Eternal Glorification Begun in Regeneration, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Shewing how you ought to walk, and carry your ſelves in your Regenerate States, and what God looks for, and expects from you.
Q. WHat is the Work? or what are the works and duties of New-Creatures in their Regenerate ſtates? how ought they to walk, and carry themſelves towards God and Men? what doth God require of, and expect from them?
A. They have great and ſpecial works and duties to do and perform to God and Men, in which they muſt exerciſe and imploy themſelves all their days. They muſt never be Idle and unfruitful in the knowledge of Chriſt, or their new States, 2 Pet. 1.8. Regenerate perſons muſt abound in the work of the Lord, 1 Cor. 15. ult. and make it their whole work and buſineſs to bring forth fruit to God, Rom. 7.4. that God may be glorified in and by them, John 15.8. God expects ſingular things, and ſpecial works from you, for the whole Revenue of his Glory, is intruſted with, and in your hands, and with other of his New Creatures, and he hath and will give grace and aſſiſtance enough to enable you to live to the praiſe of his glorious Grace; namely, in the practiſe and performance of all the Duties he expects and requires of you: Your whole converſation before men, and the frame, diſpoſition, and carriage of your hearts before God, muſt of neceſſity be as becomes the Goſpel of Christ, Phil. 1.27. All your thoughts, cares, and abilities, muſt now be exerciſed in, and laid out about your living to, walking with, and pleaſing of God; in walking worthy of your high Calling, holding up the Honour, Glory, and Reputation of your New ſtates and conditions, and in ſetting off, and commending the excellency of Gods Grace, and your Regeneration to all men, as you have occaſion and opportunity to do. You muſt manifeſt and declare in the whole trade and courſe of your lives, what and who you are; that you are indeed, what, or that which you ſeem to be in your Profeſſion. You muſt walk, and carry your ſelves as new Creatures towards all your Relations, and towards all ſuch as you converſe with, and have to do withal. Your ſpecial and becoming works and carriages, muſt ſhew and demonſtrate whoſe and what you are to men; and your principles, ends, and frames of heart, muſt declare what your ſtate and condition is unto your own Conſciences, 2 Cor. 1.12. John 13.35.
Now in proſecuting this Head, I ſhall briefly ſhew you, 1. what your Duties are, or what frames of heart, works, and carriages, God requires of, and expects from you, as his New Creatures. 2. What Enemies and obſtructions you will meet withall, to hinder you in your ſo walking. 3. ſhew you what Bonds and Obligations God hath laid on you, ſo to walk and carry your ſelves towards God and Men, as ſhall be opened and repreſented unto you briefly.
Firſt then, I ſhall ſhew you ſome of your …uties, and how you ought to walk in your …egenerate ſtates; and the firſt that I ſhall …ame, is, Thankfulneſs. Your whole life ſhould …e ſpent in praiſing and thanking God for …egenerating and making you new Creatures, and for thoſe other appurtenances or Mercies, that are joyned with, and annexed to your Regeneration. Your happineſs, and the love and kindneſs of God to you in Regenerating you, are ſo exceeding great, as that Eternity will be too little to thank and bleſs God for them. Now God hath therefore made you New Creatures, and delivered you from and out your old ſtates, put you under his Grace, and formed you for himſelf; that you ſhould adore and admire, thank and praiſe, bleſs and glorifie his holy Name, and his unſpeakable grace to you, Pſal. 50.15. Thus was holy David his Trade and Practiſe, as you may find every where in his Pſal. 10.3, 1, 2. Pſal. 89, 1. Pſal. 104, 1. Thus. he preſſes on others likewiſe, Pſal. 105.1, 2, 3. Pſal. 118, 1, 2. And the Apoſtle charges us, in every thing to give thanks and praiſe, 1 Theſ. 5.8. and tells us, That this is the will of God in Chriſt Jeſus concerning us. You muſt thank God with your hearts; as well as your lips, and with your works and carriages, as well as with your Tongues; all muſt be exerciſed in, and employed about this work. You have grace to do it withal, therefore you muſt do it as becomes ſuch. A deep ſenſe of your unregenerate ſtates, and what the evil and miſery of them was: Of what you are delivered from, and called to, in your Regeneration; as alſo a deep and working ſenſe of the exceeding riches of Gods Grace, and what he hath laid out, and expended on you, to put you into a ſtate and condition to thank and praiſe him acceptably, is very neceſſary for you, to quicken and ſtir up your, hearts, and open your mouths to this great Work and Duty. God minds, and takes ſpecial notice of what you do in this matter, and alſo how you do it, and what your omiſſions are, at any time. Hezekiah had received a new life from God, and he neglects to praiſe and thank him; he did it not as he might, and was bound to have done it. This God takes notice of, and Records it for our Learning, 2 Chron. 32.24, 25. Chriſt healed ten Lepers, and takes notice but of one of them that returned thanks and praiſe to God, Luk. 17.17, 18.
