The Converted Mans New Birth, Chapter 5 – Prayer
CHAP. V.
The fifth Chapter entreateth of the true eſtate of the Rege…erate man, with the certainty of his ſaluation.
REgeneration is our a2 Cor. 5. 17. Gala. 7. 15.new birth, whereby wee are borne, and renewed agayne bActs 11▪ 18▪ 2 K…n…s 17 13. Ho…ea 14▪ 1. Ierem. 18. 11. Ezekel. 18. 21. 22. 23. Ierem. 25. 5. Mat. 3. 2. 6. 8. Ierem. 36. 3. Mat. 4. 17. Luke 13. 3. Acts 2. 38. Luke 24. 4. Acts 17. 30. 1 Peter 3. 9by Repentance: And as the*Mat. 3. 2. 6. 8. Merchants ſold all that hee had, and forſaketh his Worldly wealth, to gayne one precious pearle: So the Regenerate man leaueth and forſaketh his ſinnes, and all worldly vanities, for to obtayne eternall life: And doth not onelyonly diſlike and forſake his ſinnes, but alſo from the tender bowels of his heart, inceſſantly, with all humility, powre out his cMat. 15. 22 23 24▪ 25. 26. 27. 28 Mar. 7 25. 29. 27. 28. 29. 30. 2 Samuel 24. 20 Romains 12. 12daily prayers vntounto Almighty God, to giuegive him his grace, to ſuppreſſe, and mortifie them; and ſo ſheweth the powre of Gods grace, working in him. And by returning vntounto God by his true Repentance. God giueth him dIohn 5. 6. Ro…a…s … 4. Gal… … 16. …heſians 4 1.a new heart, and a new Spirit, (not in ſubſtance or quantity, but in quality) which is a true and faythfull witneſſe giuing Teſtimoney, not to GOD, for that it needes not; not to others, for that it cannot, but to the man who hath it, for that it muſt; of th… Truth of thoſe things which it knoweth to bee in him, concerning Gods will, and his owne eternall wellfaire.
Seeing then A faithfull witneſſe will not lye; Prouerbs 14. 7.and the Spirit of the Penitent, teſtifie the Truth of his Repentance; why may not he then, be as firmely perſwaded of the certainty of his ſaluation: as his heart witneſſeth the ſincerity of his conuerſion: Yes ſurely,2 Cor. 13. 5. St. Paul proues it, Know yee not your owne ſelues, how Ieſus Chriſt is in you, except yee be Reprobates: Wee may ſurely know, that if wee hauehave truely repented, and are heartily ſorry for our ſinnes, with a full and determinate purpoſe to continue in newneſſe of life,Romans 81. That Chriſt is in vsus, Iohn 5…. 24.if Chriſt be in vsus, then wee are in Chriſt; if wee bee in Chriſt, wee cannot be condemned: For there is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Ieſus.
For, ſinne legally conſidered is mortall, But aEſay 59. 2. Luke 13. 3. Nahu. 2. 25.Euangelically, is veniall, except the ſinne againſt the Holy Ghoſt, mortall, by his owne merrit, but bEſay 1. 18. Iohn 5. 8.veniall by Chirſt his mercy: Mortall to the naturall vnregenerated man; For hee dIohn 3. 18.that beleeueth not, is condemned already; but veniall to the Regenerate though ſtill ſinne: By the couenant of grace, it diſſolueth not the louelove and league betweene God and man, and ſo is veniall, in all other ſinne is mortall by his owne nature.
Agayne,Rom. 7. 5. 6. by nature man and his fleſh are all one, but by grace they are ſeperated: By nature when the fleſh doth ſinne, the man alſo ſinneth, becauſe hee is in ſubiection vntounto it: but in the eſtate of grace, although the fleſh be in him, (and doe ſinne,) yet he ſinneth not, becauſe they are di…orſed a ſunder; For man aſſoone as hee is in the eſtate of grace, is newly married vntounto Chriſt: In this caſe, although the fleſh beget ſin, yet the regenerate man ſhall not be condemned.
