his voice and live Joh. 5.21.25 And Paul tells us that our life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.4 He is the Fountain of the Water of Life which he invites men to come and drink Rev. 22.17 Joh. 7.37 And he tells us further in Joh. 11.25 that he is the Resurrection and the Life and that whoso findeth him findeth life Pro. 8.35 So that Regeneration is a new Life a Heavenly Life and the Life of Christ Secondly Light special and peculiar Light By Nature we are blind walk in darkness and know not whether we go because darkness hath blinded our eyes we know neither Christ nor our selves there is a Vail before our eyes so as that we cannot discern spiritual things and matters spiritually they are all Mysteries unto us and we cannot see them so as to love prize and esteem them more than our lusts and the things of this world So the Gospel tells us that by Nature we are in darkness Eph. 5.8 Acts. 20.18 and our calling is out of darkness 1 Pet. 2.9 and the Light that is Christ shined in darkness that is in mens hearts Joh. 1.5 And we are told that men by Nature are not only in darkness but that they love it or to abide in it Joh. 3.19 Now in Regeneration God causeth light to shine in our hearts to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 And we are brought out of darkness into marvellous light 1 Pet. 2.9 and by this light we are enabled to discern heavenly and spiritual things spiritually 1 Cor. 2.9 10 12 13 14 15. Our sin and hypocrisie from God hath brought us into a Dungeon of darkness and therefore it is absolutely necessary that God should give us spiritual light in Regenerating us to make us teachable and tractable to know his will and do it for without this Light we cannot know nor do it aright Thirdly Faith Christ gives men Faith that they may believe in him and in God the Father as he commands them to do Joh. 14.1 1 Pet. 1.21 1 Joh. 8.23 Joh. 6.22 Men have no Faith I mean no special and peculiar Faith of their own whereby they can rightly believe in Christ unto Salvation Heb. 10. ult and therefore they must have it from him and from him they have it in Regeneration for he is the Fountain of Faith as well as of Life and Light All things are delivered to him of the Father Matth. 11.27 and it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell Col. 1.19 that of his fulness men might receive Grace for Grace Joh. 1.16 Christ commands them to believe in him and tells them that in so doing they shall have Eternal Life Joh. 3.16 and that they may so believe and obtain Eternal Life he bestows of his own Faith upon them which is a part of their New Life or Regeneration This is a lively Faith 1 Pet. 1.3 of the Operation of God Col. 2.12 and it is given them in the behalf of Christ Phil. 1.29 And in Eph. 2.8 't is said not to be of our selves but the gift of God and presently subâ—oyns verse 10. that we are Gods workmanship created or regenerated in Christ Jesus unto good works whereof believing is the most excellent Joh. 6.29 And in 1 Pet. 1.3 the Apostle tells us and blesses God that he had begotten some Souls to a lively Faith or Hope which shews that Faith and Hope are part of the New Creation And the Faith whereby we believe in Christ unto the saving of our Souls is called the Faith of Christ Rom. 3.22 Eph. 3.11 12. The Faith that meer natural men have it is a dead Faith Jam. 2.20.26 but the Faith of Christ is a part of the Life of Regeneration We do not first believe that we may be quickned and Regenerated but we are first Regenerated by the Spirit of Faith and then we believe with a living lively and with a heart-purifying Faith Acts 15.9 Fourthly Hope Hope is a Grace of Christ and a part of our Regeneration or of the New Creature in us Hence Regenerate persons are called Children of Hope 1 Joh. 3.3 and in Col. 1.27 it is said that Christ is in them the Hope of Glory Unregenerate men are said to be without hope while they are without God in the world Eph. 2.12 and when they are savingly called or Regenerated they are said to be called in Hope Eph. 1.18 and all believers are called in one Hope Eph. 4.4 that is all have the same grace of Hope given them in their calling and in 1 Pet. 1.3 before-named they are said to be begotten again to a lively Hope by the Resurrection of Christ from the dead Fifthly Love Love is another Grace given from the God of all Grace in Regeneration Such as loved not God before above the Creature are enabled by Regenerating Love to love him mostly heartily obediently and constantly This Love is shed abroad into the heart by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 and God is said to give it to men by circumcising that is by regenerating their hearts Deut. 30.6 This is one of the Laws that God promises to write in their hearts Jer. 31.33 God requires men to love him with all their hearts minds and strength Matth. 22.37 and that they may so do he Regenerates them that is he gives them Regenerating Love and this Grace helps to compleat the work of Regeneration in us This Love is a Beam a drop of that Love wherewith he loves his Elect and therewith Regenerate persons love God again with the same love that he loves them it is the same for kind though not of the same degree so that he who loves not God with all his heart is not Regenerate but he that doth is certainly Regenerated Sixthly Fear Men have cast off the fear of God and fear not to offend him but God will be feared by men and requires them to do it all the day long Pro. 23.17 Men indeed are naturally afraid of Gods Judgments when they see or seel them but they are not afraid of provoking God by their disobedience and rebellion men have cast the fear of God behind their backs but God will have some hearers of him and therefore he puts it into their hearts Jer. 32.39 40. that with his Grace of holy fear they may indeed stand in awe of him and sin not Psal 4.4 There are no men in the world that fear God aright but Regenerate persons and the fear of God being a part of their Regeneration they do from the day of their New Birth begin to fear him and ever after they are called Fearers of God Psal 115. The Eye and Commands of God keep them in awe God hath put fear into men and beasts to be a means to cause them to preserve themselves and to keep them from hurting one another So in Regeneration God puts his holy spiritual fear into their hearts that they may not
and onely necessary things that God requires in them But good men cry watch and pray and do all they can to worship God in Spirit and Truth from their new Natures Root and spring within and the holy Ghost his assistance and without this they cannot be satisfied This is the mark they have in their Eye in all their addresses to God 6 Trusting in and liveing on Christ This is a special and peculiar work and duty which none can do but new Creatures But it is their work and business 2 Cor. 5.7 Heb. 10 38. Râ—â— 1.17 It is a duty that lies with power in their hearts and 't is of great account in their Souls They are commanded to live by faith and make God their onely Trust and in obedience thereunto they do it Isa 26.4 Psal 37.3.5 1 Pet. 5.7 Psal 62.8 They are called to live the life of faith and pure dependance on God for all things and they are furnished with abilities so to do The faith of Christ is written in their hearts and they have a kind of a natural Genious and disposition to it Thus we find Abraham David Paul and other Saints of God had and did It is a Liâ—â— far above and beyond the reach of nature and natural Reason and God works some to and for it by his Grace in Regeneration and presents unto them suitable grounds and objects for their faith to rest and live upon as his bonds or promises his covenant and oath his truth and faithfulness and his all sufficiency and immutability God presents to them his Sâ—â—s blood Death and Resurrection his natures and offices his intercession and potency with God to prevaile for them in Heaven and procure mercies for them and the fulness of Christ as furnished and filled with all Grace for them And upon these grounds and objects they reâ—â— and bear themselves There they fly for Refuge Pro. 18.10 and there and on them they live and wait for all supplies of Grace Phill. 4.19 And that when the Figtree doth 〈◊〉 blossome nor any herds are in the stall Habuck 3.17 18 19. For what ever God hath promised to his people they claim a share in and can trust him to give it to them in his own time and way To instance in some particulars 1 God hath promised to pardon them Isa 55. â— they can and do believe him and rest upon his for it 2 Hath God promised to give Repeâ—tance they can believe and trust him 3 To heal their Back-slidings and love them freely Hoseâ— 14.4 They can believe and trust him 4 To pour out more of the spirit and abundance 〈◊〉 grace Acts. 2. Joh. 10. they can trust him 〈◊〉 Hath God promised to give grace and â—â—y and to supply all their wants Psal 84.11 â—â—on 4.8 and never to leave them nor forsake 〈◊〉 Heb. 13.5 they can and do believe and â—â—st him 6 Hath God promised to subdue 〈◊〉 Lusts and sanctify their hearts Ezek. 36.25 〈◊〉 Micah 7.18.19 they can and do believe aâ—d trust him 7 Hath God promised to hear â—eir prayers Psal 50.15 Help their infirmitites 〈◊〉 8.26 Accept their offerings Isa 56.7 â—eward their Services 2 Cron. 15.7 and to â—â—ep them by his power through faith unto salvatiâ—â— 1 Pet 1.5 they can and do believe and trust him upon his word They do commit â—eir all to and leave their all with him and are â—â—isfied in their so doing They believe all is â—afe and sure that is entrusted in his hand and glad they are that they have themselves and their all in his custody It is true they have â—heir fits of unbelief and do too often distrust God and in measure let go their Anchor hold but they recover themselves and what they â—ave lost again when the Tempest is over and they are in a Calm It is one of their great works and employments notwithstanding to trust God and live the life of faith and that upon choice and with their whole desire and in the general course of their Lives they are enabled by Grace to reach and live it whateâ—er oppositions are in their way Therefore it is that they are called Believers and Trusters of God by the holy Ghost in Scripture namely because it is their proper Life to which they are called in Regeneration and that which they do choose and endeavour to Live But unregenerate persons do not live this Life at all They have no acquaintance with it neither know they what it means experimentally but onely upon hear-say they are not regenerated and therefore are still in a state of unbelief and impenitency They have no living faith at all neither do they heartily desire it They are called unbelievers 2 Cor. 6.14 15. Revel 21.8 because they have no special faith to trust God withal and do not live the Life of faith 7 They are called to regenerated for and exercised about all sorts of holy duties and heavenly things They live in Heaven and Trade in Heaven Revel 13 6. Phil. 3 20. In a word their business is to acquaint themselves with their Fathers and Husbands Laws and their dâ—ties and to love and obey them with their promises and the good of them that they may believe them and hope upon them and to suck out the hony and sweetness of them for their consolation and peace and to encourage them in their duty and walking with God and they acquaint themselves with their God and Saviour and the great things of another world These are their good things and they allure and draw their minds and affections to them In them and the contemplation of them do they delight They feel taste and see the Goodness of them and are greatly enamored with them They have their hearts and that causes them so much to converse with them and Trade in them and with them They know it is their duty to live and converse with them because God hath so commanded Coll. 3.1.2.3 and they do it in obedience thereunto But that is not all the Reason of their so doing no but they do it because these things and matters are their Spiritual and everlasting Treasures In them lies all their durable riches honour comfort and happiness They are sweet to their tast and pleasant to the eye and they are the onely Good and Portion of their souls Math. 6.21 Coll. 2.3 They have nothing else to trust to nor any thing besides that can satisfy the wants and craving desires of their Souls For these ends and purposes are they born again and set here in this world and for these ends and purposes are they kept and maintained their hearts have chosen all they love all and their desires and endeavours to go out after to reach them all About them their minds judgments understandings consciences wills affections and their all are busied and imployed and that as in and about their own proper and constant work and business But other men do wholly mind work and imploy themselves in other
not and that when you thought you saw your selves in a safe and secure state and would by no meanes believe the contrary of your selves For you were held in the chaines of Spiritual Darkness But now you are priviledged with spiritual saving light Now you are Light in the Lord Children of Light brought â—â—t of darkness into marvellous Light and you may now walk as Children of Light in the light of Christ Eph. 5.8 1 Pet. 2.9 Now you are no more Fools but Wise Eph. 5.15 For the wisdome of Christ is in you And you are delivered from that hardness and impenitency of hearts under which you were as prisoners â—â—n 2.4.5 Your regenerating Grace hath sâ—â—tned and melted you broken your hearts and made your Consciences soft and tender so that you who were once hard-hearted Sauls are now mourning Pauls and you who were hard-hearted Nabels are now weeping Jereâ—â—es This is certainly your priviledge in your regenerate states 7. You are freed from that pernitious self that hâ—â—d you Captives in its Chains Before your Regeneration you were enslaved to your selves You were not onely servants to your Lusts but to your selves also You were kept from Christ by your carnal self and spiritual self your selfulness self-righteousness self-abilities and self-confidences ruled and swayed you disswaded and beguiled you from believing repenting and seeking after Regeration You were wedded to your own conceits and misguided apprehensions of your selves and yielded up your selves to their counsels and delusion Self was in the Top and Bottome of all so as that you could not once think seriously of your selves states and ways and of Regeneration and how to be saved but one self or other would interpose to draw hold you back from prosecuting what was begun in and by you For by and by they would arise and appeare to you telling you that all was well You had enough of this and that to make you happy and therefore what need to trouble your selves about such matters But eat drink and be merry for you have much goods laid up in store for many yeares Luk. 12.19 Therefore says self-ease and self-confidence and security thou hast Righteousness and worthiness worldly comforts and abilities enough to make the a happy man here and hereafter and that is enough for thee for what wouldst thou have But now you are delivered by Grace from the power and reigning prevelency of your captivating Selfe which is a great priviledge 2. You are not only freed from these and many other evils and bondages but you are set at liberty and freed to many other priviledges also I shall name a few 1. you are made Free-men for God You are 't is true his Servants but your condition and service is not your bondage but your liberty freedome and priviledge And therefore the servants of God are called his free-men as was shewed 1 Cor. 7.22 And Rom. 6.22 They are said to be made free from Sin and become the Servants of God and so have their fruit unto holiness you are made 〈◊〉 to serve God without fear in holiness and Righâ—â—â—sness all your dayes Luk. 1.73.74 This is a â—â—eedome or priviledge which you had not the enjoyment of when you were unregenerated but now it is yours you are freed from â—any Bondages and made free to and for his service which is most easy 2. You are made free to serve God without fear Cheâ—â—fully Obediâ—â—tly Joyfully and in Faith and Hope of pleasing God and being assisted accepted and rewarded of 〈◊〉 which you could not do before It was not your priviledge neither had you wherewithal to do it before you were Regenerated and made new Creatures by his spirit and grace But now being such you are in a Capacity to do it and you can and will so serve God You are made free not onely to do God service but so to serve him that is freely readily chearfully joyfully thankfully and in faith and hope yea you may now serve him obediently too namely with the Gospel obedience of Children or Child like obedience 1 Pet. 1.14.3 You are freed and priviledged to be fellow Citizens of the Saints and of the houshold of God Eph. 2.19 you are Incorporated with them in the heavenly Jerusalem and made partakers of their Charter of their liberties Immunities and have the pririledge of Trading where they Trade and in the same heavenly commodities which until you were regenerated you could not do 4. You are freed and priviledged to and with all the fullness of Christ and good of the Covenant of Grace For by the Spirit and Grace of God in your Regeneration you are put into Christ and under all the Grace and Blessings of the Covenant You are in a capacity of receiving and in a condition of claiming them They are all yours by Gods everlasting Grant of them to Christ for you and in your behalf 2 Tim. 1.9 Tit. 1.2 They were given or granted to you and Christ received them for you when you were given to Christ in election and Christ accepted and received you at the hand of God Joh. 17.6 Thine they were and thou gavest them me This was hid from you before you were Regenerated but now they are brought to light and entailed on you as regenerate persons And the way is opened to you to find and take them to claim and fetch them to apply and appropriate them unto your selves These are some of your priviledges and immunities as you are Gods freemen I could name many more but that I may not be large beside my intendment 3. You are Pardoned and Justified All your Sins and Iniquities are cross'd out of Gods Book and cast out of his remembrance They are all put on the head of the scape Goat and sent away into the wilderness or land of forgetfulness never to return any more to you or be layd to your Charge And you are fully acquitted and cleared from all Guilt and Punishment as the fruit and wages of Sin The Righteousness of Christ is accounted and imputed to you and your sins guilt and punishment to Christ and so you are declared just and righteous in Law and you are made the lighteousness of God in him Jer. 31 34. Heb. 10.17 2 Cor. 5. ult Rom. 4.24 25. Isa 53.11 All such as God sanctifies he justifies Rom. 8.29 30. that by the first fruits of their sandification which is their Regeneration they might be enabled to believe to justification of â—â—fe as the Apostle speaks Rom. 5.18 and unto the saving of the Soul Heb. 10. ult for by the Faith they obtain in Regeneration they do so believe as to be justified not for but through or by their believing You may henceforth all your dayes pray for believe and expect the Pardon of your daily sins of all sorts of sins and that notwithstanding your frequent slips and failings you shall not be laid under guilt and be any more unjustified or put into an unjustified state But you may freely
