The Mischiefs of Self-Ignorance, Part 12
HAving ſaid ſo much of the Neceſſity of Miniſters endeavouring to make …nregenerate ſinners know themſelves, I ſhall next try what I can do towards it, with …hoſe that hear me, by propoſing theſe few Queſtions to your conſideration.
Queſt. 1. Do you think that you were …ver unſanctified, and in a ſtate of wrath and condemnation or not? If not, then you are not the off-ſpring of Adam: you are not then of humane race: For the Scripture telleth you that [We are conceived in ſin.] Pſal. 51.5. And [That by one man ſin entred into the world, and Death by ſin, and ſo death paſſed upon all men, for that all have ſinned] and that by the offence of one, judgement came upon all men to condemnation; Rom 5.12.18. And that [All have ſinned, and come ſhort of the glory of God.] Rom. 3.23. [If we ſay that we have no ſin, we deceive our ſelves, and the truth is not in us, 1 John 1.8.10. And the wages of ſin is death, Rom. 6.23.
And I hope you will confeſs that you cannot be pardoned and ſaved without a Saviour; and therefore that as you need a Saviour, ſo you muſt have a ſpecial intereſt in him. It is as certain that Chriſt ſaveth not at all, as that he ſaveth any: For th… ſame word aſſureth us of the one, and … the other.
Queſt. 2. But if you confeſs that once you were children of wrath, my next Queſtion is, Whether you know how and whe… you were delivered from ſo ſad a ſtate? or at leaſt Whether it be done, or not? Perhap… you'le ſay, It was done in your Baptiſm ▪ which waſheth away Original ſin. But granting you that all that have a Promiſe of pardon before, have that promiſe ſealed, and that pardon delivered them by Baptiſm, I ask you.
Queſt. 3. Do you think that Baptiſm by water only will ſave, unleſs you be alſo baptized by the ſpirit? Chriſt telleth you the contrary with a vehement aſſeveration▪ John 3.5. Verily, verily, I ſay unto thee except a man be born of water and of the ſpirit▪ he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.] And Peter tels you that it is [not the putting away the filth of the fleſh, but the anſwer of a good conſcience towards God, 1 Pet. 2.21. If therefore you have not the ſpirit of Chriſt, for all your Baptiſm, you are none of his, Rom. 8.9. For that which is born of the fleſh is (but) fleſh, and you muſt be born of the ſpirit if you will be ſpiritual, John 3.6.
I ſhall further grant you, that many receive the ſpirit of Chriſt even in their infancy, and may be ſavingly as well as Sacramentally then Regenerate. And if this be your caſe you have very great cauſe to be thankfull for it. But I next enquire of you.
Queſt. 4. Have you not lived an unholy carnal life ſince you came to the uſe of reaſon? Have you not ſince then delcared, that you did not live the life of faith, nor walk after the ſpirit but the fleſh? If ſo, then it is certain that you have need of a Converſion from that ungodly ſtate, what ever Baptiſm did for you: And therefore you are ſtill to enquire whether you have been converred ſince you came to age.
And I muſt needs remember you, that your Infant Covenant made in Baptiſm, being upon your parents faith and conſent, and no… your own, will ſerve your turn no longer then your Infancy, unleſs when you come to the uſe of Reaſon, you renew and own that Covenant your ſelves, and have a perſonal faith and Repentance of your own. And whatever you received in Baptiſm, this muſt be our next enquiry.
Queſt. 5. Did you ever ſince you came to age upon ſound Repentance, and renunciation of the fleſh, the world and the devil▪ give up your ſelves unfeignedly by faith to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghoſt; and ſhew by the performance of this holy Co…venant, that you were ſincere in the making of it?
I confeſs it is a matter ſo hard to moſt, to aſſign the time and manner of their Converſion, that I think it no ſafe way of trial▪ And therefore I will iſſue all in this one Queſtion.
Queſt. 6. Have you the Neceſſary parts of the New Creature now? though perhaps you know not juſt when or how it was formed in you? The Queſtion is, Whether you are now in a ſtate of ſanctification? and not, Whether you can tell juſt when you did receive it? He that would know Whether he be a Man, muſt not do it by remembring when he was born, or how he was formed; but by diſcerning the Rational nature in himſelf at preſent. And though Grace be more obſervable to us in its enterance, then Nature (as finding, and entering into, … diſcerning ſubject, which Nature doth not:) Yet it beginneth ſo early with ſome, and ſo obſcurely with others, and in others the preparations are ſo long or notable, that its hard to ſay when ſpecial grace came in. But you may well diſcern Whether it be there, or not? and that is the Queſtion that muſt be reſolved, if you would know your ſelves.
