man shewes his displeasure against sinne by punishing the instruments and occasions of it Acts 19.19 Acts 19.19 they that used curious arts brought their bookes and burnt them before all men So we reade of Câ—aâ—er that thrust that hand first into the fire which had subscribed the Popish Articles So that godly sorrow may be discerned by this traine of graces wherewith it is accompanied that worldly sorrow wants at least in the truth of them though it may have some shadowes of them Vse That we doe not content our selves to have sorrow for sinne but labour to finde out whether it be a godly sorrow or not by these marks we may grow to some resolution to discover to ourselves that we be not mistaken in some legall affrightments or worldly griefes in stead of godly sorrow which is a speciall part of repentance Looke what is that which â—ets our sorrow on worke whether it be the terrible nature of Gods judgements or the experience of his fatherly mercies Consider of what continuance our sorrow is whether of affecting naâ—ure or more permanent such as dwels with us and doth not onely lodge with us for a night Looke whether it be indifferently as well for sinnes secret as open what thou findest to be thy best cordials to comfort thee whether Gods word or naturall meanes but of all advisedly consider whether thy sorrow be attended with the forenamed carefulnesse clearing of thy selfe indignation feare vehement desires zeale revenge accordingly thou mayest be comforted in thy mourning or discouraged in respect of thy estate The third grace that enstates a man in the state of grace is change of minde Quest What is it Answ It is a worke of the spirit whereby the image of God is repaired in us flowing from a hatred of sinne and love of righteousnesse It is a worke of the spirit for so those that are thus changed are said to be borne of the spirit Iohn 3.5 Iohn 3.5 By the image of God I understand that conformity and agreement which is betwixt Gods law and the faculties of the reasonable creature consisting in righteousnesse and true holinesse Eph. 4. Eph. 4. this is said to be repaired for that being defaced in the fall of Adam it is in part restored againe so as those who are thus changed are said to be new creatures to have a new spirit put into them I say further it flowes from a hatred of sinne and love of righteousnesse to difference it from those purposes that are wrung from men in respect of some grievous hand of God upon them by the smart of the rod by the feare of punishment onely So that a man that would prove himselfe whether his minde be changed must consider whether the spirit of grace hath so altered the powers and faculties of soule and body so as they are content to be subject to the law of God renouncing their former ungodlinesse Quest What is the least measure of this change Answ A setled and a constant purpose flowing from a hatred of sinne and love of righteousnesse whereby the heart resolves to repent to become obedient to God and to eschew his owne sinfull wayes this is the least measure of this change whereunto if a man do not attaine he is not changed Now this setling and disposing of the heart to the wayes of God to be the forme and life of a changed estate it appeares in that Gods children are deciphered by it Acts 11. Acts 11. that they with purpose of heart cleave unto the LORD 2 Chron. 20.3 2 Chron. 20.3 Iehosaphat set himselfe to seeke the Lord Psal 119.57 I have determined to keepe thy ward A constant purpose to be changed is in Gods acceptation as also in its owne nature a change that argues a man in the state of grace for if it be the fruits of a mans corrupt nature not to have so much as a desire or will that enclines to this change but even wholly averse and untoward then surely for a man to see so much of his owne misery and to be perswaded so far of the good estate of him that is changed as unfeignedly to purpose a change it must needs be the proper worke of the spirit Luke 15. In the Prodigall sonne the very purpose of a change is both accepted and commended as the change it selfe Markes Markes of this change otherwise called regeneration or new birth First Mark That it is to tall a whole change casting a new forme upon soule and body the whole man for as the corruption did over spread all the powers of man so in the restauration the spirit of grace is as large in repairing as sinne was in defacing whence the man thus renued is called a new man a new creature is said to arise from the dead and accordingly the Scripture makes it a worke of the whole man 1 Thes 5.23 1 Thes 5.23 The God of peace sanctifie you throughout this is expressed to be the whole spirit soule and body The minde must be changed Col. 3.9 12. The will Iohn 8.47 Col. 3.9 12. Iohn 8.47 affections Col. 3. Memory Psal 119. Conscience all sanctified more or lesse The kingdome of heaven that is the worke of grace is compared to leaven in regard of its diffusive and spreading nature it alters the whole lumpe Matth. 13. Matth. 