Men and Means is no Increated but a Created Being Such is Grace in Believers Therefore Whereby nature is so far renewed in them in respect of Qualities that all old things are done away and This is added to shew that where Grace is wrought the Substance of Soul and Body remains what it was before the Alteration is only in respect of Qualities The Mind that was before dark and ignorant is now enlightned 2 Cor. 4.6 1 Thess 5.4 5 8. The Will that was stubborn obstinate and averse from that which is Good is now made freely to Will that which is represented to it as good Psal 110.3 The Affections that were carnal and wholly set upon things below are now set upon things which are above where Christ sitteth on the Right Hand of God Col. 3 1. Ephes 2.4 5. Phil. 3 20. 2 Cor. 5.17 If any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are past away behold all things are become new Here is a Periphrasis or Description of one that is a Christian indeed that hath true Grace in Three Particulars and the latter is evidential of the former A Christian indeed is one that is in Christ or that hath Union with Christ Union with Christ is evidenced by a new Creation that passes upon the Person united to him and the new Creation is evidenced by the Viversality of the Change that is wrought in them that are new made there is a new Heart and a new Head new Principles new Practices new Thoughts new Words new Affections new Actions new Desires new Delights new Projects new Purposes new Contrivances new Counsels old Companions in Sin cast off and new ones chosen in their places new Aims Ends and Intentions All that are in Christ are thus thoroughly and universally renewed whoever they are that are not thus thoroughly and universally renewed are not yet in Christ this is true saving Grace and whatever falls short of this is called by a wrong name if it is called Grace If they that are in Christ are new Creatures then Grace in Believers is no increated but a created Being The former is true therefore the Latter The connexion of the Major is evident because they that are in Christ and Believers are Synonyma's and they are denominated new Creatures from the great change that is wrought upon 'em when Grace is infused into their Souls by the Spirit of God For Grace and the new Creature are also Synonyma's Gal. 6.15 For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but a new Creature as if he should have said you are wholly taken up in Disputations about Circumcision and Uncircumcision all your Conferences all your Studies run out about this but the Truth of Grace lyeth not in these things says Burg. Spirit Refin p. 246. and p. 251. This Phrase a new Creature implieth that the Work of Grace is wrought by the sole power of God it cometh only from him and also that this being thus wrought in us is of a most excellent and glorious Nature Ephes 2.10 We are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ipsus opus sumus factura They that in all they are and have are the Workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus have nothing in them that is an increated Being such are Believers Therefore Ephes 4.24 And that ye put on the New-Man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness If the New-Man which Believers are to put on is after God created in Righteousness and true Holiness then the Righteousness and true Holiness of Believers is no increated but a created Being The former is true Therefore the Latter Col. 3.10 And have put on the New-Man which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that created him If the New-Man which Believers put on is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that created him then Grace in Believers is no increated but a created Being The former is true therefore the latter The New-Man renewed in Knowledge after the Image of God and Grace inherent are Identical they are one and the same thing Isai 43.1 Thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and that formed thee O Israel V. 6.7 I will say to the North give up and to the South keep not back Bring my Sons from far and my Daughters from the ends of the Earth even every one that is called by my name for I have created him for my Glory I have formed him yea I have made him If every Son and Daughter as such is created then there is nothing in them that 's increated the former is true therefore the latter Mal. 2.10 Have we not all one Father hath not one God created us Is 65.17 18. Behold I create new Heavens and a new Earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind but be ye glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her People a Joy This say the Engl. Annot. being spiritually understood is applicable to the State of the Church in the times of the Gospel under