A New Creature, Discourse · Chapter 2
Chap. II. What is meant by a New Creature; Doctrine raiſed.
THe main Point in the Text, and which I principally deſigned, is concerning the New Creature, foreign, New Creation [locutio eſt Chriſtiana] its a Speech peculiar and proper to the New-Teſtament diſpenſation: 2 Cor. 5.17. If any man be in Chriſt, he is a new creature: i. e. If a man be a true Chriſtian, formed to the Goſpel Pattern, and Rule, and Ends, he is, and muſt be, and cannot but be of a new Frame and Stamp: So it was propheſyed of Old concerning Goſpel Times and Diſpenſations; Behold the former things are come to paſs, and new things do I declare, Iſa. 42.9. ch. 65.17. Behold, I create new heavens, and new earth; yea, all things new: So here he frames a Work of Saving Grace in the Hearts of all his Saints: It ſignifies a new, noble, heavenly Diſpoſition, oppoſed to the antiquated corrupt ſtate of Nature, derived from the firſt Adam, called the Old Man.
Que. Why is this called a Creature?
Anſ. 1. Becauſe it is produced only by the Almighty Power of God, whoſe peculiar prerogative it is to Create.
2. Becauſe as a Creature, it hath a real Exiſtence as this viſible frame of the Univerſe hath: If there be a Heaven and Earth, there is a new Creation in the Soul of Man; its no Fiction, Chimaera, or Imagination of man's brain.
3. Creation makes a mighty change ſo doth this Work of Converſion, [vehementem mutationem ſignificat] as Creation changeth a thing from a non-exiſtence to a real Being; ſo by this Work of Grace, Old things are paſt away, and all things become new: But of this more hereafter.
Qu. 2. What's meant by New?
Anſ. 1. New, in Scripture-language, ſignifies 1. Another, diſtinct and different from what was before: So Exod. 1.8. There aroſe a new King over Aegypt: i. e. another: Thus this New Creature is diſtinct from the former, as Caleb is ſaid to have another Spirit, Numb. 14.24 (i.e) different and of another Nature, than the reſt of the Spyes; yea, what he himſelf formerly had: Thus it is with the Convert.
2. New ſignifies Strange, not heard of before, Numb. 16.30. If the Lord make a new thing, if the Earth open her Mouth: an unheard of Wonder, a Prodigy never known before: So ſay they, What new Doctrine is this? thou bringeſt ſtrange things to our Ears, Acts 17.19, 20. Thus the Work of Regeneration was ſtrange, even to a great Doctor among the Jews, Job. 3.34.
3. New ſignifies ſomething ſecret, hidden, not eaſily diſcerned, or not manifeſt to all, Iſa. 48.6. I have ſhewed thee new things, from this time, even hidden things: And this work of the New Creature, is much hid from the Eyes of others, and ſometimes kept ſecret from a man's own obſervation, Job 11.6. That he would ſhew thee, the ſecrets of Wiſdom: And David ſaith, In the hidden part thou ſhalt make me to know Wiſdom, Pſal. 51.6.
4. New, imports ſomething excellent, tranſcendent, admirable, Pſal. 33.3. Sing unto him a new Song. Pſal. 42.10. Sing unto the Lord a new Song: i. e. an excellent Song, of the very beſt you can attain to: Even ſo this is the chief of God's Works in the world, and renders the Righteous more excellent then his Neighbour: and a man of underſtanding is of an excellent Spirit, Prov. 12.26. ch. 17.27.
The Text being thus opened, I ſhall deduce an Obſervation relating to the preceeding Words of the Text; Circumciſion avails nothing, nor Uncircumciſion, in this New Teſtament-Diſpenſation by Chriſt. What is it it then that avails? The Anſwer is, The New Creature; this indeed is available: So this is ſet in contradiſtinction to the forementioned Privileges comprehended under this word Circumciſion.
Doctrine 2. That a New Creature is only and every way available to the Souls of Men.
Nothing elſe can avail any thing to mens Eternal Salvation, but a New Creature; and this is very available.