Secondly, Make your Regeneration ſure to your ſelves. This is your duty, and a part of your new work: this you muſt, and this you may do. God would have you to live in aſſurance, and walk in full aſſurance of Faith; and therefore he hath made it your duty, that you muſt do, and your Priviledge, which you may obtain and enjoy. Examin your ſelves (therefore) whether you are in the Faith, and under Regeneration or no, 2 Cor. 13.5. And give diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure, 2 Pet. 1.10. Other men do not this work, neither (indeed) can they do it; for they want materials to do it aright and to purpoſe. But it muſt be one of your works and buſineſſes to get and keep Aſſurance of your new States; for is is your work and duty, and you will ſtand in daily need of it, to encourage, ſtrengthen, and quicken; to and in other duties, and comfortable walking with God, as you ought to do, God will Seal and confirm his own work in you, if he find you dutifully and diligently endeavouring after it. For he hath ſo Sealed and confirmed others, Eph. 1.14. Eph. 4.30. And he hath promiſed to do it for you, Hoſea. 6.3. Pro. 2.1.—7.
If you live in doubt, and walk in darkneſs in this matter; Know that it is ordinarily your own faults, which you may and muſt amend. It is becauſe you are negligent & careleſs, and do not all you may to get and keep aſſurance. It is becauſe you ſlight and undervalue it, and grieve the holy Spirit, who is appointed to be your Regenerator and Sealer, Eph. 4.29.30. He doth not, will not help you to Aſſurance, becauſe he ſees you negligent to help your ſelves to it. Therefore do your duty and make uſe of his meanes, by which he will do it for you; and without which he will not, but leave you in the Wilderneſs of doubts, darkneſs, fears, and heart-wounding diſtractions and perplexities.
3. Fix and reſolve on a Trade of Godlyneſs, and univerſal reſpect and obedience unto the whole will of God, and your duty. Mould and form, ſet up and intend in your Judgments, hearts and conſciences, a courſe, way, and trade of holineſs and walking with God, in conformity to his will as ſuch. Take heed, beware of deluſions in your progreſs. You will be tempted and inveagled to take up with Parts and Pieces of your work and duty, and to be partial in the Laws of God accounting ſome duties indiſpenſible and great, and others little and diſpenſible; and ſo of Sins too. You will be tempted to look on this Sin as great, and therefore you muſt avoid it, (that's well) but you will be tempted to look on other Sins as little and next to none; and then diſpence with the commiſſion of them, or not be ſo careful and diligent, as you might and ought to be, to avoid and reject them. Regenerate men are too to often deluded and enſnared by theſe and ſuch like temptations, and fancies about Sin and duty, which proves very deſtructive to their peace, and communion with God, and exceedingly obſtructive to their trading in Godlyneſs, and univerſal obedience, as many can ſadly experience.
Therefore I adviſe you, yea, the great God adviſes and exhorts you, to get the whole Trade and courſe; the whole matter and way of Godlineſs, all your works and duties, moulded and framed in you: and take up fixed, peremptory, and unchangable purpoſes and reſolutions, notwithſtanding temptations to the contrary, to take up with, and really to practice all your duties, and the whole will of God, that is or ſhall be made known to you. Thus did David, Pſal. 119.30. I have choſen the way of Truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. And I will never forget thy precepts. Verſ. 93. And again ſays he, I have ſworn, and I will performe it, that I will keep thy righteous Judgments, Verſ. 106. Paul and other Saints did ſo, and it proved very advantagious to them. They had their Trade and work of Godlyneſs fixed, formed, and ſetled in their Judgments, Mindes, Wills, and Conſciences. They knew, or did endeavour to know the whole ſervice of their work and buſineſs, and as they grew into Acquaintance with it, ſo they took it into their hearts and conſciences; and there it became a ſtated and a vowed intereſt of theirs; which produced (as a meanes) their ſo willing, ready, ſteady, and conſtant practice of Godlyneſs, and frequent Trade, Phil. 3.20. do you ſo too, and you will find the like effects.