the Kingdom of Christ in regard of those plentiful endowments of spiritual Graces that therein shall abound and hereunto doth the Apostle apply this Renovation of the Church to be incâ—oated or begun in this World 2 Cor. 5.17 and to be consummated in the next 2 Pet. 3.13 Rev. 21.1 5. an thus also do some of the Jewish Doctors expound it Isa 66 22. As the new Heavens and the new Earth which I will make shall remain befoâ—â— me so shall your seed and your name remain If the Church considered as under the Old Testament and as under the New Testament as Militant and Triumphant be a Divine Creation then Grace in Believers is no increated but a created excellency The former is true therefore the latter Having gone over the parts of the last description of Grace and glanced at some Arguments from thence grounded on express Scripture testimonies I proceed to some other Arguments to prove this Position That Grace in Believers is no increated Excellency If there be some higher Excellencies than any thing that is in Believers during their Pilgrimage here and yet they are no increated but created Excellencies much more must any thing that is in them be so The former is true therefore also the latter It 's the minor of this Syllogism that is to be proved and I prove it thus 1. The Humane Nature of Christ is a greater Excellency than any thing that is in Believers The humane Nature of Christ is no increated Being therefore much less is any thing that is in Believers so They that deny any thing here must be Pagans or Jews not such as profess the Christian Religion 1 Tim. 3.16 Without controversie great is the mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the Flesh He who is over all God blessed for ever came of the
but in God if we may so phrase it Quicquid est in Deo est Deus It is God himself freely communicating the choicest of his Blessings to those that are less than the least of Mercies Gen. 32.10 There is Gratia gratis data or Donum quodvis quod ex gratuito Dei amore liberalitate in nos confertur Any Gift that is bestowed on us of the Love Favour and Bounty of God Heb. 12.15 28. Let us have Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably Act. 11.23 and 13.43 Eph. 4.7 2 Cor. 8.7 and 9.8 The Question is of Grace in this latter Sence not of Grace in the former Sence That which is in all Men is the Saving Grace of God says J. E. and an increated Being That which is in all Men is not Grace say I nor an Increated Being yea that which is true Saving Grace in Believers is not an Increated Being Thus I have done with the Preliminaries It is needful in the next place that some Definition be given of Grace inherent in Believers for there is nothing else in others that deserves the Denomination of Grace or is so to be called That Grace which hath Man for its Subject of Inhesion may be thus described It is a Supernatural and Special Gift of God bestowed upon some in and through Christ as Mediator of the New Covenant I call it a Supernatural Gift because it proceeds not neither can it proceed from Nature as now in its lapsed State A special Gift because not given to all Faith is one of these Graces and 2 Thess 3.2 All Men have not Faith A Free Gift to shew that God in dispensing inherent Grace to Sinners is not acted by necessity of Nature but is a voluntary Agent he might have chused whether he would have bestowed it on one or another herein he acts according to the good Pleasure of his Will Eph. 1.5 and according to the Riches of his Grace Eph. 1.7 1 Cor. 4.7 Who maketh thee to differ from another or What hast thou that thou hast not received When I say bestowed upon some this implies that Grace in this and the other Man was a little while ago a n â—â—ens that which had no Existence Hence the Argument runs thus That which a liâ—â—â—e while ago was a non-entity cannot be an Increated Being such was Grace inherent in this and the other Man Therefore When I say bestowed in and through Christ it is to distinguish it from the Blessings of a General and Common Providence Psal 33.5 and 119.64 and 145.14 15 16. The Whole Earth is full of the Goodness of the Lord and his tender Mercies are over all his Works But this is a Speciality of Divine Favour given only to the Elect in and through Christ Eph. 1.3 4 5. and there are none actually possess'd thereof but they that are Members of that Mystical Body whereof Christ is Head Eph. 4.16 Another Description of Inherent Grace is this It is an eminent Work of the Spirit of God upon the Souls of Sinners or the preaching of the Gospel whereby nature is so far renewed in them in respect of Qualities that all old things are done away and all things are made new in order to their being in a Capacity to glorifie God here and their being glorified with him to all