to live always in a dependency on their Creator For although God made Man a perfect Creature filled him with his Grace and adorned him with his Image yet he was but a Creature and he was always to live and have his dependency on God for his subsistance and not to stand and continue in that state from and by himself but to depend wholly on him that made him This he was bound to do not only in point of prudence for his own security and peace but in point of duty as that which he was indispensably bound unto by the Law of his Creation His neglect of his duty in this occasioned his Dreadful Fall which ruined him I mean Adam and all his Posterity The same end doth God Regenerate men for namely that they may believe in Jesus Christ and in God the Father by him Joh. 14.1 1 Pet. 1.21 that they may trust commit themselves to him and live in a constant dependence on him Isa 26.4 Psal 37.3.5 Therefore doth he infuse his Faith into them when he Regenerates them Col. 1.12 and writes this Law in their hearts that they may obey it Jer. 31.33 Heb. 10.16 3 They were at first Created to love God with all their hearts and chiefest strongest and warmest love that they might esteem and love him as their highest and chiefest good and singular Object of all their affections This Law of our Creation we have exprest in Matth. 22.37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind So likewise this is Gods End in his second Creation or Regeneration and therefore doth he circumcise their hearts to love him Deut. 30.6 writes this Law in their hearts and sheds it abroad into them in Regeneration Rom. 5.5 that they may love him aright and that with his own love without which they cannot do it 4 The Lord Created Man to fear him to reverence and stand in awe of him as their great Soveraign Lord and King This Law was created with them and written in their hearts until sin had defaced and blotted it out This Law is also written in the Bible that men may remember what was written in their hearts in their Creation and know their duty and one of the ends for which they were Created how they have lost it and to provoke them to endeavour the recovery of it How often have we this Law exprest in Scripture Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God thou shalt stand in awe and sin not Deut. 6.13.24 Deut. 10.12.20 Psal 2.11 Psal 4.4 1 Pet. 2.17 It is a holy fear not a perplexing and heart-disquieting fear that is commanded it is a fear that is not an Adversary to Faith and Love as the forbidden fear is but it is useful for us and helpful to all other Graces Now in Regeneration God puts this fear into our hearts Jer. 32.39 40. that we may serve the Lord with reverence and godly fear Heb. 12.28 that we may not sin or depart from God Jer. 32. I will put my fear into their hearts and they shall not depart from me But I must hasten 5 God Created Man to obey him and yield him free loving and chearful subjection and obedience He formed them for his Subjects and Children that they should subject themselves unto his Laws and Authority and yield or give to him the obedience of Subjects to their Soveraign and of Children to their Creator and Begetter and accordingly they were Created with the Principle and Power of obedience and to this Created Principle God presently added a positive Law to try and exercise their obedience unto God Gen. 2.16 17. But of the Tree of Knowledge thou shalt not eat of it nor touch it The Image of God in which Adam and we in him were Created was such as fully enabled him and us had we kept it to have yielded all heart and practical obedience unto his whole will he wanted nothing to help him but he had all Grace in perfection to obey and conform to the whole Will of God at all times But Sin rooted the Principle and Power of Heart-obedience quite out of us so that men have now neither will nor power to obey the Will of God until they are regenerated by Grace But that God might not loose this End altogether for which he created Man he is pleased of his meer Grace to Regenerate and renew some of Mankind and thereby frame and mould them to such obedience as he at first intended them for for men cannot neither will they obey until Grace hath restored this old Power and Principle of obedience which they had lost And therefore he Regenerates and infuses this Power and Principle into men to make them willing Subjects and obedient Children 1 Pet. 1.14 Rom. 6.16 17 22. This was Gods End in sending Paul to convert the Gentiles Rom. 15.18 and this is powerfully effected in men in and by the work of Regeneration 6 That they might serve and worship him according to his revealed will God made men to worship and serve him externally as well as internally by loving fearing him and the like Christ mentions this in Matth. 