Yet, one thing let vsus conſider, That he whichaIere. 20 14. 15. Pſalme 22. 1. Ionas 2. 4. Mark. 9. 24. Pſalm 77. 6 Pſalme 42. 11. Pſal. 51. 10. 12. neuer doubted of his ſaluation, ſcarce euer beleeued to be ſaued; For it is not eueryevery little ſob, or ſigh, that brings Repentance ſufficient to pleaſe God, or a little while to crye Lord helpe, Lord helpe, I am a ſinner, but God is mercifull, &c. and ſo lightly daube them ouer, as though Gods mercy were gayned in a moment: Let no man deceiue himſelfe, ItbLuke 18. 1. Rom. 12. 12. Colo. 4. 2. will coſt him many a prayer, and many cIames 4. 9. Deut. 1. 45. Gen. 37. 34. 35 2 King 20. 1. 2. 3 Mat. 26. 75. 2 King. 22. 11. 19 Pſalme▪ 30. 5.a teare, before he can be certayne or ſure to hauehave pardon for his ſinnes.
For as no man can repent vntill hee know his ſinnes, ſo no man can know his ſinnes vntill hee ſearch himſelfe; Therefore you muſt with KingdPſalme 77. 6. Pſalme 119. 59. Dauid, Seach your ſpirits, and f2 Cor. 13. 5. Lamen. 3. 4. Pſalme 4. 4examine your conſcience ſtrictly, trye it throughly, ſearch it narrowly, to proue dilligently, who, and what manner of perſon yee are, and in what caſe yee feele your ſelues, to ſet, and know how deeply your conſcience is wounded with ſinne.
And then, if you find gPſalme 77. 6.your wayes dangerous, and your caſe fearefull, you muſt thereuppon reſolue to take a new courſe, and withal to ſeek how, and which way you may come agayne intoaPro. 3. 3, 4. Iudges 6. 17. fauour with God: As Dauid did, WhobPſalme. 51. cryed vntounto God agayne, and agayne; and you muſt neuer leaue the Lord, vntill you obtayne his*Exod. 20. 6. Exod. 22. 27. mercy, and fauour, that you may get ſome comfortable perſwaſion of Gods louelove in Chriſt, for the pardon of your ſinnes; vntill you do ſo, you ſhall neuercPro. 15. 13. 2 Cor. 1. 12. Romans 5. 1. Acts 20. 26. 1 Pet. 3. 15. 16. 21 Pſalme 30. 2. 3. hauehave any peace, or quietneſſe of conſcience, nor any ſound comfort of Gods holy Spirit in you.
Therefore, Vnum neceſſarium, This one thing is neceſſary, whatſoeuer wee leaue vnknowne, let vsus labour to know this, That wee areaGala. 4. 9. 2 Timothy 2. 19 Romans 11. 2. Colo. 1. 10. Hoſea. 6. 6. the Lords. Qui Chriſtum diſcit, ſatis eſt ſi caetera neſcit, He may without danger be ignorant of thoſe things, that truely knoweth Ieſus Chriſt.
The beſt hauehave deſired to make their Saluation ſure; as I the vnworthieſt of all other, do dayly labour to doe the ſame: Dauid which knew yt God loued him, entreateth to know it more, I know thou fauoureſt me; Pſalme 35. 3.yet hee cryed, Dic animamcae, Say vntounto my ſoule. I am thy Saluation.
The Scripture hath many proofes of theaIohn. 19. …5 26. 27. Rom. 8. 9. 15. 16. Pſalme 31. 1. Iob 13. 25. 26. Gala 4. 5. 6. 7. Iohn 4. 15. 16. 17 1 Iohn 2. 28. Pſalme 35 9. 2 Peter 1. 10. certainty of our ſaluation; and Dauid would neuer pray for that which could not be: neyther would St. Peter charge vsus with a duty which could not poſſibly be performed: Make your election ſure; which muſt bee done, by the true and proper worke ofbHeb. 11. 1. 5. 6 Mat. 9. 29. Dan. 3. 17. Acts 15. 9. 1 Peter 1. 9. Faith, that giueth the true beleeuer a ſtedfaſt, and vnmooueable aſſurance of the louelove of God, that hee may fully enioy the comfort of his Saluation.
