this case Can he enter into heaven that savours all of earth Will those precious gates of gold and pearls open to a sinner No he must first be new moulded and sanctified or he is excepted Except a man be new born Secondly Except This and man is Gods enemy no greater opposition than betwixt God and a sinner Consider we him in his essence or in his attributes in his essence he is called Jehovah both in respect of his being and of his promises in respect of his being and so God is contrary to sin for sin is ataxy disorder confusion a not-being and God is order perfection holiness an absolute and a simple being in respect likewise of his promises wherein there is a main opposition to sin for howsoever he promiseth a reward to the regenerate and so the name Jehovah is a golden pledge unto us Psal 11.6 that if we repent he will forgive us yet withal he promiseth storms and tempest fire and perdition to the unregenerate and thus his name and nature is altogether opposite to sin and sinners But view we those attributes of God I mean his Justice truth patience holiness anger power his Justice in punishing the impenitent according to his deserts his truth effecting those plagues which he hath spoken in his time his patience forbearing sins destruction till they are grown full ripe his holiness abhorring all impurities He cannot behold iniquity his anger stirring up revenge against all offered injuries his power mustring up his forces yea all his creatures against his enemies and what can we say but if all these attributes are at enmity with sinful man woe worth to man because of offences better he had never been born then not to be new born alas what shall become of him Can he that is Gods enemy see God in his glory no there is no way but one Except he repent Except he be born again Thirdly Ephes 2.12 1 Cor. 5.17 Except by a new birth man is without Christ for If any man be in Christ he is a new creature And if he be not in Christ what hopes of that man It is onely Christ that opens Heaven it is onely Christ that is the Way to Heaven besides him there is no Way no Truth no Life and if we be in him as the branch in the vine it is of necessity that we bring forth good fruit Upon these terms his death is effectual if we become new creatures or otherwise all his Merits his blood that was shed his body that was crucified his soul that was agonized they are nothing unto us we nothing bettered by them he dyed for all but his death is not applyed his Kingdom is not opened save onely unto them that have learned and practised this rule of Exception Except a man be born again Fourthly Except before Excepted a man is a very limb of Satan a childe of darkness and one of the Family of Hell Consider this ye that are out of the state of Grace in what miserable thraldom is your souls Should any call you servants or slaves of Satan you would take it highly in disdain but take it as you please if you are not regenerate you are in no better case Paul appeals to your own knowledge Rom. 6.16 23. Know you not that to whomsoever you give your selves as servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey Rom. 6.16 23. If then ye obey the Devils suggestions which you do being unborn what are you but the Devils servants And if he be your Master what is you wages You may see it in the last verse The wages of sin is death death of the body and death of the soul death here and death hereafter in Hell fire Alas that Satan should have this power on man that he who is the enemy and means nothing to a sinner but death and damnation should be his Lord and Tyrannize it over him at his own will and pleasure Would any man be hired to serve Lyons and Tygers 1 Pet. 5.8 And is not the Devil a roaring Lyon walking about and seeking whom he may devour To serve him that would devour his servant is a most miserable bondage and what pay can one expect from Devils but roaring and devouring and tearing souls In this plight are the servants of Corruption slaves of Satan so I rightly call them for Of whomsoever a man is overcome 2 Pet. 2.19 even unto the same is he in bondage 2 Peter 2.19 To winde up this point Lord who shall dwell in thy Tabernacle who shall rest in thy Holy Mountain If we believe David Not he that slandereth with his tongue or doth evil to his Neighbor Psa 15.1 3 5. Or giveth his money upon Vsury or taketh a reward against the innocent No such are servants of Satan and here is matter of Exception against them Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God The sum of all Without Regeneration no Kingdom for whether we consider man in regard of himself or of God or of Christ or of Satan he is Except he be new born unholy Gods enemy out of Christ in Satan And if the New Birth be thus necessary Vse how should we (a) Thus is the language of God I said Behold me to a nation that was not called by my Name Isa 65.1 labor to be born again I mean not as Nicodemus to enter into our mothers womb again and be born It is not the seed of man in the womb of our Mother but the seed of Grace in the womb of the Church that makes us blessed and if we are thus born by Grace then are we sanctified made Sons of God Heirs with Christ over whom Satan can have no power at all Now then as you tender your souls and desire Heaven at your ends (b) Thus whilest the Minister speaks its Christ comes with power in the word Eze. 18.31 endeavor to attain this one thing necessary (c) Pray because God bids you pray it may be he will come in when you pray When Simon Magus was in the gall of bitterness Peter bid him pray Actâ— 8 22. Lift up your hearts unto God that you may be washed justified sanctified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and that by the Spirit of God you may walk in new ways talk with new tongues as being new creatures created unto good works Thus would you (d) Not that we can wait by a power of our own but he that saith Therefore will the Lord wait that be may be gracious to you Isa 30.18 He draws and gives a power to wait on him and he comes in when he hath waited the fittest time wait on God in his way I trust the Lord in mercy would remember you and his Spirit would blow upon you and then you would finde and feel such a change within you as that you would bless God for ever that you were thus born again Otherwise how