22.37 That is thou shalt not faile to serve thy God with thy all Thus David did Psal 119.10 With my whole heart have I sought thee And in Psal 103.1.2 Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy name For doing this the poor Widow was much commended namely for casting into the Treasury her all Mark 12.41 ult Her mites was her offering to God the matter was small indeed not worth the minding among men I but it was her all and so it was of great account with Christ The question is not about the quantity whether the offering be much or little but whether it be thy all or no. We are often tempted to put off God with part of our all and with pretence for our so doing But let us take heed and beware of this grosse and horrible Hipocrisy for God will not long winck at it When we have been tempted to do so then we are put upon studying and makeing excuses when we have Napkind up our Talents and not brought them forth then we had them not and when we have laid aside our strength or not stir'd it up to practice then alass we are poor weak Creatures then we complain of wants and weaknesses when in truth it is our wickedness and carelesness But take heed and beware of this Temptation and deceit Sixthly You must be singular and peculiar in all things and in all your wayes towards God and men There should yea there must be as great a difference between you and unregenerate men as between light and darkness good and evil For you are a holy people unto God Children of light and a Special and a peculiar people indeed Deut. 7.6 Eph. 5.8 Tit. 2.14 You are of a divine make and of a heavenly descent and are born to and for higher and more noble Acts Works and Employments and to more excellent frames carriages than others are Therefore you must exceed and go beyond others in all manner of holy conversations and godliness that thereby you may declare and hold forth your distinguishing Characters and manifest what Grace can do beyond nature I shall for brevity sake give you but hints of several things that you should be singular in In the general you must be singular in all those works frames of heart carriages duties and deportments which are yours or in an especial manner required of you as new creatures and which other men are unacquainted withall 1. As First The excercise of all Graces in external duties In all the worship and ordinances of God and in all religious matters you must call up bring forth and exercise all the Graces of the Spirit There must not one hooff be left behind of your Graces when you worship God but all must be employed in it Your faith Love knowledge zeal hope patience c. whatever is entrusted in your hands to worke and worship God withall must concur and work together in the doing of it 2. Self-denial This is alwaies necessary in all your walkings with God For one accursed Self or other will alwaies be interposing opposing and intercepting of you to hinder and obstruct you or to mar and utterly spoil your duties and performances You are called off from serving and gratifying self to the serving and pleasing of God and you are called to the constant work of Self-denial and therefore you must do it Againe you must be singular in Watching and guarding in keeping and defending your selves against all your spiritual Enemies within and without and you must keep on and make continual use of your Spiritual Armour and fight down all such Adversaries as raise up against you Eph. 6 11-18 1 Tim. 6.12 These are some of the many workes and duties that you must be continually exercised about and employed in 〈◊〉 which you shall find true peace and comfort Secondly You must expect many assaults and â—â—â—ng attempts upon you from all the Enemies of your Souls The Devil world and Lusts will continually endeavour to tempt draw and ensnare you to and in all evil They will not let you â—one but be alwayes watching you and improveing all their opportunities against you â—ight and day in all places and businesses to â—â—tice and perswade you to sin against God and men to cause you to rob God wrong your own Souls and injure men and they are Subtle and potent But I may not enlarge at present And therefore shall only mention some of the many obligations God hath laid on and encouragements he hath given you to walk with 〈◊〉 unto all well pleasing in your new states Remember what God hath made you what excellent pieces of his Work-manship you are and what expences the Lord Jesus hath been at and hid out to make you a peculiar people unto himself He will never leave you nor forsake you but water you every moment keep you night and day supply all your wants keep you by his mighty power and guide you by his Counsels until he shall receive you unto his glory Heb. 13.5 Phill. 4.19 Isa 27.3 1 Pet. 1.5 Psal 73.24 The holy Ghost shall abide with you for ever Joh. 14.16 impart to and convey into your Souls all the fullness of Christ Joh. 16.13.14.15 and whatever Christ hath is yours His Joy Peace Life Light Strength Love and Glory is your 1 Cor. 3. and you may go to and have free access to him for all that is his FINIS Reader I intreat thee to mend and pass 〈◊〉 charitable Judgment on the faults thou wilâ— find in thy Reading which are not thâ— Authors but the Printers The chiefest 〈◊〉 them are here noted PAge 3. l. 14. put out of p. 20. l. 4. put out word p. 25. l. 〈◊〉 for hypocrisy r. apostacy p. 28. l. 12. for hearers r. feaâ—â— p. 49. l. 13. for verities r. verilies p. 59. l. 8. r. repossessâ— p. 62. l. 28. r. meetening p. 63. l. 25. r. fixed p. 70. l. 9. 〈◊〉 for knowing r. making l. 33. put of before or p. 71. l. 12. 〈◊〉 can p. 72. l. 31. for will r. we p. 85. l. 21. r. external p. 1â— l. 8. r. they p. 118. l. 6. r. shining p. 119. l. 12. r. Regenerâ—â—â— p. 124. l. 30. r. will p. 129. l. 11. r. accompanied with p. 1â— l. 23. for of r. as p. 137. l. 9. for will 5. glory p. 139. l. 31. 〈◊〉 this r. thy p. 145. l. 13. r. abase p. 148. l. 34. r. laid p. 1â— l. 18. r. cause p. 155. l. 20. put out the l. 21. r. upon p. 160. 〈◊〉 r. Jer. p. 173. l. 25. r. unregenerate p. 177. l. 22. for but r. 〈◊〉 p. 179. l. 9. r. an p. 185. l. 20. for to r. do p. 188. l. 7. 〈◊〉 that p. 192. l. 13. r. the l. 32. r. conversion p. 196. l. 17. 〈◊〉 out ly p. 197. l. 34. r. and themselves about p. 200. l. 13. â— unregenerate p. 204. l. 2. for now r. know p. 207. l. 11.1 〈◊〉 p. 208. l. 34. for now r. nor p. 214. l. 22. r. bequeathed p. 2â— l. 10. r. own p. 223. l. 32. r. your
when he proffers you the use and enjoyment of all They are your Priviledges and you need them Christ hath commanded you to observe them all and appointed to nourish comfort and educate your Souls in his Churches and with his Ordinances there Therefore do as the Primitive Converts were wont to do joyn your selves to some Church or Society of Regenerate Christians that there you may be fed with the Bread of Life The doors stand open for you and the Lord Jesus waâ—ts there for you to invite you in and welcom you You need the Lords Supper to strengthen and confirm you and the Communion of Saint 〈◊〉 a Church-state as means to secure and preserve you But I can only mention these things leaving the inlargement of them to your selves 6. If you find any good or profit to your Souls in and by my Ministry and Writing bless God and ascribe all the glory to him for all belongs to him and to him only But forget not to pray for me that I may be enabled by Divine Assistance to fulfil my Ministry and continue to hand out the Gospel of Salvation to you that the Name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified and your Souls profited and that I may be blameless before God and Men. 7. And lastly Continue in the good work and ways you have taken in hand and begun to walk in Have your eyes always to Jesus Christ keep fast hold of him and let your whole dependance be on him In him are all your Springs and it is he that hath the keeping of your Stock of Grace He can and will supply you with all Grace and preserve you unto his Heavenly Kingdom Therefore live upon and stay your selves on him Run your Race and finish your course in his hand and you shall obtain the End of your Faith the Salvation of your Souls Which that you may do is the prayer and earnest desire of Your Cordial Friend S. F. ETERNAL GLORIFICATION BEGUN IN REGENERATION OR A Discourse of Regeneration From John 3.3 Jesus answered and said unto him verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Beloved I Shall begin this Lecture which you have desired and are now waiting on with the Doctrin of Regeneration because it is one of the great fundamental and Soul-saving Doctrins that you should first understand and be early and experimentally acquainted withall Here God begun with Ignorant and unregenerate Nicodemus and here he begins to open the door of everlasting Life unto such as he will save and by Regeneration you must begin to seek for and expect Salvation and eternal Glory It is the Lords fixed and constant way to send down and infuse into the hearts of men the first fruits of Heaven in order to his possessing them in the fullness of everlasting Glory in Heaven The seeds of special grace sown in the Soul in Regeneration are the earnests and first fruits of Heavens glory And as it is a certain Truth that without Regeneration here men cannot be saved hereafter so it is as certain that whoever are really Regenerated here they shall be saved hereafter This is a Truth that nearly concerns every one of you and therefore requires your serious attention and consideration for here God will begin to save you if ever you be saved The words in the Text are spoken by Jesus Christ unto Nicodemus as you may read in the 1. 2. verses The subject matter of the Text is or contains Regeneration or the Renovation of men in order to their eternal Salvation and they are spoken to and intended for us as well as Nicodemus because we are all by nature in as had and miserable a condition as he and stand in as much need of Regeneration and the Doctrin thereof as Nicodemus did when Christ spake these words to him and therefore observe how Christ words the matter verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again That is unless thou Nicodemus to whom I do now immediately direct my Doctrin and other persons in thy present case and condition except a man that is thou or any other man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God so vers 5. And it is observable how the Lord Jesus ushers in the matter or Doctrin of Regeneration in the Text and vers 5. t is with a double asseveration verily verily Text and again verily verily 5. vers which informs us of these four things First that the matter of Christ was speaking of was a very great and weighty matter indeed and such as Nicodemus and other men were indispensibly bound on pain of eternal death to take notice of and concern themselves about with all possible diligence and faithfulness for it was for their Lives except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God that is he cannot be saved And therefore he quickens and provokes the minds of men to ponder the matter and lay it to heart by his verily and verily I say c. 2. That we are dull of hearing and slow of heart to believe and apply this great Doctrin to our own Souls but to imagin and fancy that we stand in no or very little need of it and therefore may overlook slight and neglect it as most men do 3. That the Lord Jesus is very serious hearty and earnest with men in perswading them to seek after Regeneration and that he doth really and unfainedly desire to see them serious in that so great concern of theirs and to labour after it to purpose 4. That there is such a thing as Regeneration and that men may be Regenerated if they will not slight and oppose it These and other such things were in the eye and heart of Christ towards men in speaking thus to them which he would have them believe and think on in his verilies I shall have occasion in my proceedures to speak further to this Text and therefore shall speak no more of it now but proceed to what I intend to commend to your serious considerations These are the most material heads I am to discourse on which I shall do by way of Question and Answer Quest What is Regeneration wherein does it consist or what does it contain or import Answ Regeneration is a special powerful and saving work of God on a sinner changing and renewing his whole man by infusing a measure of the Spirit and special grace of Christ into him through the Ministry of the Gospel and that for holy and gracious ends and purposes This is the best definition I can give you of Regeneration and I think it will serve and do well enough if rightly understood and improved by you If any material thing be found wanting it may be afterward supplied I shall take abroad the parts of the definition and briefly clear and prove it and then proceed First You have the Author and Worker of Regeneration that is God God is the
sole and only Author of it without the help or assistance of men God needs none of their help neither can they afford him any at all towards their Renovation and therefore it is God alone For first men are all dead in sins and Trespasses Eph. 2.1 5. and therefore cannot move themselves to produce new habits or principles of that they have not nor can they set forward the great work of Regeneration in themselves for want of Life to act withall 2. Blind They are in gross darkness Isa 60.2 They cannot so much as see where nor what they are nor where they are going Joh. 12 35. They are born blind and continue such They see not the Light that shines round about them Joh. 1.5 much less can they direct themselves in procuring or forwarding their own Regeneration 3. There is nothing in them to make use of towards the production of it but very much to impede and hinder the work They will it not neither will they suffer God to do it until he hath mightily perswaded and bowed them to yield Phil. 2.13 Psal 110.3 therefore it is not in them to work it in themselves As they will not come to Christ that they may have Life Joh. 5.40 so they will not have him to come and create his Life in them Therefore it must be of God alone without the concurrance of second causes in men And I say 't is the work of God and not of one of the glorious persons only although the work be especially attributed to the holy Ghost but God the father hath his Almighty hand imployed in the work Eph. 1.19 20. 1 Pet. 1.3 and so hath Jesus Christ his son too Joh. 5.21 Joh. 10.10 so it is also the holy Spirits work Joh. 3.5 Tit. 3.5 The Reasons why the Scripture tells us all the persons in the God-head have their hand in the work of Regeneration are First to shew and impress a deep sense of the exceeding greatness and excellency of the work on the hearts of Regenerate persons that they might be induced thereby to admire and value it and to have it in high esteem as a most excellent and glorious work indeed which had so many hands of infinite wisdom power and love exercised and imployed about the effecting of it 2. That they might be directed and provoked thereby to ascribe all the glory unto all the three persons and not to the holy Ghost only 'T is true that men unregenerate ought to use Gods means in order to Regeneration they are to hear the Gospel preached read the Scriptures and good Books and to pray to God to Regenerate them because God hath commanded them so to do Ezek. 36.25 26 27 37. Luk. 11.13 and also because they are the ways and means of Gods own appointing for their Regeneration whereby he will work it Jam. 1.18 Rom. 10. Joh. 15.3 But yet your using the means and waiting in them cannot Regenerate you until God put forth his Almighty power in them and form a new Creature in you God tells us again and again that it is his work alone and that there is none to help him Eph. 2.8 9 10. Tit. 3.5 to take off all boasting from men and that he that glories might glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1.31 'T is said to be a special powerful and saving work of God to distinguish it from those common and ordinary works or workings of God on many which never arises to or Issues in real Regeneration on their Souls First it is a special work it differs not only in the degree or measure of it but in the kind There is a specifical difference between what God works in and bestows upon such as he Regenerates and others who are never Regenerated although he bestows many Spiritual gifts on them 1. In the root and spring of his gifts and favours Namely his Love in Christ That is the Fountain and efficient cause of their Regeneration or of the grace and power whereby they are Regenerated Eph. 2.4 5. Deut. 7.6.7 c. God had loved and chosen them in the Lord Jesus to be a peculiar people unto himself and therefore Regenerates and makes them such by his grace But God doth not so love others neither hath he chosen them in Christ and Sanctified them to his use to be his peculiars and therefore he never effectually Regenerates them Rom. 9.21 22 23 24 25. And yet no one person is denied Regenerating grace but such as by their own wickedness do procure it unto themselves and therefore none shall have cause to complain of partial unjust or cruel dealing from the God of Truth with whom is no unrighteousness 2. There is a difference in the grace its self although it is hard to express and clear it to your Apprehensions yet a wide difference there is between the grace and gifts of the Spirit on men some are awakened enlightened and reformed by the holy Ghost which never are indeed Regenerated I shall not discourse of the differences here but only shall tell you that special grace hath virtue in it to enliven as well as to enlighten to quicken dead Souls and revive dead hearts as well as to enlighten the head Common grace may put Light into the head but never quickens and enlivens the heart but special grace doth both and that from its own nature and tendancy for it is given for that end Namely to cause the dead to live and the blind to see Spiritual things Spiritually 1 Cor. 2. There is a generative and renewing nature and virtue in the one that is not in the other But more of this elsewhere 3. There is also a specifical difference in the ends special grace is given by the God of Love and from the Love of God to some to conform them to and mould them for the Lords special use and service to make them lovely and aimable pleasing and delightful to him that he may delight in them and they in him and be made capable of Communion with himself 1 Cor. 1.9 Joh. 14.21 23. 1 Joh. 1.3 That they may be vessels of honour fitted for his use live to him and not unto themselves 2 Tim. 2.20 21. 2 Cor. 5.14 15. and also that they may live in the fruition and presence of God for ever in another world But now common graces are not given for these ends because they cannot effect them They leave men in as bad a state as they found them in Their hearts are not changed neither made new Creatures by them but remain under the reign and power of their lusts and are Lovers and obeyers of them under their common grace 2. It is the powerful work of God that is Regenerating grace is Irresistable It carries all before it and prevails It is mighty in opposing resisting and conquering all its Enemies to prosecute and obtain its ends which the common works of God are not as experience shews where Regenerating grace comes it dislodges Satan and
