you all yet he 's a damned Fiend in Hell Gifts come upon another Errand than Grace 1 Cor. 12.7 Gifts are given to profit others Grace for a man's own Soul 19th Plea I am verily perswaded I am sound at Heart my Conscience flyes not in my Face yea I have great Peace Joy and Comfort within Answ God knows whether your Peace be of the right Stamp or no I have told you there 's a Peace of the Devil 's speaking and that may arise from Conscience's Sleep Security I now tell you of a Joy rising from the common workings of the Spirit the stony Ground hearers anon with Joy received the Word Mat. 13.20 but had no Root Luk. 8.13 It 's not to tell what Joy and Triumph some may conceive upon a Mistake Some taste of the good Word yea of the heavenly Gift Gal. 6.3 James 1.22 Yet fall away totally and finally Heb. 6.4 5 6. Look to your selves thousands deceive themselves in this weighty Affair 20th Plea You are seeking to drive us to despair but that I will never do I will hope well still say what you will Answ There 's a double despair 1st Good and Necessary a despair of ever being saved in the state of Nature wherein we are born and this God brings the Sinner to in order to planting sound Hope and sincere Faith in the Soul 2dly There 's an Evil sinful despair of obtaining Mercy at God's hands through Christ God forbid we should drive Sinners to this despair no no it s the former we aim at Such as Paul felt Rom 7.9 I was alive without the Law once but when the Commandment came sin revived and I dyed ie I saw my self in a damnable state no hopes of Salvation while I continued in the state of Nature we are sure till Souls see themselves condemned they will never look after a Pardon it 's this we drive men to Therefore 2dly there 's a twofold Hope 1. A bad a false rotten Hope that 's built upon mens Fansie and Imagination Job 8.14 11.20 This will be swept away like a Spiders-Web give up the Ghost what hath the Hypocrite gained by his hope when God taketh away his Soul ch 27.8 It 's the best Office we can do the Sinner to break the Heart of this groundless Hope that we might bring in a better Hope Hence 2. There 's a good Hope through Grace an Hope that will not make ashamed 2 Thes 2.17 Rom. 5.5 An Hope that rests upon the Promises of Grace in the Gospel it s this that will do Men good at the last but men must be sure to observe and comply with the terms of the Promise else it is groundless presumption A Prince hath as much reason to be offended with him that keeps not close to his Commission as with another that acts without a Commission The Israelites of Old saith one durst make God and his Promise a Leaning-stock for their foul Elbows to rest on Isa 48.2 They call themselves the holy City and stay themselves upon the God of Israel See also Micah 3.11 Nothing more common yet nothing more dangerous for such are more bold then welcome for though a Prince may be so condescending as to let a poor Sick or Wounded Man especially in his Service fainting and unable to go alone upon his humble request make use of his Arm rather then perish in the Street yet would reject a reeling Drunkard if he desired to lean on him thus a poor bleeding humble Penitent is entertained when a presumptuous Rebel is kickt off with infinite abhorrency we must incourage the former and convince the latter that their Hope may be dasht and another Hope begot again a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3.1 John 3.3 that teacheth Persons to cleanse themselves be planted in the Soul For the wicked is driven away in his wickedness but the righteous hath hope in his Death Prov-14 32. Chap. VII An Use of Correction for Reforming Sinners Mistakes MY third Use is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Correction or Castigation of what is amiss in order to a Restitution of the Souls of Sinners to their pristin rectitude for that 's the notion of this Word for it signifies not only Correction of Manners but rectifying of inward Faculties as Criticks observe I must confess the Work is arduous and indeed 't is impossible for a finite Creature to work this New Creature the best Ministers are but Instruments and what can the Ax do without the Hand to move it or the Sword without the Hand to wield it Who then is Paul and who is Apollos but Ministers by whom ye believed 1 Cor. 3.5 I am said worthy Mr. Baxter but a Peâ— for God to write with Well then shall we do nothing because we cannot do all He thaâ— set us a work is able to second our Work with his Benediction the World hath been form'â— new by this blessed Word of Truth I shall therefore make one Experiment more to see what the great God will do for a New Creation upon the Souls