not onely wonder but fear also not onely filleth the ears with sound and the heart with astonishment but moreover shaketh and terrifieth the conscience The third effect is the sound of harping while the word not onely ravisheth with admiration and striketh the conscience with terror but also lastly filleth it with sweet peace and joy Now albeit the two first degrees may be without the last yet none feel the last who have not in some degree felt both the first He saith true in some degree though commonly the deeper is the sense of misery the sweeter is the sense of mercy In our dead security before conversion saith another God is fain to let the law sin conscience Satan Boltons instructions for afflicted consciences a deep sense of our abominable and cursed state loose upon us and to kindle the very fire of hell in our souls that so we might be rouzed and afterward more sweetly and soundly raised and refreshed for after the most toylsome labor is the sweetest sleep after the greatest tempests the stillest calms sanctified troubles and terrors establish the surest peace and the shaking of these winds makes the trees of Gods Eden take the better rooting CHAP. V. Sect. 1. The means to be delivered out of the pangs of the new birth ANd now if by Gods blessing thou feelest this sorrow and melting of heart the next thing thou must do is to seek for the remedy which remedy consists of these ingredients First A sight of Christ secondly A desire after Christ thirdly A relying on Christ fourthly An obedience to Christ fifthly A comfort in Christ sought for and obtained Thou wilt say these ingredients are pearls indeed but how should I procure them I answer by application of the promises and sith every ingredient hath its particular promises I shall let thee see them in order onely do thou apply them thy self it is enough for the Physitian to prepare the medicine thy own body must receive it so in this medicine it is thou must apply it if thou wilt have souls-health Sect. 2. The promises procuring a sight of Christ THe first step or ingredient that brings comfort to thy heavy soul is the sight of Christ and to procure this sight thou hast these promises Matth. 1.21 Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Luke 2.10 11. Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all people that is that unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord. John 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son to the end that all that believe in him should not perish but have life everlasting John 3.17 God sent not his Son into the world that he should condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved Rom. 3.25 God hath set forth Christ Jesus to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood 1 Cor. 1.30 Christ Jesus of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a true saying and by all means worthy to be received that Christ Jesus came inâ—o the world to save sinners Heb. 13.12 Jesus that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the gate 1 John 2.1 2. If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for us onely but also the sins of the whole world Revel 5.8 Thou wast killed and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation All these tell thee that as thou art a sinner so thou hast a Savior onely do thou apply them and certainly they will procure thee the first step the first ingredient of this remedy to thy misery to wit the sight of Christ Sect. 3. The promises procuring a desire after Christ THou mayst say I see Christ and I see that his person and death and blood-shed are precious and saving but how may I make him mine how may I know that he is my Savior I answer thou must hunger and thirst after him this desire is the second step and to provoke thee to this duty consider of these promises Esay 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Mat. 5.6 Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled John 7.37 38. In the last day that great day of the feast Jesus stood and cried saying If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink he that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water Revel 21.6 I will give to him that is athirst of the water of life freely Revel 22.17 Let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Psal 63.1 O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth greatly after thee in a barren and dry land without water Psal 145.19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him All these may provoke thee to thirst after Christ that most soveraign and soul saving fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness Zach. 13.1 Sect. 4. The promises procuring a relying on Christ YEt thou mayest