13. hence the work of grace is set out by a comparison from the light for as that according to the measure of it enlightens all the house at once not first one place of it and then another so is it in the renewing of the soule it receives the spirit of grace into every part with one act of the spirit To conclude therefore looke as the oyntment that was poured on Aarons head ranne downe even to the skirt of his garments so the holy annointing with the oyle of grace drencheth even the lowest and basest parts of soule and body working in them a change of grace Second Marke That it enableth us by faith in Gods word to overcome the world makes the man in whom it is a Conquerour so as he gets the victory over the corrupt lusts of his owne heart and the enticements that come from the world or the devill 1 Iohn 5.4 All that is borne of God overcomes the world So then a speciall property of him that is changed is that he hath strength infused into him wherby he withstands sinfull motions in the heart fashions not himselfe to the world resists the devill By our naturall condition we are servants to our corrupt hearts they have an entire command over us so as we both obey them and have no power to doe otherwise Now where the spirit worketh this change there sinne raignes no longer so as we should obey it in the lusts thereof neither doe we give our members as weapons of unrighteousnesse unto sin but we give our selves unto God as they that are alive from the dead Rom. 6.12 13.
earnest of our inheritance Ephes 1.14 Eph. 1.14 Yea the inheritance it selfe is called by the name of Adoption as Piscator observes Rom. 8.23 Rom. 8.23 for our Iustification restored to us is no more then Adam had before his fall But our Adoption advanceth us to an higher estate which Adam never had nor for ought we know had never promised him before his fall We passe now to the second point Doct. 2. That none are the children of God by Adoption but such as are so by Regeneration There are saith Augustine three sorts of adopted sons 1. There are saies he sons of God in our account which are not so in Gods Gen. 6.1 Genesis 6.1 The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were faire and so are all false and counterfeit Christians which are Christians in name and title only not in deed and truth they are so in shadow and outward semblance and profession and yet but a counterfeit generation a bastardly brood Secondly There are some that are sonnes in regard of God but not in regard of us nor may so bee in regard of their owne esteeme neither and so are all the elect as yet uncalled and ungathered together as the Evangelist speakes Iohn 11.52 Iohn 11 52. they are for all that as Augustine sayes in their fathers role and predestinated to be adopted through Iesus Christ unto himselfe according to the purpose of his will Eph. 1.6 Eph. â— 6. as a man may purpose to adopt one and set him in his will though it be a long time ere it be knowne to the party so adopted 3. There are sonnes of God really that are already received into the family of God and actually incorporated into the body of Christ the former shall be but these are so already these are adopted and regenerated also and the son ship both by adoption and regeneration we shall find conjoyned Rom. 8.10 11. Rom. 8.10 11 where also hee makes one to argue the other This point also will appeare more evidently if we consider as before the ground and end of our Regeneration 1. The ground of our Regeneration as before of our Adoption is our union with Christ our head and this is wrought by faith on our part and by the spirit on Gods part First I say by faith on our part which is a most holy faith Iude ver 20. Iude 20. Tit. 1.1 Iam 2.19 to difference it from the faith of reprobates Tit. 1.1 and from the faith of devils Iam. 2.19 the one being holy the other unholy This faith of Gods Elect purifieth the heart Acts 15.9 and Act. 26.18 Acts 15.9 Acts 26.18 Eph. 3.17 Hereby Christ dwels in our hearts Ephes 3.17 and where he dwelleth there he moulds fashions frames and renues the heart there he makes a new Creature yea I may say a new Christ My little children of whom I travell in birth again untill Christ be formed in you saith the Apostle Gal. 4.19 Gal. 4.19 Secondly by the spirit on Gods part he that is joyned unto the Lord is one spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 1 Cor. 6.17 By which spirit it he knits and fastens us to Christ Gal. 2.20 Gal. 2.20 I live as the soule in the body yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the sonne of God And marke what the Apostle saith excellently to this purpose Rom. 8.10 11. Rom. 8.10 11. Yee are not in the flesh but in the spirit because the spirit of God dwelleth in you and verse 10. If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sinne but the spirit is life for righteousnesse sake and ver 11. If the spirit of him that raised up Iesus from the dead dwell in you hee that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodyes because of his spirit that dwelleth in you This is that seed of God which whosoever hath abiding in him hath the power of sinne quelled and subdued in him 1 Iohn 3.9 1 Ioh. 3.9 And unlesse yee be borne againe by water and the Holy Ghost saith our Saviour