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
conditions states and ways and imagin that all others should have the same opinion of them that we our selves have And therefore conclude that such as think and speak otherwise of them are too uncharitable and censorious This is one of the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of Regeneration and causes many to tune a deaf ear to all convincing and regenerating Truths that are handed out unto them Besides the vain groundless hopes they have formed to themselves and are greatly in love withal that they are in a good and safe condition although they are not so good as they should be whatever men and the word of God shall say to the contrary of or against them The Jews gives us many proofs and evidences of it for when the Lord Jesus Preached to and discoursed with them about their states to convince and regenerate them Oh! how did they labour to fence off all the words of Truth spoken to them how did they strive dispute and set themselves against the Gospel of their Salvation and that upon the grounds before mentioned yea those very persons which sometimes were convinced in their Consciences that they were sinners Joh. 8.9 I say even these men did ordinarily harden themselves against the Word of Christ upon their vain hopes high priviledges proud and high conceits they had of themselves Joh. 8.33.39 48. ult Joh. 9. Joh. 10. Math. 9. Read these Chapters throughout and you will find what I have said abundantly confirmed and as it was with them so I am afraid it is with many of you do not you conceit and stoutly perswade your selves that you are in a safe and happy state and condition before God that you shall undoubtedly be saved notwithstanding the Truth of God Ministers of Christ yea and sometimes your own Consciences testify the contrary also and tell you plainly That you are yet in the gall of bitterness and bond of Iniquity do not you encourage and support your selves fortify and arm your selves under and against all convictions with many vain and groundless hopes and delusive conceits of your blessed states or that you are in a happy case and condition although you never experienced any real change in your hearts nor any special grace of Christ in your poor deluded perishing Souls But yet I say unregenerate persons may know and have a shrewd guess that they themselves are not unregenerated but in a state of sin and under the wrath of God Simon Magat was so Acts 8.24 Pharoah Exod. 9.27 unregenerate men have three means if I may so call them to help them to the knowledge and conviction of their bad conditions First the word of God written but especially Preached and so it is the word of conviction in the hand of an Ordinance appointed and designed thereunto by the great God Act. 26.18 2 Their own natural Consciences and principles of Nature that are in all men not feared which are subjects capable of impressions from the Word of God namely of its light and convincing power and also natural Reason helped by the Word so that when they hear the certain Characters of unregenerate persons laid down from Gods Word they may reflect on themselves and apply them to themselves if they will They may reason thus why if these are certain Characters or Signs of an evil or unregenerate man or state as I cannot but conclude they are then am I in such a state for I find them in and upon me I cannot deny it As thus Is gross ignorance of Jesus Christ the grace of God Sin and Duty a certain sign of an unregenerate person surely then I am an unregenerate person for I am grosly ignorant of these things So when they hear Characters or Signs laid down of a regenerate man then to examin themselves and reason thus Why I find not any of these in my self which I should if I was regenerate and therefore I am in an unregenerate state and condition much might be done this way by unregenerate men towards their conviction and knowledge I mean not saving knowledge of their States would such men practise it but that they will not no because they love their carnal ease and peace and therefore they are willingly ignorant of their unregenerate state And as they have these means or helps to know their evil States so 3 the holy Spirit of God to stir up Conscience in and by the Word The Spirit speaks sometimes to them not as the Spirit of Adoption but of Bondage whose voice is louder quicker and pierceth further unto and into their Consciences than the word of its self can do and tells them plainly that they are in a damnable state and condition and shall assuredly perish for ever except they be regenerate here Gen. 6.3 This awakens and affrights them this humbles and abases them and makes them cry out undone undone we are lost Oh! what shall we do to be saved Acts 2.37 And here I might add that not only these said means may help them to the knowledge of their states but also the discourses carriages and conversations of some Regenerate persons that they are concerned withal and may make observations of and compare themselves with them and them with themselves and conclude clearly that there is a vast difference between such and themselves the states of the one and of the other And if these be Regenerate persons and Regenerate persons be indeed such and so and so qualified graced and spirited as they seem to be then that they themselves are undoubtedly in an Unregenerate condition for that they are not such persons neither have any of their qualifications or any like them Matth. 5.16 Now if Unregenerate men would improve and rationally use these means or helps towards the knowledge and conviction of their states they might undoubtedly know them better than they do But there needs no further proof of this truth namely that unregenerate persons may know they are in a bad condition then the Gripes and trouble of Conscience their fears trembling and consternations in and under the apprehensions of Death and Judgment together with their wishes protestations resolutions and promises on their Death-beds These do all proclaim this Truth Q. May not Gods people such as are Regenerate know that they are so and be sufficiently assured of their Regeneration A. They may for first God hath promised the knowledge of it unto them in their obedient and holy walkings with God in that state Hosea 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. Isa 32.17 Prov. 2.1 â—7 So the Spirit witnesseth with our Spirit that we are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 2. The people of God have had certain and clear assurance or a sufficient knowledge of their Regenerate states and the Spirit of God hath recorded it for our learning and encouragement Enoch had it Heb. 11.5 and the Apostle John speaking in the name of Believers or regenerate persons saith We know that we are of
