be salted with Fire and every Sacrifice shall be salted with Salt Serm. 6 7. pag. 104. On 2 Thess. 3. 5. And the Lord direct your Hearts into the Love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ. Serm. 8. pag. 142. On Ephes. 1. 8. Wherein he hath abounded towards us in all Wisdom and Prudence Serm. 9. pag. 157. On Mat. 27. 46. And about the ninth hour Iesus cried with a loud voice saying Eli Eli lama sabacthani that is to say My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Serm. 10. pag. 175. On Rom. 1. Part of the 29 30 Verses Whisperers Backbiters Serm. 11. pag. 192. On Gal. 5. 16. This I say then walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the Lusts of the Flesh. Serm. 12. pag. 207. On Job 19. 25. For I know that my Redeemer liveth Serm. 13. pag. 231. On 1 Tim. 6. 8. And having Food and Raiment let us be therewith content Serm. 14. pag. 247. On Eccles. 9. 11. I returned and saw under the Sun that the Race is not to the Swift nor the Battel to the Strong neither yet Bread to the Wise nor yet Riches to Men of Understanding nor yet Favour to Men of Skill but Time and Chance happeneth to them all Serm. 15. pag. 269. On Acts 21. 14. And when he would not be perswaded we ceased saying The Will of the Lord be done Serm. 16. pag. 262. On John 3. 16. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting Life Serm. 17. pag. 323. On Deut. 30. 15. See I have set before thee this Day Life and Good Death and Evil. Serm. 18. pag. 345. On Mat. 7. 12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that Men should do unto you do ye even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets Serm. 19 20. pag. 371. On Ephes. 2. 10. For we are his Workmanship created in Christ Iesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk them SERMON I. PSAL. 32. 1 2. Blessed is he whose Transgression is forgiven whose Sin is covered Blessed is the Man unto whom the Lord imputeth not Iniquity and in whose Spirit there is no Guile THE Title of this Psalm is A Psalm of Instruction and so called because David was willing to shew them the way to Happiness from his own Experience Surely no Lesson is so needful to be learned as this We all would be happy The Good and Bad that do so seldom agree in any thing yet agree in this A desire to be happy Now happy we cannot be but in God who is the Only Immutable Eternal and Alsufficient Good which satisfies and fills up all the capacities and desires of our Souls And we are debarr'd from access to him by Sin which hath made a breach and separation between him and us and till that be taken away there can be no converse and Sin can only be taken away by God's Pardon upon Christ's Satisfaction God's Pardon is clearly asserted in my Text but Christ's Satisfaction and Righteousness must be supplied out of other Scriptures as that 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the World to Himself not imputing their Trespasses to them Where the Apostle clearly shews that not-imputing Transgressions is the effect of God's Grace in Christ. And we do no wrong to this Text to take it in here for the Apostle citing this Scripture Rom. 4. 6 7. tells us that David describeth the blessedness of the Man unto whom the Lord imputeth Righteousness without works when he saith Blessed are they whose Iniquities are forgiven whose Sin is covered blessed is the Man to whom the Lord will not impute Sin In the words you have 1. An Emphatical setting forth of a great and blessed Priviledg that is Pardon of Sin 2. A Description of the Persons who shall enjoy it In whose spirit there is no Guile The Priviledg is that I shall confine my thoughts to It is set forth in three Expressions Forgiving Transgression Covering of Sin and not imputing Iniquity The manner of speech is warm and vehement and it is repeated over again Blessed is the Man I shall shew what these three Expressions import and why the Prophet doth use such vehemency and emphatical inculcation in setting forth this Priviledg 1. Whose Transgression is forgiven or who is eased of his Transgression Where Sin is compared to a burden too heavy for us to bear as also it is in other Scriptures Mat. 11. 28. Come to me all ye that are weary and heavy laden 2. Whose Sin is covered alluding to the covering of filth or the removing of that which is offensive out of sight As the Israelites were to march with a paddle tied to their arms that when they went to ease themselves they might dig and cover that which came from them Deut. 23. you have the Law there and the reason of it ver 14. For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy Camp therefore shall thy Camp be holy that he see no unclean thing in thee and turn away from thee And then the third expression is To whom the Lord imputeth no Sin that is doth not put Sin to their account Where Sin is compared to a Debt as it is also in the Lord's Prayer Mat. 6. 12. Forgive us our Debts as we also forgive our Debtors Thus is the Act set forth The Object of Pardon about which it is conversant is set forth under divers Expressions Iniquity Transgression and Sin As in Law many words of like import and signification are heaped up and put together to make the Deed and Legal Instrument more comprehensive and effectual I observe it the rather because when God proclaims his Name the same words are used Exod 34. 7. Taking away Iniquity Transgression and Sin Well we have seen the meaning of the Expression Why doth the holy Man of God use such vigor and vehemency of inculcation Blessed is the Man and again blessed is the Man partly with respect to his own case David knew how sweet it was to have Sin pardoned he had felt the bitterness of Sin in his own Soul to the drying up of his Blood and therefore he doth express his sense of Pardon in the most lively terms Blessed is the Man whose Iniquity is forgiven c. And then partly too with respect to those for whose use this Instruction was written that they might not look upon it as a light and trivial thing but be throughly apprehensive of the worth of so great a Priviledg Blessed happy thrice happy they who have obtained Pardon of their Sins and Justification by Jesus Christ. The Doctrine then which I shall insist upon is this That it is a great Degree and Step towards yea a considerable Part of our Blessedness to obtain the Pardon of our Sins by Christ Iesus I shall evidence it to you by these three Considerations 1. I
