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
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
Eternal Glorification BEGUN IN REGENERATION OR A DISCOURSE OF REGENERATION Wherein is shewed 1. What Regeneration is with the causes of it 2. The necessity of Regeneration in order to Salvation 3. The Lets and Hindrances of it 4. The certain Signs and Tokens of it 5. The small number or fewness of Regenerate Persons 6. Their Priviledges and Happiness 7. Their Duties and how they ought to walk Intended for the profit of all both REGENERATE and UNREGENERATE Persons By STEPHEN FORD Preacher of the Gospel in LONDON For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but a New Creature Gal. 6.15 London Printed for Nath. Crouch in Exchange Alley over against the Royal Exchange 1675. The Epistle Dedicatory To my much loved and regarded Friends the young men c. who have chosen me for your Instructor are of and continue your chearful attendance on the Lords Days Evening Lecture and to all other persons who do frequently wait on and encourage the same Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied unto you all SIRS THe great ends for which we are set and maintained in this world are 1. To get new hearts and prepare for another world that is to come 2. To live to and walk with God and serve our Generation and in and by our so doing to look for and receive from God the portion of Blessings he hath provided for and promised to bestow on us here We are all and every one of us indispensably bound to endeavour all we can to obtain and prosecute these ends because otherwise we shall all perish In this world we have our day of Grace to fit us for glory if we are wise and do faithfully improve it we shall assuredly reap the fruits of it in another world yea the earnest or first-fruits of it here You have but a little uncertain time here to run your Race in and to prepare for Eternal Life and if you neglect to do it to purpose here you will most certainly be shut out of Heaven hereafter Mat. 25 1-13 v. If you trifle in this matter and seem indifferent you are not wise but play the fool and err exceedingly as you will find to your cost at the last day if not before To prevent which and to make you truly wise sensible serious and diligent in and about your everlasting concerns I have written this little Book and do present it to your serious and faithful consideration and improvement and that in and with unfained love and cordial affection For I do assure you that I have bowels of love for you and with all my heart and soul do pray for and endeavour your Regeneration and Salvation which I hope you see and are convinced of by my constant free and unwearied labours amongst you according to my small Talent The great and holy God knows that I seek not yours but you as I hope you can all bear me witness having once and again told you that I had Dedicated my poor Labours as a Free-will Offering unto God and the service of your Souls and that I did not look for or expect any reward from you for my pains but your holy and spiritual improvement of them to the glory of God and your own Eternal Salvation The Truths here presented to your eyes to read were first you know preached to your ears to hear but knowing how treacherous and weak our memories are and how apt we are to let slip that which we hear and also fearing that the great Doctrine of Regeneration and your concernments in it might by this time be worn very much out of the minds and hearts of many of you I thought it a necessary and useful work to provide as well as I could for the reviving of it on you and fastening it in your hearts by writing and composing the sum and substance of what I preached to you which here I have done I have endeavoured to contract the whole within as narrow a compass as I could and to hold forth great Truths unto you with all possible plainness You may not expect a large Epistle from me because I want opportunity to do it at this time and therefore shall sum up all I have to say in a few words 1. I do entreat you to read and ponder well what you shall find here written and importune the Lord to give you much spiritual wisdom and understanding that you may be enabled to make a right judgment of the glorious Truths herein revealed 2. Look on the great Doctrine of Regeneration as a most weighty and important Doctrine to add for your selves as well as others that you stand in need of it and are indispensably bound to know and understand it as it is asserted and laid down in the Gospel and as written and set up in mens hearts in order to their Eternal Glorification yea and to know and experience the excellency and power of it in your own hearts 3. Apply what you read unto your selves examine and prove your own states and conditions by what you shall find in this Book search and see if the work of Regeneration be indeed wrought in your Souls and do not take up and deceive your Souls with a bare Reformation instead of real Regeneration with an external change only instead of an internal Oh! how many poor Souls are here among Great Professors who bless and speak peace to themselves and hope all is well with them that they are in Gods favour and