many think they have the same when they have it not There be several things which cause men to judge so First Outward Reformation When men cease from their former lewd courses when they give over their drunkenness whoredome swearing lying oppression and other scandalous practices they think themselves and are reputed of others to be new men and so to have new hearts but know A man may have escaped the pollutions of the world have changed his manners yet retain his old heart a Swine may be washed and yet reserve her Swinish nature Herod reformed in many things yet had an unreformed heart Mark 6.20 Luke 3.20 Chap. 9.9 The Scribes and Pharisees were whited Sepulchres they had beautifull out-sides they appeared righteous unto men but what were their hearts were they not full of hypocrisie and iniquity Matth 23.27 28. Shame among men fear of punishment death hell terrours of conscience afflictions strength of reason and hope of profits and reward may make a man reform his life and manners his heart being still naught a man formerly deboist and wicked may become a new man and yet not have a new heart Secondly Morall virtues cause many to be deceived about this new heart because they are temperate just prudent faithful to their friends true in their speeches patient under afflictions seek the publique good not their own interest are chaste and courteous unto all they thereupon conclude that they have the new heart and new spirit here spoken of but all these are no more then were found in heathens Scipio Aristides Cato Aemilius Lepidus Lucretia and others excell'd in morall virtues The Romane faith was in great esteem in all the world because the Romans kept their word and made good whatever they promised Many Heathens excell'd in morallities and did virtuous actions for virtues sake yet they had no new hearts or spirits they knew not what regeneration was they were strangers to the Life of God and Faith they attained to what they had by their own industry and what they did was not done according to the mind of God in his Word and so referring to his glory they sought their own glory in all Thirdly A form of godliness When men have left their old wayes of sin and taken up a way or form of godlinesse which is new to them they imagine themselves to be new and to have new hearts they read pray hear meditate and worship God with their hearts which they never did before and hence they ground a newness in their hearts The Jews have a form of godlinesse at this day yet are they cast off of God and numbred amongst unbelievers Rom 11.20 Such was their godliness as persecuted true godliness Acts. 13.50 1 Thess 2.15 The Heathens had forms of godlinesse Plato taught men not to sleep without repentance for their sins Hermes instructed them to pray earnestly unto God and continually for repentance to call upon him in the day and not to forget him in the night they worshipped by nature those were no gods Treatise of Moral Philosophy Gal. 4.8 Forms of worship they had though they worshipped blindly Socrates saw further then the most of them who said God must be worshiped only that way which he hath appointed yet neither Socrates nor the rest of the Heathens had new hearts Christians have forms of godlinesse yet all among them have not new hearts among Papists and Protestants are many religious but few pious they have the form of godliness but not the power Painted fire is not true fire and all that worship God do not worship him in newness of spirit the most do worship him with old hearts Fourthly Some are deceived upon this ground that they have the Law in their hearts approve of truth make conscience of their wayes have peace within and so determine their hearts are new But here is a great mistake the Law is in mens hearts by nature Rom 2.14 15. The Gentiles which had not the Law did by nature the things of the Law and so shewed the work of the Law written in their hearts When they did ill their consciences did accuse them and when they did well they did excuse them and so they had peace here was nothing supernatural where there is a new heart a new spirit there is something supernatural men have not these by descent from their parents but they are given they are put in by God I will give you a new heart and I will put within you a new spirit The Law that all men have in their hearts is by virtue of Creation not of the new Covenant that is another Law Jer 31.33 which is from grace not from nature where this Law is written the heart is new and so doth not only approve of truth in general but knows and approves of truth as it is in Christ Eph 4.21 and as it is according to godliness Truth in a new heart provokes unto Godliness and maketh conscientious towards God and men Acts 24.16 Looking at Christ for peace Rom 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God the conscience being purged from dead works by the bloud of Christ Men have sound peace in their new hearts It s false peace which men of old hearts have they bribe their consciences with doing something and that is their peace Fifthly New Relations make some to fancy they have new hearts and new spirits they are under Church priviledges they are Citizens of Sion inhabitants of Jerusalem in relation to Christ and his Ordinances this may be and yet without newnesse of heart or spirit Relations make not alterations in mens hearts Simon Magus was baptized stood in relation to Christ and the Gospel yet his heart was the same it was before Acts 8. The Jews gloried they were the seed of Abraham John 8.33 Yet they were of their father the Devill vers 44. and had bloudy hearts vers 40. seeking to kill Christ Rom 2.28 29. Outward priviledges may be as Circumcision of the flesh where there is no Circumcision of the heart and Paul tels us Gal 6.15 That Circumcision nor uncircumcision avail any thing but a new creature they may be where the new creature is not himself had many priviledges Phil. 3. when he was far from newness of heart Sixthly Gifts They breed mistakes in divers persons those that have choice and great gifts perswade themselves they have new hearts and spirits that they are gracious and good but there is a vast difference between gifts and grace 1. Gifts make not a man a Christian Heathens had great gifts as Tully Seneca Plato Aristotle Plutarch Its grace makes a Christian the Gentiles were not Christians and so not acceptable to God till they were sanctified by the Holy Spirit Rom 15.16 They may make a man an useful man not a good man Acts 11.24 It s faith and the graces of the Spirit make a good man 2. All gifts do seldome or never meet in one man but graces do
