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
New Creature on his Knee or giving it the Kisses of his Mouth no no he hath reserved these Sweat-meats for the upper Table in Heaven there 's great reason thou should have his Frowns as well as Smiles to humble thy Heart exercise thy Graces discover the necessity of Christ the desireableness of Heaven God can and may without any impediment to his Love hide it for a season from his own dearest Child David indeed called in question God's Love and Faithfulness when he hid his Face but at last he found that it was his Infirmity and doubtless lamented it as his Sin God hath given abundant Security in his Promises of his Love without present sense you must not think much at him if he do not come to visit you and take you up in his Arms as oft as you would have him Thou needst some purging Physick as well as Cordials a Son may need a Frown as well as a Smile from his Father God is a free Agent his Kisses are his own but it s well thou art so sensible of his Access and Recess his Smiles and Frowns it 's a sign of some Spiritual Life in thy Soul 4th Case But you said the New Creature grows I find it otherwise I cannot see that I grow in Grace nay I decline and go backwards what think you of that I Answer As the Christian grows in Grace so he grows in Light to discover his state and sees more vileness in himself and is still more sensible of decays in Grace which keeps him humble self-denying and vile in his own Eyes that 's growth too bless God for it but observe it grains of allowance must be given to Old Age when natural parts decay and Persons may not be so quick and lively as formerly yet may be more solid and increasing in Experiences Mr. Greenham said It 's an hard and rare thing to keep up young Zeal with old Discetion Dost thou not keep up a more constant course of Duty settled Resolutions for God Is not thy Heart more deaded to the world taken up with things unseen Art thou not more composed under Afflictions dost thou not more discover and bewail Spiritual Sins Dost thou not long more after the good of Relations take more delight in God's VVord breathe after more of God's Presence in Ordinances Speak out Man deal faithfully bear not false witness against thy self yet it 's true the growing Tree meets with a fall of the Leaf a sharp Winter yet doth a Spring come it grows in the Summer Peter's Fall was recruited to geater boldness for God but I hope thou art not a backslider in Heart Prov. 14.14 To dislike the ways of God Thou art but overtaken with a Sin against thy strong Purposes Gal. 6.1 When thou sleepest doth not thy Heart wake Cant. 5.2 Thou art not pleased with this declining state Thy Spirit is willing but thy Flesh is weak Matth. 26.41 5th Case But alas I have such strong impetuous yea imperious workings of Corruption in my Heart as never any had that hath a principle of Grace None like me Is it possible I should be a New Creature I Answer The Heart knows its own bitterness and wickedness Prov. 14.10 Every gracious Soul thinks his own Heart worst because he knows it best But who told thee that thy Heart was so bad Was it always thus with thee Was there not a time that thou thoughtest thy Heart was as good as any Bodies Is it not Spiritual Light that makes these strange Discoveries Whatsoever doth make manifest is Light Eph. 5.13 Did not Sin revive upon the coming of the Commandment Rom. 7.9 But Friend let me ask thee Dost thou think that upon the planting of this New Creature in thy Soul Sin should be utterly extirpated that thou shouldst hear no more of it Dost thou not find even blessed Paul groaning still under a Body of Death Rom. 7.24 Will not the Flesh still lust against the Spirit Gal. 5.17 Surely thou knowest little of a Christian state if thou imaginest a total Immunity from the Body and Indwelling of Sin in this world It s well if Sin be not upon the Throne though thou hast it in the Field to fight with the Gospel-privilege is Sin shall not have dominion over thee because thou art under Grace Rom. 6.14 6th Case But what will you say by a Man that cannot give a precise account of the Time and Manner of the forming of this New Creature in his Heart that never had such terrors as some have I Answer Will any say the River Nilus is no River because men never found out the Head of it God is a free Agent and hath different Seasons and Manners of working Some were wrought upon in their younger days and were religiously educated and never stept aside into gross Sins and God steals in gently upon them and opens their Hearts as he did Lydia's Acts 16.14 and gently attracts them to himself picking the Lock as it were without much noise whenas he breaks the Wards in others with astonishing Convictions as he dealt with Paul and Luther and famous Mr. Bolton Some are of mild and gentle Natures and God sees they cannot bear hard blows which some others need of sturdy and stubborn Spirits Do not murmur but thank God that he hath come so sweetly into thy Soul he knows thy frame and constitution See the Work be there and a Scriptural work and leave God to his liberty But this thou canst say through Grace it is not with thee now as it hath been as the blind man said I may be ignorant of some Circumstances But one thâ— I know that whereas I was blind now I see John 9.25 Things are otherwise represented to me and my Spirit working otherwise within then formerly So that I may say as Rebekah with her Twins in her Womb If it be so or not so why am I thus 7th Case But alas no Body knows what a frame of Spirit I have in my Prayers such Distractions and Diversions I have from God as cannot be consistent with the New Creature in any what think you Answer I say 't is sad that such Vermin should crawl in God's Sanctuary especially when thou art in God's immediate worship but dost thou approve of them and make them welcome Are they not troublesome Guests Do they not forcibly assault thee as so many unmannerly Guests Suppose in your Family as you are kneeling in Prayer a company of Roysters stand under your VVindow roaring and hollowing though it disturb you would you thence question your Sincerity in the Duty And 't is all one whether the disturbance be in the Room or in the Bosom since both are disliked as a burden to thee Mr. Tho. Shepard Treat of Distract I often reflect on a passage I read many Years ago The good Lord keep the Hearts of his People under a due sense of their Distractions for they are never like to be rid of them while they