Iohn 3.5 Ioh. 3.5 Yee cannot enter into the kingdome of God The second thing that confirmes the point is the end of our Regeneration As the end of our Adoption is to give us a right and title to our heavenly inheritance so the end of this is to prepare and fit us for the same For unlesse we become new Creatures that place is not for us that is a pure and an holy place into the which no uncleane thing must enter Revel 21.27 Revel 21.27 If some beggarly roagne were taken up to attend upon some great man much more if to be the adopted son to a Prince he must be sâ—ript of all his ragges and washed and purified and even if it could be have a new heart put into him too as Saul had 1 Sam. 10.9 1 Sam. 10.9 and as Rehoboam took Abijah and set him to be ruler over the people and for â—hat purpose inscrâ—cted him that so he might demeâ—ne himselfe according to that state whereunto he was advanced so when we wretched and forlorne creatures are admitted not to be attendants only but to bee the sons and heyres of the King of â—eaven we should be stript of our naturall defilements and rid of our filthinesse Eph. 4.23 24. put off the old man Ephes 4.23.24 that so we may be fit to live with them which are holy as Acts 26.18 Acts 26.18 To have an inheritance among them that are sanctified without holinesse no man shall see God sayes the Apostle Heb. 12.14 Heb. 12.14 and except yee be borne againe saith our Saviour Iohn 3.3 Iohn 3.3 Ye cannot see the kingdome of God if wee cannot see God or his kingdome without holinesse much lesse can we enter into it and so we see the second point also proved Vse The Vse whereof serves first to informe us of the great dignity the honourable estate the wonderfull excellency of every true believer of every member of Christ so great and so high that the Apostle speakes not of it without admiration 1 Iohn 3.1 1 Iohn 3.1 Behold what love the Father hath shewed us in that we are called the sonnes of God And indeed it is a wonder that we can thinke of it without wondering When it was told David that he might be the Kings sonne in law what sayes David thinke you it a small matter to be the sonne in law to a King 1 Sam. 18.23 1 Sam. 18.23 How can we then thinke it a small thing to be not a sonne in law but an heire not to a mortall but to an immortall King the King of Kings How can wee but deeme it a speciall and unconceivable favour for us vile wretched wicked and miserable sinners dust and ashes silly wormes vessels of wrath and vassals
duties if thy aime be naught and you split upon the rocke of Selfe all is accursed Math. 6.23 Mat. 6.23 if thy light be darkenesse how great is that darkenesse that is if thy conscience be deluded thy case is sinfull This evill that comes by selfe-seeking appeares in three things First God entertaines no such sacrifice why it is that which is dishonourable unto God and can he accept it Isa 58.5 Isa 58.5 a company of hypocrites sought their pleasure now saith God canst thou call this a fast Is this such a day as I have chosen no I accept no such service Secondly God assists not hee rewards not any such service why should God doe the worke and we take the praise Matth. 6.3 Mat. 6 3. they gave almes to be seene of men but what followes you have your reward saith our Saviour as who should say you did it to be seene of men and you were seene I will not reward you you serve not God but Selfe let Selfe therefore reward you Thirdly it takes away the comfort of a mans conversation this will shake the soules of many hypocrites at the day of death after all the pains of outward performance of duty because hee sought himselfe he sinkes in sorrowes and all the Minâ—sters in the world and all the carnall friends under heaven cannot comfort him when carnall friends come and tell him he hath done so and so and hath beene an ancient Professor and a good neighbour c. yea saith hee I have served my selfe and not God in it therefore to hell I must and shall goe because of this this will breake the necke of many hypocrites when an humble selfe-denying heart though his abilities be but small yet being humble hearted his prayers shall be heard and accepted when the prayers of many a glorious Professour that was an hypocrite shall fall to the dust as therefore you would have your prayers heard flye away from this selfe-seeking Meanes 2 Secondly let us consider the good that comes by selfe-denying that it may wooe our hearts to it Now the good is double First it is the way to have our selves and whatsoever is in us not sinfull our safety comfort sufficiency credit it doth not remove these but onely rectifie them it is a groundlesse suspition of carnall hearts they thinke if they lay all at stake they must take their leave of all profit and comfort and all No denying of a mans selfe doth not take all these away but maintaines them The onely way for a subject to be preserved is to yeeld homage to his Prince but if a man prove traitor to the Crowne he shall be hanged for a traitor so life sufficiency safety are good subjects so farre as they serve God but if they take the wall of Gods will and will be rulers you may be hanged