The New Creature, Title page – Dedication
THE NEW CREATVRE.
A SERMON PREACHED AT PAVLS CROSSE, IANVARY 17. 1619.
By Stephen Deniſon, Miniſter of Gods word, at Katherine Kree Church, in the Citie of London.
2. COR. 5. 17.
Therefore, if any man be in Chriſt, he is a new creature.
GAL. 6. 15.
For in Chriſt Ieſus, neither circumciſion auaileth any thing, nor vncircumciſion, but a new creature.
LONDON, Printed by Richard Field, dwelling in great Woodſtreete.
1619.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, SIR SEBASTIAN HARVEY Knight, Lord Maior of the honorable Citie of London:
STEPHEN DENISON wiſheth increaſe of all ſauing grace in this world, and eternall glorie and happineſſe in the world to come.
Right Honorable,
THE doctrine of Repentance and of the new Creature, is very neceſſarie in all places, and for all aſſemblies. This doctrine is fit for all perſons; it is fit for men of high degree, to cauſe them to bethinke thēſelues. It is fit for men of low degree, to cauſe them to know thēſelues. It is fit for the true iudicious hearer, to cauſe him to adde practiſe to his knowledge. And it is fit for the itching care or curious hearer, to teach him the true vſe of hearing Sermons, which is, not to hauehave his vncircumciſed eare carnally pleaſed, but rather to hauehave his poore ſoule regenerated, edified, and refreſhed. With Ioel 1. 2.this doctrine was Ioel ſent vntounto the old men, and to all the inhabitants of the land. With this doctrine was Ionas ſent Ionas 3. 4.vntounto Nineue, Fortie dayes, and Nineue ſhall be deſtroyed. With this doctrine was Chriſt himſelfe ſent vntounto the Iohn 3. 3.loſt ſheepe of the houſe of Iſrael: Except a man be borne againe, he cannot ſee the kingdome of God. And with this doctrine is this weake meſſenger or ſmal Treatiſe ſent into the world at this time. I deſire that it might do much good vntounto the ſoules of Gods elect▪ which if it do, I do vnfainedly confeſſe, it is not in reſpect of any worth or ſufficiency that is in the author, but meerly by Gods free bleſſing following my poore and weake endeuours.
The reaſons which hauehave moued me to make this doctrine and Sermon publicke, are theſe, viz.
Firſt, the conſideration of the neceſſitie of it: for what is more neceſſarie then to vnderſtand the myſterie of regeneration? without which no fleſh can be ſaued.
Secondly, the conſideration of the generall extent of this doctrine: for it concerneth not onelyonly them which heard the Sermon, but alſo all others; for God exhorteth Act. 17. 30.all men to repent.
Thirdly, the deſire of diuers holy Chriſtians, whoſe earneſt and godly requeſt I deſire to fulfill to my power.
And in that I do commend vntounto your Honour, theſe my poore endeuours contained in this booke, it is:
Firſt, becauſe your Honour was an eare-witneſſe of this Sermon, enduring the coldneſſe of the ſeaſon, to heare it with much attention.
Secondly, becauſe your Honour hath purchaſed to your ſelfe a good report among men, by your inſt and vpright cariage in that worthy place and calling whereunto you are called▪
Thirdly, becauſe your Honour hath had, and I hope will hauehave vntounto the end, a ſingular care of Gods Sabbath, that it may not be profaned by the leudneſſe of men, which are more ſet vponupon their own gaine and pleaſure, then in any ſort vponupon Gods glorie: which deſire not onelyonly to ſinne themſelues, but alſo to make Chriſtian magiſtrates partakers of their ſinnes, by giuing licence and libertie vntounto them.
Fourthly, that I might hereby teſtifie my louelove vnfained vntounto this famous Citie; for the which I will alwayes pray, that God would turne his iudgements from it, and preuent it with his liberall bleſſings, eſpecially in heauenly things in Chriſt.
I beſeech your Honour to accept this Treatiſe, which I offer as the widowes mite, to be caſt into Gods treaſurie. And ſo I will pray the very God of 1. Theſ. 5. 23.peace to ſanctifie you wholly; and that your whole ſpirit, and ſoule, and bodie, may be preſerued blameleſſe, vntounto the coming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Amen.
Your Honours in all things in the Lord, Stephen Deniſon.