shall certainly be saved because they have gotten some light in their heads and quiet in their minds good notions of good things and also a clean outside and form of godliness But if you have any pity for your Souls try and prove your selves to purpose until you know your conditions and take not up in any thing or attainments short of Regeneration for if you do you shall be shut out of Heaven 4. If you find upon search that the great and rare work of Regeneration is indeed wrought in your hearts and souls give glory to God and exalt the Lord Jesus Christ rejoyce and be exceeding glad for you are the blessed of the Lord you are the happy people and are sanctified and set apart for God and his holy works and ends and now you must unfainedly devote your selves and your all to him to live to and serve him with your all Now you must wholly mind how to please and honour him and to express your thankfulness in all possible hearty and filial obedience You must be wholly taken up with and imployed for God perfecting Holiness in his fear and bringing forth fruits whereby he may be glorified and you must in all your ways endeavour so to walk as to adorn the Gospel and have your good works shine in the world to the praise of God 5. You whom God hath Regenerated and given a well-grounded hope thereof put your selves under all the Ordinances of Christ and do not content your selves with some
men receive new strength and power from God to obey Phil. 2.13 6 By Nature we are Servants to the Devil and our own Lusts Rebels and Enemies to and against God as was shewed before We have chosen the service of Lusts and Satan and are well pleased and contented with it do it most willingly and readily and are not weary of it but against God we lift up the heel and kick throw off his Yoke and reject his Authority over us in his Laws and Statutes Joh. 8.44 Deut. 32. Eph. 2.2 Psal 2. Rom. 6. 7 By Nature we are lovers of sin and haters of God 2 Tim. 3.4 Rom. 1.30 We sin upon choice Isa 66.3 and are greatly delighted with it Pro. 2.14 As the Law of God is to Believers namely their joy and delight Rom. 7.22 Psal 1.2 so is sin and wickedness to Unbelievers whilest such they rejoyce not only to be evil but also to do it and to work it or in it with both hands Jer. 11.15 It is their meat and drink their pleasure and satisfaction to sin and wallow in the Mire of one or other abomination 8 By Nature we are dead in sins and trespasses Eph. 2.1.5 and live stinking above ground like filthy Carrion We are unsensible of our sin and misery or of the wrong we have done to God Men and our own Souls We are all by Nature like some condemned Malefactors who are not touched with their Guilt or Punishment Neither Gods Truths Promises Precepts or Threatnings neither his Judgments or Mercies will pierce or make any saving impressions on us 9 By Nature we are void of all Grace We have neither Faith to believe nor Affection to love God we neither will that which is good nor believe that which is true nor yet love that which is lovely although we are indispensably bound to do it in order to Eternal Life He that believeth not shall be damned Mark 16.16 and if any man love not ou◠Lord Jesus namely in sincerity let him be accursed 1 Cor. 16.22 Eph. 6. ult Therefore we stand in absolute need of Regeneration that we may be enabled to believe in and love Christ aright 10 And lastly By Nature we do not so much as desire to be made happy by Free Grace in the Lords own way A happiness indeed we do desire but then we would obtain it in our own way which will not do it What men desire that they chuse to and for themselves they desire happiness and desire and chuse their ow◠way to it Isa 66.3 Rom. 10.3 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death So we read it but J. and T. render it Cujus finis est via multiplex as Mortem the end of that seeming right way is manifold or leads men divers ways to death and destruction Pro. 14.12 and yet it seems the right way unto them towards the obtainment of happiness But such is our Depravity Stupidity Atheism and Blindness as that we see not desire not to know the right way to it neither are we freely willing to find and get it in the ways God hath appointed God hath appointed Faith in Christ Repentance towards God Acts 20.21 and Gospel-Holiness Rom. 6.22 Heb. 14.14 to be the way to happiness but men will rather lose their happiness than have it in these ways of Gods own appointment They will have God to bow and condescend to them but they will not bend to nor comply with the will and way of God so that if God will save them it must be on their own terms not Gods for they do by no means like or desire to win Heaven by Self-denial Faith Repentance true Holiness and Gospel-obedience but in the way of their own hearts Eccl. 11.9 The way of Gods prescribing is contrary to their Lusts Humours Inclinations Interests and Affections Happiness they would have but with all these They do not account their obtainment of happiness of that weight and moment as to deny themselves of these to get it All the Moral perswasions in the World will not make them change their minds but that they may be happy on other and easier terms than God propounds