say I thirst indeed but I dare not drink I desire but I dare not come neer to lay hold on Christ How so I am sayest thou a most vile unworthy wicked wretch and my sins are of a scarlet crimson die True it is for thee to pretend part in Christ wallowing yet in thy sins for thee to believe that Christ is thy righteousness purposing yet to go on in the practice or allowance of any one known sin it were a most cursed horrible presumption indeed but where all sin is a burthen every promise as a world of gold and the heart sincere for a new way there a man may be bold A man may yes he must if thou groanest under sin if thou longest after Christ apply these promises and they will force thee to lay hold upon the Rock to take Christ for thine own to throw thy sinful soul upon the bleeding wounds of Jesus and to cast thy self with confidence into the bosom of his love First then Boltons Instructions for afflicted conscience Take notice saith a Modern that Jesus Christ keeps open house for all hungry and thirsty souls Revel 22.17 Let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Or if open house will not fit without invitation hear him call Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all
woful are you considering this bar in heavens door to keep out the unregenerate Except Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Thus far of the Exception we now come to the Person that is a Nisi prius in the front Except This is the party that must prosecute the cause a man A man ANd this man is every man and every part of man It implyes all men for all are bound to it and all man for all the parts of his body and all the powers of his soul are to be renewed or he cannot be saved The word then is general whether we respect genera singulorum the kindes all men or singula generum the Individuums all man or all the parts of man body and soul We will first begin with the kindes Doct. 1 All men or all mankinde must be regenerated before they be saved not one of all the sons of Adam that shall ever go to heaven except he be born again may your contemplations guided by Gods word go into that Paradise above there walk the streets behold the towers view the subjects from the one end of heaven to another and whom finde you there Not one that lives and dyes in sin there is not in it nor shall enter into it any thing that defileth Rev. 21.27 neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lye Revel 21.27 yet if such repent them of their sins the gates shall not be shut against them all the Saints that now walk in the light of it were sinners but first they were purged by the Lamb and sanctified by the Spirit first they were regenerated and so they were saved You may object If all men that go to heaven must be new born what shall become of infants that dye ere they be born Can a man enter the second time into his mothers womb and be born said Nicodemus But can a man enter into the second birth in his mothers womb say you and be born again before he is once born I answer to be born again supposeth to be once born indeed therefore according to the letter our Savior speaketh of a man already born into the world that he must be born again But if we seek out the sense to be born again as our Savior interprets is to be born of water and of the Spirit and so may Infants not born into the world be born again Ierem. 1.5 Thus we read of Jeremy The word of the Lord came unto him saying Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee Jer. 1.5 And thus we read of John the Baptist the Angel of the Lord saying of him that He should be filled with the Holy Ghost Luk. 1.15 even from his mothers womb Luk. 1.15 By these examples we see what the Lord can do yea what he doth indeed although we know not how nor can it be observed by us You may yet object to be born again is saith our Savior to be born of water and of the Spirit now water is the outward Baptism and the Spirit is the inward grace thus * Quindecem patres proposuit Bellarminus Tomo secundo lib. 2. de effectu Sacramentorum cap. 3. Hook Eccles Polit. l. 5. sect 59. all Ancients have construed this text saith Hooker but children not born howsoever they are sanctified by the Spirit they cannot be baptized with water and therefore they cannot see the Kingdom of God I answer In cases of extremity or impossibility if actual Baptism be wanting vocal is enough and thus far some of our adversaries grant us Aquin. 3. part quaest 68. art 2. Though it be wanting indeed saith Aquinas yet Baptism in desire is sufficient to salvation And to this end he cites Austin saying Sanctification may be without Baptism and Baptism without Sanctification if Sanctification be though Baptism be not it avails to salvation but if Baptism be and Sanctification be not it avails nothing at all Our conclusion is this All men or all mankinde yong men and maidens old men and children Psal 148.12 all must be regenerated or they can never see the Kingdom of God Secondly Doct. 2 as all men so all man all the members of his body all the faculties of his soul Sanctification if saving must be perfect and entire though not in respect of degrees yet in respect of parts every part and power of body and soul must have its part of sanctification though no part his full perfection before the dissolution of our earthly tabernacles Hence say Divines there is a regeneration or sanctification it is all one inchoata and consummata inchoata begun in this life consummata perfected in that other and of this saith our Savior Matth. 