Nature of this New Creature take this Description of it The New Creature is a supernaturl Work of Gospel-Grace wrought in the Soul of a Sinner by the Word and Spirit of God changing the whole Man from an old state and course into a new thereby transforming it into the Divine Likeness and turning the Heart and Life to the rule of the Word in order to the glory of God and the Souls present and everlasting communion with him This is the New Creature I confess this Description is long but I cannot leave out any of the parts thereof I shall very briefly open the Branches of this description 1. For the general Nature of it I call it a Supernatural Work for it is above the power of nature to produce it it comes from above so he that 's born again John 3.3 Is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from above This perfect Gift comes down from the Father of Lights James 1.17 That Jerusalem that 's above is the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 This New Creature is no Herb that grows in Nature's Garden it s a Plant of Paradise Flesh and Blood cannot so much as reveal this to the sons of men Matth. 16.17 Therefore it s no wonder if learned Doctors such as Nicodemus laugh at such Doctrine as Fantastical Fancies and say How can these things be John 3.4 Or like Ezekiel's hearers who saith Ah Lord God they say of me Doth he not speak Parables Ezek. 20.49 For such wisdom is too high for a Fool. Psal 56.9 In God's light only must we see light Experience is the best Mistriss in these Cases We speak wisdom saith the Apostle among them that are perfect But the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2 6 14. This New Crerture is of a Coelestial Original and must have an heavenly Interpreter 2. In this Description we have the particular Nature of this New Creature I call it a Gospel-Grace it is no branch or fruit of the Old Covenant of Works for the Law maketh nothing perfect There was no Law which could give Life Gal. 3.2 21 28. But the New-Testament Dispensation called the Promise this only produceth the New Creation Objection You 'l say Had not Old-Testament Saints this New Creature Doth not David say Create in me a clean heart Psal 51.10 I Answer Old-Testament-Saints had a New-Testament-Spirit for they without us could not be made perfect Heb. 11.40 The same Gospel belonged to them and us and was preached to both Heb. 4.2 Abraham saw Christ's Day they all partaked of Gospel Grace John 8.56 both in Justification and Sanctification they were but different Editions of the same Gospel-Covenant they were as Children in Minority under Tutors and Governours Gal. 4.1 2 25. Gospel-Saints as Children at Age their state was under the Bond woman in Mount Sinai Ours is of Jerusalem which is free However that Gospel-Promise made known in the Old Testament belongs both to them and us Ezek. 36.26 A new Heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you This is the proper Gospel-Work in both Dispensations and sincere Believers of Old had experience of it tho' the Veil was upon the Face of Moses 2 Cor. 3.14 15. and the Hearts of Carnal Jews as it is on all Unbelievers to this day but Gospel-Grace renews Souls 3. Here 's the subject in which this New Creature is and that is in the Soul or Heart of a sinner There 's the Seat and Centre of this New Creation it s not meerly external in the Eye or Foot or Hand or Tongue but it s an internal work in the Soul the Christian is renewed in the Spirit of his Mind Ephes 4.23 Behold saith David thou desirest Truth in the inward parts in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know Wisdom Psal 51.6 It s called the hidden man of the heart 1 Pet. 3.4 Not but that it breaks out in Lip and Life but the Root and Spring lies under Ground out of the view of the world as the best Treasures are lock'd up the best Goods are under Deck or as Merchants Wares lie in a back Shop not exposed to the open view of the World A Christians Life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 Hence they are called God's hidden Ones Psal 83.3 And the King's Daughter is all glorious within Psal 45.13 These gracious Souls are like Kings in disguise and it doth not yet appear what they shall be 1 John 3.2 But when the Shell is broken the Pearl will appear all external Changes in men are but the change of the Clothes this the change of the Man and his Manners For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly but inwardly Right Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit not in the Letter whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 2.20 30. It is wrought by God and known to God who alone searcheth and sees the Heart 4. The Instrumental or Organical Cause of this New Man which is the Word of God Rom. 1.16 This is the power of God to Salvation James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us by the Word of Truth 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth for ever The Word is the Seed which being ingrafted in the Heart springeth up in obedience which is the Flower and visible product of the New Creature yea 't is properly the Gospel-Word Moses or the Law may bring us to the Borders but Joshua leads us into Canaan the terrors of the Law prepare the way as John Baptist but the Word of the Gospel is the door of Faith that takes Souls by the hand and leads them into the Chamber of Presence this is God's method to work this New Man by a powerful Gospel-Sermon so saith blessed Paul 1 Cor. 4.15 I have begotten you in Jesus Christ through the gospel there 's the Instrument Paul I have begotten you the means by the gospel the author in Jesus Christ faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.14 Prov. 8.34 Therefore let all lie at the Gates of Wisdom Expect not this New Creation if you turn your backs on God's Institutions 5. The Efficient Cause is the Holy Ghost The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us Rom. 5.5 Oh what a gracious Tincture doth the Spirit leave upon Hearts what a sweet Breath doth it breath into them which breaths out Love to God and Men How is this New Creature diffused into all the Faculties of the Soul by the Spirit This is both a Seal and an Earnest who hath also sealed us Eph. 6.13 14. and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts 2 Cor. 1.22 All good is conveyed to us by the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son especially this Saving Good of Conversion we are born again of Water and of the Spirit John 3.3 8.
Seed Isa 66.22 else there would be a great Inconsistency New Palates will find sweetness in this new Meat and new Wine else it will be lost upon them 11. The New Creature fits Persons for Death and Heaven To these to live is Christ and to dye gain Phil. 1.21 Living and Dying these are the Lord's Rom. 14. It s this that renders Persons meet for that heavenly Inheritance Col. 1.12 No Eyes can see God but of those that are pure in Heart Mat. 5.8 These and only these are wrought for this self-same thing 2 Cor. 5.5 Heaven is not like Noah's Ark that had clean and unclean Creatures brought into it Without Holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 Frogs came into Pharoah's Court but no unclean thing can enter Heaven Rev. 21.9 A sensual Pallate cannot taste the sweetness of that Wine in our Father's Kingdom Matth. 26.29 For its New Wine and renewed Souls are capable of taking pleasure in it O happy Soul that hath got Christ in the Arms of his Faith and in his Heart by this New Nature he may lift up his Head and say with Simeon Now Lord lettest thou thy servant depart in Peace according to thy Word for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation Luk. 2.29 30. And is not this available to Souls 12. Yea this New Creature is Heaven begun it is a considerable part of Heaven Holiness is a considerable Happiness it s the Seed and Embryo of that heavenly state Grace and Glory as they are joyned in a blessed connexion Psal 84.10 So they differ but in degree not in Specie Grace is Glory begun Glory is Grace consummated Grace is the Bud Glory is the Flower this New Creature is the Key of Paradise the inlet into Glory yea it is Salvation already 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us This blessed work of the New Creature is a quickning together with Christ and raiseth us up together and makes us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus And thus we are saved in our Representative Eph. 2.5 6 7. yea this Divine Principle is an Heaven begun not only as a Pledge but part of it The Scripture often tells us that God's Children have Eternal Life John 17.3 And this is 1. in precio in price for it is a purchased Possession Eph. 1.14.2 in promisso in promise for God hath promised Eternal Life to all that obey him Heb. 5.9.3 in semine in Seed this Water within the Believer is a Well springing up to Eternal Life John 4.14.4 in pignore in pledge and pawn this is called sometimes the Seal of the holy spirit Eph. 1.13 14. Sometimes the Earnest which is part of the thing to be enjoyed Sometimes the Witness of the Spirit which never bears its testimony to a Lye 1 John 5.10 He that believeth in thâ— Son of God hath the witness in himself for thâ— holy spirit beareth witness with our Spirits Româ— 8.16 And in these respects the New Creature is available in such a manner as no externaâ— Gospel-privileges or worldly enjoyments are to the Children of men Thus much for the third Head Chap. V. Some Inferences by way of Question aâ— Answer from the Premises FOr the Practical Improvement of this greâ— Truth I shall keep close to the Methâ— which the Holy Ghost prescribes in all Truthâ— 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by Inspiratâ— of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproâ— for Correction for Instruction in Righteousneâ— These are the Uses I shall make of this point 1. Doctrine or Information of the Judgmeâ— that our Minds may be informed in points fit 〈◊〉 be known Now there may be inquiry into Seven Poinâ— about this Doctrine of the New Creature whiâ— I shall reduce to Question and Answer 1. Quest Whether is the framing of this Nâ—â—reature in the Soul miraculous The Reason of this Question is because we have compared it to yea â—ewed a precedency above the first Creation which was a Miracle therefore it should seem that this also must be so Answ 1. Some things are Miracles yet not 〈◊〉 Creation as Stephen seeing Jesus at God's Right hand Acts 7. Or barren Sarah's conceiâ—ing Gen. 2 1. or the Sun 's going back or standing still Isa 38. For then Nature is only exâ—ended 2. Some things both a Miracle and a Creation as the Virgin Mary's conceiving and â—earing a Son yet remaining a Virgin Luke 1. â—5 Manna was both a Miracle and a Creation Exod. 16.22.3 Some things seem a Miracle as an Eclipse of the Sun seems a Miâ—acle to ignorant People but Mathematicians now the Cause 4. Some things are a Creation yet not a Miracle as the Conversion of a â—oul the subject is a rational Soul and so caâ—ble of a Principle of Grace and had once â—od's Image but it s lost and is recovered by 〈◊〉 Spiritual Creation of that which Man had â—st by his fall and folly and so 't is called 2. Quest Whether is there any Inclination in â—an towards this New Creation Or whether there 〈◊〉 any Spark of Good left in man upon his fall that â—ing improved by his Natural Faculties and diliâ—nce may grow up to a New Creature For it may â—m there is in man a Natural Conscience prompting â—n to good excusing him in doing it drawing him â—m Evil and accusing him upon the committing it 〈◊〉 Rom. 2.14 15. Answ 1. Those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Grecians call them common notices or Anâ— ticipations of Good are not in the Will but 〈◊〉 the Mind not in the Affections but Conscience nec vero cordis nomen pro sede affectuum seâ— tantum pro intellectu capitur Calv. in loc It was not ingraven in their Will to chuse it but the power of some Truths flashed in their Eyes thaâ— they could not but know them and have soâ— general liking of them so they could not bâ— know that Adultery and Stealing are naughtâ— the contrary good 2. But whether these weâ— left in man's Heart after the Fall as Relicks 〈◊〉 God's Image or introduced by God's Providence afterwards for the good of mankind aâ— to maintain Peace and Intercourse in Societiâ— is much disputed Mr. Capel of Tempt thinâ— the latter However 3. All our Protestâ— Writers affirm with the Scriptures that Maâ— Nature is universally depraved against 〈◊〉 Socinians that hold the Nature of Man is 〈◊〉 corrupted but say whatsoever Spot or Vicâ— in Man proceeds from frequent Acts of Sâ— and Custom in Sinning without the interâ— corruption of his Nature But the Scriptâ— tell us of Man's total degeneracy In me saâ— Paul i. e. in my Flesh dwells no good thing Roâ— 7.18 Our mind and conscience is defiled Tit. 1. â— There is none righteous no not one of all the race Mankind Rom. 3.9 10. And therefore neâ— a Sanctification throughout in Soul Spirit and Bâ— 1 Thes 5.23 Yea 4. There 's an utter imâ— tency in Man to renew himself Rom.