And whereas St. Paul ſayth, Know yee not how Ieſus Chriſt is in you, 2 Cor. 13. 5.except yee be reprobates? Here the Apoſtle giueth vsus to vnderſtand, that all which beleeue, hauehave the ſpirit of diſcerning, to know certainely that they doe beleeue. And ſheweth that, to prooue a mans ſelfe whether he be in the faith, which is to prooue whether Chriſt bee in him, becauſe the Faith of which he ſpeaketh, is that liuely ſaith, whereby Chriſt dwelleth in our hearts.
Hee therefore that knoweth himſelfe to bée in the true Faith, knoweth Chriſt to bee in himſelfe: As St. Paul ſayth, I know whom I hauehave beleeued. And agayne, by this wee know,2 Timo. 1. 12. hee dwelleth in vsus, euen by the ſpirit which he hath giuen vsus:1 Iohn 3. 24: It is manifeſt yt the property of true faith, guides the aſſurance of our ſaluation, and the greater our faith is, 1 Peter 1. 7. 8 9the greater is our aſſurance. And conſequently the true beléeuer knoweth, and is aſſured of his election and ſaluation, for Faith is the Faith of Gods elect:Acts 13. 48. So many beleeued as were ordayned vntounto ſaluation: …om. 8. 38. 39.And I am perſwaded that neyther death, nor life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come, ſhall bee able to ſeperate mee, from the louelove of God. Therefore the Apoſtle was fully perſwaded of his ſaluation:2 Timoth. 4. … And agayne, Henceforth is laid vp for me the crowne of righteouſneſſe: So the Virgin Mary called Chriſt her Sauiour;Luke 1. 47. and the Théefe upon the Croſſe,Luke 23. 43. ſayd, Lord remember me; The like ſayd St. Paul, Gala. 2. 20.That Chriſt gaue himſelfe for me. Phil. 1. 2. 3.If you bee demanded how long you may be aſſured of your ſaluation; you may anſwer, ſo long as you hauehave truely repented, and continue in newneſſe of life, your ſure truſt & confidence is, yt God will neuer forſake them that put their truſt in him: for EueryEvery one that beleeueth in him, Rom. 9. 33.ſhall not be aſhamed.
And this promiſe God hath made to all that beleeue in him: I will put my feare in their hearts, that they ſhal not depart from me:Iere. 32. 40. And agayne, There is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Ieſus, becauſe (ſayth the Apoſtle) they walke not after the fleſh,Rom. 8. 1. but after the Spirit.
Laſtly, the moſt excellent Faith, ſheweth not it ſelfe moſt glorious, when wee hauehave moſt ſence or feeling; but rather when we feele, or diſcerne the contrary. Iob, Iob 13. 15.when he apprehended nothing but Gods wrath and diſpleaſure, euen then he ſhewed a moſt victorious Faith, Loe, though he ſlay me, yet will I truſt in him: The like of Iacob, in his tedious conflict,Gene. 32. 24. where hee ſayd, I will not let thee goe, except thou bleſſe mee: Hoſea 12. 4.And the woman of Canaan, who although ſhee receiued diuers repulſes, and earneſt deniall, yet continued her ſuite,Mat. 15. 28. and is commended▪ for her Faith, Heb. 12. 2.by the Author and finiſher of our Faith.
To conclude, wee are not to build the aſſurance of our ſaluation, vppon our owne ſence or feeling; but vppon Gods vnchangeable and gracious promiſes made vntounto vsus, in Chriſt Ieſus.
CHAP. VI.
The ſixt Chapter, ſheweth an excellent marke to know the child of God, which hath truely repented.
HE that hath earneſtly Repented, and is truely conuerted from his ſinnes, hath this ſpecial marke in him:Mat. 13. 14. Hee is none of thoſe fruitleſſe aMat 13. 19. 29hearers, barren beleeuers, vnregenerate knowers, or verball Profeſſors; but he is the faithfull doer of the will and word of God.