of Men humbly imploring the Blessing of Heaven upon my poor Endeavours In prosecuting this Point I shall use some perswasive Arguments to prevail with pooâ— Sinners to look after it in due time 2. Answer what Objections Sinners can make against it and so make way for the next Use of Instruction 7. For Motives Arguments I shall not repeat any thing drawn ab utili the advantages thereof used in the Doctrinal part as 1. Rectifying the Souls Faculties 2. Evidencing Electing Love 3. Consecrating the Soul for God 4. Fitting it for Communion with God 5. Entituling to Christ 6. Producing true Joy 7. Intailing all things profitable 8. Putting the Soul into a safe State 9. As rendring them useful 10. Fitting them for Gospel-Privileges 11. Preparing them for Death and Heaven 12. Yea is an Heaven begun All these might be improved as strong Arguments to perswade Sinners to press after it But I shall further draw some Arguments à periculo from the danger Sinners are in till they become New Creatures 1. If you are not New Creatures you are not true Christians For if any man be in Christ he is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 i.e. Whoever is worthy the Name of Christian fit for so high a Character he must necessarily be a New Creature or else he arrogates to himself an high Title not belonging to him And alas what will a bare Name signifie nomen inane crimen immane arrogating such an high Title is a piece of high Presumption nay it s no less then Blasphemy when men call themselves Jews or Chriâ—tians and are not Rev. 2.9 Even as it is Treason against the rightful Soveraign for any Subâ—ect to intitle himself King what horrid Presumption are graceless Sinners guilty of for whatever you may account your selves God accounts you no better then Heathens uncircumcised Judah is ranked with Aegypt Edom Ammon Moab in Scripture Jer. 9.26 Are ye not as children of
conclusion of the main Doctrine delivered in this Epistle viz. That a Sinner is not justified by the Law but by Faith in Jesus Christ q. d. hoc est quod dico et repeto et extremis verbis contendo I urge this first and last with the greatest ardour and importunity let Jews and Judaizing Christians say what they will or can this I resolutely affirm that now in the Gospel-state as settled by Christ it is of no great moment whether a Man be a Jew or a Gentile It 's true under the Law there was something of privilege in Circumcision as it was a badge of God's Covenant with Abraham's Seed and the Uncircumcised were Strangers to the Covenants of Promise and had no right to Church-Membership but now in the Gospel God is the God of the believing Gentiles as well as of the Jews for there is not one God in the Old Testament and another in the New as the Manichees dream'd but it is one God that shall justifie the Circumcision by Faith and Uncircumcision through Faith Rom. 3.29 30. i. e. both one way so they be sincere Saints for God regards not any for being Circumcised nor rejects any for the want of it but looks at real Sanctification of Heart and Life This is a sound and apposite dependance of the words but Calvin adjoyns them to the foregoing Verse The Reason why the blessed Apostle is crucified to the World and the World to him is because in Christ in whom he is planted the chief thing available is a New Creature other things are insignificant the truth of this the Apostle had before demonstrated quia Scilicet veritas Evangelij omnes legis figuras absorbeat exinaniat because the Gospel-Truth makes void legal Figures so both Interpretations come to one It 's observable that this Phrase is three times used with different Conclusions 1 Cor. 7.19 Circumcision is nothing and Uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the Commandments of God Again Gal. 5.6 For in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Uncircumcision but Faith which worketh by Love And in this Text But a New Creature They all conspire in this one Sence That in this New Testament-Dispensation by Christ no Privileges are efficacious to the Salvation of a Soul without a working Faith accompanied with a Principle of Grace in the Heart and an Holy Life agreeable to the Rule of God's holy Word thus there 's a due consistency in these necessary Qualifications for in Spiritual Means Marks Methods of Salvation there is a blessed Combination Confederacy and Concatenation not a Link of this Golden Chain can be wanting the true Religion is of one piece there 's no loose Joynt but all the parts make up one entire Body and compleat System of Christianity But to come to the Words in which we have the negative and positive parts of our Religion wherein it doth not consist and