A Word to Sinners and a Word to Saints, Part 1 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Other Means on our part to be performed for attaining of Regeneration.
VI WIth patience wait upon Christ in the use of his Ordinances, especially the Word and Prayer.
1. Frequent the Ministry of the Word, where the Spirit of God useth to breath. The Spirit is the principal worker of this great work, as our Saviour expresseth. And the Ministry of the Word is the ordinary Means and instrument,Joh. 3.5, 6. which the spirit of God useth for the effecting hereof. The Spirit of God breaths not in an Ale-house, or in a Tavern, or Play-house, but in the Ministry of the Word. Whereupon the Apostle Paul calls it the Word of life, Phil. 2.16.by which our souls are quickned: And the Apostle Peter, the seed of Regeneration, by which we are new born.1 Pet. 1.23. Being born again, saith he, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God; this seed being sown in the heart, doth by little and little grow up to a new creature. In this respect the Preachers of the Gospel are called spiritual Fathers, because by their Ministry they beget men unto God, 1 Cor. 4.15.as Paul told the Corinthians, that he had begotten them through the Gospel. So that it is clear that the Ministery of the Word is the ordinary means whereby the Holy Ghost doth usually work in us that great work of Regeneration.
But we must take heed that we do not attribute our new birth unto the Word Preached, as having in its own nature any inherent power to give life and grace, but as it is the Word of God, and his holy ordinance, which he hath instituted and sanctified for working grace in us. Attend therefore unto the Ministry of the Word as the Ordinance of God, unto which his blessing is promised; use it in obedience to his command, in hope of his blessing, and with desire to profit thereby.
And for thine encouragement know, that as dead a soul as thine, hath been quickned by the spirit of God, as it hath been attending upon the Ministry of the Word: as hard an heart as thine hath been softned: as prophane an heart hath been sanctified: as carnal and corrupt an heart hath been changed and renewed. And who knoweth, but while thou art attending upon God in his way, his spirit may breath upon thee, and so quicken thy dead heart, mollifie thine hard heart, sanctifie thy prophane heart, yea renew and change thy totally corrupted and carnal heart, wherein consisteth the work of Regeneration.
This I press upon all, knowing that a carnal, unregenerate man may give outward attendance unto the Ministry of the Word. Though thou art spiritually dead, yet hast thou feet to carry thee to the house of God, and ears to hear the outward Ministry of the Word, and understanding to know in great measure what is said. Thou maist come to the Pool, and lye by it, though thou canst not put thy self in. And truly it is good lying in the way where Christ useth to come.
Oh therefore frequent the Ministry of the Word, where the Spirit of Christ useth to move, yea▪ and to breath a spirit of life into dead souls. Take all occasions of hearing the Word both in season and out of season. Let nothing but necessity keep thee at home; for thou knowest not what Sermon may be most sutable to thy condition. And when thou hearest, attend to it, as to a message sent from God concerning thine everlasting salvation. And be often calling it to remembrance, whereby it will take the deeper impression upon thine heart. And though for the present thou find not that benefit thou expectest, yet wait still upon the Ordinance. The lame man who lay long at the Pool of Bethesda, at last was cured.
2. Be much in reading the Word of God, and such practical books as may help thee in understanding and applying it. This must not thrust out Preaching, yet is it an excellent means of grace in its own time and place, as very many have found by their own experience. For as the Psalmist speaketh,Psal. 19.7. The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. So that the word read is sometimes the power of God to Regeneration and Salvation, as well as the Word Preached. As the E…nuch was a reading a portion of Scripture in his Chariot, the Spirit of God commanded Philip to go near unto him, to teach him the meaning thereof, and to instruct him in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, whereupon he believed and was baptized.
And Luther confesseth of himself, that he was changed and renewed upon reading the Scriptures; and therefore professed he would not part with one leaf of the Bible for all the World. For in the Scriptures there is a clear revelation of the way and means of Salvation by Jesus Christ; therein is contained the Covenant of grace, and the Laws of Heaven according to which we must square all our actions.
Oh sinner, as thou desirest to partake of the new birth, and to be made partaker of the grace of God, be careful and conscionable in reading the Scriptures. Spend not that time in reading of play-books and unprofitable pamphlets, which thou mightest spend in reading the Word, which is able to make thee wise unto Salvation: to this end carry it about thee as Alexander did Homers Iliads for his fellow and companion in the Wars. Histor. Eccles. lib. 6. cap. 2.Oh that every one of us were ambitious of that commendation which Eusebius gives of St. Origen, That he could repeat all the Scriptures at his fingers ends.
3. Pray unto God for the change of thine heart; beg of him that he would be pleased by his spirit to regenerate thee, to plant his image in thy soul, that thou maist become a new-creature. What the Apostle Iames saith of wisdom, Jam. 1.5.is true of all grace, If any one lack it, let him ask it of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.
