Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

natural tempers and conftitutions of the regenerate; fome are of a more melancholy, fearful, and fufpicious temper, than others are; and are therefore much longer held under doubtings, and trouble of fpirit: nevertheless, what differences foever these things make, the change made by grace, is a marvellous change. Infer. 7. Lastly, How incongruous are carnal ways, and courfes, to the Spirit of Chriftians! who being new creatures, can never delight, or find pleafure in their former finful companions and practices. Alas! thofe things are now moft unfuitable, loathfome, and deteftable, how pleasant foever they once were; that which they counted their liberty, would now be reckoned their greatest bondage; that which was their glory, is now their fhame; Rom. vi. 21. "What fruit had ye, then, in those "things, whereof ye are now afhamed; for the end of those "things is death:" they need not be preffed by others, but will, freely confefs, of themselves, what fools and mad men, they once were. None can cenfure their former converfation more feverely than themselves do, 1 Tim. i. 13, 14.

Second ufe, for conviction.

If none be in Christ, but new creatures, and the new creation makes fuch a change, as hath been defcribed; this may convince us, how many of us deceive ourselves, and run into dangerous and fatal mistakes, in the greatest concernment we have in this world. But, before I urge this ufe, I defire none may make a perverfe and ill use of it; let not the wicked conclude, from hence, that there is no fuch thing as true religion in the world, or that all who do profefs it, are but hypocrites; neither let the godly injure themselves, by that which is defigned for their benefit: let none conclude, that feeing there are fo many mistakes committed about this new creature, that therefore afsurance muft needs be impoffible, as the Papists affirm it to be. The proper use that should be made of this doctrine, is, to undeceive false pretenders, and to awaken all, to a more deep, and thorough fearch of their own conditions; which being precautioned, let all men be convinced of the following truths.

First, That the change made by civility, upon fuch as were lewd and prophane, is, in its whole kind and nature, a different thing from the new creature; the power and efficacy of moral virtue is one thing, the influence of the regenerating Spirit is quite another thing; however fome have ftudied to confound them. The Heathens excelled in moral and homilitical virtues : Plato, Ariftides, Seneca, and multitudes more, have outvied many profeffed Chriftians, in juftice, temperance, patience, &c. yet were perfect Atrangers to the new creation. A man may be

[ocr errors]

SERM. XXVI. very ftrict, and temperate, free from the grofs pollutions of the world; and yet a perfect stranger to regeneration, all the while, John iii. to.

Secondly, That many strong convictions and troubles for fin, may be found, where the new creature is never formed. Conviction, indeed, is an antecedent unto, and preparative for the new creature, as the bloffoms of the tree are to the fruit that follow them; but as fruit doth not always follow, where thofe bloffoms and flowers appear; fo neither doth the new creature follow all convictions and troubles for fin. Conviction is a common work of the Spirit, both upon the elect and reprobates; but the new creature is formed only in God's elect. Convictions may be blasted, and vanish away, and the man that was under troubles for fin, may return again, with "the dog to his "vomit, and the fow that was washed, to her wallowing in the "mire," 2 Pet. ii. 22. but the new creature never perishes, nor can confift with fuch a return unto fin.

Thirdly, That excellent gifts and abilities, fitting men for fervice in the church of God, may be where the new creature is not; for these are promifcuously difpenfed, by the Spirit, both to the regenerate and unregenerate: Mat. vij. 22. "Many will "fay unto me, in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied "in thy name?" Gifts are attainable by study, prayer and preaching are reduced to an art; but regeneration is wholly fupernatural. Sin, in dominion, is confiftent with excellent gifts, but wholly incompatible with the new creature. In a word, thefe things are fo different in nature from the new creature, that they oft-times prove the greatest bars and obftacles in the world, to the regenerating-work of the Spirit. Let no man, therefore, truft to things whereby multitudes deceive and destroy their own fouls. Reader, it may coft thee many an aking head to obtain gifts, but thou wilt find an aking heart for fin, if ever God make thee a new creature. ⠀

Fourthly, Be convinced, that multitudes of religious duties may be performed by men, in whom the new creature was never formed. Though all new creatures perform the duties of religion, yet all that perform the duties of religion, are not new creatures; regeneration is not the only root from which the duties of religion fpring, Ifa. lviii. 2. Yet they feek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and "forfook not the ordinances of their God, they ask of me the "ordinances of justice, they take delight in approaching to God." Thefe are but weak and flippery foundations for men to build their confidence and hopes upon.

[ocr errors]

Third ufe, for examination.

Next, therefore, let me perfuade every man to try the state of his own heart, in this matter, and closely confider and weigh this great question; Am I really and indeed a new creature? or, am I an old creature ftill, in the new creature's drefs and habit? Some light may be given for the difcovery hereof, from the confidera

tion of the

1. Antecedents, 2. Concomitants,

3. Confequents,

of the new creation.

First, Weigh and confider well, the antecedents of the new creature: have those things paffed upon your fouls, which ordinarily make way for the new creature, in whomfoever the Lord forms it?

1. Hath the Lord opened the eyes of your understanding, in the knowledge of fin, and of Chrift? Hath he fhewed you both your difeafe and remedy, by a new light shining from heaven into your fouls! Thus the Lord doth, wherever he forms the new creature, Acts xxvi. 18.

2. Hath he brought home the word with mighty power and efficacy upon your hearts, to convince and humble them? This is the method in which the new creature is produced, Rom. vii. 9. 1 Thef. i. 5.

