Being so by this Work of Grace Old things are past away and all things become new But of this more hereafter Qu. 2. What 's meant by New Ans 1. New in Scripture-language signifies 1. Another distinct and different from what was before So Exod. 1.8 There arose a new King over Aegypt i. e. another Thus this New Creature is distinct from the former as Caleb is said to have another Spirit Numb 14.24 i. e different and of another Nature than the rest of the Spyes yea what he himself formerly had Thus it is with the Convert 2. New signifies Strange not heard of before Numb 16.30 If the Lord make a new thing if the Earth open her Mouth an unheard of Wonder a Prodigy never known before So say they What new Doctrine is this thou bringest strange things to our Ears Acts 17.19 20. Thus the Work of Regeneration was strange even to a great Doctor among the Jews Job 3.34 3. New signifies something secret hidden not easily discerned or not manifest to all Isa 48.6 I have shewed thee new things from this time even hidden things And this work of the New Creature is much hid from the Eyes of others and sometimes kept secret from a man 's own observation Job 11.6 That he would shew thee the secrets of Wisdom And David saith In the hidden part thou shalt make me to know Wisdom Psal 51.6 4. New imports something excellent transcendent admirable Psal 33.3 Sing unto him a new Song Psal 42.10 Sing unto the Lord a new Song i. e. an excellent Song of the very best you can attain to Even so this is the chief of God's Works in the world and renders the Righteous more excellent then his Neighbour and a man of understanding is of an excellent Spirit Prov. 12.26 ch 17.27 The Text being thus opened I shall deduce an Observation relating to the preceeding Words of the Text Circumcision avails nothing nor Uncircumcision in this New Testament-Dispensation by Christ What is it it then that avails The Answer is The New Creature this indeed is available So this is set in contradistinction to the forementioned Privileges comprehended under this word Circumcision Doctrine 2. That a New Creature is only and every way available to the Souls of Men. Nothing else can avail any thing to mens Eternal Salvation but a New Creature and this is very available Understand this of things of this kind or nature for a New Creature must not be set in competition with the Eternal Love of God or Blood of Christ or sanctifying Operations of the Holy Spirit for application of Christ's purchaces to us A New Creature is but a Creature and cannot do the Work of the Infinite God who hath appropriated Salvation-Work to himself There is no Saviour besides me where is any other that may save them Hos 13.4.10 It is not any thing done by Man nor wrought in man that can save him from divine Wrath or advance him to Heaven No the Lord justifies sanctifies glorifies by Christ All the Causes of man's Salvation are without him Eph. 1.4 9. 1st There 's the Efficient Cause God's chusing us 2dly The Material Cause Christ's redeeming us 3dly The Formal the good pleasure of his Will 4thly The Final the praise of God's glorious Grace So then we do not put this New Creature in God's room as any cause at all of our Happiness but a necessary Qualification Disposition to which Salvation is annexed or as the Apostle phraseth it that which accompanieth Salvation Heb. 6.9 Things that accompany Salvation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that have Salvation i. e. commprehend it are contiguous to it touch it have Happiness annexed to it by the indispensible connexion of Grace and Glory by Covenant-Promise But more of this hereafter In the prosecution of this Doctrine I shall speak to these 4 Things in the Doctrinal part of it Viz. 1. Shew what this New Creature is 2. Why it is so called 3. Wherein it is available 4. Answer some Queries about it and so apply it 1. What is this New Creature Answer In opening this I shall explain These 2 things 1. The Names given to it 2. The Nature of it 1. For the Names or Titles given to this New Creature which are synonymous Expressions holding forth the same thing for Substance are such as these 1st It s called the forming of Christ in the womb of a Man's Heart Gal. 4.9 My little Children of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you Full glad would I be to see this blessed Embryo teamed in your Hearts 2dly It s called quickening Ephes 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead-in trespasses and sins Alas what dull Stocks and Lumps of Sin are we till animated with the spirit of Grace and quickned by a vital principle And this is done with Christ vers 5. by his Resurrection 3dly It s called Parturition or bringing forth by spiritual pangs of Soul-travail New Birth John 3.3 Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Convicting Grace brings a lively and lovely Offspring into the World better than the product of Nature 4thly Such Converts are compared to little Children Mal. 18.3 Verily I say unto you except you be converted and become as little Children you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven i. e. You must needs have the Qualities and