And, though I have been long in theſe exhortations to incline your Wils, I ſhall be ſhort in giving you thoſe Evidences of the Holy Life, which muſt be before your eyes while you are upon the trial.
In ſumm, If your very hearts do now unfeignedly conſent to the Covenant which you made in Baptiſm, and your Lives expreſs it to be a true Conſent, I dare ſay you are regenerate, though you know not juſt when you firſt conſented.
Come on then, and let us enquire what you ſay to the ſeveral parts of your Baptiſmal Covenant.
1. If you are ſincere in the Covenant you have made with Chriſt. You do reſolvedly Conſent, that God ſhall be your only God, as reconciled to you by Jeſus Chriſt: Which is, 1. That you will take him for your Owner or your Abſolute Lord, and give up your ſelves to him as his Own.
2. That You will take him for your Supream Governour, and Conſent to be ſubject to his Government and Laws; taking his Wiſdom for your Guide, and his Will for the Rule of your Wills and Lives.
3. That you will take him for your chiefeſt Benefactor, from whom you receive and expect all your Happineſs, and to whom you owe your ſelves and all, by way of Thankfulneſs: And that you take his Love and favour for your Happineſs it ſelf, and prefer the Everlaſting Enjoyment of his Glorious ſight and Love in Heaven, before all the ſenſual pleaſures of the world.
I would prove the neceſſity of all theſe by Scripture as we go, but that it is evident in it ſelf; theſe three Relations being Eſſential to God as our God in Covenant. He is not our God, if not our Owner, Ruler and Benefactor. You profeſs all this, when you profeſs but to Love God, or take him for your God.
2. In the Covenant of Baptiſm you do profeſs to believe in Chriſt, and take him for your only Saviour: If you do this in ſincerity, 1. You do unfeignedly Beleive the doctrine of his Goſpel, and the Articles of the Chriſtian faith, concerning his Perſon, his Offices, and his ſuffering and works. 2. You do take him unfeignedly for the only Redeemer and Saviour of mankind, and Give up your ſelves to be ſaved by his Merits, Righteouſneſs, Interceſſion, &c. as he hath promiſed in his word. 3. You truſt upon him and his promiſes, for the attainment of your Reconciliation and Peace with God, your Juſtification, Adoption, Sanctification, and the Glory of the life to come. 4. You take him for your Lord and King, your Owner and Ruler by the right of Redemption; and your grand Benefactor, that hath obliged you to Love and Gratitude, by ſaving you from the wrath to come, and purchaſing eternal Glory for you, by his moſt wonderfull condeſcenſion, life and ſufferings.
3. In the Baptiſmal Covenant, you are engaged to the Holy Ghoſt. If you are ſincere in this branch of your Covenant, 1. You diſcern your ſins as odious and dangerous, as the corruption of your ſouls, and that which diſpleaſeth the moſt Holy God. 2. You ſee an excellency in Holineſs of Heart and Life, as the Image of God, the rectitude of man, and that which fits him for eternal bleſſedneſs, and maketh him amiable in the eyes of God. 3. You unfeignedly deſire to be rid of your ſin, how dear ſoever it hath been to you: and to be perfectly ſanctifyed by the Holy Spirit, by his degrees, in the uſe of the means which he hath appointed: and you conſent that the Holy Ghoſt as your ſanctifier do purifie you and kindle the Love of God in you, and bring it to perfection.