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
God is the Christians chief supream End in his natural civil spiritual acts the New Man aims at the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 Oh that my Soul may obtain fellowship with God 1 John 1.3 Psal 73.25 I will trample on sinful worldly self and spurn away this dirty Dunghill in comparison of God's Glory and Salvation of my own Soul all other things will neither please nor profit this high-bred Creature infused into the Soul 2. The Elective Power of the Will the New Creature chuseth the most proper means to attain these high Ends as he chuseth God for his only End so in the first place he chuseth Christ as the only Way Truth and Life John 14.6.1 51. By whom he may ascend to God as the Ladder of Jacob for there 's no coming to the Father but by the Son The Will therefore consists to have Christ upon his own terms and chuseth him above the World John 1.12 May I have Christ I will cast all others as Dung at my Heels Phil. 7.7 8 9. Away with them away with them I will refuse Crowns and Scepters in comparison of or in competition with Christ the New Creature comes off freely in his choice of Christ is not forced to him as his last shift to escape damning but by a sweet tendency and propensity of the Will touched and attracted with the Loadstone of divine Grace To me to live is Christ Phil. 1.21 as well as he is good to dye with yea the New Creature chuseth the Precepts the Promises the Patterns of the Word Psal 119.30 111. The way of Faith and Holiness to walk in in order to the attaining Happiness and he never repents this blessed Choice 3. There 's a cleaving act of the Will a peremptory resolved adhereing to God and his ways the Will is fixed determined for God whatever shall be said against he is not off and on like a double-minded man unstable in all his ways James 1.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hanging in suspence halting betwixt two Opinions 1 King 18.21 but cleaves to the Lord with purpose of Heart Acts 11.23 as Ruth was stedfastly minded to go with Naomi Ruth 1.16 17 18. All men on Earth and all the Devils in Hell shall not alter this resolution I will go and return to my Father Luk. 15.17 I am purposed that my Mouth shall not transgress Psal 17.3 Let others do as they list as they dare answer I and my House will serve the Lord John 24.15 I must not be guided by Example or Carnal Reason but by the Word of God and having made my choice by the Grace of God I will not be altered as long as I breath no Sufferings shall daunt me no Allurements shall entice me from my God 4. There 's a resigning act of the Will by which it gives up it self to the Will of God the New Creature melts and molds the Will of man into the Will of God as our Lord said Not my will but thine be done Matth. 26.39 And those gracious Souls Acts 21.13 said The will of the Lord be done Hence Luther durst Pray fiat volunt as mea Let my Will be done but came off thus Mine Lord because my Will shall be thine There shall be but one Will betwixt us this hath been the Language of all the Holy Men in Scripture Eli David Paul Let the Lord do as seems good to him 1 Sam. 8.10.2 Sam. 15.25 This Harmony of Wills is a glorious Fruit of the New Creation and sweet and certain Character of the New Creature this brings Serenity to the Soul in all states when Wind and Tide go both one way there 's no Storm so when the Christian acquiesceth in God's will there 's great Peace in the Soul 4. The last Subject wherein the New Creature is formed in the Affections these are the Motions of the Will the Will is the primum movens or mobile the main Wheel that carries the Affections along with it the Affections are either 1. disliking or 2. liking Aversations or Approbations of these Faculties of the Soul and both of them are reduced to sweet Order and Harmony according to Scripture-Rule 1. The disliking or disapproving Affections the Stream is quite turned into another Channel the Soul loaths what it before loved and bears an implacable hatred yea antipathy not only to Sin but to all appearances of it 1 Thes 5.22 and Avenues that lead to it or proceed from it hating even the Garment spotted by the Flesh Jude 23. as one detests a Coat with the Plague in it as a man's Stomach riseth against some kind of Meats or a Toad for its poysonful quality or a Serpent for its Sting or rather for its loathsome Nature David saith I hate and abhor Lying Psal 119.163 He cannot use words enough to express his Antipathy to Hypocrisie And true hatred is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against all the Kinds of what we hate I hate every false way ver 104. saith the same Holy Man The New Creature makes the Christian not only angry at Sin as against his Interest or as a Man may be with his Wife or Child in a fit of Passion and entertains good Thoughts of them again when the Passion is over but there 's an implacable Enmity commenced in the Heart against all Sin yea there 's an hatred of wicked mens persons for their Sin 's sake Psal 139.21 22. which otherwise the Soul loves as he would not hate the Devil but for Sin O how weary am I of this Body of Death I know not how to bear it it s like a stinking dead Carcase that at once both burdens me with its weight Rom. 7.24 and poysons me with its stink 'T is this and this alone that makes me send forth quotidianos mutigus daily groans and Mournings Oh that I could put a Bill of Divorce into the Hands of my dearest Lust never to meddle with it again I will never be reconciled to Sin more I will cut off my Right hand-Sin and run the Knife of the Law into the very Heart of my dearest Lusts I will study their utter extirpation I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to God Ezra 9.6 because of my Spots of guilt and filth never did any thing lie so near my Heart as my Sin against God I will declare mine Iniquity and be very sorry for my Sin Psal 58.18 For the future I will stand in awe that I may not sin Psal 4.4 I will fear Sin more then Hell I cannot bear them that are evil Rev. 2.2 Though I have patience to bear any Affliction I behold transgressors and am grieved Psal 119.58 136. and shed many Tears for the dishonour they bring to my God Oh that Sin were banish'd out of the World or my Soul withdrawn from the wicked world 2. As for the liking Affections the renewed Soul can truly say as David I have set my affections to the house of my God 2 Chron. 30.3 As to inferior
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