Dispositions both of Infants and bigger Children 5thly This work of God on the Soul is called a dying with Christ and a rising again with him Rom. 5.5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his Death we shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection Col. 3.1 All real Christians are risen with Christ hence it is called the first Resurrection Rev. 20.6 As if they were newly brought out of their Graves that had been long dead and useless 6thly It s called the Image of God on Souls Col. 3.10 And have put on the New Man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Eph. 4.24 The new man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness This new Creature is a blessed Resemblance of the Trinity of Persons in the renewing of the Mind Will and Affections conform to God 7thly It is called the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature i.e. Of those Divine Qualities whereby the Soul resembles God not only as a Picture doth a Man in outward Lineaments but as a Child doth his Father both in countenance and condition As the noble Qualities of an Immortal Soul shew there is a God so the renewed Faculties shew what that one God is But more of this hereafter Thus for the Names of this New Creature most of which are figurative Expressions denoting this same thing we are now treating of 2. For the
and sanctified by the Spirit born of the Spirit and are Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.11 19. Nothing can search or reach the Heart but the Holy Ghost The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 and deep things of Men. An Angel is too short-sighted to see into Man's Heart too short-handed to reach the Conscience or make a New Creation God alone turns Stones into Flesh God shall enlarge Japheth and he shall dwell in the Tents of Shem Gen. 9.27 It is an Act of Power to make a People willing Psal 110.3 or Volunteers No man can come to Christ except the Father which sent him draw him Job 6.44 And God reacheth forth the Hand of the Spirit to attract Hearts to himself 6. The proper immediate Effect of this Work that is a change into a new Frame or Course by which the Sinner becomes new or another than what he was before this is the formalis Ratio genuine necessary Attendant yea intrinsick nature of this which we call the New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are past away behold all things are become new The Faculties are the same but new Qualities are put in as in a Lute the Strings are the same but 't is set to a new Tune In a River the Water is the same but 't is put into a new Channel the Bowl hath got a new Byass So the Convert said to the tempting Harlot Ego non sum Ego I am not I or as Paul said of himself who was before a Blasphemer a Persecutor but I obtained mercy 1 Tim. 1.13 i. e. converting Grace hath changed me Thus the same Apostle saith of the Corinthians Such were some of you but ye◠are washed but ye are sanctified 1 Cor. 6.11 Oh what a mighty change doth Grace make from Lying to Fearing an Oath from vain speaking to Holy Discourse from carelesness to the greatest concernedness about Soul affairs yea from Darkness to Light Eph. 5.8 From Death to Life from Satan to God Acts 26.18 The Man is now got into a new World as one observes from Ezek. 11.19 I will give them one Heart which that I may do I will cast it a new in order to this I will melt and soften it as one that hath many pieces of old Silver by them casts them into the Fire melts them and molds them into one Bowle Thus doth God with the divided Heart in renewing it and framing it for his use 7. Here 's yet further the compleatness of this Change it s not some external Acts Motions Conversation nor only Internal Cogitations Affections Workings of the Will and Conscience but the description goes further even to the State Constitution Relation of the Man and therefore I add changing the whole man from an old state to a new for every Man and Woman hath a state before God therefore Paul sends Timothy to know the state of the Philippians Phil. 2.19 This imports not a transient Act but a settled abiding Frame continued Relation Sinners are by Nature Children of wrath Eph. 2.3 Limbs of Satan Heirs of Hell this new Mold makes them Children of God Members of Christ Heirs of Heaven yea it puts them into an habitual tendency towards Heaven and heavenly things which is a kind of a second Nature in them this moves the holy Soul acting like it self as naturally upwards as a Stone moves downward therefore it s called a Divine Nature 2 Pet. 14. the acting follows the being of a thing Make the Tree good and the Fruit will be good Mat. 12.33 If a Watch be not well made it will never go well They say of the Peacock roast him as much as you will yet when cold his Flesh will be raw again So force a Carnal Heart to the highest strain of seeming Piety yet it will come to its old Complexion because there 's not a new Nature fill a Pond full of Water it will abate if there be not a Spring to supply it The New Creature is united to Christ and receives grace for grace John 1.61 8. Here 's the Pattern Copy Example according to which