unto them In Job 21.14 there is this description given of us as in our Natural states They say to God depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways that is the ways of God which are appointed by God to lead and conduct men to Eternal Happiness Now if men do not so much as desire happiness much less will or can they seriously seek it in the Lords way without which yea and also striving for it men shall not find nor obtain it Luke 13.24 1 Cor. 9.24 Thus we may see by these few things the necessity of Regeneration from the state and condition we are all in by Nature I have said but little of what I could say of this matter but I think I have said enough to evince and prove the absolute necessity of a new state by what hath been said of our old how unable and uncapable we are to answer close up with prosecute and obtain the ends of God in our first Make or his knowing us in his own Image and Likeness without Regeneration How utterly unable we are to serve his holy designs without his special Grace renewing and new moulding us for his own glorious ends and purposes which is done by Regeneration Q. What have you else to offer for the further demonstrating and proving this great Truth namely the absolute necessity of Regeneration for our fuller information and conviction for it is a hard matter to believe it and there are but few that do believe what you have already said yea there are many that preach quite contrary Doctrine and perswade men that they are Regenerated in and by their Water Baptism and therefore they need no other Regeneration Answ I shall therefore further prove and demonstrate this Truth to you and shew you the absolute necessity of it in these following particulars 1 No man can know Jesus Christ rightly and savingly without Regeneration therefore Regeneration is absolutely necessary for the right knowledge or of knowing Christ which is Life Eternal Joh. 17.3 And that we cannot so know him until we are Regenerated hath been already proved For we are darkness Eph. 5.8 and walk in darkness because darkness hath blinded our eyes 1 Joh. 2.11 2 No man can rightly believe in Christ and in God the Father without Regeneration and therefore it is absolutely needful It is absolutely necessary to Salvation that we do rightly believe because it is Gods Statute Law that such as do not so believe shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on them Joh. 3.36 Now that none believe in Christ unto Salvation is evident because our sin and Gods Curse hath concluded or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shut up all in unbelief and believing is of Grace Act. 1.18.2.1 3 No man
and hate what we should Love We Love Gods enemies and hate his friends we hate his Laws Rods Yoke Waies People and love our Lusts the World Self and the Service of sin But Regeneration sets holy and God Pleasing Love and hatred in us So that now by the power of his Regenerating Grace we love that which we should love and hate that we should hate that which was our duty to have done before now we can do Now we can and do love holiness and hate loath and abhor our lusts and sins Now we hate the workes of the flesh and love the workes of the Spirit And as the passion of love is strong and intense on its Objects so is this of hatred likewise The man in whom this new holy hatred is did never more really heartily and fervently love his lusts and the fulfilling of them than he doth now hate abominate and endeavour to destroy them 1. Cor. 9. ult Gal. 5.24 They that are Christs namely by Regeneration have Crucified the flesh with the Affections and Lusts David tells us that this Affection or Passion was strong in him as well as that of love Psal 119.104.113 I hate every false way and I hate vain thoughts but thy Law do I love Blessed Paul Speaks likewise to the same purpose of himself Rom. 7.15 But what I hate that do I. I do sin its true But I can say that my sin is the great and only Object of my hatred that 's as true also God hates all Iniquity in all men Psal 45.8 Ja. 44.4 and he puts the same Affection or passion into his people in Regeneration that they may hate it also All sin is exceeding sinful loathsome and abominable to the new creature for its own sake in its own nature and as it is hateful to God The evil and pernitious effects and Consequences of it makes or renders it the object of their constant hatred also They that are Spiritual minded and are in the pursuit after Grace Christ and Holyness to perfect it is the fear of God as Commanded 2. Cor. 7.1 do hate their sin because it hath deprived them of and spotted the Image of God in which they were created Gen. 1.26 2 Because it hath robbed God of his due Worship and Service for which he Created them 3 Because it hath occasioned the great debasement and Suffering of the Lord Jesus For had not men Sinned Christ had not Suffered 4 Because it grieves and vexes the holy Spirit of God Isa 63. Eph 4.30 5 Because sin devides and separates between God and them Isa 59.1.2 6 Because it doth defile and pollute all their holy things and would quite marr and spoyl them did not their great High Priest appear for them to purifie their Offerings Exod. 28.38 7 Because Sin doth clog and burden them so as that they cannot Run their Race nor do that good they desire and are resolved to do in this world Heb. 12.1 Rom. 7. 