wherein it doth Suppose Men had excellent Privileges and choice Advantages these would not of themselves attain the Ends viz. God's glory and Man's happiness By this Word in Christ Jesus some understand in the Christian Religion others in the Church or Kingdom of Christ others in the Gospel-Dispensation in negotio salutis obtinendae per Christum in the business of obtaining Salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ The Doctrine of the Gospel is called the Faith of Jesus Christ Rom. 3.22 wherein and whereby the Glorious design of saving Sinners by Jesus Christ doth eminently and evidently appear called the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 And he hath brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel or through the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 Circumcision was to the Jews a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.11 a Badge and Cognizance whereby an Israelite was distinguished from other People to be God's peculiar Heritage it both ingaged to Duty and entailed many Privileges see Rom. 9.4 By it s not availing any thing is signified its ineffectualness to attain these two great Ends 1. The justifying of a Sinner before God 2. The Salvation of a Soul with God not that I think the New Creature justifies as I shall shew hereafter but it is in a justified Person and these external Privileges avail not to our Justification and the want of them hinders not but in this case there is neither Greek nor Jew Circumcision nor Uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian Bond nor Free but Christ is all and in all Col. 3.11 Hence observe Doctrine 1. That the richest Privileges and most glorious Professions avail no Man without a New Creature The Jews boasted of their Privileges and by consequence Gospel-Professours are apt to bear themselves big with what they think to be of great worth but they all signifie nothing in the sight of God if they be not New Creatures Men may please themselves with external Shews Professions Privileges as to be born of Godly Parents to be baptized living under pure and powerful Ordinances associating with the best Saints in the purest Churches sitting down at the Lord's Supper making credible Profession performing Religious Duties yea suffering much for the Religion of God all these together will not avail a Soul in order to his Eternal Happiness without being a New Creature mistake me not I do not say but these are good in their places and great Mercies and Duties Observe 1. Things that hinder or oppose the New Creature are hurtful in their own Nature and to be laid aside as Sin and the Old Man Eph. 4.22 2. Things that further not this New Creature in our Hearts are comparatively useless though lawful as the Profits Pleasures Honours of this world 3. Things that do further the Work of the New Creature by God's appointment are not of themselves sufficient to attain their End without the concurrence of divine Grace as Preaching Prayer Seals they are but means 4. Things good in themselves may by man's abuse prove rather Snares and Hindrances then Helps and Furtherances in Heaven's Road Circumcision was once good and God's Ordinance but when some Judaizers affirmed that except Christians were Circumcised after the manner of Moses they could not be saved Acts 15.1 9 10. The Apostles determine the point saying that God put no difference between Jews and Gentiles and this was a Yoke that neither they nor their Fathers were able to bear and so it was not only laid aside as other legal Ceremonies which became not only mortuae but mortiferae dead but deadly so the Apostle affirms that if ye be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing Gal. 5.2 Nay the best Duties Ordinances Privileges rested in short of Christ will rather ruin then raise us undo us than endow us with Grace here or glory hereafter see Rom. 9.31 32.10.3 But this is a great Truth that all the Privileges in the world without this New Creature can never of themselves render a Soul acceptable to God or bring
