Time Well Spent in Sacred Meditations, Part 128 – Part 137
The Regenerate and unregenerate.
It often falleth out by the wiſe providence of Hard to diſcerne betvveene the regenerate and unregenerate.God, that the unregenerate be in outward appearance ſo like the regenerate that they cannot bee diſcerned one from the other, theſe falling ſo low in ſinne, thoſe riſing ſo high in obedience: which the Lord ſo diſpoſeth for Gods ends herein▪the good of his children that they ſhould never bee ſo contented with their meaſure as to ceaſe their travaile for increaſe and ſo to waxe ſecure, but rather that they might hereby bee ſtirred up to make their calling and election more ſure, and ſo worke out their ſalvation in feare and trembling. In conſideration hereof we muſt not We muſt not be diſmaid at the falls of others.bee diſmayed when as we heare and ſee ſuch to fall away, of whom we have thought very well, for the foundation of God remaineth ſure; neither muſt we be diſquieted for that before-hand wee cannot deſcry ſuch, who deceive themſelves, but charitably judge the beſt, yet wiſely tarrying till the Lord ſhall deſcry them. Notwithſtanding this is evident by the Scriptures and experience, that there be certaine notes and markes ſo proper to Gods children, that every childe of God may bee led to ſee them in himſelfe, and no unregenerate perſon can in truth have, howſoever many of them doe fondly dreame they have them, and ſo deceive themſelves who for the moſt part may by wiſe dealing with them be cleerely convinced in their owne conſciences, though through pride they will not confeſſe it. Theſe markes we ſpeake of, are of divers meaſures in Gods children according to their growth in Chriſt: wee muſt take the leaſt meaſure of them (in this queſtion) leſt in ſeeking to ſhut out the unregenerate, we alſo ſhut out many of Gods truely begotten children though young and weake, and yet on the other ſide, leſt in Tvvo markes vvhereby the regenerate may diſcerne th… they are regenerate, namely from the cauſes of their new birth and proper effects thereof.letting in the one wee admit the other, wee muſt take ſuch as be moſt ſpeciall though rarely to bee found in profeſſors. Of this ſort there be two, the cauſes of our new birth, and the proper effects thereof: the cauſes bee more certaine, the effects more apparent proofes thereof. The cauſes of Regeneration be theſe and in this order. God the Father of all the regenerate The cauſes of regeneration.when he will ordinarily beget any ſinner and child of wrath to become his childe, doth of his owne mercy freely ſend his word and holy Spirit to effect the ſame, 1. Working in 1.him the ſight of his miſery and ſound griefe of heart for the ſame, which breeds a fervent deſire to be delivered. 2. The knowledge 2.of the remedie with a like deſire of obtaining the ſame. 3. A ſound 3.knowledge that God hath given them this remedy, and therewith a certaine perſwaſion it is theirs, which they receiving are delivered from their miſerie, and ſo made Gods children, being now new The effects of regenerationborne. The effects of this new birth be theſe. 1. A ſpeciall joy of heart in the 1.benefit received. 2. An 2.unfained love of God the ſole Author of ſo great a benefit. 3. Which breeds for the time paſt a deepe 3.diſpleaſure for dealing ſo wickedly with ſo mercifull a father. 4. For the 4.time to come an earneſt deſire and care to pleaſe God, with 5. True obedience to his holy word, 5.even of meere love. So alſo 6. A conſcionable uſe of all ſuch meanes as bee 6.knowne fit to further this obedience. 7. A godly ſorrow in the ſight of our 7.inabilitie to pleaſe God; and a longing deſire to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt: all which are in their meaſure in every regenerate perſon, and doe at leaſt in ſome meaſure grow more and more till he be diſſolved. Now if Not any one of the preceding effects muſt be vvanting.any unregenerate ſhall fondly dreame all theſe to be in him (for if he be utterly wanting in any of them, then thereby hee may be convinced to bee unregenerate) he is as narrowly by his life to be ſearched as may be, and a thouſand to one hee ſhall be convinced, but if ſuch cannot deſcry himſelfe, nor be by others; let him hold his comfort ſo long as he can, till it ſhall bee manifeſt he deceived himſelfe. If yet any ſhall think Their eſtate is not good vvhoſe very life ſhevves the contrary.himſelfe in good eſtate, when as his life ſhewes the contrary, then is it to be avouched to him that he utterly deceives himſelfe, imagining that to be in him which is not, even as it is with an hungry man, in his dreame hee thinkes he eateth, and when he awakes his ſoule is empty, Iſay. 29. 7. even ſo this worldling rockt aſleepe, Simil.with his preſent peace, thinkes himſelfe in good caſe, but when he is awaked by Gods judgements, then he findeth himſelfe moſt miſerable, ſuch were m…ny of the Church of Laodicea, which ſaid they were rich, &c. and knew not they were wretched. Rev. 3. 17. Againe, me thinkes it fareth Simil.with theſe men, as it is with many in ſome dangerous diſeaſe which hath deprived them of the ſenſe of their paine and weakneſſe, who therefore ſay, they be well, and feare nothing; ſo theſe being deadly ſicke in ſoule have no ſenſe thereof, and thinke themſelves in a good eſtate: or as it is with one that is drunke; They have ſtriken me, but I was not ſicke▪ Prov. 23. 35. So theſe, drunken with the world, feele not the wounds of ſinne, ſee not their owne miſery.