4. In Baptiſm you profeſs to renounce the world, the fleſh, and the Devil: that is, as they ſtand for your Hearts againſt the Will and Love of God, and againſt the Happineſs of the unſeen world; and againſt your Faith in Chriſt your Saviour; and againſt the ſanctifying work of the Holy Ghoſt. If therefore you are ſincere in this part of your Covenant, you do upon deliberation perceive all the pleaſures, profits and honours of this world to be ſo vain and worthleſs, that you are Habitually reſolved, to prefer the Love and favour of God, and your ſalvation before them; and to be Ruled by Jeſus Chriſt and his Spirit and word, rather then by the deſires of the fleſh, or the worlds allurements, or the will of man, or the ſuggeſtions of the devil: and to forſake all rather then forſake the Father, the Saviour, the Sanctifier to whom you are devoted, and the everlaſting life which upon his promiſe you have taken for your Hope and Portion. This is the ſenſe of Baptiſm, and all this in profeſſion being Eſſential to your Baptiſm, muſt be Eſſential to your Chriſtianity: Your Parents Profeſſion of it was neceſſary to your infant title to the outward priviledges of the Church: Your own perſonal profeſſion is neceſſary to your continuance of thoſe priviledges, and your viſible Chriſtianity and communion with the adult: And the Truth of what you profeſs, is neceſſary to your reall Chriſtianity before God, and to your title to ſalvation: And this is it that is to be now enquired after. You cannot hope to be admitted into Heaven, upon lower terms then the ſincerity of that profeſſion with entereth you into the Church: While we tell you of no higher matters neceſſary to your ſalvation, then the ſincerity of that which is neceſſary to Baptiſm and Chriſtianity, I hope you will not ſay we deal too ſtrictly with you. Enquire now by a diligent tryal of your hearts, whether you truly conſent to all theſe articles of your Baptiſmal Vow or Covenant. If you do, you are Regenerate by the Spirit: If you do not, you have but the Sacrament of Regeneration: which aggravateth your guilt, as a violated profeſſion and Covenant muſt needs do. And I do not think, that any man worthy to be diſcourſed with, will have the face to tell you that any man at the uſe of Reaſon, is by his Baptiſm, (or any thing elſe) in a ſtate of Juſtification and Salvation, whoſe heart doth not ſincerely conſent to the Covenant of Baptiſm, and whoſe Life expreſſeth not that conſent.
Hence therefore you may perceive that it is a thing unqueſtionable, that all theſe perſons are yet unregenerate and in the bond of their iniquity.
1. All thoſe that have not unfeignedly devoted themſelves to God, as being not their own but his. His by the title of Creation, Pſal. 100.3. [Know ye that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us, and not we our ſelves, we are his people, and the ſheep of his paſture.] And His by the title of Redemption: for we are bought with a price, 1 Cor. 7.23. And he that unfeignedly taketh God for his Owner, and Abſolute Lord, will heartily give up himſelf unto him; as Paul ſaith of the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 8.5. They firſt gave up their own ſelves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God.]
And he that entirely giveth up himſelf to God, doth with himſelf ſurrender all that he hath in deſire and reſolution. As Chriſt with himſelf doth give us all things, Rom. 8.32. and addeth other things to them that ſeek firſt his Kingdom and its Righteouſneſs, Matth. 6.33. ſo Chriſtians with themſelves do give up all they have to Chriſt.
And he that giveth up himſelf to God, will live to God: And he that taketh not himſelf to be his Own, will take nothing for his Own: but will ſtudy the intereſt of his Lord, and think he is beſt diſpoſed of when he honoureth him moſt, and ſerveth him beſt, 1 Cor. 6.19.20. [Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorifie God in your body, and in your ſpirit, which are Gods.
If any of you devote not your ſelves unfeignedly to God, and make it not your firſt enquiry, what God would have you be and do, but live to your ſelves, and yet think your ſelves in a ſtate of Life, you are miſtaken, and do not know your ſelves. What abundance might eaſily ſee their miſerable condition in this diſcovery! Who ſay in effect [our lips are our own: Who is Lord over us? Pſal. 12.4.] and rather hate and oppoſe the intereſt of God and Holineſs in the world, then devote themſelves to the promoting of it! Deut. 32.6. [Do ye thus requite the Lord, ye fooliſh people and unwiſe? Is not he thy father that hath bought thee? Hath he not made thee, and eſtabliſhed thee?]
2. All thoſe are unregenerate and in a ſtate of death, that are not ſincerely ſubjected to the Governing will of God, but are Ruled by their carnal Intereſt and deſires; and the word of a man that can gratifie or hurt them, can do more with them then the word of God: To ſhew them the command of a man that they think, can undo them if they diſobey, doth more prevail with them then to ſhew them the command of God that can condemn them unto endleſs miſery: They more fear men that can kill the body, then God that can deſtroy both ſoul and body in Hell fire. When the luſt of the fleſh, and the will of man, do bear more ſway then the will of God, its certain that ſuch a ſoul is unregenerate, Rom. 6.3, 4, 6. Know ye not that ſo many of us as were baptized into Jeſus Chriſt, were baptized into his death? therefore we are buried with him by Baptiſm into death, that like as Chriſt was raiſed from the dead by the glory of the Father, even ſo we alſo ſhould walk in newneſs of life — Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of ſin might be deſtroyed, that henceforth we ſhould not ſerve ſin,— v. 16. Know ye not that to whom you yield your ſelves ſervants to obey, his ſervants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of ſin unto death, or of obedience unto righteouſneſs?