this New Creature is moulded it is the Soul 's being transformed into the divine likeness this Image of God consists in Knowledge in the Intellectual Faculties Righteousness in the Will Holiness in the Affections Col. 3.10 And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Eph. 4.24 That you put on the new man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness or holiness of truth As the Work of Grace in the Heart is a true Copy or Transcript of the Divine Image they agree as the Face in the Glass doth with the Face of the Man that looks in it or as the Image in the Wax with the Sculpture in the Seal from which it is derived Godliness is Godlikeness Summa Religionis est imitari quem Colis The Summ and Substance of our Religion is to imitate whom we worship not that its possible to be like God with a perfection of degree but Sincerity Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect Mat. 5.48 A Child hath the parts of a Man though not the bulk for the New Creature is in a daily increase and tendeth to perfection as a small Seed hath vertually the bigness of a grown Tree though little in its self But the Christian is like God man only can beget a man like himself So the Spirit only doth beget the Christian like God Now Divines Journal Christian Bemon part 2. pag. 173. take notice of a double Likeness a bare Similitude Snow and Milk are both white alike yet are not the Image one of another 2. Derivation deduced from another and so the Picture which is drawn every Line by the Face of a Man this is properly the Image of a man after whose Likeness it is made Thus by Holiness the Christian becomes the Image of Christ Rom. 8.29 Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son 9. There 's the Rule of this New Creature which is expressed by turning the Heart and Life to the Rule of the Word this either refers to the manner of framing the New Creature or the Rule by which the New Creature acts and moves being once formed As to the former the New Creature receives the Stamp Signature and Impression of the Word Rom. 6.17 But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin But ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you Or as it is more properly in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into which you were delivered i. e. the Soul is the Metal the Word is the Mould into which the Sinner is cast and thereby receives a new Stamp formed into a new Shape which naturally issues it self into a new
Christ his infinite and co-eternal Son All things were made by him i. e. by this Essential Word and without him was not any thing made that was made John 1.3 By him were all things created visible and invisible By this Heir of all things he made the Worlds both according to the Matter and Form thereof Col. 1.16 Heb. 1.2 And thus it is in the New Creation for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works Eph. 2.10 As Christ is the First-born of the Creatures after whom the New Creature is formed for God in his naked Majesty is invisible not obvious clearly either to corporal Eyes or humane Minds but Christ is the express Image of his Person Heb. 1.3 and manifests the glorious Perfections of the infinite God That as we have born the Image of the earthly Adam we should bear the Image of the heavenly 1 Cor. 15.45 49. That is Christ thus in the Incarnation God was Man in Regeneration Man becomes like God 4. God created all things with a Word So saith the Apostle Through Faith we understand that the Worlds were framed by the VVord of God Heb. 11.3 God's Fiat or Let it be produced the whole Fabrick of Heaven and Earth By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made and all the Host of them by the Breath of his Mouth Psal 33.6 Art needeth many Helps Nature needeth few God needeth none nor doth use any Instrument in the Creation for nothing can intervene betwixt the First Cause and the First Effect it is an immediate Product of his arbitrary Will and Pleasure So it is in this New Creation James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth God speaks the Word and the Sinner is converted If it be said That Ministers are Instruments in Conversion I Answer But still they are nothing neither is he that planteth any thing 1 Cor. 3.7 They need God God needs not them he can do his Work without them yea in the first Infusion of a Principle of Saving Grace there 's nothing of Instrumentality it s done Immediately 5. God made all things good and perfect at first 1 Tim. 4.4 Gen. 1.31 Every Creature of God is good And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good quia nec temere nec frustra factum nothing was made either unadvisedly or to no purpose A thing may be said to be good as it is correspondent to the Idea of the Divine Wisdom or as it is fit for that use to which it is designed and for which it serves It needs not be enquired whether God could not have made the World or its parts better or more perfect for if we consider the World in respect of the whole so it is perfect both as to its degrees and parts But as to its parts severally God could have made them better as in a Camp there are