3. Have these convictions over-turned your vain confidences, and brought you to a great concern, and inward distress of foul; making you to cry, What shall we do to be faved? These are the ways of the Spirit, in the formation of the new creature, Acts xvi. 29. Acts ii. 37. If no fuch antecedent works of the Spirit have paffed upon your hearts, you have no ground for your confidence, that the new creature is formed in you.

Secondly, Confider the concomitant frames, and workings of Spirit, which ordinarily attend the production of the new creature, and judge impartially, betwixt God and your own fouls, whether they have been the very frames and workings of your hearts.

1. Have your vain Spirits been compofed to the greatest ferioufness, and moft folemn confideration of things eternal, as the hearts of all thofe are, whom God regenerates? When the Lord is about this great work, upon the foul of man, 'whatever vanity, levity, and finful jollity, was there before, it is banished from the heart, at this time; for now heaven and hell, life and death, are before a man's eyes, and these are the most awful, and folemn things, that ever our thoughts converfed with in this world. Now a man of the most airy, and pleasant consti

SERM. XXVI. tution, when brought to the fight and fenfe of those things, faith of "Laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doth it?" Eccl. ii. 2.

2. A lowly, meek, and humble frame of heart, accompanies the new creation; the foul is weary, and heavy laden, Mat. xi. 28. Convictions of fin have plucked down the pride, and loftinefs of the fpirit of man, emptied him of his vain conceits; those that were of lofty, proud, and bluftering humours before, are meekened, and brought down to the very duft now: it is with them (to speak allufively) as it was with Jerufalem, that lofty city, Ifa. xxix. 1, 4. "Wo to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where Da "vid dwelt; thou fhalt be brought down, and shalt speak out "of the ground, and thy fpeech fhall be low out of the dust." Ariel fignifies the Lion of God; fo Jerufalem, in her profperity, was; other cities trembled at her voice; but when God brought her down, by humbling judgments, then the whispered out of the duft. So it is in this cafe.

3. A longing, thirfting frame of spirit, accompanies the new creation; the defires of the foul are ardent after Chrift; never did the hireling long for the fhadow, as the weary foul doth for Chrift, and reft in him: if no fuch frames have accompanied that which you take for your new birth, you have the greatest reason in the world to fufpect yourselves under a delufion.

Thirdly, Weigh well the effects, and confequents of the new creature, and confider, whether fuch fruits as thefe are found in your hearts and lives.

1. Wherever the new creature is formed, there a man's courfe and converfation is changed; Eph. iv. 22. “That ye

put off, concerning the former converfation, the old man, "which is corrupt, according to the deceitful lufts; and be "renewed in the fpirit of your mind:" the new creature cannot but blush, and be ashamed of the old creature's converfation, Rom. vi. 21.

2. The new creature continually opposes, and conflicts with the motions of fin in the heart; Gal. v. 17. "The fpirit luft"eth against the flesh." Grace can no more incorporate with fin, than oil with water contraries cannot consist in the fame fubject, longer than they are fighting with each other: if there be no conflict with fin in thy foul, or if that conflict be only betwixt the confcience and affections, light in the one, ftruggling with luft in the other; thou wanteft that fruit which should evidence thee to be a new creature.

3. The mind and affections of the new creature, are fet

upon

[ocr errors]

heavenly and spiritual things, Col. iii. 1, 2. Eph. iv. 23. Rom. viii. 5. If, therefore, thy heart and affections he habitually earthly, and wholly intent upon things below, driving eagerly after the world, as the great bufinefs and end of thy life; deceive not thyself, this is not the fruit of the new creature, nor confiftent with it.

4. The new creature is a praying creature, living by its daily communion with God, which is its livelihood and fubfiftence, Zech. xii. 10. Acts ix. II. If, therefore, thou be a prayerlefs foul, or if, in all thy prayers, thou art a ftranger to communion with God: if there be no brokenness of heart for fin, in thy confeffions, no melting affections for Christ, and holiness, in thy fupplications; furely Satan doth but baffle, and delude thy overcredulous foul, in perfuading thee that thou art a new crea

ture.

Fifthly, The new creature is restless, after falls into fin, until it have recovered peace and pardon; it cannot endure itsel in a state of defilement and pollution, Pfal. li. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. It is with the confcience of a new creature, under fin, as it is with the eye, when any thing offends it; it cannot leave twinkling, and watering, till it have wept it out: and in the very fame restless state it is, under the hiding of God's face, and divine withdrawments, Cant. v. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. If, therefore, thou cauft fin, and fin again, without fuch a burthenfome fenfe of fin, or restleffaefs, or follicitude how to recover purity and peace, with the light of God's countenance fhining, as in days paft, upon thy foul; delude not thyself, thou haft not the figas of a new creature in thee.

Fourth ufe, of exhortation.

If the new creation be a found evidence of our intereft in Christ, then, hence, let me perfuade all that are in Chrift, to evidence themselves to be so, by walking as it becomes new crea

tures.

:

The new creature is born from above, all its tendencies are heaven-ward; accordingly, fet your affections on things that are above, and let your converfation be in heaven: if you live earthly and fenfual lives, as others do, you must cross your new nature therein and can those acts be pleasant unto you, which are done with fo much regret? wherein you must put a force upon your own fpirits, and offer a kind of violence to your own hearts. Earthly delights and forrows, are fuitable enough to the unregenerate and fenfual men in the world, but exceedingly contrary unto that fpirit by which you are reno VOL. II. Q99

« AnteriorContinuar »