Nature of this New Creature take this Description of it The New Creature is a supernaturl Work of Gospel-Grace wrought in the Soul of a Sinner by the Word and Spirit of God changing the whole Man from an old state and course into a new thereby transforming it into the Divine Likeness and turning the Heart and Life to the rule of the Word in order to the glory of God and the Souls present and everlasting communion with him This is the New Creature I confess this Description is long but I cannot leave out any of the parts thereof I shall very briefly open the Branches of this description 1. For the general Nature of it I call it a Supernatural Work for it is above the power of nature to produce it it comes from above so he that 's born again John 3.3 Is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from above This perfect Gift comes down from the Father of Lights James 1.17 That Jerusalem that 's above is the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 This New Creature is no Herb that grows in Nature's Garden it s a Plant of Paradise Flesh and Blood cannot so much as reveal this to the sons of men Matth. 16.17 Therefore it s no wonder if learned Doctors such as Nicodemus laugh at such Doctrine as Fantastical Fancies and say How can these things be John 3.4 Or like Ezekiel's hearers who saith Ah Lord God they say of me Doth he not speak Parables Ezek. 20.49 For such wisdom is too high for a Fool. Psal 56.9 In God's light only must we see light Experience is the best Mistriss in these Cases We speak wisdom saith the Apostle among them that are perfect But the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2 6 14. This New Crerture is of a Coelestial Original and must have an heavenly Interpreter 2. In this Description we have the particular Nature of this New Creature I call it a Gospel-Grace it is no branch or fruit of the Old Covenant of Works for the Law maketh nothing perfect There was no Law which could give Life Gal. 3.2 21 28. But the New-Testament Dispensation called the Promise this only produceth the New Creation Objection You 'l say Had not Old-Testament Saints this New Creature Doth not David say Create in me a clean heart Psal 51.10 I Answer Old-Testament-Saints had a New-Testament-Spirit for they without us could not be made perfect Heb. 11.40 The same Gospel belonged to them and us and was preached to both Heb. 4.2 Abraham saw Christ's Day they all partaked of Gospel Grace John 8.56 both in Justification and Sanctification they were but different Editions of the same Gospel-Covenant they were as Children in Minority under Tutors and Governours Gal. 4.1 2 25. Gospel-Saints as Children at Age their state was under the Bond woman in Mount Sinai Ours is of Jerusalem which is free However that Gospel-Promise made known in the Old Testament belongs both to them and us Ezek. 36.26 A new Heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you This is the proper Gospel-Work in both Dispensations and sincere Believers of Old had experience of it tho' the Veil was upon the Face of Moses 2 Cor. 3.14 15. and the Hearts of Carnal Jews as it is on all Unbelievers to this day but Gospel-Grace renews Souls 3. Here 's the subject in which this New Creature is and that is in the Soul or Heart of a sinner There 's the Seat and Centre of this New Creation it s not meerly external in the Eye or Foot or Hand or Tongue but it s an internal work in the Soul the Christian is renewed in the Spirit of his Mind Ephes 4.23 Behold saith David thou desirest Truth in the inward parts in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know Wisdom Psal 51.6 It s called the hidden man of the heart 1 Pet. 3.4 Not but that it breaks out in Lip and Life but the Root and Spring lies under Ground out of the view of the world as the best Treasures are lock'd up the best Goods are under Deck or as Merchants Wares lie in a back Shop not exposed to the open view of the World A Christians Life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 Hence they are called God's hidden Ones Psal 83.3 And the King's Daughter is all glorious within Psal 45.13 These gracious Souls are like Kings in disguise and it doth not yet appear what they shall be 1 John 3.2 But when the Shell is broken the Pearl will appear all external Changes in men are but the change of the Clothes this the change of the Man and his Manners For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly but inwardly Right Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit not in the Letter whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 2.20 30. It is wrought by God and known to God who alone searcheth and sees the Heart 4. The Instrumental or Organical Cause of this New Man which is the Word of God Rom. 1.16 This is the power of God to Salvation James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us by the Word of Truth 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth for ever The Word is the Seed which being ingrafted in the Heart springeth up in obedience which is the Flower and visible product of the New Creature yea 't is properly the Gospel-Word Moses or the Law may bring us to the Borders but Joshua leads us into Canaan the terrors of the Law prepare the way as John Baptist but the Word of the Gospel is the door of Faith that