sin against God or wrong their own Souls God hath promised to cause men to fear him not so much for his Judgments as for his Mercy and Coâ—dness Hos 3.5 and this fear he put into the Body of Regeneration without which it will be imperfect Seventhly Humility Meekness These Graces if they are two are parts of the New Creature they are the Beauty and Ornament of the New Creature without which it would not be so amiable and lovely as now it is We are by Nature exceeding proud rugged haughty sowre and pievish Creatures but God loves a meek and humble spirit and therefore he Regenerates some with Humility and Meekness and the more men have of these the more lovely they are to God and men the more conformable to Christ who was meek and lowly in heart Matth. 11.29 Christ will have all his Members like himself the Body must be like the Head and Christ becoming their Head in Regeneration he bestows on them his Humility and Meekness which is a part of that fulness of Grace he hath received for his Members Meekness is one of the glorious fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 and one of the Graces of Christ Jam. 4.6 By Humility and Meekness Christ prepares and capacitates men for his service and communion with himself to bow and bend them to his holy will and make them obedient unto him in all things for only the Humble and Meek are such persons and walkers Eighthly Zeal Regeneration makes men zealous against sin and for God and godliness Before Regeneration men may have a zeal for God but not the Zeal it is not according to knowledge Rom. 10.2 True gospel-Gospel-zeal is a glorious Grace of Christ infused into men in Regeneration and that in pursuance of one of the great ends of Christ his death Tit. 2.14 He gave himself to redeem us from all iniquity and to make us a peculiar people zealous of good works Before men are Regenerated they are zealous for their own gain honour pleasure and superstition but Regeneration makes them zealous for God with the Zeal of God As soon as Paul was converted he shewed himself a true and great Zealot indeed for Christ Grace Holiness and the Souls of men It is holy Gospel-zeal that makes men active for God and puts them forward to follow their Light Light in the Head without Zeal in the Heart may fill men with notions of duty but never make them Practitioners of duty they may know the Will of God but they will not they cannot be perswaded to do it 't is true that Zeal without knowledge is not good and as true that knowledge without zeal is unprofitable Christ hath a fulness of zeal for men and in Regeneration he imparts it to them Ninthly Prayer In Regeneration Christ infuses the Grace and Spirit of Prayer as soon as Paul was Regenerated behold he prayeth Acts 9.11 He had often prayed before for he was a zealous Pharisee and concerning the Law he was blameless Phil. 3.6 but he never prayed aright until he was Regenerated for then Christ gave him the grace of Prayer he could then pray with Grace in his heart and then not till then behold he prayeth There are none can pray spiritually but New Creatures for the voice of Nature is the voice of the flesh and what is of the flesh is flesh Joh. 3.6 and that voice God is not pleased with and heareth not but it is the voice of the New Creature which is formed and made up of the Grace and Spirit of Christ that God heareth and delighteth in Pro. 15.8 Therefore God promiseth to give unto men in Regeneration the Spirit of Grace and Supplication Zach. 12.10 that they may thereby be enabled to pray unto God holily and acceptably 1 Pet. 2.5 Rom. 8.26 27. God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and truth Joh. 4.23 24. and therefore he spirits them in Regeneration so to do Men may speak great and good words and make plausible and seemingly good prayers from light in their heads and other common spiritual gifts without Regeneration but they are but fleshly cold dead and loathsome prayers because they proceed not from a Divine Root and Spring they are dead their hearts are dead and therefore their prayers must needs be dead prayers which the Living God abhors Isa 1. But now Regeneration opens their hearts and tongues enlivens and quickens them puts a heavenly Principle into them so that now they can speak to God with new tongues and hearts now they can pray in Faith and Hope with spiritual and lively affections and in obedience to the Will of God Tenthly Self-denial Men are by Nature altogether selfish they are wholly devoted to the service of the flesh and set upon fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind Eph. 2.3 Rom. 8.5 Phil. 3.19 But God lays in Self-denying grace on their hearts in Regeneration so that now they can deny themselves of their ease pleasures profits opinions relations peace and all their once beloved Interests whatsoever for God Holiness Truth and the welfare of their own Souls They can and that upon choice displease themselves to please God they can willingly be nothing that Christ may be all in all things Col. 3.11 yea they would be the Footstool of Christ to exalt him and set him on the Throne Regeneration makes them account their all too little for him as before they accounted a little too much for Christ This is the great term on which we receive and believe in the Lord Jesus Mark 8.34 Matth. 16.24 Luk. 9.23 and by Regeneration he gives them power and will to do it Psal 110.3 Phil. 2.13 Joh. 6.44 45. This Regeneration wrought in Paul Gal. 1.16 I consulted not with flesh and blood says he that is as soon as he was Regenerated Christ sent him to preach the Faith which before he had zealously destroyed vers 23. and that amongst the barbarous Heathens where was much danger and in the doing of which he should meet with many difficulties as he did yet he immediately yielded up himself to the Will of Christ and laid his own in the dust So when Christ called Peter and Andrew they straightway left all and followed him Matth. 4.18 19 20. and after ward Matthew did the like he presently left his gainful Trade at the Custom-House and followed Christ Matth. 9.9 So the Disciples tell Christ Luke 18. that they had left all and followed him and the grace of Self-denial is given to all Regenerate persons in the very moment of their Regeneration Eleventhly Sincerity This is the general grace or that which is the Salt that seasons and makes as it were all other grace good and singular Gospel-sincerity is the holy spiritual Leven that runs through the whole Lump or Body of the graces of Christ given in Regeneration it is not properly one single grace but it is rather the grace of all other graces 't is that which makes
