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spirit_n corruption_n flesh_n sow_v 5,273 5 10.3024 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A49840 Something concerning the two births Laythes, Thomas, d. 1701. 1686 (1686) Wing L755; ESTC R221699 2,821 7

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Something CONCERNING THE Two Births IN serious Meditation and weighty Consideration upon those words of Christ to Nichodemus John 3.3 Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God And hereby it doth plainly appear that there is an absolute necessity of a second Birth and Work of Regeneration And seeing it is thus it greatly concerns all that none neglect nor slight the day of their Visitation lest it be said unto them as it was said unto Jerusalem of old O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee How often would I have gathered thee even as a Hen gathereth her Chickins under her wings and ye would not Matth. 23.37 Here was the Love of God in Jesus Christ unto Jerusalem but Jerusalem neglected or rather rejected the day of their Visitation which shows that God is not the Author of mans Destruction as some would make him who hold that Point or Principle of Reprobation but that man hath Destroyed himself according to the Prophets Words Hosea 13.9 O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self And this I really do believe that God bath given to all People upon the Face of the Earth a day and time of Visitation as he did unto Jerusalem And seeing it is thus what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy and godly Conversation The first Birth being of the Earth earthly and as the Apostle saith speaking of themselves as well as others Among whom also we all had our Conversation in times past in the Lusts of the Flesh and were by nature the Children of Wrath even as others Eph. 2.3 Which is a state of Death and Darkness and Disobedience Loving and Delighting in the Creature more then in God the Creator having the Heart and Mind alinated and seperated from a Life in God and Righteousness and their cheif Delight and Pleasure in things below the Lord and of this VVorld and their Minds mostly exercised thereupon with great Delight and Pleasure being not subject to the Lord that made them nor willing to be led and guided by his good Spirit but chusing and joyning with that which doth most agree with their carnal sensual Minds neither knowing a Bridle to their Tongue though they may make a great profession of God and Christ and Scriptures and yet their Religion but vain as the Apostle James saith If any man among you seem to be Religious and bridleth not his Tongue that mans Religion is vain James 1.26 And if this be so as I certainly believe it is then how many mens Religions will prove but vain who love and delight so much in foolish Talking and Jesting which are not convenient Eph. 5.4 And let Experience spake to this whether it be not much the Practice both of Priests and People when they are together and what Benefit do any of you find by Reading and Speaking of the Scriptures while you do not Live and Walk accordingly This doth discover your Hypocrisie and will be a witness against you Be not deceived God will not be mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also Reap as the Apostle is very express Gal. 6.8 He that soweth to the Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption and he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting Now Mark here is a sowing to the Flesh and to the Spirit and a reaping accordingly neither are such willing to take up the daily Cross without which none can be his Disciple take his own Words for it If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me Luke 9.23 Nor yet a true Love to Brethren which is a great evidence and token of an Eternal and Everlasting Inheritance 1 John 3.14 where the Apostle saith We know we are past from Death to Life because we love the Brethren And hovv far are unregenerate People from this as is manifest by their Fruits what Pride Covetousness Envying and Destroying one an other and that about Carnal Earthly things and this in short is the estate of too many People upon the Face of the whole Earth in one degree or other in the first Nature before the work of Regeneration be known or witnessed But being Changed and Redeemed by the effectual working and opperation of the holy divine Spirit of God upon the Heart then a great Work wrought and witnessed a new Heart a new Mind new Love new Delight old things are passed away and all things become new and then a loving God with all thy Heart with all thy Soul and thy Neighbour as thy self and a Cross taken up to all the Worlds Ways Delights and Pleasures Customs Fellowships and Fashions though heretofore never so much loved and delighted in and the Heart Mind and Spirit exercised in and upon Heavenly and Spiritual things being alive thereunto and dead unto the World and worldly things which have Evil in them according to David that man of God of whom it is said His delight was in the Law of the Lord and in that Law doth he meditate Day and Night Psal 1.2 And such become willing to do or to suffer for God and his Truth and bear a faithful Testimony for him against ●hat which is evil in all its appearances being seperated from the World its Ways and Worships which are out of the Spirit into the Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth being kept in the holy fear and dread of the Lord at all times whereby they dare not joyn with them whose Tongues are at Liberty lik● those who said Our Tongues are our own who is Lord over us Psal 12.4 But such are out of the fear of the Lord which keeps down and under that vain light airy Spirit of the World and here is not only a talking and profession of Religion but a living and walking accordingly For this I knovv that that Religion Profession and Worship be what it will in which People are not redeemed and changed out of their vain Conversation in that Religion Pofession and Worship their Souls can never be saved according to Christs Doctrine Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God and seeing it is thus let all press forward that they may attain to that Pure and undefiled Religion which keeps unspotted from the World and such will become good Pattrons and Examples in their places having a constant care over their Thoughts and Words like good David who said I will take heed to my Ways that I sin not with my Tongue I will keep my Mouth with a Bridle while the Wicked is before me Psal 39.1 A good Man a blessed Condition but how unlike unto David are many professing Christians now both Priests and People who talk much of God and Christ and Scriptures for their Rule but how little do they endeavour to Live and Walk accordingly Is it not plain Scripture and Christs own Words That for every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account at the day of Judgment And yet how common are not only idle Words but invoked Oaths and other great Abominations among a People professing Christianity for which we may justly fear a Judgment come over the Nation Oh that the Lord would give Repentance that his Wrath might be appeased and Blessed and Happy are all they whose ●earts and Minds are redeemed out of the Evil of this VVorld and out of the Pleasures thereof into that one true Fellowship the Apostle declares of 1 John 1.7 If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin Here is the new Creation and second Birth Christ spoke of known and Blessed and for ever Blessed are all they that are VVitnesses hereof ye for ever and for evermore Amen From a Lover of Truth and Righteousness Thomas Laythes Dalehead in Cumberland the 12th of the 8th Month 1686. THE END