Oh therefore beseech him to open thine eyes, and shew thee how sad and deplorable thy condition is, so long as thou continuest in the state of unregeneracy, that thou maist be truly sensible thereof; that he would shew thee the excellency and necessity of a new birth, that thine heart may be raised up in some earnest, longing desires after the same: that he would vouchsafe unto thee his Holy Spirit, which may quicken thy dead soul, and renew it after the Image of God, in righteousness and true holiness. And in thy prayers plead the promise of God,Luk. 11.13. to give his Spirit to those who ask him. That thy Prayers for a new birth may the better speed;
1. Be earnest therein. Pray withall thine heart, and with all thy might, with the highest intention of affection. If thou wouldst be a prevailing Israel, thou must be a wrastling Iacob; wrastle with God in prayer; for it is the fervent prayer only that is effectual.
2. Be un…ssant in thy Prayers, as one that will take no nay, nor give over till thou find the work wrought in thy soul. Be as importunate with God, as the Widdow was with the unjust judge. For God loveth importunity. If the unjust Judge was overcome with importunity, how much rather will the righteous God, who is compassionately affected towards those who seek unto him. Resolve with Iacob, I will not let thee go except thou bless me. Lord help me, Lord break me, humble me, change and turn me: I cannot turn my self, Ministers cannot, Ordinances cannot, afflictions cannot turn me. If thou wilt, thou canst: turn thou me, and I shall be turned, draw thou me, and I will run after thee. O suffer thy self this once to be overcome by a poor Worm. I cannot be denyed: I dye, I am undone, if thou deny me. I cannot be denyed, I will not be denyed, I will not let thee go untill thou bless me. Lord hear, Lord turn me.
Obj. But some are apt to object and say, how can I pray without the Spirit?
A. Put thy self upon the duty of prayer, and who knoweth but thou maist soon feel and find the assistance of Gods spirit in the performance, though thou findest it not in the entrance of the duty. Go therefore unto God in prayer, spread before him thy wretched, miserable state and condition, plead thy miserable necessity, the dreadfulness of thy present state, how much better it had been that thou hadst never been born, than not to be born again. And then waiting for the assistance of the Spirit, be earnest and importunate with God, that he would not let thee live a day longer in thine Unregenerate state, least death should find thee therein, and then thou perish everlastingly.
Obj. Some I know do question whether carnal and unregenerate men may be put upon that duty of prayer, because the Scripture saith,Prov. 15.8. that the Sacrifice of the wicked is abomi…ation to the Lord, and that God heareth not sinners.
A. 1. The Scriptures give us warrant to press carnal and unregenerate men upon the duty of Prayer. For at the time when Peter told Simon Magus that he was in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of i…iquity, then he pressed him to pray unto God,Act. 8.22. saying, Repent of thy wicked…ess, and pray unto God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
2. We do not exhort men to pray and still hold themselves resolved to continue in their wicked and ungodly courses; such prayer indeed would be an abomination: but to resolve upon turning, and so to go unto the Lord for his grace to assist and accept them. And therefore saith Peter to Simon Magus, Repent of this thy wickedness, and so pray for pardon.
3. The young Ravens cry for want of food, and God is said to hear them. Why may he not then hear the cryes and Prayers of carnal and unregenerate men? especially when they pray unto him for changed and renewed hearts; which prayers cannot but be agreeable to the will of God. How graciously did God reward that petition of Solomon, when he asked not for riches or long life, but for a wise and understanding heart. So may God say unto them, because ye have not asked temporal blessings, as health, wealth or the like, but a renewed heart, a new birth; be it according to your desires, your natural carnal heart shall be changed and renewed.
And to thine own Prayers call in the help of other mens prayers, beg of them that in their Prayers they would be mindfull of thee, and of thy condition; that they would be earnest with God on thy behalf, that he would make thee a new creature by endowing thee with true, saving, sanctifying graces. Thus Simon Magus begged the Prayers of the Apostles, apprehending their prayers to be more prevalent than his own. For it is possible that God may hear the Prayers of Iob for his friends, when he will not hear them for themselves. And the Iaylors Conversion is set down as the Consequent of the Apostles Prayers. Not only their deliverance out of his prison, but his deliverance out of the Devils prison, is set down as a fruit of their prayers. To thine own prayers therefore, call in the help of other mens Prayers.
VII. When either in hearing, reading, praying, or at any other time thou feelest any motions of Gods spirit in thy soul and conscience, make much of them, surrender up thy self thereunto, presently turn those motions into resolutions, and those resolutions into endeavours. Let not the motions of Gods Spirit be nipped in the bud, but nourish and cherish them, that they may bring forth good fruit.
Ah sinner, as thou tendrest the good and happiness of thy precious and immortal soul, slight not the motions of Gods Spirit in thee, but labour to improve them to the ends for which they are sent. Are they motions tending to the working in thee a loathing and abhorring of thy former sinful lusts? second those motions with strong resolutions to leave and forsake them for the time to come, at least so to strive against them as they may not rule and raign in thee, as formerly they have done. Are they motions tending to the stirring thee up to any good duty omitted? oh turn these motions into performances, and presently fall upon the practice of those duties, whether it be praying in thy closet, or in thy Family, or such like.