For Continuance in the new Covenant and delightful Obedience unto God The Remedy is not only suted to the Disease but the Duty to the Reward Our Duty is to know God and to love Him and our Reward is to see Him and be like Him 1 Ioh. 3. 2. There is a marvellous Sutableness between the End and Means Holiness and Happiness Conformity to God and our Communion with Him the Holiness required of us now and the Happiness we expect hereafter perfect Conformity and uninterrupted Communion And they differ only but as the Bud and the Flower the River and the Ocean Here it is begun hereafter perfected III. In the Application of his Grace to particular Believers he hath abounded towards us in all Wisdom and Prudence 1. In the Way God taketh to convert Souls to Himself there is a sweet Contemperation and Mixture of Wisdom and Power There is a Proposal of Truth and Good to the Understanding and the Will and by the secret Power of his Grace it is made effectual We are taught and drawn Ioh. 6. 44 45. No Man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him In the 45th vers And they shall be all taught of God Every Man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me There is opening of blind Eyes and the turning of an hard Heart Acts 26. 18. To open their Eyes and to turn them from Darkness to Light c. Eph. 1. 18. The Eyes of the Understanding being opened c. Col. 3. 10. Renewed in Knowledg Turning the Heart Acts 16. 29. God opened the Heart of Lydia Acts 11. 21. The Hand of the Lord was with him and a great Number believed and turned to the Lord. His Hand implieth his Power Thus God worketh strongly like Himself sweetly with respect to us that he may not oppress the Liberty of our Faculties Christ comes into the Heart not by Force but by Consent We are transformed but so as we prove what the Will of God is Rom. 12. 2. He draweth we run Cant. 1. 4. The Power of God and Liberty of Man do sweetly consist together As God is said to create in us a new Heart he is also said to give us a free Spirit Psal. 51. 10 12. Eph. 2. 10. We are said to be his Workmanship created in Christ Iesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them So he puts a new Heart and we are said to walk in his Ways Ezek. 36. 26 27. A new Heart will I also give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony Heart out of your Flesh and I will give you an Heart of Flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Iudgments and do them Thus God sheweth forth the powerful Efficacy of his Grace and doth also win the Consent and good Liking of the Sinner he obtaineth his Effect and yet doth preserve the Liberty of Man's Nature and the Principles thereof It is not only Voluntas mota but mutata the Nature is changed and renewed 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open Face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2. In the perswasive and moral Way the Wisdom of God is seen as taking the most likely Course to gain the Heart of Man discovering Himself to us as a God of Love Kindness and Mercy Guilty Creatures stand aloof from a condemning God our Fear of his Justice maketh us run from him Gen. 3. 7 10. Adam hid himself from the presence of the Lord. So all his Posterity forsake God and hate him But God though the Superior though the wronged Party maketh Offers of Peace and sheweth how willing he is to be reconciled to us Having first laid the Foundation in the highest Demonstration of Goodness that ever could come to the Ears of Man to hear of or enter into the Heart of Man to conceive namely in giving his Son to die for a sinful World 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. What more apt to make Man relent And then because Man had fallen from the Love of God to the Creature Ier. 2. 3. What Wisdom doth God shew not only in the Offers of Pardon but Eternal Life and Blessedness infinitely beyond the false Happiness which carnal Self-Love inclineth us to that it is a Shame and Disgrace to our Reason to think these things are worthy to be compared together What are all the Pleasures Profits and Honours we dote upon to the Pleasures at God's right-Hand the Riches of the Inheritance of the Saints and the Glory which cometh from God And therefore what more powerful Motive can be produced than this Blessed Immortality Indeed God is invisible and the Glory is to come and sensual Pleasures are at hand ready to be enjoyed But Faith checketh Sense Heb. 11. 1. Faith is the Evidence of Things not seen O the Wisdom of God in the Frame of the Gospel 2. In the Effect it self the new Creature which is the wisest Creature on this side Heaven To evidence this to you I shall shew you that all Wisdom and Prudence consisteth in three things 1. In fixing a right End 2. In the choice of apt and proper Means 3. In a dextrous effectual Prosecution of the End by those Means 1. In fixing and propounding to ourselves a right End A wise Man doth not mind Trifles but is conversant about Things of the greatest Reality Necessity and Excellency such are God and Heaven All other Wisdom will prove but Folly in the end Others disquiet themselves about a vain Show Psal. 59. 6. Poor silly Creatures cark and labour and turmoil to get together a few poor transitory Enjoyments where there is neither durable possession nor solid Satisfaction The Honours Pleasures and Riches of the World are but Pictures and Shadows of the true Honours the true Riches and Fulness of Joy at God's right Hand Surely he is a wise Man that chooseth God for his Portion and Heaven for his Home Prov. 15. 24. The Way of Life is above to the Wise to avoid Hell beneath He is wise and hath chosen the true Sort of living which mindeth the Salvation of his Soul and looketh after Eternal Life Surely this is above and beyond any Wisdom Man can pretend unto to be happy not for a while but for ever 2. In the Choice of apt and proper Means A Man is wise enough if he knows his Duty and the Way to Happiness God hath appointed us the Way wherein to walk to fear him and love him and keep his Commandments Deut. 4. 6. Keep these Statutes for this is your Wisdom Job 28. 28. The Fear of God that is Wisdom and to depart from Evil that is Understanding There is an Excellency in this sort of Life Prov. 12.