as traitors whereas otherwise you might have beene honoured as subjects Math. 16.25 Hee that loseth his life shall save it the losing of a mans life is the next way to save it it doth not take away pleasure rejoyce evermore though not in drunkennesse it proves a greater good then if we had served Selfe the denying of Selfe is the improving of Selfe and the renouncing of sinne is the next way to get pardon of it if we lay downe our wit behold a greater wisedome to direct us empty your selves of frothy vanities and you shall be wholly possessed of the glory of Christ who would not then change for a better Come out of Selfe and you shall have a Saviour 2 Cor. 6.17.18 2 Cor. 6.17 Come out of her my people and I will dwell in you come out of your owne power and the Lord will bestow strength lay downe God-selfe and the great God will cheere you Matth. 19.29 Mat. 19.29 they forsook their fathers and their nets and marke what Christ addes whosoever forsakes father or mother wives or children or lands for my sake and the Gospels shall receive an hundred fold that is you have taken delight in a carnall course lay downe those and you shall have a hundred fold more deny that selfe-loosenesse and you shall have joy unspeakeable and glorious if you have left riches you shall have unsearchable riches in Christ and what can you have more Secondly againe if wee can deny our selves God will not deny us the time will come we shall be ashamed of selfe-safety when the time of persecution approacheth or when the day of death comes and you are going the way of all flesh where then is the glory and beauty of all that you expected what now is become of your wit and policie that you doted upon then all those parts and gifts all that pride add stoutnesse all will faile you miserable comforters that they are now the carnall wretch will say I prized life before Christ now I must part from it here now is all the comfort I can finde in these I may goe to hell It is just God should deny us if we deny him God may say goe to those Gods whom you have honoured goe now to your Cups and Queanes and let them pacifie your consciences thus it is just God should deny us because we have denyed him but if we deny our selves God will not deny us Meanes 3 Thirdly maintaine in thy soule the authority of the truth thou seest the evill of Selfe and selfe-seeking and the good of selfe-denyall then let the commandement of God be above thee let that be the supreame over thy soule and be moved in the power of this There will be a God for ever in thy soule and therefore set up the truth and let that be the spring of thy actions and this will crush all privy pride and secret corruptions he that will free himself from being an hired servant must hire himselfe and it was the policy of David hee went to Achisâ— and then he thought himselfe free from Saul so give up thy selfe to â—he command of God so Saul and Selfe will not seeke after thee because there is a greater God there Rom. 8 2. Rom. 8.2 The law of the spirit of life hath made mee free from sinne and death looke to the word daily set up the 〈◊〉 of the spirit of life in thy heart and it will free thee from the law of sinne and death as now in conference in reproving of sinne a man would have his parts seene but set up a command reprove and doe all in vertue of that that Selfe may shake his eares and be gone Gal. 5.16 Gal. 5.16 Walke in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Many times the Saints are much perplexed because that selfe presseth into duties that they are weary of the worke they cannot pray but pride presseth in upon them though Selfe stirre yet fetch a command against it attend not to the stirre of distemper but take a command If there be a flaw in the Evidence of a mans land
word seeke the good of Ierusalem or our personall calling i. that estate and condition of life wherein we are placed to serve God in serving of men as to be a Magistrate or Minister a Master of a family or servant Now wee must obey God not onely in the duties of our generall calling but also of our particular that is a professour must not onely be a hearer of Gods word a receiver of the Sacraments buâ— he must looke that he be a good governour of his family to wife children and servants Iosuah 24.15 Ios 24.15 I and my house will serve the Lord. Fiftly commandements of God either respect the common sinnes of mans nature or the personall infirmities whereunto either by the temper of their bodies place where they live or persons with whom they live men are more subject then to others This difference I ground as also the practise of our obedience to God in it on the 18. Psalme Psal 18.23 where the Prophet professeth verse 23. I was upright also with him and have kept mee from my wickednesse To conclude then as wee desire to have comfort in our obedience as a testimony that we are in the state of grace wee must be carefull that wee cast an equall respect to the whole revealed will of God Third marke That new obedience where it flowes from the seede of grace in the heart is joyned with perseverance continuance holding out in the good wayes we walke