Four Profitable Treatises, Treatise 3
THE NEW BIRTH.
Joh. 3. 6.
That which is born of the Fleſh is Fleſh, but that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit.
MY Purpoſe is to ſpeak of the ſeveral VVorks of Gods holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of his choſen; they are Gods peculiar people, and therefore he vvill vvork greater Mercies for them, then for any elſe: Novv the Firſt grand diſtinguiſhing vvork of the Holy Ghoſt in the Elect is Regeneration; he is the Author of Spiritual life in them, they are born of him, though by nature they are born of the fleſh, and ſo are fleſh; and in that eſtate can never enter into the kingdom of God: yet vvhen the Spirit of God comes to regenerate them, they come to be Spirit, they come to have a nevv life, and the Spirit of God gives it them: it is true that Chriſt is the Author of this life, he procured it by his death, he quickens whom he will, as he told his Diſciples, Joh. 14. 19. Becauſe I live, ye ſhall live alſo: Life is derived by Chriſt to all the Members of Chriſt; for as all in Adam died, Adam is the general root of all, in his loins, and by him they come to be dead in ſin; ſo Chriſt is the Second Adam, and all that are in his loins, all that are in him, he is a quickning Spirit to them, 1 Cor. 15. 45. The firſt man Adam was made a living Soul, the ſecond Adam was made a quickning Spirit: Chriſt is the ſecond Adam, and is a quickning Spirit to all that are in him; God the Father hath appointed him to be the Prince of Life, as Peter tells his Hearers, Act. 3. 15. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he is the Prince of life to all the people of God: and therefore Saint John ſaith, He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son, hath not life, 1 Joh. 5. 12. He is the Father of this new Birth, and he is the daily and continual Father of it: He is not a Father for one, or two, or divers years, but Iſa. 9. 6. he is called, an everlaſting Father, to regenerate a people to God; and he doth it by his Reſurrection, 1 Pet. 1. 3. This muſt needs be granted, That Chriſt muſt be the Author of this new Life.
Now you will ſay, Then why is it attributed to the Spirit? The Text gives it to the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghoſt; now if Chriſt be the Author Regeneration attributed to the ſpirit.of this new Birth, and the giver of this new Life, and God the Father hath appointed him to be ſo, Why is it then here ſaid, That the Spirit doth it?
I Anſwer: It is given to the Spirit for ThreeBecauſe Chriſt doth it by the ſpirit. Reaſons:
Firſt, Becauſe Chriſt doth it by the Spirit: Whatſoever Chriſt doth without, he doth it by the Spirit: when he caſt out Divels here upon Earth, he did it by his Spirit; all the outward VVorks that he wrought, he wrought them by his Spirit; and therefore the Spirit is called, the Finger of God, Luk. 11. 20. Now if Chriſt do this VVork by his Spirit, if he do Regenerate all his people by his own Spirit, there is reaſon why they ſhould be ſaid to be born of the Spirit.
Secondly, Another Reaſon is, Becauſe though Spirit is the bond of union between us and Chriſtthis life be all from Chriſt, it is he that begets it; (it is he that is the ſoul of every Believer, as I may ſo ſpeak) yet it is the Spirit that is the Bond of Ʋnion; it is the Spirit that joyns Chriſt and them together, it is the Spirit that tyeth the knot, it is the Spirit that unites and puts them together into one; though Chriſt be life, and eternal life, yet notwithſtanding they are all Aliens from Chriſt, they are all out of Chriſt, that the Spirit doth not joyn together with Chriſt: they that have not the Spirit of Chriſt, they are none of his; they are all out of Chriſt, they are like dead branches out of the Vine; it is the Spirit that is the bond of Ʋnion between Chriſt, and thoſe that are Chriſts.
Thirdly, Another Reaſon is, Becauſe the Spirit Becauſ the ſpirit quickens the word wherby we are born again.quickens the Word, whereby this is done: The people of God, the thing that they are born of again, it is the immortal ſeed of the VVord, 1 Pet. 1. 23. You are born again, not of corruptible ſeed, but of incorruptible; Now this ſeed is ſowen in all mens hearts, ſcattered among all the Congregation, but yet it doth not Regenerate all the Congregation; the Reaſon is, where the Spirit comes, that makes it fruitful, and that makes it to quicken the heart; and thus you ſee the meaning of the words, That which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit.
Now here are Two Points:
Firſt, That the Spirit of God, or the Holy Ghoſt, Regenerates all the people of God; whoſoever is born again, is born of the Spirit.
The Second Point is this, That all that are Regenerate, all that are born of the Spirit, they are Spirit; that is, they are ſpiritual, they are like the Spirit.
The Firſt is, That it is the Spirit of God, the That the ſpirit of God doth regenerate all the Saints.Holy Ghoſt, that doth Regenerate all the people of God; this is that which makes them to be new Creatures, to be new men, to be altogether different from that they were before; this is that which doth diſtinguiſh them from themſelves, even as much as white from black; this is that which doth alienate them from the courſes of the world; this is that which doth make them to be ſingular and odde fellows, as if they were of another mould; this makes them lead a different kind of life, and follow a different kind of way from all their neighbors, becauſe the Spirit of God works in them; as Iſhmael and Iſaac, though Iſhmael was born after the fleſh, yet Iſaac was born after the Spirit, as the Apoſtle alludes, Gal. 4. 23. that is, one took one kind of courſe, the other another; one was born one way, the other another way; the Spirit begat one, the Fleſh the other; and this made Iſhmael to perſecute Iſaac, becauſe Iſaac could not abide his courſes; they were of different Natures and Diſpoſitions, one was born after the Spirit, the other after the Fleſh.
Now here be Six Things I would ſhew unto you:
Firſt, What Regeneration is.
Secondly, Why it is ſo called.
Thirdly, Wherein it conſiſts.
Fourthly, The Reaſons why the Spirit of God only works this work.
Fifthly, How he works it.
And Laſtly, The Ʋſes.