4.10 when the Devil desired external worship from him It is written thou shalt worship the Lord thy God They were created in the Image of God to serve him with fear that is to worship God Psal 2.11 Heb. 12.28 Now God Regenerates men that they may by his Grace be enabled to do and perform that worship to him which he at first created them for and the Law of their Creation enjoyns them to that is to worship God in Spirit and Truth for such Christ tells us the Father seeks to worship him John 4.23 24. God works them for this self-same thing though not only for it says Paul 2 Cor. 5.5 Regeneration makes men together with the help of the Spirit worship God according to his own Will and appointment spiritually holily and acceptably through Jesus Christ Heb. 12.28 1 Pet. 2.5 Rom. 12.1 But assuredly there are not any such Worshippers in the World but Regenerate persons for all other men do what they do in the Worship of God without the Grace and Spirit of God and therefore cannot worship him in Spirit and Truth 7 God created Man in his own Image that they might know him and therefore gave them a sufficient light to see by and eyes to use that light revealed and made known himself unto them that they might clearly see him and always have him and his Will in their eyes The Image of God was Light and Knowledge as well as Righteousness and Holiness and therefore Adam knew and saw God so far as a Man was or in that state could be capable of knowing him which as it aggravated his sin so it heightned his happiness while he kept it The knowledge of God was absolutely necessary to help him and us in him to trust love fear and obey him so likewise to
neither do they desire there should be their minds and thoughts are wholly taken up about making provision for their Pride Covetousness Carnal Security Vain Glory Good Opinion of themselves and other filthy Lusts and they make themselves their Drudges and humble servants Rom. 13. ult And hence they are said to serve sin Rom. 6.6.17.20 But new Creatures know and account their Lusts their greatest Enemies and prosecute them with implacuble enmity and hatred They know either they must destroy their Lusts or they will destroy them They know that they have trucifyed the Son of God and put him to open shame and they know that they have greatly wronged their own Souls Pro. 8. ult And therefore they will give them no Quarter but stab them to the heart whatever it cost them to do it 4. Watching They are called to and imployed in the work of watching and guarding themselves against all their enemies This is another of their Special and peculiar works and businesses It is spetial and peculiar to new or regenerate men though it is the duty of all men yet none but they are conscientiously and dutifully imploying and exercising themselves in it But good men are 1 Joh. 5.18 But he that is begotten of God keepeth himself That is they do watch aâ—me and guard themselves so David did Psal 102.7 Psal 130.6 and the Scripture makes it one of the Special properties of good servants as well as their workes Habak 2.1 which Christ pronounces Blessed Revel 16.15 2 Cor. 11.27 Luk. 12.37 Regenerate men are beset with enemies which watch their opportunities to assault and betray them and that they know They know that Satan watches them and Lusts watch and the world watches to hurt and mischief their Souls and therefore they watch them and prepare against them It is true that good men are apt to be too negligent in this duty and need stirings up to it and it is as true that they do ordinarily practice this duty and worke They are moved to it 1 by the will and command of God God requires them to watch guard themselves Mark 13.33 34 37. 1 Their own hearts Pro. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence 2 the Devil 1 Pet. 5.8 Be Sober be Vigilant for your adversary the Devil as a Roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour 3 The World Luk. 21.34.36 4 To watch unto prayer and all other duties Col. 4. and Acts 20.31 1 The Calls to and opportunities for them that through heedlesness and inadvertency we let them not slip away from us without imbracing and improving them to the Glory of God and our Souls profit or advantage of others 2 That we may close in and joyn Issues with God and his designes in giving them to us and that in the time and season of them and that freely and readily 2 They are moved to a fervent attendance on this work and duty by and from their dangers They are in continual danger of assaults and surprizalls from them and therefore they must be always upon their watch to prevent their designs discover their plots and foyl them in their Attempts 3 From their own security and comfort they are moved to this worke It is easier keeping an Enemy out of the Garison of the heart then dealing with and driving him out â—hen admitted in Their own as well as Christs honour safety and happiness is much concerned in their so doing God hath 1 committed themselves to their own keeping and given them the care and charge of themselves 1 Joh. 5.21 Pro. 4.23 Jam. 1. ult 'T is true â—â—at God doth watch over and keep them in especially manner also Isa 27.3 1 Pet. â—5 and that when they are most careful to â—eep themselves 2 God hath intrusted them with power light will and abilities to keep themselves and in their doing of it in obedience to his will he hath promised to keep and secure them from Sin and danger likewise 1 Pet. 5.7.2 Tim. 4.18 They watch and keep themselves dutifully in order to their safety and God keeps and watches them powerfully and effectually so as that the sâ—es of Hell shall not prevaile against them Math. 16.18 But they cannot so keep and secure themselves with their utmost diligence This I say is the work and imployment of regenerate persons they and they only live in the practice of it Unregenerate persons do no way concern themselves in this great and special work They know it not they love it not neither have they hearts to do it withal They think it a work of supererogation and that such as are busied about it are more strict and precise than they should be