Fightings from without and Fears within I am shifting from Post to Pillar let me be dissettled till my Soul fix on Christ then shall not my Heart be troubled if believing in God I believe also in Christ John 14.1 Let me never be at rest till all ways are blockt up but this If I sit still I dye 2 King 7.4 If I go to the World I pine I will venture upon God's Promises Christ's Purchase if I must dye I will dye there but never did any dye at his Door 7. At last the troubled Spirit issues out its perplexed Thoughts in Complaints and Prayers God faith I have surely hearth Ephraim bemoaning himself Jer. 31.18 So methinks I see the disquieted Soul creep into a Corner to ease his burthened Spirit into God's Bosom in this manner Lord here I am as wicked a Malefactor as ever stood at thy Bar and as miserable a Beggar as ever lay at thy Door I was condemned as soon as convinced and have too too wofully improved the Stock of Original Sin in thousands of actual Rebellions I am twice dead in danger to be pluck'd up by the Roots Jude 1. and flung into the Fire of Hell many means hast thou used but nothing doth me good yet now thou hast brought me into the Wilderness Oh speak to my Heart Hos 2.14 Every Sin deserves damnation Oh how many Hells then do I deserve Thou art Righteous if thou damn me my Mouth is stopt I am found guilty before God Rom. 3.19 I am self-condemned thou shalt need no other Witness or Jury to find me guilty but Christ suffered and satisfied Justice for some poor Sinners and why not for me the chiefest of Sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 I find not one word in Scripture against it but a Proclamation of a general Pardon to all Christ with all his Benefits is offered to me in the Ministry of the Word upon the condition of Faith and Repentance It s true I can neither repent nor believe but they are both included in the absolute Grant of the Gospel-Covenant which gives what it requires Lord give me a Gospel-Repentance unto Life and Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ I hang on thee sweet Jesus who wast exalted on purpose to give Repentance and Forgiveness of Sins Acts 5.31 and the Faith of God's Elect. Thus much for Preparatives 2. The Parts of this New Creature lie in the renewing of the several Faculties of the Soul which consists 1st In the Mind and Understanding 2dly In the Conscience 3dly In the Will 4thly In the Affections which are the Motions of the Will 1. The New Creature consists much in the Mind which is called a renewing in the Spirit of the Mind Eph. 4.23 Interpreters have been much perplexed to know what is meant by the Spirit of the Mind Calvin saith Ego Simpliciter accipio Calv. in loc acsi dixisset renovemur non tantum quod ad inferiores Appetitus ant Concupiscentias quae palam sunt vitiosae sed etiam quod ad partem illam animae quae nobilissima praestantissima habetur i. e. be renewed not only in the inferiour Appetite and concupiscible Faculties but in that part of the Soul which is esteemed the most noble and excellent For the Mind is accounted a Queen and almost adored by Philosophers Now the Mind is renewed when there is 1. New Conceptions of things otherwise than ever before for a new Light set up in the Soul to see things after another manner the eyes of the understanding are now enlightned Eph. 1.18 Now he sees more Wickedness in his bad Heart then ever he did which makes him cry out as Job Behold I am vile Job 40.4 Lord thou art Heaven I am Hell said Mr. Hooper Now the Soul sees more Poyson and Malignity in Sin then ever before he sees it exceeding sinful Rom. 7.9 17. As striking at the Majesty clouding the Glory of the Holy God as crucifying Christ grieving the holy Spirit The New Creature begets other Conceptions of Christ as the Rose of Sharon Cant 5.9 the chief of ten thousand He looks on God's Commands as not at all grievous 1 John 5.3 but pleasant comfortable and profitable he looks on the Saints as the most excellent in the Earth Psal 16.3 Prov. 3.18 He hath got Eye-Salve to judge of things as they are The spiritual man judgeth all things 1 Cor. 2.15 2. The New Nature bringeth a New Memory he forgets Injuries and remembers Truths his Memory is sanctified and fortified he lays up things in his Heart as the Pot of Manna was laid up in the Ark he can abundantly utter the Memory of God's great goodness Psal 145.7 The New Creature is as a Phylactery to prompt and put him in mind of God's Law Numb 15.39 If he hath not a great Memory yet he hath a good Memory God brings Sins to remembrance committed many Years ago and the Soul is humbled for them as if but newly committed and though sometimes the best of God's Children are subject to slippery Memories and do need Monitors yet they have Minds clarified and apt to be tenacious of the things of God 2 Pet. 3.1 I stir up your pure minds by way remembrance An hint will bring God and good things into their Thoughts again but wicked men are described by this Character of forgetting God Psal 50.22 Do you make it your business to remember God upon your Beds and in all Places Psal 63.6 3. The New Creature hath a new Councellor formerly the Soul consulted with carnal Interest and base and by-ends even in things of Religion if the Practice of Religion did cross his low and selfish Designs he laid it down but as soon as this Principle is put within him he saith as Paul immediately I conferred not with Flesh and Blood Gal. 1.16 God's glory the good of his own and others Souls lay uppermost Now the Christian goes to the Sanctuary in arduous cases Psal 73.14 and makes the Scriptures those divine Oracles the chief Counsellors Psal 119.24 in his Works Natural Civil Spiritual and dare venture upon nothing but what he hath warrant from God for not What saith this Friend or the other Relation but what saith God in the case directly or by good Consequence See the difference betwixt good Jehoshaphat and Ahab 1 King 22.5 6. the former said Enquire I pray thee at the Word of the Lord to day The other made nothing of it they soâ—n forgat his Works they waited not for his Counsel Psal 108.13 And God gives them up to walk in their own Counsels Psal 81.12 4. The New Creature hath new Admiration the Carnal Heart wonders at trifling Novelties David prays Open thou mine Eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law Psal 119.18 There indeed he spies wonders of Power Wisdom Holiness Faithfulness and a display of all God's Attributes but especially of free Grace and Love in the Work of Redemption he sees no reason to admire any thing but things
4.11 This Rent will I daily pay as a Tribute to the Crown of Heaven I am resolved to glorifie God in my Body and Soul which are his 1 Cor. 6.20 Better lose my Life then lose the End of my Life God's glory 5. New Worship is always a Companion of the New Creature It s true the carnal man might hear and read the Word Pray receive the Sacrament and perform the external Acts of Religion before but formally heartlesly hypocritically God knows having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof 2 Tim. 3.5 But as soon as the Grace of God hath formed the New Creature in the Heart then 't is said as of Paul Behold he prayeth Acts 9.11 Why did not Paul pray before Yes doubtless he was a Pharisee and Pharisees made long Prayers its likely had a great Gift of Prayer ay but now a Paul had the grace of Prayer behold he prays now he prays with a witness his Prayer hath all the Requisites essential to Prayer Oh now if you could lay your Ear to the Closet of this new born Saint what sighs and groans would you hear Rom. 8.26 What throbs and tears what self-loathing Confessions what heart-rending Complaints what Heaven-piercing Expostulations would you have What believing pleading of Promises what improvement of Christ's mediatorship this is not formal or heartless Canting As soon as ever this New Creature was formed the Soul was turned from Idols to serve the living and true God 1 Thes 1.9 i. e. as such a God in a sincere and lively manner in Spirit and in Truth John 4.24 If the Words be the same the workings of Heart are as different as a living man's tone from dead Organ-pipes the one hath Breath the other not The gracious soul engageth his Heart to approach unto God Jer. 30.21 Yea he also saith Let us lift up our Hearts with our Hands Lamen 3.41 i. e. oremus laboremus let us pray and use our utmost endeavour to obtain what we pray for the Hypocrites Tongue may wag but the New Creature sets the Heart a breathing Hands on working Feet on walking Oh how he is concerned in a Duty 6. A New War is commenced by the New Creature as soon as this New Creature peeps out Satan musters all the powers of darkness against it and now begins this holy War which never ceaseth while the Soul is in the â—ody and Oh how many a sharp skirmish hath the Christian with Satan and his armed Bands the carnal Heart holds correspondence with the Enemy and the Devil lets him alone and all his Goods or soul's Faculties are in peace Luk. 11.21 he sleeps quietly in the Devil's Tents little dreaming whither he is going or rather he is carried in a golden Dream into Satan's Territories or as Solomoâ—'s young Gallant with the Whore As an Ox goeth to the slaughter or as a Fool to the correction of the Stocks Prov. 7.22 But the converted soul sees his danger and struggles hard to extricate himself and when he is at liberty the Devil pursues him with rage sometimes otherwhiles with subtilty seeks to undermine him he is aware of both and is not ignorant of his devices 2 Cor. 2.11 One while he fights with spirituâ—â— weapons and so resists the Devil and he fleesâ— another while the soul retires to his strong hold by Faith and Prayer and is secured Thus the gracious soul is warring a good Warfare fighting the Fight of Faith 1 Tim. 1 18-6.12.2 Tim. 2.4 which is a good Fight he gets disintangâ— led from the affairs of this life and lays aside every weight that he may militate more strenuously and more successfully nor doth the good soul so fight as one that beats the Air 1 Cor. 9.26 laying about him at adventures but he spies his Enemy hath taken a view of them in Scripture-light le ts fly at the Faces of foreign and intestine Adversaries with spiritual scriptural Weapons and never sounds a Parly oâ— makes a Truce but disputes every Inch of hiâ— passage to Heaven thus this New Creature 〈◊〉 the Christian Champion 7. The New Creature finds out new company alas his old Companions grow stale wiâ— the Convert he cannot take delight in his old Comrades that would jest and be merry and seek to drive him out of his melancholy Dump with pleasant stories this is but as singing Song to an heavy Heart The good Heart is now sick of such vain company and bids them be gone they are of no use to him 'T is very observable three times and upon so many occasions doth David require all wicked men to depart from him Psal 6.8 Depart from me all ye workers of Iniquity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping q. d. I have got better company and comfort