another to hear what word the Lord gave out to the Prophet and they come being excited one by another and sit before the Prophet as Gods people they attended to what he said as if they meant punctually to observe the same but they did not do what he said their hearts were not in the business what worshipping was this of God to give him an ear and the world their heart So to speak against the Prophet behind his back and to speak fair shew much love to his face was not this hypocrisie did they not carry it religiously towards God and cunningly towards the Prophet However they carryed it the Lord saw their hypocrisie and discovered the same The Scribes and Pharisees wore long robes made long prayers and under pretence of them devoured widowes houses but the Lord Christ knew their hypocrisie and made it known though religiously and craftily carryed Matth 23. Fourthly Observe Many hearers pretend much love and kindnesse to the Prophets and yet behind their backs afford them not a good word When these Jews came to the Prophets house they shew'd much love with their mouths but when they were by the walls and at their own doors they shew'd as much ill will with their mouths they spake against him they slandered him they disgraced him out of the same mouth came bitter and sweet The Jews and Herodians pretended much love to Christ and said Master we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth neither carest thou for any man for thou regardest not the persons of men tell us therefore what thinkest thou is it lawfull to give Tribute to Caesar or no Matth 22.16 17 18. Here they shewed much kindness with their mouths when there was gall and bitterness in their hearts Fifthly Observe When men draw neer to God in any duty of his worship he principally looks which way the heart stands whether that be real and towards him Their heart saith God goeth after their covetousness It went not after the word after God himself Isa 29. This people draw neer me with their mouth and with their lips do honour me but have removed their hearts far from me When their bodies were in the Temple their hearts were in their shops when their lips were speaking to God their hearts were conversing with the creatures Gods eye was upon their hearts The heart is the principal part in man and its the principall thing God aims at Prov 23.26 My son give me thine heart not thy hatt thy hand thy tongue thy foot but thine heart Whatever he hath without the heart is nothing but having the heart he hath all whatever is wanting let the eye be wanting a man is blind let the leg be wanting a man is lame let the whole body be wanting a man is sick yet if God have the heart he hath all Delilah had Sampsons bodily presence yet that sufficed her not because she thought she had not his heart Judg 16.15 How canst thou say I love thee when thine heart is not with me God hath no love from us nothing of us when our hearts are not with him Sixthly Observe Men have carnall hearts in spiritual duties These men were hearing Ezekiel prophesie and whilest they were hearing their hearts went after their covetousness the word was in their ears and the world in their hearts Ezekiel tells them of the things of God and they mind the things of the earth To be earthly minded at any time is blameable Phil 3.19 but to be so in spiritual things is grievous it s a despising a debasing of them when the things of God of Christ Heaven Salvation Life Grace and Glory are presented unto us which should take up our thoughts abundantly affect our hearts powerfully for us then to mind the dust sticks straws and pebbles on the earth to have our hearts upon them this is Zimmah a great wickedness horrible ingratitude Rom 8.6 To be carnally minded is death it argues a dead soul it tends unto death and ends in eternall death Seventhly Observe Covetousnesse is a sin adheres to Professors These that came to hear the Prophet and sat before him as the people of God their hearts went after their covetousness they had hearts exercised with covetous practices as it is in 2 Pet 2.14 The Pharisees made profession of religion they were hearers of Christ but the Text saith they were covetous Luke 16.14 Judas an Apostle and follower of Christ had a covetous heart and sold his Master for 30 pieces of silver Mat 26.15 Demas forsook Paul having loved the present world 2 Tim. 4.10 While he was with Paul his heart was in the world John seeing this evill incident to Christians disswades them from the love of the world by a strong argument 1 John 2.15 Love not the world neither the things that are in the world if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him He doth not know God to be his father and love him as a Father that loves the world he may think say and swear that he loves the Father but the Spirit of truth saith The love of the Father is not in him Let Christians therefore take heed of this sin for besides that it argues the love of God is not in us it choaks the seed of Gods word which should beget grace in us Matth 13.22 it makes us idolaters Eph 5.5 yea Covetousâ—esse unfits us for Church communion 1 Cor 5.11 it shuts us out of Heaven 1 Cor. 6.10 it exposes us to wrath Col. 3.5 6. to Gods hatred Psal 10.3 to a curse 2 Pet. 2.14 Verses 32 33. And lo thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument for they hear thy words but they do them not And when this cometh to passe lo it will come then shall they know that a Prophet hath been among them Vers 32. Thou art unto them as a very lovely song THe Hebrew is Ceshir agavim sunt canticum amantium as a song of Lovers so the word is rendred Jerem 4.30 Thy lovers will despise thee it s the same word Lovers have delightfull songs to please their ears and pass away time so the Prophets preaching was delightfull unto them to hear but as in musick and singing there is nothing comes of it when done so they heard the Prophet but nothing came of their hearing The Septuagint hath it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the voice of a Psaltery which was an instrument to sing unto The French is Comme une chauson de plaisanterie as a song of jesting or scurrility which greatly affect carnall hearts Some render the words eris illis canticum subsannatorum thou wilt be to them a song of scoffers that is however they seem to be greatly pleased and affected with thy prophesying yet in their hearts they laugh at thee and deride thee Of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play
gather thee Berachamim gedolim When God gathers his out of Babylon a state of confusion that is mercy and when he brings them into Sion to behold the order beauty and glory thereof that is great mercy and God will not leave them there but go on with them and heap great mercies still upon them see Isa 49.18 19 20 21 22 23. Jer. 32.37 38 39 40 41. Secondly Observe Justification is a gracious act of God upon a sinner I will sprinkle clean water upon you It s Gods prerogative to forgive and blot out sins Mark 2.7 Isa 43.25 and this he doth freely it s an act of grace and mercy Rom 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace Now in this act nothing is done in a sinner there is no grace infused no change made in the heart by it there be no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therein it s upon a sinner justifying grace is subjectively in God objectively on man for its a judicial act of God which puts nothing into the creature Rom 3.22 It s upon all them that do believe Thirdly Observe The bloud of Christ applyed by the Spirit of God is efficatious to free sinners from the guilt of their sins and of all their sins of what bind soever they be I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean Their sins were great very great they were guilty of bloud oppressing the widow and fatherless of idolatry of despising and profaning holy things Ezek 22.8.26 They were under the guilt of all crying and notorious sins Ezek 16.47 worse then Sodom or