turns him out of his Throne Luk. 11.21.22 Luk. 10.18 It silences carnal self and fells down lusts Gal. 1.16 makes the old man bow down yea and all the strong-holds of sin and Satan fall before it 2 Cor. 10.4.5 It will not be baffled as common grace is for that gives place to Lusts and Temptations upon every assault but Regenerating grace is so mighty and powerful as that it takes the strongest Castles disarmes the stoutest Souldiers and levels the strongest and highest Bulworks of sin world and devil so that it effectually subdues and captivates all opposers and oppositions whatsoever and makes the whole Soul to yeild subjection to and comply with it It makes men willingly desert their old delights break their former confederacies and to put themselves under the yoke of Christ and chuse his service 3. It is a saving work of God It is not for a time as the common work of grace is Math. 13.20 21. but it is for ever Regeneration is little in the seed but grows to a great Tree Men are Regenerated for Salvation 2 Cor. 5.1 6. and it will not fail or miss of its end Regeneration is the eaâ—nest and first fruit of Salvation and Gods power is engaged to nourish and keep it to Salvation 1 Pet. 1 3 4 5. therefore they cannot lose the very end of it God would never bestow the grace of Regeneration on men if he had not first designed their eternal Salvation to be obtained in that way but he having decreed and appointed designed and determined the saving of Souls by or through Regeneration all that he Regenerates shall be saved And therefore I call it the saving work of God because it shall certainly Issue in their everlasting Salvation notwithstanding their oppositions weaknesses and sins 3. The subjects of Regeneration Namely sinners that is Ignorant vile wicked and abominable men Not such as have purified themselves made satisfaction to God for former injuries such as are worthy or meet for the grace of God or such as are friends and to whom God is engaged for any goodness of theirs or service they have done him no but God of his free grace Regenerates sinners while they are yet sinners and ungodly God finds them sinners and by Regeneration makes them Saints of hateful persons he makes them lovely and beloved of enmies he makes them friends and of strangers he makes them intimates God says unto men in their blood live Ezek. 16.6 Tit. 3.3 4 5. and the vilest of sinners he washes 1 Cor. 6.9 10.11 Rom. 3.9 20. Therefore here is great encouragement for all willing sinners how vile filthy and abominable soever they have been that they may be Regenerated and made new Creatures 4. Regeneration changes and renews the whole man It is powerful and effectual on the whole body Soul and Spirit to revive quicken and renew it It affects every part and 't is influential to prosecute and obtain its ends throughout As the natural Life diffuses its self into every part of the man so doth the new Spiritual Life in Regeneration 1 Thes 5.23 The understanding is thereby enlightened 1 Pet 2.9 2 Cor. 4.6 the will is sanctified and drawn to choose and close up with the promises Christ and the Covenant of grace and with the whole will of God Isa 56.4 Psal 119.30 Psal 110.3 Phil. 2.13 Col. 2.6 The mind is Spiritualized and set on heavenly objects Phil. 3.20 2 Cor. 3. ult Rom. 8.5 The affections are quickened enlivened and run Heaven-ward being risen to a new Life with Christ Col. 3.1 2. in a word the Conscience is made tender and active to do its work and the whole of his conversation is changed all things are become new 2 Cor. 5.17 The grace of God hath in measure seasoned and leavened the whole man within and without there is not a faculty or member of Soul or Body untoucht but grace runs thorow every part But more of this anon For I am now but pointing out to you the parts of the definition of Regeneration 5. Regeneration is wrought by infusing a measure of the holy Spirit and special grace of Christ into a man In Joh. 3.3 men are said to be born from Heaven and vers 5. to be born of the Spirit The Spirit is called the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8.9 and the grace of Christ 2 Cor. 13. ult and this Spirit and grace of Christ is said to be in men Rom. 8.11 and Christ by them dwells in men Eph. 3.17 and says God in the New Covenant I will put my Spirit within them and a new heart will I give them Sprinkle clean water on them and make them clean Ezek. 36.25 26 27. So he puts his fear into mens hearts Jer. 32.39 40. and sheds abroad his love in them Rom. 5.8 A Believers new state is twofold 1. A state of Justification 2. Regeneration Justification is Gods imputing the Righteousness of Christ to him acquitting and discharging him of Guilt and Condemnation pardoning all his sins revoking the Sentence of the Law given out against him removing the Curse and remitting the punishment due to him and graciously accounting and declaring him perfectly righteous in Christ and receiving and accepting him into favour and friendship 2 Cor. 5. ult 1 Cor. 1.30 Isa 53. Rom. 4. Gal. 3. This is not Regeneration though Justification and Regeneration are never separated for Regeneration is the work of God within us Justification is the Act of God without us Regeneration is not our Justification neither is Justification our Regeneration although all that are Regenerated are also Justified There is a great difference between the one and the other which we must carefully understand and consider well lest we confound what ought to be distinguished God doth not Justifie us by Regenerating us they are two distinct Acts or works of God towards us and so we ought to understand and make improvement of them Therefore I say in defining Regeneration that it is the work of God infusing the Spirit and Grace of Christ into us that you may distinguish it from Gods Act in Justifying us for many poor Souls do miserably confound them 6. Regeneration is wrought by the Ministry of the Gospel God doth ordinarily Regenerate men by the Preaching of the Gospel By mens Preaching and hearing of the Gospel the holy Ghost is given unto men to to change their hearts and make them new Creatures Acts 10.44 Gal 3.2 The Gospel shews us that faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.17 that is God works faith and all other graces in men by it as in and by his own ordinance By this Instrument he begets us again to a lively hope Jam. 1.18 1 Pet. 1.3 It is the power of God to Salvation Rom. 1.16 and Christ tells us Joh. 5.25 that the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God and they that hear shall live So Isa 55.3 This is Gods engin whereby he pulls down strong holds levels mountains and
and men Abimelech did so with respect to Abraham and Sarah Gen. 20.5 to which God gave his testimony namely that it was so indeed verse 6. Paul while unregenerate had a great deal of Moral Integrity I have says he walked in all good Conscience before God until this day Acts 23.1 Mark it I have walked in all good Conscience before God he speaks of his carriages towards God in his unconverted state To the same purpose he speaks of himself in Acts 26.4 5 9. But when he declares his sincerity and integrity in walking before God in his Regenerate State he gives us another account of it 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity or as the Greek word reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that in or with the simplicity and sincerity of God we have had our Conversation and also by says he the Grace of God to distinguish his Evangelical and gracious integrity from his moral and old sincerity or integrity he had whilest a Pharisee and in an unregenerate condition And Paul further tells us in Phil. 3.6 that concerning the Law he was blameless that is he did act and walk according to his Knowledge and Conscience These seeming Graces and good works look like Regeneration special Grace and real good works but in truth they are not so These are commonly taken for such and men conclude that they are Regenerate and in a happy condition because they find such things as these in and by themselves but assuredly such good things may be in you and done by you in your unregenerate states yea you may fear God and love God and be in many things conscientious men you may love the People of God desire their Society and wish your Souls in their condition and yet be unregenerate men you may be meek humble useful and desirable men and be taken and accepted respected and honoured by and of the best of men as good and holy men and all that while be in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity therefore it nearly concerns you to be serious and diligent in examining and trying your selves whether or no you be such as you seem to be lest you continue to seem to be what you are not and so delude men and deceive your own Souls harden your selves in a presumptious confidence and flatter your selves to everlasting destruction I could have presented you with many other things that look like Regeneration but I may speak something more of this matter when I shall characterize Regenerate persons or open Regeneration on another Head 2. But I shall now give you a fuller explication of the great work of Regeneration the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and signifies a new or second state This is a compound word of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 again and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Generation So Regeneration is a New Birth or as Peter expresses it a being born again 1 Pet. 1.23 The word is used in Tit. 3.5 and in Matth. 19.28 In Titus it is meant of the first Regeneration or change of state here but in Matthew it may import the state of Grace here and Glory hereafter The words in the Text and in 1 Pet. 1.23 which are rendred born again are of the same import and signifie the same thing or work of God on men and so do those expressions of begetting 1 Pet. 1.3 Jam. 1.18 Indeed the work of Regeneration is variously expressed and set out in Scripture by many significant and divers words and phrases to shew us that it is a great and glorious work of God on sinners to commend it the more to our consideration and acceptance to explain and make it the clearer to our understandings and to quicken and perswade us to seek after it in good earnest to esteem and value it and to move Regenerate persons to much thankfulness for it and to provoke to walk worthy of it to convince men that it is too great a work for them to do that they are beholding to Free Grace and Omnipotent Power for it and to lay them low and make them vile in their own eyes Now Regeneration is exprest and set out to us in the Gospel sometimes by renewing us Col. 3.10 Heb. 6.6 sometimes by making us partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and stamping the Image of God on us Col. 3.10 Eph. 4. sometimes 't is expressed by Gods writing his Law in our hearts Jer. 31.33 Heb. 10.16 and by circumcising hearts Deut. 30.6 sometimes by shedding abroad his love and putting his fear into them Rom. 5.5 Jer. 32.39 40. as also by quickning the dead Eph. 2.1.5 Joh. 5.21.25 sometimes by Creation or creating them in Christ Jesus unto good works Eph. 2.10 Col. 2.10 sometimes by putting off the old man and putting on the new Col. 2.9 10. Eph. 4.22 23 24. sometimes by translation or by translating us from death to life 1 Joh. 3.14 and out of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ Col. 1.13 sometimes by opening blind eyes and turning men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 26.18 sometimes by Gods working us to will and do Phil. 2.13 and working us for this self-same thing 2 Cor. 5.5 that is preparing us for another world and sometimes by calling us by his Grace Gal. 1.6 to be Saints to holiness 1 Pet. 1.14 and to newness of life Regeneration is held forth to us by such expressions and works of God in and upon us it includes all these and several other mentioned in Scripture But I have more to say for the unfolding and clearing this great truth to you who desire to learn First Regeneration Renovation or the New Birth is made up of all and every Grace of Christ I mean the seeds and first fruits of all Grace Christ imparts and infuses a measure of all his Grace in regenerating a man he opens the Fountain and Treasury of his Grace and Fulness by the hand of the Holy Ghost he conveys it into our hearts Joh. 16.13 14. yea and the Holy Spirit himself gets into men and dwells there Rom. 8.10 as I shewed you before Q. What are the Graces of Christ that constitutes and forms the New Creature or that makes the great Change Answ First Life We are all by Nature dead in sins not only as under the Damning Sentence of the Law but we are personally dead that is as the Body is dead without the Soul and Spirit that animates the Body so without the Spirit and Grace of Christ our Souls Bodies and Spirits are spiritually dead as being without spiritual life Eph. 2.1.5 Matth. 8.22 Joh. 5.25 Now when Christ Regenerates a man he infuses and conveys of his Life into him and that enlivens the whole man Hence Christ tells us that he is the Life Joh. 14.6 that he came to give Life Joh. 10.10 that he quickens whom he will and the dead shall hear
sin against God or wrong their own Souls God hath promised to cause men to fear him not so much for his Judgments as for his Mercy and Coâ—dness Hos 3.5 and this fear he put into the Body of Regeneration without which it will be imperfect Seventhly Humility Meekness These Graces if they are two are parts of the New Creature they are the Beauty and Ornament of the New Creature without which it would not be so amiable and lovely as now it is We are by Nature exceeding proud rugged haughty sowre and pievish Creatures but God loves a meek and humble spirit and therefore he Regenerates some with Humility and Meekness and the more men have of these the more lovely they are to God and men the more conformable to Christ who was meek and lowly in heart Matth. 11.29 Christ will have all his Members like himself the Body must be like the Head and Christ becoming their Head in Regeneration he bestows on them his Humility and Meekness which is a part of that fulness of Grace he hath received for his Members Meekness is one of the glorious fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 and one of the Graces of Christ Jam. 4.6 By Humility and Meekness Christ prepares and capacitates men for his service and communion with himself to bow and bend them to his holy will and make them obedient unto him in all things for only the Humble and Meek are such persons and walkers Eighthly Zeal Regeneration makes men zealous against sin and for God and godliness Before Regeneration men may have a zeal for God but not the Zeal it is not according to knowledge Rom. 10.2 True Gospel-zeal is a glorious Grace of Christ infused into men in Regeneration and that in pursuance of one of the great ends of Christ his death Tit. 2.14 He gave himself to redeem us from all iniquity and to make us a peculiar people zealous of good works Before men are Regenerated they are zealous for their own gain honour pleasure and superstition but Regeneration makes them zealous for God with the Zeal of God As soon as Paul was converted he shewed himself a true and great Zealot indeed for Christ Grace Holiness and the Souls of men It is holy Gospel-zeal that makes men active for God and puts them forward to follow their Light Light in the Head without Zeal in the Heart may fill men with notions of duty but never make them Practitioners of duty they may know the Will of God but they will not they cannot be perswaded to do it 't is true that Zeal without knowledge is not good and as true that knowledge without zeal is unprofitable Christ hath a fulness of zeal for men and in Regeneration he imparts it to them Ninthly Prayer In Regeneration Christ infuses the Grace and Spirit of Prayer as soon as Paul was Regenerated behold he prayeth Acts 9.11 He had often prayed before for he was a zealous Pharisee and concerning the Law he was blameless Phil. 3.6 but he never prayed aright until he was Regenerated for then Christ gave him the grace of Prayer he could then pray with Grace in his heart and then not till then behold he prayeth There are none can pray spiritually but New Creatures for the voice of Nature is the voice of the flesh and what is of the flesh is flesh Joh. 3.6 and that voice God is not pleased with and heareth not but it is the voice of the New Creature which is formed and made up of the Grace and Spirit of Christ that God heareth and delighteth in Pro. 15.8 Therefore God promiseth to give unto men in Regeneration the Spirit of Grace and Supplication Zach. 12.10 that they may thereby be enabled to pray unto God holily and acceptably 1 Pet. 2.5 Rom. 8.26 27. God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and truth Joh. 4.23 24. and therefore he spirits them in Regeneration so to do Men may speak great and good words and make plausible and seemingly good prayers from light in their heads and other common spiritual gifts without Regeneration but they are but fleshly cold dead and loathsome prayers because they proceed not from a Divine Root and Spring they are dead their hearts are dead and therefore their prayers must needs be dead prayers which the Living God abhors Isa 1. But now Regeneration opens their hearts and tongues enlivens and quickens them puts a heavenly Principle into them so that now they can speak to God with new tongues and hearts now they can pray in Faith and Hope with spiritual and lively affections and in obedience to the Will of God Tenthly Self-denial Men are by Nature altogether selfish they are wholly devoted to the service of the flesh and set upon fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind Eph. 2.3 Rom. 8.5 Phil. 3.19 But God lays in Self-denying grace on their hearts in Regeneration so that now they can deny themselves of their ease pleasures profits opinions relations peace and all their once beloved Interests whatsoever for God Holiness Truth and the welfare of their own Souls They can and that upon choice displease themselves to please God they can willingly be nothing that Christ may be all in all things Col. 3.11 yea they would be the Footstool of Christ to exalt him and set him on the Throne Regeneration makes them account their all too little for him as before they accounted a little too much for Christ This is the great term on which we receive and believe in the Lord Jesus Mark 8.34 Matth. 16.24 Luk. 9.23 and by Regeneration he gives them power and will to do it Psal 110.3 Phil. 2.13 Joh. 6.44 45. This Regeneration wrought in Paul Gal. 1.16 I consulted not with flesh and blood says he that is as soon as he was Regenerated Christ sent him to preach the Faith which before he had zealously destroyed vers 23. and that amongst the barbarous Heathens where was much danger and in the doing of which he should meet with many difficulties as he did yet he immediately yielded up himself to the Will of Christ and laid his own in the dust So when Christ called Peter and Andrew they straightway left all and followed him Matth. 4.18 19 20. and after ward Matthew did the like he presently left his gainful Trade at the Custom-House and followed Christ Matth. 9.9 So the Disciples tell Christ Luke 18. that they had left all and followed him and the grace of Self-denial is given to all Regenerate persons in the very moment of their Regeneration Eleventhly Sincerity This is the general grace or that which is the Salt that seasons and makes as it were all other grace good and singular Gospel-sincerity is the holy spiritual Leven that runs through the whole Lump or Body of the graces of Christ given in Regeneration it is not properly one single grace but it is rather the grace of all other graces 't is that which makes