They fear neither God Sin World nor Devil neither are they sensible of the danger they are in of destruction but go on securely in the wayes of their own hearts and speak peace unto themselves presuming that no evil shall come to them 5 They are employing and exercising themselves in worshiping God according to his own will and Appointment namely to worship God in Spirit and Truth and that with his own worship We are they sayes Paul of himself and other Saints who worship God in Spirit Psal 3.3 They are convinced that they must and that God will so be worshiped of them Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth For this self-same thing though not onely doth God Regenerate men and thereby lays in and sets up a principle of divine worship in them that so they may readily do it according to the will of God For sayes Christ the Father seeketh such to worship him Joh. 4.23 that is that the Father doth by Christs Gospel and the holy Ghost call and regenerate teach and Spirit some to worship him It is their desire choice care and study to draw nigh to God in all parts of his worship with true hearts Heb. 10.22 and to worship God sincerely and Spiritually To please and honour him to sanctify his name and holy worship and to give unto the Lord the honâ—â—â— due unto his name to comply with his holy will and ends to make his praise glorious Psal 29.1 2. Psal 66.2 This is also one of their high and noble works holy and Spiritual imployments and that wherein their Souls delight to this they are called for this they are in part fitted and qualified in their Regeneration and this is their work and business ever â—â—er Thus it is with you and so is your â—ractice if you are Regenerated Unregeneâ—â—te men are strangers and adversaries to this peculiar work and duty of new Creatures they know it not they do it not neither conâ—â—rn themselves with it They take up in and are satisfied with the Letter without the Spirit with the form without the Truth and â—â—er of Godliness and they imagine that they have done God good service when they have spent some time in external duties and ordiâ—ances without the great
can rightly repent of his sins without Regeneration therefore it is absolutely necessary for Repentance Now true Repentance is absolutely necessary to Salvation for God hath determined that except we repent we shall all perish Luke 13.3.5 and that none can truly and savingly repent without the Grace of God in Regeneration is evident because the Scripture saith We are under hardness of heart in our unregenerate states Ezek. 3.7 Mark 3.5 Rom. 2.5 Matth. 19.8 And also because Repentance unto Life is the special gift of God Acts 5.31 Acts 11.18 4 No man can deny himself aright for Christ Grace and Holiness without Regeneration therefore it is absolutely necessary for Self-denial Now Self-denial is absolutely necessary to Salvation and in order thereunto of being Christs Disciples Luke 14.26 Mark 8.34 And that Regeneration is as necessary to Self-denial appears thus because men have much more content and satisfaction in what they should forgo and part withal than in Christ Holiness and Salvation which they must sell or leave for the obtainment of and they seem to see a greater happiness in keeping their Lusts Righteousness Ease and Interests than in all that they may gain by exchanging what they have in possession for that which is offered them and who will part with a certain and seemingly greater good for that which they account more uncertain and of lesser value Thus is their case and thus do they absurdly in this matter reason as you may read Luke 18.22 23. Luke 14 17-21 Men will never learn neither can they freely practise the Doctrine and Duty of absolutely necessary Self-denial until the Grace of God in Regeneration hath wrought them for it 5 No man can really mortifie his lusts without Regeneration therefore it is absolutely necessary Now this must be done by God and us or we shall be everlastingly undone Rom. 8.13 Col. 3.5 Micah 7.18 19. And that we cannot will not do it until we are New Creatures is clear for till then we are in love and league with them make provision for them as for Friends and Lovers and have nothing no Principle of Grace and Power to do such a work withal and will want a will to will it an eye to see and a hand to take hold of and use the Sword that must do it 2 Tim. 3.4 Rom. 13. ult 1 Joh. 1.7 6 No man can love God aright without Regeneration therefore it is absolutely necessary It is absolutely needful that we love the Lord Jesus in sincerity as we would avoid the great Curses Eph. 6. ult 1 Cor. 16.22 and this is done by the love of God shed abroad in our hearts in Regeneration Deut. 30.6 Rom. 5.5 without which we cannot so love him for we have no such love in our hearts before Regeneration but are swallowed up in and with Self-love with the entire love of our Lusts Profits Pleasures and Carnal Delights 7. No man can be united to and made one with Christ without Regeneration We are not transplanted out of the old Adams Stock into Christ the Heavenly Stock without Regeneration but in and by it we are We are not born at first living Members of his Body but are made such by Regeneration as was shewed This also is absolutely necessary to Salvation For all Professors of Christ that hang about him only and are not grafted into him shall be cast into Hell Fire Joh. 15.6 Heb. 6.6 7. 