then you are Psal 119.115 Depart from me ye evil-doers for I will keep the Commandments of my God q. d. I have taken up other Resolutions and must have other Companions then you the last is Psal 139.19 Surely thou shalt slay the wicked O God depart therefore from me ye bloody men q. d. I am loath to fare as you fare and will not be found in your company this is Christian Policy as well as Piety 't is impossible the New Creature should take delight in his old Companions for what communion hath light with darkness 2 Cor. 6.14 15 17. what concord hath Christ with Belial There are in the world persons more suitable to his temper even Saints not in Heaven but that are in the Earth men excellent in whom is all his delight Psal 16.3 These these are his Companions Psal 119.63 the delight of his soul he loves them dearly because they are so like his Father in Heaven these are they he hopes to live with in the other world and he must associate with them in this he loves to discourse with them joyn in Prayer with them none such content he hath on Earth as in the communion of Saints 8. The new Creature needs and requires new Cordials new Food and Physick the world and all that it can afford that are wont to be so pleasant are all but dry Meat have no more savour then the white of an Egg the Soul hath now a more dainty and delicate Stomach then to be satisfied with such Husks and trash he sues for the tender Mercies of God Psal 119.77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me that I may live q. d. I know not how to live a natural Life and I cannot live a spiritual Life without these tender Mercies the Lord knoweth my squeamish and delicate Stomach and crowns me withloving-kindness and tender mercies Psal 103.4 Luther called the whole Turkish Empire but a Crumb cast to Dogs and often protested to God that he would not be put off with these low things even when he had a Silver Mine offered him Even an Heathen Seneca could say major sum ad majora natus I am greater and born to higher things then terrene
live Thou dost reckon thy self to be as in the Belly of Hell with Jonah while thou art yok'd with such thoughts and sendest many a deep groan to Heaven against them and at somtimes dost obtain some help against them and gettest near thy God in duty But I shall add no more of these Cases but only add two VVords as a Close of this Discourse That if poor doubting Souls would instead of their Complainings and Objections but do these two things it would tend more to their Satisfaction and the Glory of God 1. That they would spend that time in examining their own Consciences which they take up in fruitless Complaints Alas many Professors have got an Art of whining and complaining to Ministers and Christian Friends and think to be better thought of for such complaints but this is a sad Judgment of God for Persons to pine away in their Iniquity and yet mourn one towards another Ezek. 24.23 If poor Souls would spend that time in searching their own Consciences and Conversations it would tend more to the clearing up the Sincerity of their Hearts and Saving Work of Grace Fall to this Sirs enter into your Closets commune with your own Hearts deal faithfully and effectually put not off your selves with unproved Conceits and groundless Imaginations but go through-stitch with the Work ransak your Hearts they are your own be not put off with such mannerly Excuses as Rachel's Take such an Account as you must give to God let no lust escape your view or the least Grace be belyed or denyed with any scorn or disregard When David thought of God he was troubled and expresseth many discontented Murmurings but when he communed with his own Heart Psal 77.36 40. he clears God and condemns his Unbelief indites the Thief and clears his Conscience of that troublesome Jonah in his Bosome Thus plaindealing evidenceth a Christian's State sooner then wrangling and yet still thou art at a loss Appeal to God and say as Job Thou knowest that I am not wicked Job 10.7 Or as Peter Thou knowest that I love thee John 21.15 Or as David Do not I hate them that hate thee Search me O God and know my Heart Psal 139.21 23. As wise Physicians trust not their own Judgment about their own Health so the Saint knows God's Line reacheth lower then his own and to his Judgment he will stand 2. Instead of complaining fall vigorously upon the work of Sanctification to mortifie beloved Lusts to cut off a right Hand and pluck out a right Eye Matth. 5.29 When you have search'd out the Leaven purge it out 1 Cor. 5.7 Lay aside every Weight and the Sin which doth most easily beset you Heb. 12.1 Run the Sword of the Spirit to the Heart of every Lust Lay the Ax to the root of the Tree stub up Sin by the Roots if a vain Thought a proud lustful worldly passionate Thought arise in your Hearts suppress it militate against it crucifie the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts Gal. 5.24 So will you evidence your selves to be Christ's 2 Cor. 7.1 be daily perfecting Holiness in the fear of God Observe wherein you missed it in such a Duty and be still mending it as Apelles when he had drawn a Picture was ever and anon spying Defects and then mended it with his Pencil so do you Observe what Conscience said Oh my Soul in such a Duty thou wast cold distracted unbelieving hard vain-glorious in such an Affliction thou wast froward peevish discontented in such a company thou spakest idlely or wast guilty of sinful silence In the enjoyment of such a Mercy or in thy posperous state how proud secure self-conceited slighting others wast thou Oh mourn for this Fault watch against it for the future walk more closely with God maintain daily Intercourse with God and thine own Conscience thereby you will be better acquainted with God and your own Souls and discern better how your Principles are stated For if you walk according to this Rule Peace shall be upon you Gal. 6.16 Hence the blessed Apostle 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the Testimony of our Conscience that in Simplicity and Godly Sincerity not in fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the World Dying Hezekiah could plead this with God in his Appeal Isa 38.1 Oh Sirs learn to eâ—ercise every Grace to every Duty the Exercise of Grace is the clearest Evidence of Grace both to our selves and others as he confuted his Antagonist that disputed against Motion by starting up and walking So do you walk with God hereby do we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments 1 John 2.3 6. If you walk as he walked you evidence that you abide in him as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1.15 If you expect that God's Spirit will witness with your Spirits and so subscribe your Certificate for Heaven you must be uniform and universal in your course of Godliness both in your Worship and Walking walking before God and with God Gen. 5 24-17.1 Then indeed will you be found upright or perfect But if thou have any close Box in the Cabinet of thy Heart wherein thou layest up and hidest any beloved Lust or if thou roylest these Waters by any uneven walking or stoppest thy Travels in Heaven's Road by idleness sleeping or stepping back and losing thy first Love then no wonder if thou canst not discern this Stamp of God's Image upon thy Soul but callest thy very state into question Yet above all I advise thee to stop the Mouth of Conscience with that only that satisfied the Justice of God Nothing can reconcile a Man to himself but that which reconciled God and Man It was Dr. Sibs Advice When the Water of Sanctification runs muddy betake your selves to the Blood of Justification There there must lie your Comfort and Confidence by this only must you answer all the Objections raised by Satan and Conscience from Justice Law or whatsoever opposeth your Peace rising from the Defects and Imperfections of Grace or this New Creature within you And indeed the best of us must anchor and center here as to out Justification Acceptation with God or composedness of Conscience Come then let us go in this Gospel-way to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the Blood of Sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel Heb. 12.24 〈◊〉 So be it FINIS
it to eternal happiness in the Enjoyment of God 1. Because such a Person may be and is in the Old Adam and is yet under the Old Covenant which brings a Curse and being out of Christ the Second Adam Gal. 3 10-13 All that he hath doth enjoyeth is accursed to him for every man must either keep the Law and satisfie for the breach of it in his own Person or another that is able must do it for him and that 's none but Christ our Surety and Chrst doth it not for any but such as by Faith have interest in him now he that is not a New Creature hath no interest in Christ for if any man be in Christ i. e. related to Christ intitled to him he is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 And he that is not graffed in this true Vine and doth not partake of the root and fatness of this Olive-tree can bear no Fruit John 15.1 5. Rom. 11.17 Do nothing to any purpose nor improve any Privilege to his Spiritual profit for he is a dead Branch cast forth and withered and cast into the Fire John 15.6 Though he was in Christ by Profession yet because he was not planted in Christ by possession of him he is a woful cast-away he is graffed in a wrong Stock to be fruitful here or to shoot up as high as Heaven at last now we cannot be accepted but in the beloved Eph. 1.6 And without Faith in Christ it 's impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 for the first man Adam was made a living Soul and by his Fall himself and his Posterity are become dead condemned Sinners but the last Adam is made a quickning Spirit i. e. Christ becomes a Principle of Life to all his Spiritual Offspring and he will own none but such see 1 Cor. 15.45 49. 