Firſt, What Regeneration is: And it is thusWhat Regeneration is. much, namely, The renewing of the whole man, and by degrees completed after the Image of God in Jeſus Chriſt: This is Regeneration; and there be Five Things to be opened in it:
Firſt, That it is the renewing of a man; It isA Renewing. not every change, there may be abundance of changes and alterations, and yet a man for the main may be the ſame man he is; a man may be changed from a Drunkard to be ſober; from an Adulterer to be chaſte; yet ſtill he is the ſame man he was before, though there be changes wrought in him: but Regeneration is the renewing of a man, the making of a man another man, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 2 Cor. 5. 17. Old things are paſſed away, and all things are become new: The Lord doth take away the old frame, and the old affections, and the old inclinations, the old acquaintance, the old courſe and converſation; all theſe things paſſe away, and the Lord puts in new things in the room thereof, till all things become new; thus it is in this work, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Tit. 3. 5. According to his mercy he ſaved us by the waſhing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoſt; the Lord removeth the old rubbiſh, and puts a new fabrick in the room; as a Goldſmith, he takes a veſſel of diſhonour and melts it, and makes it a veſſel of honour; God doth undo the old workmanſhip, and makes a new: as David ſaith, Create in me, O Lord, a clean heart, &c. Pſal. 51. 10. David thought he had loſt all, therefore he prayeth to God that he may be new caſt, that he may be taken all to pieces, as a VVatch-maker takes a VVatch that is out of order, he takes it all to pieces, and ſets it together anew again; ſo he prayes God to deal with him, he had loſt all in ſenſe and feeling, and would have God make him a new workmanſhip, it is called the renewing of a man, Ezek 11. 19. there is an excellent place, I will give them a new heart, &c. The Lord puts out, and he puts in, even juſt as a Suiſter doth when ſhe works cutworks, ſhe puts out the cloths own threds, and puts in needle-work; ſo the Lord puts out the old heart, and puts in a new heart; he takes out that which was ſtark naught, and puts in that which is good and agreeable to his mind: the old heart is corrupt, and the old man is ſtark naught, there is nothing good in it; theſe the Lord takes out, and puts in all new: A man is altogether naught and reprobate before; what poor creatures are all people that are not Regenerate, they are all proud, and vain, and fooliſh, and wordly, and earthly, and harden their hearts, and are careleſſe of Gods wayes, they have no fear of God before their eyes, they are altogether rotten, how ill-favouredly do they pray? how worldly do they go on in their callings? how unfruitfully do they come to Church? they are all rotten and refractory, they do nothing that right is; now when the Spirit of God doth make them up, he puts out all old things, and makes them new. This is the Firſt thing, Regeneration, is the renewing of a man.
Secondly, As it is the renewing of a man, ſo it A Renewing of the whole manis the renewing of the whole man: It is not only in ſome things, for Saul was another man in ſome ſenſe; but Regeneration is the renewing of the whole man, as the Appoſtle ſaith, The God of peace ſanctifie you throughout, in body, ſoul, and Spirit, 1 Theſſ. 5. 23. it is a work upon the whole man; our Saviour Chriſt compares it to leaven, which a woman took and leavened the whole Lump: It is like unto Original ſin, as Original ſin infects the whole man; ſo Regeneration doth repair and renew the whole man; it is as general and univerſal, as original ſin: the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodneſſe, Epheſ. 5. 9. It is in all goodneſſe; in the goodneſſe of a mans mind, and in the goodneſſe of a mans affections, in the goodneſſe of the inclination and diſpoſition, in the goodneſſe of the whole man; the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodneſs; indeed it begins in the goodneſſe of the mind, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Epheſ. 4. 23. Be renewed in the Spirit of your minds: Where he calls upon them for this new work; Put off the old man (ſaith he) and be renewed in the Spirit of your minds; that is the Firſt thing, when a man hath a new mind given unto him, a new knowledge put into his underſtanding, a man is renewed in knowledge, Col. 3. 10. This is the firſt thing, when God reneweth a mans knowledge and apprehenſion of things, when a man begins to know the plagues of his own heart, and the evils of all his own wayes, now a man begins to ſee through theſe things, and now he begins to ſee the wayes of God; and to dive deep beneath the irkſomneſſe of them, to know the amiableneſſe of them, the ſweetneſſe of them: the delights of them are hidden from a man, ſo long as he is unregenerate; but when God doth begin to regenerate a man, now he begins to diſcover them to him, that a man ſeeth what they are: he could ſay before that the wayes of God were good, but he could never taſte and find them ſo; but when a man is renewed, now he ſeeth the luſtre and amiableneſſe of them: ſo alſo, he ſeeth the uglineſſe of ſin, this was covered before, ſin deceived the heart, and carried him after it; but now ſin begins to be laid ſtark naked, and a man ſeeth the deformity of it, here begins Regeneration in the mind; for the underſtanding is the key of the Soul, the key of all the Faculties of the Soul, it is like a ſluce or flood-gate, pull up that, and the water goes out and runs all abroad; ſo when the Lord doth pluck up this ſluce, and lift up a mans heart, and mind, and underſtanding: now the waters of life flow into the ſoul: this is againſt them now, that have plenty of knowledge, and yet notwithſtanding go no further, that have new minds, and old wills and affections, there is a new brain, but an old heart; this is not regeneration, regeneration (it is true) begins in the underſtanding, but it runs along in all the ſoul, it deſcends into heart and mind, and all the whole man; and therefore it is called a new creature; whoſoever is in Chriſt is a new creature; Behold, I make all things new, (ſaith Chriſt) Rev. 21. 5. As Regeneration is the renewing of a man, ſo it is the renewing of the whole man.
Thirdly, It is done by degrees: Though RegenerationBy degrees perfected. be in all parts, yet it is not in all degrees at once; the ſpirit of God doth renew more and more, and beget a man more and more; there is of the old birth a great while, but he doth eat it out more and more, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 2 Cor. 3. 18. And we all with open face, &c. Mark here, he calls this change glory, becauſe it is a glorious creature; as long as a man is not renewed, he is a baſe creature; but when he is renewed, he is a glorious creature: Now ſaith he, when the Lord doth this, he doth it from glory to glory, from one degree to another; as this is done by the ſpirit of God, ſo he doth it more; he proceeds from little beginnings to greater perfections; it was not ſo with Adam, God made him in his full ſtature at the firſt, he was a man at the firſt daſh; but this new creature, is as a Babe conceived in the VVomb, it begins there, and ſo grows up; As new born babes deſire the ſincere milk of the Word. 1 Pet. 2. 2. He is a babe firſt, and ſo growes, though it be not a ſtarveling but grovvs, yet it is but a vveak one at firſt, and muſt grovv and come to its ſtrength more and more: it is like a good husband that begins vvith a little, and ariſeth up to a great eſtate in the end; ſo Regeneration, makes a man a good husband; puts a little ſtock into his hands, and makes him riſe to a great matter.
