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A13850
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A Christian amendment delivered in a sermon on New-yeares day 1631. in St Martines Church in Oxford, and now published: by H. Tozer Mr of Arts and Fellow of Exceter Colledge in Oxford
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Tozer, Henry, 1602-1650.
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1633
(1633)
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STC 24158; ESTC S121019
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18,018
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94
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Psal 64.3 And the Dissolute or Prophane is an vnbridled a Raging tongue Hos 7.16 a tongue that will needs prevaile against God Himselfe Psal 12.4 And all These Tongues too often sounde loud amongst vs. In our Speeches then we haue a Large subiect for a Reformation Passe wee from These vnto our Actions wee shall finde them as differently evill as are our thoughts and words for as there is a lustfull thought and an Immodest tongue so is there an vnchast practise too if the Heart conceiue and the tongue vtter vanity falshood wrong or whatsoever of that sort there will not be wanting a Diligent Hand and a swift foote to put the same in Execution Now to Reforme all this so to become New not only in our thoughts and desires but also in the Expressions of them which are our words deeds Saint Pauls rule before mentioned Ephes 4 may serue as a full Direction Putting away lying saith he speake every man truth vnto his neighbour bee no more angry beyond measure steale no more Let no more corrupt communications proceede from you c. But laying aside whatsoever is hurtfull take in steede thereof that golden chaine which the same Apostle hath made Gal. 5.22 Consisting of the fruits of the spirit as loue meekenesse the rest there mentioned and as the wise man exhorteth his sonne Prov. 6.21 binde it vpon thy Heart tie it about thy necke for when thou goest it shall leade thee when thou sleepest it shall keepe thee when thou awakest it shall talke With thee and make thee acceptable in the sight of God Then shalt thou be renewed wholly and then maiest thou with comfort say vnto thy soule that All things are become new when thou thy selfe art become New in All. And being once thus Rectified knowe that in the last place there must bee studium sanctè progrediendi and therefore resolue as God shall enable thee ever to continue so for as wee must be cleansed become Holy so must wee likewise labour to perfect holinesse as Saint Paul speaketh 2 Cor 7.1 Now finis coronat opus t is the end that brings perfection and t is continuance a well guided perseverance that must reach vnto the end wherefore be New to Day but remaine so to morrow too become New this yeare but let the next yeare finde thee such and then maist thou truly say that thou art become in All things and Alwaies and therefore perfectly new The meanes whereby the same may be effected are in the next place to be considered These meanes are diverse but there are two rules in the Scripture which will direct vs vnto the principall thereof The first is recorded by Solomon Prov. 19.15 An Jdle soule saith hee shall suffer hunger the second is mentioned by Saint Iames c. 1. v. 17. Every good and perfect gift is from aboue The first rule holdeth true as in matters Temporall so likewise Spirituall in Both if a soule be idle it shall suffer hunger it shall alwaies bee in want It may seemingly desire Hunger and thirst after goodnesse but if it Labour not to obtaine the same it shall still be without it Our first meanes then is our owne Endeavour we must Labour and bee diligent in frequenting conscionably the House of God in making right vse of his Word and in Communicating constantly at his table for These meanes will both direct vs vnto and confirme and stay vs Jn our Newnesse of life But withall wee must remember that every good and perfect gift is from Aboue wherefore in the next place wee must betake our selues by earnest prayer vnto God Which is the second meanes and necessarily required to make the former effectuall for t is not said here that wee doe make all things New but that they are Become or made new for vs. The word in the originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are become noteth as most obserue an act of Creation a Creation saith Aquinas on this Chapter not of Nature but of Grace and that not the first grace of Iustification in our conversion for that is presupposed to be done before but a second of Sanctity in our Conversation which is here meant Both belong vnto God alone for Hee only can Renew the Heart of man both by conversion and sanctification who did first Create make it Hence the Prayer of David was that God would Create in him a New heart to feare him and wee must also Pray and that Earnestly if we will become New men to God that God will be pleased to make his Word and Sacraments powerfull effectuall in vs and perfect our Endeavours to the sanctifying Renewing of the soule Herevnto we might adde a 3d meanes and that is in the course of our liues the choyce of Such company as will desire seeke to become New with vs which indeede is both profitable and necessary for Hee that still associateth himselfe with Blaspheamers with men of a Dissolute Slaundring or foolish Tongue must not thinke to cast off leaue at pleasure his custome of swearing of backebiting of Immodest or Idle talking in vaine doe men hope to bee Sober amongst