Samaria then the Nations Ezek 5.7 yet the Lord would cleanse them by the bloud of Christ there was virtue in that to cleanse them from their old spots from their deep guilt yea from all their guilt they should be clean from all their filthinesses As water washeth all the filth out of a cloath so doth the bloud of Christ all sin out of the soul 1 Joh 1.7 The bloud of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin the guilt of our thoughts words acts neglects there is no sin defiles the conscience so but the bloud of Christ will purge it away Heb 9.14 Chap 1.3 Christs bloud is of great virtue it purges away all sin and procures peace Coloss 1.20 So that being justified by his bloud we shall be saved from wrath as it is Rom 5.9 Fourthly Observe All sin defiles and makes guilty before God yet some sins defile more then others and make more deeply guilty God would cleanse them from all their filthinesse from every sin that had poluted them and made them guilty and from their idols which had made them more deeply guilty Idolatry hath more guilt adhering to it then many other sins that 's a sin breaks Covenant with God deposes God and sets up an Idoll in his stead Verse 26. A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh THis is another great promise even a promise of Regeneration and in it there is considerable 1. The party promising I I I I. 2. The things promised 1. A new heart 2. A new spirit 3. Removall of the stony heart 4. An heart of flesh 3. The parties to whom the Lord will do these things You You You. 4. The manner of Gods doing these things which is by giving putting and taking away A new heart also will I give you By heart in Scripture is signified the judgement and understanding Eph 4.18 The will and affections Prov 23.26 and the conscience 1 John 3.20 all which are here comprehended in the word heart New notes sometimes that which is for substance new totally new as new ropes Judges 16.11 12. A new wife Deut 24.5 New gods Deut 32.17 And sometimes that which is only for quality new as the new Moon Isa 66.23 From one new Moon to another The Moon is not new for substance but renewed with light new in regard of quality so New tongues Mark 16.17 They had not their old Tongues plucked or cut out of their mouths and other new ones put in but these Tongues they had before had new Languages put into them new gifts and graces Here then by A new heart is not intended one new for substance or nature of it but the same heart altered for the qualities of it renewed and indued with other qualities then it had before such qualities are wrought in the heart that a man thereupon is said to be regenerate or born again John 3.3 5 6 7. and to be a new creature Gal 6.15 This new heart lyeth not in those common gifts which many have yet without alteration in their hearts Judas had a covetous an earthly an old heart notwithstanding those great gifts he had He could cast out Devils and heal all manner of sicknesses Matth 10.1 4. And those Matth 7.22 23. Who had the gift of prophesie of casting out Devils and working wonders had no new hearts for Christ sends them going for workers of iniquity but it lyeth in grace infused which is a principle of light and life supernatural and permanent Man since the fall of Adam is in a state of darknesse and death Ephes 5.8 Chap 2.5 and when grace is infused that brings light and life unto the heart John 8. â—2 it s call'd The light of life and when a blind heart sees a dead heart lives there is a great and glorious alteration so that it is become a new heart it hath a new principle which is supernatural and permanent call'd The Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Divine to shew the supernaturalnesse of it and Nature to shew the permanency of it And a new spirit will I put within you These very words we had Ezek 11.19 where they were largely opened New spirit there was interpreted to be those excellent qualities and graces God put into the soul and shewed upon what account they were call'd Spirit and New Here I conceive a new spirit is added Exegetically being the same with a new heart This new heart or new spirit causeth the partie in whom it is to look at God as a Father and so to honour him Mal. 1.6 To love him 1 John 5.1 To fear him 1 Pet. 1.17 To yield obedience to him Rom 6.17 1 Pet 1.14 15. Patiently to bear his chastisements Heb 12.6 7 8 9. To eschew sin and work righteousnesse 1 John 5.18 Chap 3.9 10. To acknowledge how he hath offended him Luke 15.18 To pray fervently unto him Rom 8.15 To be like unto him in mercifullnesse and doing of good Luke 6.36 To delight in his wayes and to have communion with him and his Son Christ 1 John 1.3 To worship him in spirit and truth John 4.23 To be thankfull alwayes unto him for all things Ephes 5.20 To live nobly and spiritually minding the things of Heaven Rom 8.5 1 Pet 1.14 John 3.6 2 Cor
5.16 And to love those that are regenerate 1 John 5.1 and these doing so God their Father hath a special care of them and love unto them Matth. 6.26.32 Luke 11.13 Chap 12.32 Will I give you will I put within you The new heart and new spirit comes from God he that to the Authour of every good and perfect gift is the Author of the same Now in the working of this new heart and new spirit there be several Attributes of God set on work As First His infinite mercy That he should mind sinners who have old rotten filthy hard dead hearts within them so at enmity with God that they would pull him out of Heaven had they power to do it for God to mind such hearts and spirits and make them new so as to affect him and his wayes argues unspeakable mercy loving kindness superabundant It was a time of love when God saw Jerusalem in her bloud and said unto her live Ezek 10. It was infinite love infinite mercy for him to pity Jerusalem in such a case and to say so unto her the same it is when God makes of an old heart a new heart of an old spirit a new spirit Secondly Gods infinite power is imployed in this work The making of a dead heart to live a blind heart to see an old heart and spirit to become new requires an omnipotent arm By the preaching of the word men have great convictions strong resolutions and are perswaded almost to be Christians but those convictions and resolutions dye away and they never come altogether to be Christians altogether to be new hearted and new spirited till the Lord put forth his allmighty power and create new hearts and spirits in them it s a work of creation Psal 51.10 2 Cor. 4.6 Eph. 2.10 And such hearts and spirits are call'd new creatures Gal 6.15 2 Cor 5.17 Thirdly Infinite wisdome The heart of man is deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked who can know it Jer 17.9 It s beyond the knowledge of man it hath so many windings turnings pretences shifts arguments wiles depths methods as that none but God knows it he being infinitely wise can answer all the objections arguments and subtle distinctions of the heart so that it shall be silent Mans heart whilest its old hath the cunning of the old Serpent in it and pleads hard to keep its old principles its old ungodly lusts its old ignorance its old darkness its old formal wayes of worship its old fleshly confidences its old delights and pleasures its old company its old customes its old aims and ends which