Whoſoeuerb1 Iohn 3. 5 keepeth Gods word, in him verily is the louelove of God perfected: Hereby know we that we are in him, hee that abideth in God, ought alſo to walke euen as he hath walked: That is as St. Iohn ſheweth vsus, EueryEvery man thatc1 Iohn 3. 2. hath this hope in him, purifieth himſelfe, euen as hee is pure: And ſeekethdPſalme 95. 8. the preſent time to returne vntounto the Lord; becauſe hee hath a bleeding and a tenderePſalme 51. 17 heart; it tremblethfPſalme 51. 4. at the Word: It is prickedgActs 2. 37. when it is rebuked; and inflamed with burning hPſalme 69. 5. Iohn 2. 17 pſal 119. 139. Titus 2. 14.zeale, when it is inſtructed. The Regenerate man deſireth nothing ſo much, As heei… 55. 6. 26. deſireth God; Therefore, he maketh himſelfek1 Iohn 3. 3. fit for him,lRom 4 7. 8 Bleſſed; themEſay 41. 8. Wiſdome 7. 27 Iohn 15. 14. 15. friend of God, and doth count all thingsnPhil 3. 8. but dung, that he may winne Chriſt.
Hee reioyceth inoRom 12 19. 20 forgiuing them that hurt him; andpMat. 5. 44. loueth them that hate him; andqRom. 12. 19. rendreth good for euill, he diſpiſethrPro. 14. 21. none, but louethſRomans 12 10 all, and is not raſh in tEccle. 5. 1.words, butuPro. 10. 32. reaſonable, not haſtywPro. 18. 13. but ſeaſonable, notxPro. 25 11 grieuous, but gracious, notyProuerbs 15. … ▪ prouoking, butzPro. 12. 19. appeaſing, notaIudges 8. 3. offenſiue, but to goodbPſalme 30. 1 purpoſe: Sober incProuerbs 15. 1 cenſuring, faithfulldGala. 6. 1. in anſwering, mildeePſal 119. 1. in reproouing, carefull infPſal. 39. 1. defending, and fearefull ofg1 Cor. 11. 1 offending, imitating thehPro. 4. 14. Godly, ſhunning theiPſal. 5. 9. wicked, imbracing thek1 Pet. 3. 9. vertuous, and flyinglIames 4. 9. 1 Peter 5. 5. ſinne: For the Spirit of God aſſures no manmLuke 13. 3 pardon of his ſinnes, but ſuch as be humbled for them, repent andn1 Iohn 1. 9 confeſſe them to God, leaue and forſake oEphe. 4. …4 1 Pet. 1. 2. 3. Gala. 6. 15. 2 Cor. 5. 17.them, and withall to become newpRom 6. 4. Acts 3. 26. Gala. 5. 16. Ephe. 4. 1. 1 Ioh. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6 1 Peter 2. 9. 10 11. 12. 13. Iohn 3. 16. Acts 20. 21. Creatures, and walk in newneſſeqMar. 3. 35. of life. All thoſe that walke in newneſſe of life, are ſuch as our Sauiour Chriſt called his Mother, Siſter,qMar. 3. 35. and Brother, hisrRomans 6. 18 Seruants, his Friends,ſIohn 15. 14. 1 his Sonnes, andtCan. 5. 1 his Spouſe.
All thoſe bee tearmes of louelove, and that from Chriſt himſelfe, to requite the Regenerate man, that returneth vntounto him by vnfeigned Repentance.
Non tam audire, quam obedire requirit Deus, God regards more an obedient heart, than an attentiue eare; what ſhould I ſay more, ſeeing the whole courſe and cannon of Scripture runneth that all Chriſtians in their returning vntounto the Lord by Repentance ſhould bee Attents, vigilantes, uPſal. 130. 3. Pſalme 143. 2 Daniel 9. 7. 8 Luke 21. 26 Marke 24. 24 Mich. 6 6. Rom. 11. 25. Romans 12. Mat. 10. Pro. 4. 13. Ecceſ. 2. 15.ſoliciti, inſtantes, ſeruentes, perſeuerantes ſine intermiſſione, That is attentiue, vigilant, carefull, inſtant, feruent, and perſeuerant without intermiſſion of the ſeruice of God; That they may attayne, Fontem vitae, radicem, prudentiae, coronam & plenitudinem ſapientiae, gloriam & gaudium, quod eſt faeliciſſimum donum: The fountayne of life, the roote of Prudence, the crowne and ful eſſe of wiſdome, the glory and ioy of God, which is the moſt happ…eſt eſtate that can bee giuen vntounto man, a bleſſed gift: Who can deſire more to mooue him to returne vntounto the Lord by Repentance.