2. Because such Souls want the sanctifying operations of the Holy Ghost and we find that the offering up of the Gentiles is only acceptable by being sanctified by the Holy Ghost Rom. 15.16 God will own nothing from Men but what hath the Breathings of the Spirit in it For God knoweth the Mind of the Spirit Rom. 8.26 27. The least interpellations thereof in his Children though but a groaning that cannot be uttered is accepted by God but the most eloquent Rhapsodies and loudest Vociferations of graceless Souls are rejected by the Lord For if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 11 14. Here we read of the Spirit of God dwelling in Believers and As many as are led by the Spirit of God they and indeed none else are the Sons of God God will own none for his but them that have this stamp this seal upon them so 2 Cor. 1.22 VVho hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts and this is the Earnest of our Inheritance Ephes 1.13 14. Now all external Ordinances Privileges and Performances amount not to this and the Scripture tells us that He is not a Jew i. e. a sincere Christian for its an Old-Testament Title given to a New-Testament Saint that is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the Flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 2.28 29. There lies the Life and Vitals of our Religion the Tree must first be good or it can never bring forth good Fruit Operari sequitur Esse working attends the being of a thing If men be not good they can never do good now it is not any thing External that can make Persons good it must be the hidden man of the Heart 1 Pet. 3.4 that constitutes a Person good So Reason makes a Man not Jewels or outward Ornaments thus Grace constitutes a Christian not outward Privileges As nothing that is without a man can defile a man Mark 15. So nothing without can cleanse him I shall briefly apply this point and so pass to the next Is this so That the Richest Privileges and most Glorious Professions avail not any Man except he be a New Creature Then It follows that Religion consists not in Negatives but Positives It s false arguing to say I am not a Jew not a Turk no Heathen and therefore a good Christian nay it s not enough to say I am no Swearer Drunkard Whoremogner therefore a Saint good enough this was the Fallacy of the Pharisees Luke 18.11 God I thank thee that I am not as other men Extortioners Unjust Adulterers or even as this Publican Alas this would not do God disowned him Christianity consists in something positive Little Children saith the Apostle let no man deceive you he that doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous 1 John 3.7 Christ became the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all them and only them that obey him Heb 5.9 Alas Persons may gull and beguil themselves with airy Notions and Speculations of free Grace Christ's merits and trusting God and so build Castles in the Air which will drop with them into Hell for without practical Godliness they will be deceived and die with a Lye in their Right Hand Mistake not I say not that free Grace or Christ's Blood is but a fansie or that a Soul can be saved without them or that he that believeth with a Gospel sincere Faith shall miss of Heaven but many snatch at these and espouse a meer Chimaera a Fancy or Notion of these while they have not a Principle in their Hearts or the Power of Godliness in their Lives I may say with the Apostle Can Faith save thee No no such a Faith without Works is dead James 2.4 20. And being lifeless 't is lost thou must have something that hath existence 2. That Christianity doth not lie in meer Externals If men have no more Religion then is visible to others they have not that which will serve their turn true Godliness is a hidden mystical thing Our Life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 It s a Pearl in the Shell it s an hidden Spring that moves the visible Hand God's Children are hidden Ones Psal 83. King 's in a disguise It appears not yet what they shall be 1 John 3.2 The best and worst of a real Saint is not obvious to mens view The King's Daughter is all glorious within Psal 45.13 If Privileges and Profession did denominate a Saint we might infallibly tell who should be saved but a Child of God hath two sides one God-wards another Men-wards A Merchant's Wares are in back Shops the best Goods are often under Deck In the hidden parts saith David thou shalt make me to know VVisdom Psal 51.6 Hypocrites are painted Sepulchres that outwardly appear beautiful but within are full of dead mens Bones and of all uncleanness Mat. 23.27 You must look at Internal Principles not at external Professions or Privileges 3. There is such a
Being so by this Work of Grace Old things are past away and all things become new But of this more hereafter Qu. 2. What 's meant by New Ans 1. New in Scripture-language signifies 1. Another distinct and different from what was before So Exod. 1.8 There arose a new King over Aegypt i. e. another Thus this New Creature is distinct from the former as Caleb is said to have another Spirit Numb 14.24 i. e different and of another Nature than the rest of the Spyes yea what he himself formerly had Thus it is with the Convert 2. New signifies Strange not heard of before Numb 16.30 If the Lord make a new thing if the Earth open her Mouth an unheard of Wonder a Prodigy never known before So say they What new Doctrine is this thou bringest strange things to our Ears Acts 17.19 20. Thus the Work of Regeneration was strange even to a great Doctor among the Jews Job 3.34 3. New signifies something secret hidden not easily discerned or not manifest to all Isa 48.6 I have shewed thee new things from this time even hidden things And this work of the New Creature is much hid from the Eyes of others and sometimes kept secret from a man 's own observation Job 11.6 That he would shew thee the secrets of Wisdom And David saith In the hidden part thou shalt make me to know Wisdom Psal 51.6 4. New imports something excellent transcendent admirable Psal 33.3 Sing unto him a new Song Psal 42.10 Sing unto the Lord a new Song i. e. an excellent Song of the very best you can attain to Even so this is the chief of God's Works in the world and renders the Righteous more excellent then his Neighbour and a man of understanding is of an excellent Spirit Prov. 12.26 ch 17.27 The Text being thus opened I shall deduce an Observation relating to the preceeding Words of the Text Circumcision avails nothing nor Uncircumcision in this New Testament-Dispensation by Christ What is it it then that avails The Answer is The New Creature this indeed is available So this is set in contradistinction to the forementioned Privileges comprehended under this word Circumcision Doctrine 2. That a New Creature is only and every way available to the Souls of Men. Nothing else can avail any thing to mens Eternal Salvation but a New Creature and this is very available Understand this of things of this kind or nature for a New Creature must not be set in competition with the Eternal Love of God or Blood of Christ or sanctifying Operations of the Holy Spirit for application of Christ's purchaces to us A New Creature is but a Creature and cannot do the Work of the Infinite God who hath appropriated Salvation-Work to himself There is no Saviour besides me where is any other that may save them Hos 13.4.10 It is not any thing done by Man nor wrought in man that can save him from divine Wrath or advance him to Heaven No the Lord justifies sanctifies glorifies by Christ All the Causes of man's Salvation are without him Eph. 1.4 9. 1st There 's the Efficient Cause God's chusing us 2dly The Material Cause Christ's redeeming us 3dly The Formal the good pleasure of his Will 4thly The Final the praise of God's glorious Grace So then we do not put this New Creature in God's room as any cause at all of our Happiness but a necessary Qualification Disposition to which Salvation is annexed or as the Apostle phraseth it that which accompanieth Salvation Heb. 6.9 Things that accompany Salvation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that have Salvation i. e. commprehend it are contiguous to it touch it have Happiness annexed to it by the indispensible connexion of Grace and Glory by Covenant-Promise But more of this hereafter In the prosecution of this Doctrine I shall speak to these 4 Things in the Doctrinal part of it Viz. 1. Shew what this New Creature is 2. Why it is so called 3. Wherein it is available 4. Answer some Queries about it and so apply it 1. What is this New Creature Answer In opening this I shall explain These 2 things 1. The Names given to it 2. The Nature of it 1. For the Names or Titles given to this New Creature which are synonymous Expressions holding forth the same thing for Substance are such as these 1st It s called the forming of Christ in the womb of a Man's Heart Gal. 4.9 My little Children of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you Full glad would I be to see this blessed Embryo teamed in your Hearts 2dly It s called quickening Ephes 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead-in trespasses and sins Alas what dull Stocks and Lumps of Sin are we till animated with the spirit of Grace and quickned by a vital principle And this is done with Christ vers 5. by his Resurrection 3dly It s called Parturition or bringing forth by spiritual pangs of Soul-travail New Birth John 3.3 Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Convicting Grace brings a lively and lovely Offspring into the World better than the product of Nature 4thly Such Converts are compared to little Children Mal. 18.3 Verily I say unto you except you be converted and become as little Children you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven i. e. You must needs have the Qualities and Dispositions both of Infants and bigger Children 5thly This work of God on the Soul is called a dying with Christ and a rising again with him Rom. 5.5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his Death we shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection Col. 3.1 All real Christians are risen with Christ hence it is called the first Resurrection Rev. 20.6 As if they were newly brought out of their Graves that had been long dead and useless 6thly It s called the Image of God on Souls Col. 3.10 And have put on the New Man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Eph. 4.24 The new man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness This new Creature is a blessed Resemblance of the Trinity of Persons in the renewing of the Mind Will and Affections conform to God 7thly It is called the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature i.e. Of those Divine Qualities whereby the Soul resembles God not only as a Picture doth a Man in outward Lineaments but as a Child doth his Father both in countenance and condition As the noble Qualities of an Immortal Soul shew there is a God so the renewed Faculties shew what that one God is But more of this hereafter Thus for the Names of this New Creature most of which are figurative Expressions denoting this same thing we are now treating of 2. For the