were selfe it musters up many arguments to defend these and who can convince the heart of the evill of these and take it off from them but God by his infinite wisdome To make an heart or spirit which hath so many oldnesses in it new argues more skill and wisdome then dwels in any creature Fourthly His Infinite holinesse and purity When God takes an old heart which is as dark as hell as stinking as any Sepulchre Math 23.27 an old spirit which is as unclean and loathsome as the Devils are when he takes these and makes them new he scatters darkness abolisheth death separating filthinesse and instead thereof brings in marveilous light 1 Pet. 2.9 A glorious life Ephes 4.18 And true holinesse vers 24. which import that God is light without darknesse life without possibility of dying holinesse without any spot or imperfection When the wind cleanseth the aire infected pestilential and stinking it argues the wind is pure when a vessel or house is noysome and one cleanses and sweetens them as not enduring them in that condition it argues their cleanlinesse and if they could make them new it would argue it much more so here God makes them new He puts them into the fire that they may be refined and partake of his holinesse Heb 12.10 Its Gods holy arme which makes an unholy heart to become holy and glorious in holinesse The dignity and excellency of this new heart and new spirit is worthy the notice First It s that doth discriminate and difference a man from all others They that have old hearts old spirits and new hearts new spirits differ as much from them as light from darknesse life from death holinesse from filthinesse a man with a new heart a new spirit is a living man whereas others be dead Ephes 2.1 He is a seeing man whereas others be blind 1 Jok 5.20 1 Cor 2.14 He is pure whereas others are filthy 1 Pet. 2.9 Tit 1.15 Hereby a man is differenced from all profane civill and moral men from all gifted men from all hypocrites what specious forms of religion and holinesse soever they have whoever hath a new spirit is distinguished from all other spirits yea from the Devils who are but unclean spirits Secondly It doth ennoble a man A new heart and new spirit doth not only distinguish from others but makes more excellent then others Prov 12.26 The righteous is more excellent then his neighbour Righteousnesse is one of the qualities in the new heart in the new spirit Eph 4.23 24. and that Nobilitates a man such a one is born not of blood that is not of the Princes and Nobles of the world who stand upon their blood and greatnesse nor of the will of the flesh that is not in the ordinary way nor of the will of man viz not by education and School principles but of God John 1.13 He is descended from the highest the King of Kings he is of the most Royal blood even the blood of God Acts 20.28 Others are vile but he is precious Jerem 15.19 2 Pet. 1.1 He is partaker of the Divine Nature and lives the life of God 2 Pet. 1.4 Ephes 4.18 Thirdly It fills them where it is with new joyes New things affect much when the Apostles had new tongues given them they were greatly affected therewith and when men have new hearts new spirits they abound in joy the greater the mercy the more full the joy If when a sinner is converted there be joy in Heaven what joy is in the sinners heart then When Christ came to Zacheus and gave him a new heart a new spirit he was fill'd with joy Luke 19. and new joyes Before his joy was to get money by any means and treasure it up now his joy was to disperse make satisfaction and to give away vers 8 9. His new heart begat in him new joyes and inabled him to joy in that he could not do not think of before without sadness So Paul when he had a new heart and spirit he had new joyes fullnesse of them in those things he could not rejoyce in before 2 Cor. 7.4 I am filled with comfort I am exceeding joyfull in all our tribulations Chap 12.10 He took pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses Here 's the excellency of a new heart and a new spirit it fills with
new joyes in God in Christ in the Promises in the Saints and inables us to rejoyce and glory in tribulations Rom 5.3 Fourthly It intitles us to diverse new and excellent things As First To the New Covenant When a man hath a new heart and a new spirit he hath an interest in the New Covenant Jer 31.31 33. The law of sin and principles of Satan and the woâ—ld were writ in the old heart and old spirit and so the party was under the Covenant with death and hell Isa 28.15 but in the new heart is written the Law of God the Law of faith Rom 3.27 Heb 8.10 and so they are under the New Covenant which is call'd Grace Rom 6.14 Secondly To New Names Where there is newness of heart and spirit there they are sealed in their fore-heads with new Names their Title is New Creatures 2 Cor. 5.17 The Seed of Abraham Isa 41.8 Servants of Righteousnesse Rom. 6.18 Children of Light John 12.36 Conquerours Rom 8.37 Gods workmanship Ephes 2.10 Kings and Priests Rev 1.6 Temples of God 1 Cor 3.16 The glory of God Isa 4.5 New born Babes 1 Pet 2.2 His Saints Psal 149.9 Vessels of Gold and Silver 2 Tim. 2.20 Wise Virgins Matth 25. Heirs of Salvation Heb 1.14 Thirdly To a New Lord and Master When their hearts were old Satan was their Soveraign They walked according to the Prince of the aire Ephes 2.2 2 Tim 2.26 His lusts they did execute John 8.44 But having new hearts they have a new Lord a new Master and that is the Lord Christ Phil 1.1 Paul a servant of Christ He had a new heart and now he had a new Master which was Christ he would serve Satan no longer but Christ who dyed for sinners that they might live unto him 2 Cor. 5.15 When the hearts and spirits of men are new they are dead to their old Masters and have new Rom 7.4 Christ is the Husband and Head of every one renewed by his grace he is Lord and Master of all such 1 Cor. 7.22 Matth 23.8 Fourthly To a New Guard Such have a Guard of Angels about them before as they were without God so without the protection of his Angels exposed to all dangers but having new hearts and new spirits being new creatures they have a multitude of the Heavenly Host not only to praise God for their new-birth as they did at Christs birth Luke 2.13 but to attend and protect them Heb 1.14 Are not the Angels ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation and none shall be such but those that have new hearts and new spirits for flesh and bloud cannot inherit the Kingdome of God 1 Cor 15.50 Fifthly To New Alliance this change is wrought in them Blasphemers Idolaters Adulterers Drunkards Murtherers Lyars Vnbelievers Hypocrites and all profane ones they the very Devils themselves John 8.44 But when they have new hearts and new spirits then they have new kindred as a man that marries a woman all her kindred becomes his so here all that have new hearts and spirits are his kindred who hath a new heart he is allied unto them all Math 23.8 All ye are brethren All the Saints throughout the earth how great how learned how rich how gifted or gracious soever they be are all brethren yea the Angels are brethren unto those that have new hearts Rev. 19.10.22.9 and that which is beyond all Christ himself is their Brother and Father Math. 12.49 50. Heb 2.12 13. Sixthly To the New Mansions in the City made without