the specifical difference between common and peculiar grace that makes a man to be what he seems to be it makes and really qualifies a man a truly godly and gracious man it makes the heart face and tongue of a man the same towards God and men it makes a man entire and wholly for God Christ and Holiness according to his holy profession it brings up and musters all graces sets them in their places and directs them all unto God in duties and to those holy ends for which he hath appointed them to be performed Gospel-sincerity is a special gift of God bestowed on men in Regeneration 2 Cor. 1.12 that in the simplicity and sincerity of God we have had our Conversation among you says Paul and he tells the Colosians that they had heard and known the Grace of God in truth Col. 1.6 Gospel-sincerity hath all grace in the Womb of it by it the Holy Ghost makes men a peculiar people unto God qualifies and fits them for all spiritual and holy imployments and Religious Exercises for acceptance and Communion with God This is it that makes men lovely and desirable to God and man that makes them true and faithful to God that draws forth and ingages their hearts to God and causes them to yield up their wills to the Will of God Without Gospel-sincerity men are but whited Sepulchres and like the Apples of Sodom beautiful without but rotten and abominable within Mens Religion I mean their profession of it without Gospel-sincerity is vain and unsavoury Gospel-sincerity is that which makes us like God Jer. 22.41 and that which spiritualizes and persumes all our duties All our duties must be done and profession of godliness made in Gospel-sincerity or God will abhor both us and them Joshua 24.14 Heb. 10.22 Joh. 4.23 24. Isai 1. Therefore that God may have some to serve him in Spirit and Truth he Regenerates them and makes them New Creatures by putting his own Nature and stamping his own Image into and upon them and so they are made holy and sincere in measure like unto himself This is another glorious part of Regeneration These are some and but some of the graces of Christ that makes forms and constitutes the Heavenly Babe the New Creature There are many other graces of Christ given to men in their Regeneration to make a compleat New Creature as Joy Temperance Patience and several other which I shall not now insist on nor mention because I have many other Truths to open to you on this Subject Let me then advise you who think you are Regenerated to examine and try your selves if you can find indeed these graces of Christ in you and if you you can and do find them in you really you may be sure that all other graces that have not been mentioned are in you and that you are in a state of Regeneration but if there be none of these graces in you then you are in an unregenerate state and condition Q. What have you further to say and declare of Regeneration Answ I say that the Holy Ghost gets into a man when he Regenerates him and brings in all the Graces of Christ with him Joh. 16.7 8 13 14. as was shewed before Rom 8.9 10 11. And Christ is said to be in Regenerate men by his Spirit and graces 2 Cor. 5.17 and by regenerating them he works in them new principles habits dispositions and ends and he sets up in their hearts and souls new Laws namely his own to direct and guide them to rule and order them All things are become new in him and to him that is Regenerated 2 Cor. 5.17 1 There are new that is divine and heavenly Principles in him there is Divine Light to see withal and New Life to walk withal in the ways of God there is Love to move and incline his heart to his duty Life to quicken and Light to direct and guide him so that his duties proceed from his new Principles of Light Life Faith and Love All things are become new in him 2 New Habits His new Principles are become fixed stated habits in his Soul he doth not move and act in the things of God by Forreign causes and external motives only as he did before Regeneration but he acts and brings forth fruit from a stock of grace in his heart In Matth. 12.35 Christ tells us that a good man out of the good tâ—easure of the heart bringeth forth good things that is from a gracious fixed habit His good works do naturally flow from him he is fixed and resolved at all times to do and comply with the Will of God in all states and conditâ—ons whatsoever not only when he hears or feels some stirring word or provoking judgment to quicken and irritate him but also at other times when none of these things do occur Thus we find David and Paul Psal 57.7 Psal 119. Acts 20.24 Acts 2. All things are new 3 New dispositions Regeneration disposes us to every good word and work it is an habitual disposition though it be sometimes stronger sometimes weaker yet they do genuinely mind and will God their duty and eternal happiness Rom. 7.18 For to will says he is present with â—ne but how to do it he knew not And the same Apostle shews us that 't is so with all good men Gal. 5.17 and they are said to be spiritually minded Rom. 8.5 6. that is the bent inclination desire and intention of their hearts were so Thus Regenerate men are said to be ready to every good work Acts 17.11 Tit. 3 1. 2 Cor. 8.11 Rom. 1.15 Regeneration disposes them to pray in secret Acts 9.11 to hear and learn the Will of God Acts 17.11 so to be delivered from all sin Rom. 7.24 to perfect holiness Phil. 3.13 14. and as these so all other things and duties whatsoever It is true that the carnal spirit in Regenerate persons doth greatly oppose and draw them backward but yet that hinders not their holy dispositions and inclinations but they will breathe and operate in them with a notwithstanding as good men do experience And indeed this is one of Gods great and holy ends in regenerating men namely to move and incline their hearts unto himself and his holy will that they may move will aed act freely by his Life and Power within them that their habitual inclinations and dispositions may be suited to his will and the things above and that his external motives may sweetly and freely draw and not force and drive them to himself and their duty Hence the Spouse prays Christ to draw her and she will run after him Cant. 1.4 shewing thereby which way she was disposed and bent 4 New ends and designs All things are become new with regenerate persons and therefore needs they must have new ends and designs in their eyes and hearts in their wills understandings judgments minds and affections as their ends and designs in things before Regeneration were base low and sordid so now
adore and admire him and to worship and serve him as our God But the knowledge of God being lost God hath provided means for the retriving of some and bringing them to the knowledge of himself again and this is done by Regeneration Hence they are renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created them Col. 3.10 Eph. 4. And Paul saith God that commanded light to shine out of darkness hath shined in mens hearts to give them the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 The having of this knowledge is Life Eternal Joh. 17.3 For this end God opened Pauls eyes Acts 22.14 and for this end he opens others eyes also and until men are Regenerated they are in darkness and know not God nor Christ the Mediator and therefore regenerates men that they may know both and whatever else is necessary to be known Men are like Moles and Bruits without the knowledge of God Jesus Christ his Grace and Laws 8 God Created Man to make him the Object of his Love Delight Complacency and Communion and therefore made him in his own likeness Gen. 5.1 beautified him with his own Image and Nature Gen. 1.27 2 Pet. 1.4 that thereby he might make him a lovely and suitable Object for those ends Man was the Flower Crown and Quintescence of the whole Creation not so much because he had a Reasonable Soul and a more Noble Nature but because he was created in the Image of God God puts the Accent on that part of his Workmanship several times Gen. 1.26 27.5 1. Eccl. 7. ult to which the Apostle alludes Col. 3.10 This was the Creature that God saw very good as fitted for these ends namely to be the objects of his love and delight Gen. 1.31 God made them after his own Heart meet and answerable to his gracious purposes and intentions but man quickly marr'd and disrobed himself and thereby made himself utterly uncapable and unworthy of Gods Delight Complacency and Communion so that now God had not a Creature left in the World to delight in and have Communion withal But that he might not be altogether destitute of some to take up withal he chose a certain number with a design to make them Vessels of Honour and to prepare them for this his special use namely to be his Companions to solace himself with them and rejoyce in them as with his Friends and Lovers Zeph. 3.17 Isa 63.3 4. The Book of Canticles abundantly declares it Now this he doth accomplish in and upon them in and by Regeneration or making them New Creatures By Regeneration God in measure and degree restores to them what they sinfully lost by their Rebellion against and Apostacy from God and reposes them with and of his Grace and Nature which they had deprived themselves of by which they lost that love delight and complacency that God had to and in them and that Communion he had with them whilest they kept their integrity and intended them for in creating them I say God restores to them and creates in them that which will for ever make them lovely and delightful unto him by regenerating them he puts his Grace and Spirit into them Ezek. 36.25 26 27. stamps and impresses his own glorious Nature and Image on them Col. 3.10 imputes the Righteousness of Christ to them 2 Cor. 5. ult and infuses his Holiness into the whole man and so makes them lovely and beautiful by the comeliness that he hath of his own put upon them Ezek. 16.14 Then he loves and delights then he takes complacency in them and then he enters into and holds communion with them with satisfaction for his own Image and Grace sake as well as for his own love and Sons sake Joh. 13.1 Pro. 8.17 Joh. 14.21.23 Pro. 15.8 Zeph. 3.17 Isa 63.3 4. 1 Joh. 1.3 1 Cor. 1.9 These are some but not all the Ends of God in regenerating men which must be obtained in this world But besides these that concern this life there are others that concern Christ his coming and the Eternal states of Gods Elect. A word of these and I have done with this 1 The Elect are the Spouses of Christ by Christs Purchase and Gods Gift to him they were given to him Joh. 6.37 Joh. 10.29 that he might Marry them and take them into a Conjugal Relation as you have heard before in pursuance of Gods Ends in giving them to Christ he pays a price for them and purchases them for himself for although they are said to be given to Christ yet he could not get them out of Prison but by paying their debts and full ransom which Divine Justice demanded 1 Cor. 6.20 and then comes and requires his own and contracts and takes them to himself and by regenerating them he shews himself unto them and acquaints them with himself perswades them to consent to his Proposals and chuse him for their Husband and so by his Grace in their hearts they freely willingly and chearfully give their consent and Christ and they do mutually give themselves to each other and take each other into a Matrimonial state and resolution This cannot be done without Regeneration for men are not adorn'd with a personal loveliness and made meet for Christ until they are made partakers of the Divine Nature and are beautified with his Image which makes them meet Companions for him So they will by no means be perswaded to consent to have him for their Head and Husband and resign up themselves unto him until they have their hearts and states changed by his Spirit and Grace in Regeneration And therefore I say that Regeneration is absolutely necessary to bring persons into a Conjugal Relation to Christ But yet there is more to be done than what I have yet said and which I aim at in what I have spoken namely that the Contracted Bride is to make her self ready for the great Marriage day or for the compleatment of the Marriage Solemnities which shall be at Christ his second Personal coming when he shall receive his Bride unto himself and carry her home to his own Royal Palace in State and Glory John 14.3 Revel 19 1-8 Matth. 25.31 32. For this day and the great Solemnity of it Christ must have his Bride in a state and practical readiness to meet her Bridegroom in the Clouds where he will come with his Attendants in great State and send his Angels for his Bride to come to him where he will wait to receive and imbrace her and then will the Lord make his great Feast called the Supper of the Lamb and a Feast of fat things to which Feast and Marriage she must come ready deckt with all her Ornaments and Wedding Garments that she may be suitable unto her Husband For what hath been said see these Scriptures Matth. 25.32 33 34. 1 Thes 4.16 17. Rev. 19.9.17 Isa 25.6 Now I say the Lord Jesus exhorts her or them to get and make themselves ready for
can rightly repent of his sins without Regeneration therefore it is absolutely necessary for Repentance Now true Repentance is absolutely necessary to Salvation for God hath determined that except we repent we shall all perish Luke 13.3.5 and that none can truly and savingly repent without the Grace of God in Regeneration is evident because the Scripture saith We are under hardness of heart in our unregenerate states Ezek. 3.7 Mark 3.5 Rom. 2.5 Matth. 19.8 And also because Repentance unto Life is the special gift of God Acts 5.31 Acts 11.18 4 No man can deny himself aright for Christ Grace and Holiness without Regeneration therefore it is absolutely necessary for Self-denial Now Self-denial is absolutely necessary to Salvation and in order thereunto of being Christs Disciples Luke 14.26 Mark 8.34 And that Regeneration is as necessary to Self-denial appears thus because men have much more content and satisfaction in what they should forgo and part withal than in Christ Holiness and Salvation which they must sell or leave for the obtainment of and they seem to see a greater happiness in keeping their Lusts Righteousness Ease and Interests than in all that they may gain by exchanging what they have in possession for that which is offered them and who will part with a certain and seemingly greater good for that which they account more uncertain and of lesser value Thus is their case and thus do they absurdly in this matter reason as you may read Luke 18.22 23. Luke 14 17-21 Men will never learn neither can they freely practise the Doctrine and Duty of absolutely necessary Self-denial until the Grace of God in Regeneration hath wrought them for it 5 No man can really mortifie his lusts without Regeneration therefore it is absolutely necessary Now this must be done by God and us or we shall be everlastingly undone Rom. 8.13 Col. 3.5 Micah 7.18 19. And that we cannot will not do it until we are New Creatures is clear for till then we are in love and league with them make provision for them as for Friends and Lovers and have nothing no Principle of Grace and Power to do such a work withal and will want a will to will it an eye to see and a hand to take hold of and use the Sword that must do it 2 Tim. 3.4 Rom. 13. ult 1 Joh. 1.7 6 No man can love God aright without Regeneration therefore it is absolutely necessary It is absolutely needful that we love the Lord Jesus in sincerity as we would avoid the great Curses Eph. 6. ult 1 Cor. 16.22 and this is done by the love of God shed abroad in our hearts in Regeneration Deut. 30.6 Rom. 5.5 without which we cannot so love him for we have no such love in our hearts before Regeneration but are swallowed up in and with Self-love with the entire love of our Lusts Profits Pleasures and Carnal Delights 7. No man can be united to and made one with Christ without Regeneration We are not transplanted out of the old Adams Stock into Christ the Heavenly Stock without Regeneration but in and by it we are We are not born at first living Members of his Body but are made such by Regeneration as was shewed This also is absolutely necessary to Salvation For all Professors of Christ that hang about him only and are not grafted into him shall be cast into Hell Fire Joh. 15.6 Heb. 6.6 7. 8 No man can make God his only trust and live in a continual dependence on him without Regeneration This we are all bound to do at all times in all states and conditions Psal 62.8 Pro. 3.5 but we cannot do it without the great change for we have not the Grace to do it withal until the Holy Ghost convey it into us by Regenerating us Till then our Stays are broken Reeds and on the broken Staff of Egypt do we rest our selves there do we repose our selves and from them do we expect protection aid and succour but we look not to nor relye upon the Holy One of Israel in truth but cast him out of our consideration 9 No man can pray or worship God in a right manner without Regeneration therefore it is absolutely necessary Until men are Regenerated they have neither the grace nor spirit of Prayer and therefore cannot possibly pray according to the Will of God nor perform any part of Divine Worship so as to please God and be accepted of him God gives men his Spirit of Grace and the Grace of the Spirit in Regeneration to enable them to worship him spiritually and rightly so as to please and honour him and therefore they cannot so worship God before they are Regenerate Zach. 12.10 Joh. 16.7 8. Acts 9. Rom. 8.26 27. 10 No man can obey God or serve him with Gospel filial obedience without he be Regenerated therefore Regeneration is absolutely necessary to make us obedient to the Will of God Men without Regenerating Grace may do what God Commands and the matter of Duty but they cannot do it dutifully with Heart-subjection to the Will of God because he hath so commanded for they are servants to Sin and obey their Lusts and the Devil Rom. 6.16 17. Joh. 8.44 It is Regeneration that conforms the whole man to the Will of God and makes them real obedient Servants and Children and nothing less will do it Rom. 15.18 11 No man can be related to Christ in any special or peculiar Relation No man can be the Child of God or Spouse of Christ without Regeneration and then they cannot be obedient Children nor Spouses as they must be if ever saved 1 Pet. 1.14 It is Regeneration that begets men to God and raises up or brings forth Children for him 1 Pet. 1.3.14 It is Regeneration that disposes men for and Marries them to Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 And therefore they are not neither may they claim the names or priviledges of Gods Children or Christs Spouses until they are Regenerated and born again they are neither adopted Children nor contracted Spouses until Regeneration 12 No man can have dominion over all his lusts without Regeneration neither can they curb and keep them under until they are Regenerate their Lusts have dominion over them and they serve and obey them Eph. 2.3 Rom. 6.16 17. But ever after Regeneration they have dominion over their lusts Rom. 6.14 They are enabled by Regeneration to Reign over and trample on the Necks of those Enemies that had dominion over them all the days of their unregeneracy 13 No man can live to God and make it his whole business and endeavour so to do until they are Regenerated This is done by Grace after Regeneration but never before for all men have lost their will and power to do it which is restored to them in Regeneration as was shewed The great end of Man was to live to and walk with God 2 Cor. 2.15 Eph. 1.4 but men in their old state do devote themselves to live wholly and only to
