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
neither do they desire there should be their minds and thoughts are wholly taken up about making provision for their Pride Covetousness Carnal Security Vain Glory Good Opinion of themselves and other filthy Lusts and they make themselves their Drudges and humble servants Rom. 13. ult And hence they are said to serve sin Rom. 6.6.17.20 But new Creatures know and account their Lusts their greatest Enemies and prosecute them with implacuble enmity and hatred They know either they must destroy their Lusts or they will destroy them They know that they have trucifyed the Son of God and put him to open shame and they know that they have greatly wronged their own Souls Pro. 8. ult And therefore they will give them no Quarter but stab them to the heart whatever it cost them to do it 4. Watching They are called to and imployed in the work of watching and guarding themselves against all their enemies This is another of their Special and peculiar works and businesses It is spetial and peculiar to new or regenerate men though it is the duty of all men yet none but they are conscientiously and dutifully imploying and exercising themselves in it But good men are 1 Joh. 5.18 But he that is begotten of God keepeth himself That is they do watch aâ—me and guard themselves so David did Psal 102.7 Psal 130.6 and the Scripture makes it one of the Special properties of good servants as well as their workes Habak 2.1 which Christ pronounces Blessed Revel 16.15 2 Cor. 11.27 Luk. 12.37 Regenerate men are beset with enemies which watch their opportunities to assault and betray them and that they know They know that Satan watches them and Lusts watch and the world watches to hurt and mischief their Souls and therefore they watch them and prepare against them It is true that good men are apt to be too negligent in this duty and need stirings up to it and it is as true that they do ordinarily practice this duty and worke They are moved to it 1 by the will and command of God God requires them to watch guard themselves Mark 13.33 34 37. 1 Their own hearts Pro. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence 2 the Devil 1 Pet. 5.8 Be Sober be Vigilant for your adversary the Devil as a Roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour 3 The World Luk. 21.34.36 4 To watch unto prayer and all other duties Col. 4. and Acts 20.31 1 The Calls to and opportunities for them that through heedlesness and inadvertency we let them not slip away from us without imbracing and improving them to the Glory of God and our Souls profit or advantage of others 2 That we may close in and joyn Issues with God and his designes in giving them to us and that in the time and season of them and that freely and readily 2 They are moved to a fervent attendance on this work and duty by and from their dangers They are in continual danger of assaults and surprizalls from them and therefore they must be always upon their watch to prevent their designs discover their plots and foyl them in their Attempts 3 From their own security and comfort they are moved to this worke It is easier keeping an Enemy out of the Garison of the heart then dealing with and driving him out â—hen admitted in Their own as well as Christs honour safety and happiness is much concerned in their so doing God hath 1 committed themselves to their own keeping and given them the care and charge of themselves 1 Joh. 5.21 Pro. 4.23 Jam. 1. ult 'T is true â—â—at God doth watch over and keep them in especially manner also Isa 27.3 1 Pet. â—5 and that when they are most careful to â—eep themselves 2 God hath intrusted them with power light will and abilities to keep themselves and in their doing of it in obedience to his will he hath promised to keep and secure them from Sin and danger likewise 1 Pet. 5.7.2 Tim. 4.18 They watch and keep themselves dutifully in order to their safety and God keeps and watches them powerfully and effectually so as that the sâ—es of Hell shall not prevaile against them Math. 16.18 But they cannot so keep and secure themselves with their utmost diligence This I say is the work and imployment of regenerate persons they and they only live in the practice of it Unregenerate persons do no way concern themselves in this great and special work They know it not they love it not neither have they hearts to do it withal They think it a work of supererogation and that such as are busied about it are more strict and precise than they should be They fear neither God Sin World nor Devil neither are they sensible of the danger they are in of destruction but go on securely in the wayes of their own hearts and speak peace unto themselves presuming that no evil shall come to them 5 They are employing and exercising themselves in worshiping God according to his own will and Appointment namely to worship God in Spirit and Truth and that with his own worship We are they sayes Paul of himself and other Saints who worship God in Spirit Psal 3.3 They are convinced that they must and that God will so be worshiped of them Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth For this self-same thing though not onely doth God Regenerate men and thereby lays in and sets up a principle of divine worship in them that so they may readily do it