takes Souls by the hand and leads them into the Chamber of Presence this is God's method to work this New Man by a powerful Gospel-Sermon so saith blessed Paul 1 Cor. 4.15 I have begotten you in Jesus Christ through the gospel there 's the Instrument Paul I have begotten you the means by the gospel the author in Jesus Christ faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.14 Prov. 8.34 Therefore let all lie at the Gates of Wisdom Expect not this New Creation if you turn your backs on God's Institutions 5. The Efficient Cause is the Holy Ghost The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us Rom. 5.5 Oh what a gracious Tincture doth the Spirit leave upon Hearts what a sweet Breath doth it breath into them which breaths out Love to God and Men How is this New Creature diffused into all the Faculties of the Soul by the Spirit This is both a Seal and an Earnest who hath also sealed us Eph. 6.13 14. and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts 2 Cor. 1.22 All good is conveyed to us by the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son especially this Saving Good of Conversion we are born again of Water and of the Spirit John 3.3 8.
Christ his infinite and co-eternal Son All things were made by him i. e. by this Essential Word and without him was not any thing made that was made John 1.3 By him were all things created visible and invisible By this Heir of all things he made the Worlds both according to the Matter and Form thereof Col. 1.16 Heb. 1.2 And thus it is in the New Creation for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works Eph. 2.10 As Christ is the First-born of the Creatures after whom the New Creature is formed for God in his naked Majesty is invisible not obvious clearly either to corporal Eyes or humane Minds but Christ is the express Image of his Person Heb. 1.3 and manifests the glorious Perfections of the infinite God That as we have born the Image of the earthly Adam we should bear the Image of the heavenly 1 Cor. 15.45 49. That is Christ thus in the Incarnation God was Man in Regeneration Man becomes like God 4. God created all things with a Word So saith the Apostle Through Faith we understand that the Worlds were framed by the VVord of God Heb. 11.3 God's Fiat or Let it be produced the whole Fabrick of Heaven and Earth By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made and all the Host of them by the Breath of his Mouth Psal 33.6 Art needeth many Helps Nature needeth few God needeth none nor doth use any Instrument in the Creation for nothing can intervene betwixt the First Cause and the First Effect it is an immediate Product of his arbitrary Will and Pleasure So it is in this New Creation James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth God speaks the Word and the Sinner is converted If it be said That Ministers are Instruments in Conversion I Answer But still they are nothing neither is he that planteth any thing 1 Cor. 3.7 They need God God needs not them he can do his Work without them yea in the first Infusion of a Principle of Saving Grace there 's nothing of Instrumentality it s done Immediately 5. God made all things good and perfect at first 1 Tim. 4.4 Gen. 1.31 Every Creature of God is good And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good quia nec temere nec frustra factum nothing was made either unadvisedly or to no purpose A thing may be said to be good as it is correspondent to the Idea of the Divine Wisdom or as it is fit for that use to which it is designed and for which it serves It needs not be enquired whether God could not have made the World or its parts better or more perfect for if we consider the World in respect of the whole so it is perfect both as to its degrees and parts But as to its parts severally God could have made them better as in a Camp there are Captains Souldiers and a General in some respect if a Souldier were a Captain he were better but in respect of the whole Camp which consists of Superiors and Inferiors he is better as a Souldier So in this New Creature it is perfect in its kind in subserviency to God's great Ends though defective in point of degree in this World hence God's Children are said to be not perfect as having not attained Phil. 3.12 Yet they are perfect Ver. 15. To be sure this New Creation is good as will appear anon 7. Though God from Eternity purposed to create the World yet the World was created but in Time not from Eternity Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth God worketh all things according to the Counsel of his own Will Eph. 1.11 It s true all things had a kind of Being in God as in the Cause whence all things flow