and sanctified by the Spirit born of the Spirit and are Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.11 19. Nothing can search or reach the Heart but the Holy Ghost The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 and deep things of Men. An Angel is too short-sighted to see into Man's Heart too short-handed to reach the Conscience or make a New Creation God alone turns Stones into Flesh God shall enlarge Japheth and he shall dwell in the Tents of Shem Gen. 9.27 It is an Act of Power to make a People willing Psal 110.3 or Volunteers No man can come to Christ except the Father which sent him draw him Job 6.44 And God reacheth forth the Hand of the Spirit to attract Hearts to himself 6. The proper immediate Effect of this Work that is a change into a new Frame or Course by which the Sinner becomes new or another than what he was before this is the formalis Ratio genuine necessary Attendant yea intrinsick nature of this which we call the New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are past away behold all things are become new The Faculties are the same but new Qualities are put in as in a Lute the Strings are the same but 't is set to a new Tune In a River the Water is the same but 't is put into a new Channel the Bowl hath got a new Byass So the Convert said to the tempting Harlot Ego non sum Ego I am not I or as Paul said of himself who was before a Blasphemer a Persecutor but I obtained mercy 1 Tim. 1.13 i. e. converting Grace hath changed me Thus the same Apostle saith of the Corinthians Such were some of you but ye◠are washed but ye are sanctified 1 Cor. 6.11 Oh what a mighty change doth Grace make from Lying to Fearing an Oath from vain speaking to Holy Discourse from carelesness to the greatest concernedness about Soul affairs yea from Darkness to Light Eph. 5.8 From Death to Life from Satan to God Acts 26.18 The Man is now got into a new World as one observes from Ezek. 11.19 I will give them one Heart which that I may do I will cast it a new in order to this I will melt and soften it as one that hath many pieces of old Silver by them casts them into the Fire melts them and molds them into one Bowle Thus doth God with the divided Heart in renewing it and framing it for his use 7. Here 's yet further the compleatness of this Change it s not some external Acts Motions Conversation nor only Internal Cogitations Affections Workings of the Will and Conscience but the description goes further even to the State Constitution Relation of the Man and therefore I add changing the whole man from an old state to a new for every Man and Woman hath a state before God therefore Paul sends Timothy to know the state of the Philippians Phil. 2.19 This imports not a transient Act but a settled abiding Frame continued Relation Sinners are by Nature Children of wrath Eph. 2.3 Limbs of Satan Heirs of Hell this new Mold makes them Children of God Members of Christ Heirs of Heaven yea it puts them into an habitual tendency towards Heaven and heavenly things which is a kind of a second Nature in them this moves the holy Soul acting like it self as naturally upwards as a Stone moves downward therefore it s called a Divine Nature 2 Pet. 14. the acting follows the being of a thing Make the Tree good and the Fruit will be good Mat. 12.33 If a Watch be not well made it will never go well They say of the Peacock roast him as much as you will yet when cold his Flesh will be raw again So force a Carnal Heart to the highest strain of seeming Piety yet it will come to its old Complexion because there 's not a new Nature fill a Pond full of Water it will abate if there be not a Spring to supply it The New Creature is united to Christ and receives grace for grace John 1.61 8. Here 's the Pattern Copy Example according to which this New Creature is moulded it is the Soul 's being transformed into the divine likeness this Image of God consists in Knowledge in the Intellectual Faculties Righteousness in the Will Holiness in the Affections Col. 3.10 And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Eph. 4.24 That you put on the new man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness or holiness of truth As the Work of Grace in the Heart is a true Copy or Transcript of the Divine Image they agree as the Face in the Glass doth with the Face of the Man that looks in it or as the Image in the Wax with the Sculpture in the Seal from which it is derived Godliness is Godlikeness Summa Religionis est imitari quem Colis The Summ and Substance of our Religion is to imitate whom we worship not that its possible to be like God with a perfection of degree but Sincerity Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect Mat. 5.48 A Child hath the parts of a Man though not the bulk for the New Creature is in a daily increase and tendeth to perfection as a small Seed hath vertually the bigness of a grown Tree though little in its self But the Christian is like God man only can beget a man like himself So the Spirit only doth beget the Christian like God Now Divines Journal Christian Bemon part 2. pag. 173. take notice of a double Likeness a bare Similitude Snow and Milk are both white alike yet are not the Image one of another 2. Derivation deduced from another and so the Picture which is drawn every Line by the Face of a Man this is properly the Image of a man after whose Likeness it is made Thus by Holiness the Christian becomes the Image of Christ Rom. 8.29 Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son 9. There 's the Rule of this New Creature which is expressed by turning the Heart and Life to the Rule of the Word this either refers to the manner of framing the New Creature or the Rule by which the New Creature acts and moves being once formed As to the former the New Creature receives the Stamp Signature and Impression of the Word Rom. 6.17 But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin But ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you Or as it is more properly in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into which you were delivered i. e. the Soul is the Metal the Word is the Mould into which the Sinner is cast and thereby receives a new Stamp formed into a new Shape which naturally issues it self into a new
or good Works done by man nay it also excludes Faith it self as the work of man any otherwise then as laying hold on Christ's Righteousness But this I affirm that this New Creature or the best Inherent Righteousness cannot justifie a Sinner before God's Tribunal For a Man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the Faith of Jesus Christ Gal. 2.16 And lest any should say it was by the Works only of the Ceremonial Law it s apparent the Apostle includes the Moral Law that observance thereof cannot justifie for the Gentiles were never bound to the Ceremonial Law yet he proves both Jews and Gentiles to be both under sin Rom. 3 9.-2.28 30. and both alike justified by Christ in the way of believing But where there is no Law there is no Transgression Rom. 4.15 Besides that Law that shews Sin is the moral Law For by the Law is the knowledge of sin Rom. 3.20 And 't is that Law that drives us out of Self to Christ and therefore it can never justifie us God hath nailed up that Door that none since the Fall can enter into Happiness by Law-Righteousness This way to Heaven is like the Northern Passage to the Indies whoever attempts it is sure to be frozen up before he gets half way thither Obj. But if a legal Righteousness by our own strength will not justifie a Sinner yet this New Creature or the habit or exercise of Evangelical Righteousness will surely justifie The Apostle himself Answers No and he instanceth in two famous Saints in the Old-Testament the one is Abraham the other David Rom. 4.1 6 Faithful Holy Abraham though no Idolater but circumcised offering his Son must not glory in any Habit or Acts of Grace And David though a Man after God's own Heart yet saith Enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Psal 143.2 If the Lord mark iniquity who can stand Psal 130.3 Holy Paul dare not stand in his own Righteousness at God's Bar but in the Righteousness which is of God by Faith Phil. 3.7.8 9. Indeed this imparted or inherent Holiness was infused into the Soul for other Ends than to justifie a Sinner before God from the guilt of any one Sin and yet this New Creature is very available to the Souls of men in these 12 cases 1. This New Creature rectifies the Soul's Faculties that were marred by Adam's Fall The former Structure though once a famous Edifice by the Fall was not only tottering but a ruinous House and lies in Rubbish this New Creation re-edifies it in a more stately sumptuous manner yea it is richly adorned thereby Prov. 1.9 They shall be an Ornament of Grace unto thy Head and Chains about thy Neck Prov. 12.26 ch 17.27 Thereby the Christian is more excellent then his Neighbour and of an excellent Spirit more excellent then himself was he is by this become like the Angels yea like God himself and though he be short of Adam in the degree of Grace yet upon better terms in point of duration and now great Grace is upon all true Believers Acts 4.33 Man by his Fall became like the Beasts that perish Psal 49.12 But this New Creature makes him better then other men All men are level as to God till this New Creation sets a divine Stamp on some The tongue of the Just is as choice Silver but the heart of the wicked is little worth Prov. 10.20 God only hath Soveraignty and Authority to rate his Creatures this is the Estimate he sets on his 2. This New Creature is the fruit and Evidence of Electing-Love this is the legible print of God's Heart from Eternity He hath chosen us Eph. 1.4 that we should be holy This is the proper product of free undeserved Grace Gal. 1.15 God calls by his Grace This is the glorious display of his Banner of Love over Souls In the Old Creation there was the strength of God's Arm in this there is the working of God's Bowels God found all mankind alike involved in Sin and Misery but Grace makes some to differ from others 1 Cor. 46.7 As a curious workman seeing a Forrest overgrowing his Ground marks some Trees designing to make of them some rare pieces of workmanship thus God carves his own Image on a common Log and sets it apart for himself this is an act of discriminating Love and when the Sinner sees it he must cry out Who am I O Lord God that thou hast brought me hitherto 2 Sam. 7.18 By the Grace of God I am what I am 1 Cor. 5.10 This this is a shedding abroad his love in my Heart Rom. 5.5 I read Love in every Line and Letter of this new Impression and doth not this avail a Soul much 3. This New Creation consecrates the Soul to be a receptacle for God and renders the Person acceptable to him God dwells in the humble and holy Heart Isa 57.15 There only he takes up his lodging when he hath perfumed the Heart with Mirrh and Frankincense Cant. 3.6 He lays himself in that sweet Bed Having builded this Mansion-House it becomes an habitation of God through the Spirit a Temple of the Holy Ghost Ephes 2.22.1 Cor. 6.17 19. God hath two Thrones in Heaven and in an Holy Heart The Soul and Body is a Sacrifice holy and acceptable to God Rom. 12.1 Happy Soul that is thus owned by the Great God no matter if men reject you if God accept you if men desert you yet if God possess you you are are happy when God casts out the Devil's baggage and saith This is my Rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it Psal 132.14 15. No bad House will be kept there where God dwells for he makes all welcome this is available 4. The first instant of this New Creation commenceth a Communion with God this is a consequence of the former and the peculiar privilege of a Saint Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son 1 John 1.3 This communion with God is a mystery to most men Every one that hangs about the Court doth not speak with the King many meddle with Duties but meet not with God It is good for me to draw night to God Psal 73.28 How oft doth the Christian cry out Oh when shall I come and appear before God Psal 63.2 This New Creature puts a Biass in the Soul God-wards it naturally mounts the Soul upwards to ingage his heart in approaching to God Jer. 30.21 And the Lord meets him that rejoyceth and worketh Righteousness Isa 64. Birds cannot converse with Men there 's not a suitableness of Nature an Hypocrite cannot dare not come before God Job 13.16 But a Saint dare draw near with boldness through Christ for he is like God and communio fundatur in Similitudine Communion is founded in Similitude 5. This New Creature evidenceth a Soul's interest in Christ and his union to him yea puts the poor Believer in