according to the will of God For sayes Christ the Father seeketh such to worship him Joh. 4.23 that is that the Father doth by Christs Gospel and the holy Ghost call and regenerate teach and Spirit some to worship him It is their desire choice care and study to draw nigh to God in all parts of his worship with true hearts Heb. 10.22 and to worship God sincerely and Spiritually To please and honour him to sanctify his name and holy worship and to give unto the Lord the honâ—â—â— due unto his name to comply with his holy will and ends to make his praise glorious Psal 29.1 2. Psal 66.2 This is also one of their high and noble works holy and Spiritual imployments and that wherein their Souls delight to this they are called for this they are in part fitted and qualified in their Regeneration and this is their work and business ever â—â—er Thus it is with you and so is your â—ractice if you are Regenerated Unregeneâ—â—te men are strangers and adversaries to this peculiar work and duty of new Creatures they know it not they do it not neither conâ—â—rn themselves with it They take up in and are satisfied with the Letter without the Spirit with the form without the Truth and â—â—er of Godliness and they imagine that they have done God good service when they have spent some time in external duties and ordiâ—ances without the great
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
it may be said and that truly of all Regenerate persons that they are no more sinners although they sin but holy and beloved Col. 3.12 It is and may be called a state of Grace on many accounts I 'le name a few and so dismiss this Head 1. Because they are ingrafted into Christ who is their Root Revel 22.16 the Stock and Vine in whom they are set by Regeneration Job 15.2.5 2. Because they are in favour with God he loves the New Creature with the love of complacency and delight because it is his very Image and Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Col. 3.10 and he hath great favour and kindness for them as such Tit. 3.4 5. 3. Because they are under the Conduct and Power of Grace For as before sin reigned unto death in and over them so now the Grace of Christ reigns through righteousness unto Eternal Life Rom. 5. ult 4. Because of their Relation to God They were the Children of the Devil but now the Children of God So their new Relation puts them into a new State 5. Because of their work and service their work was to serve sin Rom. 6. but now to serve God It is now their only work and business to live unto God in all sincere Gospel-obedience Holiness is their Aim Trade and Principle 't is stated in their hearts moulded and framed there and expressed in their endeavours 6. Because they are in an abiding and lasting state it is not transient but their Regeneration shall be perfected in Glorification Phil. 1 6. Rom. 8.30 Thus you have heard what Regeneration is I have opened it as plainly as I can unto you that you may understand it and make a judgment of your own states whether you are indeed in a Regenerate state and condition CHAP. II. Shewing the absolute necessity of Regeneration Q. IS there an absolute necessity of Regeneration Answ Yea there is an absolute necessity of it We have it from the Mouth of Christ himself in the Text and verse 5. Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God And again Verily verily I say unto you except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And in vers 7. Marvel not that I said unto you you must be born again And this great Truth is confirmed as by the so often repeating and reiterating of it so likewise by no less than four Verities or Asseverations So that you see there is an absolute necessity of it But I shall not leave it so but further prove and demonstrate this great Truth that so much and so nearly concerns us all by shewing 1. The necessity of it from the ends and uses for which men were created and are regenerated 2. From the utter inability and incapacity they are in to obtain or prosecute those holy Ends of God whilest in their unregenerate states First let us enquire into the ends and uses of Gods Creations his first and second Creating work 1. Here. 2. Hereafter 1 God created Man in his own Image Gen. 1.26 27. He was pleased to make us glorious and excellent Creatures indeed God made man upright Eccl. 7.29 he stampt the impressions of his own Wisdom Knowledge Holiness and Righteousness on us he made us capable of knowing trusting loving pleasing and enjoying him for ever God Created us with pure and unspotted Natures with free and holy dispositions and inclinations with all abilities of will and power to will and do that which was good and pleasing in his sight and as such he delighted in us and was refreshed in our Communion with him Gen. 1.31 God looked on this Noble Piece of his Workmanship and tells us it was very good not only good as his other works were said to be Gen. 1.18.21 but saith God they are very good Hence it is that they are said to be Crown'd with Glory and Honour Psal 8.4 5. Now in allusion and conformity to this his first Creating of Man the Gospel informs us is his work in recreating or regenerating him They are Gods workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works Eph. 2.10 renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Col. 