Conversion how doth God deal with Paul Stephen had prayed for him too among the rest Lord lay it not to their Charge yet God gave him some smart remembrance of his Sin When Paul and Barnabas had been preaching at Iconium though Barnabas had irritated them as well as Paul they called Barnabas Iupiter and Paul Mercurius because he was the chief Speaker Barnabas who was equal with him in Preaching God ordered it so he was not Stoned but Paul that had consented to Stephens Stoning was Stoned himself and carried out for Dead What need have we to be exact in observing what is required of us here for the Lord by one means or other will return it into our Bosoms We have done that to others which we would not should be done to our selves and therefore will God do that to us which we do to others Application Use 1. To Inform us First What an advantage Religion is to Mankind even with regard to the present Life The World hath a prejudice against Religion as if it were an ill natured thing and made Men forget Equity and humane respects in favourable dealings with others But certainly there is no reason for this Prejudice when it doth require not only love of all in their several Capacities but to do to them all the good possibly we can and to seek out Objects to whom we may do good and be of a God-like Affection Therefore see that it be so in your Profession and Practice that you may recover the credit of Religion by this Rule If this were practised 1. How securely and safely might we live one by another Whence come all the Oppressions and Injuries wherewith the World aboundeth but for want of love to their Neighbours as themselves How easily might we be brought to pardon Wrongs And how patiently would we bear the modest Dissent of others when their Judgments are not of our Size and Mould How far would we be off doing hurt to others even as far as doing hurt to our selves 2. Consider how beneficial and mutually helpful Men would be to each other seeking others good as their own and rejoicing in an others Welfare as our own If the World would but consider how much of Christianity doth consist in loving and doing good as if all the World had but one Soul one Interest it would render it very amiable to them Take this Rule quite away and there is nothing so false bad cruel that you would not be drawn to think or say or do against your Brother Secondly It informs us how much Mankind is degenerated and how few true Christians are in the World Witness our Injustice to the Names Persons and Estates of others We are very critical in determining our own Rights and Proportions and what others owe to us Surely we have all reason to allow others what they justly expect When you are slandered you are Passionate and therefore should not you be tender of other Mens Names and Estates When your Debts are detained you complain of Wrong should we not be as Conscionable for the speedy Payment of others To buy with a great Measure and sell with a less is an Abomination to the Lord and to Men. We judg things done to us thus and thus and shall we be careless what we do to them Uncharitableness and want of Sympathy with us in our Troubles much more insulting over us in our Miseries we look on with detestation and shall we pursue and afflict others when we have Power to do hurt Use 2. Exhortation As that Emperor wrote it on the Doors of his Pallace and Courts of Justice so the Exhortation is to press you to get this Rule deeply graven and written upon your Hearts In all Matters of dealing towards others be exact for God that is the Patron of Human Societies observes whether you do as you would be done unto Remember it is a short Rule yet sufficient and it is a clear Rule therefore it should more prevail with you 1. It 's a short Rule and yet if it were well learned and kept it would save the World a great deal of Mischief Change the Persons and we need not many perplexing Rules to guide us if this were done to me would I take it kindly turn the Tables put your selves in their stead 2. 'T is a clear Rule Look as the Apostle saith of Onesimus when he was converted that he was doubly dear to Philemon both in the Flesh and in the Lord so the same say I of this Rule it is doubly dear to us both by Nature and Grace The Light of Nature binds us and it is prescribed by Christ. 1. If you break this Rule you offer violence to an inbred Principle of Conscience There are many talk of being Christians Yea but get to be good Heathens first Never speak of higher Mysteries of believing in Christ and Communion with Christ while you live so contrary to the Light of Nature What the Apostle discourseth concerning the Natural Branches and the Branches contrary to Nature is applicable in this Case Rom. 11. 24. what he speaks of Persons is true of Doctrines For if thou wert cut out of the Olive Tree which is wild by Nature and wert graffed contrary to Nature into a good Olive Tree how much more shall these which be the natural Branches be graffed into their own Olive Tree The meaning is if the Gentiles were taken into a Covenant Stock how much more shall the Iews be graffed into their own Stock So it is true of Doctrines if the Doctrines contrary or above Nature have brought in Souls to believe in Christ and the higher Mysteries of Christianity certainly much more should those Doctrines which are agreeable to our Nature have a greater respect and regard by you 2. It is also prescribed by Christ now our Lord reasons Luke 6. 46. If you call me Lord and Master why do ye not the things I say It is a mockage to call Christ Lord and Master and disobey his Commands as it was for them to say Hail King of the Iews that spit upon him and buffeted him Therefore whatsoever ye would have others do to you do ye the same to them for he hath told you and confirmed it This is the Law and the Prophets SERMON XIX EPH. 2. 10. For we are his Workmanship created in Christ Iesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them THe Apostle in the Context asserteth that our whole Salvation is of Grace not of Works he now proveth it That which is the Effect of Salvation cannot be the Cause of it but our well-doing is the Effect of Salvation if you take it for our first recovery to God but if you take it for full Salvation or our final deliverance from all Evil Works go before it indeed but in a way of Order not meritorious Influence To think them altogether unnecessary would too much depreciate and lessen their presence or concurrence to