8 Because their sinful hearts draw them off from God and indisposes them to and for their walking with God 9 Because it betrays them into the hand of their great Adversary the Devil and strengthens him against them 10 Because by sin God is dishonoured and his holy Name blasphemed his Truths despised and his blessed ways rejected These and such like considerations of sin greatly provokes and stirs up the holy hatred of sin in all Regenerate men as they can experience There is in them a universal perpetual and irreconcilable hatred of all sin especially such of their own sins as do more easily beset them Heb. 12.1 They hate the very name and appearance of sin all the Germents spotted with the flesh Jude 23. They dare not knowingly parly or hold correspondency with sin because the thought or consideration of it is most hateful and abominable 3. Fear New Creatures are the only real fearers of God The all-seeing Eye the Holiness Righteousness Goodness and Authority of God do awe them and cause them to fear and tremble before him Hosea 3.5 Isa 66.1.2 Jer. 32.39 40. They do now approach nigh to God and worship him with a holy and Godly fear and are enabled to walk in the fear of the Lord all the day long Psal 2.11 Heb. 12.28 Prov. 23.17 They are afraid of sin and temptations to it and dare not knowingly and deliberately come nean them but avoid and eschew the appearances and occasions of evil They are more afraid of the cause then the effects the sin then the punishment The thoughts of their danger they are always in and their aptness and proneness to transgress by reason of the deceitfulness and treachery of their hearts the strength and power of Lusts snares of the World and Satans fi◠〈◊〉 Darts do make them jealous fearful circumspect and watchful They see such a Majesty Excellency and glorious Presence in the holy God and Jesus Christ in his Names Offices Obedience Blood Love and Grace in his Laws Promises Ways and Ordinances which causes them to fear and reverence them erceedingly Psal 89.7 4. Hope Hope is another holy Passion or Affection in the New Creature Their hope is set on God the Father and Christ his Son Psal 78.7 Tit. 2.13 and on all the good things held out to them in the Promises called the blessed Hope Tit. 2.13 They have Christ in them the hope of Glory Col. 1.27 and they have Christ without them with all his fulness in the Covenant and Promises and in Heaven for them as their hope Every man hath the natural passion of hope but gracious men have the spiritual hope They hope for all the good of the covenant of grace fullness of Christs Grace and whatever may make them holy hear and happy hereafter The natural hope of unregenerate men is a groundless hope and the great things it is exercised about are but vain perishing worldly things and groundless hopes for a happiness heareafter Job 8.13.14 hence they are said to be withâ—â—â— hope in the world because they want the real spiritual and well grounded hope Eph. 2.12 1 Thes 4.13 But Regenerate men have a holy spiritual and well grounded hope and they by out and cast the Anchor of their hope on â—â—â—ings that are sure and unmovable on spiritual heavenly Soul-saving and eternal matâ—â—s and their hope is impressed provoked â—â—eng thened and quickned by them to hope more strongly steadily and constantly for the enjoyment of them They hope to obtain eternal Life in the Lords own way Tit. 1.2 not in the wayes of their own evil hearts as other men do They hope for the coming of Christ the exaltation and setting up of his Kingdome themselves to be like him and to see 〈◊〉 as be is 1 Joh. 3.2.3 Tit. 2.13 They hope for more light life and holiness from Christ and for greater measures of his Spirit to be poured out upon them in this world and they hope for more and more joy and peace in Believing Rom. 15.13
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
and constantly go to the Court of Justice and Mercy and crave Pardon of all your sins and take out sealed Pardons through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant For Christ gave himself to Redeem you from all Iniquity Tit. 2.14 so that you are now in and by believing made free from sin and stand as clear in Christs Righteousness and Gods Justification as if you had never sinned This is another of your glorious Priviledges who are New Creatures 4. You are Priviledged with great Interest in Christ and God the Father by him and have free â—ccess to him at all times in your dutiful carriages and obedient walkings towards him You have great interest in and power with God and you are priviledg'd with open ingress to him His doors stands always open to let you into his Presence Chamber for the Lord Jesus hath opened them for you and none can shut them against you You have this great Master of Requests waiting on or rather sitting by the great God and waiting for you that when you come with your Petitions you may find him ready to attend and prosecute your concerns in Heaven for you Heb. 7.25 Heb. 9.24 Rom. 8.34 You have his heart and he hath