in so that howsoever there be through our weakenesse and Sathans malice actuall infirmities yet there is alwaies an habituall disposition of the heart for well-doing Psal 119.112 Psal 119.112 Pro. 23.17 I have applyed my heart to fulfill thy statutes alway even unto the end Pro. 23.17 Let thine heart be in the feare of the Lord continually Luke 1.75 Luke 1.75 Wee are redeemed out of the hands of our enemies that wee should serve God in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of our life New obedience must not be onely in a good mood and then given over but it must be steddy constant Now we shall make tryall of the constancy of it 1 If we doe not lose our hold even when wee are provoked by many occasions and temptations unto evill then to forbeare and cleave close to the Lord is an argument of the truth of our obedience in regard of continuance It is nothing to be chaste where wee have no allurements to unchastity nothing to be meeke when no injuries to distemper us nothing to be good among good so are men that are starke naught but to be good among evill to be meeke in the midst of wrongs and injuries to be chast among unchast provocations that is the true meanes of discovery Out of temptation sinne forbeares us not we it and a Christian is no more for obedience then he is in the day of temptation if then he faint it is because his strength is small or nothing at all Noahs renowne was that he was righteous in that wicked age Lots commendation that hee was chaste in Sodome Iosephs chastity for ever approvâ—d for that it held out in the day of temptation the Philippians that they did shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation Phil. 2.15 Phil. 2.15 Secondly tryall of our constancy If wee hold out not dismayed with the many discouragements that Sathan and wicked men shall cast in our wayes Heb. 10.32 Heb. 10.32 c. c. It was the glory of the obedience of those Christians that they did undergoe many afflictions losse of goods content to be made a gazing stocke and yet in all they clave close to their profession knowing that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance so 2 Cor. 6.8 2 Cor. 6.8 Paul justifies his constancy in his Ministery in that he went through good report and evill report Thirdly the constancy of our obedience is knowne if when all outward helpes and furtherances are taken away we keepe our integrity perseverance in good duties Many men make a faire shew while they are propped up with some good helpers who afterwards fall away as if they had never beene the men The people served God all the daies of Iosua and the Eâ—ders that had seene the great works of God that hee had done for Israel but when he was dead they corrupted their waies Iudg. 2.18.19 Iudg. 2.18.19 Iehoash was to see to a good King while he was tutored by Iehoâ—ada the high Priest but after when flatterers came in the roome of good Iehoiada hee became a wicked Governour 2 Chron. 24.17 2 Chro. 24.17 So are there many wives good with good husbands servants orderly live within compasse with religious masters children while backed with good Governours but all these removed from them they faile in the practise of those former duties wherein they have given good hope so then by these notes we may discerne our obedience whether such as will deserve to be accounted as of a continuing nature that fades not if being thus tryed it holds its owne Fourth marke That this obedience is of a multiplying and growing nature it doth not stand at a stay but strives and gets strength it is still pressing forward in consultation daily how it may prevaile against his owne corruptions encrease in holinesse for this growth the Apostle prayes Col. 1.9 Col. 1.9 2 Thes 1.3.4 that they might increase in the acknowledging of God so 2 Thes 1.3 4. We give thanks that your faith increaseth exceedingly and the love of every one of you towards each other aboundeth Psal 92 13. Psal 92.13 Such as be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the house of our God they shall still bring forth fruit in their age Psal 84.7 Psa 84.7 they are said to goe from strength to strength till they appeare before GOD in Sion On the other side such whose obedience is not sound it decreaseth withers away comes in the end to nothing Thus far of the generall markes to try our obedience Now for the particular These are some speciall workes of the spirit which are honoured above others in this that they are badges of the estate of grace Among others I select these Marke 1. To love a good man as hee is good and beares the image of God is such a part and branch of new obedience as whereby a man may be assured that the Lord hath marked him out to eternall life for naturally wee hate all goodnesse as that which is a secret condemner of us and is opposite to our nature so that when we love the Brethren for goodnesse sake it is an argument that wee are crept out of our naturall estate 1 Iohn 3.14 1 Iohn 3.14 Wee know that we are translated from death unto life because we love the brethren hee that loveth not his brother abideth in death 1 Iohn 4.7 1 Iohn 4.7 Beloved let us love