Fourthly, This is according to the Image of According to Gods Image.God: It is not all kind of Renewing: A man may have a new work that he had not before; but the work of regeneration, as it is a renewing, ſo it is a renewing after the image of God; man had quite and clean loſt the Image of God, which conſiſted in Righteouſneſs and Holineſs; Now when Gods Spirit comes to regenerate a man, that reneweth him according to this Image: As the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Epheſ. 4. 24. That ye put on the new man which is created after his image: and how is that? In Righteouſneſs and Holineſs. As it is in Nature, though a man be never ſo godly when he begets a man, he begets him after his image, as he is by nature polluted and unclean: Gen. 5. 3. So Adam begat Seth in his own image: ſo when the Spirit begets a man again, he begets him after his own image, he makes him merciful as his heavenly Father is merciful, Luke 6. 36. and perfect as he is perfect. Matth. 5. ult. There are none regenerate and born again, but thoſe that are like God, the Lord ſtamps upon them his own ſimilitude, and makes them like to himſelf.
Fifthly, This is the Image of God in Jeſus In Jeſus ChriſtChriſt; who is the expreſs image of his Father; he is the pattern after which this frame is made: nay, God did order it ſhould be ſo from eternity, Rom. 8. 29. Whom he did fore▪know, he did predeſtinate, that they ſhould be conformed to the image of his Son: 'Tis true, this ſimilitude is not preſently made out, it is but by halves as it were; it is but a poor firſt draught, and never perfect in this life, but it ſhall be made perfect, 1 Joh. 3 2, 3. We know when he appears, we ſhall be like him, and ſhall ſee him as he is; then we ſhall be perfectly like him, and ſee him as he is, and know him as he is; as Paul ſaith, Col. 3. 2, 3. You are dead, and your life is hid in Chriſt, &c. Here the work is hardly come to its glory, there is a great deal of baſeneſſe and old rubbiſh ſtill, but it ſhall be glorious before God hath done, it ſhall come to be perfect then, in the mean time, it is but by degrees; but the work of regeneration puts a man to go to Chriſt, and believe in Chriſt; You that follow me in Regeneration, &c. ſaith our Saviour, Matth. 19. 28. When a man is regenerate, regeneration puts a frame into a mans heart to be like unto Chriſt, and to follow his ſteps, and his example, that as he hath done, ſo he may do more and more: this is the work of regeneration, That the Spirit of God works in Gods people, conforming them to the Image of Chriſt: Yea, Regeneration doth more than repair a man, more than reduce a man to that eſtate wherein he was in Adam's loins before the Fall; it is the ingrafting of a man into Chriſt, and the eſtating a man into the Merits and Priviledges of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, it is a greater matter, then the bare reſtoring of a man to that which he loſt, it is the reſtoring of a man to a better eſtate; this differences it from Sanctification. Thus we ſee what Regeneration is.
Now the Second Thing is, Why it is ſo called? Why called Regeneration.Why this ſame bleſſed work of the renewing of the whole man after the Image of God in Chriſt Jeſus is called Regeneration. There be Two Reaſons of it.
Firſt, To ſhew us how marvellouſly we are corrupt To ſhew the great Corruption of Nature.by Nature: Until the Spirit of God take us in hand, a man is quite rotten, there is no ſoundneſſe left, there is nothing in him will ſerve, it is not a little melting will ſerve the turn, it is not a little plaiſtering, or patching, or piecing will do the deed: though there be a thouſand changes in a man, yet if a man be not another man, if he be not a new creature, it is to no effect, it will never bring a man into the kingdom of God; what ſaith Chriſt, Joh. 3. 3. Verily, verily, I ſay unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God: As who ſhould ſay, Verily, verily, I ſay unto thee, a man is all to ſhatters, all to pieces, all rotten, and unleſſe he be born again, and made a new creature, it is impoſſible he ſhould enter into the kingdom of God; though a man be never ſo much altered, he is not in the eſtate of Grace till he be a new man, till the Lord hath given him a new frame, and a new inclination: except a man be born again, he cannot ſee the kingdom of God, he cannot ſee the kingdom of Grace: that is the firſt dowry of the kingdom of Grace, to give a man a new Being that he never had before: a natural man is juſt like an old rotten houſe, that hath not one piece that will ſerve the turn; but a man that will make it an habitable houſe, muſt take it all down to the ground, and build it up from the ground: ſo it is here, there is not one piece will ſerve the turn; though ye ſee admirable things in men, though they ſeem excellent in the eyes of men, yet they will not ſerve the turn, they are rotten and ſtark naught; there is an abſence of all Good, Rom. 7. 18. Nay beſides, there is an univerſal indiſpoſition in a man, like to a thing that is all rotten and marred, and can never be made up again, except it be made ſpick and ſpan new; and ſo it is with a man, he is altogether corrupt, as the Prophet ſpeaks, Iſa. 1. from the ſole of the foot, to the crown of the head, nothing but bruiſes and putrified ſoars; take a man that is never ſo civil, and of fair carriage, ſo long as he is not a new creature, this is nothing for the entring into the kingdom of God, and being amiable in his ſight: Nay, Gen. 6. 5. the Text ſaith, The thoughts of the heart of man are only evil continually, there is nothing ſound in a man, though he daily think of Grace, and think of God, his thoughts cannot be ſaid to be good, for the mind whereby he thinks of theſe things is rotten, and unſavory; though he ſpeaks of never ſo good things, the ſame things the Saints of God ſpeak of; though he doth the ſame actions the people of God do; though he hears the ſame VVord, and receive the ſame Sacraments, he cannot do them aright, they are abomination in Gods ſight, therefore when God regenerates a man, he muſt make him another man then he was before. This ſpeaks natures corruption.The work well expreſſed by the Name
Secondly, Becauſe the things of Regeneration are admirably ſet out by way of this ſimilitude: Natural Generation is generally, ſweetly anſwered in this VVork of Regeneration.
Firſt, As a man cannot come into the World Father, both in Natural and Spiritual Generation.without Parents, but he muſt have a Father to beget him, ſo it is in this new Birth: as in the other there was an earthly Father, ſo here is an heavenly Father, as the Author to the Hebrews ſpeaks, Heb. 12. 9. How much rather ſhall we be ſubjected to the Father of Spirits? There are two Fathers, an earthly Father, the Father of the natural and corrupt man, and God the Father of our ſpirits, that is the Father of our ſpiritual Nature, as many excellent Divines do expound it: though it may be expounded the Father of our Souls; yet this is more likely, becauſe here is an oppoſition between the Father of the Fleſh, and the Father of the Spirits: God himſelf is the Father of this new work.