Remembrance of good.
1. Seeing there is no action of our life for which Upon eve…y occaſion vvee muſt have ſome good matter in ſtore to be remēbred.we have not l…arned at ſome time or other ſome profitable direction for the ſame, its much to bee endeavoured that ſuch matter may be preſent with us as is fitteſt for the time, otherwiſe much danger muſt needes enſue.
2. The beſt meanes to remember the word is to Hovv to remember the vvord beſt.be truly touched with it, either in griefe or joy; for they leave ſtrongeſt impreſſion.
Renewing.
Its an happy thing to redeeme the renewing of Hovv to redeeme the renevving of our inner manthe inner man with the decay of the outward.
Repentance.
A Godly Phyſitian having Hovv a godly phyſitian brought his diſeaſed patients to a ſight of their ſins.patients grievouſly tormented, willed them firſt to be reconciled to God before they ſought his helpe, which they neglecting, and hee knowing them open ſinners, diſmiſſed them, ſaying, The Lord having laid his rod upon you, I dare not take it off you without the ſhew of ſome fruits of repentance, which they doing were healed.
Reports.
1. Men by ill reports What uſe to make of ill reports.raiſed of them muſt learne to be forewarned leſt they fall into ſuch a ſinne, and thankfully muſt receive the correction, that wheras God might have made them ſuffer for ill, he doth rather for well-doing.
2. This is Gods great Gods merciemercy that ill reports are ſometimes raiſed againſt us.mercy, that when men have evill thoughts, God doth cauſe them to be evill ſpoken of for the act, whereby they ought to be moved to ſearch their hearts, and finding it within, though it never burſt forth, they are to profit hereby to correct their hearts, and to be thankfull to God, that hath kept thē by this meanes from the act, which otherwiſe might have broke forth to their diſcredit.
3. God by falſe reports doth often correct us for Why God letteth falſe reports be raiſed againſt us.ſinne long agoe committed and yet not fully repented, or for ſome contrary corruption, or generally he would have us ſee and amend ſome ſinne we ſaw not before.
Reproofe.Reproofe doth not alvvayes profit for the preſent.
1. It falleth out often that ſome, grudging at reprehenſion, profit afterward when their choller is paſt: others, receiving it well, after neglect it.
2. At a table its good for them whoſe duty it is, Hovv to reprove ſin at table.ſo to rebuke ſinne that it may be reformed, rather than the perſon ſhamed, without there be neceſſary cauſe ſo to doe.
3. No reprehenſion What to be obſerved in reproving.muſt bee but upon good ground, & according to a mans calling, with care not to diſcredit our brother, and prayer unto God for a bleſſing thereon.
4. For the moſt part A note of an unquiet ſpirit.its a note of an uncharitable and unquiet Spirit in thoſe that governe, to admoniſh, rebuke, or chide as wee call it by ironies, queſtions, and ſcoffes.
Riches.
The love of riches or The abuſe and uſe of riches.earthly things, hinders us in good things, but the uſe of them furthers us therein.
Sacrament.
I. A Paſtor may not debar any from the Sacrament Whē a Paſtor is not to debarre therefrom.for a ſecret offence though being admoniſhed he repent not.
2. The Sacraments of Difference betvveene ours and the Jevves Sacramēts.the Jews were obligations to binde them; of Chriſtians, to abſolve them.
Saints.
In comparing our ſelves In comparing our ſelves vvith. Gods Saints how to be affected.with Gods Saints we muſt not deſpaire in our weakneſſe, becauſe wee bee not like them, nor preſume to be like them.
Salvation.
Even of thoſe that have knowledge and ſenſe of Divers ſorts of people deceived about their ſalvation: vvith the remedies to be uſed herein.their miſerie, and of Chriſt the onelyonly remedie, yea of Gods large and free offer of ſalvation unto them, and faithfull promiſe to ſave them if they will come to him, not a few never bee ſaved, for that not beleeving if they goe not, or goe amiſſe, not as Heb. 10. 22. but ſome ignorantly, ſome fainedly, ſome doubtingly, ſome prophanely, ſome not conſtantly, and therefore have no anſwer or a deniall and an heavie anſwer; who can have no comfort. But beſides theſe, even ſuch as have in their perſwaſion a gratious anſwer from God that he will ſave them, which they ſhall finde by the inward comfort it brings them, are to looke whether this be not a lying Spirit, wherewith thouſands bee beguiled, one ſort taking their comfort and building their perſwaſion that God will ſave them only and chiefly on this, that their lives be amended; which as it may be true, ſo it may bee falſe, & is no good ground of our perſwaſion, but at the beſt a prop: whereas the true Spirit teacheth us to build all our perſwaſion on Gods goodneſſe freely offered and faithfully to be performed, of both which wee are aſſured by the Goſpell the word of truth, the onelyonly ground of our aſſurance. But further ſeeing how many bee beguiled having a good ground, but building looſly thereon, this is to bee tryed by the effects of the true Spirit, whereof all (though many) may be referred to this one, a conſcionable ſtudie to pleaſe God in all things.