so at the best their sight and knowledge is an uncertain weak and unedifying knowledge Their sight and knowledge of these matters profit them not It lies idle and useless in the head but is of no advantage to the heart It brings them not to the things they see to close up with them and make them their choice to apply and rightly to appropriate them unto themselves No but they still lay at a distance from their hearts and their hearts from them They see no transcendent worth and excellency in them to cause them indeed to desire them and with self-denial to make them their own But they are enabled by Regeneration to see and understand Spiritual things spiritually 1 Cor. 2.13.14 They have now Eyes to see withal Ephes 1.18 and a new light to see by namely The Sun of Righteousness Mal. 4.2 The Glory of the Lord is risen upon them Isa 60.1 But before they saw with their old eyes though it may be they were a little anointed with some common spiritual Light still yet they were but their old natural Eyes or sense of seeing and they had only Candle light to see spiritual things by But Regenerate persons are called out of darkness into marvellous light 1 Pet. 2.9 The light of the knowledge of the Glory of God shines into their hearts 2 Cor. 4.6 enabling them with a measure of clear discerning what they are by Nature and what they are made by the Grace of Christ how they ought to live in this world and what their duties are the workings of their own lusts and the Temptations of the Devil and World the proneness and inclination of the heart to sin and close up with Temptations and the continual need they have of Divine assistance and protection what need they have of the Mercy of God and of the Blood and Righteousness of Christ Moreover their new light directs and leads them to Jesus Christ to own receive and accept him for their Lord and Saviour for their King Priest and Prophet for their Head and Ruler their Teacher and Lawgiver and it is powerful to lead and perswade them out of themselves to take up in Christ only Col. 2.6 Joh. 1.12 Psal 73.25 26. Phil. 3.7.8 and it is powerful to take off their hearts and hands from sin self-righteousness and self-ability from self-boasting or glorying in self and from the enticing objects of this world This new Divine Spiritual Light sees such a transcendent and singular beauty excellency and loveliness in the person love and Grace of Christ as to draw the Mind Affections and whole Soul to him to lodge them in him take up with him greatly to love him and cleave unto him to desire him and his Grace and to chuse and apply it to themselves To adore and admire him to honour and exalt him to live and dye with him and for him to live to him and make it their work and business to please him to speak well of him and to commend him his Love and Grace to the acceptance and admiration of others Cant. 5.9 ult so likewise they see a desirable excellency and loveliness in the wills and commands of Christ in their duty and Gospel obedience to him so as to fall in love with them and it so as to observe and do what he commands and that because it is his holy Will Gracious and Soveraign Pleasure and Appointment that they should so do yea and they can in measure discern when they please him and when they do not Heb. 11.5 Besides Regenerate persons have an experimental knowledge they taste feel and enjoy a part of the Heavenly matters which they see they have the earnest and first Fruits of them in their hands they have a part in possession namely of Christ his Grace Spirit Truth and Heaven and they begin to see those things more distinctly and particularly they can discern one thing from another and more and more look into the nature property use and end of them and how to use and improve them to the glory and praise of God and to the comfort and edification of their own Souls Secondly another of these new spiritual senses is Tasting The natural Man hath the senses of seeing and tasting things that are suitable to him so hath the spiritual man or new creature O taste and see that the Lord is gracious Psal 34.8 And if you have tasted that the Lord is gracious 1 Pet. 2.3 It is a spiritual sense or taste and they are spiritual things that it can taste and relish I shall briefly name some of them to help you in your tryal or in the proving and examining your state and conditions by them 1. The word of God Gospel Precepts and Promises The one declaring what God and Christ the Mediator and holy Ghost hath and will do for us the other what is our Duty and what we should do for God These words of God are exceeding sweet and pleasant to the spiritual taste of new Creatures Psal 19.10 They are says David sweeter than the honey or honey Comb. So in the 119. Psal And Jeremy tells us the same Chap. 15.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoycing of my heart So is the word of God to thee if thou art a new Creature especially at sometimes but it is not so to others Christ calls his Fathers will his food My Meat says he is to do the will of him that sent me and man liveth not by bread onely but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Matth. 4. Well what canst thou say of and to this for thy self 2. The good Counsels Exhortations Admonitions and Reproofs of Christian friends and Resolutions are sweet to thy taste also 1 Sam. 25.32 33. verses compared with the foregoing verses And David said blessed be thou of the Lord and blessed be thy advice Oh! how sweet was a Womans Counsel and Admonition unto David although he was much her Superiour It is the same in measure with thee if thou art a Regenerate person Oh! thou wilt receive relish and eat such friendly words of Counsel and Advice and bless God for them and not quarrel and censure thy friends for what they do but receive and eat it as sweet and wholesome food for thy Soul and give God and them thanks 3. Ordinances The Gospel Ordinances and holy Appointments of Christ will be and are indeed sweeter to thy Taste than any worldly thing The Ordinances of Preaching and hearing the Gospel are as the Gospel to thee sweeter than hony to thy mouth Psal 119.103 So are the other Ordinances to the Lords Supper Baptism Prayer singing of Psalms and Church-Fellow-ship The Order and Discipline of Christ in the Church and all other his Gospel appointments 4. The Lord Jesus Christ is most Sweet unto their Tasts As he is the fairest of ten Thousands and altogether Lovely Cant. 5.10 ult so he is the