so as to fall down and confess that God is there of a truth 1 Cor. 14.25 This is that which makes such a difference of Hearers in the same Auditory Some hear what the Spirit saith Rev. 2. Others profit not from Day to Day because the Word is not mixed with Faith Heb. 4.2 The Chymist can do nothing without Fire the Sinner will neither do nor receive Good by any thing without the Spirit and this blessed New Creation 6. Without the New Creature you will not be secured from the worst of Sins for as you want a Principle of Obedience so you have no reason to expect assistance from Heaven its only God's fear in your hearts that keeps you from departing from him Jer. 32.40 Indeed the Text saith 1 John 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his Seed remaineth in him But alas you want this Seed there is in you the Fomes Spawn Spring Root of all Abominations there want nothing but a Tap to give it vent Satan will be ready enough to fill your hearts to lye to the Holy Ghost Acts 5.3 To betray Jesus to run into all Excess of Riot if Satan find his House empty of Saving Grace though it be swept Matth. 12.43 44 45. from some gross Sins by Morality garnished with Gifts and common Graces he will take to himself seven other Spirits more wicked and take faster possession as those that escaped some gross Pollutions yet are again intangled their latter end is worse then their beginning 2 Pet. 2.20 21 22. These may and likely will wallow in worse mire then ever before Besides God may in Justice give you up to your own hearts Lusts Psal 81. or to strong delusions to believe a Lye 2 Thes 2.10 11. If God leave you who knows whither you may be hurried you will fall downwards into Sin and grow worse and worse till you be diabolized as demure as you seem to be you may commence Persecutors and Blasphemers Atheists and to that height of Impiety that now you shrug and tremble at yea you may commit that unpardonable Sin against the Holy Ghost You say now God forbid is thy Servant a Dog so said Hazael but how canst thou be secured thou hast no hold of God by Faith and God hath no hold of thee in a Covenant-relation for thou wantest the Graces of the Covenant look to they self for God will not look to thee till thou be his and thou canst not look so to thy self but thou mayst prove a prophane Esau a scoffing Ishmael a betraying Judas who knows where thou wilt stop whither thou wilt run 7. If you be not New Creatures you will meet with a woful disappointment Oh remember the case of the Foolish Virgins that too late found they had no Oyl in their Lamps or Grace in their Hearts when the Door was shut and they shut out and cryed Lord open to us Mat. 25 8-12 Oh what an astonishing Word was that I know you not It will not be loud Cries or Heart-renting Lamentations that will pierce the Ears of a Righteous God Oh think how dreadful it will be to go off the Stage with a lye in your right hand Isa 44 20.-50.11 To walk all your days by Sparks of your own kindling and lie down in Sorrow It would vex any Man to be cheated with Pebbles for Pearls Flint for Diamond Men say when they are cheated they would rather have given three times as much then to be thus abused but thus it is with you the Devil imposeth on you and lest you should see your Mistake the Devil holds his black hand before your Eyes the God of this World blindeth you and carries you to Hell in a Golden Dream in a Fools Paradise It s a dreadful case if your Eyes be never opened till the Flames of Hell flash in your scorched Faces If there be no discovery till there be no remedy as some Diseases are past Cure when they are known A graceless Life brings despair of Death O consider poor Sinner what Relief wilt thou have in thy dying-groans When this King of Terrors Job 18.14 this grim Serjeant lays his cold Hand of Arrest upon thee Oh what horror will seize upon thee when thy fine spun Hope must be as the Spiders Web Job 8 14-11.20 swept away with God's Besom or give up the Ghost when thou breathest thy last what a dreadful case will thy Soul be in Alas what hast thou gained though thou shouldst gain the World when God taketh away thy Soul Mat. 16.26 John 27.8 9. Thou hadst better dye a Dog a Toad a Serpent or vilest Creature than a Man if thou be not a New Creature for the upshot of their Misery is but an in-let to thine it s a sad case for a poor Sinner to leave the World and knows not whither he is going he must not stay and he dares not dye if his Eyes be opened and he sees Hell flames flashing in his Eyes oh with what a shriek must his poor confounded Soul descend into that Infernal Lake of Fire and Brimstone this will be a Day of desperate Sorrow Isa 8.22 When Men shall look to the earth and behold trouble and darkness dimness of anguish and they shall be driven to darkness Who can conceive duly of the astonishing Horrors of a desparing Soul 8. Who can tell how quickly this Anguish may seize upon you You now live at ease and fear not because you feel no danger like Laish of Old and Rome at this day but when you say Peace and Safety then sudden destruction cometh upon you as travail upon a woman with-child and you shall not escape It s a dreadful Evil to be surprized 1 Thes 5.3 The poor graceless Sinner is not sure to be another Night out of Hell such a Voice may come to thee as to that senseless secure Wretch that reckoned upon Years This night shall thy Soul be required of thee Luk. 12 19 20. Poor Sinner thou art in continual danger God is angry with thee every day Psal 7.11 12. and stands with his Sword whet and Bow bent and his Arrows stringed and directed to thy Heart yea it will come as a Showre suddenly violently inevitably upon the wicked He shall rain Fire and Brimstone yea Snares and an horrible Tempest Psal 11.6 God thine Enemy stands over thee as an Enemy with a Sword of Vengeance in his Hand ready to cut thee in pieces and though thou sleepest yet thy judgment of a long time sleeps not nor thy damnation slumber 2 Pet. 2.3 Oh who would continue one Hour in such a case when thy Life hangs in doubt nay thy immortal Soul is hanging over Hell by the small twittered Thread of thy natural Life Surely if thou wert condemned and to be executed to morrow thou wouldst be much concerned to prevent or prepare for Death Oh Sinner bethink thy self the Jâ—dge standeth before the Door James 5.9 Heaven or Hell may attend the next
Objects my Soul is as a weaned Child Psal 13 1.12 New light begets new love new desires new delights Truth in the Understanding darting upon the Affections contracted in the Glass of Meditation inflames the Soul Did not our Hearts burn within us while he opened to us the Scriptures Luk. 24.32 The Sun in the Firmament sheds his Influence into the Bowels of the Earth but Light and Heat come together into Souls knowledge affects the Heart◠the more the Christian knows God the more he loves him The Soul risen with Christ cannot but set his affections on things above Col. 3.2 For where the treasure is there will the heart be also Matth. 6.21 Oh saith this Christian how good is God I love the Lord from my inmost Bowels Psal◠18.1 Mat. 22.37 With all my heart soul mind and might with my Soul have I desired thee in the night Isa 26.9 Even as the Hart panteth after the Water-brooks When shall I come and appear before God Psal 45.1 God even God alone is my exceeding joy Psal 43.4 I will take pleasure in nothing but in God This this is both my Duty and Privilege I hope I can call the Sabbath a delight Isa 58.13 14. And he promiseth I shall delight myself in the Lord My Comfort and Content is in communion with God and 't is an anticipation of Heavenly Joys I love the Word of God his testimonies are the rejoycing of my heart and I have rejoyced in the ways thereof more then in all Riches and delight my self in the Lord's Statutes Psal 119.14 Oh how the good Soul is ravished and transported in the Galleries of Love the Pleasures of the Soul are infinitely beyond the Pleasures of Sense Oh then Christian feel how the Pulse of thy Soul beats in a constant motion is thy Heart working God-wards in Duties of God's Worship or in daily Converse which way tends the bent of thy Soul Art thou truly troubled that thou canst not delight thy self in the Lord Psal 37.4 as thou oughtest Would thou give all the World that thou hadst but an Heart to love God more Canst thou say as Peter Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Joh 21 15-17 A Flame may be painted but a painted Flame cannot be felt I find the workings of Love kindled in my Bosom if I know any thing of my Heart and I have searched the Characters of true Love in the Scriptures and I find my Heart ecchoing thereto harmonizing therewith and I am told that this Love is the proper Character of this New Creature connatural with ingraven in the New Nature for he that dwells in Love dwelleth in God and God in him 1 John 4.16 Thus much for the Preparatives to and parts of this New Creature I proceed briefly to the Third Head which is the Properties of this New Creature and they are these Seven 1. It is an universal New Creature it 's not in part of the Soul but runs through the whole man soul body and spirit 1 Thes 5.23 It 's extensive and comprehensive takes in all Internal Powers External Members all Acts in all Faculties at all times in all employments as in the Law the whole Sacrifice was to be offered to God Lev. 18.9 So it is not acceptable to God if any part be with-held from God Rom. 12.1 This New Creature is as Leaven that runs through the whole lump Matth. 