3.10 Eph. 4.24 Sanctified to the Lords use and made partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Thus the second Greation or Regeneration answers to the first is commensurate to it although in some things afterward to be spoken of it exceeds it and is the same with it in kind and degree in likeness and reality Secondly The ends of both these Creations are the same namely to glorifie God and enjoy him for ever Isa 43.21 This people have I formed for my self they shall shew forth my praise 2 Cor. 5.15 That they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto God 1 Cor. 10.31 Whatever ye do do all to the glory of God And as to glorifie him by living to him so also to live with him and enjoy him for ever 1 Thes 4.17 Joh. 17.24 2 Cor. 5 1-6 But more particularly 1 They were at first created in the Image of God to hold forth the great and distinguishing goodness of God to them beyond what it was to other Creatures for the Excellency and Glory of their Make and Nature their state and capacity loudly proclaims the Wisdom Power Soveraignty and Goodness of God to them All Creatures were as Clay in the hand of the Potter in his Eye and Hand to make and form of it what manner of Creatures he pleased But he was pleased to make and form Man of the dust of the ground put a reasonable Soul into him and stamp his own Image of Knowledge Righteousness and Holiness upon him that in this state and condition he might commend and shew forth the transcendent and glorious Excellency of the Maker Thus Man is said to be the Image and Glory of God 1 Cor. 11.7 so in Regeneration God declares and holds forth his distinguishing Love Wisdom Power and Soveraign Grace his Holiness and Righteousness by restoring them to their Primitive state and restamping his Image upon them after they had wickedly and shamefully defaced and utterly marr'd it by their own wicked inventions Eccl. 7. ult and that when they were his vile and hateful Enemies Rom. 5.10 By this work of God on them whom he Regenerates he holds forth his Soveraign Attributes especially his Soveraign Love and Power distinguishing Goodness and the exceeding riches of his Grace Eph. 2.4 5. Rom. 9.23 24. Rom. 11.33 Eph. 1.19 20. This is one of the glorious ends of God in Regenerating men 2 That they might trust in and live upon him This is a homage which all reasonable Creatures do owe to their Soveraign Creator namely to trust him with the keeping of themselves commit all to him and relye upon him for all things 1 Pet. 4. ult It was one of the Natural Laws that was concreated with them and put into their hearts in their first make
themselves and not at all to God 14 No man can be made free of the Heavenly City and Spiritual Corporation nor be set at liberty from bondage and thraldome but in and by Regeneration All men are by Nature in bondage to the Devil and Lusts as you heard before but Regeneration is the year or day of Release and Enlargement to imprisoned Souls for then comes Jesus Christ opens the Prison doors and brings out his Prisoners Joh. 8.36 Gal. 5.1.13 until then they lye in the Dungeon of darkness bound hand and foot with Fetters of Iron and shut in under Impenitency Ignorance and Vnbelief and cannot get forth until the Jubilee comes and proclaims Liberty to them Isa 61.1 2. Zach. 2.11 Then are they made Free Citizens of the New Jerusalem and have their Freedom given them to live and Trade in Heaven for heavenly and everlasting Commodities Eph. 2.19 Phil. 3.20 Behold the necessity then of Regeneration 15 No man can be actually and personally justified pardoned and acquitted without Regeneration but are held under the Guilt and Curse of the Law for they must first believe unto Justification of life before they can obtain a discharge and take out an Acquittance under the Hand and Seal of the Holy Ghost Eph. 1.13 Rom. 5.18 but this they cannot do for want of Faith until they are Regenerated and thereby made partakers of this glorious Grace 16 No man can fear God aright namely with a godly filial fear nor indeed can he stand in awe of God and sin not or walk in the fear of God all the day long as commanded Pro. 23.17 Psal 4.4 until they be Regenerated for who can so fear and reverence God until God put it into his heart to do it Jer. 32.39 40. for if they could and had they wherewithal to do it without this Grace of God to what purpose hath God promised to do it himself and declared it to be a choise and singular Gift and Grace of his own giving and working in their hearts I will says God put my fear into their hearts that they may not depart from me and that they may fear me for ever And how can men fear God with a filial or Child-like fear until they are made Children by Regeneration and begotten again by his Word and Spirit 1 Pet. 1.3 Jam. 1.18 Joh. 3.5 17 No man can make the Glory of God his greatest end and aim and really design to please and honour God in his words and deeds without Regeneration therefore it is absolutely necessary We are indispensably bound to make God the chief and great aim and end of all our undertakings and to seek design and endeavour with all possible seriousness and diligence to please honour and exalt him 1 Cor. 10.31 Col. 3.23 Pro. 3.9 Col. 1.10 1 Thes 4.1 But this we cannot do until a new Spring of Life and Divine Principles be put