hands John 14.2 saith Christ In my Fathers house are many Mansions and I go to prepare a place for you You have right and title to them ye have new hearts ye believe in God vers 1. and I go to prepare and fit places for you in those Mansions Fifthly The excellency of a new heart is this That it sets an high price upon the things of God and a low price upon the things of the world how goodly soever they appear whereas before the things of the world were magnified and the things of God slighted When Paul had another heart and another spirit then before then he had no confidence in the flesh then he did not value his great priviledges he counted them and all things but losse for Christ they did damnifie him rather then advantage him and therefore lookt upon them as dung 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things of no worth chaffe dirt excrements in respect of Christ his righteousnesse and knowledge of him Phil. 3.7 8 9. all which had an excellency and were so prized by Paul that he was willing to lay down his life for them Acts 21.13 When Simon Magus offered the Apostles money for to have power to give the Holy Spirit by laying on of hands Peter in his own name and in the name of the rest said Thy money perish with thee we value not bags of gold and silver but the things of God Acts 8.19 20. When the Conjurers had the Devils cast out of them and new hearts given them they brought forth their books which they had highly valued and burnt them before all men and so many they burnt as came to fifty thousand pieces of silver Acts 19.19 and instead of these they prized the books of Moses the Prophets and Apostles A new heart sees excellency in spiritual things and saith It cannot over value them but for other things it puts them under its feet Sixthly It s excellent in that it doth really make God its end and aims at his glory in its operations before self was all now God is all Acts 20.23 24. Paul was told by the Spirit of God that bonds and afflictions did abide him every where that his life was in danger now had not Paul been a man of a new heart and spirit he would have shifted for himself and let the preaching of the Gospel have fallen but being such an one what saith he None of these things move me neither count I my life dear unto my selfe so I may finish my course with joy and the Ministry I have received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God That was Pauls end to make known the grace of God in the Gospel towards poor sinners that so they partaking of that grace might give glory to God and God be glorified by him God and his glory were so in his eye that he gave out a rule for all Christians to eye and mind God and his glory in all things 1 Cor. 10.31 Seventhly It s the principle of eternal life and happinesse When God puts life light and grace into the heart and so makes it new he hath begun our admission into Heaven and happinesse this new heart and spirit are the water springs up into everlasting life John 4.14 They are the Eagles wings will carry you not only up to Heaven but into Heaven Concerning this new heart and new spirit there be divers mistakes
they are the fruits of the Spirit and grow all in a new heart John 1.16 Of his fullnesse have we all received and grace for grace Graces go together not Gifts 3. A man may have Gifts and not be saved Judas had gifts yet was a son of perdition The beast came up out of the earth had miraculous Gifts and the false Prophets also and notwithstanding their Gifts they were both cast into the Lake of fire burning with Brimstone Rev 13.11 13 14. Chap. 19.20 But he that hath a new heart and new spirit hath grace and so shall be saved John 3.6 2 Cor. 3.17 He that is born of the Spirit is a new creature he hath grace and shall be saved Acts 15.11 Seventhly Activeness Some men growing active for God and the publique Zealous against corrupt practices in Church or State gather from hence that they have new hearts and spirits they were not so before and how can it be that such new operations and activeness should be in them and from them and they not be men of new hearts When men are call'd to publique imployments they may have other hearts then they had before yet not such a new heart as is here spoken off Saul had another heart 1 Sam 10.9 when anointed to be King yet not a new heart Credit profit and conscience mis-informed may make men zealous and active when they have no other then their old hearts Paul before his conversion was very active and exceedingly zealous of the Traditions of his fathers Gal 1.13 14. How active are Jesuits how zealous are Papists and many others and that from erroneousness of their consciences not newnesse of their spirits First Observe Mens hearts and spirits by nature are old they are degenerated from that innocency simplicity and purity Adam was created in they are corrupted ever since he eat of the forbidden fruit Psal 14.1 Men are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good Psal 53.3 Every one of them is gone back they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Such as their hearts are such are their actions old hearts have answerable operations Psal 58.3 They go astray assoon as they be born They brought corrupt hearts and natures with them into the world and their first actings were against God truth juâ—â—â—ce and holinesse men by nature have hearts full of old things 2 Cor. 5.17 Old things are not passed away but abide Old principles old lusts old desires old thoughts old reasonings old enmityes old confidences old hardness old deceitfulness old frowardness and old naughtiness are all found in mens hearts till they are made new Gen. 6.5 Math 15.19 Secondly Observe A new heart a new spirit is not from the power or will of man but from the grace of God A new heart will I give you a new spirit will I put into you God bade them Ezek 18.31 make themselves new hearts and new spirits but they were not able to do it he promises therefore to do it for them It s Gods way in his holy Word to command and call for that at the hands of men which he intends to give and work as Phil 2.12 Work out your own salvation and in the next verse its said Its God which worketh in you both to will and to do Isa 1.16 Wash ye make ye clean Ezek 36.25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean Deut 10.16 Circumcise the foreskin of your heart they could not do it therefore Deut. 30.6 the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart These Scriptures evince that it is the Lord himself who performs what he commands it s not mans will or power which produceth the new heart it s the gracious and mighty hand of God which effects it and when he will work who shall let it shall mans will yes if God did only propound arguments command exhort invite encourage threaten it might but God doth promise to do the thing To give a new heart to put in a new spirit and should the liberty of mans will hinder it how should God be faithful but rather then he will be found unfaithful he will over-power the corrupt wills of men and make them flexible to his will The efficacy of grace depends not upon mans will embracing or refusing what is tendered but on the good pleasure and power of God Phil 2.13 When it pleases God to put forth his power the woâ—â—â—hall be done the