13.33 and puts a gracious Tincture into all the Faculties This is not a Limb or Member but a whole New Man yea the Christian is a perfect man having all the parts of a Saint though defective in point of degree our heavenly Father begets no Blind Lame Mad or Maimed Children there 's no Idiots in his Family A Christian indeed hath all Graces radically but the Hypocrite is mainly defective in something essentially requisite to make up a Saint he is a Cake half baked Dough on one side the Legs of the Lame are not equal 2. It is a vital self-moving New Creature I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Gal. 2.20 It s true it is hid from outward Observation as the Spring that moves the visible Hand for our Life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 But a vital Principle it is this gracious habit is to the Soul as the Soul is to the Body it 's a spark of divine Life kindled by the holy Spirit a Seed of God 1 Joh. 3.9 quickned within the Womb of the Earth by the influence of Heaven putting forth gracious Acts precious Fruits by excitations of assisting Grace after a nipping winter of Temptations or cold Autumn of Spiritual Decays his Spirit makes him willing Oh saith the Christian I am restless as a Bird out of the Nest or a Fish out of its proper Element of Water unsatisfied till I return to my God But the Hypocrite is but like a Pupper drest like a Saint moved by Art or as a Machin by something outward which the workman fastens to it but not informed by a Soul of its own so it s at last worn or broken and crumbles to nothing so doth the Hypocrite as one saith There is a vast difference betwixt Wool on the Sheep's back which clipt will grow again and the Wool on the Sheep's Skin on the Wolf's back which grows no more The living Saint still works upwards the graceless Soul is dead and puts forth no vital acts 3. It s a sensible new Greature it s not a dead inanimate Log but of a tender quick sensation and can easily discern what Profits or Prejudiceth it what helps or hurts it it groans under what it feels doth make against its being or well-being nothing doth it hurt so much as Sin or what hath a tendency to it any act of omission or commission lies heavy upon it pricks and wounds it and makes it bleed hence 't is called an heart of Flesh which is a soft and sensible thing defects of Grace inroads of Temptation intermissions of Duty or worldliness are more laid to heart by the New Creature then gross out-breakings of Sin in the Hypocrite whatsoever it perceives to be anoyance or disturbance is a grievous Affliction Oh saith the Soul I found at such a time God's withdrawing the assistance of his Spirit I puzzled and bungled in a Duty and could make nothing of it Wo is me what had I done to banish my God I find a weight on me and a Sin that easily besets me Heb. 12.1 Did I not quench grieve resist the Spirit was I not sluggish heartless formal Lord forgive me that Sin and quicken me with thy Grace The Hypocrite hath none of these Experiments Soul-exercises Agonies but runs on 〈◊〉 heartless Formality and customary Performance but knows nothing of God's access and his recess coming or going 4. It is a growing New Creature it never stands at a stay the Godly Man is compared to the Sun that shineth still brighter to the perfect day Prov. 4.18
Cords to hold you in the Devil's Service and drag you down Hâ—llwards Prov. 5.22 This day give an everlasting Farewell to Sin Say to every Idol Get thee hence what have I any more to do with â—ols Isa 30.22 Hos 14.8 If you cannot stâ— up Sin by the Roots yet be sure to cut off its Iâ—ches its true this is not enough but this is soâ—ething and who knows what it may tend to â—nd end in Departing from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. â—â— is one part of the New Creature however you cannot find Mercy except you forsake as well as confess Sin Prov. 28.13 Spare but one Sin and God will not spare thee turn from all Sins and you shall live Ezek. 18.21 If you fall out with Sin there is some hopes and then away with Sinners forsake the foolish and live Prov. 9.6 But a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed Prov. 13.20 There 's no hopes of that Man that delights in vain Company how many have been jear'd or alur'd from hopeful beginnings by loose Companions if ever God begin this New Work upon you this will be the first Evidence of it yea and this is a singular help to it changing your Companions running from the Tents of the Wicked into the Society of the Godly I recommend this in a special manner to all Persons young and old and desire you to read and study Prov. 1.10 to 18. 2.12.20 4.14.18 2 Cor. 6.17 Be sure you joyn with Christian Society open your Cases to them beg their Counsel and Prayers Company is assimilating Sin is infectious Holiness imitable Let Communion of Saints be in your Practice as well as in your Creed New Society is a Sign and Means of new Hearts I despair of your being New Creatures in Old Company 9. Enter into a Solemn Covenant with the Lord by taking God as your chiefest Good and utmost End and by making a Deed of Gift of your selves entirely to the Lord. I shall not much need to inlarge upon this having treated on it fully elsewhere only as its subservient to this design Enter into an Oath and swear the Lord liveth Jer. 4.2 Deut. 26. and avouch him to be yours Do this understandingly solemnly resolutely deliberately Set some time apart set God before thine Eyes make him witness of the singleness of thy Heart that thou takest God the Father to love him trust in him depend on him resign up all to him God the Son as Prophet Priest King to be led by him justified and ruled by his Laws God the Holy Ghost to be enlightned to be fanctified comforted by him and when thou hast thus taken God for thy God and devoted thy self to him Soul and Body thou mayst expect and hope that the Lord will dwell in thee as in his Temple his House cleanse thee from Filthiness adorn thee with Graces enable thee for his Service that all the Persons of the Sacred Trinity will take up their lodging and residence in thy Soul that you may henceforth be an Habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2.20 21 22. This imports the New Creature we are speaking of and this is the way to obtain it To give up your selves to the Lord 2 Cor. 8.5 To be ordered according to his pleasure for his glory that he may be glorified both in Soul and Body which are his 1 Cor. 6.19 20. If thou voluntarily subscribe to the Equity of his Articles taking him with all the Sufferings attending the ways of Religion and yieldest up thy whole Interest to his dispose hating the Sins that he forbids practising the Duties that God commands walking in all the Ways of his appointment in his Worship and Ordinances this this is a coming up to the terms of the Covenant of Grace and then thou shalt have the Graces and Privileges of that Covenant which comprehends this New Creation 10. Down on thy Knees and beg this New Creature at the Hands of God say as David Create in me a clean Heart Oh God and renew a right Spirit within me Psal 51.10 Say Lord I am quite marred in the Old Adam and I cannot help my self Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Not one but thou hast promised in the Gospel to make all things new and in the New Covenant thou promisest a new heart Ezek. 36.6 This is the great Mercy O Lord I want and wait for and I ask thee nothing but what I have under thine own Hand in the Promise Oh that I were partaker of it yea thou hast promised to give thy holy spirit to them that ask it Luke 11.13 Now thy Spirit can sanctifie Hearts as Lightning cleanseth the Air as Fire refines Metals Lord seal up my Soul with the Holy Spirit of Promise set on me thine own Stamp as the Seal leaves its impress on the Wax Lord I shall never be acceptable to thee profitable to Men or comfortable to my self except I be renewed and become a New Creature I cannot without this live to any purpose and I cannot dye with any comfort Objection But God heareth not Sinners their Prayers are abomination Answ If you be resolved to go on in a course of Sinning or pray to gratifie a Lust as a Thief for a Prize you and your Prayers are abominable but if you be repenting returning Sinners and pray for Grace Pardon God will pity you and who knows but he may meet you in Mercy as he did the returning Prodigal Luk. 15.20 Repent then and pray God if perhaps the thoughts of thy Heart may be forgiven thee Acts 8.22 Thou art undone if thou give over Praying many have sped well at his Door and so mayst thou still ask seek and knock Chap. XIII Instructions how those must behave themselves that are indeed New Creatures A Third Head to be insisted upon in this Use of Instruction is to direct sincere Christians that do find by good proof that this New Creature is wrought in them how they should live walk and behave themselves in the World both towards God and Man 1. Use God's appointed means for clearing up the reality of this New Creature it 's one thing to be another thing to know that we are New Creatures Alas some sincere Souls walk at Uncertainties A Letter may be written saith one though it be not sealed So Grace may be writ in the Soul though the Spirit hath not set to its Seal partly to keep the Soul humble partly to punish some Sin But I must not handle the common place of Assurance the possibility the hindrances helps advantages nature or kinds of Assurance but give an hint Are the Figures of Grace ingraven upon the Dial of your Hearts pray and wait for the Sun of Righteousness shining on it that you may better see what time of day it is in your Hearts yet if you grope in the dark you may feel some Characters engraven however give diligence to make first your Calling then your Election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Your
Temple was built with such curious Care and costly Materials surely it was for Holy Use Sincere Christians are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good works Eph. 2.10 Now it becomes you to act as you are it would accent your Sin with a greater Circumflex if you sin that have such a curious Work of the Spirit in your Hearts as none in the World-have besides you you are consecrated Persons and by your Sin you prophane God's Temple other 's Sins are Theft your's Sacrilege because you rob God of what was devoted to him when God breathed such a noble Soul into Man's Body he designed him for higher Acts then meerly Sense as Beasts or to converse with Beasts 1 Cor. 3.3 So Christian thou art of an higher extraction then to walk as Men as carnal Men no Friend as thou hast received Christ so thou must walk in him Col. 2.6 O take heed of Sin it 's contrary to the Divine Nature God hath planted in thee now we know the more unnatural any Act is the more horrid as for a Woman to kill her own Child or a Man to be cruel to his own Flesh Oh take heed of Killing the Babe of Grace in thy Soul by Sin but live up to the Principles and Privileges 6. Attend upon God in all his Institutions and in all put forward for closer communion with him in all Duties and Ordinances as in hearing the Word Prayer Seals of the Covenant Christian Conference Communion of Saints these are the Air that the Christian breathes in the most wholsom for this New Creature Lord I have loved the habitation of thy House and the place where thine Honour dwells Psal 26.8 And he often cries out for the Living God Oh when saith he shall I come and appear before God Nothing lies nearer David's holy Heart then God's presence in his Ordinances Psal 42.1.63 1 2.84.1 2. It is or should be so with the New Creature but oh wait for the Spirit 's wafting over thy Soul to Jesus rest not in Ordinances they are but the Boat or Bridge to carry thy Soul over to God the Ordinance is lost and