19.28 Verily I say unto you Matth. 19.28 that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel we speak not of this Regeneration but of that which brings to this for we must be regenerated here or have no part there with God in his glory And should we consider man in his parts every part must bear a part in this birth his body must be regenerated his soul must be renewed we will begin with the body As you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity Rom. 6.19 even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness Rom. 6.19 As every member of the old man is full of sin so every member of the new born man is to be renewed by grace To instance in some of them The heart Matth. 15.19 that in the old man is full of evil thoughts murthers adulteries fornications thefts false witness blasphemies in the new man it is the member that must first be renewed here grace first seats it self and after is dispersed over all as in natural generation the heart is first framed so in spiritual regeneration the heart is first reformed Some call it the first mover of all mens actions for as the first mover carrieth all the sphaeres of heaven with it so doth the heart carry all the members of the body with it and therefore it is that the new man begins first with his heart for if that fountain be right all the streams of his desires purposes affections speeches actions conversations run sweet and clear and pleasant Again the eye that in the old man is the Broaker that goes between the heart and the object to make up the sinful bargain Matt. 6.23 2 Pet. 1.14 Iob. 31.1 that which our Savior calls an evil eye S. Peter an adulterous eye in the new man it must be exercised on other objects I made a covenant with mine eye saith Job why then should I think upon a maid I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills saith David from
whence cometh mine help Again the ear Psal 121.1 Psal 58.5 that in the old man is stopped against the voyce of the Charmer charm he never so wisely or if it be open like Deaths Porter it lets in sin and Satan at every occasion in the new man it must be the gate of life or the door of faith therefore there is not a member that the devil more envieth than the ear as we see in the man possessed with a deaf Devil Mark 9.25 Mar 9.25 who possessed that sence as the most excellent to hinder him from hearing Again the tongue Iam. 3.6 that in the old man is a world of iniquity that defileth the whole body that setteth on fire the course of nature and is set on fire on hell Psal 45.1 in the new man it must be the trumpet of divine praise or as David calls it the pen of a ready writer uttering onely those things which the heart enditeth in sincerity and truth To sum up all in one the heart is it where grace begins first and is felt last and therefore saith God Son give me thy heart Prov. 23.26 Psal 51.10 Prov. 23.26 and therefore prays David Create in me a new heart Psal 51.10 and therefore wills Solomon Prov. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Prov. 4.23 Would any man that is regenerate encounter sin in his heart it were impossible to break out into action would the heart of any man that is born again but meet sin with this Dilemma If I commit this sin I must either repent or not repent for it if I do repent it will cost me more heart-break and spiritual smart then the sensual pleasure can be worth If I never repent it will be the death and damnation of my soul sure this thought conceived and rightly followed in the heart of the regenerate would be enough to crush sin at the first rising of it and so it is for if he be regenerate he doth not sin whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin 1 Ioh. 3.9 Consuetudinaliter delectabiliter serviliter illuctabiliter 1 Thess 5.23 Rom. 12.1 1 Joh. 3.9 He is moulded anew and all the members of his body are conformed to the soveraignty and rule of grace yea his body is preserved blameless holy acceptable unto God it is a member of Christ the temple of the Holy Ghost Happy man that is blest with this body Sure a man thus born again he shall see the kingdom of God Secondly as the body so the soul of this man is to be renewed by grace 1 Cor. 6.15 19. 1 Cor. 6.20 Therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit saith St. Paul 1 Cor. 6.20 the body and the spirit must both glorifie God and as all the parts of the body so all the powers of the soul First Ephes 4.18 the understanding that in the old man is blinde and ignorant about heavenly things or howsoever it may know many things Revel 3.18 yet never can attain to saving knowledge in the new man it must be anointed with the eye-salve of the Spirit inspired with the knowledge of Divine truths especially with those sacred and saving mysteries which concern the kingdom of God Again the will that in the old man affects nothing but vile and vain things is froward and perverse in the ways of godliness Rom. 12.2 in the new man it must prove and approve what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God yea it must attend and be subordinate to the grace of God Phil. 5.13 sith God indeed and God onely works in us both the will and the deed Phil. 2.13 Again the memory that in the old man is slippery in the things of God or if naturally good yet not spiritually useful in the new man it must be sanctified to good performances and although it cannot encrease to a greater natural perfection for grace doth not this yet the perfections it hath must be straight