Doth the Spirit of God beam any light from the Word into thine understanding, whereby thou art more throughly convinced of thy miserable condition by nature, of the excellency of the new birth, of the necessity thereof unto Salvation? Labour to improve this light to the stirring up in thee an earnest, longing desire after the work of Regeneration. Hath the Spirit of God in a Sermon so convinced thee of some grofs, scandalous sin, or sins, that thou art pricked at the heart, and deeply humbled under the sense and apprehension of them? oh content not thy self with some sudden pangs of affection, but forthwith go into some secret place, and there take the advantage of thy present relenting frame of heart, for the more free and full confessing of thy sins unto God, and ingaging thy self by a solemn covenant unto him to be more watchfull over thy self, as against thy former lend and wicked courses, so against the occasions leading thereunto.
Ah sinner, it will be thy Wisdom carefully to observe, and diligently to improve all the motions and stirrings of Gods Spirit in thy Soul and Conscience, by seconding the work of this holy Spirit in thee. Lose not the Wind and Tide, the Wind may lye, the Tide may turn, and where art thou then? 'twill be hard Rowing against Wind or Tide. Thou little thinkest what advantage such motions wisely improved may be to thy soul: and what prejudice the slighting, and neglecting of them may be unto thee: for ought thou knowest, thine eternal happiness or misery may depend upon the improving or slighting the same.
VIII. Be much in the company of the godly, walk with them who walk with God. He that walketh with the wise, shall be more wise: he that walketh with the humble, shall be more humble: he that walketh with the holy, shall learn holiness. As there is no greater hinderance to the work of Christ, than the society of the wicked; So there is no greater furtherance to it, than the society of those who fear God. For there is none will be so ready to pitty and compassionate you, to counsel and direct you in the way to Heaven, as these: none so ready to provoke and egg you on unto godliness, to encourage and cheer you up when you do well, and to reprove you when you do amiss, as these: none so ready to communicate their experiences to you, O come, say they, and we will tell you what the Lord hath done for our souls. So that in the company of the godly there is much good to be got; they being like Lanthorns which disperse their light round about. If thou beest much in their company, thou shalt hear much of God, much of Christ, and much of Heaven: they use to be talking much of the riches of that Countrey, and the glory of that holy City, whether they are travelling. They will be opening to you the excellency of Jesus Christ, the riches of his love, the all-sufficiency of his Sacrifice, his willingness to receive all poor sinners, who will go unto him, and adventure their souls upon him. And who knoweth how much their discourse may warm thine heart, and raise up thy desires after Christ. Agrippa was almost perswaded to be a Christian, whilest he was talking with St. Paul. And the Ennuch was not only almost, but altogether perswaded, whilest he was conversing with Philip. As therefore thou desirest to further the work of grace begun in thy soul, be much in the company of those who are gracious; who will be exceedingly helpfull to thee therein, as by their prayers, so by their counsel and good example. For their lives tell thee what it is to walk in the Spirit, what to mortifie the flesh, and to live abo…e all the alluring va…ities of the world.
Oh Christians, encourage poor sinners to come among you; let your discourses be practical Sermons; let your wayes be living copies of that holy doctrine which you have received; let your conversation be full of love, life, pitty, compassion towards them: be ready to teach, counsel, encourage and help them on after the Lord. Teach not sinners to say (by the barrenness, and unsavouriness of your lives) there is no more of God to be gotten in the dwellings of the Righteous, than in the tents of Wickedness.
Thus have I shewed you the Means on our part to be performed for the furthering the new birth, and the work of Regeneration in your souls. And now give me leave to propound one Question to you. Are you resolved with the grace and assistance of God, speedily to put your selves upon the practice of these Directions or no? If you think these things more than necessary, and are ready to say, What need so much ado, as if without so much hearing, so much reading, so much praying, and the like, there were no hope of Regeneration, and Salvation! you may then sit down and take your ease. But know for certain, that without a conscionable use of these Means, you are like to fall short, as of Regeneration here, so of Salvation hereafter. For where God hath appointed Means, he doth not ordinarily work without them; and therefore if you will not use Gods Means, no wonder if you go without his grace.
Ah sinners, I beseech you for the sake of your precious souls, do not willfully refuse to be happy, do not, wittingly plunge your souls into everlasting miseries. Be willing to be happy, awaken your sleepy, stir up your lazy hearts to be doing. Heaven is not gotten with a wish, everlasting glory is worthy your utmost pains, and will not be gotten without it.
What say you, after all that hath been said? Are you willing to be converted? to become new men, and to take up a new course? If you are not yet, when will you? Are you content to dye in your present state? If you were now breathing out your last, and just passing into another World, would you not wish you had hearkened to counsel? Though thou wilt, live the life, yet art thou content to dye the death of the obstinate and hardned? Be not Brutes, and mad men. If Christ be best at death; if holiness will be best at last; if you know and believe, that when you come to dye, you shall wish you had made Christ sure: then sure your standing out against Christ now, your refusing grace now, is the first-born of follies. O be wise, consider what's before you; Christ and the World, holiness and sin, life and death, choose now for your selves; and if you will be advised, let your this dayes choice be the same, which you are resolved shall be your dying choice. If you would not choose to dye in your sins, to dye Drunkards, to dye adulterers, to dye Scoffers, to dye unbelievers, live not out this day in such a dreadfull state.