think they deserve it would as much exalt them and advance them beyond the Line of their due Worth and Value The Apostle steereth a middle Course between both Extreams they are necessary not meritorious they go before Eternal Life not as a Cause but a Way for they are wrought in us by God and are Effects of the begun Salvation so that the good that we do is a part of the Grace that we have received a fruit of Regeneration For we are his Workmanship c. In the Words are two things I. The state of Believers For we are his Workmanship created in Christ Iesus II. The End why we are brought into this Estate Unto good Works which c. I begin with the former and there note 1. God's efficiency 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His Workmanship 2. The Manner of his Efficiency 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Created all proceedeth from the infinite creating Power of God 3. The meritorious Cause 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Created in Christ Iesus From the whole Observe Doct. That those that are renewed and recovered out of the Apostacy of Mankind are as it were created a-new through the Power of God and Grace of the Redeemer I. Let us explain the Words of the Text. II. Prove it I. For Explication of what is here asserted three things must be explained 1. Our Relation to God 2. His way of Concurrence to establish this Relation 3. How far the Meditation of Christ is concerned in this Effect First Our Relation to God We are his Workmanship We are so two ways 1. By Natural Creation 2. By Supernatural Renovation 1. By Natural Creation Which giveth us some kind of Interest in him and hope of Grace from him As Psal. 119. 73. Thy Hands have made me and fashioned me give me Understanding that I may learn thy Commandments God is our Creator and the end of our Creation is to serve God therefore he gives some kind of encouragement to ask the Grace whereby we may serve him But the Apostle speaketh here not of the first Creation But 2. Of Regeneration or Renovation which is called a second or new Creation as 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a new Creation hath passed upon him By the first Creation we are made Men by the second Holy Men. Holiness is a thing of God's making we are regenerated and sanctified by his Grace and made capable of doing good by his Spirit Now this new Workmanship bestowed on us implieth 1. A Change wrought in us so that we are other Persons than we were before as if another kind of Soul came to dwell in our Bodies This Change is represented in Scripture in such terms as do imply a broad and sensible difference between the two States that wherein we were before and that into which we are translated such a difference as is between Light and Darkness Eph. 5. 8. Life and Death 1 Joh. 3. 14. The new Man and the old Eph. 4. 22 24. We seem to be as it were Creatures transformed out of Beasts into Men instead of being governed by Sense and Appetite we are led by Reason and Reason is not only put into Dominion but Grace which is Reason sanctified directing and enclining us to live unto God 2. This Change is such as must amount to a new Creation There are some Changes which go not so far As 1. A Moral Change from Prophaneness and gross Sins to a more sober course of Life for there are some Sins which Nature discovereth and may be prevented by such Reasons and Arguments as Nature suggesteth Rom. 2. 14. This may be done by ordinary discretion and advisement But the new Creature signifies such a change whereby not only of Vitious we become Vertuous but of Carnal we become Spiritual Ioh. 3. 6. Man naturally enclineth to things pleasing to the Flesh and only seeketh savoureth and affecteth these things but in this Change the Spirit interposeth and maketh him Spirit Before Man only lived as a nobler and better natur'd Animal or living Creature and pleased himself that is his Flesh either in a grosser or more cleanly manner being ignorant mindless of God and another World But new Creatures become Spirit have a Spiritual Inclination cannot content themselves with an Happiness on this side God and Heaven Meer Humane Nature can never bring Men to this but only the Power of God 2. A Temporary Change as to fall into a sudden religious frame which is soon worn off as Ahab's Humiliation 1 Kings 21. 27. Or those That howled on their Beds c. Hos. 7. 14. Frighted into a little Religiousness in their Straits and deep Necessities like Ice in thawing Weather soft at top and hard at bottom Or those the Prophet speaketh of Jer. 34. 15. Ye were turned to Day and had done right but ye returned again and polluted my Name They seem to be changed a while from Evil to Good and then they change again from good to evil this will not amount to the new Creature for that is a durable thing 1 Iohn 3. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His Seed remains 3. A Change of outward Form without a Change of Heart as when a Man changeth Parties in Religion and from an Oppressor becomes a Professor of a stricter Way No the Scripture opposeth this to the new Creature Gal. 6. 15. The new Creature lieth more in a new Mind new Will and Affection than in a new Form of Religion Lead is Lead still whatever stamp it beareth 4. A partial Change Men are altered in some things but the old Nature still remaineth their Religion is but like a new Piece in an old Garment the Heart is not new moulded so as to leave an Impression upon all our Actions The renewed are holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 15. 2 Pet. 3. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 5. 17. They drive a new Trade for another World and set upon another Work to which they were Strangers before must have new Solaces new Comforts new Motives The new Creature is entire not half new half old but with many the Heart is like a Cake not turned 3. When thus new framed and fashioned it belongeth to God it hath special relation to him Iam. 1. 18. It must needs be so they have God's Nature and Life 1. Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. They are made like God bear his Image and Superscription it is a curious piece of workmanship in which God hath shewed his Wisdom Goodness and Power and so they are sealed and marked out for his peculiar Ones 2dly The Life of God that came from him and tendeth to him Others are alienated from the Life of God Eph. 4. 18. They recover it 1 Pet. 4. 6. His Spirit is a Principle of Life in them so that they are really alive to God and dead to Sin and the World 4. This Workmanship on us as new Creatures far surpasseth that