Captains Souldiers and a General in some respect if a Souldier were a Captain he were better but in respect of the whole Camp which consists of Superiors and Inferiors he is better as a Souldier So in this New Creature it is perfect in its kind in subserviency to God's great Ends though defective in point of degree in this World hence God's Children are said to be not perfect as having not attained Phil. 3.12 Yet they are perfect Ver. 15. To be sure this New Creation is good as will appear anon 7. Though God from Eternity purposed to create the World yet the World was created but in Time not from Eternity Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth God worketh all things according to the Counsel of his own Will Eph. 1.11 It s true all things had a kind of Being in God as in the Cause whence all things flow in the Eternal Mind or Idea according to which all things were framed but they had not their real or actual Existence till God in his Wisdom thought good to produce them In thy Book saith David Psal 116.16 were all my Members written Thus it is in this New Creation God hath a Book of Life and such as are in the Book of Life shall in time be savingly Converted Called Sanctified Justified Glorified Thus runs the Golden Chain Rom. 8.29.30 As many as were ordained to Eternal Life shall believe All such as the Father gives to Christ shall come to him John 6.37 He hath chosen us in Christ before the Foundation of the World that we should be holy Eph. 1.4 So then this New Creation in time is the result and effect of God's determination before all Time see 2 Thes 2.13 7. The Creation of the World was gradual both as to Time and as to Manner In point of Time God made the World in Six Days Gen. 1. Not but that God could have dispatch'd all in a Moment but for sundry weighty Reasons he took every day a moment to do the work of that day in Thus God is perfecting this New Creation all the time of a Christian's Life and for his manner or method of working God proceeded from imperfect to perfect first God made a confused Chaos then he made the Elements then orta ex Elementis what ariseth from them First he made things without Life then things having Life Man that was the Master-piece of the whole Creation he made the last Even thus doth Grace proceed in the New Creation he first forms a Chaos some confusion of Spirit by a legal Work first comes a Spirit of Bondage to fear then a Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 First some glimmering Light in the Mind then the Day-Star ariseth in the Soul 2 Pet. 1. And the Sun of Righteousness comes with healing under his Wings Mal. 4.2 And the Grace of God grows till the Christian comes unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ Eph. 4.13 8. The first thing that God created was Light Gen. 13.4 God said Let there be Light and there was Light In this he proceeds from total Privation to Habit it is hard to describe this Light possibly it was a bright lucid Body like the Fiery Cloud in the Wilderness giving imperfect Light successively moving over the several parts of the Earth and afterwards condensed increased perfected and gathered together in the Sun the Apostle applies this to the workings of God's Spirit in converting a Sinner 2 Cor. 4.6 For God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ The first thing a Limner draws in a Picture is the Eye the first Lineament of this gracious new Man is Saving Knowledge God will not dwell in a dark House and therefore first he beats out Windows in his Habitation without knowledge the heart is not good Prov. 19.2 The Devil's Kingdom is a Kingdom of Darkness Christ's of Light Converting Grace
wallow in all Sensuality and Immorality without controul or remorse and glory in their shame Phil. 3.19 5thly Proud contentious revengeful hateful hating all about them Tit. 3.3 That evidently manifest the Fruits or Works of the Flesh Gal. 5.19 20. in bitter Revilings Suits at Law Variance about Trifles 6thly Covetous griping Muck-worms that make Gain their Godliness Gold their God Col. 3.5 These are Idolaters that are hard-hearted to the poor but please themselves with worldly Enjoyments Luk. 12.20 7thly Swearers prophane Takers of thâ— Name of God in vain foolish Talkers Jesters Lyars Eph. 5.4 5. think their Tongues aâ— their own and they may say what they list 8thly Neglecters of God's worship publick private secret never call on God except by horrid Imprecations yea that think it 's in vain to serve God Mal. 3.14 and hate such as do Such flagitious Offenders there are in the World yea in England that make a Scoff at the Name of the Spirit and Grace of Christ and will own no Regeneration but what they imagine they received in Baptism which yet they grosly contradict as if they would scorn and run counter to the Bible-Religion and Morality it self these profligate Wretches I remit to the righteous Judgment of the Great God because I have little hopes they will read such plain Treatises or hear any powerful Preachers and so are out of the Road of ordinary means of Grace or hopes of Good 2. But those I have at present to deal with are Pretenders and but meer