Drunkards and t is little availeable to pretend Honesty as long as we cast in our Lot and haue one purse with those that are Deceitfull Evill communications saith Saint Paul corrupt good manners and the infection of Dissolute companions perverteth Honest Desires if wee therefore will become New our selues wee must not walke in the way with Those who still desire to remaine in their old sinnes Thus haue wee for Direction seene both the Manner also the Meanes of this Renovation we are now in the fourth and last place to consider the fruits thence arising by way of Encouragement to the more speedy and chearefull performance thereof When Laban would allure Iacob vnto his Service his Argument to encourage him was that hee should not serue him for nothing and therefore demanded of him what according to his owne desire his wages should bee Gen. 29.15 If the World were as ready to perswade true seruice or to recompence the same where they finde it they which labour would happily find lesse cause to obiect the withholding of their Hire then sometimes they doe But let Mortality faile as it ever hath and will doe t is notwithstanding of all most certaine that God is Bountifull and changeth not yet the Divell himselfe who seldome speaketh true never for the loue of Truth even he will let vs know that Iob did not serue God for nothing Iob. 1.9 Never yet was any man the Worse what ever in our slothfull security and carnall delicatenesse we may doe misconceiue I say never any man the worse but many Degrees bettered by the Service of God duly performed To runne over punctually the Fruits thereof were to enlarge this discourse into a second Sermon One may serue for all the rest being indeede as much as all namely that if we become New and Amende our liues as we ought our God is thereby Glorified for so speaketh our Sauiour Mat 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Our good workes our Newnesse in Conversation is that which tendeth vnto the Honour and Glory of God which if rightly considered cannot but be to a truly Christian to a Religious and Filiall Heart the Summe of all Fruits the vtmost the Only end of all Endeavours And surely considering hoW Vnworthy of our selues wee are and how little acceptance our best righteousnesse for its owne deserts might looke to finde at the handes of God it being as the Prophet Jsaiah speaketh but as so many filthy ragges so no way profitable no way acceptable I say considering this t is encouragement enough if any will suffice for vs sinfull Mortalls to become New creatures namely that God will be pleased Thereby to be Honoured Yet if the Weakenesse of Mortality either can or will looke no farther then our selues wee shall There likewise see vnparallel'd Profit Benefits that cannot be equall'd If any man shall aske me what they are I will answere him they are all comprised in This one the Saving of the Soule the drawing of it out as it were from the Bondage of sinne to that Glorious Liberty that Happinesse incomprehensible which Christ hath purchased with his owne Blood If These or any Other Encouragements though none more strong can now perswade and allure vs to Renew our conversations before our God then shall wee most happily offer vp our selues an Acceptable sacrifice a Sanctified Gift vnto God that lookes for it And happy that Man who shall thus dispose of his owne soule for if wee shall Thus become New in all things then shall All things become New to vs Wee shall haue in This life new Mercies new Blessings or rather the old Mercies and Favours of God Renewed to vs And when this life shall bee no more we shall haue New Heavens wherein wee shall with a New company of Saints and Angells sing for ever a New song of reioycing vnto our God in whose service We became New creatures here on earth Thou O Lord who alone seest the hearts of all men knowest that we are all full of corruption and can of our selues doe nothing but sinne be pleased therefore O Father of Mercy to make thy good word powerfull in vs to the casting downe of sinne and the Devices thereof that so wee may thence learne to Renew our Conversations before Thee and by thy Assisting Grace to bring forth the fruits of an Holy life in some Thirty in some Sixty in some an Hundred fold to the Glory of Thy name and the Salvation of our owne soules through Iesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour Amen Glory bee to GOD. Good will towards Men. FINIS
nihil est superfluum there is nothing in nature superfluous which rule is here made vnquestionably true for in nature there is nothing but some good vse may bee made thereof wee hauing therein so many Arguments pressing vs to the Renewing of our Conversations For if God for Mans vse and profit cause all these things in their appointed seasons to be Renewed shall Man for whose benefit all these things Renewed are remaine Old still and haue nothing in him New except it be some new sinnes new Idolatries new prophanations new murthers new blasphemies or the old renewed to provoke God afresh Nature it selfe will teach you saith S. Paul that if a man weare long haire it is a shame vnto him 1 Cor. 11.14 Wee may vse the like argument and say that if any man grow Old in Sinne as he must in yeares Nature will accuse him of a shamefull neglect in not hauing better learned God and the necessity of a renewed conversation before Him even from his Workes of Nature which are made therefore manifest to him to guide and instruct him for Nature doth freely offer it selfe as a guide vnto vs and blind are they who see not how