Secondly, Here is a Mother too; That Jeruſalem A Mother in both.which is from above, is the Mother of them all; they are all Zions Children, here is the Womb that theſe new creatures lye in, Chriſts Spouſe; the Lambs wife is their Mother; though the world hate them and her too, yet they love her; nay, though the woman be thrown out into the wilderneſs, yet their hearts run after her; the Regenerate only, are the true born, this is their Mother.
Thirdly, As it is in the Natural Birth, There is Firſt, Conce… tion, and th… Birth.a ſhaping in the Womb, before their is a coming into life: ſo it is here, as the Apoſtle ſaith, there is a conceiving of a man in the womb, before he is, Gal. 4. 19. My little Children, of whom I travel in Birth, till Chriſt be formed in you; There is the Conception; 'tis true, wicked men have many Conceptions, but they do not bring forth, Chriſt is not formed in them; they may have many ſtirrings that way, but they periſh in the Birth; but Zion travels and brings forth Children, Iſa. 66. 8.
Fourthly, Again, As it is in the Natural Birth,…ain accompa…ies both Births. None is brought forth, without the pains of travel; So there be pains in this new Birth, legal terrours which the Reprobate are killed with and die under, but the godly come forth from under them ſafe and bettered.
Fifthly, Again, As it is in the firſt Birth, theBoth come to a Being they had …ot. Child that is born and comes into the world, he comes from no Being to a Being, from no Exiſtency to an Exiſtency; ſo it is hear in this new Birth, thoſe which were no people, are now made the people of God; thoſe that had no being in Chriſt, now have a being in him; they are come into a new world, into a new heaven and a new earth; others live in this world, but they live in a new world.
Sixthly, Again, As it is in the firſt Birth, A New Kindred follows both.m…n comes to have Children, to have Brothers and Siſters; ſo in this Birth, a man comes to have new Kindred, all the Godly in the world are of his Conſanguinity; though they be counted the Puritans of the Pariſh, yet they are of his bloud, and Chriſt himſelf is their Brother, and Abraham is their Father (under God) and Sarah is their Mother; there is a new Kindred. Indeed here is the difference, that the Children of the firſt Birth they are viſible, and their lives and courſes are viſible, and their alliance and kindred is viſible, and all that they are and do is viſible; but the Children of the ſecond Birth are not viſible: indeed their perſons are viſible as well as others, but their life is an inviſible thing; their excellency, their glory, this new creature in them, this is inviſible, it is like that River in Spain, which runs fourteen miles under ground; whence they have a Proverb, That the Bridge over the River is fourteen miles long: So there is a River in Surry that is juſt the like, it runs under the ground inviſible, they cannot ſee it; ſo theſe new creatures they cannot be ſeen, their lives run under ground, their lives are hidden with God, indeed their perſons, and outward actions and courſes may be ſeen; nay, wicked men may do thoſe very outward actions which they do; they may Pray together with them, and come to Church together with them, but this new workmanſhip they cannot ſee, that runs along under ground, the world ſeeth it not, neither can they know it, becauſe they know not Chriſt the Author of it: Thus we ſee the ſecond thing, namely, Why it is ſo called.
Now the Third Thing is, Wherein this bleſſed Wherein Regeneration conſiſteth.Work doth conſiſt: and it conſiſts in Two Things, Joh. 1. 12. The Evangeliſt ſaith, To as many as received him, he gave power to become the Sons of God. Here be Two Things, and both theſe Regeneration conſiſts of:
Firſt, A Paſſive receiving of Chriſt, Whoſoever receives him.
Secondly, An Active Title to God, as to a Father, They have power to become the Sons of God.
Firſt, A Paſſive receiving of Chriſt; To asPaſſive receiving Chriſt. many as received him: for he came to his own and they received him not; his own, even his own Elect, would not receive him, till he made them receive him; but as many as received him, as many as were made paſſively to receive him, did receive him alſo actively: ſo that this word implyes the Paſſive receiving of Chriſt; for there is none can receive any thing, except it be given him from above, Joh. 3. 27. That is, except there be firſt a paſſive reception of it: It is a ſtrange phraſe, No man can receive Chriſt, till Chriſt is firſt received of him; he can never take Chriſt, till Chriſt come into him, till Chriſt ingraft himſelf into him, and him into Chriſt; this is an act of God, it is a paſſive receiving of Chriſt: the reaſon is, becauſe all the Graces, and all the Activity of Gods people flowes from this, their Faith, and all; for Faith is an act, which receives from the paſſive receiving of Chriſt, as Paul ſpeaks to the Coloſſians, As you have received Chriſt, ſo walk in him; Faith receives Chriſt, that is an active receiving of Chriſt, but there was a paſſive receiving of Chriſt firſt; for a man is in Chriſt firſt in a paſſive manner, before he is in him in an active manner, Chriſt hath taken him already, before he can take Chriſt actually: This is the firſt Thing wherein this work of Regeneration conſiſts, The Paſſive receiving of Chriſt.
Secondly, It conſiſts in having an active power …n active po…r to become child of God.and …itle to become a Son of God; together with Jeſus Chriſt; Theſe are the Two Things wherein Regeneration conſiſts. I know many Divines branch it otherwiſe, and make Regeneration to conſiſt otherwiſe:
Firſt, Of Mortification.
Secondly, Of Vivification.
Firſt, Of Mortification: Whereby the Spirit kills the Luſts of the Fleſh more, as Rom. 8. 13. If ye live after the Fleſh ye ſhall die, but if ye through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the Fleſh, ye ſhall live: Mark; here is Mortification, and it is done by the Spirit; if you through the ſpirit mortifie the deeds of the body.
