A Word to Sinners and a Word to Saints, Part 1 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of the Nature of Regeneration, What it is.
I. REgeneration, is that grace whereby a natural man is made a spiritual or new man. Even he that by sin was a Child of the Devil, is made a Child of God. For as by vertue of our natural birth, that which was no man is made a man, or Son of man. So by this Spiritual birth, he that was a natural man is made a new man, even a spiritual man, a child of God, So that to speak properly, Regeneration is another birth after the former. A spiritual birth after our natural birth, whereby a man is as it were another man. As it is said of Calch, that he was a man of another spirit. So may it be said of a regenerate man, 1 Cor. 6.11.that he is of another spirit, being quite altered and changed from what he was before.
foreign, Regeneratio.The notation of the Greek and Latine words imports as much. Not unfitly called regeneration, because by it we are restored to that image of God, wherein we were at first created.
Now this regeneration, or new birth cannot be meant of a birth after the flesh, Secundum carnem.for no natural or carnal thing is to be conceipted in regeneration. But regeneration is a spiritual birth, a birth of the spirit, as is evident by those words,Joh. 3.6. that which is born of the spirit is spirit. So as by the work of Regeneration flesh is turned into spirit, that is, the carnal, corrupt disposition of man, is changed and altered into a renewed and sanctified disposition; whereby it appears that Regeneration is as it were a new creation, and a regenerate man is called a new-creature, being renewed throughout, both thorow his soul with all the powers and faculties thereof; and thorow his body, with all the parts and members thereof. So that the blind understanding is in some measure inlightned with the knowledge of God, and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The stubborn and contumacious will is in some measure obedient and conformable to the will of God. The seared and benummed conscience is now quickned and awakened. The hard heart softned, the unruly affections crucified: And the body with all the parts and members thereof are made ready instruments to put in execution the good intentions of the mind. Thus by Regeneration men are wrought upon throughout, being wonderfully altered and changed from what they were before: in relation to which alteration they are said to be born again. Which may inform us of the wonderful depravation of our nature, which was such, as mending and repairing would not serve the turn, but God must new make, and new create us, we must be born again, made new creatures.
Which consideration should me-thinks take away all ground of boasting from any man, and stir up every regenerate person to give unto God the praise and the glory of his happy change, saying, Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name be the praise and the glory of this great work.
Quest. Doth Regeneration admit any degrees?
Answ. Yes verily. For Regeneration may be considered in the beginning, and progress of it: or in the consummation and perfection of it.
It is begun and increaseth in this life; it is consummate and perfect in the life to come.
In this life there is spirit mixed with flesh, that is, grace with some corruption of nature, as is evident by the Apostles complaint in these words,Rom. 7.21, 22, 23. When I would do good evil is present with me. For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man; But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my m…mbers. So that sin and corruption doth remain in all the regenerate,Habitat sed non regnat, manet sed non dominatur, dejectum sed non ejectum tamen, &c. Benard. in Serm. 10. on Psa. 90. as long as their souls remain in their mortal bodies, it remains though it doth not raign in them. It is in this life cast down, but not cast out.
And this God in great wisdom is pleased to permit, to keep us humble and low in our selves, and to drive us unto Jesus Christ, that as long as this flux of blood runneth, we should alwayes be desirous to touch at least the hem of his garment.
But at death that corruption will be utterly consumed, and body and soul clean freed from it: insomuch as at the resurrection when body and soul shall be again united, the regeneration begun in this World, will be manifested to be most perfect. Whereas in this life the most regenerate are imperfect, through the Reliques of sin and remainder of corruption, which will abide in them so long as they abide, and continue in this World.
Now seeing the work of Regeneration is imperfect in the very best here in this life, and that there remains flesh and corruption in them, so long as they remain in this World, Do not thou look too high, I mean, after a greater measure and degree of grace than here is to be had. Many there are who being regenerate by the spirit of God, and so brought out of the state of nature into the state of grace, presently look for a freedom from all sin and corruption, which because they find working and stirring in them, thereupon question the work of Regeneration and truth of grace in their souls. But let such know, that they look for more than here is to be found, or than God expects from them.
For God doth not expect or require of us here, freedom from sin and corruption, but that we should endeavour to subdue and mortifie it more and more, according to the measure of grace and strength which we have received from him. He doth not require of us that we be without sin, but that sin do not rule nor raign in our mortal bodies,Rom. 6.12. according to that of the Apostle, Let not sin raign in your mortal bodies. Neither doth the Lord require of us exact and perfect righteousness, which is impossible to our corrupt nature, but only that we strive and labour after it, that we sincerely endeavour to serve him after the directions of his Word. And that for our failings and imperfections we do in an humble confession bewail the same, and then beg the pardon and forgiveness of them, in and through the merits of Jesus Christ. And this God will accept of, for he esteemeth more of our affections than of our actions, and accepteth the will for the deed, according to that of the Apostle,2 Cor. 8.12. If there be a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.