to follow it It is we know a common observation that God hath two bookes to instruct vs. The one is his booke of Scripture Wherein we may and happy are they which therein daily doe reade and consider the summe of their Duty and the mystery of their redemption The second is his booke of Nature written with his owne hand in the sixe daies of the Creation a volume as large as the world it selfe but every Page therein plainely teaching man the knowledge of God and the necessity of his owne becomming new in his sight And S. Chrysostome seemes to make this the very drift of our Apostle in this text S. Paul saith he draweth a new argument from nature it selfe to lift vp the mindes of these Corinthians from the things here below to God aboue the maker of them to teach them from these what they should be towards Him namely in Christ new creatures The necessity of which Renovation will farther appeare by a second reason drawne from the Expectation of God requiring it of vs. God expecteth and therefore t is necessary that wee should become new creatures Now that God expecteth from vs a renewing of our conversations a reforming of our liues wee may plainely reade in his other Booke before mentioned namely his booke of Scripture wherein we shall meete with Precepts and Threatnings and Judgements and promises and the Mercies of God all which are but as so many calls and warnings gratious invitations to an Amendment of life First a precept or Commande we haue recorded by S. Paul Ephes 4.24 where the Apostle telleth vs that wee are taught in Christ to put on the new man which after God is created in Righteousnesse true holinesse wherefore saith he putting away lying speake every man truth be angry and sinne not giue not place vnto the Divill c. in all which we are by the H. Ghost plainely commanded to renew our conversation in true Holinesse and righteousnesse before God And the same Apostle will farther tell vs 1. Tim. 1.5 that the end of the commandement is Charity out of a pure Heart and a good Conscience and faith vnfained So that where a Precept or Commande is there must bee Obedience especially when the commande proceedeth from God himselfe whom we cannot disobey but with the losse of our first loue and the hazard of our owne safety when God therefore requireth vs to become new men as here and elsewhere he often doth wee carefully should endeavour to be such for precipientium Authoritas preceptorum qualitas attendenda est faith Bernard the Authority of the commander and the condition of the commande it selfe are diligently to be regarded Now God who requireth this duty at our hands is that Greatnesse which knoweth no deniall and his commande is of that condition that as it tendeth to his owne glory so is it likewise for our good and salvation wherefore a God expecteth so it is necessary in regard of the Precept that wee should become new Secondly that God expecteth and requireth this of vs will farther appeare by his Threatnings against sinners his Iudgements vpon man for sinne Woe saith the Lord. Isai 5.18 there is his threatning A woe there is for Corazin and Bethsaida for Edom Moab Nebo A woe for the Idole sheaphards and blinde Guides for the Deceitfull Lawyer and hypocriticall Pharisee and generally a woe for all that sinne with greedynesse and still draw iniquity with coards of vanity Neither is there a bare pronouncing of woe but a misery inflicted too Iudgement as well as threatnings Sodome and Gomorrah with the citties about them set forth for an example suffering the vengeance of eternall fire Iude 7. all which woes and Iudgements with many more are written for our Admonition that wee should not lust as they lusted nor be Idolaters nor commit fornication nor tempt Christ nor murmure 1 Cor. 10.6 So that the threatnings and Iudgements of God vpon sinners recorded in the Scripture were not only for the Punishment and Destruction of those on whom they fell but also for warnings vnto vs to driue vs with Lot out of wicked Sodome to terrifie vs from delighting in sinne and to shew what we must be if wee will be accepted of Him New creatures Wherefore as God requireth so t is necessary in respect of his Threatnings and Judgements that wee should become New Thirdly As in the two former so doth he likewise manifest his expectation in his Promises and Mercies which are as so many gratious Invitations to become New creatures To reckon vp all the promises of God were farre to exceede Saint Paul hath recorded one which may serue for all the rest Come out bee yee separate and touch not the vncleane thing saith the Lord and I will receiue you and will be your father and yee shall be my Sonnes and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty 2. Cor 6.18 If God be once pleased to be our Father wee can then pray for no more then to become obedient children and to bee thankefull this hee hath promised to bee if wee become New creatures before him and his promises faile not for his Mercy will make them good and that lasteth to a thousand generations of them that loue and feare him Exod 20.6 Hence Eternall life is said to be the end of the Commandements Our obedience indeede is the first end thereof as I noted before but that is directed to a second namely our salvation and both vnto a third as the chiefe and principall which is Gods Glory In respect of our selues then the end of the commandement is salvation which God is pleased not only to Promise but also in mercy to make good vnto vs vpon our Newnes in conversation yea therefore are his promises and mercies made knowne