turn unto the Lord. Psal. 119. 59. I thought on my ways and turned my Feet unto thy Testimonies Man is very inconsiderate his Soul is asleep till consideration awaken it again We are to search and try our Estate whether it be good or bad Lam. 3. 40. Let us search and try our ways and turn unto the Lord. We are to observe God's Rebukes Prov. 1. 23. Turn ye at my Reproof To set our selves to seek after God in the best Fashion we can Hos. 5. 4. They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God that is think of recovering themselves and bending their course to him chiefly we are to take heed that we do not hinder God's work and obstruct our own Mercies Prov. 1. 25. They set at nought my Counsel and would none of my Reproof Sometimes Conscience is startled either as being excited by the Word Acts 24. 25. or some notable Affliction and Strait Gen. 42. 21. by one means or another the Waters are stirred great helps are vouchsafed to us observe these Seasons However check Despair He that did turn Water into Wine can turn Sinners into Saints Lions into Lambs he hath not excluded you from his Grace therefore do not exclude your selves When did he ever forsake the anxious and waiting Souls that would not give over seeking till they did obtain the sanctifying Spirit SERMON XX. EPH. 2. 10. For we are his Workmanship created in Christ Iesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them WE come now to the End why we are brought into this Estate created unto good Works c. the End is not to live idly or walk loosly but holily according to the Will of God In this latter Clause Created unto good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Observe 1. The Object Good Works that is Works becoming the new Creature in short we should live Christianly 2. God's Act about it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which God hath before ordained The word signifies both prepared and ordained 1. God hath prepared these Works for us 2. God hath prepared us for them He hath prepared them for us either by his Decree or Precept if you understand it in the first sense God that hath ordained the End hath also appointed Means as Acts 27. 31. compared with 24. Or else appointed by his Precept and express Will. Micah 6. 8. And he hath prepared us for them by his Spirit making our Hearts fit for our Work Heb. 8. 20. enlightning the Mind inclining the Will The first sheweth the necessity of them the second the easiness of them God hath accomodated all things to that End enabling us to know our Duty and to do it 3. Our Duty that we should walk in them Walking noteth both a Way and an Action 1. It implieth a Way that good Works are the way to obtain Salvation purchased and granted to us by Jesus Christ. Unless we walk in the Path of good Works we cannot come to Eternal Life 2. An Action Walking notes 1. Spontaneity in the Principle not drawn or driven but walk set our selves a going 2. Progress in the Motion he that walketh sets himself forward and gets ground he doth not stand still or lie down but goeth on still Doct. That new Creatures are both obliged and fitted or prepared for good Works I. What is meant by good Works II. What Obligation lieth on the new Creature to make Conscience of them III. How they are fitted and prepared by that new Nature which is bestowed upon them by and through Christ 1. What is meant by good Works 1. The Kinds 2. The Requisits First The Kinds all acts of Obedience more particularly they are divided and distributed into five sorts or ranks 1. Opera Cultus Acts of God's immediate Worship both internal and external The Internal Acts are Faith and Love Trust Delight Reverence The Children of God are often described by these by believing in his Name Iohn 1. 12. Love to God and Delight in him Psal. 97. 10. Ye that love the Lord hate Evil. Psal. 37. 4. Delight thy self also in the Lord. Trust. Psal. 62. 8. Trust in him at all times ye People Fear or Reverence Psal. 130. 4. There is forgiveness with thee that thou mayst be feared External as to Pray Read Hear to be much in Communion with God in all the parts of his Worship Without Works of Piety we are practical Atheists Psal. 36. 1. and Psal. 14. 1 2 4. God's People do certainly make Conscience of these The Internal Acts are the Life of their Souls the External are their Solace Strength and Support their Songs in the House of their Pilgrimage their refreshing by the way Cornelius Acts 10. 2. feared and prayed to God alway Daniel would not omit Prayer one Day though in danger of Death Dan. 6. 10 11. There is little Zeal in them that are not frequent with God but forget him days without number Ier. 2. 32. 2. Opera Vocationis Every Man must labour in the Work to which he is called God is pleased to appoint and accept the Duties of our Callings as a good Work Are they never so mean yet Servants may Honour God by diligence in their Duties Tit. 2. 9 10. Exhort Servants to be obedient to their Masters c. That they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things To be profitable to Humane Society in your place is good the new Nature helpeth us so to be Phil. 11. Onesimus in time past was to thee unprofitable but now profitable to thee and me All have their work from the Mediator to the poorest Creature in the World John 17. 4. I have glorified thee on Earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do So Tit. 3. 14. Let ours also learn to maintain good Works for necessary uses that they be not unfruitful When Iohn's Hearers came to know what they should do he referreth every one to their Callings Luke 3. 10 11 12. Walk conscionably therein glorify God Souldiers Publicans c. Without these good Works we are Drones in the common Hives yea Burdens upon the Earth 3. Opera Iustitiae Works of Righteousness and Justice to hurt none to give every one his Due to use Fidelity in our Relations Acts 24. 16. The Credit of Religion is much concerned in the just dealing of them that profess it God will have the World to know that Religion is a good Friend to Human Society Neh. 5. 9. Ought ye not to walk in the Fear of our God because of the Reproach of the Heathen our Enemies This was the Primitive Glory of Christianity Dent Exercitum talem tales Exactores fisci c. Some carry it so that they deal with God's Commandments as Hanun with David's Messengers as if they had cut off the whole second Table and so prove a Stain and Blot to Religion In short they that do not make Conscience of paying their