and right and guided to God-ward Remember the Lord thy God saith Moses Deut. 8.18 Again Deut. 8.18 the conscience that in the old man sleeps and slumbers or if it be awake tears and roars as if a legion of Devils now possessed it in the new man it must be calm and quiet and yet not sleep or slumber but rather in a friendly loving maner check and control wheresoever sin is yea never be quiet till with kinde and yet earnest expostulations it draw the sinner before God to confess his fault and to seek pardon for it Again the affections that in the old man are sensual inordinate bewitched and set on wrong objects in the new man they must be turned another way Mary Magdalene you know was given to unclean lusts but the Lord diverted this sinful passion and so she became penitent and thirsted after grace To sum up all all must be renewed the undestanding will memory conscience affections But to feel more of their sweetness I will pound these spices and dwell a while on them Now then for your better acquaintance with the regenerate man and that you may know his difference from the man unregenerate observe I pray these passages First I say Col. 3.10 in the new man the understanding must be renewed so the Apostle The new man is renewed in knowledge Col. 3.10 and this knowledge implyes two habits Col. 1.9 Sapientiam Prudentiam Wisdom and Prudence Col. 1.9 First Wisdom and that is speculative Secondly Prudence and that is practical By the one the childe of God having the eyes of his minde opened and illightned doth see the mysteries of salvation the secrets of the Kingdom the whole Councel and the wonders of the Law of God by the other he is enabled with a judicious sincerity to deliberate and determine in cases of conscience in the practice of piety and the experimental passages of a Christian man Sapientiam If we consider the first Wisdom how is it possible that a man unregenerate should know the mysteries of salvation It may be he may go as far as the power of natural discourse and light of Reason can bear sway he may be furnished with store of rare and excellent learning and yet for all this want the true knowledge of spiritual wisdom Why so Because all his knowledge like the light of the Moon is discharged upon others but never returns and reflects upon his own soul he should know but knows not the darkness of his own understanding the disorder of his own affections the slumber of his own conscience the deadness of his own heart but the man regenerate know he never so little he hath the saving-knowlâ—dge and in this he exceeds the greatest Rabbies the profoundest Clerks he onely knows God with a stedfast apprehension he onely knows himself a most mean base and contemptible thing his new birth hath learned him how
6.6 All the night make I my bed to swim with my tears presently the Sun of righteousness will appear and he will dry away your tears and shine upon you with everlasting light Certainly thus is it with every regenerate man he loves and hates and hopes and fears and joyes and sorrows and all these passions are renewed in him To give instance in one David for all the regenerate his love appears Psal Psal 119.47.130.22.62 5. 119.47 My delight shall be in thy commandments which I have loved his hatred appears Psal 130.22 I hate thy enemies with a perfect hatred His hope appears Psal 62.5 My soul wait thou onely upon God for my expectation is from him 119 120.119.16.162 His fear appears Psal 119.120 His Judgments are terrible I tremble and quake His joy appears Psal 119.16 Thy Testimonies are my delight I rejoyce in them as one that findeth great spoils 119.136 His sorrow appears Psal 119.136 Mine eyes gush out with rivers of water Here is Love and Hatred and Hope and Fear and Joy and Sorrow and all are set upon their right spiritual objects You see now a pourtraiture of the new man which should be the case of all men my text saith indefinitely A man implying every man and every part of man every man should be regenerated every part of man should be renewed and whereas man consists on two parts the body and soul all the members of his body the Heart the Eye the Ear the Tongue in especial all the powers of his soul the Vnderstanding the Will the Memory the Conscience the Affections in general all must be renewed and the whole man born again And yet beloved I mean not so Vse as that a man renewed is never overcome with sin I know there is in him a continual fight betwixt the flesh and the spirit each of which striveth to make his part strong against the other and sometimes Amalek prevails and sometimes Israel prevails sometimes his heart falls a lusting his eyes a wandring his ears a tickling his tongue a cursing sometimes his understanding errs his will rebells his memory fails his conscience sleeps and his affections turn the stream after sensual objects but that which differs him from the unregenerate man if he sin it is with a gracious reluctation he resists it to the uttermost of his abilities and if at last he commit sin through the violence of tentation subduing the infirmity of the flesh he is presently abashed and then begins he to set repentance a work in all the parts and powers of his body and soul then begins his conscience to trouble him within and will never be at quiet until the cistern of his heart being overcharged hath caused his eyes the flood-gates with moist sinful humors to overflow the cheeks with tears of contrition and thus he is washed justified sanctified and restored to his former integrity