A Right, Zealous, and Godly Prayer, taken out of the pure fountaine of holy Scripture; Very neceſſary for all repentant ſinners to vſe daily vppon their knees, vntounto Almighty God.
MOſt gracious, high,a…s;ay 57. 15. Marke 5. 7. Pſalme 86. 5. and moſt mercifullbPſalme 143. 9 Pſalme 86. 15 Sauiour; as thouc1 Tim. 4. 10 Mathew 1. 21 art in promiſes true, indPſalme 86. 5 Number 23. 19 workes holy, in mercieseEſay 6. 3. rich, andfPſalme 130. 7 Romans 10. 12 towards the penitent ſinner moſt mercifull, hauehavegEzekel 18. 21 Hoſea 6. 1. Ieremy 18. 18. mercy vponupon me, and indue me good Lord with thy feare, withhPſalme 2. 11 ſorrow of hearr for my ſinnes, withiPſalme 51. 17 humility of minde, with akPſalme 23. 4 true Faith, and purel1 Peter 1. 9. Acts 15. 9. Acts 15. 9. conſcience, thatmRoman. 3. 18 I may (by thy helpe) ſeriouſly enter into my ſelfe, deſcend into my owne conſcience, and make a true ſuruey of my inward man; and withall helpe menCor. … 3. 5. O Lord, myoPſalme 70. 5. Pſal 109. 25. … life to correctpIohn 5. 16. 40. my preſent ſinfulneſſe, erect my further weakneſſe, and direct my future frailty, that I neuer fall againe into ſinne, leaſt I periſh in myqPſal 94. 23. wickedneſſe: Behold, O ſweete IeſurWiſ. 16. 21. they creature, ſighs afterſPſalme 42. 1. 2 thee, thou art my Creator; O maketGene. 1. 26. Geneſis 5. 1. Wiſ. …. 23. me new againe, behold IuPſalme 28. 1. Pſalme 5. 2. thy workman-ſhip crie vntounto thee; thou artwIohn 14. 6. Iohn 11. 25. my life; O quickenxPſalme 7. 1. Pſalme 99. 8. 9 Pſalme 18. 1. me againe; O Lord my GodyIohn 1. 4. 1 Iohn 1. 5. 7. 2 Samu. 22. 20. Iohn 8. 12. Iohn 9. 5. my light, wherebyzLuke 1. 79. I am directed; hauehaveaPſalme 51. 1 mercy vponupon me; ObPſalme 22. 19 defender of my life, my ſtrengthcExod. 15 2. 2 Sam. 22. 3. Iob 9. 19. and my comfort in the day of mydPſalme 59. 16 trouble, conſider my ePſalme 25. 19aduerſaries, and deliuer me from that ſoulefReue. 1 2 3. dragon, that he neuer may deuoure me, who ſtill ſeeketh to ſwallow meg1 … 5. 8. vp, and would cauſe my ſinnes to make a ſeperation between this vaniſhing eſtate of mine, and thine eternity;h… 2. O therefore, holde him faſt good Lord, and bruiſe him in peeces, thati… hee exerciſe not his deuiſes vponupon me, and caſt mee not off in the time of my age, now I am graykPſalme 71. 16 headed, but bee thoul2 Samuel 22. 3 Iob 9. 19. Exodus 15. 2. my ſtrength, now my ſtrength faileth me: And moſt humbly I beſeech thee agayne, and againe, with ſighes, groanes, and teares, to take away all my ſinnes from me, that in all the reſt of my life, my waies may be verity, and mymPſalme 86. 11 pathes piety: O let thy holy Spiritn1 Cor. 3. 10. conduct me, and thy word direct me, thatoIohn 1. 1. I may forſake all my ſinnes, whereby I may beginne to liue in thypPſalme 2. 11. 1 Peter 1. 17. feare, proceede and continue in thy fauour, grow daily in thy grace, that I may ende, and liue with thee in thy glory, and ſo ſweete Ieſus ſay, Amen.
FINIS
End of the text · John Andrewes, The Converted Mans New Birth (1629)