overthrows the Devils Kingdom as the blowing of the Rams horns did fell down the walls of Jericho By this means the dead are raised to Life the blind are made to see Acts 26.18 and deaf ears are unstoped By the Gospel men are Translated out of the Kingdom of darkness into Christ's Kingdom of Light 7. God Regenerates men to and for holy and gracious ends and purposes They are created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God had before ordained that they should walk in them Eph. 2.10 That they that live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him that dyed for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5.15 That they should walk in newness of Life and not serve sin Rom. 6.4 6. God Crowns them with and makes them the subject of his special grace that they may be Agents of his glory in bringing forth fruit worthy of their new state God hath great ends in bestowing great grace and special ends in giving special grace God honours and beautifies men with his grace that they may therewith adorn his Gospel and exalt his name By Regeneration God makes men loving and lovely and meetens them for communion with himself I have I think said enough to or of the definition of Regeneration therefore shall say no more of it in this place Quest. Pray explain the great work of Regeneration more fully and shew us what those works of God on men are that do not amount to or ordinarily Issue in Regeneration that so we may clearly understand what Regeneration is not and also what it is Answ I shall first shew what t is not 2. What it is more fully First Meer light in the head is not Regeneration For men may have much Spiritual light without Spirittual Life Some are enlightened who fall away from the truth and become Apostates Heb. 6.4 5 6. and after they have known the way of Righteousness do turn from the holy commands of God to their own wicked ways 2 Pet. 2.21 22. And we read of some who knew their Lords will but did it not Luk. 12.47 which shews that they were never Regenerated Secondly Men may have many and great convictions of sin and of their miserable and wretched conditions by reason thereof they may be under much trouble of Spirit and cry out with tears and heart-grief and they may mourn and be in bitterness of Soul in the sight of their sad case and perishing state and yet all may be blown over and come to nothing but end in sin and eternal death Pharoah crys out I am wicked Exod. 9.27 and Saul saw his wickedness and wept 1 Sam. 24.16 and confessed his sin 1 Sam. 26.21 Wicked Ahab had conviction of and was greatly troubled for his sin and humbled himself 1 King 21.27 28 29. so the Israelites in the Wilderness and afterward Judas was troubled and crys I have sinned Matth. 26.3 4. yet none of them were Regenerated Thirdly Men may greatly reform their ways and look like New Creatures their Conversations may be white while their hearts are black they may have a clean outside when they are foul and abominable within they may appear beautiful to men whilest they are but whited Sepulchres and full of all manner of wickedness within Mat. 23.25 26 27 28. they may be washed and yet be still Swine 2 Pet. 2.22 and they may go for Saints amongst men whilest they are Devils within Judas was so and the Lord Jesus tells us that many go in Sheeps cloathing but are indeed Wolves Matth. 7.15 Therefore meer Reformation is not Regeneration Thou mayst forsake many sins whilest thou lovest them and perform many duties that thou lovest not but loathest Herod was a Reformer he did many good things Mark 6.20 but he was not a New Man Fourthly Thou mayst have much spiritual joy and yet be still an unregenerate man Herod heard John preach with gladness Mark 6.20 The stony-ground hearers had joy for a time in the good ways of God Mat. 13.20 Thou mayst have many tasts of the good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come Hebr. 6.4 5. yea thou mayst have such tasts of the Heavenly Gift as to raise thy Soul to delight in drawing nigh to God in his Ordinances of Divine Worship and continue in thy unregenerate state Isa 58.2 Fifthly Thou mayst believe the truths of the Gospel and on the Lord Jesus Christ and yet be in an unregenerate state and condition Simon Magus believed when in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity Act. 8.13.23 The rockie hearers did believe a while but were afterward Apostates Luk. 8.13 Christ his hearers are said to believe on him Joh. 8.30 yet in verse 44. he calls them the children of the Devil Ye are says he of your Father the Devil and his works ye will do The Hypocrites mentioned in Psal 106.12 13 14. were said to believe and so may you have Faith and believe and yet be Hypocrites still You may think you do believe aright unto Salvation when in truth you do not but delude your own Souls Sixthly Thou mayst be much in hearing and praying and yet be an unregenerate man Herod was a hearer of John Mark 6.20 Hypocrites in Ezekiel were great hearers of him and he was to them as a very lovely Song Ezek. 33.30 31 32. The three bad grounds were all hearers of the Gospel Matth. 13 18-22 but not a good hearer amongst them they were all stark naught and so mayst thou be also who art a great hearer of good men and then for praying or rather saying of prayers thou mayst pray often and long and yet be an hypocrite and an unregenerate man yea thou mayst have the gift of prayer and yet be a graceless man The Scribes and Pharisees made many and long prayers Matth. 23.14 So the hypocrites we read of in Job Chap. 27.8.10 Many make such prayers as God abhors and will not hear Isa 1.14 15. Seventhly Thou mayst be very strict and very severe in fasting and afflicting thy self and yet be an unregenerate man The Scribes and Pharisees fasted and afflicted themselves in the height of their hypocrisie Luke 18.12 I fast twice in the week And wherefore have we fasted and afflicted our souls say the hypocrites in Isa 58.3 and the like they did in Babylon Zach. 7.5 6. Eighthly Thou mayst be a charitable man I mean thou mayst give much Alms to the poor and yet be an unregenerate man The Scribes and Pharisees did so Mat. 6.1 2. Luk. 18.12 Ninthly Thou mayst be a zealous man for and in Religion and yet be in an unregenerate state Paul was so before his Regeneration Act. 22.3 Gal. 1.14 The Jews had a zeal for God when in their blindness and hardness of heart Rom. 10.2 Thou mayst be of a warm zealous spirit even whilest thou hast a carnal unregenerate heart Tenthly Thou mayst have much Integrity and do many good things uprightly or without designed guile or fraud towards God
Death purchased their freedom and liberty Tit. 2.14 but it is made theirs by or in Regeneration Then he opens the Prison doors Isa 61.1 turns the Devil out of his Throne Luke 11.21 22. breaks off their bonds and brings them out sets them at liberty and lets them go free and all by virtue of his blood in pursuance of the Covenant Zach. 9.11 Now they are said to be free from sin and become the servants of God Rom. 6.22 and the wicked one toucheth them not 1 Joh. 5.18 In Regeneration Christ leads Captivity captive Eph. 4.8 It is a great real and Everlasting Freedom that men have in Regeneration they shall no more return into Captivity If therefore the Son shall make you free ye shall be free indeed Joh. 8.36 Hence they are ever after Regeneration called the Lords Free-men 1 Cor. 7.22 for by Regeneration they are put into the state of liberty not upon condition or for a time but for ever They are free from the Ruledom of Sin and Satan from the Law of sin and death by the Law of the Spirit of Life Rom. 8.2 By Regeneration they are made free to and for God and Holiness to serve him without fear in righteousness and holiness all their days Rom. 6.22 Luke 1.74 75. So that now they have nothing else to do or mind but how as Free-men to walk worthy of their new state to live unto God and bear fruit to his praise and glory for they are now in a secure state of freedom and liberty and need not fear the loss of it Fourthly By Regeneration we are put into a state of Relation to God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son In our unregenerate states we are the Children of the Devil Joh. 8.44 are his subjects and servants and also the servants of sin Rom. 6.17 18. and then we stood in no special Relations to Christ For when we are made free from sin by Regeneration then and not till then we become the Lords servants Rom. 6.22 God is indeed related to us as our Creator and we are related to him as we are his Creatures but this is no special Relation for the Devils are so related to God But Regeneration puts us into several special Relations 1. Into a Conjugal Relation Christ is Married to them and they to him 2 Cor. 11.2 Cant. 2.16 Christ is their Husband and they are his Wife as the Song of Solomon shews 2. God is their Father and they are his Children not as by the first Creation but by Regeneration Joh. 1.12 2 Cor. 6. ult Isa 9 6. Heb. 2. 