Secondly, There is Vivification; that is, when a man doth not only die unto ſin, but riſe up again to a new life, Rom. 6. 11. Likewiſe reckon ye your ſelves to be dead unto ſin, but alive unto God, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. This is the other work of Vivification, when a man is made alive unto God, and is made able by the ſpirit of God to be alive unto God, and to wind himſelf out of death into life, by the ſpirit of the holy One. Theſe be the Two Parts whereof many Divines make Regeneration to conſiſt of; but though they beat at the ſame thing, yet I rather make them the Effects and Conſequents of Regeneration, as flowing from Regeneration; this paſſive work goeth before, a man never goeth on in mortifying the works of the Fleſh, and never raiſeth himſelf up to this heavenly life till he be Regenerated; ſo that regeneration is the firſt ingrafting of a man into Chriſt, whereby he is alive, that he may do all theſe things; it is a power put into him wherby he may believe & repent, ſo that Believing, and Repentance, and Mortification, and Vivification are acts of the new creature; a man muſt therefore be a new creature firſt, now this is by Regeneration, ſo that Regeneration conſiſts only of theſe Two Things: Firſt, Of a paſſive receiving of Chriſt the Son of God. Secondly, In having a title to be the Son of God; and Regeneration doth not only bring a relative change, but a real change to a man: If you would know the meaning of the phraſe, A relative change is this, when there is a change in a man, from that he was before; but the change doth not lye in a man, as the change of Juſtification: before he was not Juſtified, now he is Juſtified, the man is changed, but he is not changed in himſelf, but it ſtands only in Gods imputation; he is not juſt in himſelf, but by imputation juſt. Now the real change is, when God doth purifie and make up the defects in a man more and more, that is a real change; ſo that I ſay, Regeneration is not only a relative change, whereby God accounts a man as a child; but it breeds a real change in a man, it gives a man a ſpiritual Being; for the Spirit of God when it comes to work this work, is a fruitful principle of all good in that man more and more: Therefore the Apoſtle ſaith, The fruits of the Spirit, are joy, peace, long-ſuffering, &c. Gal. 5. 22. 'Tis true, the Spirit doth not bring forth theſe Graces till after a man is regenerate, but by working that Regeneration, which makes the ſoul to bring forth theſe fruits, and making the heart an honeſt heart, and ſo a good ground to bring forth theſe ſeeds; the Spirit is a fruitful principle of all good in that man. Thus you ſee the Third Thing, viz. Wherein Regeneration conſiſts.
Now the Fourth Thing is the Reaſons of thisReaſons why the Spirit worketh Regeneration. Point, Why the Spirit of God doth work this work of Regeneration.
The Firſt Reaſon is, Becauſe it is meerly according It is the good pleaſure of Godto the Will of God: Man hath no power at all, man hath no activity, it is meerly at the pleaſure of God, whether he will do it or no; Jam. 1. 18. Of his own Will begat he us; he only had an hand in it, he only did it, and it was meerly at his good Will and Pleaſure, he might have choſen whether he would have done it or no; it is no fruit of our liberty, it is no brood of our breeding, it is meerly the free act of God in a man, Joh. 6. 44. No man cometh to me except the Father draweth him; There Chriſt ſheweth it, this bringing of a man to be in Chriſt, it cannot be from any man, except the Father draw him; except he ſend forth his heavenly Spirit, he can never come to Chriſt; all our ſufficiency is from God, we cannot ſo much as think a good thought, we cannot renew our thoughts, we cannot renew our inclinations, or our wills, or our affections; we can do nothing of our ſelves, it is only his work; therefore ſeeing it is ſuch a ſpecial work▪ it muſt be only the Spirit of God that muſt work it; it is a glorious work, a ſupernatural work; this new Birth, is ſuch a Birth as comes from above, Pſal. 110. 3. Thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power, &c. ſaith the text, that is, all that are born of God, they are brought forth in the day of Gods power, in the day wherein God is pleaſed to put forth his power in them; therefore they are called the ſeed of Chriſt, Iſa. 53. 10. They are his ſeed, but unleſs he begets them by his Spirit, they can never be ſo; Therefore if we conſider the greatneſs of the work, it ſheweth plainly, it muſt needs be the effect of the Will of God, and his good Pleaſure towards man, and therefore muſt be wrought by the Spirit.
Secondly, Another Reaſon is, Becauſe it is not No other agent can do it.a work of this world: It is a work of another world, it is none of the creatures of this life, it is beyond the ſphere of the activity of any natural agent, they cannot reach it, Joh. 1. 13. Which were born not of the will of the fleſh, nor of bloud, &c. It is not of mans Will, he cannot ſo much as Will it, or Deſire it effectually, he cannot wiſh it truly, nay, his heart had rather have the world; nay, ſaith he, It is not of the Will of the Fleſh, that is, a man may go and beget another Child in the world, becauſe it is of the Will of the Fleſh, it is in the power of the Will of the Fleſh, Gods power going along with him, but this is not ſo, whatſoever a man be, though he hath never ſo many excellent parts, it is not in the Will of the Fleſh to do it: Then again, it is not of Bloud, it is no terrene or earthly thing, this new creature is otherwiſe made, than any new creature in the world beſides, therefore he concludes, it is only born of God, it is God only that is the great Author of this great work, it deſcends down meerly from above.
Thirdly, Becauſe it is ſo far from beingMan is totally againſt it of himſelf. wrought by any power in man, or any counſel in man, or any endeavours in man, it is ſo far from that, as that a man is totally againſt it; A man is an enemy unto it, a man hath reluctancy and repugnancy againſt it, he would not be regenerate; when a man doth think he deſires heaven, and to be regenerated of God, he doth apprehend Regeneration in a wrong way, and heaven in a wrong way, ſo as he apprehends it, he doth Will it; he thinks of heaven as of a fine place, and a place full of pleaſure, and therefore deſires it, but that he ſhould alwayes be with God, that he ſhould alwayes be prayſing and thinking of God, and minding of God, and have his heart weaned from all other things, and ſet it on God, this is heaven, but he hates theſe things, and ſo hates heaven, ſo he Wills that which he apprehends to be Regeneration; but Regeneration, is when a man hath a new heart, and when he is a new man: he was wordly before, but he is now brought to be ſpiritual, he was proud before, but he is now come to be humble, but the heart cannot abide this, therefore let the Lord fling in abundance of throws into a natural mans heart, to begin ſome preparatory work this way, to make a man begin to look out towards heaven, he flings all away, he is weary of them quickly; as a man at a Sermon, perhaps may have throws concerning the new Birth, but the corruption of his heart will throw all way, he cannot endure them, they are contrary to the corruption of a mans nature; nay, when God comes to work upon his own people, what a deal of pleading is there with the world, the fleſh, and the Divel, that they may not be caſt out: Therefore when Peter ſaw that through the grace and power of God, this work was wrought in thoſe he wrote unto, 1 Pet. 1. 3. Mark how he ſpeaks, Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again to a lively hope, by the reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt from the dead: He lifts up his hands to heaven, and bleſſeth God that ever this work was wrought; he ſaw ſo much adoe, and ſuch a ſtir, and ſuch a deal of oppoſition; this is a plain ſign that it is not of man, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God which ſheweth mercy, Rom. 9. 16. Neither can man Will, neither can he run, neither go, nor ſtir towards it; nay, though God make him go, how apt is he to laggar in the way, and draw back again? So you ſee the Fourth Thing, Why it muſt needs be the Spirits Work.