1 Pet. 4.4.1, 2. Foraſmuch then as Chriſt hath ſuffered for us in the fleſh, arm your ſelves likewiſe with the ſame mind: for he that hath ſuffered in the fleſh, hath ceaſed from ſin: that he no longer ſhould live the reſt of his time in the fleſh, to the luſts of men, but to the will of God.]
3. All thoſe are unregenerate, that depend not upon God as their chiefeſt Benefactor: and do not moſt carefully apply themſelves to him, as knowing that in his favour is life, Pſal. 30.5. and that his loving kindneſs is better then life,] Pſal. 63.3. and that to his judgement we muſt finally ſtand or fall: but do ambitiouſly ſeek the favour of men, and call them their Benefactors, (Luke 22.25. Matth. 23.9.) whatever become of the favour of God. He is no child of God that preferreth not the Love of God before the Love of all the world. He is no heir of heaven, that preferreth not the fruition of God in Heaven, before all worldly glory and felicity, Col. 4.1, 2, 3. If ye be riſen with Chriſt, ſeek the things that are above, where Chriſt ſitteth on the right hand of God; ſet your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.] The Love of God is the ſumm of Holineſs; the Heart of the new creature; the perfecting of it is the perfection and felicity of man.
4. They are certainly unregenerate that Believe not the Goſpel, and take not Chriſt for their only Saviour, and his promiſes of Grace and Glory as purchaſed by his Sacrifice and Merits, for the Foundation of their hopes, on which they reſolve to truſt their ſouls for pardon and for peace with God, and endleſs Happineſs, Acts 4.12. Neither is there ſalvation in any other: for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we muſt be ſaved.] 1 John 5.11, 12. This is the record that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son: He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son, hath not life.]
When our Happineſs was in Adams hands, he loſt it: It is now put into ſafer hands, and Jeſus Chriſt the ſecond Adam is become our Treaſury. He is the Head of the Body, from whom each member hath quickning influence, Eph. 1.22. The life of Saints is in him, as the life of the tree is in the root, unſeen, Col. 4.3, 4. Holineſs is a Living unto God in Chriſt; Though we are dead with Chriſt, to the Law, and to the world, and to the fleſh, we are alive to God. So Paul deſcribeth our caſe in his own, Gal. 2.19, 20. I through the Law am dead to the Law, that I might live unto God: I am crucified with Chriſt: nevertheleſs I live: yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the fleſh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himſelf for me,] Rom. 6.11. Likewiſe reckon ye alſo your ſelves to be dead indeed unto ſin, but alive unto God, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.] Chriſt is the Vine, and we are the branches: without him we can do nothing: If you abide not in him, and his words in you, you are caſt forth as a branch, and withered, which men gather and caſt into the fire, and they are burnt,] John 15.1, 5, 6, 7. In Baptiſm you are married unto Chriſt, as to the external ſolemnization; and in ſpiritual Regeneration your Hearts do inwardly cloſe with him, entertain him, and reſign themſelves unto him, by Faith and Love; and by a reſolved Covenant become his own: And therefore Baptiſm and the Lords Supper are called Sacraments, becauſe as Souldiers were wont by an Oath and liſting their names, and other engaging Ceremonies to oblige themſelve… to their Commanders, and their Vow wa… called A Sacrament: ſo do we engage ou… ſelves to Chriſt in the holy Vow or Covenan… entered in Baptiſm, and renewed in the Lords Supper.
5. That perſon is certainly unregenerate that never was convinced of a Neceſſity of Sanctification, or never perceived an excellency and amiableneſs in Holineſs of heart and life, and loved it in others and deſired it himſelf: and never gave up himſelf to the Holy Ghoſt, to be further ſanctified in the uſe of his appointed means; deſiring to be perfect, and willing to preſs forward towards the mark, and to abound in grace. Much leſs is that perſon renewed by the Holy Ghoſt, that hateth Holineſs, and had rather be without it, and would not walk in the fear and obedience of the Lord.