8 No man can make God his only trust and live in a continual dependence on him without Regeneration This we are all bound to do at all times in all states and conditions Psal 62.8 Pro. 3.5 but we cannot do it without the great change for we have not the Grace to do it withal until the Holy Ghost convey it into us by Regenerating us Till then our Stays are broken Reeds and on the broken Staff of Egypt do we rest our selves there do we repose our selves and from them do we expect protection aid and succour but we look not to nor relye upon the Holy One of Israel in truth but cast him out of our consideration 9 No man can pray or worship God in a right manner without Regeneration therefore it is absolutely necessary Until men are Regenerated they have neither the grace nor spirit of Prayer and therefore cannot possibly pray according to the Will of God nor perform any part of Divine Worship so as to please God and be accepted of him God gives men his Spirit of Grace and the Grace of the Spirit in Regeneration to enable them to worship him spiritually and rightly so as to please and honour him and therefore they cannot so worship God before they are Regenerate Zach. 12.10 Joh. 16.7 8. Acts 9. Rom. 8.26 27. 10 No man can obey God or serve him with Gospel filial obedience without he be Regenerated therefore Regeneration is absolutely necessary to make us obedient to the Will of God Men without Regenerating Grace may do what God Commands and the matter of Duty but they cannot do it dutifully with Heart-subjection to the Will of God because he hath so commanded for they are servants to Sin and obey their Lusts and the Devil Rom. 6.16 17. Joh. 8.44 It is Regeneration that conforms the whole man to the Will of God and makes them real obedient Servants and Children and nothing less will do it Rom. 15.18 11 No man can be related to Christ in any special or peculiar Relation No man can be the Child of God or Spouse of Christ without Regeneration and then they cannot be obedient Children nor Spouses as they must be if ever saved 1 Pet. 1.14 It is Regeneration that begets men to God and raises up or brings forth Children for him 1 Pet. 1.3.14 It is Regeneration that disposes men for and Marries them to Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 And therefore they are not neither may they claim the names or priviledges of Gods Children or Christs Spouses until they are Regenerated and born again they are neither adopted Children nor contracted Spouses until Regeneration 12 No man can have dominion over all his lusts without Regeneration neither can they curb and keep them under until they are Regenerate their Lusts have dominion over them and they serve and obey them Eph. 2.3 Rom. 6.16 17. But ever after Regeneration they have dominion over their lusts Rom. 6.14 They are enabled by Regeneration to Reign over and trample on the Necks of those Enemies that had dominion over them all the days of their unregeneracy 13 No man can live to God and make it his whole business and endeavour so to do until they are Regenerated This is done by Grace after Regeneration but never before for all men have lost their will and power to do it which is restored to them in Regeneration as was shewed The great end of Man was to live to and walk with God 2 Cor. 2.15 Eph. 1.4 but men in their old state do devote themselves to live wholly and only to
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
leads theâ— to and directs them to walk in it 2 Cor. 4.6 Isa 30.20 21. but unregenerate men do stumble at it they know not whether they go because darkness hath blinded their eyes 1 Joh. 2.11 But the path of the Just is as the shining light that shining more and more unto the perfect day Pro. 4.18 5. They see and know in measure what Communion with God is or what it is to have Communion with God they might hear of such a thing before but now they know whaâ— it means They are called into the Fellowship of Christ 1 Cor. 1.9 1 Joh. 1.3 It is their promised priviledge and blessing and they have the real experimental knowledge of it Joâ— 14.21.23 But unregenerate men have iâ— not know it not it is none of their priviledge they desire they chuse it not They are in Fellowship with the World and their Lusts and are well satisfied and contented therewith But I may not inlarge 6. They see and know the Power of Godliness 2 Tim. 3.5 The Word and Spirit of Christ hath fallen and wrought on and iâ— them with Power and saving Efficacy brought them into and set up Godliness in power in them 1 Thes 1.5 Rom. 1.16 Their dearts and Souls are subdued to it and swallowed up in it the Form of Godliness is a poor empty thing to them without the power of it in their heart But it is not so with unregenerate men they see not any Religion or Godliness beyond the form or outside it is not formed or set up in their hearts and therefore see little or nothing in Religion Godliness or Religious matters But unregenerate men do see and find a glorious Excellency in it it is exceeding precious lovely and profitable to them They see that worth and Excellency in it as to cause them to love and honour it to prize value and esteem it as worthy of all acceptation to cherish keep and augment it to improve and practise it and to walk worthy of it to the glory of the Giver of it 7. They see and know the vanity and nothingness of the Creature and that they are not indeed such things as they verily thought them to be before their Regeneration Their Opinion of them is changed it is now quite another thing Before they looked on them and their having and enjoying them as their portion and happiness Oh thought they what a brave thing is it to be rich what happy men are they who have abundance of riches honours pleasures they doted on them as on their Gods and Lovers and their very imaginations of them ravished their hearts but now they see their folly and how they were mistaken and deluded in their judgments and imaginations They now see them to be but vanity and vexation of spirit in comparison of Christ Grace and Heavenly things Eccl. 1.2 Phil. 3.19 20. 