Acts 5. 31. This is the Grace which the Saints pray for Faith it self Repentance it self Psal. 51. 10. Create in me a clean Heart Heb. 13. 21. The Lord make you perfect to do his Will working in you that which is pleasing in his Sight We pray not only for a Grace that gives the Possibility but the Effect not only for such as doth invite and sollicit us to Good but such as doth incline and determine us to Good And this is the Grace we give thanks for not a Power to repent and believe if we please but for Repentance and Faith wrought in us If God did only give a Power to will if we please to do if we please Man would difference himself 1 Cor. 4. 7. 3. With respect to Christ. We are his Workmanship created in Christ Iesus who is the Head of the new World or renewed Estate All things are new in the Kingdom of Christ there is a Change of every thing from what it was before There is a new Adam which is Jesus Christ a new Covenant which is the Gospel a new Paradise not that where Adam enjoyed God among the Beasts but where the Blessed enjoy God among the Angels a new Ministry not the Posterity of Aaron or Tribe of Levi but a Ministry of Reconciliation put into their Hands whom God hath qualified and fitted to be Dispensers of these holy Mysteries New Ordinances We serve God not in the oldness of the Letter but the newness of the Spirit therefore if we be in Christ we must be new Creatures We are both obliged and fitted by this new Estate to be so Some are in Christ externally by Baptism and Profession they are visibly in Covenant with him and de jure of right are bound to be new Creatures Others are in Christ by real internal Union these not only ought to be but de facto are new Creatures they are made Partakers of his Spirit Rom. 8. 9. and by that Spirit they are renewed and sanctified Well then since there is a new Lord and a new Law all is new there must be a new Creation for as the general State of the Church is renewed by Christ so is every particular Believer 4. With respect to the Use for which this new Creation serveth One is mentioned in the Text Created unto good Works but other things must be taken in 1. In order to our present Communion with God Till we are created anew we are not sit to converse with an holy and invisible God earnestly frequently reverently and delightfully which is our daily Work and Business The Effects of the new Creature are Life and Likeness those that do not live the Life of God are estranged from him Eph. 4. 18. Trees cannot converse with Beasts because they do not live their Life nor Beasts with Men for they have Sense only but no Reason nor Men with God till they have somewhat of the same Nature and Life If one had Power to put the Spirit of Man into a brute Beast that Beast would discourse reasonably God hath Power to put a Divine Spirit into his People to sanctify their Souls that sits them for converse with God Look as in Innocency Adam was alone though compassed about with a Multitude of Creatures Beasts Birds and Plants yet there was none till Eve was made fit to converse with him because they did not live his Life therefore the Lord God said Gen. 2. 18. It is not good that Man should be alone I will make him an 〈◊〉 meet for him The Man was alone because he had none like himself that he might converse withal as a Man in the exercise of Speech and Reason the Beasts of the Field and Fowls of the Air were no fit Companions for him they wanted the means of Converse Reason and Speech So without Grace we are not meet for Communion with God till we have Faith and Love to admire reverence and delight in him So for likeness Conformity is the ground of Communion Amos 3. 3. How can two walk together except they be agreed Our state of Sin is a state of Enmity and our state of Holiness a state of Love Our old Course made the Breach between us and God Isa. 59. 2. but the new Life and Likeness qualifies us for Communion with him 1. Ioh. 1. 6 7. An holy Creature may sweetly come and converse with the Holy God 2. In order to our Service and Obedience to God Man is unfit for God's use till he be new moulded and framed again In the Text we must be created in Christ Iesus to good Works Every Creature hath Faculties suitable to the Operations that belong to that Creature so Man must be new created new formed that he may be prepared and made ready for the Lord. You cannot expect new Operations till there be a New Nature and Life When a Man is turned from Sin he is made meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good Work 2 Tim. 2. 21. Our first care must be to get the Heart renewed Many are troubled about this or that Duty or particular Branches of the Spiritual Life first get Life it self There must be Principles before there can be Operations In vain do we expect strengthning Grace before we have received renewing Grace This is like little Children who attempt to run before they can go or stand Many complain of this or that Corruption but they do not groan under the burden of a corrupt Nature as suppose wandring Thoughts in Prayer when at the same time the Heart is habitually averse and estranged from God as if a Man should complain of an aking Tooth when a mortal Disease hath seized upon his Vitals or of a cut Finger when at the same time he is wounded at the Heart of deadness in Duty and want of quickning Grace when they want converting Grace This is like blowing to a dead Coal to complain of Infirmities and incident Weakness when our habitual aversion from and Enmity to God is not yet cured and unfitness for Service when we are not come out of the carnal State 3. In order to our future enjoyment of God and that Glory and Blessedness which we expect in his Heavenly Kingdom None but new Creatures can enter into the New Ierusalem It is said John 3. 3. Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Seeing is put for enjoying Yet the expression is Emphatical as if he should not be suffered so much as to peep or look within the Vail therefore the meer carnal Man neither knoweth his true Happiness nor careth for it but followeth after his own Lusts till he be new moulded and framed By Nature Men are opposite to the Kingdom of God it being invisible future spiritual mostly for the Soul and by nature Men are for things seen present and bodily The Interest of the Flesh governeth all their choices and inclinations and how unmeet are these for Heaven In short our frail