into us by Regeneration for we are by Nature wholly selfish are quite swallowed up in sinful carnal self Self is the principle motive and end of all our thoughts words and deeds Self-pleasure profit ease honour and security have only Self in the bottom and top of every Good as well as Evil in Religious as well as Civil works And how can it be otherwise with us the Fountain of our Natures being so miserably corrupted and depraved as it is And it is a truth that the Streams cannot rise higher than the Fountains from whence they come 18 No man can be the object of Gods delight and complacency until he be Regenerated because they have nothing that is lovely and desirable in them Before Regeneration men are hateful vile and abominable in the sight of God as hath been shewed as they are sinners and unwashed It is the Nature and Image of God that is the Object of Gods delight and complacency in men for the God of Holiness cannot look on iniquity he is of purer eyes than to do so Habuk. 1.13 and this Nature and Image we have not until we are Regenerated and made New Creatures by Grace for till then God looks on us as in our blood Ezek. 16. Rom. 3. 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. and stamps his own Nature and Image on us to make us clean pure lovely and delightful in his eyes He beautifies men with his Ornaments that he may take pleasure in and rejoyce with them Zach. 3.17 19 No man can claim a Right unto and Interest in the Covenant and Promises without Regeneration for they are not under neither have they any interest in them whilest they lay in their blood and continue in their state of Enmity against God No man can be interested in the Promises and Covenant of Grace and Life that is not interested in Christ and no man is interested in Christ until he be a New Creature All the Promises are in Christ 2 Cor. 1.20 and they are made ours by virtue of our having of and being in Christ and when we are in Christ all is ours 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. and not till then then we may claim and use them as ours but not till then 20 No man can be in a state of Grace and Life without Regeneration no man can be a holy gracious and good man until he be Regenerated Whatever good things he may have act and do yet he is in a state of sin and death still until he pass under Regeneration He may be washed without yet he is a Swine still he may put on Sheeps cloathing but he is a Wolf still he may be enlightned but is in a state of darkness still and he may believe many Truths and yet be an Vnbeliever still 2 Pet. 2.20.22 Matth. 7.15 Heb. 6.4 Joh. 8.30.44 Acts 8.13.23 But I see I must contract my self lest I run beyond my intentions and therefore shall briefly sum up what I have further to say on this Head that I may presently dismiss it Therefore I say that as we stand in absolute need of Regeneration for the Reasons and Ends already named so likewise for those that follow which I shall but name We cannot take up in God as in our portion satisfaction and only happiness without Regeneration neither can we chuse him for the great and only delight of our Souls without it We cannot have our wills bowed to and swallowed up into the Will of God nor freely chearfully and dutifully yield up our selves to his disposement without Regeneration We cannot rejoyce in Christ Jesus nor in tribulation and bearing the Cross nor yet in doing good and working Righteousness without Regeneration We cannot be dutifully and thankfully patient under and contented with an afflicted state and condition nor demean and carry our selves well in it without Regeneration We cannot be fruitful in every good work nor bear fruit unto Eternal Life without Regeneration We cannot highly esteem and set a due nor a right value on Christ his Person Blood Laws and Grace nor on the great love and kindness of God
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
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
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
charg their hearts with it and lay bonds on themselves to do it Psal 18.1 Psal 116.1 Cant. 1.4 They use Gods means to help and enable them to do it They read hear and Contemplate they meditate on consider and apply to themselves the great love of God to them and his exceeding great Lovelinesse to stir up and inflame their love to him againe They pray importunately and frequently to him to shed abroad more of his love into their hearts and to reveal himself in his Love and Grace unto their Souls that they may thereby be quickened moved and enabled to love him more Cordially and ardently They are so set upon it and so greedy after it and they do so desire and covet it as that they are never satisfied with the degree and excercise of their love to God But are unregenerate men imployed so in this work no not in the least For they have not the love of God in their hearts Joh. 5.42 Their hearts are not circumcised to love God because they are not Regenerated neither do they love or desire to have it so for when God proffers them his Spirit to do it they refuse and reject him and will not have him to concern himself with them in that matter Pro. 1.23.24 Isa 63. Gen. 6. Well then try your selves by this what can you say to it Is this special work of Regenerate men your work or