'T is true they do not now simply contemn them but own them and use them as Gods Mercies thank and praise him for them but comparatively only with Christ Grace and Heavenly things Now they see that they are but left-hand and foot-stool Mercies that they are not worth the having nor coveting after but with and in Christ Grace Pardon and Holiness and in order to their living to God with them and enjoying of him in them But unregenerate men see them with other eyes and they have other thoughts of them They account them their good things as the only or chiefest good their great portion and happiness and accordingly they act walk and steer their course follow after them and greedily pursue them Luk. 16.25 Rom. 8.5 For indeed whatever they do profess or pretend to the contrary they do not see nor mind any higher good 8. They see and know the vanity and emptiness of that which they did bear upon and glory in namely their own Righteousness They once thought that they had that in them and such works were performed by them as would commend them unto God and incline his heart to love and pity them to accept and save them But now they see they were deceived that all their Righteousnesses are but filthy rags dirt and dung and that they are so far from being accepted or accounted of in Heaven as that they are matters of contempt and loathing Phil. 3.7 8. Isa 64.6 Matth. 23. So that that which was their glory is now their shame Their Gay Cloathing are now meer Rags in their account Why Because they see with other eyes and by a better light than they did before They see they were building themselves on a Sandy Bottom which would have sunk under them and they and it must have perished together had they not been taken off it by the power of Regenerating Grace But now this is all they have to glory in who are Professors of Godliness in an unregenerate state namely God I thank thee I am not as other men I fast twice in the week I give Tythes of all that I possess c. Luke 18.9 10 11 12. Phil. 3.7 9. They see and know the Lord Jesus Christ and his Gospel-will revealed in Scripture they are spiritualized and made spiritual men by Regeneration and thereby are enabled to judge all or of all spiritual things in measure 1 Cor. 2.15 They heard of Christ and his Will before but now they see and know him and it But more of this anone 10. They see and know in measure the great work of real Gospel-Obedience what it is how to be performed and also the holy Ghost his teachings helpings quickenings and comfortings in and to their Gospel-Obedience They see wide difference between meer doing of that which is good and that with and by meer natural helps and principles and that which is real Gospel Obedience of the heart in it Ro. 6.17 as likewise the Spirits helping their Infirmities Ro. 8.26 But Unregenerate men know nothing of these matters But I have done with this These are some and but some of the things matters and objects which by regenerating light they are enabled to see and discern as you that are regenerated can witness Now then try your selves by what hath been already said of seeing or of the seeing and knowing sense Secondly as Regenerate Persons can see and do know the matters and things they saw not before so secondly they are enabled to see and understand such spiritual things and matters which they had some knowledge of before their Regeneration more clearly plainly distinctly experimentally and powerfully then they did or could before For they had only a dim weak and general natural and spiritual light and sight before They did see but understood not what they saw Isa 6.9 They are like Men or Children that see some rare and pretious Jewels or Cordials but know not what they are neither understand the worth excellency and usefulness of them as Artificers do or like such as hear Musick in a strange Tone and Language they know not what it means
matters not at all in these They onely mind and follow the things of the Flesh whilst others do mostly mind the things of the Spirit Rom. 8.5.6 Phil. 3.19 20. Regerate men do mostly mind how to please God Carnal men how to please them elves Regenerate men do mind and endeavour to honour the will of God and obey it Carnal men do mind and endeavour to know their carnal Interests and obey the will of the flesh Regenerate men do live in Heaven converse with delight in and set their minds and affections on things above Carnal men do onely converse with live in delight in and set their mindes and affections on things here below Regenerate men do mind and endeavour to be rich in grace and good works Carnal men how to get and keep the good things of this world Regenerate men do make Religion their business Carnal men do make sin their profits and pleasures their business Regenerate men do live in the Spirit and walk in and after the Spirit Carnal men do live in and