which maketh us Creatures only That came from his general Goodness this from his peculiar Love there it is Goodness here it is Grace 2 Tim. 1. 9. He hath called us with an holy Calling according to his own Purpose and Grace Creatures are sustained by his common Providence but new Creatures by his special Care and Covenant He openeth his Hand and satisfieth the desire of every living thing Psal. 145. 16. But he especially preserveth and supplieth Believers 1 Tim. 4. 10. He giveth others bodily Comforts but these Soul-refreshings and spiritual Graces Eph. 1. 3. There is Vestigium a Tract or Foot-print of God in all the Creation these have his Image restored in them Eph. 4. 24. The new Man is created after God Well then this is that we should look after that we may be his Workmanship made again It is a woful thing to be God's Workmanship by Creation and not by Renovation it is better never to have been God's Creature in the first making if not his Creature in the second making Better thou hadst been a Beast yea a Toad or Serpent than a Man for when the Beasts die Death puts an end to their Pains and Pleasures at once but all thy Comforts end with Death and then thy Pains begin the Beasts have no remorse to sowre their Pleasures but Man hath Conscience and therefore can have no rest till he return to God Secondly God's way of Concurrence to establish this Relation It is a Creation the Phrase is often used Eph. 4. 24. The new Man is created after God No other Hand could finish this piece of Workmanship God often sets it forth by this Term Isa. 43. 7. I have created him for my Glory I have formed him yea I have made him So vers 21. This People have I formed for my self they shall shew forth my Praise So in other places Now Creation is a Work of Omnipotency and proper to God There is a twofold Creation in the beginning God made some things out of nothing and somethings ex inhabili materia out of foregoing Matter but such as was wholly unfit for such things as was made of it As when God made Adam out of the dust of the Ground and Eve out of the Rib of Man Take the Notion in the former or latter Sence and it will sute with the Matter in hand 1. We are formed anew of God as it were out of a State of Nothing and get a new Being and a new Life To this there are frequent Allusions in Scripture as Rom. 9. 7. He calleth the things that are not as though they were 2 Cor. 4. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who speaketh Light out of Darkness he bringeth Life out of Death something out of nothing Now there is such a Distance between these two Terms that the Work can only be accomplished by a Divine Power 2. Creation out of unfit Matter We were wholly indisposed averse from Good perverse Resisters of it Now to bring us to love God and Holiness to restore God's lost Image to us it is a new forming or making of us and must be looked upon not as a low natural or common thing but as the Work of him who gave us his Image at first Col. 3. 10. The new Man is renewed after the Image of him that created him To turn a Heart of Stone into an Heart of Flesh God challengeth it to Himself Ezek. 36. 26. This Creation sheweth two things 1. The Greatness of the Disease that is clearly seen in the difficulty of the Remedy Nothing doth make a Man so sensible of the Corruption of his Nature as when we hear by what Terms our Recovery or Restitution by Grace is set forth It is a second Creation a new Birth a Resurrection a raising up of Stones to be Children to Abraham yea in a sort Beasts are turned into Angels From these things we may a little conceive of the greatness of that Disease which all Mankind were sick of Every Faculty of our Souls was both weakned and corrupted and God only by his Divine Power can restore us for to be cured we must be wholly new made and who can make or create but God Surely we contributed nothing to it What Enemies were we to our own Mercies It is no small matter for Darkness to become Light in the Lord for a rugged stubborn Creature to be mollified and submissive to the Spirit 's Discipline for a Slave of the Devil to become the Subject of Christ that an Heap of Rubbish should be erected into a Temple to God and a Dung-hill turned into a Bed of Spices 2. It teaches us to magnify this renewing Work If you think the Cure is no great matter it will necessarily follow that it deserveth no great praise and so God will be robbed of the Honour of our Recovery But why then is this Work so magnified in the Scriptures and such high Expressions used about it Why is it called an opening of our blind Eyes a turning us from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to God a quickning them that were dead and making us new Creatures Why must the Holy Ghost be shed so abundantly upon us for our Renovation Surely it is some great thing which all these Expressions do intend and should be more magnified in our thoughs that we may give God his due praise and honour And they sin greatly that have contemptuous thoughts or a low esteem of it or see not the absolute necessity of it and by extenuating this great Change give shrewd suspicion they were never acquainted with it Surely all that have felt what God hath done for their Souls they know how little they have contributed to it they dare not make light of it and ascribe it to their own Wit or Will or entertain undervaluing thoughts of this Grace Alas there is an Enmity in every carnal Heart against Holiness till God remove it and subdue it Rom. 8. 7. Col. 1. 21. And what shall conquer this Enmity but his invincible Power Surely this is the gracious and powerful Work of the ever-blessed GOD and to be ascribed to Him alone Can a stony Heart of it self become tender Or a dead Heart quicken it self Or a Creature wholly led by Sense and addicted to the Pleasures of Sin be brought of it self to seek its Happiness in an unseen World and of its own accord deny present things and lay up all its Hopes in Heaven No it is God must take away the Heart of Stone quicken those that are dead in Trespasses and Sins 3dly How far the Mediation of Christ is concerned in this Effect We are renewed by God's creating Power but through the intervening Mediation of Christ. 1. This creating Power is set forth with respect to his Merit The Life of Grace is purchased by his Death 1 Ioh. 4. 9. God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live by him Here spiritually hereafter eternally Life opposite to