new heart and new spirit shall be wrought in the man notwithstanding all the oldnesses therein And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh In Chap 11. vers 19. the words are I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and here they are I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh Much was spoken of them there something I shall speak now The stony heart The Hebrew is The heart of stone that is the heart which in a spiritual sense is like a stone First A stone is senselesse it feels or perceives nothing and so is a stony heart Ephes 4.19 Who being past feeling they were so accustomed to sin that they felt not any evill in sin Consuetudo peccandi tollit sensum peccati Zech 14.4 we read of a Mountain that cleav'd in sunder at the presence of Christ but the hearts of the Jews were so stony that they were not at all affected at the presence or voice of Christ Secondly A stone is hard and impenetrable a Knife a Sword a Nail will not enter into it so a stony heart is so hard that the Word of God hath no entrance into it Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy Words giveth light when it enters into the heart it doth so but though the Word be of a sharp and piercing nature yet it enters not into a stony heart its impenetrable Zech 7.11 They refused to hearken and pull'd away their shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear yea they made their hearts as an Adamant stone No truths no arguments no invitations no prayers no tears no mercies no threats no judgements do conquer or prevail with it neither wind rain thunder lightning sun-shine heat cold do change the nature of a Rock Thirdly A stone is unpolished and inept for building and other uses till it be hewn sawn and brought into some other form so a stony heart is an heart unpolished unfit to lye in any part of Gods building or for any service of his till it be polished hewn sawn hammered and brought into some other frame As a stone cannot change it self no more can a stony heart The Devil knew that the stones Matth. 4.3 could not turn themselves into bread therefore saith to Christ Command that they be made bread He knew they might be made bread meet to eat and so stony hearts though they cannot make themselves fleshy yet they may be made fleshy they may be brought to another form and so
be fit for spiritual imployments and uses Fourthly A stone doth resist and repell what falls upon it stones do oft break the instruments strikes them and force them back there is a resisting in them so in stony hearts there is much resistancie Luke 4.28 29. All they in the Synagogue when they heard these things were filled with wrath rose up and thrust him out of the City and led him unto the brow of the hill that they might cast him down headlong Their flinty rocky hearts resisted and rejected all the precious truths Christ had delivered and made them fall fowl upon him and seek to spill his bloud 2 Tim 3.8 As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith They were men of stony hearts resisting the faith Acts 7.51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do alwayes resist c. Fifthly A stone is heavy Prov 27.3 and its motion is downwards its earth hardned and its whole tendency is to the earth so a stony heart is heavy earthy and tends downwards altogether Ezek 20.16 Their heart went after their idols Ezek 33.31 Their heart goeth after their covetousnesse Hosea 4.8 They set their heart on their iniquitie Men are born with the stone in their hearts and naturally they mind earthly things Phil 3.19 Their motion is downward John 3.31 He that is of the earth is earthly and speaketh of the earth his thoughts his words his motions are all that way The things of Heaven are burdensome to a stony heart that cannot move upwards Sixthly Stones keep their places and are immoveable Eccl. 10.9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith Great stones mountains rocks abide fixt and its dangerous to meddle with them so stony hearts keep their stonynesse they are immoveable what opinions principles conclusions soever they have taken in though false and corrupt they are tenacious of and obstinate in Judges 2.19 They ceased not from their own doings nor from their stubborn wayes God sold them into the hands of enemies where they suffered grievous things God raised them up Deliverers who set them at liberty yet they ceased not from their own wayes they were immoveable from their own opinions corrupt principles and dangerous tenets men are so self-conceited self-willed that they are like rocks not to be stirred Seventhly Stones are dry and have no moisture in them at all Take a Rock there is no water in it take any stone its dry all stones are dry and barren so stony hearts they have no moisture of grace in them they are all dry and barren the waters of life are not found in them The woman of Samaria had a stony heart and how dry how barren was it not a good word came out of it towards Christ John 4. Whilest the Gentiles were without God and Christ in the world they had stony hearts and so were barren and fruitless Isa 54.1 VVheresoever is a stony heart there is no melting no mourning no tears Eighthly Stones are cold 1 Sam 25.37 it s said Nabals heart dyed within him and he became as a stone that is cold and sencelesse so stony hearts are cold there is no spiritual heat in them though the word be as fire yet it heats them not Men of stony hearts are frigid in the things of God they contend not for the truth they reprove not wickedness in others they stand not for the interest of Christ they are not zealous for God and his glory they put not their hands to his work they mind not the conversion of sinners they are indifferent how things of that nature go A stony heart is a dead heart and as it hath no life nor motion in it so no warmth in it like the Shunammites son 2 Kings 4.34 till Elisha came and stretched forth himself upon it there was neither life nor warmth in it and till Gods Spirit come and stretch forth its virtue and power upon a stony heart it hath neither life nor warmth in it Thus you see wherein a stony heart resembles a Stone or Rock Quest What is the evill of an hard heart Answ 1. It is ever unthankfull mercies kindnesses do not affect it and how then can it be thankfull Some verball thankfullnesse may be in an hard hearted man but in his heart in his life there is nothing Poure Wine Oyle the Spirits and Quintessence of any thing upon a stone it s lost the stone is not at all the better for it not affected with it so a stony heart let the choicest mercies of Heaven or Earth be presented to it they are lost that heart is unthankfull and whereas we should be thankfull in every thing 1 Thess 5.18 such an one is thankfull in nothing and makes the times perillous 2 Tim 3.2 Answ 2. It grows worse and worse harder and harder every day nothing stops it from proceeding on in its wicked wayes The Jews were a stony hearted people and what saith the Lord to them Isa 1.5 Why should ye be stricken any more ye will revolt more and more Threatning judgements did not stop or turn them from their wickedness Pharoah saw the wonderful judgements of God ten plagues were upon him and his Land and yet his heart grew harder and harder They that came to take Christ went