in the Eternal Mind or Idea according to which all things were framed but they had not their real or actual Existence till God in his Wisdom thought good to produce them In thy Book saith David Psal 116.16 were all my Members written Thus it is in this New Creation God hath a Book of Life and such as are in the Book of Life shall in time be savingly Converted Called Sanctified Justified Glorified Thus runs the Golden Chain Rom. 8.29.30 As many as were ordained to Eternal Life shall believe All such as the Father gives to Christ shall come to him John 6.37 He hath chosen us in Christ before the Foundation of the World that we should be holy Eph. 1.4 So then this New Creation in time is the result and effect of God's determination before all Time see 2 Thes 2.13 7. The Creation of the World was gradual both as to Time and as to Manner In point of Time God made the World in Six Days Gen. 1. Not but that God could have dispatch'd all in a Moment but for sundry weighty Reasons he took every day a moment to do the work of that day in Thus God is perfecting this New Creation all the time of a Christian's Life and for his manner or method of working God proceeded from imperfect to perfect first God made a confused Chaos then he made the Elements then orta ex Elementis what ariseth from them First he made things without Life then things having Life Man that was the Master-piece of the whole Creation he made the last Even thus doth Grace proceed in the New Creation he first forms a Chaos some confusion of Spirit by a legal Work first comes a Spirit of Bondage to fear then a Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 First some glimmering Light in the Mind then the Day-Star ariseth in the Soul 2 Pet. 1. And the Sun of Righteousness comes with healing under his Wings Mal. 4.2 And the Grace of God grows till the Christian comes unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ Eph. 4.13 8. The first thing that God created was Light Gen. 13.4 God said Let there be Light and there was Light In this he proceeds from total Privation to Habit it is hard to describe this Light possibly it was a bright lucid Body like the Fiery Cloud in the Wilderness giving imperfect Light successively moving over the several parts of the Earth and afterwards condensed increased perfected and gathered together in the Sun the Apostle applies this to the workings of God's Spirit in converting a Sinner 2 Cor. 4.6 For God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ The first thing a Limner draws in a Picture is the Eye the first Lineament of this gracious new Man is Saving Knowledge God will not dwell in a dark House and therefore first he beats out Windows in his Habitation without knowledge the heart is not good Prov. 19.2 The Devil's Kingdom is a Kingdom of Darkness Christ's of Light Converting Grace
the Angels desire to look into 1 Pet. 1.12 and are in continual ecstacy in the admiration of O the Love of God in sending Christ of Christ in becoming Man 1 Joh. 3.1 in taking any of the Sons of Men to be the Children of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God Rom. 11.33 There there only is something to be admired all the Glories of the World are but meer contemptible Pageantry he can trample them under his Feet with a better disdain then Diogenes trampled on Plato's bravery for he is in a sort crucified to the world Gal. 6.14.2 Cor. 4.18 And can pass by things seen with an holy scorn compared with things unseen which are Eternal This is the New Creature in the Mind 2. The New Creature is also manifest in the Conscience which though it be not a distinct Faculty but a compound of more yet it is of great use in the Soul of Man and its necessary that the Heart be sprinkled from an evil Conscience Heb. 10.22 which is done by the Blood of Christ and that the Conscience be purged from dead Works to serve the living God and this is effected by the Eternal Spirit Heb. 9.14 Now there are Four Offices of Conscience which the New Creature doth in good measure rectifie 1. As it is Index a guide a discoverer of Duty a bright Star in a dark Night an Hand in the Margin to shew us what is worth our observing a Schoolmaster to teach us a Monitor to shew our Mistakes and it must be regulated by the Word of God for Conscience is corrupted and is apt to be deceived and deceive us it is but an under-Officer and must it self be subject to God's Law hence the Christian seeks to regulate its dictates by the Word of Truth and Grace brings it to the rule What saith my Supreme Lord and Master I must follow thee no further than God's Law allows now the New Creature brings the Conscience to the Word and saith Thus far thou