always his Fathers ear Job 11.42 so that you need never fear any miscarriage of or in your businesses there And be sure that all your greatest concerns lie in his hand and he is engaged to you and to his Father for you to mind and mannage them to your advantage For he tells us That he would go to Heaven and pray the Father for you Job 14 16. and hath told us since he went to Heaven that he was always attending on it Heb. 7.25 Before he left the World in his last Will and Testament he bequeathing this Priviledge unto his People and left it as a part of their Legacy to and for them that we might have what we would of him Joh. 14 13 14. And he gives us all possible assurance of it by his Asseverations Verily verily vers 12. says he I say unto you that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name that will I do And then he further confirms his grant and promise by an Argument taken from his Father his concern and interest in his so doing namely That the Father may be glorified in the Son that is by the grant he had given his people of power and interest in him to make use of him and using his Name at the Throne of Grace with his Father as also his praying and appearing for them to and with his Father and carrying on his peoples concernments there â—is Father would take it as his honour concern and interest This Truth is evidenced and confirmed throughout the Gospel in innumerable places As in Joh. 15.7 Joh. 16. This is another of your great and dear bought Priviledges which are confer'd on you and put into your possession in Regeneration For assuredly other men have it not neither had it you before I pray for them I pray not for the world no but for them which thou hast given me out of the world for they are thine and mine says Christ Joh. 17. Other men have nothing to do with me in this matter nor I with them I pray for my Sheep my Members my Believers my New Creatures For such as have chosen me for their King and High Priest to govern and interceed for them These are the persons for whom I have shed my Blood and for whose Souls I sacrificed my Life to Divine Justice These are the men that I have dearly bought and those are the persons that wear my Livery and bear my Image and therefore I pray for them They lie deep in my Affections and so do I in theirs They are near and dear to me and so am I to them likewise I have promised this priviledge to them and they have thankfully accepted it and kindly embraced it They make use of me and have their eyes and dependence on me to appear for them in Heaven and therefore they may come boldly to my Throne of Grace and find favour and Grace to help in time of need Heb. 4. ult These my New Creatures may ask of me what they will and it shall be done to them Job 15.7 And as they have great Interest in the ear and heart of Christ and may be familiarly bold with him as he doth and will pray for and mannage their concerns in Heaven for them so they have free access unto the Father and a great interest in his ear and heart also upon Christs account Hence the Lord Jesus tells his Disciples when he was comforting and encouraging them and pouring out as it were his heart and Bowels of Love unto them I say not that I will pray the Father for you for the Father himself loveth you Joh. 16 26 27. That is your heavenly Father hath such Love and Affection for you and your interest is so great in him upon my account that if I should hold my peace and not speak a word to him in your behalfs yet he hath Grace and Love enough to and for you and that he will also mind your concernments And you may go to him in my Name and make use of him in all your matters and businesses 5. All the promises that are made and given appointed and intended for the Saints and People of God in the Gospel are yours All the promises of Grace and to Grace and Gospel obedience with all the good all the marrow and fatness of them are yours Not a Hony-comb in all the Hive of the Gospel-Covenant but what will yield you some drops of hony and sweetness And you being new Creatures and married to Christ in whom are all the Promises yea and amen 2 Cor. 1.20 all the Promises are your Dowry and Portion They are all Intayled on and made over to you they are your great Pattent and Charter for all Grace and Glory and by which you may plead and do hold your Right and Title to Grace and Christ hear and Eternall Life hereafter For if all things be yours as the Gospel saith they are 1 Cor. 3.22 Then all the Promises of the new Covenant are yours likewise And with a holy boldness you may Claim and appropriate them and all the milk and hony of them to your selves as yours by Grant and Purchase Are you indeed and in Truth Regenerate Persons why then rejoyce and be exceeding glad for the great Charter of heaven is yours You are of the little holy and heavenly corporation and City Citizens of the new Jerusalem that came down from heaven and therefore you have a Right unto and Interest in all the promises of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 You have the promises of all Grace and happiness and for whatever you need and much more To instance in a few of many and that briefly 1. You have the Promises of pardon of the