3. Christ is their Head and they are his Members Eph. 5.30 4. Christ is their Lord and King and they are his Subjects and Servanti Col. 2.6 Rom. 6.16.22 Psal 2.6 5. Christ is their Shepherd and they are his Sheep Joh. 10.11.14.27 6. Christ is their Prophet and they are his Scholars Acts 3.22 23. These are some of the near Relations that Regenerate persons stand in to Christ and they are instated in them by Regeneration for then they are contracted to Christ I have says Paul espoused you to Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 namely by the means of his Preaching to them and so they are made Sons and Daughters Gal. 4.5 Fifthly In Regeneration men are put into a state of Righteousness and Justification not that they are Justified by Inherent Grace or because they are Regenerated but that God doth by Regenerating them enable them to take hold of Christ and believe in him unto Justification of Life Rom. 5.18 Rom. 3.22.25 So also for that God doth actually and personally justifie men when he Regenerates and makes them New Creatures Before Regeneration men are in a guilty state they are in an unrighteous and as such in a condemned state and condition but by the means of Regeneration they are enabled to believe receive and apply the Righteousness of Christ unto themselves and they can go to God the Father and take out his Acquittances and promised Discharges Pardons and Acceptance bring home and apply all unto themselves and so God accepts them acquits and forgives them discharges them of and justifies them from and against all Crimes Accusations and Indictments whatsoever and puts them into a Justified state or into a state of Righteousness and Justification upon their believing in him with the Faith given them in and by their Regeneration Rom. 8.33 34. 2 Cor. 5. ult Rom. 3.24.26 1 Cor. 1.30 Sixthly Regeneration puts men into a state of Friendship with God By Nature we are all Enemies to him and God seems to be and to carry himself towards us as an Enemy Rom. 5.10 Isa 63.10 yea we are by Nature worse and more than Enemies for being in Friendship with the World we are at Enmity with God Jam. 4.4 But Regeneration makes a great change for it makes us Friends to God and God carries himself Friendly towards us The old Enmity is turned into a sweet real and comfortable Friendship God carries himself Friendly and as a Cordial and great Friend to us and so do we in measure unto him we have his Heart opened to us in love and kindness and ours are opened unto him in duty love and obedience There is a great kindness familiarity and communication between God and Regenerate persons and they do greatly delight in one anothers company Isa 62.4 Isa 58. ult Pro. 15.8 This Friendship between God and New Creatures is a real not feigned Friendship it is a heart-endearing and Soul-knitting Friendship it is a pleasant and delightful Friendship it is a sure and well-grounded Friendship and it is a constant and perpetual Friendship it is such a knitting and fast Friendship as that neither Sip or Satan can possibly desolve In and ever after Regeneration God calls his New Creatures his Friends Luke 12.4 Joh. 15.13 14. Isa 41.8 Jam. 2.23 and God and them declare themselves true and choice Friends indeed to each other by their love and loving one another at all times which is the property of a true Friend Pro. 17.17 Seventhly and lastly They are by Regeneration put into a state of Grace By Nature men are not only sinful but they are in a state of sin and death they are dead in sin and sold under sin yea they are altogether sin Eph. 2.1 Rom. 3 10-20 As their services to God are so are they they are iniquity Isa 1.13 It is their name character and nature Rom. 5.8 Gal. 2.15 But Regeneration sets men in a state of Grace for although after Regeneration they have much sin and filthiness in them yet their state is accounted and called and it is really a holy state and after Regeneration men are never accounted and called sinners but Saints holy Brethren the People and Children of God and the like for they have their new Names from their new States As the Apostle speaks to the Ephesians Ye are saith he no more Strangers and Forreigners but Fellow-Citizens of the Saints Eph. 2.19 so
themselves and not at all to God 14 No man can be made free of the Heavenly City and Spiritual Corporation nor be set at liberty from bondage and thraldome but in and by Regeneration All men are by Nature in bondage to the Devil and Lusts as you heard before but Regeneration is the year or day of Release and Enlargement to imprisoned Souls for then comes Jesus Christ opens the Prison doors and brings out his Prisoners Joh. 8.36 Gal. 5.1.13 until then they lye in the Dungeon of darkness bound hand and foot with Fetters of Iron and shut in under Impenitency Ignorance and Vnbelief and cannot get forth until the Jubilee comes and proclaims Liberty to them Isa 61.1 2. Zach. 2.11 Then are they made Free Citizens of the New Jerusalem and have their Freedom given them to live and Trade in Heaven for heavenly and everlasting Commodities Eph. 2.19 Phil. 3.20 Behold the necessity then of Regeneration 15 No man can be actually and personally justified pardoned and acquitted without Regeneration but are held under the Guilt and Curse of the Law for they must first believe unto Justification of life before they can obtain a discharge and take out an Acquittance under the Hand and Seal of the Holy Ghost Eph. 1.13 Rom. 5.18 but this they cannot do for want of Faith until they are Regenerated and thereby made partakers of this glorious Grace 16 No man can fear God aright namely with a godly filial fear nor indeed can he stand in awe of God and sin not or walk in the fear of God all the day long as commanded Pro. 23.17 Psal 4.4 until they be Regenerated for who can so fear and reverence God until God put it into his heart to do it Jer. 32.39 40. for if they could and had they wherewithal to do it without this Grace of God to what purpose hath God promised to do it himself and declared it to be a choise and singular Gift and Grace of his own giving and working in their hearts I will says God put my fear into their hearts that they may not depart from me and that they may fear me for ever And how can men fear God with a filial or Child-like fear until they are made Children by Regeneration and begotten again by his Word and Spirit 1 Pet. 1.3 Jam. 1.18 Joh. 3.5 17 No man can make the Glory of God his greatest end and aim and really design to please and