The Fifth Thing is, How the Spirit of God How the Spirit worketh Regeneration.works this Work. It is after an unſpeakable manner: Who can declare the noble acts of the Lord? The works of God in Nature are marvellous. David himſelf, when he looked upon his natural Birth, the Conception of him in the Womb of his Mother, he wondered at it, Pſal. 139. 14. That was a wonderful work, how much more is this unſpeakable, and unutterable? as it is ſaid of our Saviour Chriſt, Who can declare his generations? So may I ſay in a lower ſenſe, of this Work, Who can declare this Regeneration of his people? But yet thus far the Scripture doth authorize, and warrant us to go.
Firſt, That he doth it by the word of Life; ByBy the Word of Life. the Goſpel of Salvation, by the Preaching of it, or otherwiſe according as he pleaſeth, that is the immortal ſeed, 1 Pet. 1. 23. Being born again, not of corruptible ſeed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, &c. And as Paul ſaith to the Corinthians, Though you have ten thouſand inſtructers, yet you have not many Fathers, for in Chriſt Jeſus I have begotten you through the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 4. 15. As who ſhould ſay, You are begotten and born again, and you are born again by the Word, and I was an inſtrument under God of your new Birth, by the Word which I have Preached among you; and therefore, 1 Tim. 1. 2. he calls Timothy, His own Son; So Tit. 1. 4. he calls him, His Son in the Faith: that is, he was an inſtrumental Father under God, by the Doctrine of Faith, to bring him to be a Child of God: ſo that I ſay it is done by the Word, Of his own Will hath he begotten us by the Word of truth, Jam. 1. 18. The Spirit of the Lord ſanctifies the Word when he is pleaſed to convert a man, the Word ſhall ſhew him what a miſerable creature he is by nature; it ſheweth him that fleſh and bloud cannot enter into the kingdom of God; it ſheweth him that he is utterly forlorn in himſelf, and paſt all recovery, and ſhews him where life is to be had▪ namely, in Jeſus Chriſt, diſcovering his worth, and excellency, and neceſſity, and that all Grace and good is in him, and ſhews him the freedom of this gracious offer: Thus the Spirit of God, when he propounds the Word to the ſoul, holds it before the eyes and conſcience, and ſanctifies it, and puts a power into it, to enter deep into the ſoul, that it may Conceive in the ſoul.
Secondly, The Lord doth it by an unſpeakable By a ſecret and ſupernatural power.working: There is a Divine work which the Lord worketh; The ſpirit comes into the ſoul after the manner of water; as Chriſt ſaith, Joh. 3. Except a man be born again of water and the holy Ghoſt, &c. that is, unleſs he be born of the ſpirit, which worketh in the ſpirit of a man, as water doth in working upon a foul thing. Now what this working is we cannot tell; but we can tell you the effects of it: whereas the ſoul was rotten and naught before, and impotent to all good; now it begins to have a better diſpoſition and a new power: and whereas it did ſavour of the things of this life before, now it ſavours of the things that are above: but this is a ſecret kind of working in the ſoul, therefore it is called the waſhing, and the laver of it: And the Apoſtle ſpeaking of the Corinthians, what miſerable creatures they were before Regeneration, he named Drunkards, Idolaters, Adulterers, &c. and all manner of filthy perſons, Such were ſome of you (ſaith he) before your Regeneration, but now you are waſhed, and juſtified, and ſanctified in the Name of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 6. 11. That ſame waſhing there, he means by that you are Regenerated; ſo that Regeneration, it is a ſupernatural, an unſpeakable kind of waſhing of the ſoul by the holy Ghoſt, whereby the ſoul hath its Corruption waſhed from it in part, and made clean in part, and way made for all the Graces of Gods ſpirit to come in now, and all the fruits of the ſpirit to be brought forth: Thus the Spirit of God works this work, he works it in an ineffable manner by the word of Life and by a ſecret kind of waſhing.
I come now to the Application of this Point:Ʋſe. 1. Of Confutation of Pelagians, &c. And firſt of all, If the Spirit of God be the Regenerater of Gods people, then we may here ſee the errour of the Papiſts, Pelagians, and others; That ſet up the Will of man, and put any activity in the Reaſon, and Judgement, and Wiſdom, and Election of man; This Doctrine of theirs is unſound, and contrary to the working of Gods holy ſpirit: If it be ſuch a work as God ſends his own Spirit to do it; What man can do it? It is called Regeneration, and this ſhews it is not of man: who is able to beget himſelf, and ſhape himſelf in the womb, and diſpoſe of his own body in the belly? Nay more, Can any man beget himſelf again? The very name of again, ſhews that it is a work only of God, none but he can do it; and we ſee it plainly, it is wrought no where, but where God himſelf doth it, and they that have it are able to ſpeak it, that they did not chuſe God, but God choſe them; I was found of them that ſought me not; all the ſouls of his people will ſubſcribe, That it was not in them that willed, or in them that ran, but in God that ſhewed mercy: It is God only that is the Author of this thing, and none but he.
Secondly, Again, This ſhould teach us to conſiderInformation. Of our continual need of the Spirit. that we have alwayes need of the Spirit of God: If the Spirit of God hath begotten us again, then we have alwayes need of him▪ it is not in this as in the firſt Birth; when the Child is born, though the Father be gone, the Child may ſubſiſt; but it is not ſo here: but the Spirit of God as he begets a man, ſo he is fain alwayes to ſtand by him and bear him up, and give him ſupplies of Grace from day to day: as it is with the Air, the Sun doth not only enlighten it, but it doth every moment give light to it: for ſuppoſe the Sun ſhould ſhine four or five hours in the day, yet if the Sun ſhould with-hold its light, the Air would be dark preſently; it is not as it is with Fire, let a man heat the water, though he take away the Fire, the water will keep its heat a while after; but do but with-hold the light of the Sun, and all is gone in the ſame moment; ſo it is with this new Creature and the Spirit of God, he doth dwell in the ſoul, as the Sun in the Air; his preſence warms the ſoul, and quickens the ſoul, and inables a man to good, and gives a principle of life, and enables to all actions that are good; therefore how ſhould all Gods people carry themſelves towards this Spirit? They ſhould have a care that they quench him not, nor go againſt him in any particular.