but slight and disesteem all without Regeneration Without Regeneration we cannot willingly be nothing that Christ may be all in all nor be laid in the dust and debased that he may be magnified and exalted nor suffer diminution to greaten him We cannot walk uprightly with God nor indeed set our affections on things above as we are indispensably bound to do without Regeneration We cannot walk humbly with God nor be adorned and cloathed with Humility be meek and of poor and contrite spirits without Regeneration Without Regeneration we cannot ought not be Church-members nor rightly participate of the Lords Supper For these great and distinguishing Priviledges belong to and were appointed only for New Creatures In a word we cannot be saved nor walk in the right way to Heaven nor have Communion with God here or hereafter without Regeneration And therefore Regeneration is absolutely needful for these all these and several other ends and purposes It is absolutely necessary that we be saved from wrath to come and instated in Eternal Glory and that in order thereunto we be Regenerated and made new Creatures That we be such indeed and so do and walk as hath been said in order to our glorifying of God here and Eternal Salvation hereafter which we cannot be do nor obtain but in and by Regeneration but in and by Regeneration we may and shall and that because God hath so appointed and promised it It is Gods fixed stated way and it shall stand inviolably namely that he will save men in and by Regeneration and that such as are Regenerated shall be saved and such as are not shall most certainly be damned Therefore let no man flatter himself with vain hopes of ever getting to Heaven in any other way for the purposes and Ordinances of God shall stand to all Generations and he will do all his pleasure Isa 46.10 11. He hath said it and shall he not do it Who can turn his hand or alter his mind and who durst say it shall not be so when he says it shall O how bold and daring are men that contradict God hoâ— audaciously presumptions are they who confidently expect Salvation hereafter without concerning themselves about Regeneration here Seeing God hath peremptorily resolved the case and told men so that unless they are born again they cannot shall not see the Kingdom of God Joh. 3. and that without Holiness they shall not see God Heb. 12.14 Therefore I do exhort and beseech you iâ— the Name of Jesus Christ to look after and seriously concern your selves about Regeneration and never sit down satisfied with your conditions until you find the Great Change but go to God and entreat him for Christ hiâ— sake to give you his Spirit and Regenerating Grace and make you New Creatures that you may be enabled to walk with and live to God here and be saved in his own way hereafter and that he would now with all possible speed work his own Regenerating work with power in your hearts CHAP. III. Of the hinderances and obstructions that lye in the way of Regeneration Q. ARe there any lets hinderances or obstructions in the way of Regeneration to impede and hinder it A. There are very many and great obstructions in the way of Gods Regenerating men insomuch as that it is a wonder that any are Regenerated God met with no lets or hindrances in his first Creating of us but in his remaking us he meets with many He made us reasonable Creatures without opposition but when he comes to make us New Creatures he finds nothing else but impediments contradiction and fightings against him Hence 't is said Gen. 6.3 His spirit shall not always strive with man And how often would I have gathered you but ye would not Matth. 23.37 And Christ tells the Jews that they would not come to him Joh. 8.40 though he had all the day long stretched out his hand to them Rom. 10. ult Q. What are those contradictions hinderances and oppositions the work of Regeneration meets withal to impede and obstruct it and from whom are they or from whom do they arise A. These obstructions contradictions and oppositions that lye in the way to impede â—nd hinder our Regeneration are within and without us they proceed and arise from our Lusts World and Devil Regeneration meeâ—â— with strong oppositions from our Lusts and it is made exceeding hard and difficult from the state and condition we are in before Regeneration Q. Pray shew us what those Lusts are which lay in the way of Regeneration to oppose impede and obstruct it What are those Iusts A. First Atheism and Vnbelief These Lusts abound and are exceeding strong and active in us to hinder our Regeneration Sin hath made us Fools and Fools say in their hearts there is no God Psal 14.1 When God speaks men will not hear him neither do they believe it to be his voice Exod. 5.1 2. Who is the Lord says Pharach Men are by Nature so Atheistical as that they will not believe that God sees or regards their works and therefore do imbolden themselves in suming and following their Lusts and devillish devices with this perswasion that no eye sees them and that there is no hand to punish them Psal 10.11 Psal 64.5 Isa 29.15 They imagine and conclude then that if God see not their ways nor takes notice of their wickedness that no evil shall fall on them for â—â— Jer. 23.17 yea they are confident they shâ—â— have peace and that while they are addiâ—â— drunkenness to thirst that is one sin to anotheâ— with all greediness Deut. 29.19 20. 1 Theâ— 5.3 This Atheism is deeply rooted in aâ— men by Nature in Professors of the Name Truths and good ways of God as well as in professed Turks and Heathens as is shewed in the said Scriptures And the infidelity of mens hearts is such as that they will not believe that they do really stand in need of Regeneration even those men who profess to believe there is a God that he sees and takes notice of their states and ways that the Scriptures of God are true that God rules in and governs the World and that he hath punishments for the unjust and will recompence their way on their heads and render to every man according to his works Rom. 2.6 I fay those men that do so believe do not see and believe indeed their own present states and their own necessity of Regeneration but flatter themselves in the vain and groundless imaginations of their own hearts that if they mend their ways reform without and turn from vicious courses and practises to the eternal practise of Vertue that in so doing they may obtain happiness and do well enough hereafter although they stick there and never are Regenerated Hence it is that they conclude that 't is in vain and a kind of superstition in them to trouble and concern themselves to look any further or seek after a change of heart and state but
Ministers on Earth cannot pull down this strong hold and it is as great an Adversary as any Christ hath in the world to obstruct his Grace it is the Great Goliah that stands in open defiance against Christ and makes the stoutest resistance against our Regeneration Again our Self-righteousness is an other great obstacle and Bull-work against our Regeneration Men have long been building up that which God will and must pull down in regenerating us God will not suffer our own Babels to stand when he comes to set up Zion in our hearts neither will he let Dagon alone when he comes to set up his Ark in us All our works conceits and imaginations are but Rubbish and Dirt that must be thrown away and cast out to make way for his building and therefore God begins here namely to overturn demolish and remove out his way the strong Towers and Fortresses of our own high thoughts conceits works and vain imaginations that so we being left destitute of succour and grounds of hope in our selves we may freely comply and joyn Issues with God in his works of Grace in us But now when God comes to do this O what strong resistance and violent opposition doth our Self-righteousness and good conceits of our selves make against God and the works of his Grace God would undo us that he may make us he would pull us down and quite deface our own Structures that he may build and set up his own in us Buch such are our conceits and apprehensions of our sufficiency goodness righteousness acceptable and worthy performances as that we harden our hearts against all Convictions of the invalidity and nothingness yea vanity and sinfulness of them and are exceedingly averse to and unwilling of any alteration cannot endure to think of losing all that we have wrought for so many years and after so much labour and confidence peace and satisfaction in our states and what we have done to lose all at once and be beholding at last only to the free gift of another flesh and blood will never endure it and therefore makes all possible opposition against it Men have been long rich and happy in their own eyes and therefore cannot bear to be undone and impoverished to be poor and miserable wretched and naked And hence it is that they shut their eyes and stop their ears against Light and Gods gracious Invitations They will have none of him because they fancy they have enough and do and may do enough of their own to make them happy This was the case of some of the Laodiceans Rev. 3.17 they thought themselves rich and had need of nothing and that when they were wretched naked and miserable Thus it was with Paul before he was Regenerated Phil. 3.4 5 6 7. And this was one of the great obstructions that hindred the Jews from receiving the Grace of Christ tendred them by Christ and his Apostles John 8 and 9 Chapters And in Luke 18.9 10 11 12. their self-conceited righteousness and light their priviledges and good works made them such desperate resolute violent and stout opposers of the Grace of God and thus is still the nature and effect of it in all the Sons and Daughters of men as sad experience shews And as Self-righteousness and a good Opinion of our selves is a strong Bar to fence us against Gods Regenerating work so are vain and groundless hopes likewise These oppositions and contradictions do all hang together in a string as so many Links in a Chain where one is all are but one may be stronger in one man and another in another man Men are by Nature exceeding full of presumptious hopes and confidences they seign that God will save them because he is good and merciful to sinners although they continue in their filthiness and practical abominations in their blindness and unregenerate states The Conceptions of Gods Mercies proves snares and dangerous Rocks to unregenerate men while they confidently conclude that God will have mercy on and save them because he is merciful though they live and die in their unregenerate states and condition although the Word of God tell them the contrary Isa 27.11 This is the vain hope of hypocrites mentioned in Job 8.13 14. which shall perish with them Presumptious confidences and vain hopes are natural to us and we will take hold of any broken Reed to keep us from despondency or making a right judgment of our selves states and ways rather than yield to the counsels of God and suffer him to save us in his own way and by his own means This vain presumptious hope is that which arms and strengthens the Soul against Christ and lies in a direct opposition to our Regeneration Again Hardness of heart is a great Bar to Regeneration We are by Nature hardened in sin and in fond conceits of our good conditions and therefore the work of Regeneration in us must needs be very hard and difficult work We are so hardened by sin and we harden our selves more and more when God hands out Light to us to see our states and lead us to himself When God comes to Regenerate then we are most insensible of our conditions and harden our hearts most against him even then when he would soften and melt us break and humble us we were hard and knotty pieces before but then we make our selves much harder for then we do purposely and designedly set our selves against God and his workings and as water strives with greater vehemency against opposition so do our hard hearts against the Spirits operations in us to renew and change us Ezek. 3.7 Pharoah was a hard-hearted man before God sent Moses and Aaron to him but then he set himself to harden his heart against God and his Word more than ever So when God sent the means of Grace to the Jews and strove with them to bring them to himself the more he wrestled with them exhorted and perswaded them to receive his Grace and become New Creatures the more they strove and fought against him Acts 19. Acts 28. until God judicially hardened them also and then they were sealed up as it were to the day of wrath Joh. 12.40 Then 't is ever after a hard and impenitent heart Rom. 2.5 Lastly Enmity There is in every natural man most stout and strong Enmity against God which is implacable and irreconcileable There can no peace or friendship be had with an implacable Enemy and a man that is at real Enmity with us until he be changed The Carnal mind is not only an Enemy to God but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Emnity against God Rom. 8.7 And in Rom. 1.31 they are said to be implacable Enmity will never be won and made to yield either by fair or foul means but such is the nature of it as that it will rather die on the place than conform to any tolerable terms of friendship with an Adversary But the Enmity of our Natures is most stout stubborn and desperate
God That we are translated from Death to Life and hereby know we that we are in him 1 John 2.5.3.14.5.19 And Paul tells us that they namely he and other Regenerate Persons had received the Spirit that they might know the things which were freely given to them of God 1 Cor. 2.12 Now if it was certainly known by the Saints of old such as run their Race before us then we may obtain it now for we live under the same God Christ Grace Promises Love Spirit and means of assurance that they did and we have as much need of it as they had upon all accounts And as we have these and many other Scripture Evidences or Examples I mean the Saints mentioned in Scripture so we have had many undoubted Testimonies of it in and from many good men in our days and the latter Ages before us How that some on their Death-Beds others in the days of their prosperity others in their tryals and temptations Some in one Ordinance of God and some in another some in Prison and some at the Stake some under the loss of their Goods and Reproaches for Christs sake have gotten clear and heart ravishing Assurance of their Regeneration and blessed States I say we have this Truth confirmed to us by their worthy Testimonies and glorious Experiences And assuredly what they had we also may obtain in the same way in and by the use of the same means and in the same or like case and condition 2. God hath commanded Regenerate Persons and so hath made it their Duty to get and keep assurance of their new States and God would never have prescribed such a means and commanded our diligent use of it as our duty in order to the obtainment of the end but that the said end is attainable by and shall most certainly be obtained in the faithful constant use of it For as his commands makes the work or means our duty so the End propounded namely of the duty to be done by us is the obtainment of assurance so I say it is an object of our Faith and Hope And upon Gods propounding it to us as the end of the duty commended we are to believe and hope in the performance of the duty to obtain the end that is assurance of our being translated from Death to Life namely that God will bless his own means to effect and accomplish his own ends to and in us and he will by no means disappoint us or make us ashamed of our trusting him hoping in and waiting for him to grant us the end he presented to us commanded us to seek it that we might find it and which we have endeavoured with all our hearts to obtain in his own way Isa 49.20 Isa 54.4 Now God hath charged us to examin and prove our selves 2 Cor. 13.5 And to give diligence to make our Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 And to worship him in full assurance of Faith Heb. 10.22 that is in the certain perswasion of Gods Truth All-sufficiency and Faithfulness in his Promises and of Christ his being a High-Priest over the House of God vers 21. So likewise of our Interest and Right to and in all 4. God hath given us many Rules and Marks in his Word to help us in our Tryals of our states and to make a comfortable and satisfactory judgment of them whether we are indeed Regenerate or no. Very much of the New Testament was written for that end that we might know we have Eternal Life saith John 1 Joh. 5.13 All which Scripture had been to little or no purpose if assurance after all were not attainable But it is evident that it is attainable and that all Regenerate persons may attain unto and obtain it because God hath given them such proper and suitable means and helps for the obtainment of it There are many of them scattered up and down the Scriptures I 'le name one or two that in 1 Joh. 3.14 We know that we are passed from death to life because we love the Brethren that is here is a certain and infallible sign or mark of a New Creature his loving of good men that is if you can really say and soundly experience that you do love a holy man or gracious men as such rightly truly heartily with a spiritual and special love because they are such and belong to Christ why then you may conclude that you are in a state of Grace and passed from death to life So that if I can make good the lesser Proposition the Gospel will prove and make good the first or greater Proposition thus He that loves the Brethren that is rightly and in a true Gospel sense is passed from death to life but I do so love the Brethren therefore I am passed from death to life Now that which we have to do in the case is this namely to get the clear proof of the second part thus I do know that I do so love the Brethren according to the true purport and meaning of that and other Texts of Scripture and then conclude from this Scripture and others of the like import that I am passed from death to life that is I am Regenerated 2. An other sign or mark of Regenerate men laid down in Scripture is this that they desire the sincere Milk of the Word that they may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2.2 Now if I am a Babe in Christ I do desire the sincere Milk of the Word of God that I may not only eat it but eat it to grow thereby to grow up in Christ Grace and in the practise and fruits of holiness and if I do so desire the sincere Milk of the Word then I am at least a Babe or young Child of God But this is not my work or present design and therefore do but little more than mention these things namely to shew that Unregenerate and Regenerate persons may know the states and conditions wherein they are the one in and by sin the other in and by Grace But I thought good to say a little of it and but a little as a preparative to that which I have further to say and which was mainly intended as the subject matter of this Chapter Q. What are some of the most certain Signs Characters or Marks of Regenerate and Vnregenerate persons or states A. Much hath been said already in opening the work of Regeneration what it was and what was contained in it as you may see in that Chapter and therefore I shall say the less here But yet I shall endeavour to present so much unto you in this Chapter or Head as shall fully answer and resolve the Question First A Regenerate person hath new life It is a New Creature Gal. 6.15 and it is a living lively Creature it is not born dead but alive it is alive to God to live unto him in newness of life Rom. 6.4.10.11 To bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7.4 And men are created in Christ Jesus unto