walk in the flesh and the things thereof These are some of the many differences and contrarieties of regenerate and unregenerate men which have now been presented to you to help you to try your selves and to make a right judgment of your states and conditions Therefore do you prove and examin your selves by them whether you are in a regenerate or unregenerate state yea or no. For as suredly if you be regenerated and born againe you may find many if not all these marks and characters of regenerate persons in and on you You are indeed such persons in measure within and without in heart and life as you have heard regenerate persons are And know that if it be otherwise with you and you care not to know or find such real signes of regeneration in you nor any other of like import that then you ought to fear and tremble judge your selves and conclude that you are as yet in an unregenerate state and condition and under the curse and wrath of God And if so let me in the name of Christ exhort and perswade you to go to God the Father in Christ his name and tell him how it is with you Fall down before him pray and beseech him to pitty you and give regenerating Grace and with all Importunity and Constancy cry to him and wait for him to come and give you new hearts stamp his Image and divine nature on you and now with all possible speed to convert and make you new Creatures indeed CHAP. V. Shewing there are but few reall Regenerate Persons among the multitudes of Professors Q. THere are many great Professors of the Name and good ways of Jesus Christ in the world which are called Christians May we think or judge them all Regenerate persons Are there many or but few Regenerate persons What shall we judge of this matter for all Professors do pretend to and would have men think them a singular and peculiar people such as are in a good and happy state and condition in which they cannot be except they are indeed Regenerated Ans That there are many great and high Professors of the holy Name and good ways of Jesus Christ is certain and that there are but few really Regenerate persons among them is as certain too That they have the Name and do own themselves Christians is also apparent but that they are not such in Truth I mean the greater number is clear and notorious as will appear by and by That they do pretend to and would have men think them to be what they are not indeed namely a singular and peculiar and a happy people is clear and that they are not so or such as they pretend to be is evident also Now this I shall the Lord helping prove and demonstrate to you as well as I can and I am sure I have clear proof for what I say That there are but a small number of Regenerate persons in the world Comparatively or if compared to the number of such as seem or profess to be such I shall evince by many Scripture Testimonies Math. 7 14. Because strait is the Gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to life and few there be that find it Mark it few there be that find it namely among or of those that seek it which the most of men do not They do not so much as seek to be Regenerated and saved in the Lords way But of them who do really though not rightly seek to enter in at the strait Gate I say that such Professors shall not find it This is further confirmed in Luke 13 24. Strive to enter in at the strait Gate says Christ why because many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able Another testimony is in Math. 20 16. For many are called but few are chosen So Math. 22 14. Christ calls his People A little Flock fear not little Flock says Christ to and of his true Disciples Luâ— 12 32. And the Apostle Paul assures us Rom. 9 27. That although the number of the Children of Israel be as the sand of the Sea a Remnant shall be saved Now who or what kind of men were they which are so innumerable and should not be saved were they the Heathenish world such as the Apostle saith Eph. 2.12 Are strangers without hope and without God in the world No they were the Seed of Abraham John 8 37. To whom appertained the Adoption and the Glory and the Covenants and the giving of the Law and the service of God and the Promises Rom. 9 4. They were Jews by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles of whom he speaks that they should perish and be damned And yet there was amongst them a little flock a small Remnant that should be saved but these were comparatively very few For what is a small Remnant in number compared with the innumerable sands of the Sea God tells us in Jer. 3.14 That he will take one of a City and two of a family and bring them to Sion What is one or two to a City and Tribe where were many thousands and yet you see these are the number of Regenerated and saved persons Thus you see the Truth Cleared and confirmed by many express Scriptures But I shall further prove and explain this Truth namely that there are but a very few Regenerate men comparitively to the multitude of high Professors thus First the Scripture or the holy God in his Word shews us that there are but a few a very small number that shall be saved as was shewed therefore there are but a few Regenerated for all Regenerate persons shall be saved 1 Pet. 1 3 4 5. The Lord Jesus that knows the number of them to a man having all their Names in the Book of Life and calls them all by their Names Revel 21 ult Joh. 10 3. tells us so and he knows very well what he saith He is the Truth its self