a one 1 Iohn 3. 10. Hereby we know that hee abideth in us by the spirit which hee hath given us And Chap. 4. 13. Hereby we know that wee dwell in him and hee in us because hee hath given us of his spirit And if any man have not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his that is no member of his body set into him but in shew as a woodden legge which receiveth not vitall powers from the head Object This is a difficult marke But how shall I know the Spirit of Christ to be in mee Answ. Many finde and conceive it to be harder than it is because they hold it no sinne to doubt whether they have the spirit or no when as they may as lawfully doubt whether they be Christians or no. But try thy selfe by this note First wheresoever the spirit is he rebuketh sin Ioh. 16. 8. The spirit pricketh the heart of every convert and if thou hast him thou must finde him a spirit of conviction Object I have beene often checked for my sinne and that is my comfort Answ. But deceive not thy selfe To the spirits conviction are required three things First sense and sorrow that thou hast sinned Secondly earnest desire of mercy expressed in vehement hunger and thirst Thirldly a loathing and leaving of sinne Never any received the spirit but thus was sinne rebuked in them Secondly the spirit writeth the law in the heart where he is Ier. 31. 31. and leadeth into all truth Iohn 16. 13. Hast thou this spirit of direction and counsell teaching thee and leading thee into duty Object I know as much as any can teach me Answ. But art thou led by the spirit or mis-led by the flesh and doctrine of carnall libertie Many are taught few are led and yet onely they that are led by the Spirit are the Sonnes of God The Spirit must be the guider of thy course as the Pilot in the ship thou must shut thine owne eyes of carnall reason and as a blinde man give thy selfe to be led by the spirit Thirdly the spirit where hee is ruleth and commandeth yea reformeth and casteth out old errors of heart and life for hee will not dwell as an underling but as a commander his worke is to cast downe all high things exalted against grace and to bring every thought into the obedience of Christ. Findest thou a spirit in thee prevailing against fleshly thoughts carnall affections desires conversation findest thou a spirit framing thoughts speeches actions to the conformitie of the Word a spirit quickning to all that is good this is the Spirit of Iesus Christ. Fourthly he being the spirit of supplication Zae. 12. 10 maketh the elect to cry with unspeakeable groanes Dost thou finde not the words of prayer which any hypocrite may but the spirit of prayer who alwayes in prayer first leadeth into the sense of sin secondly into the apprehension of the excellency of mercy which maketh him servent thirdly letteth the soule see God appeased in Christ fourthly it sealeth to it the truth of Gods promises who will heare Psal. 50. 15. Fiftly assureth it selfe to be in state of Christ his merits and intercession to whom the Father denieth nothing all which must needes quicken the heart to fervent and frequent prayer The sixth Note If thou canst discerne Christ in thy selfe thou maist be sure thou art in him for one ralative affirmes the other And knowest thou not that Christ is in thee except thou be a reprobate 2 Cor. 12. 5. Quest. How may I know this Answ. First examine if Christ be formed in thee Gal. 4. 12. And then Christ is formed in thine heart when God hath begun a change in thy soule by his grace laying in thee the beginnings and seedes of grace The Apostle useth a comparison drawne from the forming of an infant in the wombe which is not formed all at once but the principall vitall parts first the heart braine and liver and then the other by degrees so grace is not wrought all at once but by degrees first the beginnings of Faith Repentance and holy desires and then a more lively impression of the Image of Christ imprinted in their heart which standeth in knowledge holines and conformity to Iesus Christ in practice and passion in suffering and doing as he did in some measure Now if there bee no new lumpe which was not in nature no forming no reforming of heart and life Christ is not there Secondly try if Christ liveth in thee and then Christ liveth in thee when thou livest by faith in the Sonne of God making thy faith thy stay in all estates in all actions temptations afflictions when faith carrieth a sway and hath a stroke in every thing and in life and death maketh the heart and life leane upon Christ. Thirdly if Christ bee in thee then hee moveth in thee and thou in him The infant in the wombe is discerned by the moving of it and so is Christ discerned in the heart and then Christ moveth in the heart when his spirit moveth and inclineth it by a still and secret voyce unto all good speeches and duties and then thou movest in him when thou cherishest fosterest and followest his motions agreeable unto the Word and sufferest them not to die in thee As for example The Spirit moveth thee to redeeme the time to read in Gods Booke there to acquaint thy selfe with Gods will in time to worke the workes of God to mind thy account and reckoning but thou resistest those motions carnall and contrary motions thrust them our and call thee to cards dice epicurisme merriments wasting thy time putting off the evill day as the heathens Now Christ moveth not in thee but the spirit that ruleth in the world for Gods sweete motions are so strong as that