The Third Ʋſe is for all Gods people, in whomExhortation 1. Not to grieve the Spirit. God hath wrought this bleſſed work; the Spirit of God hath regenerated and begotten them again. I ſay to all ſuch perſons, Let them endear this Spirit of God, let them not grieve, or offend, or diſpleaſe him, ſeeing he is ſuch a gracious worker in them: Epheſ. 1. 13. The Apoſtle makes this very Inference, in whom after ye believed ye were ſealed by the holy Spirit of Promiſe: that is, whereby you were Regenerated; Regeneration is the firſt ſeal of the Spirit, whereby he ſeals Gods good will to a man. Now, hath the Spirit of God ſealed you? Then do not grieve him, nor cauſe him to take any indignation againſt you; for though he will never depart from them, whom he hath made new Creatures, yet notwithſtanding he may hide his face for a time if we diſpleaſe him. Yea, Conſider, Will any natural Child willingly diſpleaſe his loving Father? The Spirit of God is thy Father, therefore we ſhould have reſpect to him.
Again, This ſhould be a Motive to Gods people, 2. To do any thing for God.to be willing to do any thing for God; becauſe he hath made them, as David ſaith, Pſal. 100. 3. This very Conſideration, That God hath made us, and re-made us, he hath done that for us that all our own wits could never have done, that the whole world hath not the like (the Lord generally lets the whole World ſink in ruine and damnation) ſhould be a Motive to you, to be willing to ſerve him gladly, and to call upon his Name, to be ready preſt to execute any of his Commands, to enter into his preſence upon all occaſions, ſeeing it is he that hath made us, and not we our ſelves.
To them that are Ʋnregenerated: Here we ſee3. To the Unregenerate to pray for the Spirit. where to have Regeneration; it is only in God, and in the Spirit of God, to renew a man, and make a man up again: as David prayed when he had the Spirit, Lord, take not thy holy Spirit from me, Pſal. 51. 11. So when a man hath not the Spirit of God, he ſhould pray to God, Lord, Give thy holy Spirit to me, and ſend down thy holy Spirit into my heart, that may work this work in me. But it may be many of you will think that you expect this, and deſire it, and wiſh it, and uſe ſome means. I Anſwer, Then ſhew it by thy coming unto God for it, from day to day; will any man ſay, That Noah did expect that God ſhould deliver him from the Deluge, if he had not took that courſe which God appointed? If he had not built an Ark, certainly we may juſtly ſay, That he did not look that God would deliver him. Therefore it is ſaid of Noah, That as he did expect that God ſhould keep him; ſo being warned of God, he built an Ark, &c. Heb. 11. 7. So when a man ſhall ſay, That he looks that God ſhould deliver him from his natural eſtate and condition, that God ſhould renew him, by his Grace and goodneſs, yet if a man will not prepare an Ark: if when a man is Commanded and directed by God what to do, yet he will not come to God, to do that which ſhould be done for him, theſe men do but deceive their own ſouls, and treaſure up indignation againſt themſelves. I remember the ſtory of Moſes, Exod. 14. when the Children of Iſrael were in Pi-hahiroth, and the Egyptians were behind them, and the Mountains were on the ſide that they could not paſs, and the Sea was before them, and there was notable crying out, Oh! that God would deliver them, now they were dead men, the Egyptians were come out to deſtroy them, the Mountains were on the ſide, and the Sea before them: Now mark what an Anſwer God gives to their cry; cauſe the people to go forward, you keep a crying to me, I pray go forward, you are not yet at the red ſea, but go to the red ſea, and when you are there, then cry to me; you are idleing, and lazing, and miſtruſting me; though the red Sea be before them, yet cauſe them to come thither, and when they are there, then cry for help to me: So thou ſayeſt thou deſireſt that God would Regenerate thee, and quicken thee, and turn thy heart, & vouchſafe thee his holy Spirit, do you ſo? I ſay it is very well, the thing is very good, but if the deſire be ſincere, you will take that courſe God bids you, art thou come to the utmoſt difficulty? Are not many things to be done which thou refuſeſt to do? Muſt thou not ſeek God, more and more carefully? Go forward, go forward, if thou meaneſt to have help and aid from God, otherwiſe it is in vain: if thou wouldſt go on in the wayes of God, and do what God Commands thee, thou ſhouldſt be quickened and renewed.
Fourthly, Another Ʋſe is for Examination:Of Examination, whether regenerated, or no. To examine our ſelves whether the Word of God hath wrought this for us, yea or no. And the firſt ſign is this, If thou beeſt born again, if thou haſtFirſt Signe, When doing good is natural▪ this new Nature, then it is natural to thee to do good duties, to follow good courſes, and to yield obedience to the commandements of God; it is not enough for a man to do good duties: a natural man, an unregenerate man may do them, but whether is it natural to thee? A proud man may do the actions of humility, a proud man may pull off his Hat, and give the time of the day, and ſpeak meanly of himſelf; a proud man may ſuffer another to do him wrong, and put up baſe language, he may do theſe things, but the man is a proud man ſtill, he hath no humble nature; but the queſtion is, whether it be thy nature to do this? May be thou doſt theſe things for fear, or ſome by-reſpects: A worldly man may ſpeak of heavenly things, but is thy nature heavenly? A man may think of God, but is thy nature godly? Here is the thing, If a man be regenerate, there is Grace got into a mans nature, Jer. 31. 33. when God regenerates his people, he ſaith, He will write his laws in their inward parts▪ he doth not only ſay they ſhall do theſe duties, but their very hearts ſhall carry them, their very hearts ſhall go to a Sermon, their very ſouls ſhall go about the duties of God; as it is with the fire, water may heat, but not by nature; but it is the nature of fire to heat: So if a man be Regenerate, it is natural to him to do good duties, Rom. 2. 14. A man by nature may do the things commanded in the Law: but here is the queſtion, Whether he doth them with this new nature, this heavenly nature? The old creature may hear, and pray, and be ſober, and moral, for by nature the Heathen did the things contained in the Law: But if a man be Regenerated, as he doth the things contained in the Law and Goſpel, ſo he doth them with a new nature; as Deut. 5. 29. when the Children of Iſrael had ſpoken admirable ſpeeches; All that the Lord ſaith to us we will do; they made goodly profeſſions: now mark what God ſaith, Oh that there were an heart in this people to keep my commandments! As who ſhould ſay, Theſe are very good words, and I know that you think what you ſpeak; but Oh that this were written in your hearts, that this were natural to you; this will not hold, your hearts are not carried this way.