Fourthly. Take up in Chriſt. Live, walk, and Trade in Godlineſs, in, from, and by him. He is the Authour of your new ſtates and beings, workes and duties, from him you muſt ſtill have freſh ſupplies. The new Creature is but a Ciſtern without him, it is he that can and muſt fill your Treaſures, Pro. 8.21. He it was who begot you to a lively hope, and ſet you in your new ſtates, 1 Pet. 1.3.4. by the vertue and influence of his Life, Heb. 12.2. and it is he who muſt and will nouriſh, and cauſe to grow that which he hath begotten, Hoſea. 14.8. That which I call here a taking up in, and living on Chriſt, is the ſame (as I judge) which the Lord Jeſus calls abiding in him, Joh. 15.4.5.6. Abide in me and I in you: as the branch cannot bear fruit of its ſelf, except it abide in the Vine, no more can ye except ye abide in me. I am the Vine, yee are the branches: he that abideth i… me, and I in him, the ſame bringeth forth much fruit. For without me ye can do nothing. This is your exceeding great priviledge and happineſs that you may, and your indiſpenſible duty, that you muſt, abide in Chriſt. That is, that you may and muſt take up in, live upon, derive all ſupplies of Grace from him, as from your Root and Fountain. In him are all your ſprings and he is the onelyonly fountain of Light, Life, Strength, Faith, Hope, Peace, Joy, and Conſolation. Remember what you heard before, namely, that he is the Keeper, and great Lord Treaſurer of all your ſtock, portion, and ſupplies. God the Father ſent and committed all into his hands for you; and therefore be ſure that you live on, in and upon him for all good. It is appointed you ſhould do ſo. God hath commanded you ſo to do, and therefore it is your duty: in and by this way and duty, you ſhall obtain your portion and all ſupplies of Grace to enable you to diſcharge your duties, and perform your workes, and ſo it is your priviledge and happineſs. It is your priviledg and happineſs to have ſuch a ſtock and portion laid up and ſecured in his hands, and that you may live in and upon him, and have free acceſs to him for it. This is a duty thou oweſt to God and Jeſus Chriſt, yea, 'tis a duty thou oweſt thine own Soul. By the wiſe, ſerious, and conſtant practice of this duty, thou wilt greatly enrich thy ſelf with all Grace and heavenly ſupplies. Thou ſhalt be furniſhed thereby to every good work, and made a fruitfull branch in thy Generati…. In Chriſt lay all thy Treaſures, and from … is thy fruit found, Col. 2.3. Hoſea. 14.8. Do thy duty, and he will ſupply all thy wants, make thee wiſe unto ſalvation, and a fat and …ouriſhing Member in the houſe of God. Thou maiſt freely and ſecurely truſt him with thy all, for thy God and Father, who loves thee better than thou loveſt thy ſelf, hath done ſo for thee, Math. 11.27. Joh. 3.35. Col. 1.19. Col. 3.9. And thou that art a Regenerate Perſon, maiſt ask what thou wilt of him, and he will do it for thee; and that becauſe he loves thee; is thy Truſtee, and hath thy ſtock and portion.
Fifthly. Give God thy all. Let him have thy all dedicated to him, and laid out in his ſervice and worke every day. For thy all, is all his, and he expects of thee no leſs then thy all. Whatever Talents thou haſt, he lent them thee, and made thee his Steward to uſe and employ them for him, in his worke and ſervice. God is the firſt cauſe, and laſt end of all thy enjoyments: he had himſelf in his eye, and deſign, when he gave, or lent them to thee, as the great end, end he requires and expects to have the fruit of all thy Receivings. It is true that he allows thee a ſhare in them; the Comfort of them is thine, but the honour and Glory of them is his. That is his part and portion, the other is thine. And therefore as thou haſt thy part and portion in, and out of them, ſo be ſure God have his alſo, and that in the firſt place. Let him not be put off with a part of your Receivings, for he will have all or none. Whether he hath given, or lent thee much or little Grace, or any other good things, be ſure when thou doſt any ſervice to or for him, to lay out and expend thy all in it, as much as poſſible: for then thy little all ſhall be excepted, and he will account thee a faithful ſervant, and himſelf reſpected and glorified by thee, not elſe, whatever pretences thou maiſt make, by way of excuſe? As you muſt not take up with a part of your work and duty, and let the reſt alone, (as was ſhewed) ſo you that are new Creatures muſt not think to put God off with a part of your abilities and Receivings in his ſervice, for that is to deal deceitfully with him, and rob him of his due. He will have all or none. God requires thee to honour him with thy ſubſtance, and with the firſt fruits of all thine encreaſe, Pro. 3.9. that is, with thy all. And thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy Soul, and with all thy minde, Math. 22.37. That is, thou ſhalt not faile to ſerve thy God with thy all. Thus David did Pſal. 119.10. With my whole heart have I ſought thee. And in Pſal. 103.1.2. Bleſs the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me, bleſs his holy name. For doing this, the poor Widow was much commended, namely, for caſting into the Treaſury, her all, Mark. 12.41.—ult. Her mites was her offering to God, the matter was ſmall indeed, not worth the minding among men. I but it was her all, and ſo it was of great account with Chriſt. The queſtion is not about the quantity, whether the offering be much or little, but whether it be thy all or no. We are often tempted to put off God with part of our all, and with pretence for our ſo doing. But let us take heed and beware of this groſſe and horrible Hipocriſy, for God will not long winck at it. When we have been tempted to do ſo, then we are put upon ſtudying and makeing excuſes when we have Napkind up our Talents, and not brought them forth, then we had them not; and when we have laid aſide our ſtrength, or not ſtir'd it up to practice, then alaſs we are poor weak Creatures, then we complain of wants and weakneſſes, when in truth it is our wickedneſs and careleſneſs. But take heed and beware of this Temptation and deceit.