honour God in his words and deeds without Regeneration therefore it is absolutely necessary We are indispensably bound to make God the chief and great aim and end of all our undertakings and to seek design and endeavour with all possible seriousness and diligence to please honour and exalt him 1 Cor. 10.31 Col. 3.23 Pro. 3.9 Col. 1.10 1 Thes 4.1 But this we cannot do until a new Spring of Life and Divine Principles be put into us by Regeneration for we are by Nature wholly selfish are quite swallowed up in sinful carnal self Self is the principle motive and end of all our thoughts words and deeds Self-pleasure profit ease honour and security have only Self in the bottom and top of every Good as well as Evil in Religious as well as Civil works And how can it be otherwise with us the Fountain of our Natures being so miserably corrupted and depraved as it is And it is a truth that the Streams cannot rise higher than the Fountains from whence they come 18 No man can be the object of Gods delight and complacency until he be Regenerated because they have nothing that is lovely and desirable in them Before Regeneration men are hateful vile and abominable in the sight of God as hath been shewed as they are sinners and unwashed It is the Nature and Image of God that is the Object of Gods delight and complacency in men for the God of Holiness cannot look on iniquity he is of purer eyes than to do so Habuk. 1.13 and this Nature and Image we have not until we are Regenerated and made New Creatures by Grace for till then God looks on us as in our blood Ezek. 16. Rom. 3. 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. and stamps his own Nature and Image on us to make us clean pure lovely and delightful in his eyes He beautifies men with his Ornaments that he may take pleasure in and rejoyce with them Zach. 3.17 19 No man can claim a Right unto and Interest in the Covenant and Promises without Regeneration for they are not under neither have they any interest in them whilest they lay in their blood and continue in their state of Enmity against God No man can be interested in the Promises and Covenant of Grace and Life that is not interested in Christ and no man is interested in Christ until he be a New Creature All the Promises are in Christ 2 Cor. 1.20 and they are made ours by virtue of our having of and being in Christ and when we are in Christ all is ours 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. and not till then then we may claim and use them as ours but not till then 20 No man can be in a state of Grace and Life without Regeneration no man can be a holy gracious and good man until he be Regenerated Whatever good things he may have act and do yet he is in a state of sin and death still until he pass under Regeneration He may be washed without yet he is a Swine still he may put on Sheeps cloathing but he is a Wolf still he may be enlightned but is in a state of darkness still and he may believe many Truths and yet be an Vnbeliever still 2 Pet. 2.20.22 Matth. 7.15 Heb. 6.4 Joh. 8.30.44 Acts 8.13.23 But I see I must contract my self lest I run beyond my intentions and therefore shall briefly sum up what I have further to say on this Head that I may presently dismiss it Therefore I say that as we stand in absolute need of Regeneration for the Reasons and Ends already named so likewise for those that follow which I shall but name We cannot take up in God as in our portion satisfaction and only happiness without Regeneration neither can we chuse him for the great and only delight of our Souls without it We cannot have our wills bowed to and swallowed up into the Will of God nor freely chearfully and dutifully yield up our selves to his disposement without Regeneration We cannot rejoyce in Christ Jesus nor in tribulation and bearing the Cross nor yet in doing good and working Righteousness without Regeneration We cannot be dutifully and thankfully patient under and contented with an afflicted state and condition nor demean and carry our selves well in it without Regeneration We cannot be fruitful in every good work nor bear fruit unto Eternal Life without Regeneration We cannot highly esteem and set a due nor a right value on Christ his Person Blood Laws and Grace nor on the great love and kindness of God
good works Eph. 2.10 It is a heavenly and spiritual Creature Joh. 3.3.5 exactly fitted to heavenly and suited to spiritual objects matters works and enjoyments which the Natural Man is not now in it 's lapsed and depraved state Christ requires a new life of them and in order thereunto creates and forms it in them Joh. 10.10 1 Joh. 3.14 This New Creature hath and it is formed with all it's senses It hath five Spiritual Senses in allusion to the five Natural Senses of men though all of them cannot be so properly and plainly exprest as the Natural Senses may it is a perfect New Creature and therefore must have all it's parts and senses I shall open them to you as briefly as I may 1. The Sense of Seeing When God made the World his first days work was Light Gen. 1.3 Let there be light and there was light says the Text. So in this new Creation the first Sense in order that is Created and doth first appear is the Sense of Seeing Before Regeneration as you have heard we are blind and in darkness Matth. 15.14 Eph. 5.8 We know not to purpose what we are not where we are whose we are nor where to find true happiness By sin we put out our own Eyes quenched our Candle and drew a thick Cloud before our Eyes and utterly spoiled them our spiritual knowledge of heavenly things and Soul-concernments is destroyed and there is none of that Light remaining to conduct us in acceptable obedience in the way to Heaven Therefore as it is absolutely necessary that we should have new Eyes as well as new Light to see withal So God doth in Regeneration give men new Eyes and Light called the Eyes of their Vnderstanding Eph. 1.18 Upon this Errand was Paul sent with the Gospel to the Gentiles Acts 26.18 and having received this new Spiritual Light they are ever after called Children of Light as they were called before Children of Darkness Eph. 5.8 1 Joh. 2.9 10 11. In Regeneration they are called out of this Darkness into marvellous Light 1 Pet. 2.9 This their new sight light and power of discerning is excellent spiritual special and pecullar and that in many respects These are some of them 1. They can now see the things and discern the matters and objects they could not see before 2. Other things objects and matters more plainly and clearly more lovely precious excellent and acceptable First they see the things that they never saw before As 1. The evil of their Natures The Light of Nature may shew men many of their actual sins and wickednesses but not the Source and Fountain of them namely our Original Natural and Habitual vileness and sinfulness only Regenerate persons see a far greater odiousness and abomination in the heart than in the life they find by sad experience that the Fountain of corrupt Nature is more full of Poyson than any Acts of sin and the sight of that causes such out-crys in them O wretched men that we are who shall deliver us from the Body of this Death Rom. 7.24 And purge me that is the filthy Spring of the heart that I may be clean wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow Psal 51. For out of the heart proceeds all abominations Matth. 