backward and fell to the ground when Christ said I am he they saw also a miracle wrought by Christ in restoring to Malchus his ear which Peter had cut off yet being stony hearted they proceeded to take Christ to bind him and carry him to the High Priests John 18.6.10 11 12 13. Answ 3. It causeth a man to walk contrary to his profession Those that are Christians professe Christ and the Gospel they have in Baptisme given up themselves to him and obliged themselves to walk according to Gospel Rules now whence is it that they profess one thing and practice another that they professe Christianity and walk as Heathens or worse then Heathens whoredome drunkenness covetousness lying pride swearing theft murther witchery contention slander oppression c. are they not as frequent among Christians as ever they were among Heathens Paul writing to the Ephesians exhorted them not to walk as other Gentiles in the vanity of their minds having the understanding darkned being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindnesse of their heart who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousnesse to work all uncleanness with greedinesse It was the hardnesse of the heathen Gentiles hearts which made them walk so and when Christian Gentiles walk so it s from the hardness of their hearts we are of the Gentiles and notwithstanding our Christianity we walk contrary to Christ and the Gospel which is from the stonyness of our hearts keeping out the power and this is a grievous evill we profess Christ and the Gospel verbally and deny both really and so
teacheth in all good things Here is large Provision made for the Gospel Ministers Whatever good things people possess they ought to communicate a part thereof to their Teachers something is due to the Teachers and it's duty in the Taught to pay it The Ministers are to have Meat and Chambers accommodations to eat their Meâ—t in 1 Cor. 9 13 14. Do ye not know that they which Minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which Preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel Here is a Divine Ordinance for Minister's maintenance It 's also here hinted to us that the Priests were to eat of the best of the most holy things that it the Tythes and Offerings which were to be of the best Mal. 1.8 14. And certainly under the Gospel the Ministers of it are not to be turn'd off with the meanest and worst of things if you have choise spirituals from them is it not equal they should have answerable temporals from you Holy things were to be laid in holy places holy offerings and holy garments were not to be laid any where but in the holy place Under the Law some places were holy but under the Gospel holiness of places is taken away according to what was Prophesied Mal. 1.11 From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place Incense shall be offered unto my name and a pure offering And according to that Paul gave out 1 Tim. 2.8 I will that men pray every where lifting up holy hands he makes all places alike for the outward Celebration of Worship yet the Truths and things of the Gospel are to be laid up in holy places that is in holy Hearts James 4.8 Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you cleanse your hands ye sinners and purify your hearts ye double minded Holy hearts are fit places for God Christ Spirit Gospel and all the Ordinances of it James 1.21 1 Pet. 2.1 2. 1 Cor. 11.28 Heb. 10.22 These plâ—ces shew that holy hearts are requisite for holy things So that of Christ Mat. 7.6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs neither cast ye your pearls before swine their hearts are foul and so uncapable of holy things they are not fit repositories for such things Here is in the 13. verse mention made of three Offerings The Meat-offeâ—ing the Sin offering and the Trespass-offering 1. The Meat-offering it was of fine Flower Oyle and Frankincense or onely of fiâ—e Flower and Oyle and then it was to be Bâ—ked Fryed or Sodden no Leaven or Honey was to be used therewith but every Meat-offering was to be seasoned with salt see Levit. 2. per totum Or it was of Ears of Corn the first-fruits Ears dryed by the fire even Corn beaten out of full Ears vers 14. Part of this Meat-offering the Priests were to burn upon the Altar for a sweet savour and the rest they were to eat in the holy place Levit. 6.15 16. 2. The Sin-offering whether a Bullock or any other beast was most holy yea whatsoever touched the flesh thereof was holy Some of the blood of it was to be brought into the Tabernacle of the Congregation to reconcile withall in the most holy place which was not to be eaten but burnt The Priests and all the Males among the Priests were to eat of this sacrifice c. Levit. 6.25 26 27 28 29 30. 3. The Trespass-offering There was one and the same Law for this and the Sin-offering it was to be kill'd where the Burnt-offering was and the blood to be sprinkled round about upon the Altar what was to be burnt and what to be eaten by the Priests you may see Levit. 7.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. These Offerings were types of Christ who is our true Meat-offering the bread of life the nourishment of every hungry and thirsty soul His flesh and his blood are meat and drink indeed at his Table we feed upon him crucified and so our Meat-offering he is our Sin-offering and Trespass-offering 2 Cor. 5.21 He was made sin for us that is a Sin offering that we might be made the righteousness of God in him See Heb. 10.12 14. In the 14. vers it 's said The Priests must not go out of the holy place into the outward Court which comprehends this mystery in it viz. That the Ministers of the Gospel those have given up themselves to Christ and the Church ought not go out from their spirituall imployment unto the world and worldly affaires but to mind that great work they are call'd unto For who is sufficiâ—nt for such things 2 Cor. 2.16 Paul instructed Timothy and in him all others in this truth 2 Tim. 2.4 No man that warreth intangleth himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a Souldier When men are call'd to be Souldiers they must mind their Souldiery not other things it will not please their Captains and Commâ—nders they cannot discharge their trust So Ministers having a great Captain and Commander the Lord Christ who hath chosen them to be his Souldiers they must mind their spiritual Souldiery they must not trouble or distract themselves with the cares or affairs of the world if they do they can neither be faithful to their interest nor please their Lord and Master Rom. 12.7 Those that Minister must wait on their Ministring and those that teach on their teaching they must not wait upon or meddle with other things Col. 4.17 Publicis insudare debent qui nomen dedêre militiae Souldiers might not intangle themselves about Husbandry Cattle Merchandising or other affairs but they were to mind the publick The Priests when they approached to God had other garments on then at other times they had holy garments on them they might not come nigh God but in holy garments afterwards they changed their garments when they were to deal with the people Which informs us that the Ministers of the Gospel ought to have other frames of Spirit in them when they are nearer unto God in the duties of his worship then at other times then they are to put on holy garments they should be cloath'd with zeal fear and other holy affections They are to discharge their office with gravity and authority that their Ministery be not despised God will be sâ—nctâ—fied in them that come near unto him they must not come in their old garments with old ordinary spirits but with holy garments holy spirits sâ—nctifying God in their hearts making him their fear and dread and carâ—y themselves as Ambassadors of God standing and pleading for him But when they are out of publique administrations they may put on other garments they must be cloathed with humility love bowels of mercy meekness long-suffering as 2 Tim. 2.24 25. In