Thirdly the want of this blessed worke strippeth us of all comfort at once and better were it to be no creature as no new creature First for the present if we be not new creatures wee usurpe all that we have because we have nothing in and by Christ For looke what tenure we had in the old Adam we have forfeited all nay the more endowments wee have of knowledge riches meanes place authority if not in Christ the greater will the abuse of them and consequently our owne damnation be Secondly for time to come it strippeth a man of all comfort of heaven of happinesse for except a man be borne a new hee shall never see the Kingdome of God To him that is not in Christ there is no hope of salvation and that not as a professed member but as one tied to the head first flesh and bloud shal not inherit the Kingdome of God Hearken silly people that have nothing more ordinary in your mouthes than this That God that made me will save me God saveth thee not because he made thee once unlesse hee make thee againe God saveth no man because he is his creature for who is not but because hee is a new creature if thou beest not created againe in the second Adam as thou wert once in the first thou canst not be saved Fourthly every wise man will lay out most diligently for that which will most bestead him and that which hee esteemeth best for himselfe and for his good and lasting estate Now if a man aske the Word what is the best thing in all the world it answereth us a new Creature Looke upon the heavens earth man beasts or any other creatures they are all old creatures and waxe old as a garment and tend all to dissolution they being not lasting themselves cannot yeeld a lasting happinesse Looke upon Princes Nobles Friends Wives Children where a man looketh for most content all flesh is grasse waxeth old and withereth Looke upon all the meanes and supports of life suppose it were Mannah from heaven and water out of the rocke this cannot preserve us from waxing old nor from dissolution the Fathers did eate Mannah and are dead onely the worke of sound grace in us which frameth us to be new creatures shall outlast the world The poorest man in the world with the least measure of sound grace shall outlast the Noble and Rich with contempt of the honours and profits of the world seeing this workemanship is ever new and falleth not to ruine as the former doe Secondly this is that which wee must sticke unto in time of temptation and triall for this creation and workemanship no created force can deface or demolish no more than any kinde of creature can be destroyed out of the world by all the power and art of men The gates of hell cannot prevaile against it he that giveth this creature a being continueth it in being Sometimes Sathan would make the childe of God beleeve that the whole worke is defaced and fallen to pieces Object Oh thou hast no grace at all but a vaine conceit of it or if thou hast any faith it is so weake it shall not hold out Ans. Yes but first I have faith and grace for I desire to beleeve and will hope above hope and above all that I can feele A sincere desire of good argueth a presence of that same good desired in some measure Secondly this smoaking Week shall not be quenched but dressed to clearenesse Thirdly though my selfe bee weake to hold any grace that I have yet I know that God who created it will uphold it his covenant is that as certainely as he created the heavens so certainely he will save Israel and put forth as mighty a power for the saving of his new creation as hee did in spreading the heavens at first Jsay 45. 17 18. Fourthly though I feele and confesse my grace to bee weake yet grace is not a ground of comfort to me as it is great or little but as it is an argument that I am in Christ who is my strength and salvation and in whom I have right to a new heaven and a new earth in which dwelleth righteousnesse Thirdly this is that which we must sticke unto for solid comfort in the day of death and of judgement first when thou gaspest for life this new workemanship will onely make thee able to commend thy selfe confidently to him as unto a faithfull creator a new death attendeth a new life secondly in the day of judgement this will make thee lift up thy head for there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ but thee the Lord will then bring with him to take possession of that new heaven wherein they shall be ever with the Lord. Fiftly without this new creature is no salvation Revelat. 21. 27. No uncleane thing can enter without holinesse no man shall see God O then stand not on any thing else Many things may bring thee in account with men but nothing but this into account with God not temporall or carnall but spirituall and internall First stand not on kindred that is a respect of old Adam no comfort in being of that old house but of a new family of the bloud of Christ. Maries highest priviledge was to beare Christ in her heart Secondly nor upon wealth if not rich in God in grace in good workes for that is a piece of the old earth Thirdly nor upon calling if Kings Prophets Apostles if not Kings and Prophets to God in Christ all are one Fourthly nor upon Circumcision Baptisme if a broken vow nor in profession as did the foolish Virgins wanting oyle Fifthly nor upon illumination and hearing the new Creature is not only illumination of mind but renovation of will See there be a new heart Sixthly nor an idle and fruitlesse course in Christianity Look to a new life that thou be a new lumpe and to a new course else thou art no new Creature When I see a Christian stand as an image in the Church without the powerfull motion of godlinesse can I thinke him a new Creature No as God inspired a living soule into the old Adam so here and motion is inseparable to life and all the motion is towards heaven Now having heard first what this new Creature is secondly the notes of him thirdly the meanes to be one fourthly the reasons of this new creation The Vse is first for instruction The worke of grace is a worke of Almighty power for it is a Creation and so peculiar to God alone To regenerate a man is as mighty a worke as to create a world nay more howsoever in Gods power simply considered nothing is easier or harder who could as easily have made so many worlds as creatures yet quâ—ad nos in respect of our judgement it must require a stronger power to create a new heart than to create a new world For as it is more easie for a Potter or Glasse