Sixthly. You muſt be ſingular and peculiar in all things, and in all your wayes, towards God and men. There ſhould, yea, there muſt be as great a difference between you and unregenerate men, as between light and darkneſs, good and evil. For you are a holy people unto God, Children of light, and a Special and a peculiar people indeed, Deut. 7.6. Eph. 5.8. Tit. 2.14. You are of a divine make, and of a heavenly deſcent, and are born to and for higher and more noble Acts, Works and Employments, and to more excellent frames & carriages than others are. Therefore you muſt exceed and go beyond others, in all manner of holy converſations and godlineſs: that thereby you may declare, and hold forth your diſtinguiſhing Characters, and manifeſt what Grace can do, beyond nature. I ſhall for brevity ſake give you but hints of ſeveral things, that you ſhould be ſingular in. In the general, you muſt be ſingular in all thoſe works, frames of heart, carriages, duties, and deportments, which are yours, or in an eſpecial manner required of you, as new creatures, and which other men are unacquainted withall.
1. As Firſt, The excerciſe of all Graces in external duties. In all the worſhip and ordinances of God, and in all religious matters, you muſt call up, bring forth, and exerciſe all the Graces of the Spirit. There muſt not one hooff be left behind of your Graces when you worſhip God, but all muſt be employed in it. Your faith, Love, knowledge, zeal, hope, patience, &c. whatever is entruſted in your hands to worke and worſhip God withall, muſt concur and work together in the doing of it.
2. Self-denial. This is alwaies neceſſary in all your walkings with God. For one accurſed Self or other will alwaies be interpoſing, oppoſing and intercepting of you, to hinder and obſtruct you, or to mar and utterly ſpoil your duties and performances. You are called off from ſerving and gratifying ſelf, to the ſerving and pleaſing of God, and you are called to the conſtant work of Self-denial; and therefore you muſt do it.
Againe; you muſt be ſingular in Watching and guarding, in keeping and defending your ſelves againſt all your ſpiritual Enemies within and without, and you muſt keep on, and make continual uſe of your Spiritual Armour, and fight down all ſuch Adverſaries as raiſe up againſt you, Eph. 6.11-18. 1 Tim. 6.12 Theſe are ſome of the many workes and duties that you muſt be continually exerciſed about and employed in; … which you ſhall find true peace and comfort.
Secondly. You muſt expect many aſſaults and …ng attempts upon you, from all the Enemies of your Souls. The Devil, world and Luſts, will continually endeavour to tempt, draw, and enſnare you to, and in all evil. They will not let you …one, but be alwayes watching you, and improveing all their opportunities againſt you …ight and day, in all places and buſineſſes, to …tice and perſwade you to ſin againſt God and men; to cauſe you to rob God, wrong your own Souls, and injure men; and they are Subtle and potent. But I may not enlarge at preſent. And therefore ſhall only mention ſome of the many obligations God hath laid on, and encouragements he hath given you, to walk with … unto all well pleaſing in your new ſtates. Remember what God hath made you, what excellent pieces of his Work-manſhip you are, and what expences the Lord Jeſus hath been at and hid out to make you a peculiar people unto himſelf. He will never leave you nor forſake you, but water you every moment, keep you night and day, ſupply all your wants, keep you by his mighty power, and guide you by his Counſels until he ſhall receive you unto his glory, Heb. 13.5. Phill. 4.19. Iſa. 27.3. 1 Pet. 1.5. Pſal. 73.24. The holy Ghoſt ſhall abide with you for ever, Joh. 14.16. impart to, and convey into your Souls all the fullneſs of Chriſt; Joh. 16.13.14.15. and whatever Chriſt hath is yours. His Joy, Peace, Life, Light, Strength, Love and Glory is your, 1 Cor. 3. and you may go to, and have free acceſs to him for all that is his.
FINIS.