A Word to Sinners and a Word to Saints, Part 1 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Of the Parts of Regeneration, and Causes concurring thereunto.
HAving shewed you what regeneration is, and how it doth admit degrees. I shall shew you the Parts of Regeneration, which are two: 1. Mortification. 2. Vivification.
Mortification is implyed under the phrases of casting off, Eph. 4.22. Rom. 6.6.and crucifying the old man, and destroying the body of sin. This is a duty expresly enjoyned in these words, mortifie your members which are upon the earth. Col. 3▪5.By members on the earth, he meaneth all sorts of lusts and sins whereunto a natural man is given, as is evident by the particular instances which he himself reckoneth up in the words following, as fornication, uncleanness, &c.
These must be mortified, that is, put to death. It is not enough to curb, and hold in sin, but the life of it must be let out. And indeed it is not possible to put on the new man, till the old man be cast off. Therefore there is a necessity of mortification first, before vivification. For the bringing in of one form presupposeth the putting out,Inductio unious formae est destructio alterius. or destroying of the other. Wherefore after Mortification followeth Vivification.
2. Vivification is the begetting of the life of grace in us, whence we live in holiness and righteousness. It is set forth in Scripture by Gods quickning us, and by our walking in newness of life.Eph. 2.5.
Vivification then implyeth a new spiritual life, which God by his spirit worketh in us, which is clean contrary to our former natural,Rom. 6.4. corrupt course of life. For the effects of this life are holiness and righteousness, and all manner of good works.
Now it is absolutely necessary that this part of regeneration, namely Vivification, be added to Mortification, which is the other part, even as necessary as that Christ being dead should be raised. Where had been the benefit of Christs death, if he had not risen from the dead? And what can be imagined to be the profit of mortification without vivification? It is therefore the accustomed course of Sacred Scripture to infer the following of holiness, upon the flying of sin: the doing of good, upon eschewing of evil. Now the things which God hath joyned together, let no man put asunder.
Let us therefore prove our regeneration not only by ceasing from sin, but following holiness, and working righteousness. Content not thy self to say, I am not what I was, unless thou canst also add, I am what I was not. It will be but little boot to thee to say, I am no drunkard, nor swearer, nor covetous, nor a walker after the flesh: unless thou canst also say, By the grace of God, I now walk after the spirit, in faith and love, and holy obedience, watchfull unto, and endeavouring after a fruitfulness in every good work. Thou art not unjust, (thou sayest) but doest thou shew mercy? Thou art no longer earthly; but art thou heavenly minded? Thou art no longer contentious, or quarrelsome: but art thou a peace-maker? Thou hast no longer fellowship with the ungodly, but art thou a familiar of the Saints? Thou wilt not now curse, or swear, or lye, or scoff, but dost thou pray and bless? Dost thou hear and read, and meditate on God? Dost thou study thine heart, and govern thy thoughts and affections? Dost thou bridle thy tongue; set a watch over thine eyes, and ears, and steps? Is it thy care to please, and in all things to walk worthy the Lord? Look to thy self, that thou be not deceived. Cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light. Cast off the old man, and put on the new man, which as it is created after the image, So will it carry thee on according to the will of God in righteousness and true holiness.
Having shewed the Nature of Regeneration, and the parts thereof. I come now to shew what Causes concurr to the work of Regeneration.
1. The efficient Cause, or primary Author is God. For in this respect we are born of God. 1 Pet. 1.3.God hath begotten us, Jam. 1.18. Even God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ.
2. The procuring causes are Gods will, and Gods mercy. There could be nothing out of God to move him. It must needs therefore arise from his own meer will.Jam. 1.18. So faith the Apostle Iames, Of his own will begat he us. And there could be nothing in man to move God hereunto; for man by nature is most miserable. It must needs therefore arise from Gods meer mercy. For misery is the proper object of mercy. On this ground it is justly said that God according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again.1 Pet. 1.3.
3. The immediate worker of Regeneration is Gods Spirit: Joh. 3.4.In this respect we are said to be born of the spirit; Tit. 3.5.and regeneration is stiled the renewing of the holy Ghost. For it is a divine work above humane ability.
4. The ordinary instrumental cause is Gods Word. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth, Jam. 1.18.whereby is meant the Gospel. In this respect the Word is stiled incorruptible seed. 1 Pet. 1.23.The Gospel is that part of Gods Word which is most effectual hereunto, and it is thereupon stiled the Gospel of salvation. Eph. 1.13.And the power of God unto salvation.Rom. 1.16.
5. Ministers and preachers of the Gospel are Ministerial causes of Regeneration, who are in relation to their Ministery said to beget us, 1 Cor. 4.15.and stiled Fathers.
Philemon verse 10.All these are comprised under the Efficient cause, and are so far from thwarting one another, as they sweetly concurr to produce this divine work of Regeneration, being subordinate one to another, and may in this order be placed together. It being the will of God to shew mercy to man, he ordained Ministers to cast the seed of his Word into mens souls, which being quickned by the Spirit, men are thereby born again.
II. The material cause of Regeneration, is the parts whereof it doth consist, which are two,
I. Mortification.
2. Vivification, of both which I have spoken in the fore-going Chapter.
III. The formal cause of Regeneration is Gods Image planted in us, which consists in holiness and righteousness. After this Image we are said to be renewed. This makes an essential difference betwixt a natural and a regenerate man.Eph. 4.24.
IV. The final causes next and subordinate to the glory of Gods free-grace and rich mercy, are especially two;
1. To make men able to do good: namely such good as may be acceptable and honourable to God, profitable to other men, and truly advantageable to themselves. The Apostle therefore speaking of Regeneration (which we have shewed to be a kind of Creation) thus expresseth this end,Eph. 2.10. we are created in Christ Iesus unto good works.
2. To make men fit for glory. For corrupt flesh cannot partake of Coelestial glory. Whereupon faith Christ, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God: Joh. 3.3.So far shall he be from being admitted into it, as he shall not come so near as to see it. God will not take a sinner reeking in his lusts, and presently invest him with a Crown of glory. And therefore that we may be fitted for Heaven, the Lord is pleased by his spirit to regenerate us, making us new-creatures,, and thereby making us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light.
Behold the Riches of Gods mercy and goodness, that he not only created us at first in a most happy estate, even after his own image and likeness: But when we wittingly and willfully fell from the same, and plunged ourselves into misery, wherein he might justly have left us, as he did the evil Angels. Yet he hath not only restored us again to that former estate, by renewing his image in us: but thereby fitted us for a more glorious and excellent estate: wherein his goodness appeareth to be as his greatness, infinite, incomprehensible. Who can sufficiently set it forth?Psal. 103.11. For as the Heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy towards them that fear him.