again 1 Cor. 6.9 Examine then your selves you that desire heaven at your ends would you inherit the Kingdom would you live with Angels would you save your souls examine and try whether your bodies and souls be sanctified throughout and if you have no sense or feeling of the new birth for 't is a mystery to the unregenerate then never look to see in that state the kingdom of God but if you perceive the working of saving grace effectually in you and you cannot but perceive it if you have it if you feel the power of godliness first seizing the heart and after dispersing it self over all the parts and powers of body and soul or yet more in particular if your hearts be softned by the Spirit if your eyes wait upon God if your ears listen to his word if your tongues shew forth his praise if your understanding attain to saving knowledge if your wills conform to the will of God if your memories be stored with heavenly doctrine if your consciences be tender and sensible of the least sin whatsoever if you love that which is good if you hate that which is evil if you hope for the blessings above if you fear him that can destroy both body and soul in a word if you joy in goodness if you sorrow for sin then are you born again Happy man in this case that ever he was born and thus every man must be or he cannot be happy Except a man every man every part of man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Thus far of the subject man we come now to the act or deed to be done he must be born again Be born again THe children are brought to the birth and lest the saying be true of us there is no strength to bring forth I shall now by Gods assistance proceed to the birth it self 2 King 19.3 Here we have the maner of it and we may observe a double maner First of the words containing the new birth Secondly of the new birth contained in the words The maner of the words apears in the original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 two words and either of them hath its diverse reading 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Valla would rather have to be genitus begotten Except a man be begotten Others usually say natus born Except a man be born And as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some would have to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 above or from heaven Except a man be born from above Others usually 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 again Except a man be born again Chrysostome cites both these and of each reading we shall gather something for our own instruction Except a man be regenerated Erasm annot in loc or begotten saith Valla As man that is born of a woman is begotten of a man so he that is born again Doct. must have a begetting too and therefore sometimes it is called renascentia a new birth and sometimes regeneratio a new begetting or regeneration If you ask of whom is the new man begotten Saint Iames tells you Jam. 1.18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth Iam. 1.18 The former words note the impulsive cause these latter the instrument it was God that begat us and with the seed of the word First God begat us and so are we called Gods sons born not of blood Iohn 1.13 nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God John 1.13 Regeneration is the work of God and because it is a work external it is therefore communicable to each Person in the Trinity Ye are sanctified saith the Apostle in the name of the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 6.11 and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 The Father Son and Holy Ghost all sanctifie all work the same work but as in the Godhead there is but one Essence and yet three maners of being of the same one Essence so in Gods outward operations all the Persons work rem eandem one thing but all work
read in his conscience But above all his darling-delight his beloved sin is writ in greatest characters this he findes to have bewitched him most and to have domineered above all the rest in his wasted conscience this sin in some is worldliness wantonness usury pride revenge or the like in others it is drunkenness gluttony gaming scurril jesting symony or the like whatsoever it is the conscience tells him of it again and again where that he may read it together with his other sins the Spirit of God now opens the eyes of his minde and lets him see the very mud and filth of his soul that lay at the bottom before unseen and undiscerned Thus is the first working of the new life to wit a feeling of the old death of his soul in sins and trespasses and here the axiome is true no generation without corruption a man must first feel this death before he is born again The second step is Sense of divine wrath which begets in him fear Rom. 8.15 so the Apostle The spirit of bondage begets fear Rom. 8.15 and thus it works no sooner hath the man a sight and feeling of his sin but then Gods Spirit now called the spirit of bondage presents to him the armory of Gods flaming wrath and fiery indignation this makes him to feel as if he were pricked with the stroak of an arrow or point of a sword or sting of an Adder that he is a most cursed and damnable creature justly deserving all the miseries of this life and all the fiery torments of hell in that life to come yea this makes him tremble and stand and look as if he were throughly frighted with the angry countenance of God Almighty Would you view him in this case his conscience hath now awaked him out of his dead sensual