leads theâ— to and directs them to walk in it 2 Cor. 4.6 Isa 30.20 21. but unregenerate men do stumble at it they know not whether they go because darkness hath blinded their eyes 1 Joh. 2.11 But the path of the Just is as the shining light that shining more and more unto the perfect day Pro. 4.18 5. They see and know in measure what Communion with God is or what it is to have Communion with God they might hear of such a thing before but now they know whaâ— it means They are called into the Fellowship of Christ 1 Cor. 1.9 1 Joh. 1.3 It is their promised priviledge and blessing and they have the real experimental knowledge of it Joâ— 14.21.23 But unregenerate men have iâ— not know it not it is none of their priviledge they desire they chuse it not They are in Fellowship with the World and their Lusts and are well satisfied and contented therewith But I may not inlarge 6. They see and know the Power of Godliness 2 Tim. 3.5 The Word and Spirit of Christ hath fallen and wrought on and iâ— them with Power and saving Efficacy brought them into and set up Godliness in power in them 1 Thes 1.5 Rom. 1.16 Their dearts and Souls are subdued to it and swallowed up in it the Form of Godliness is a poor empty thing to them without the power of it in their heart But it is not so with unregenerate men they see not any Religion or Godliness beyond the form or outside it is not formed or set up in their hearts and therefore see little or nothing in Religion Godliness or Religious matters But unregenerate men do see and find a glorious Excellency in it it is exceeding precious lovely and profitable to them They see that worth and Excellency in it as to cause them to love and honour it to prize value and esteem it as worthy of all acceptation to cherish keep and augment it to improve and practise it and to walk worthy of it to the glory of the Giver of it 7. They see and know the vanity and nothingness of the Creature and that they are not indeed such things as they verily thought them to be before their Regeneration Their Opinion of them is changed it is now quite another thing Before they looked on them and their having and enjoying them as their portion and happiness Oh thought they what a brave thing is it to be rich what happy men are they who have abundance of riches honours pleasures they doted on them as on their Gods and Lovers and their very imaginations of them ravished their hearts but now they see their folly and how they were mistaken and deluded in their judgments and imaginations They now see them to be but vanity and vexation of spirit in comparison of Christ Grace and Heavenly things Eccl. 1.2 Phil. 3.19 20. 'T is true they do not now simply contemn them but own them and use them as Gods Mercies thank and praise him for them but comparatively only with Christ Grace and Heavenly things Now they see that they are but left-hand and foot-stool Mercies that they are not worth the having nor coveting after but with and in Christ Grace Pardon and Holiness and in order to their living to God with them and enjoying of him in them But unregenerate men see them with other eyes and they have other thoughts of them They account them their good things as the only or chiefest good their great portion and happiness and accordingly they act walk and steer their course follow after them and greedily pursue them Luk. 16.25 Rom. 8.5 For indeed whatever they do profess or pretend to the contrary they do not see nor mind any higher good 8. They see and know the vanity and emptiness of that which they did bear upon and glory in namely their own Righteousness They once thought that they had that in them and such works were performed by them as would commend them unto God and incline his heart to love and pity them to accept and save them But now they see they were deceived that all their Righteousnesses are but filthy rags dirt and dung and that they are so far from being accepted or accounted of in Heaven as that they are matters of contempt and loathing Phil. 3.7 8. Isa 64.6 Matth. 23. So that that which was their glory is now their shame Their Gay Cloathing are now meer Rags in their account Why Because they see with other eyes and by a better light than they did before They see they were building themselves on a Sandy Bottom which would have sunk under them and they and it must have perished together had they not been taken off it by the power of Regenerating Grace But now this is all they have to glory in who are Professors of Godliness in an unregenerate state namely God I thank thee I am not as other men I fast twice in the week I give Tythes of all that I possess c. Luke 18.9 10 11 12. Phil. 3.7 9. They see and know the Lord Jesus Christ and his Gospel-will revealed in Scripture they are spiritualized and made spiritual men by Regeneration and thereby are enabled to judge all or of all spiritual things in measure 1 Cor. 2.15 They heard of Christ and his Will before but now they see and know him and it But more of this anone 10. They see and know in measure the great work of real Gospel-Obedience what it is how to be performed and also the holy Ghost his teachings helpings quickenings and comfortings in and to their Gospel-Obedience They see wide difference between meer doing of that which is good and that with and by meer natural helps and principles and that which is real Gospel Obedience of the heart in it Ro. 6.17 as likewise the Spirits helping their Infirmities Ro. 8.26 But Unregenerate men know nothing of these matters But I have done with this These are some and but some of the things matters and objects which by regenerating light they are enabled to see and discern as you that are regenerated can witness Now then try your selves by what hath been already said of seeing or of the seeing and knowing sense Secondly as Regenerate Persons can see and do know the matters and things they saw not before so secondly they are enabled to see and understand such spiritual things and matters which they had some knowledge of before their Regeneration more clearly plainly distinctly experimentally and powerfully then they did or could before For they had only a dim weak and general natural and spiritual light and sight before They did see but understood not what they saw Isa 6.9 They are like Men or Children that see some rare and pretious Jewels or Cordials but know not what they are neither understand the worth excellency and usefulness of them as Artificers do or like such as hear Musick in a strange Tone and Language they know not what it means
said to be Deaf Psal 58.4 Isa 42.18 19. although they had not lost their natural Sense of hearing yet the Scripture saith they were Deaf why because they had not Spiritual Ears to hear hence the Lord Jesus speaking to the Asian Churches bids such as had Eares to hear what the Spirit spake unto them Revel 2. and 3. Chapters Clearly implying that there were some among them that had not this Spiritual Sense of hearing the Voice of the holy Spirit but that there were others that had it And the Prophet tells the Jews that there were some that had Eares but were Deaf Isa 43.8 that is they had the natural but not the Spiritual sense of hearing the voice of God by his Prophets This Spiritual hearing sense imports not onely a hearing and taking in the words or matters they hear but also understanding them and receiving them into the understanding will and affection Ezek. 40.3.4 2 Thes 2.10 Pro. 7.1 Pro. 10 14. They are ready and swift to hear Jam. 1.19.21 Let Christ speak to them what he will they can and will hear him Speak Lord for thy servant heares 1 Sam. 3.2 is the language of his heart and Lord what wilt thou have me to do Acts. 9. doth God or good men instruct admonish exhort reprove charge rebuke them their Eares and hearts are open and ready to hear and receive it to love and understand it to keep and practice it or to improve all to the will of God Regenerate Persons are the good ground hearers Luk. 8.15 Math. 13. They have Eares to hear hearts to receive and understand what is revealed to them yea to keep and hold it fast convert the word into profit and turn all into the practice of Godlyness They and they only have learnt the mystery and Spiritual Art of hearing They are the only Wise Serious Humble Diligent Circumspect Careful Reverend Watchful Sincere Profitable and good Hearers They are taught to please and honour God better and advantage their own Souls in and by hearing They are the Persons and none but they who hear in hearing who do truely and faithfully endeavour to hear Christ in hearing of men and to hear that voice behind them saying this is the way walk ye in it which is promised in Isa 30.20.21 They are the men who do indeed make blessed earnings of hearing and who do unfainedly intend design and carry on right high and holy ends in hearing namely to know Christ his Will Grace Spirit Benefits Covenant and Promises to know themselves their Sins Deceits and Errors their increase or decrease in Grace and practical Godliness and to know how they ought to believe and carry themselves towards God and men in all conditions States and Relations better more clearly and Spiritually that so they may walk worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleasing and be fruitful in every good work adorn the Gospel of Christ and beautify their holy profession These are the men who hear that they may be cleansed and washed that they may be quickened to and strengthened in their duty and that their lusts may be destroyed by the word of Grace Joh. 15.3 Joh. 17.17 Eph. 5.25.26 2 Cor. 10.4.5 And that they may as in the Lords own way and appointment meet with Christ and Christ with them to express their dependance on and subjection to him and that they may be filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3.19 This is the hearing Ear and understanding heart that is rarely to be found in the world Fifthly Smelling In the natural body there is the Sense of Smelling so there is in the new Creature also Christ is full of sweet smells and Savours fitted and suited to a believers new sense and Christ hath provided for and given them a sense capable of receiveing and resenting it which adds much to their strength and Comfort and renders the Lord Jesus more sweet lovely and acceptable to them For the more senses they have to draw and take in of Christs Person Grace and lovelyness to themselves the more they get from Christ and the more pleasing and desirable he must needs be to them had the patural man only two or three senses to apprehend and take in objects and the good of them his life would not be so comfortable because as then many of the Creatures would be vain and useless to him so he would live without the use and comfort of them that are suited to the senses he wants and which he cannot receive nor take comfort and delight in without them And men are naturally best pleased and most satisfyed with variety of objects and matters It is much more so in Spiritual and heavenly matters and things Spiritual men love and delight much in heavenly varieties and therefore to delight and satisfy them to endear their Souls to Christ and incourage them in their Duty to him he hath given them many senses or subjects capable of apprehending and taking in variety of heavenly matters and things and that is not all but he hath also graciously provided all suitable varieties for them and presents them freely to their acceptance Thus Christ is to them a sweet smelling Savour Eph. 5.2 his death was so to God and his Person Graces and Benefits are so to them Cant. 5.13.2.13 Their Persons love and obedience are a sweet smelling savour to Christ Cant. 4.10.11 And so is Christ unto them Cant. 1.3 and it is powerful to excite and draw forth their strongest and dearest love to Christ Because of the savour of this good Oyntments therefore do the Virgins love thee And as it excites and draws forth their love to Christ so it gladdens and refreshes the hearts of new Creatures Psal 45.8 All thy Garments smell of Myrth c. whereby they have made thee glad Thus I have briefly run over and presented you a few considerations of the New Creature his spiritual senses what they are and of their nature work use and end to help you to make a true Judgment of your selves whether you are new Creatures indeed or only in name and pretence And be assured of this that if thou art indeed a Regenerate person thou mayest in some degree especially at sometimes find these spiritual senses in thee And if thou canst find them in any degree in thee thou mayest conclude that thou art a Child of God and really Regenerate For it is certain that unregenerate persons have them not in them but are real strangers if not Enemies to them and such as regard them not neither do they find them in any degree or measure in themselves they are in an unregenerate state and condition And that they have not these senses is evident for they are dead blind hard and wholly carnal as hath been shewed already And so much of the first Mark or Character of a new Creature I shall briefly dispatch the rest and then proceed to other heads propounded Secondly If thou art a new Creature indeed thou
hast been brought forth and born again in pain and with grief and trouble of Soul Every natural Child is brought forth with sorrow and pain Joh. 16. and every nâ—w-born Babe is brought forth with sorrow and pain The Lord Jesus hath been in Travail Sorrow and Pain for them that are and shall be regenerated to purchase their new Birth Isa 53.3.11 he had the hardest labour and strugling for thee he was in the greatest and most dreadful Agony and anguish of Soul that could be to procure thy Regeneration and new State he had many a woful and grievous throw many a sigh and groan and he sweat many drops of Blood for thee when he was Sacrificing his life to Divine Justice for thy Redemption and Sanctification to Redeem thee from thy old state of Sin and Misery Luk. 22.44 Math. 26. and to make thee one of his peculiar people Tit. 2.14 Eph. 5. And as he hath been in Pain and Travail for thee so if thou art Regenerated he hath given thee a small Taste of his Pains and Sorrows in thy birth Thou hast not been brought forth without sighs groans throws Pains and Sorrows no but thou hast found much Strugling and many pangs of heart It is true that all Children are not born with the same degree and measure of pains and sorrows Some Women feel more some less in their Travail but all have some In Sorrow thou shalt bring forth Children says God Gen. 3.16 so he says of all sinners that he will Regenerate if grown persons in sorrow shalt thou be Regenerated and made a New Creature Thou shalt taste and feel what an evil and bitter thing it is to be a sinner and under my Wrath the dominion of Lusts and the Devil That thou hast forsaken me the Fountain of living Waters Jer. 2. Rebelled against me thrown off my Yoke and obeyed the Devil rather than me Thou shalt know that I have observed all thy contemptuous slightings of my Son my Grace and Mercy and causing me to stand wait and knock for thee and thou d'st not hearken to me When God Regenerates men he lets loose Sin Guilt Devil his Law and Vengeance on the Souls and Consciences of such for a time and the Spirit of God who is the great Agent in Regenerating them Joh. 3.5 makes himself as a Spirit of Bondage to them and seemingly to their own sense puts them into and leaves them in a far worse case and condition than they were in before Rom. 8.15 so that now their sinful peace carnal security vain and foolish hopes and confidences are all broken and shattered and they are left to the wide world to shift for themselves and that when they are encompassed about with fears and miseries and have none to comfort them but are like men shut up in doubts fears and distractions not knowing what to do nor what to think of their conditions They are condemned by the Law and their own Consciences and they see themselves bound over to answer for all their Transgressions at the Judgment Seat of God They see themselves in straits and miseries and know not how to help themselves neither can they find any that will or can for they look upon God as their Enemy and are afraid of him This makes them cry out O What shall we do to be saved How or by whom shall we be delivered Acts 2.37 Acts 16.29 30. Now their Hearts Heads and Souls are in travelling pains and pangs greatly longing to be delivered like men that are sinking into the bottom of the Sea and never like to be saved Thus they are brought forth in pain and Sorrow And God hath many wise and gratious ends in dealing thus with them which in due time they shall see and bless him for For by bringing forth the new Creature thus he greatly imbitters Sin to them shews them their own vileness weakness and wretchedness and causes them to loath themselves and hate their Sin endears and commends Jesus Christ his Grace and love to them and stirs them up to seek after him and cleave to him the more seriously and heartily Thirdly The new Creature is of a humble meek and lowly nature it is like the Father and Authour of it the Lord Jesus he was meek and lowly in heart and life Math. 11.29 Christ was of a Lamb-like Dove-like nature Spirit and Carriage in his life and Death In his life Joh. 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God In his death under exceeding great contemps innumerable Injuries he was as a Lamb Acts. 8.32 so his Saints are often called his Sheep and Lambs My sheep hear my voice Joh. 10.27 and his Lambs Joh. 21.15 so he calls them his Doves Câ—nt 2.14 Cant. 5.2 and so they call Christ Cant. 5.12 now who knows not these Creatures to be meek lowly and humble and because they are generally known so to be and are so in their own nature the Lord Jesus sets out and shews us what his new Creatures are in their natures and carriages by them and they are such indeed or they are not the real Sheep Lambs and Doves of the Lord Jesus for all his People participate of his nature they are of Poor Meek Humble and lowly Spirits Words and Carriages in measure like their head Christ how Proud and Lofty so ever they were before Christs Regenerating Grace is certainly Soul-humbling Spirit-meekening and Heart-debasing Grace where-ever it is It Turns Lyons into Lambs Wolves into Sheep and Ravenous Birds into sweet Doves For they are Regenerated with the divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and by the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8.9 and they are said to be as he is in the world 1 Joh. 4.17 And as they are so by nature or there new birth so likewise by their Light and consideration Their habits are improved and strengthened by their own endeavours as by Gods own Proper means 1. They see so much of their own Vileness Wretchedness Nakedness and Impotency as to make them loath themselves and they see so much of their former and past Transgressions and Sins as to cause them to abhor and condemn themselves Job 42. They do now see themselves and ways with another kind of light and judgment than they did before so that now their Self-justifying is turn'd into Self-condemning and their high thoughts into low and Self-debasing thoughts of themselves They were never so high in their own Eyes as now they are low and never so worthy and sufficient as now they are unworthy and nothing Phill. 3.7.2 They see in measure the holyness and Righteousness of God and his Laws and the great unsuitableness of their hearts and wayes unto them and the sight and Sense thereof greatly humbles and debases them Isa 6.5 Job 42.5.6 And as they are humbled and debased at the sight and knowledg of these things so also their serious pondering and considering them doth further shame humble and abuse them They do consider and lay these things to heart and do