Eternity hereafter It is a Work of the Holy Ghost Joh. 3.3 5. Tit. 3.5 Hence I argue thus That which hath the Holy Ghost for its Efficient is no Increated but a Created Being Such is Grace in Believers Therefore I call it an Eminent Work of the Holy Ghost to distinguish from other more inferior Works of his All the Works of Creation and Providence are the Works of Father Son and Spirit according to that Saying Opera Trinitatis ad extra sunt indivisa What is done by one is done by all Three But when Grace is wrought in the Soul of a Sinner that is an eminent Work The Works of Creation have the Father for their Efficient 1 Cor. 8.6 Of him are all things The Son 1 Cor. 8.6 By him are all things Joh. 1.10 The Holy Ghost Gen. 1.2 Psal 33.6 By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made and all the Host of them by the Spirit of his Mouth The Works of Providence have the Father for their Efficient He that feeds the Ravens and cloaths the Lâ—â—â—es Matth. 6.26 Luke 12.24 Psal 145.13 14 15 16. The Son Heb. 1.3 He upholds all things by the Word of his Power Col. 1.17 By him all things consist The Holy Ghost the qualifying and accomplishing of Zerubbabel for building and finishing the Second Temple was a Work of Providence and the Holy Ghost had a Hand therein Zech. 4.6 7. Not by Might nor by Power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts Who art thou great Mountain before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a Plain and he shall bring forth the Head-stone thereof with Shoutings crying Grace Grace unto it Vpon the Souls of Sinners This denotes the Objects on which the Grace-working Acts and Operations of the Holy Ghost are terminated considered antecedently to his Working this Work in and upon them they are Sinneâ—s not Saints whatever their Gifts and Endowments may be natural or acquired they are void and destitute of Saving Grace 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Know ye not that the Vnrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Tim. 1.13 14. Who was before a Blasphemer and a Persecuor and Injurious but I obtained Mercy and the Grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus If they that have Grace in them to Day had it not Yesterday then the Grace which is in them to Day is no Increated but a Created Being But so it is with them that are Saints to Day and were Sinners Yesterday Therefore By the preaching of the Gospel Though Children are capable both of Grace Luke 1.15 and of Glory Matth. 19.14 and God hath ways to work Grace in them beyond what we can think of Joh. 3.8 his Gracious Acts and Operations are many times imperceptible and not to be discerned by us what I now assert is to be understood of them that are Adult ordinarily the Spirit works Grace in them by the preaching of the Gospel 1 Pet. 1.23 24 25. Being born again not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you Rom. 10.14 15 16 17. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Act. 11.21 22. and 13 44. -- 48. and 10.33 42 43 44. 1 Thess 2.13 Psal 110.2 3 1 Cor. 4.15 In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel That which is a Spiritual Procreation by the instrumentality of
Fathers concerning the Flesh Rom. 9.5 John 1.14 The Word was made Flesh Verbum says Learned Jeans aut est prolativum aut substantiale the Word is either Enunciative or Substantial It is the Word in the latter not in the former sence that is made Flesh Joh. 1.1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God Rev. 19.13 His name is called the Word of God Rom. 1.3 Concerning Jesus Christ our Lord which was made of the seed of David according to the Flesh The Holy Ghost by a supernatural and miraculous Operation framed his Flesh in the Womb of the Virgin Mary without the seed of Man Luke 1.31 32 35. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Gal. 4.4 When the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman Heb. 8.2 and 9.11 and 10.5 A Body thou hast prepared for me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it signifies the Creation of it and the Sanctification of it That which was made of a Woman must be a created Being Such is the humane Nature of Christ Therefore Phil. 2.7 8. He took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of Men and being found in fashion as a Man he humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross An increated Being is impassible or incapable of suffering the humane Nature of Christ is capable of suffering and did actually suffer death therefore it 's no increated Being and why should any thing in Man exalt itself to move in a Sphere or Orb above the humane Nature of Christ It is taken into the Vnity of the second Person of the Holy Trinity and that is an Honour conferr'd upon no other