The Spirit of Holineſs is that Life by which Chriſt quickneth all that are his members. He is no member of Chriſt that is without it: Rom. 8.9. According to his Mercy, he ſaveth us by the waſhing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghoſt, Tit. 3.5.
6. That perſon is unregenerate that is under the Dominion of his fleſhly deſires, and mindeth the things of the fleſh above the things of the Spirit; and hath not mortified it ſo far, as not to live according to it. A carnal mind, and a carnal life, are oppoſite to Holineſs, as Sickneſs is t… Health; and Darkneſs unto Light, Rom. 8.1. to 14. There is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus, that walk not after the fleſh, but after the spirit.—For they that are after the fleſh do mind the things of the fleſh: but they that are after the ſpirit, the things of the ſpirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be ſpiritually minded is life and peace. Becauſe the carnal mind is enmity againſt God; for it is not ſubject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be: ſo then they that are in the fleſh, cannot pleaſe God — For if ye live after the fleſh, ye ſhall die: but if by the ſpirit ye mortifie the deeds of the body, ye ſhall live.] [Now the works of the fleſh are manifeſt, which are, Adultery, Fornication, Ʋncleanneſs, Laſciviouſneſs, Idolatry, Witchcraft, Hatred, Variance, Emulations, Wrath, Strife, Seditions, Hereſies, Envyings, Murders, Drunkenneſs, revellings and ſuch like; of which I tell you before, as I have alſo told you in time paſt, that they which do ſuch things ſhall not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-ſuffering, Gentleneſs, Goodneſs, Faith, Meekneſs, Temperance: againſt ſuch there is no Law: And they that are Chriſts, have crucified the fleſh, with the affections, and luſts, Galat. 5.18. to 25.
7. Laſtly, that perſon is certainly unregenerate, that ſo far valueth and loveth this world, or any of the carnal accommodations therein, as practically to prefer them before the Love of God, and the Hopes of Everlaſting Glory: ſeeking it firſt, with higheſt eſtimation, and holding it faſteſt; ſo as that he will rather venture his ſoul upon the threatned wrath of God, then his body upon the wrath of man; and will be religious no further then may conſiſt with his proſperity or ſafety in the world, and hath ſomething that he cannot part with for Chriſt and heaven, becauſe it is dearer to him then they: Let this man go never ſo far in Religion, as long as he goeth further for the world, and ſetteth it neareſt to his heart, and holds it faſteſt, and will do moſt for it, and conſequently loveth it better then Chriſt, he is no true Chriſtian, nor in a ſtate of grace.
The Scriptures put this alſo out of doubt▪ as you may ſee, Mat. 10.37, 38. & Luke …4.26, 27, 33. He that loveth Father or Mother more then me, is not worthy of me, &c. Whoſoever doth not bear his Croſs and come after me, cannot be my Diſciple. Who…ver he be of you that forſaketh not all that …e hath, he cannot be my Diſciple. Know …e not that the friendſhip of the world, is …nmity with God? Whoſoever therefore will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God, …am. 4.4. No wonder then if the world muſt be renounced in our Baptiſm. [Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world: If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 1 John 2.15.
You ſee by this time, what it is to be Regenerate, and to be a Chriſtian indeed, by what is contained even in our Baptiſm: and conſequently how you may Know your ſelves, whether you are ſanctified, and the heirs of heaven, or not.
Again therefore I ſummon you to appear before your conſciences: and if indeed theſe Evidences of regeneration are not in you, ſtop not the ſentence, but confeſs your ſinfull miſerable ſtate, and condemn your ſelves, and ſay no longer, I hope yet that my preſent condition may ſerve turn, and that God will forgive me though I ſhould die without any further change: Thoſ… Hopes that you may be ſaved without re…generation, or that you are regenerate whe… you are not, are the pillars of Satans for…treſs in your hearts, and keep you fro… the ſaving Hopes of the Regenerate, tha… that will never make you aſhamed. Up…hold not that which Chriſt is engage… againſt: Down it muſt, either by Gra… or Judgement: and therefore abuſe no… your ſouls by underpropping ſuch an ill-grounded falſe deceitfull hope. You have now time to take it down ſo orderly and ſafely, as that it fall not on your heads and overwhelm you not for ever. But if you ſtay till death ſhall undermine it, the fal… will be great, and your ruine irreparable▪ If you are wiſe, therefore Know your ſelves in time.