15.18 19. and the Fountain and Root must needs be more full of evil than the streams and branches are This the spiritual eye of the New Creature sees he hath it not by hear-say but sees it in himself and so does not the Carnal and Natural eye of man 2. They see and know by their new spiritual light spiritual sins yea they see and know a greater sinfulness in them in some sense than in fleshly sins and so do not unregenerate men They do indeed see an evil in some external sins such as are seen and condemned by the Light of Nature and that by all men as Drunkenness Theft Whoredom Cursing Railing Back-biting Slaudering Swearing Cheating Blasphemy Pride in Words Carriages Cloaths Cruelty Oppression and the like but they see not nor apprehend the horrible evils of Atheism Spiritual Pride Self Vain-glory Envy Hypocrisie towards God Unbelief Covetousness corrupting the Worship of God and his Gospel-Ordinances Earthly-mindedness robbing God of his due departing from God malice against and hatred of the Power of Godliness and the People of God and such like heart and spiritual wickednesses These are little things in an unregenerate mans eye because he wants a spiritual understanding and light to discern what they are but they are hainous abominations to a spiritual eye for it knows and sees what they are in measure and passes a spiritual judgment on them as sins more fully and immediatelâ— against the Holiness Grace and Truth oâ— God and such as God hath declared hiâ— greatest indignation and severity against Matth. 23.13 to vers 24. Joh. 15.22 Joh 19 20 21. 3. They see and know that Life that is above Sense and Reason namely the Life 〈◊〉 Faith but meer Natural men discern 〈◊〉 this Life They are only acquainted wiâ—â— the Life of Sense and Reason and cannot see one step beyond it for they are faithless men 2 Thes 3.2 But Regenerate men have found a new way to Heaven I mean 't is new to them and that is the Life of Faith and Gospel-Holiness and this is now their proper Life they are called to it and instructed in it by the Holy Ghost they live now in a higher Sphere and walk in another Region they now see a singular Excellency and transcendent My stery in this New Life in the objects matters and ends of it They see their former folly and madness in living such low base and sensual lives and look on their new Life as far more precious high and honourable and own it as their proper and peculiar Life and endeavour to conform themselves to the Will of God in it who hath appointed this life for them and commanded them to live it Rom. 1.17 Heb. 10.38 And Paul tells us that he and other New Creatures did live this life 2 Cor. 5.7 Gal. 1.20 But unregenerate men are strangers yea enemies to this life At the best they say how can these things be and judge Regenerate men to be under strong delusions for taâ—king of and pretending to live the Life of Faith 4. They see and know the new and living way to God the Father which they were unacquainted with before Heb. 10.19 20. but so do not unregenerate men They may hear of it and have some general and confused Notions of the Doctrine of it but they do neither see nor understand what indeed it is or what it means because of the blindness of their minds Eph. 4. They know only the old Natural way to God and Heaven according to their Natural Principles but wanting spiritual eyes and Sunning light in their hearts they are real strangers to it continually Rom. 3. But the Light of Christ in the hearts of Regenerate men finds it out
sweetest and most pleasant of all things to the Tast yea altogether sweet if his fruit be so much more is he himself But his fruit the dropping of his Grace is so Cant. 2.3 How much more sweet must himself be unto Believers who is the Root and fountain of all those drops or friuts Zach. 13.1 Revel 22.16 Christ is the desire of all these new senses as he is said to be of all Nations Habak 2.7 And he is most desirable to the Tast He is the bread of Life that came down from Heaven Which is meat indeed for he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever Joh. 6.48.50.51.55 Christ is the most pretious desirable sweet bread that ever any did eat It hath such a pleasant relish savour and comforting quality it doth so refresh and cherish the Soul of a Child of God as that he greatly disires it longs after it Covets to get and keep it and as it were impatiently seeks and waits for it It is so good as that it will never surfeit him all other things how good and pleasant soever they be are nothing to him without this This is the great dish that makes the Word Ordinances and all other dishes a feast indeed 'T is that which relishes and makes all other food sweet nourishing excellent and delightful Hence they cry out in the fullnesse of all other things if they find not Christ there Oh! where is Christ let him come into my Garden my Soul the best and only dish that should feast us and satisfy us is not here till he come I cannot eat nor be Satisfyed Cant. 4. ult Saith a gracious heart Let Christ be my bread and I shall be fully satisfyed he is my all in all things Coll. 3.11 and without him I cannot may not will not be satisfyed Oh! give me Christ in all or I dye for my Soul will Wither and famish whatever else I have whatever else I feed upon But Christ alone if it so please him will satisfy me though he give me nothing else 5. Experiences are sweet and pleasant to the Taste They are invaluable mercies when new Creatures can bring forth out of their Treasures new and old experiences and say this and that I have found This Assistance I have found in such a duty and that comfort I have found in that duty In such a strait I found such and such seasonable helps supports and deliverances When I was sad I found God comforting me In doubt of my state I found God saying to me be of good chear thy Sins are forgiven thee When my heart was hardened by Sin he melted it and when much straitened and shut up he enlarged it when the guilt of my Sins lay heavy on my Conscience he applyed the blood of the everlasting Covenant Heb. 13.20 and so relieved and eased me and when I thought he was angry with me and had shut out my Prayers he answered them Oh how sweet are these and such like experiences to the Tast of new creatures I could give you an account of many more had I time This spiritual sense hath a thirsting appetite It is always with accompanied a hungering and thirsting Appetite after all Spiritual and Heavenly things that he knows or thinks may be good for him he hungers and thirsts after Christ his Blood Grace Righteousness Ordinances Word Experiences Heaven and the presence of Christ and when he findes them Oh how sweet comfortable and pleasing are they Then he saith now is my Soul satisfyed as with marrow and fatness my Soul shall praise thee with joyful Lips Psal 63.5 2. As he Tasts and hath a hungring and thirsting appetite after Spiritual things so it loaths and nausiates the Sins vanities and follies that he once delighted in and fed himself withal he can neither tast nor digest them they are no waies toothsome to him but odious hateful and abominable They are now as filthy poyson to him As meat wherwith a man hath surfeited himself is to him so are these Sins and vanities unto a new Creature They are all like nasty stinking Carrion to him he abhorrs the sight smell and taste of them and cannot endure