Secondly, If the Spirit of God hath RegeneratedThe heart's a good ſoil for Grace. a man, then the heart begins to be a good ſoyl for Grace, and the heart begins to be ſutable, ſo that the heart is fit for Grace; A natural heart is not a proper ſoyl for Grace: As if a man ſhould bring a Plant from Spain, and ſet it here in England, it cannot thrive, unleſſe a man meet with a ſoyl that is fit for it: So Grace, if it come into the heart, and the heart is not a ſoyl for it, it can never thrive there, unleſſe the heart be Regenerated, and unleſſe there be a new nature: there may be admirable things in a natural man, excellent good purpoſes, and reſolutions; God may come to him, as a Paſſenger that lodgeth for a night, but he is gone the next morning; he may come as a ſojourner, to endure for a while, but here is no dwelling for him, theſe reſolutions, and purpoſes, and deſires cannot laſt long, that heart will ſquander them away; it is like the putting of a new piece into an old garment, Matth. 9. 16. When a man puts a new piece into an old garment, a fine new purpoſe into an old heart, a new good deſire into an old mind, the rent will be worſe, for that man will return back again, and will have his luſts, and will be worſe then he was before, for the heart is not able to hold theſe: 'tis true, in the beſt hearts of Gods people, is a great deal of unnatural ſoyl for Grace; but there is ſome of this good new ſoyl, that Grace now can hold, and ſhall hold, ſo that the gates of Hell ſhall not prevail; it is not for any goodneſſe of the heart, but for the goodneſſe of Grace in the heart: there may be tranſient acts of goodneſſe in a wicked man, as Prayer, and ſuch-like tranſient acts; but when the tranſient act is done, there is a concluſion: but nature is permanent and an enduring thing, it is not only to come to Prayer, and then be dead; to come to a Sermon, and then be dead; but it is a permanent thing, a man is godly between Prayer and Prayer, and religious between Sermon and Sermon, and in all his wayes he ſets himſelf to be good, and well diſpoſed all his dayes. God complains againſt thoſe that give him tranſient acts of goodneſſe, Oh Ephraim! what ſhall I do to thee, that art as a morning cloud, &c?
Thirdly, If the Spirit of God hath made aHe cannot live in Sin. man a new nature, then he cannot live in ſin, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Joh. 3. 9. He that is born of God, ſinneth not, &c. he is born of God, and it is againſt his nature to go on in ſin; a man cannot go againſt his nature; 'tis true, a man for a little time may go againſt his nature, as Moſes though his nature was mild and meek, yet he was tranſported very much, Hear ye rebels, and ſhall I bring water out of this rock? he was carried away in his paſſion, but he could not hold on in that ſtrain, for it was againſt his nature; ſo if a man be overcome with any other ſin, yet when a man is renewed, as a Spring clears it ſelf of the mud, ſo this new nature is ſo oppoſite and contrary to ſin, that he cannot go on in ſin.
Fourthly, If the Spirit of God hath wroughtIt is pleaſant to do the will of God. this work in thee, then it is pleaſant to thee to do the will of God; Look what a man is naturally inclined to, it is marvellous pleaſant to him to follow it: As for example, If a mans nature be gluttonous, how pleaſing is it for him to ſatisfie his Appetite? And if a mans nature be given to Intemperance, how pleaſing is Exceſs unto him? And if a mans nature be proud, how pleaſing is it to be flattered, and ſpoken fair, to be reverenced and reſpected at every word? A man loves theſe things a-life, becauſe they ſuit with his nature: So if a man have a new nature, and partakes of the divine nature, how pleaſing will Prayer be? And how pleaſing will the Word be? how pleaſing will Counſels and Exhortations be? how pleaſing to be corrected and reproved for ſin? How ſweet are thy words unto my mouth, ſaith the Prophet David, Pſal. 119. 103. As our Saviour ſaith, Joh. 4. 34. It is my meat and drink to do his Will that ſent me: So I have longed for thy Commandments (ſaith David) I have loved to know wherein I might glorifie thee, and be ſerviceable to thee: Now when it is irkſom for a man to obey, he cannot abide ſtrictneſs and preciſeneſs, and he counts it a diſgrace to him to deny himſelf in ſuch a thing, and he goeth to duty like a Bear to the Stake, and he hath no forwardneſſe, it is a ſign he hath no new nature.
Fifthly, If a man be born again, Grace willGrace gets the upper hand. get the upper hand; when a man meets with luſts, and concupiſcence of Soul, though they may exceedingly bear a man down for a time, and tranſport a man beyond himſelf, yet in the end Grace will have the victory and prevail, 1 Joh. 5. 4. He that is born of God, overcomes the world, all temptations of the world, all pul-backs and drawbacks, he that is born of God, he will have the myſtery; ſo 1 Joh. 5. 18. the Apoſtle ſaith, The wicked one cannot touch a man that is born of God, that is, with a deadly touch, as he toucheth wicked men; he toucheth wicked men ſo, as he infects them, and poyſons them, and carries them away.
Sixthly, He that is born of God, he is one that He loves the people of God.loves the Children of God: If there be any Saint in the pariſh, any Child of God, there is his affection and bowels moſt; I ſpeak of ſpiritual affections, for otherwiſe Grace doth not take away nature, but ſet it up, having refin'd it. But I ſpeak of ſpiritual love, if a man be born of God himſelf, he loves all others that are born of God, 1 Joh. 5. 1. Whoſoever believeth that Jeſus is the Chriſt, is born of God; and he that loveth him that begat, loveth him alſo that is begotten. If a man loves God that begets, he muſt needs love them that are begotten of God.
Laſtly, If a man be born again, then a man He loves Spiritually to profit others.labours to do good, and to spread the Knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt, to the glory of God: He loves to be communicating that he hath; he that hath this Spirit, loves to be breathing upon others, and would fain ſeatter his ſweet things up and down where he goeth, and would fain leave a ſweet ſavour of himſelf whereſoever he comes; this is the nature of him that is born again and regenerate, to beget others: That man is unworthy to be born, by whom another is not born, as we ſay; when a man is born again, he labours to beget others to God, to be generative, and fruitful, and abundant in doing good up and down, he labours to beget his Children, and Family, to God; and to draw his neighbours and acquaintance unto God: he would fain have people know Chriſt, and obey him, and ſubmit unto him. Thus you ſee the ſigns whereby we may know, Whether we be born again, or no?