sleep by the Trumpet of the Law his heart is now scorched with the secret sense of Gods angry face his soul is now full sorely crushed under the most grievous burthen of innumerable sins his thoughts are now full of fear and astonishment as if no less then very hell and horror were ready to seize upon his body and soul I say not what measure of this wrath is poured on all men in their conversion for I suppose some feel more and some have less of it but I verily believe some there are that in these pangs of the new birth have been scorched as it were with the very flames of hell insomuch that they might truly say with David Gods wrath lieth hard upon me Psal 88.7 and he hath afflicted me with all his waves Psal 88.7 And no wonder for this is the time of fear now it is that Satan strives busily to stifle the new man in the womb and therefore he that before diminished his sins and made them appear little or nothing in his eyes when he once sees the man smitten down into the place of dragons and covered with the shadow of death Psal 44.19 then he puts into his minde his innumerable sins and that which immediately follows the curse of the Law and the wrath of God which he yet makes more grisly and fierce with a purpose to plunge him into the bottomless pit of horror and despair By this means he perswaded Cain to cry out when he was in this case My punishment is greater then I can bear or Gen. 4.13 as others translate Mine iniquity is greater then can be forgiven Gen. 4.13 And therefore thus far the unregenerate goes with the man born again both have a sight of sin and sense of wrath but here they part for the man unregenerate either sinks under it or labors to allay it with worldly comforts or some counterfeit calm but the man born again is onely humbled by it and seeks the right way to cure it and at last by the help of Gods Spirit he passeth quite through it I mean through this hell upon earth into the spiritual pleasures of the Kingdom of grace which is to be born again The third step is Sorrow for sin and this is more peculiar to Gods childe there is a sorrow which is a common work of grace which an hypocrite may have and there is a sorrow which is a work of special grace and this likewise precedes the exercise of faith But some object Christ must work this sorrow or it is good for nothing now if Christ be in the soul working sorrow then there is faith therefore faith must go before sorrow I answer although it is true that Christ cannot be in the soul but in the same instant there is the habit of faith yet it follows not that faith is before sorrow for the habits of these graces are both together and at once in the soul or howsoever it follows not that the soul is inabled by an act of faith to apply Christ to it self as soon as Christ is in the soul or as soon as the habit of faith is infused into the soul The question is whether the soul in respect of us who can onely judge of the habit by the act cannot be said to have sorrow or repentance before faith the question is not which the soul hath first in respect of Gods gift but which it acts first for our apprehension Surely to us it first sorrows for sin and then it acts or exerciseth faith by coming to Christ and relying upon Christ for Salvation c. he grieves not onely because he fears he must be damned so Cain and Judas might but because he knows he hath deserved to be damned this is the more especial object of his sorrow in that he is so wicked so sinful so rebellious so contrary to God this sin I say is it wherein he was conceived and born wherein he hath lived and continued that makes him sob and sigh and sorrow and mourn and yet this sorrow is sometimes taken largely for the whole work of conversion sometimes strictly for conviction contrition and humiliation in like maner repentance is taken sometimes largely and sometimes strictly By this distinction it may easily appear how sorrow goes before repentance and how repentance goes before faith Indeed for the latter is the great controversie but some reconcile it thus Repentance hath two parts the aversion of the soul from Sin and the conversion of the soul to God the latter part of it is onely an effect of faith the former part of it viz. the turning of the soul from Sin is also an effect but not onely an effect for it is begun before faith though it be not ended till our life end Some object that God works repentance and faith together But we dispute not how God works them but how the soul acts them not which is in the soul first but which appears out of the soul first neither is it any new thing in Philosophy to say Those causes which produce an effect though they be in time together yet are mutually before one another in order of
Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear neither hath the eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Isaiah 64.4 Isa 64.4 Waiting patiently saith a Modern for the Lords coming to comfort us either in temporal or spiritual distresses is a right pleasing and acceptable duty and service unto God which he is wont to crown with multiplyed and overflowing refreshings when he comes To this end saith the Prophet They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint Isa 40.31 Isa 40.31 Nay and should a man dye saith my Author in this state of waiting if his heart in the mean time sincerely hate all sin heartily thirst for the mercy of God in Christ and resolve truly upon new universal obedience for the time to come he shall certainly be saved because the holy Ghost saith Blessed are all they that wait for him Isa 30.18 Isa 30.18 Or if this will not satisfie his desire let his desire quicken and set on work with extraordinary fervency the spirit of prayer let him have recourse again and again unto the promises of Scripture towards the poor heavy-laden penitent souls and when the time is come if it will come which God hath appointed then shall he feel this joy unspeakable the joy of the Holy Ghost and this is the head the height the top the highest step in this kingdom of grace the kingdom of God Or secondly if by the kingdom of God is meant the kingdom of glory see then what a priviledge waits on the new man no sooner shall his breath and body be divorced but his soul mounted on the wings of Angels shall straight be carried above the starry firmament there shall it inherit the kingdom Luke 12.32 Luke 12.32 Matth. 7.21 Acts 14.22 an heavenly kingdom Matth. 7.21 the kingdom of God Act. 14.22 and truly called so for 't is a kingdom of Gods own making beautifying and blessing a kingdom beseeming the glorious residence of the King of kings a kingdom creating all Kings that but inhabit in it But here my discourse must give way to your meditations I cannot speak this priviledge therefore conclude with Austin Augustin Anima quae amat ascendat frequenter currat per plateas caelestis Jerusalem visitando Patriarchas salutando Prophetas admirando exercitus Mount your meditations on the wings of faith and behold in Heaven those states of wonder Patriarchs shining Prophets praising Saints admiring hands clapping harps warbling hearts dancing the exercise a song the ditty Alleluiah the quiristers Saints the consorts Angels c. See more of this in my last things In this fountain of pleasure let the new-born Christian bathe his soul for his it is and he it is onely that shall see it injoy it Except the man born again no man shall ever see the kingdom of God Thus far of the priviledges of the new birth there waits on it the eye of faith and righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost in a word the kingdom of grace and the kingdom of glory And now beloved say Vse what would you do to obtain these priviledges should any hand reach you a Crown for the pains to take it should any but cast at your feet a bag of gold and you might make it your own for the stooping would you not for so great a reward do so little a service Matth. 11.30 and what is Gods service but perfect freedom the yoke is easie the burthen is light but the reward is grace glory endless felicity Bestir then your selves and if ever you mean to see the kingdom of God endeavor to run through this new birth and to lead a better life then heretofore you have done Thus whilest the Minister speaks Christ comes with power and therefore he speaks and perswades I conclude with my speeth to thee whosoever thou art into whose hands this Book is fallen the truth is the work is weak and answerable in that kinde to the Author of it many and many a stitch in my side many a pull at my heart many a gripe in my stomack besides the pangs of my soul endeavoring to practice what I have writ have I suffered and felt since I first begun it and yet the comfort I have received my self in this one necessary thing hath made me contrary to the desires of my best friends to run through this short work by taking a longer time as my continual disease would now and then suffer me If when I am gone thou reapest any spiritual good by this my surviving pains it is next to Gods glory all my desire Yet I live but to save thy soul I care not how soon I might dye yea on that condition I could be willing if God so pleased the lines that thou readest were writ with the warmest blood in my heart willing said I yea I could be willing and glad as little blood as I have in my body to let it run and run for thy spiritual good to the very last drop in my veins I say no more consider what I have said Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God An appendix containing a more particular Method for the man not yet born again to have his part in the second birth CHAP. I. The occasion and method of this Treatise SOme there are who hearing the new birth or first repentance to be so necessary to salvation but never feeling in themselves any such change or conversion have therefore desired further helps though naturally thou art blinde and wretched and miserable and poor and naked yet the Lord hath not left thee without means and helps to this purpose he hath set up his ordinances not that man of himself can dispose himself unto grace but that the Spirit of Christ in the use of the ordinances without any habitual or sanctifying grace in mans heart can dispose of man to the reception of habitual or sanctifying grace True it is I advised them in the former Treatise to be frequent in prayer and in hearing of the word But so we have done say they and yet we feel no conversion it may be so for not always the doing of them but perseverance in them through Christ obtains the blessing desired And yet if they will out of hand settle themselves to the work It is the Lord that saith Break up the fallow ground Jer. 4.3 i. seek to the Lord to break them for thee Be in the use of the means and the Lord may come in and break thy heart I shall for their further satisfaction give them a more particular Method and without a Text taken take my self more liberty to put them in the way Two things I suppose necessary for them that would have part in the new birth 1.