upon his people 595. bears long with the worst of men 420. determines things most free and contingent 208. discovers plots of enemies ibid. knows infallibly things to come 217. when God manifests his love and wrath 225. can easily raise forces against his enemies 229. and easily ruine Armies 227. hath various ways to do it 228. convinces the wicked when in afflictions 266. whom God will honor 391 Godly No condition so grievous to them but shall end comfortably 375 Godliness To whom a delight 361 Gog whom 488 489. whence he came 212. prophesied of before 216. not Antiochus 224. Dreadful judgement upon him 226. great 232. where buried 247 Goodmen must be good before they can do good 366 Gospel Christs voice in it strong irresistable efficacious 394. earth shines with the glory of it ibid. it preserves order is not levelling 405. like waters and wherein 550 551 552. into what parts it went first 555. it goeth where Christ wil 556 557. gradually 558. hath depths in it 560. its pure and sufficient of it self 561. brings men unto God 569. runs like waters 570. without it what men are ib. it cures and quickens 571. fruitful 572 Grace will appear where it is 367. work of it free 403 â—ikened to water and wherein 550 551 552. gradualness in graces 559. all in the Church of free grace 〈◊〉 it recals sinners 588 589 Great ones have no cause to glory 84. Greatest go the wrong way 93. shall bear their shame though after death ibid. those that joyn with them in evil must suffer 228. may lie unburied 260 Guilt an heavy and consuming thing 121 H HAnd stretching out what it imports 348 249. lifting up what 284 Gods hand in mens acting against the Church 237. filling the hand what it imports 376 Hailstones fire brimstone 223 224 Har-el and Hanriel what 371 372 Hatred the nature of it 253. twofold 263. it sets other affections on work 264 Hearers how they carry it oft towards them they hear 164. 165. what the preachers are to them 170 not rest in hearing ibid. Heart most looked at in worship 165 carnal in spirituals 166. Heart and new what they note 317 318. old by nature 322. it s like a stone wherein 330 331 332. the evil of it 333. how cured 336 Heart It s God prerogative to alter hearts 337. its great mercy to have stony hearts removed 338. excellency of a tender heart 340 mistakes about a tender heart 342 343. legal natural tenderness 24â— 244. characters of a tender heart 345 346. how to keep it tender 347 348. its a great mercy it s the gift of God 341 Heathens what convinces them 310 Hell poor comfort there â—5 96 High those highest meet with most storms 328 329 Hin How much it contained 420 Holy things to be laid in holy places 332 333. those who have charge of them must be exact 387. not to be bought and sold 392 Holiness the law of Gods house 368 Hope what 439 Horns of the Altar what they signifie 371 House of Israel 242 408 Husbandry Gods work 396 397 Hypocrites will be discovered 164 I IDols ruine States 25. defile 298. Idolatry loathsom to God 300. it defiles more then other sins 316. they are karcasses 355. a wall between God and man 357 Jealousie to speak in the fire of it what 282. what is in jealousie 225. it breaks through all 269 Jerusalem highly esteemed by the Lord 352 353. in new Jerusalem shall be no invention of men c. 357. no night there 358 New Jerusalem exceeds Ezekiels City 604 Jews there conversion we may expect and pray for 462. shall repossess their land 463 480. given to Idolatry 465. shall be fully gathered 270 271 there is a day of mercy for all the Jews 272. for lasting mercies 275 offers of mercy to them first 584. shall come to Sion 589 Ignorance remedy for the sin of ignorance 417 418 Impenitency excludes from Temple mercies 364 Impossibles to man not so to God 374 Infamous they that make so shall be made so 286 287 Inheritance one to Jew and Gentile 585 Institutions of God like posts and thresholds 356. men must not make any like them ibid. Interrogations argue not ignorance in God 426 Judgements publick troublesom to neighbour nations 13. they make God known 12. in the forest some escape ibid 143. former not to be forgotten 13. suitable instruments execute them 17. nothing can s cure from them 26 157. they convince of the equity of Gods ways 158. threatned take place 172. they are oft lengthned out answerable to the time of mens sinning 258. what ever they be God is righteous 301. end of them 230 262. they begin but end not at Gods house 395 396. God executes some signal judgement 258. impartial 259. judgements upon the wicked are ingaging mercies to the godly 263 Justification what 315 K KAdash notes sanctifying and polluting 546 Kings and Kingdoms there flourishing and perishing in from the Lord 34. tyrannical Kings oft have bad ends 35 Kings are apt to be lifted up with their greatness 38. 39. must be told of their sins 39. its the Lord makes them great 246. have need of money to uphold them ibid. what brings dreadful judgements upon them 53â— why destroyed 55 69. They are lights and when put our sad events follow 73. 74 Kingdom No succession in Christs Kingdom 479 Subjects of it holy ibid. Knowledge not all a â—once 553 564. L LAmentations for siâ—s and ruines of others are from the Lord 65 Land Land in league 6. God hath ways to empty lands 16. They are his to dispose of 18 261 262 376. he can deprive them of their princes 26. made exemplary with judgments 27. what wastes lands 157. what ever condition it s in God is there 262. your own sins brings desolation 274 301 3â—2 their fruitfulness depends upon the Lord 293. desolate shall not always lye so 39â— God hath a peculiarity in some lands 214 Last made first 587 588. Law what 363. of Gods house why to be made known 366. chiefly to be observed 368 Liberty of speaking is from God 145 Life in the hand of God and death also 112. what is the principle of spiritual life and motion 365. its short 539 Liâ—e 285. what 291. mens lines must not be in Temple measurings 292 Lion of God who 372 Loath what in it 384. when men loath themselves for their sins 385 Looks forbidden to priests 393 Lybia whence so called 5 Lydia whence so named ib. M. MAgistrates good what they are 413 Magnifie when God magnifies himself 229 Mathematicians who fit for spiritual ones 261 Man though spared long shall suffer 101 Marriage whom the Priests were and were not to marry 394 Materials of the Church must be holy 368 Means what ever used God doth all 434 435 Mercies temporal not merited 308. choice mercies make men renounce former defilements 468. mercies gradually carried on 450. work more then judgements 384 Messiah upon what account