regenerated in comparison of Jesus Christ his Gospel Names and Glory Self-denial and Christ exalting is one of the first Lessons he Learns and the first work and concern he is busied about Assoon as Paul was regenerated his heart was raised up to this duty bent and resolvedly set upon it and without delay prosecuted it Lord says he what wilt thou have me to do Acts. 9.6 and he tels us that assoon as he knew his Lords will he consulted not with flesh and blood that is with self ease and safety no but presently fell to work namely to exalt Christ save Souls and enlarge his Masters kingdome Gal. 1.15 16. Paul did immediately joyn Issues with Christ and freely and fully closed up with his Terms propounded by himself to all that will be his disciples Mark 8.34 Luk. 14.26 27. Luk. 18. and believe it so it is with you if you are his Disciples indeed Joh. 8.31 if you are born again of the Spirit Joh. 3.5 Christ Jesus the Lord is pretious in your Eies and high in your esteem your Lives Estates Honours Liberties Dignities and Relations are small matters to you in comparison of Christ his name Gospel and Interests And therefore your desire choice design aime scope and endeavours are all to greaten magnify and exalt him As he is the fairest of ten thousands unto you so you desire chuse and labour that he may be so by you It is a fixed principle in your hearts a stated Case in your Judgments and Consciences and a setled frame and bent of your Souls There is nothing in the World more pleasing and acceptable to you and there is not any thing that more refreshes your mindes and delights your hearts then this that you have a Christ to Glorify and that you may Glorify and Honour him The new Creature is formed for Christ to be and live 〈◊〉 the praise of his Glorious Grace Eph. 1.6.12 They see and acknowledge when Regenerated that they are no more their own but born again that they might Glorify God with their â—odies and Spirits which are the Lords 1 Cor. 6.19.20 and that they that live should live wholly to him who hath Created them in Christ Jesus unto good workes 2 Cor. 5.15 Eph. 2.10 One of the first questions or enquiries of the new Creature is how and wherein he may live to God please and honour him and bring forth fruit whereby he may be glorifyed Joh. 15.8 it is the great case and interest their hearts and souls are concerned in and they are grieved when they cannot reach it but receive or count it matter of joy when he is really loved honoured and exalted by any especially when they can do it themselves It is so natural to new Creatures or Regenerate men and they are so interessed in and with Jesus Christ his concerns as that they take and account what is done to or against him is done to or against themselves They are like the Lord Jesus their head in this too Namely that what iâ— Christs Indignity is theirs and what is Christs glory and honour is theirs also His reproach and honour lays nearer their hearts then any or all their own Earthly and Bodily concernments The Lord Jesus accounts his Peoples Reproaches Indignities Prosperity and Happiness his own such is his great love and respects to and care of them Isa 63.9 Acts 9.5 Math. 10.42 Math. 25.40 Zach. 2.8 If they be honoured he is so if they be abused he is abused and if they suffer he doth so to In all their Afflictions he is afflicted And as it is with Christ in their concerns so it is in measure with them in Christs concerns Is his Name Gospel and Worship under a cloud of contempt and reproach it is matter of grief and mourning to them and when they are loved exalted and dignifyed it is their glory and joy Phil. 5.17 Psal 119. And that it is so indeed may farther be evidenced 1. From their near Relations New Creatures or Regenerate men are the Children of God He hath begotten them by his Grace and Gospel Jam. 1.18 1. Pet. 1.3.14 and all ingenious Children will concern themselves in and with their Fathers honour and indignity and naturally seek to advance and exalt them all they can or ought to do How much more doth the Divine nature and Spirit of God in Believers prompt and instigate them to do so to their heavenly Father and that by all the wayes and means they may 2. They are the Spouses of the Lord Jesus and he is their Husband Cant. 2.16 2 Cor. 11.2 Jer. 3.14 Christ hath chosen and taken them to himself Hosea 3.2 3. to be his loving and affectionate Brides Joh. 15.16 and they have chosen and taken him to be their Husband and become one with himself The Lord Jesus Regenerates men to make them capable of chosing him for theirs and to make them meet for this Conjugal Relation And they have in their hearts the love and respects in part that are due to such a Relation as Christ is 3. They are related to Christ as members to the head He is their head and they are his members Eph. 5.23.30 And therefore they must needs have his nature and spirit to desire and naturally design intend and indeavour to exalt and honour him The members of the natural body do naturally honour their head and the head doth the same to the members 1 Cor. 12.26 So it is in the mystical head and body And it cannot but be so because of the oneness and mutual simpathy that is between them So then if you are new Creatures you are members of Christ and if members of Christ then you simpathize with Christ His reproach is yours and his honour is yours and you have a natural frame bent and disposition of heart to honour exalt and magnify him all you can and it is your delight joy to do it 2. Love esteem and respects that are in these Relations and flow from them to Christ do prompt and stir you up to Desire Chuse Design and endeavour to honour and exalt him Their strong and endeared love to and high esteem of him provokes and moves them to study project watch and labour all they can to please honour and exalt him The love of so many near and great Relations as they stand in to him must needs be very strong and fervent being in one subject They love and esteem him as their loving sweet and kind Head Father Husband as their Redeemer Teacher Comforter Crowner and Eternal Saviour and therefore they cannot but seek and endeavour his honour and exaltation They have eyes enlightned to see a transcendent Worth and glorious Excellency Beauty and Majesty in Christ and they see him As worthy of all Acceptation 1 Tim. 1.15 so of all glory and exaltation Neither Christ or his Excellencies are hid from them but the Glory of them do so shine into their hearts as greatly to draw forth their Hearts Tongues
and Souls to magnify and honour him Psal 103.1.2 Cant. 5.10 ult They lay a Charge on themselves and command as it were their all to bless and glorify him Now what can you say to this mark Can you say it is so with you do you find it in you and do you experience it indeed or do you not can you say in deed and in Truth that whatever the performance be yet the frame bent choice inclination and disposition of your hearts and endevours of your hands are fully and frequently set and resolved to exalt serve please and magnify the great God and Jesus Christ your Lord and King your Glory and Crown Fifthly The new Creature hath a hungring and thursting desire and earnest longing after Jesus Christ after Interest in and Communion with him after a clearer and more distinct knowledge of him and acquaintance with him and whatsoever is his as his Lawes Promises Blood Graces or what ever else they hear is in him or hath relation to or proceeds from him The new Creature is like Noahs Dove that can rest the sole of its foot only on and in this Ark of the Everlasting Covenant All other Foundations are but broken Reeds and Ropes of Sand to him Christ and the Covenant of Grace the faithfulness and All-sufficiency of God are his only Anchor Holds and Rocky Grounds upon which he can rest himself and on which he casts and roles himself The New Man is the only wise Builder for he chuses the Rock of Ages to Build upon and none else Math. 7.25 Math. 16.18 Phil. 3.7 8. The Foundation which God hath laid in the Covenant of Grace for men to Build themselves their Faith and Hope upon that they desire chuse hunger and seek after and cannot be satisfied without 1 Cor. 3.11 Psal 73.25 26. The Regenerate persons take up in rest build and stay themselves The Lord is my Rock says David Psal 18.2 so says every New Creature the Lord Jesus Christ shall be my only Rock and Foundation my hopes notions self-righteousness good works and performances my self-supposed abilities Professions Priviledges and Reformations shall no more be my Foundations as they have been No but Christ and the Covenant of Grace the Faithfulness and All-sufficiency of God shall be my Foundation and resting Place I will build my self and all my hopes confidences and expectations wholly and altogether on them for they and they only can bare the weight of my Soul and eternal Salvation which I must build upon them But unregenerate men have other bottoms and foundations to rest and build themselves upon they little or nothing at all concern themselves in good earnest with the Foundation God hath laid but form a great many to themselves and build all their confidences hopes and expectations on them and say they are safe and secure no evil shall come to them Math. 7.26 Thus did the foolish Virgins Math. 25.1 and thus did Paul before his Regeneration Phil. 3.6 7. But it was otherwise after his Regeneration then his whole Soul and mind was carried forth to Christ with all possible earnestness and importunity Phil. 3.8 Their thousand of Rams and ten thousand Rivers of Oyl now are nothing to them as once they were Micah 6.7 no but now ten thousand of worlds for a sure and certain bottom or foundation to rest and build my poor shaken and tossed Soul upon is the voice and cry of all Regenerate men before they clearly find Christ so as to build upon him and commit all their present and everlasting concerns on him And as they have a hungering and thirsting desire c. after Christ for their foundation to build upon so also to have him in their armes and hearts to have more and clearer knowledg of and intimate acquaintance and communion with him His absence is grievous to them but his presence and favour his smiles and acquaintance is better to them then Life Psal 30.5 Psal 4.6 They greatly desire to see and know their glorious King arrayed with all his Royal Robes approaching and comeing neare unto and opening himselfe unto them to impart the secrets of his Love and Grace unto them and thereby allure and draw them unto himself Psal 63.1.2 Cant. 4. ult Psal 25.14 Sixthly A new Creature hath all holy Spiritual passions and affections The natural man you know hath many natural passions and affections so the new man hath many Spiritual and heavenly passions and affections The naturall man hath many evil and sinful affections and passions and the Spiritual man hath many divine and holy affections and passions I shall name some and but a few of them 1. Love As Regeneration makes men lovely acceptable and desirable to God Men and Angels Ezek. 16. so it makes them exceeding loveing and affectionate men to God and men Before regeneration they are Self-lovers Sin-lovers and World-lovers but by the new Nature and Spirit they have received from Heaven they are no more such but God-lovers Christ-lovers Grace-lovers Duty-lovers and Saint-lovers Now they have new affections for new objects and matters They have operating Affections to and for God They single out God Christ and Holyness they chuse and single out from other objects and things the Grace and Spirit the Laws Promises People and Ordinances of Christ for their Love and to set their strongest warmest and heavenly Affections upon The affections or passion of love in them is stirred Moved Warmed and Enflamed by the Love of God the Grace and Loveliness of Christ that is declared and represented to them in and by the Gospel Oh how doth this passion somtimes work and act in them towards these objects and things It is so full as that they are not able to vent or express it especially when Christ appears to them and puts in his hand as it were by the hole of the door the heart as that they can but sigh and sob cry and weep out a little of this strong and working affection This did Mary Magdalen Luk. 7.38 she stood at his Feet weeping and washed the feet of Christ with her Tears but what was the ground of her so doing see Verse 47. why it was her ardent love and affection to Christ she did so for she loved much namely Christ Oh! what a strong passion of love was she in How did her Affection work towards Christ so likewise did Peters too Joh. 12. Lord saith he thou knowest that I love thee but how much or how strong his love and affection to Christ was he could not express David also gives us another Testimony of it Psal 119.97 Oh! how I Love thy Law and elsewhere sayes he I love them exceedingly I do love them with a greater and more affectionate love than I can express and so was his love moved and drawn out to good men Psal 16.3 2. Hatred These are opposite and contrary passions in men namely Love and Hatred In our unregenerate States we do Love what we should hate
That they may greatly rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God 1 Rom. 5.2 and for that glorious resurrection that is promised To this hope they are called in their Regeneration Eph. 1.18.44 and this is one of the fruits of the spirit in their hearts ever after 5. Joy Joy is another holy passion in good men There is the natural passion of joy in all men and there is the Spiritual passion of joy in Regenerate men There is the object or matter of joy and there is the joy it self and also the faculty or subject of joy The object or matters of joy and rejoycing to good men are Christ Grace and heavenly things Phill. 3.1.3 Phil. 44. Psal 4.4 Psal 32. ult 2 the joy its self which flows forth from these objects or matters of joy into their hearts For experience shews that sometimes the objects of joy are shut up and yield no joy at all to us when we do eye and mind them and would fain draw it out of them but they are like Clouds that give down no rain at all sometimes or as a Fountaine shut up 〈◊〉 sealed Cant. 4.12 But at other times they are opened to us and then the joy of the Lord refreshes and chears strengthens and warmes our Souls This is given us of God the Father Christ and the holy Spirit as a special expression of his Love and Grace to us The objects of joy will not afford it until he give it or command them to hand it out to us Psal 133.3 Rom. 14.17 Rom. 15.13 Gall. 5.22 Joh. 14. Job 15.11 Joh. 6.20 3 There is the faculty or subject of joy that is that which is onely capable of receiving the impressions of the joy of the Lord in the Soul and improving it aright This is that we call the affection or passion of joy and this is given to men namely as it is a Spiritual or new passion in Regeneration For thereby God makes them subjects capable of receiving and rightly embracing valuing and useing the heavenly joy he intends for and hath promised to give unto them in their walking with him in their Regenerate states Now they can and do rejoice in Christ Jesus Phill. 3.3 in his love and Grace and in his will and their duty Rom. 7.22 Psal 40. now they praise God with joyful lips Psal 63.5 and shout for joy of heart Psal 32. ult Now they rejoyce and work righteousness and walk on in their way rejoycing Acts 8.39 Isa 64.5 Their hearts are full of great and unspeakable joy at some seasons so as that their Vessels can now hold no more 1 Pet. 1.8 With this Holy Joy in their hearts they can run and not be weary walk and not faint Isa 40. ult Neh. 8.10 6. Sorrow This is in a sense a contrary passion or affection to that of Joy There is a natural and carnal sorrow and a holy and spiritual sorrow or grief of heart the first is common to all men the second is only found in Regenerate men Sorrow in a natural sense is an evil but in a spiritual sense it is a good passion Joy and sorrow are strong and vehement working passions in men when strongly imprest and deeply affected with real or supposed evil or good There is a worldly and there is a godly sorrow 2 Cor. 7.10 Regeneration brings into and sets up the godly sorrow in men and thereby they are enabled to sorrow after a godly manner 2 Cor. 7.9 This passion is moved and imprest and the acts of godly sorrow are produced by several and these different objects and matters First their own lusts sins and God-provoking abominations their vileness and filthiness and their former contempts of Christ and despising slighting and rejecting his Love Grace Yoke Promises and Kindnesses These and many other evils and the serious thoughts and considerations of them do break and wound their hearts and cause much inward grief anguish and sorrow of heart and make them cry out unclean unclean what shall we do or how shall we appear before the holy and righteous God Acts 2.35 36 37 Acts 16. This causes them to sigh and mourn and erercise revengeful thoughts against themselves and to take indignation of themselves condemn abhor and loath themselves Ezek. 36.31 2 Cor. 7.11 And secondly the serious thoughts and considerations of the God Christ Grace Love and Kindness they have sinned against They see know and lay to heart who they have grieved wounded and dishonoured namely their God who had thoughts of love and peace for them when they were in their blood Ezek. 16. Jer. 29. They hope they had an interest in his heart and that he loved them before they loved God yea when they hated him and would have none of his counsel 1 Joh. 4.19 Pro. 1. They likewise see and consider the great Love and Grace of Christ and what great things he hath done and suffered for them to saâ—â— them from the wrath that is to come 1 Thes 1. ult The thoughts of the exceeding great patience and long-suffering of God towards them his pittying them and waiting on and for them that he might be gracious to them Isa 30.18 Rom. 2.4 5. Rom. 10. ult his standing at the door and knocking for them to have admission into their hearts Rev. 3.20 and how willing and importunate he was to be at peace and in friendship with them how basely and unworthily they carried themselves towards him and how they turned a deaf ear to his Calls and Invitations and made him wait so long for their acceptance of him even until his Locks were wet with the dew of the right Cant. 5. This works grief and raises great sorrow in their hearts So when they consider how their sins have stabb'd and murdred the Lord Jesus and put him to open shame Heb. 6 6. how they pulled down the wrath and Curse of God on him Gal. 3.12 and how he poured out sighs tears yea his precious Blood and Soul for them Isa 53. and likewise how their sins were imputed to and laid on him and how he was Crucified and killed for them and all to save them and instate them in his own Glory and Eternal Blessedness 2 Cor. 5. ult Joh. 10. Joh. 17. and how ungratefully they have demeaned themselves to him Oh! how doth this work on them how do these things irritate and cause sorrow and bitterness of Soul in them Now they can indeed look on him whom they have pierced and mourn and be in real bitterness of Soul as for their First-born Zach. 12.10 These and many other things which I cannot now mention do greatly melt them and provoke holy Sorrow and Repentance unto Life for as Christ his Love Grace and Sufferings do work on their passion of Joy irritates and provokes it so they do work on and cause much sorrow and grief of heart through the helps of the Spirit likewise The same objects and matters do work savingly and effectually on both namely to