they should be nigh him The very thoughts of them are grievous to him Psal 119. Roâ— 7. They shall be no more his food but loathing They were never so sweet as now they are bitter to him 1 Jer. 2.19 They were once his pleasant Bread but now his bitter Poyson They were his Suger and Honey wherewith he was delighted but now they are Gall and Wormwood to him His stomack raises up against them and he can no more endure them nor be reconciled to them Thirdly Feeling Feeling is another Sense of the new Creature For as the natural man hath the Sense of feeling what doth touch or burden it so hath the new Creature the like Sense too The new creatures feeling sense is sensible of and burdened with many evils weights and oppressions that he is afflicted withal But first not with the Yoke and Service of Christ The Old man indeed is greatly burdened with it and complaines sadly of the tediousness and wearisomness of it Mal. 1.13 and when will the Sabboth be gone Amos 8.5 But the new Creature is not afflicted with nor weary of it but findes it and accounts it as the Scripture reports it to be namely an Easy and light Yoke Math. 11. ult And her way are ways of pleasantness Pro. 3.17 And his commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5.3 Yea they find that in keeping of them or the right observing of them is great reward Psal 19. 2. Neither is the Chastising and afflicting will of God as such their burden or the real burden of the new Creature For that is swallowed up in the will of God and that over-ballances all because it is the will of God who loves him and he loves God It is matter of joy to him that the will of God is done although he suffer under it And the new creature knows that it is but a Fatherly chastisement The fruit of great love Care wisdom and Faithfulness not to hurt him but profit him not to wound but to heal the man not to destroy but to save him Rom. 8.28 Heb. 12. Isa 27. 2. But in the second place the new Creature is sensible of afflicted burdened and oppressed with other matters As 1. his Lusts and Sins These are the heavy burdens that presse him down and makes him cry out with Paul and David O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death Rom. 7.24 And with David There is no rest in my Bones by reason of my Sin Psal 38. and who can understand his errors Cleans thou me from my Sins Psal 19. and Psal 51. There are many of them of his unbelief earthly-mindedness covetousness desires after worldly things hypocrisy formality and too often indifferency and lukewarmness of Spirit in the worship of God His deadness and carelesness
that which doth very much and nearly concern us all and every one 1. Such as are Regenerated and have sufficient proof of it that they are so indeed why they should consider and lay to heart their great priviledge and singular happiness in their Regeneration and that Exceeding great love and Grace of God that have been put forth and expended on them to make them new Creatures and they â—ould labour to walk worthy of so high a calling to which they are called in and by their Regeneration And declare that they are in Truth a Choice and a peculiar people 2. This Truth should be considered and laid to heart by all sorts of professors to cause them to fear and tremble and to look with all seriousness and diligence into their states and Souls Concernments To search and try the bottomes they build upon and see indeed if they will hold and stand them in stead in the great day of Gods tryal which tryal they must pass under and come to That they may no more delude themselves and say they shall have peace while they continue Regenerate and in a State of sin and death The most of professors are willingly Ignorant of their own conditions and of what is likely to be their future State If there are but few Regenerate men among professors and they are such a people as was proved then the most of you may conclude that you are unregenerate because you are not indeed such a people CHAP. VI. Of the Priviledges and Happiness of Regenerate Men. Q. WHat are the singular priviledges and peculiar happinesses of regenerate persons For if they differ so much in their frames of â—eart carriages and walkings in their principles and endeavours from other men that are not regenerated then surely they have some special priviledges and blessednesses beyond other men shew us therefore what they are that we may know them Ans Regenerat persons are possessed of have right unto and Interest in many and singular Priviledges and happinesses is most certain And indeed they are the only priviledged and happy men and women in the world Others have not neither can or may they claim any at all whilst they continue in their Unregenerate states Regenerate persons have all the Spiritual Divine and Heavenly priviledges given and granted to them and likewise eternal happiness but the truth is others have none at all For they are not neither will they be included in the great Charter in and by which new creatures do receive and hold their priviledges They will not be of nor come into the holy and Spiritual Corporation of regenerate men neither will they own value and accept their priviledges in the way that the great Lord and King hath appointed and commanded But all are regenerate persons right and due All such the Apostle is yours 1 Cor. 3.22 Some of them I shall present unto you to comfort and incourage you in your walking with God unto all well-pleasing as now you are bound to do 1. You that are Regenerated must call and account all whatever was said of you before namely wherein you are by Grace made to differ from othermen your priviledges for they are great and real priviledges indeed For is not your change of state or your Regeneration by special Grace a great and glorious Priviledge Is it not an exceeding great priviledge to be renewed in knowledg after the image of God Col. 3.10 And to be created in Christ Jesus unto good workes Eph. 2.10 To be hoâ—n again of incorruptible seed 1 Pet. 1.23 and be made partakers of the divine or heavenly nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Surely it is Oh! my bretheren is it not an inestimable priviledge to be made Child en of light who were Children of darkness 1 Pet. 2.9 And to be made the Children of God who were the Children of the Devil Joh. 8.44 Is it nor a great priviledge to have the Love of God shed abroad into your hearts and been abled thereby to love God with all your hearts as commanded Math. 22.37 Is it not a great priviledge to have new and Spiritual Senses Passions or Affections and to be quickned and raised from death to life as you are Is it not a great priviledge to be called too and imployed in and about Spiritual and heavenly workes and that with Spirits Frames and Dispositions suited to them why all these and many others as you heard before are yours and so you ought to look upon and esteem them to rejoice in and bless God for them 2. By Regeneration you are made Free-men You are now no more Bond-men but the Lords Free-men Gal. 5.1 You are no more strangers and Forreigners no what are you then why you are by Christ in your Regeneration made fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God Eph. 2.19 The Lord Jesus hath made you Free of his Spiritual and Heavenly City and Corporation and therefore you are free indeed Joh. 8.36 hence the Apostle tells