thy labour is in vain if thou do not enjoy God in Ordinances O labour to see Christ walking in the midst of the golden Candlesticks Rev. 2.1 Be sure you hold Christ in the Galleries Cant. 7.5 Ordinances are the golden Pipes that empty the golden Oyl out of themselves Zech. 4. Be sure that of his fulness you receive and Grace for Grace Joh. 1.16 The Holy Ghost sits in Ordinances as a Minister of State in his Office ready to distribute to every ones case as there is need thou art at the right Door wait his leisure and it shall not be in vain 7. Endeavour to propagate Religion do what thou canst to make others new Creatures thy Relations Neighbours and all thou art acquainted with this is the Duty yea the Property of the new Creature by Prayer Advice Example procuring the help of Ministers Christian Friends 't is true no man can propagate Grace to another it 's not in our own power to effect it but we must endeavour it Oh how Paul was concern'd for his Country-men the wilful unbelieving Jews Rom. 9.10 His Prayers Tears Wishes speak him their cordial Friend who were his bitter Enemies God commanded Abraham that all his House should be circumcised to have him go as far as he could to draw them into affinity with God true Grace makes men love Relations better than ever and causeth natural Affection to run in a spiritual Channel which vents it self for the good of their Souls Be concerned to make a Joynture of the Promises to thy VVife an entail of the Covenant to thy Children this is a thousand times better then leaving them thousands a Year Should not you desire that one Heaven may hold those hereafter that one House hold now Oh tremble to think when your House breaks up of one going to Heaven another to Hell and let your Charity extend it self to all you are acquainted with and let your Practices be convincing and winning to all about you Alas what multitudes are there that are unexperienced in this mighty work yet must feel it or never be happy do what thou canst to call in all to this blessed Feast yet there 's room Luk. 14.22 Hast thou none thou lovest so well as to wish them thy happiness There 's no Envy in Spiritual things the more and merrier and no less chear it will add some Pearls to thy Crown to win Souls If a Neighbour lock'd himself in a Room on design to murder himself wouldst thou not break open the Door and rescue him Oh happy Souls that are imployed and successful in this Soul-Charity I have long ago seen a Book writ by Mr. Reiner of Lincoln called The Rule of the New Creature to which I refer the Reader that can procure it at present I shall summ up my thoughts in these Twenty brief Rules of Direction 1. Reason right and Reckon streight let your Reason be regulated by the Word of God Luke 5.21.1 Pet. 3.15 It must follow Faith not give Law and measure to it be sure your Accounts be squared by the Golden Rule of Scripture 1 Cor. 4.3 Set all streight against the Reckoning Day Rom. 14.12 2. Baulk no Sufferings for Christ to avoid sin against Christ Be content to fill up Christ's Sufferings Col. 1.24 Nay be glad to suffer Matth. 5.11 But tremble to sin Sinless sufferings are sweet Heb. 11.26 But sweet sins will be Bitterness in the end Rev. 2.2 Bear any thing but Sin 3. Profess what you are and be what you profess Rom. 10.10 Matth. 10.32 33. Think not to dissemble with Men for worldly Ends but upon a just Cause and Call own Godliness be indeed Nathaniels John 1.47 Pretend not more then truth God knows the Heart Heb. 4.13 4. Serve God for Service not for Wages or rather let his Service be your Wages Psal 19.11 or reward so it is God himself is the Saints reward Gen. 17.1 Hypocrites make Religion a Mount to ascend to some other End let God be thy all Matth. 6.3 Psal 73.25 5. Be most for God when God seems most against thee its pure Faith and Love to hang closest to an angry God Job 13.15 Hos 6.3 To conceive most hopes through Christ when Sense and Reason make against you this is a Faith to be admired Matth. 15.28 6. Joyn pure Precepts to precious Promises look on Precepts as pure therefore lovely Psal 119.140 Dare not to divorce them though for your Spiritual Interest Heb. 8.10 Rom. 7.12 14 22. See to the Law within you and before you as well as plead the Promises of the Gospel for you 7. Be best when least in Mens sight God and Souls give each other their Loves when alone Cant. 7.12 Psal 17.25 Matth. 6.6 Make God your Witness not Men only Friends are most familiar when they are withdrawn from all other Company 8. Sail
low but aim high conclude you have not attained to Perfection Phil. 3.13 15. Rom. 12. but still be designing it be not high-minded yet mind highest things aspire to be better then others yet esteem others better than you Phil. 2.3 4. 9. Do all you must not all you may Eph. 5.15.1 Cor. 10.23 walk to the height of a Command not to the utmost of lawful liberty go not near the Pit's brink stand fast in your Christian liberty Gal. 5.1 13. but do not always use it 10. Be best when others are worst be as Noah in the Old World Gen. 6.9 19. Lot in Sodom Timothy in Ephesus Joshua among the Israelites be hottest in coldest Weather brightest in the darkest Night Savour of Heaven in Hell Neh. 5 20-5.15 Phil. 2.15 11. Be Rational when most Spiritual do nothing at hap-hazard or with a blind Zeal let all Services be reasonable Rom. 12.1 Ezek. 18. God's Will is our Rule and his ways are equal the highest Reason in Man is to comply with God's pleasure 12. Naturalize Religion and Spiritualize the World let Godliness be as second nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Phil. 2.20 Let common Objects Occurrences be well improved to good Ends and Purposes Mercies Afflictions Spiritual Chymists turn all to Gold Rom. 8.28 13. Be dead living and lively in thoughts of Death Col. 3.3 Gal. 6.14 A Child of God is a Paradox dead to the World crucified yet the most active and vigorous Person in the World you must have the best Death and best Life then fear not Death 14. Suit Grace to every case in confessing Sin mourn in begging Mercy working Desires in Thanksgiving Joyfulness yet rejoyce with trembling 1 Cor. 15.30 55. Heb. 2.14 Psal 38.18 Matth. 5.4 Psal 2.11 Phil. 1.2 Psal 26.12 in Prosperity have Humility in Adversity Contentment your Foot must still stand in an even place 15. Let your life be a Comment on your Faith let your believing and living be harmonious let Doctrine of Faith Grace of Faith Life of Faith sweetly correspond Doctrine according to Godliness Godliness according to Truth James 2.18 1 Tim. 1.5 Tit. 1.1 Rom. 2.18 23 24. Jer. 32.19 Let not Head and Hands be contradictory 16. Eye God that eyes you in all you do think the King of Heaven sees thee the Omnipresent God is in the room with thee the Omniscient God knows thy Heart approve thy Heart to God let thine Eyes be ever on him towards him Psal 35.15.26 3. 17. Eccho to divine Calls when God hath a Mouth to speak have an Ear Tongue say Here I am Word or Rod a call to Duty from Sin what 's the meaning of this Oh that I could attain God's end and not resist or quench the holy Spirit 1 Sam. 3. Psal 27.8 Mich. 6.9 1 Thes 5.19 18. Observe and make up daily decays keep up your Watch that you sin not Matth. 26.41.1 John 2.2 But if you sin lie not in it but rise mourn act Faith on Christ your great Advocate let not an ill matter go on quickly recover your first Love Rev. 2.4 5. 19. Give no Offence carelesly and take no Offence causlesly let there be no occasion of stumbling in you 1 John 2.10 Matth. 7.1 Judge not uncharitably take all that 's said and done by the right handle make no sinister Constructions 1 Cor. 10.32 20. When you have done all Luke 17.10 Phil. 3.7 8. Say all this is as nothing at all to appease God's Wrath or satisfie Justice in an absolute Sense and to do what 's required in a comparative sense without Christ I can do nothing John 15.5 Thus I have briefly touch'd the Rules of this New Creature which I leave to the Reader 's further Consideration and Practice Chap. XIV An ANSWER to some Cases of Conscience 4. THe last Head which I propounded in this Use of Instruction is Answering some Cases of Conscience that Godly Souls are apt to make in this case wherein I must be very brief 1st Case Whether is it possible that a Man can be a New Creature and not know it since it is so remarkable a change Answ I have hinted at this before but observe it you must distinguish betwixt a reflexive sense of a change in Heart and Life and a due apprehension of this change morally considered as Saving many a Soul can truly say something hath been done but I know not whether the thing which may be entituled A New Creature I am much in the dark about it I cannot but say I have had Convictions and something like Conversion though not Consolation I am kept still in innitency upon a Promise though I cannot say I have assurance of my Interest in the Covenant Precious Mr. Paul Bains could say Sustentation I have but Suavities Spiritual I do not experience So you may have the Root though not the Flower VVater of Sanctification though not the Oyl of Gladness wait on God and in due time you may have this cleared up to you If you follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the Morning Hos 6.3 Grace and Peace shall not be long parted Light is sown for the Righteous and Joy for the upright in Heart Psal 97.11 It 's not lost but laid up and hid in the Furrows of the Believer's Bosom 2d Case Whether is it possible that he that 's a New Creature should have a self-accusing self-condemning Conscience Answ You must distinguish of Consciences condemning a man's self 1. Passively when our Hearts censure us and we stifle them such a one indeed is self-condemned 2. If we be Active in condemning our selves it 's a good Sign and a great Duty as we shewed before but the meaning of this Query refers to the State of the Man whether the Conscience of a New Creature may censure the real Christian and tell him he is an Hypocrite To which I Answer If Conscience act according to the Rule of the VVord it must be regarded as God's Officer speaking by his authority but if it speak not in God's Name and by his order we may appeal to the Higher Court of the Holy Scriptures and it 's certain that Conscience may be corrupted and it is often used by Satan to deceive good Men as well as bad and they shall at last have their action against Satan for false Imprisonment and disturbing their Peace Your best course therefore is to have recourse to the VVord for Conscience is but an under Officer and must be accountable for its Verdict Remember it 's one thing to have Hypocrisie in thy Heart another thing to be an Hypocrite the best will find much Guilt within them which Conscience rebukes them for and they bewail it but they are not therefore Hypocrites 3d. Case Whether may God carry it strangely as if he were an Enemy to a New Creature that should seem to be his darling Answ Thou art a Stranger to Scripture and the Experiences of all God's Children if thou think God must always be dandling this