Pretenders to this New Creation that have something like it but it will not prove the New Creature but a dead Carcase a lifeless Image of it Many of our constant diligent Attenders on all Ordinances are apt to say I thank God I hope I am a New Creature To which I Answer It 's well if it prove so but the Apostle saith Not he that commendeth himself is approved but whom the Lord commendeth 2 Cor. 10.18 And Solomon saith There is a way which seemeth right unto a man but the End thereof are the ways of Death Prov. 14.12 But Persons had need to beware taking Counters for Gold Pebbles for Pearls there 's much counterfeit Ware passeth for current Coin now adays May not an Angel be hang'd for a Sign when the Devil is within Are not many Professors like the Pharisees painted Sepulchers that appear Fair but within are full of Rottenness and dead mens Bones Matth. 23.27 28. Like a Golden Saddle stuff'd with Straw or Apothecaries Boxes with specious Titles but empty of useful Drugs So 't is said Aliud in titulo aliud in pyxide a specious Title but nothing within of what is promised Alas how many Professors have we known histrionically acting the part of Kings on the Stage that were Beggars in Rags when divested of their gilded Robes of a glorious Profession How many have the Complexion but not the Constitution of Saints one calls them deaf Nuts another Apples of Sodom a third Cockles and Darnel that make a fairer show then good Wheat but must be cast out There were some of Old that desired to make a fair shew in the Flesh Gal. 6.12 but are like vapouring Trades-men that bear big to gain Credit but if search'd into possibly not worth a Groat when their Debts are paid Such there always have been and it s well if the World be mended I shall briefly propound and Answer the Pleas that may make for their pretence 1st Plea I have heard that the New Creature consists in Knowledge and I thank God that hath given me a large share of that Answ We know that we all have knowledge 1 Cor. 8.1 Tit. 1.16 What kind of knowledge is yours Devils have more knowledge then you yet are not nor ever can be New Creatures a Toad hath a Pearl in its Head Poyson in it's Body thousands go knowingly to Hell and the more knowledge without Grace the more torment Luk. 12.47 2d Plea But I believe the Revelations of God give credit to the Gospel I can say the Creed am Orthodox no Heretick Answ That 's well so far but read Rom. 2.17 to ver 25. What canst thou say of thy self more then this professing Jew that rested in the Law made his boast of God approved of things more excellent who yet was condemned as a perfidious self-contradicting God-dishonouring wretch but thou believest so doth the Devil believe and tremble James 2.19 Thou mayst have an Orthodox Head and Heterodox Feet 3d. Plea I am come of Religious Parents that improved pleaded the Covenant for me trained me up in the Fear of God Answ John Baptist anticipates this Plea Mat. 3.9 Think not to say in your Hearts We have Abraham to our Father Matth. 8.12 The Children of the Kingdom may be cast into utter Darkness Alas Parental Privileges without Parents Principles signifie nothing Let our Lord Christ who will be Judge answer this vain Plea John 8 33-44 This may aggravate your Sin never save your Souls without Personal Piety 4th Plea I have made a credible Profession of my Faith am Baptized am admitted to the Lord's Supper joyn with God's People Answ So did Simon Magus believe professed his Faith was Baptized Acts 8 13.20-23 deceiv'd the purest Church on Earth for he proved a rotten Hypocrite so did Judas so did he that wanted the Wedding Garment Matth. 22.12 And how easie it is to cast a Mist before the Eyes of fallible men daily experience testifies See an Instance of some that partake of extraordinary Privileges Ordinances yet rejected 1 Cor. 10.5 5th Plea Yea but I am not only admitted but continue long with them hold up Society with them in publick private Exercises Answ So did the Foolish Virgins accompany the Wise till the last Hour with shining Lamps and when the Bridegroom came they all trimed their Lamps but at last it was found they had no Oyl in their Vessels and so were shut out see Matth. 25 1-12 And do you not read of some that pertinaciously maintain their Plea to the very last when the Door is shut and still begin to say We have eat and drunk in thy presence Luke 13.25 26 27. 6th Plea But I have had great Convictions of Conscience for the evil of Sin Justice of God these sure were pangs of the New Birth Answ Cain had these legal terrors yet was naught so had Saul so Judas yea Felix trembled upon Paul's preaching Acts 24.25 And all these were but as praejudicium judicij foretastes of that horrible Vengeance in the other World Some Sinners have a fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation Heb. 10.27 Oh look to your coming out of your Horrors of Conscience see you close with Christ 7th Plea Yes I have had strong perswasions in my Breast to close with Christ and do take him by Faith to be my Saviour Answ An almost Perswasion is one thing and a thorough Resolution is another Acts 26.27 28. Some barter but buy not