regenerate Servants that they are the Lords Freemen 1 Cor. 7.22 though they were the servants of men And he further assures such that they are of the free Jerusalem and Children of the free Woman Gal. 4.36 ult Here I shall briefly shew you what your freedome and liberty is 1. what you are freed from 2. what freed for or to 1. You are freed from the dominion and ruledome of Sin you were before your Regeneration the Servants of Sin and in subjection to your Lust But now you are fully delivered from the dominion of that Lord by Christ in your Regeneration Rom. 6.14 17 18 19 20 22. your sin and lusts may now disturb and afflict you and they may and will distract and trouble you They will assault and delude you and they will dwell in you and pursue you obstruct and hinder you of and in your good works and duties yea pollute and defile them But now for your comfort that they shall no more reign over you rule and command you as they did for you are called out and off from their dominion 2. You are freed from the devils yoke and ruledome He was your Prince and your God and ruled in and over you 2 Cor. 4.4 Eph. 2.2 although you knew it not then for the Scripture saith that the Devil had blinded the mindes of such as did not believe which you did not until you were Regenerated lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them You were his Servants and that with your own consents ye are of your Father the Devil says Christ and his lusts ye will do Joh. 8 44. That is you were not forced and constrained by him to it but you did obey and serve him as Volunteers willingly and chearfully his lusts ye will do All men by nature are dilivered over by the great God into the Devils hand not absolutely so for God still keeps his dominion over his Creatures but as a Judge delivers up a Rebel unto
Pardon of all your Sins for time to come Exod. 34.6 7. Isa 55.7 Jer. 31.34 hence the Lord Jesus commands and directs them Namely you that are Gods Children to Pray Our Father forgive us our Trespasses Math. 6.12 And Paul tells us from Christ that there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 and if there be indeed no condemnation then no Sin unpardoned To the same purpose Christ speaks in Joh. 5.24 He that is passed from Death to Life as all Regenerate Persons are shall not come into Condemnation Therefore encourage your selves in true holiness hereby 2. You have the Promises of Cleansing and Healing you or of Gods sanctifying and purifying your hearts Hosea 14.4 For which end and purpose among other Christ gave himself Tit. 2.14 Eph. 5.25.26 And sets open the Fountain to flow in upon us Zach. 13.1 And Ezek. 36.25.26.27 I will sprinkle clean Water on them and they shall be clean and from all their filthiness and from all their Idols will I cleanse them 3. You have promises of perseverance in Godlyness unto the end of your race until you have finished your course here you shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 And my sheep follow me and I give to them eternal Life and they shall never Perish neither shall any take them out of my hand Joh. 10.27.28.29 Moreover God tells us that for our more certain and full assurance of our safety and security he will keep us water us every moment yea and keep us Night and Day Isa 27.2.3 And engages himself that whatever enemies beset us round about and seek to devour us that he will watch us and be our defence by being a wall of Fire round about us Zach. 2.5 God hath promised that he will put his fear into their hearts and they shall not depart from him Jer. 32.40 and that his Children shall call him my Father and shall not turn away from him Jer. 3.19 They have underneath them the Everlasting Armes and they are held in his hand They are safe within the walls of their Fathers house and are guarded with the holy Angells Their victory over all their enemies is sure because they are ever under the Conduct of their great Captain Christ and fight under his Banner in his cause and quarrel with his Armor of proof who hath all their enemies under his feet Their Lusts the world and Devil are all in subjection unto your great King and Captain And because the Victory is sure on our side as fighting under him he is stiled the Captain of our salvation And therefore you may be sure you shall not Perish For you have all possible security from him and his Father to strengthen and encourage to fence and arme you against all your own fears weakness and temptations whatsoever Even the Gates of Hell shall not be able to prevaile against you But if you are in a state of Grace you shall most certainly run your Race win the Prize and wear the Crown of Righteousness For you have their bonds for your security who are both able faithful to perform and make them good to you and to all who shall trust and rely on them for the doing of it 4. You have promises of Peace This is one of your husbands Legacies to you Joh. 14.27 Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you And in Joh. 16. ult In the world saith Christ ye shall have tribulation but in me ye shall have peace And Glory honour and peace to every man that worketh Righteousness Rom. 2.10 and as many as walk according to this Rule peace be to them Gal. 6.16 So in Phil. 4.7 And the peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds This Spiritual peace is a fruit of Gods Love and the mediation of Christ of our Justification and Sincerity of heart towards God and men For he is our peace Eph. 2.14 and being Justifyed by faith we have peace with God Rom. 5.1 Those that know and have experienced the great and sore Affliction and trouble of a wounded Conscience which none can bear Pro. 18.14 and the load and weight of guilt and fear on the Soul can give a better account of the worth and Excellency of this peace of God For indeed it is so great that it passeth all understanding Phill. 4.7 5. Satisfaction You have the promisses of being satisfied with good The meaning is not so to be satisfied with what we have as not to desire and seek for more of that and other mercies no but to be satisfied with and in the will and disposements of God and the measure of our present Enjoyments untill God shall augment them Joh. 4.14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst Isa 58.10 Jer. 31.14.25 It is a great mercy to have a satisfied and contented Spirit with Gods Allowance and at the same time to endeavour after more An unsatisfied Spirit is very sinful grievous vexatious to a mans own Soul He enjoys not what he hath that is not satisfied in the will of God â—â—ith his portion and measure God dispences â—is favours according to his sovereign wisdom Will and Grace he gives two Talents to one servant and to another five Math. 25. to declare and make known to men his soveraignty and dominion over them and that he doth in Heaven and Earth whatsoever pleaseth him That he will not dispose of his favors according to our wills but his one 6. You have promises of Assistance in your duties or of a supply of the Spirit of Grace and the Grace of the Spirit to enable you to performe them according to the will of God even to acceptation in Heaven Phill. 4.19 And my God shall supply all your wants Psal 84.11 The Lord God is a Sun and shield he will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly as all Regenerate men may do The holy Spirit is promised to help our Infirmities and enable us to do the will of God acceptably Rom. 8.26 27. Zach. 12.10 And fear not Jacob my Servant although thou art a worm a poor weak Creature yet seeing thou art a New Creature I will help thee yea I will strengthen thee yea I will uphold thee with the Right hand of my Righteousness Isa 41.10 13 14. He giveth power to the Saint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength That they that wait on him may encrease their strength to run and not be weary Isa 40.29 31. so that whatever God calls you to and sets you upon be sure that he will fully enable you to do it how weak soever you are in and of your selves For God is strong and faithful who hath promised it 7. Joy and Consolation God hath priviledged you with promises of rejoycing your hearts and of causing