is it not Be you sure of it that if you be Regenerated or born again it is your work and business But if it be not you are yet in your old and unregenerate states 2. They are exercised and imployed about the good work of searching out their own iniquities and to find out the Plagues Errours and deceits of their own hearts and ways that they may repent of their sins and mend what they find amiss To reform what ought to be reformed and to remove whatever is hurtful to their Souls or displeasing to God that they may see more cause of Self-abasement and be excited and provoked to walk more circumspectly and humbly with their God Micah 6.8 Eph. 5.15 This is not the work that Regenerate men are exercised about no but on the contrary they labour to hide their sins Pro. 28.13 Joh. 3.20 and to live in continual ignorance of their hearts states and ways that so they may live in peace and quietness at home and not be troubled at the sight of them They love and delight in their iniquities and they work and practise what they love Psal 62.4 Isa 66.3 They let their own sins alone they neither desire nor endeavour to know them but they are especially some of them great enquirers after and searchers into others transgressions which clearly demonstrates that whatever they do profess to be yet they are hypocrites Psal 64.6 Mark 32. Luke 6.7 Luke 20.20 Greater and more certain sign of a Hypocrite cannot be found than this namely for a man that professes godliness to be willingly ignorant of his own state and sins and to be a Pryer and Searcher into other mens without a clear Call from God so to do This the Hypocrites deal with Christ and Paul that they might find occasion to Charge Censure and Judge them as the aforesaid Scriptures shew and in 2 Cor. 11.12 But it is otherwise with Regenerate men they hate and abhor that filthy odious wickedness of others and make it one part of their business to know themselves and the evils of their own hearts and ways Job 13.23 Psal 77.6 1 Sam. 21.1 They cry and pray they call and wait on God to shew them all their lusts and sins such is the desire and fervency of their hearts in this matter Job 34.32 This is their work and this they do conscientiously seriously fervently heartily and frequently and that as their duty work and business in all states tryals and conditions whatsoever For they are jealous and suspitious not of others but of their own deceitful hearts Thus they do and when they have made any new discovery of their sins they bless God for their success and then they fall to another work 3. To subdue and mortifie such unmortified Lusts as they find in their hearts to purifie themselves and rectifie such errours and mistakes as upon search do appear and come to light This they are injoyned to do as their duty and this they do exercise and imploy themselves in in obedience to the Will of God because it is his Holy Will Col. 3.5 Mortifie therefore your members 2 Cor. 7.1 Let us cleanse our selves of all filthiness of flesh and spirit And the Gospel assures us that this is the work and business of the Children of God In 1 Joh. 3 1-3 Behold saith the Apostle what manner of love is this that we should be called the Children of God This is a great and high priviledge indeed Well but what are they imployed about and exercised in Is it in making provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof as unregenerate men do Rom. 13. ult no but the clean contrary namely to purifie themselves 1 John 3.3 Every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself even as he is pure The like we have mentioned Gal. 5.24 And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts That is they have not fully done and effected it but they are seriously diligently and sincerely imploying and exercising themselves in and about that work and great concern of theirs This is another of their peculiar and special works and this they do and prosecute with servent prayer to God Psal 51.7 O purge and wash me that I may be clean And O wretched man that I am says Paul who shall deliver me from the body of this death Rom. 7.24 And as they pray for it frequently and fervently so they do meditate on and apply the Blood and Death of Christ to themselves for the effecting of it and that as Gods Ordinance and appointment for that end Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself to redeem us from all iniquity and to purifie unto himself a peculiar people They apply themselves unto and use all Gods means for the accomplishment of it as Fasting the Lords Supper and hearing the Gospel preached which God hath appointed to mortifie their lusts and to purifie and clean their hearts Eph. 5.25 26. John 15.3 John 17.17 Every word of God is pure and the sincere preaching and hearing of it is a powerful means to kill our lusts and purifie our hearts when heard and received in Faith for that end as Gods Ordinance Acts 15.9 Heb. 4.2 This they know and therefore they use them or for that end and purpose as well as for light and comfort But what is the work and business of unregenerate men or what do they in this matter Truly nothing at all They do neither understand or like it but are perfect strangers and enemies to it there is no principle in them to do it withal
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