or that have the faith to believe in him to 〈◊〉 saving of their Souls Heb. 10. ult There are many indeed that have a Faith and pretend to believe in Christ so John 8 31. Acts 8. but very few have that faith to do so in Truth neither do they much if at all desire and seek after such a Faith but are pleased and satisfied well enough without it Oh! how few are there who have the Faith of Gods Elect and their pretious Faith that do Believe through â—race and have that Faith which purifies the heart and leads them forth and carries them out of themselves to Christ to take up in him only Tit. 1 1. 2 Pet. 1 1. Acts 15 9 Acts 18 27. This they could and would do indeed were they Regenerated for as hath been shewed all such as are Regenerated do so in and by the light and power of Christs grace in Regeneration 7. How few are there among the great multilades of professors that love God the Lord Jesus Christ his Grace Laws People and Gospel Obedience â—â—re or so much as they do their own Lusts the world and their own carnal profits pleasures and honours Oh! how few are there that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Eph. 6. ult and with their whole hearts Math. 22.37 how few are there to be found that have their hearts circumcised to love the Lord and that have had the holy Ghost sheding abroad the love of God into their hearts as all regenerate persons have Deut. 30.6 Rom. 5.5 Is it not apparent that the most of professors are strong and greedy fervent and zealous Lovers of the world and carnal self 2 Tim. 3.2 men shall in the last dayes sayes Paul be lovers of themselves and of pleasures more then God Vers 4. And is it not really so now with the greater number of professors which shews they are in an unregenerate state and condition For were they new Creatures indeed they would love God Jesus Christ and heavenly things as the great and onely objects of their lovely delight choice and complacency All other things would be to them as they were to regenerate Paul namely diâ—â— and dung in comparison of Christ Grace Gospel-obedience Holyness Heaven and heavenly things Phil. 3. 8. How few are there who have or are about the great work of Crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts in good earnest which were they â—ew Creatures indeed they would assuredly be much concerned in and busying themselves about as one of their great and indispensible workes and businesses For all regenerate persons are seriously exercising themselves in this work Gall. 5.24 they 〈◊〉 purifying their hearts by faith and perfecting holiness in the fear of God Acts. 15.9 1 Joh. 3.3 2 Co. 7.1 But so are not the Generality of professors they are strangers if not eneâ—ies to this work They are as was said in 〈◊〉 with them they are their joy and deâ—ight and who will seek and unfainedly endeavour to destroy them they love deilght and take pleasure in These are onely the works of regenerate men 9. How few are there who do unfainedly repent 〈◊〉 their Sins and mourn night and day for their transgressions are in real bitterness of soul and abase Judge and condemn themselves which if they were regenerated they would 〈◊〉 They would humble themselves be ashamed of themselves for uncovering their nakedness and laying open their shame before God and men and they would repent in dust and Ashes withall their hearts and Souls Job 42.5.6 Izek. 36.31 For this is the New Creatures dayly worke Regenerate men have that berefit of Christ his Resurrection and Ascension as well as others namely Repentance Acts 5.31 and that great grant and fruit of the Covenant of Grace and the blood of it Acts 11.18 Heb. 13.20 Repentance unto Life By the power of which they practice Repentance They have it in their hearts and act it in their walkings They mark and observe what they should be and what Errors and mistakes they are guilty of mourn for it and labor to mend them But do the multitude of professors do so no not in the least they cast these things out of all serious Consideration it is a work they loath and wholly neglect It is too low and base business for them to mind or concern 10. How few are there among the multitudes of professors who make it their business to please and honour God to fear and reverence him and to worship him in Spirit and Truth This or these matters would be strong and powerful on their hearts and Souls and they would labour to do it indeed were they regenerated For all regenerate men have it so on their hearts and they do really aim at and endeavour it as was before proved Phill. 3.3 God hath wrought in them that which is well-pleasing in his sight Heb. 13.21 and to worship him in Spirit and Truth Joh. 4.23 They are formed by Grace to honour and magnifie God and to make it their work and business Isa 43.21 and are created in Christ Jesus unto this and all other good works Eph. 2.10 They are renewed in knowledge to understand them and with power and will to do them Coll. 3.10 Phil. 2.13 Psal 110.3 But where are such persons to be found among Professors O! how few how this are they sown and how rarely do they appear if compared with others how few have the power of Godliness in comparison of them who take up with the meer forme how few professors are Spiritually minded persons who set their Affections on things above and not on things below Coll. 3.1 2 Rom. 8.5.6 and that have thee Conversation or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Trade in heaven Phil. 3.20 how few are their who guard and watch themselves and their Souls adversaries and keep their hearts with all diligence or above before all things Pro. 4 23. how few are there who labour and make it their Trade and business to be fruitful in every good worke and dound in the work of the Lord to bear much fruit unto Eternal Life and all that God may be glorified and their own Souls profited and saved by Grace Coll. 1.10 1 Cor. 15. ult Jâ—b 15.8 Rom. 6.22 How few are there who do unfainedly minde and labour to walk sincerely and uprightly with God and before him and to adorn the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Surely very few do and are so indeed Only a little little flock do they and they only are such persons within and walk so without as hath been shewed From which Proofs and Instances we may certainly conclude that there are but a very few a small number of Regenerate persons among the multitudes of professors I have I think said enough for the confirming and clearing of this Truth although I could say much more to and of it were it needful Now then what use and Improvement should we all make of this Truth Surely it is a great Truth and
Pardon of all your Sins for time to come Exod. 34.6 7. Isa 55.7 Jer. 31.34 hence the Lord Jesus commands and directs them Namely you that are Gods Children to Pray Our Father forgive us our Trespasses Math. 6.12 And Paul tells us from Christ that there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 and if there be indeed no condemnation then no Sin unpardoned To the same purpose Christ speaks in Joh. 5.24 He that is passed from Death to Life as all Regenerate Persons are shall not come into Condemnation Therefore encourage your selves in true holiness hereby 2. You have the Promises of Cleansing and Healing you or of Gods sanctifying and purifying your hearts Hosea 14.4 For which end and purpose among other Christ gave himself Tit. 2.14 Eph. 5.25.26 And sets open the Fountain to flow in upon us Zach. 13.1 And Ezek. 36.25.26.27 I will sprinkle clean Water on them and they shall be clean and from all their filthiness and from all their Idols will I cleanse them 3. You have promises of perseverance in Godlyness unto the end of your race until you have finished your course here you shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 And my sheep follow me and I give to them eternal Life and they shall never Perish neither shall any take them out of my hand Joh. 10.27.28.29 Moreover God tells us that for our more certain and full assurance of our safety and security he will keep us water us every moment yea and keep us Night and Day Isa 27.2.3 And engages himself that whatever enemies beset us round about and seek to devour us that he will watch us and be our defence by being a wall of Fire round about us Zach. 2.5 God hath promised that he will put his fear into their hearts and they shall not depart from him Jer. 32.40 and that his Children shall call him my Father and shall not turn away from him Jer. 3.19 They have underneath them the Everlasting Armes and they are held in his hand They are safe within the walls of their Fathers house and are guarded with the holy Angells Their victory over all their enemies is sure because they are ever under the Conduct of their great Captain Christ and fight under his Banner in his cause and quarrel with his Armor of proof who hath all their enemies under his feet Their Lusts the world and Devil are all in subjection unto your great King and Captain And because the Victory is sure on our side as fighting under him he is stiled the Captain of our salvation And therefore you may be sure you shall not Perish For you have all possible security from him and his Father to strengthen and encourage to fence and arme you against all your own fears weakness and temptations whatsoever Even the Gates of Hell shall not be able to prevaile against you But if you are in a state of Grace you shall most certainly run your Race win the Prize and wear the Crown of Righteousness For you have their bonds for your security who are both able faithful to perform and make them good to you and to all who shall trust and rely on them for the doing of it 4. You have promises of Peace This is one of your husbands Legacies to you Joh. 14.27 Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you And in Joh. 16. ult In the world saith Christ ye shall have tribulation but in me ye shall have peace And Glory honour and peace to every man that worketh Righteousness Rom. 2.10 and as many as walk according to this Rule peace be to them Gal. 6.16 So in Phil. 4.7 And the peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds This Spiritual peace is a fruit of Gods Love and the mediation of Christ of our Justification and Sincerity of heart towards God and men For he is our peace Eph. 2.14 and being Justifyed by faith we have peace with God Rom. 5.1 Those that know and have experienced the great and sore Affliction and trouble of a wounded Conscience which none can bear Pro. 18.14 and the load and weight of guilt and fear on the Soul can give a better account of the worth and Excellency of this peace of God For indeed it is so great that it passeth all understanding Phill. 4.7 5. Satisfaction You have the promisses of being satisfied with good The meaning is not so to be satisfied with what we have as not to desire and seek for more of that and other mercies no but to be satisfied with and in the will and disposements of God and the measure of our present Enjoyments untill God shall augment them Joh. 4.14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst Isa 58.10 Jer. 31.14.25 It is a great mercy to have a satisfied and contented Spirit with Gods Allowance and at the same time to endeavour after more An unsatisfied Spirit is very sinful grievous vexatious to a mans own Soul He enjoys not what he hath that is not satisfied in the will of God â—â—ith his portion and measure God dispences â—is favours according to his sovereign wisdom Will and Grace he gives two Talents to one servant and to another five Math. 25. to declare and make known to men his soveraignty and dominion over them and that he doth in Heaven and Earth whatsoever pleaseth him That he will not dispose of his favors according to our wills but his one 6. You have promises of Assistance in your duties or of a supply of the Spirit of Grace and the Grace of the Spirit to enable you to performe them according to the will of God even to acceptation in Heaven Phill. 4.19 And my God shall supply all your wants Psal 84.11 The Lord God is a Sun and shield he will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly as all Regenerate men may do The holy Spirit is promised to help our Infirmities and enable us to do the will of God acceptably Rom. 8.26 27. Zach. 12.10 And fear not Jacob my Servant although thou art a worm a poor weak Creature yet seeing thou art a New Creature I will help thee yea I will strengthen thee yea I will uphold thee with the Right hand of my Righteousness Isa 41.10 13 14. He giveth power to the Saint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength That they that wait on him may encrease their strength to run and not be weary Isa 40.29 31. so that whatever God calls you to and sets you upon be sure that he will fully enable you to do it how weak soever you are in and of your selves For God is strong and faithful who hath promised it 7. Joy and Consolation God hath priviledged you with promises of rejoycing your hearts and of causing
and hate what we should Love We Love Gods enemies and hate his friends we hate his Laws Rods Yoke Waies People and love our Lusts the World Self and the Service of sin But Regeneration sets holy and God Pleasing Love and hatred in us So that now by the power of his Regenerating Grace we love that which we should love and hate that we should hate that which was our duty to have done before now we can do Now we can and do love holiness and hate loath and abhor our lusts and sins Now we hate the workes of the flesh and love the workes of the Spirit And as the passion of love is strong and intense on its Objects so is this of hatred likewise The man in whom this new holy hatred is did never more really heartily and fervently love his lusts and the fulfilling of them than he doth now hate abominate and endeavour to destroy them 1. Cor. 9. ult Gal. 5.24 They that are Christs namely by Regeneration have Crucified the flesh with the Affections and Lusts David tells us that this Affection or Passion was strong in him as well as that of love Psal 119.104.113 I hate every false way and I hate vain thoughts but thy Law do I love Blessed Paul Speaks likewise to the same purpose of himself Rom. 7.15 But what I hate that do I. I do sin its true But I can say that my sin is the great and only Object of my hatred that 's as true also God hates all Iniquity in all men Psal 45.8 Ja. 44.4 and he puts the same Affection or passion into his people in Regeneration that they may hate it also All sin is exceeding sinful loathsome and abominable to the new creature for its own sake in its own nature and as it is hateful to God The evil and pernitious effects and Consequences of it makes or renders it the object of their constant hatred also They that are Spiritual minded and are in the pursuit after Grace Christ and Holyness to perfect it is the fear of God as Commanded 2. Cor. 7.1 do hate their sin because it hath deprived them of and spotted the Image of God in which they were created Gen. 1.26 2 Because it hath robbed God of his due Worship and Service for which he Created them 3 Because it hath occasioned the great debasement and Suffering of the Lord Jesus For had not men Sinned Christ had not Suffered 4 Because it grieves and vexes the holy Spirit of God Isa 63. Eph 4.30 5 Because sin devides and separates between God and them Isa 59.1.2 6 Because it doth defile and pollute all their holy things and would quite marr and spoyl them did not their great High Priest appear for them to purifie their Offerings Exod. 28.38 7 Because Sin doth clog and burden them so as that they cannot Run their Race nor do that good they desire and are resolved to do in this world Heb. 12.1 Rom. 7. 8 Because their sinful hearts draw them off from God and indisposes them to and for their walking with God 9 Because it betrays them into the hand of their great Adversary the Devil and strengthens him against them 10 Because by sin God is dishonoured and his holy Name blasphemed his Truths despised and his blessed ways rejected These and such like considerations of sin greatly provokes and stirs up the holy hatred of sin in all Regenerate men as they can experience There is in them a universal perpetual and irreconcilable hatred of all sin especially such of their own sins as do more easily beset them Heb. 12.1 They hate the very name and appearance of sin all the Germents spotted with the flesh Jude 23. They dare not knowingly parly or hold correspondency with sin because the thought or consideration of it is most hateful and abominable 3. Fear New Creatures are the only real fearers of God The all-seeing Eye the Holiness Righteousness Goodness and Authority of God do awe them and cause them to fear and tremble before him Hosea 3.5 Isa 66.1.2 Jer. 32.39 40. They do now approach nigh to God and worship him with a holy and Godly fear and are enabled to walk in the fear of the Lord all the day long Psal 2.11 Heb. 12.28 Prov. 23.17 They are afraid of sin and temptations to it and dare not knowingly and deliberately come nean them but avoid and eschew the appearances and occasions of evil They are more afraid of the cause then the effects the sin then the punishment The thoughts of their danger they are always in and their aptness and proneness to transgress by reason of the deceitfulness and treachery of their hearts the strength and power of Lusts snares of the World and Satans fi◠〈◊〉 Darts do make them jealous fearful circumspect and watchful They see such a Majesty Excellency and glorious Presence in the holy God and Jesus Christ in his Names Offices Obedience Blood Love and Grace in his Laws Promises Ways and Ordinances which causes them to fear and reverence them erceedingly Psal 89.7 4. Hope Hope is another holy Passion or Affection in the New Creature Their hope is set on God the Father and Christ his Son Psal 78.7 Tit. 2.13 and on all the good things held out to them in the Promises called the blessed Hope Tit. 2.13 They have Christ in them the hope of Glory Col. 1.27 and they have Christ without them with all his fulness in the Covenant and Promises and in Heaven for them as their hope Every man hath the natural passion of hope but gracious men have the spiritual hope They hope for all the good of the covenant of grace fullness of Christs Grace and whatever may make them holy hear and happy hereafter The natural hope of unregenerate men is a groundless hope and the great things it is exercised about are but vain perishing worldly things and groundless hopes for a happiness heareafter Job 8.13.14 hence they are said to be withâ—â—â— hope in the world because they want the real spiritual and well grounded hope Eph. 2.12 1 Thes 4.13 But Regenerate men have a holy spiritual and well grounded hope and they by out and cast the Anchor of their hope on â—â—â—ings that are sure and unmovable on spiritual heavenly Soul-saving and eternal matâ—â—s and their hope is impressed provoked â—â—eng thened and quickned by them to hope more strongly steadily and constantly for the enjoyment of them They hope to obtain eternal Life in the Lords own way Tit. 1.2 not in the wayes of their own evil hearts as other men do They hope for the coming of Christ the exaltation and setting up of his Kingdome themselves to be like him and to see 〈◊〉 as be is 1 Joh. 3.2.3 Tit. 2.13 They hope for more light life and holiness from Christ and for greater measures of his Spirit to be poured out upon them in this world and they hope for more and more joy and peace in Believing Rom. 15.13