in a Regenerate state they are high noble and honourable They were wont to make the Lusts of the flesh of the eye and the pride of life the mark they shot at and the point scope and end of all their projects contrivements and endeavours but Regeneration hath sublimated and heightned their spirits caused them to see and carry on more worthy and glorious designs and ends their hearts are in measure suited to the Commands of God and the end of Christ his Death This the Apostle notably declares 2 Cor. 5.15 and that he died for all that they that live that is that are Regenerated and begotten again to a lively hope should not henceforth live unto themselves but to whom then why to him who died for them and rose again They are now partakers of the Divine Nature and are of a heavenly descent they are the spiritually natural and adopted Sons and Daughters of God the Off-spring and Royal Issue of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and therefore they must needs have aims ends and designs in their eyes and hearts according to their new Nature and Royal Spirits Now their Hearts and Souls are bent and set to live in the Court in the presence of the King to wait on and do homage to him to honour serve and please him to keep his favour and smiles of his countenance to know his pleasure and yield him free and chearful obedience thereunto to inrich themselves with his graces and Spirit and prepare themselves for full and everlasting Communion with himself Now they desire to hold up his Interest and Concerns in the world to inlarge and augment his Kingdom and to have their light so to shine in the world before men as that they may see their good works and be induced to glorifie God Matth. 5.16 These and such like glorious ends and designs are in the New Creatures eye but to live project and contrive to get and keep worldly riches honours pleasures beauty and a great name are things far beneath the Noble and excellent nature and spirit of the New Creature it is of a Christ-like Spirit and Nature and therefore it must of necessity have and design the same ends he doth Their old ends are passed away and new take place 5 New Rules or Laws Regeneration brings into a man and puts him under new Laws Orders and Rules All things are become new Before Regeneration they were ruled and governed by the will of the Flesh the counsels of the Flesh the suggestions of Satan and examples of carnal men and accordingly they walked and steered their course blest themselves in so doing promising peace and felicity to themselves in those ways of their own hearts Isa 66.3 1 Thes 5.3 But Regeneration puts into them and brings them under the Laws and Orders of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom into which they are translated Col. 1.3 The Laws written in the Gospel are by Regeneration written with the Finger of the Holy Ghost in their hearts so that now they have as it were two Bibles or Books of Laws the one in their hand the other in their hearts Jer. 31.33 Jer. 32.40 Heb. 8.10 11. Heb. 10.16 By these Laws and Rules they desire chuse and endeavour to walk under them to live and be subject to them and to none else The New Creature knows no other Lord Laws or Law-giver over it's Soul and Conscience but Christ it freely yields up its self to all chearful obedience to all his Laws and accounts it his happiness to walk by his Rules he honours them and is thankful for them These are his Laws upon choice and his obedience to them he esteems as a great priviledge and honour Deut. 4.8 He would not vary from them but have them continually before him in his eye heart and hand he makes them his delights and Councellours and they are the joy and rejoycing of his heart as David and Jeremy experienced When they vary from them or in any thing transgress them they are afflicted and when they conform to them they rejoyce Q. You said before that Regeneration signifies a change of state or a second state pray shew what is meant by a second or new state that Regeneration puts men into Answ I have shewed you already that Regeneration puts men into a new state of life it translates and raises them from spiritual death to spiritual life from darkness to light c. by the infusion of the Spirit Light and Life of Christ And several things have already been discoursed on which may not here be mentioned but shall refer you to what hath been said before Here I shall add secondly that Regeneration transplants men out of the old Adam into the new it takes them from the old stock and grafts them into the new out of the Earthy man and puts them into the Heavenly 1 Cor. 15. By Regeneration they are actually put into Christ and Christ into them they are taken out of the Kingdom of Satan and put into the Kingdom of Christ as these Scriptures shew Rom. 8.9 10. 2 Cor. 5.17 2 Cor. 13.5 Col. 1.13 Acts 26.18 Joh. 18.36 Men are first put into Christ by Election they are said to be chosen in Christ Eph. 1.4 and that before the Foundation of the World and they were united to Christ in his Incarnation when he took up our Nature into a Personal Union with the Divine but in Regeneration we are fully and compleatly actually and personally united to Christ with our own choise and free consent so that here is a great change indeed Regenerate persons are set into a new and living stock which will yield sufficient sap and nourishment to such grafts I am the Vine says Christ ye are the Branches Joh. 15.5 And hence it is that they bear much fruit unto Eternal Life after Regeneration Joh. 15.5 Joh. 4.36 By Regeneration we are made Subjects of his Kingdom and living Members of his Body 1 Cor. 6.15 Eph. 1. ult Eph. 5.30 They are now of another Kingdom and Corporation of another Root Stock and Body of another Family and Houshold Eph. 2.19 20. Thirdly Regeneration puts men into a state of liberty and freedom In their unregenerate state they are in bondage in prison and slavery to their Lusts Rom. 6.17 to Satan 2 Tim. 2. ult Eph. 2.2 They are also in bondage under the Law and enjoyned to keep every tittle of it on pain of Eternal Death Gal. 3.10 Rom. 6.14 They are also by Nature Children of wrath as they are sinners and transgressors of the Law Eph. 2.3 And they are as sinners under the damning Sentence of the Law Joh. 3.18 Moreover the Scripture tells us that all men while in their unregenerate states are Prisoners Isa 61.1 and Prisoners in the Pit Zach. 9.11 This and much more is their misery and bondage thraldom and slavery while in their state of sin but now Regeneration sets them at liberty and freedom Gal. 5.1.13 Christ hath by his