must go and no further the End of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure Heart and good Conscience and Faith unfeigned 1 Tim. 1.5 These are always Companions this is a good Conscience 2. Conscience is liber 't is a Book wherein are noted and writ down all a man's Actions Expressions yea his Thoughts and Imaginations so it is a wise and faithful Register to produce them as a faithful Witness for or against a man another day the Books were opened Rev. 20.12 One of those was the Book of Conscience Conscience is as a thousand Witnesses if good the Holy Ghost joyns with it my Conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost Rom. 9.1 And this is our rejoycing the testimony of our Conscience 2 Cor. 1.12 If the Person have done any thing amiss Conscience brings it to the man's remembrance as the Sin of Joseph's Brethren made them say We are verily guilty Gen 43.21 Now a faithful Witness will not lye A rectified Conscience will give in a true Testimony to promote Repentance which is therefore called a bethinking our selves 1 King 8.47 or Heb. a bringing back upon our Hearts Conscience hath a tenacious Memory and will speak true in its Excusings or Accusings Rom. 2.14 15. which is proper to Conscience as a Conscience but Grace regulates it and adds some force to it 3. As Conscience is judex a Judge to pass the Sentence upon a man as the verdict is brought in It 's true it is but a petty Judge under the Supreme Judge yet the Great God confirms its judicial Sentence 1 John 3.20 If our Hearts i.e. our Consciences condemn us God is greater than our Hearts and knoweth all things Every man may and must keep a privy Sessions within preparatory to the Great Assizes if he be but passive and is loath to hearken to this Sentence he is self-condemned and this is but praejudicium judicij a sad prognostick of his being condemned at God's Tribunal which he seeks to escape as Felix did but cannot But if he joyn issue with this Sentence and condemn himself actively and voluntarily he shall not be judged or condemned 1 Cor. 11.31 Now Grace in the Heart makes a Man do this I am the Man saith Conscience I confess both the Fact and Fault Aâ—rtthou so saith Conscience I must needs pass the Sentence upon thee according to God's righteous Law Well I yield saith the Soul I am convicted in this Court and cannot escape the Judgment of God I must flye to the City of Refuge 4. Conscience is vindex an anvenger a self-tormenter a guilty Person is one that torments or afflicts himself some do this sinfully by worldly Sorrow which causeth Death 2 Cor 7.10 The Christian must do it penitentially either for his own Sins or other mens so Lot vexed his righteous Soul with the Sodomites Sins 2 Pet. 2.7 8. The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he beat and Bastinado'd his righteous Soul The Godly Man must take the Whip of Conscience with the Hand of Grace and whip himself for his Sins or God will take it with his Hand and scourge him with it as he did David whose Heart smote him for numbring the People 2 Sam. 24.10 The Worm of Conscience gnawing at the Heart is an acute Pain and will be one of the Torments of the Wicked in Hell Mark 9.44 But the Godly Man prevents that by joyning issue with executing God's Sentence by self-excruciating trouble for Sin here this is a profitable use of Conscience by a free and voluntary seconding its severe Lashes to promote Godly Sorrow This for two parts of the New Creature that concern first the Mind secondly The Conscience Chap. X. A further tryal of the New Creature as to the Will and Affections the subjects of it and its Properties 3. ANother Subject wherein this New Creature resides is the Will and this is Cardo animae the hinge of the Soul the Master-Wheel upon which the whole Soul turns as an old Bowl receives a new Byas that turns it quite another way then what it had gone now the change of the Will is the main work of converting Grace There are Four Motions of the Will wherein the New Creature shews it self 1. In its Designs Aims Intentions The world and it self were the main drift of the VVill in a natural state all seek their own Phil. 2.21 the gratifying of the Flesh sensual Appetite and carnal Interest the universal Inquest is Who will shew us any good Psal 4.6 Oh for a good Bargain a cheap Purchase Another is for strong Drink or sweet Meats Plays or Pleasures another for Cap and Knee and Titles of Honour But the New Creature post-pones and scorns all these and designs the glorifying of God enjoyment of him let Chrst be magnified and my Soul glorified Phil. 20. And I can hate all other things God hath twisted them together and the Soul cannot part them