Creature By vertue of this Hypostatical or Personal Union He that is God-Man is the first born of every Creature Col. 1.15 which is not so to be understood as if he had been created before all other Creatures but that the Rights and Privileges of Primogeniture did belong to him The First-born by the Law was advanced to a degree of super-eminent dignity above his Brethren he had Power and Authority over them he was Prince of the Family Psalm 89.27 see Ephes 1.21 22 23. Heb. 2.7 8. Thou crownedst him with glory and honour and didst set him over the work of thy hands thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet When once the humane Nature was assumed into the Unity of the second Person that Vnion remained firm and indissoluble when Death made a separation between his Soul and Body for a time the Union between the divine Nature and the humane continued Luke 23.43 Though the humane Nature as such is not Adorable nor to be adored yet he that is God-Man is the Object of Adoration Psalm 22.27 28 29 30. Isa 45.23 Rom. 14.10 11. Psal 45.11 Rev. 5.13 Psalm 2.10 11 12. Rom. 11.33 1 Pet. 2.6 Psalm 72.5 11. Mal. 1.11 The Humane Nature of Christ is the Organ and Instrument by and thorough which is conveighed all the Grace that Men have Ephes 4.16 Col. 1.19 Joh. 1.16 Eph. 1.23 Col. 2.19 2 If that Grace which was and is in the humane Nature of Christ be no increated Being Grace in Believers is not so The former is true therefore the latter If those Supernatural Divine Qualities wherewith the humane Nature of Christ was endowed did not commence or begin to exist till the humane Nature itself did begin to exist they were no increated but created Excellencies The former is true Therefore Isa 11.1 2 3. There shall come forth a Rod out of the Stem of Jâ—sse and a Branch shall grow out of his Roots and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit of Wisdom and Vnderstanding the Spirit of Counsel and Might As was the Rod that was to come forth out of the Stem of Jesse and the Branch that was to grow out of his Roots so was the Spirit of the Lord that was to rest upon him But so it was that the Rod that was to come forth out of the Stem of Jesse Was the Messiah considered according to his humane Nature a created Being Therefore so was also the Spirit that was to rest upon him a created Spirit That which is capable of growing must needs be a created Being such was Habitual Grace Inherent in the humane Nature of Christ Therefore Luke 2.40 46 52. he increased in Wisdom and Stature What Grace was suitable to the State of Childhood that he had to the full and afterwards what Grace was suitable to a more Adult State that also he had in such perfection as the humane nature was capable of Zech. 3.9 Behold the Stone that I have laid before Joshua upon one Stone shall be seven Eyes Behold I will engrave the graving thereof saith the Lord of Hosts The Stone is Jess Christ the chief corner Stone By Eyes is meant Knowledge Wisdom and Providence seven denotes Perfection and Sufficiency By engraving the graving thereof is signified the Beautifying and as it were polishing the humane Nature of Christ with all Gifts and Graces needful for a due discharge of the Work and Office he was called unto probably the Prophet alludes to the costly and curious Workmanship of the Stones of the Temple which did in some weak manner set forth the excellency of Christ's Gifts and Graces Col. 1.19 It pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell Here is says Jeans an Adjunct Grace set forth to us by its Extent and Excellency expressed in two several gradations a Fulness an Al fulness of Grace its subject in him i. e. in Christ as Man The Inhesion of this Adjunct in this Subject dwelleth to denote that it was in him after a permanent and fixed manner The cause of all this fulness dwelling in him the Decree of the Father Christ owed it not to his own or others merits but solely to the free purpose and pleasure of Heaven In this Fulness of Grace that dwells in Christ there is an All sufficiency and an Indeficiency It is sufficient for himself and for others for All his at all times and in all States and Conditions It will never fail It is a bottomless Ocean that can never be exhausted or drawn dry by thousands of Millions of Sinners or Saints in him are unemptible Treasures and an over-flowing redundancy of Spirit and Grace Orth. Er. p. 48. Norton confirms what we have said created Habitual Grace which Christ received out of measure John 3.34 was in him in its full Latitude in four respects In respect of its Subject here it is to be found in its proper Subject as Light in the Sun Grace is not only in Christ as in its proper but as in its superexceeding Subject In respect of its Nature there is in Christ all kind of