Mind and Judgment so the Heart is new moulded The great Blessing of the new Covenant is a new Heart Now the Heart is new when we are inclined to the ways of God and enabled to walk in them 1. There is a new Inclination poise and weight upon the Soul bending it to Holy and Heavenly things The inclination to Holiness David prayeth for Psal. 119. 36. Encline my Heart unto thy Testimonies and not to Covetousness To Heavenly things Paul asserteth 2 Cor. 4. 18. We look not to the things which are seen but to the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are Temporal but the things which are not seen are Eternal When we always live in delightful foresight and expectation of Blessedness to come 2. The Heart is enabled also Ezek. 36. 27. I will put a new Spirit into you and cause you to walk in my Ways Where there is a new Heart there is new Strength or Grace given To serve God acceptably and with Reverence and Godly Fear Heb. 12. 28. Indeed God assists this Power or else we fail and wax faint but a Power there is in some measure to will and do For the Kingdom of God stands not in Word but in Power There is a Power to overcome Fleshly Lusts the Heavenly Mind is not given us in vain 1 Pet. 2. 11. Dearly Beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly Lusts which war against the Soul A Power to overcome Worldly Lusts Phil. 4. 13. When we seek no great things for our selves here in this World we can the better bear all Conditions I do confess as I said before God must assist this Power both in willing and doing purposing and performing We may have assistance in one kind and not in another Paul saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Rom. 7. 18. To will is present with me but how to perform that which I would I have no Power To will is more than to think to exert our Will into Action is more than both In all we need God's help Some may have the Power to Will when no Power to Do so Peter se posse putabat quòd se velle sentiebat But yet I describe a Christian or a new Creature by his Power because God's Children are never so deserted but that there is some help from God There are Auxilia necessaria helps of Grace simply and absolutely necessary which are not denied when liberal and plentiful aids of Grace are suspended and therefore a Christian is to be described by his Power though still in a dependance upon God 3. A new Life or a new Conversation called walking in newness of Life Rom. 6. 4. Surely he that hath a new Principle the Spirit and not the Flesh a new Rule the Law of God and not the course of this World a new scope the pleasing glorifying and enjoying of God and not the pleasing of Men and his own fleshly Mind must needs walk in a different course both from other carnal Men and from what he himself carried on before but all these are true of the new Creature he is influenced by another Principle Rom. 8. 12. Gal. 5. 16. looketh upon himself as having another Rule Gal. 6. 16. Psal. 1. 2. and propoundeth to himself another design and scope Phil. 3. 20. 2 Cor. 5. 9. and therefore must needs live another Life Well then by these things you may judg of your Estate III. Use. To exhort you to look after this that you be the Workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus You will say what can we do This is God's Work in which we are meerly Passive I Answer It is certainly an abuse of this Doctrine if it lull us asleep in the Lap of Idleness and we think that because God doth all in framing us for the new Life we must do nothing The Spirit of God reasoneth otherwise Phil. 2. 12 13. Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his own good Pleasure This Principle can neither be a ground of loosness or laziness You are under an Obligation both to return to God and to use the means whereby you may return Your Impotency doth not dissolve your Obligation A drunken Servant is a Servant and bound to do his Work his Master loseth not his Right by his Default An insolvent Debtor is a Debtor and if he cannot pay all he is bound to pay as much as he can Besides you are Creatures in Misery if you be sensible of it your Interest will teach you to do what you can to come out of it and God's doing all is an Engagement to wait upon him in the use of Means that we may meet with God in his Way and he may meet with us in our Way I say in his Way for God hath appointed certain Duties to convey and apply this Grace Now we are to lie at the Pool till the Waters be stirred to continue our Attendance till God giveth Grace Mark 4. 24. And I say that God may meet with us in our Way for God influencenth all things according to their Natural Inclination God that enlightneth the World by and with the Sun burneth with Fire reasoneth with Man acteth necessarily with necessary Causes and freely with free causes he doth not oppress the liberty of the new Creature but preserveth the Nature and Interest of his own Workmanship draweth Men with the Cords of a Man Hos. 11. 4. He propoundeth Reasons and Motives which we must consider and so betake our selves to a Godly Course The Object of Regeneration is a reasonable Creature upon whom God worketh not as on a Stock or Stone but maketh use of the faculties which they have shewing us our lost Estate and the possibility of Salvation by Christ sweetly inviting us to accept of this Grace that he may pardon our Sins sanctify and heal our Natures and lead us in a way of Holiness unto Eternal Life Now these means we are to attend upon and it is some advantage when you own your Duty and are sensible of a necessity of changing your Estate who would otherwise be altogether careless and mindless of such a thing But when you look on it as a Duty that must be speedily and earnestly gone about if you mean to be saved you are in a fair way of cure By Exhortation we demand God's right and make the Creatures sensible of his own Obligation that he may go about this work as well as he can at least that he may acknowledg the Debt confess his Impotency and beg Grace Besides there are some things to be done before this Renovation in order thereunto as Wood is dried before it is kindled There are some preparations before Conversion and we are to be active about them As for instance that we should rouse up our selves and consider our case Psal. 22. 27. All the ends of the Earth shall remember and