Underſtand this of things of this kind or nature: for a New Creature muſt not be ſet in competition with the Eternal Love of God, or Blood of Chriſt, or ſanctifying Operations of the Holy Spirit, for application of Chriſt's purchaces to us. A New Creature is but a Creature, and cannot do the Work of the Infinite God, who hath appropriated Salvation-Work to himſelf; There is no Saviour beſides me, where is any other that may ſave them? Hoſ. 13.4.10. It is not any thing done by Man, nor wrought in man, that can ſave him from divine Wrath, or advance him to Heaven; No, the Lord juſtifies, ſanctifies, glorifies by Chriſt: All the Cauſes of man's Salvation, are without him, Eph. 1.4, 9. 1ſt. There's the Efficient Cauſe, God's chuſing us. 2dly. The Material Cauſe, Chriſt's redeeming us. 3dly. The Formal, the good pleaſure of his Will. 4thly. The Final, the praiſe of God's glorious Grace. So then we do not put this New Creature in God's room, as any cauſe at all of our Happineſs, but a neceſſary. Qualification, Diſpoſition, to which Salvation is annexed, or as the Apoſtle phraſeth it, that which accompanieth Salvation: Heb. 6.9. Things that accompany Salvation [foreign] that have Salvation: i. e. commprehend it, are contiguous to it, touch it, have Happineſs annexed to it by the indiſpenſible connexion of Grace and Glory by Covenant-Promiſe.
But more of this hereafter.
In the proſecution of this Doctrine, I ſhall ſpeak to theſe 4 Things in the Doctrinal part of it: Viz.
1. Shew what this New Creature is.
2. Why it is ſo called.
3. Wherein it is available.
4. Anſwer ſome Queries about it, and ſo apply it.
1. What is this New Creature?
Anſwer; In opening this, I ſhall explain Theſe 2 things
1. The Names given to it.
2. The Nature of it.
1. For the Names or Titles given to this New Creature, which are ſynonymous Expreſſions, holding forth the ſame thing for Subſtance, are ſuch as theſe:
1ſt. Its called the forming of Chriſt in the womb of a Man's Heart; Gal. 4.9. My little Children of whom I travail in birth again, until Chriſt be formed in you. Full glad would I be to ſee this bleſſed Embryo teamed in your Hearts.
2dly. Its called quickening, Epheſ. 2.1. And you hath he quickned, who were dead-in treſpaſſes and ſins. Alas! what dull Stocks and Lumps of Sin are we, till animated with the ſpirit of Grace, and quickned by a vital principle? And this is done with Chriſt, verſ. 5. by his Reſurrection.
3dly. Its called Parturition, or bringing forth by ſpiritual pangs of Soul-travail, New Birth; John 3.3. Verily, verily I ſay unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God. Convicting Grace brings a lively and lovely Offspring into the World, better than the product of Nature.
4thly. Such Converts are compared to little Children, Mal. 18.3. Verily I ſay unto you, except you be converted, and become as little Children, you ſhall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: i. e. You muſt needs have the Qualities and Diſpoſitions both of Infants and bigger Children.
5thly. This work of God on the Soul, is called a dying with Chriſt, and a riſing again with him; Rom. 5.5. For if we have been planted together in the likeneſs of his Death, we ſhall be alſo in the likeneſs of his Reſurrection, Col. 3.1. All real Chriſtians are riſen with Chriſt, hence it is called the firſt Reſurrection, Rev. 20.6. As if they were newly brought out of their Graves, that had been long dead, and uſeleſs.
6thly, Its called the Image of God on Souls, Col. 3.10. And have put on the New Man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the Image of him that created him, Eph. 4.24. The new man, which after God is created in Righteouſneſs and true Holineſs. This new Creature is a bleſſed Reſemblance of the Trinity of Perſons, in the renewing of the Mind, Will and Affections, conform to God.
7thly. It is called the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1.4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promiſes, that by theſe you might be partakers of the Divine Nature: i.e. Of thoſe Divine Qualities, whereby the Soul reſembles God, not only as a Picture doth a Man in outward Lineaments, but as a Child doth his Father, both in countenance and condition: As the noble Qualities of an Immortal Soul ſhew there is a God; ſo the renewed Faculties ſhew what that one God is: But more of this hereafter.
Thus for the Names of this New Creature, moſt of which are figurative Expreſſions, denoting this ſame thing we are now treating of.
2. For the Nature of this New Creature, take this Deſcription of it.
The New Creature is a ſupernaturl Work of Goſpel-Grace wrought in the Soul of a Sinner, by the Word and Spirit of God, changing the whole Man from an old ſtate and courſe into a new, thereby transforming it into the Divine Likeneſs, and turning the Heart and Life to the rule of the Word, in order to the glory of God, and the Souls preſent and everlaſting communion with him: This is the New Creature.
I confeſs this Deſcription is long, but I cannot leave out any of the parts thereof.
I ſhall very briefly open the Branches of this deſcription.
1. For the general Nature of it, I call it a Supernatural Work, for it is above the power of nature to produce it, it comes from above; ſo he that's born again, John 3.3. Is [foreign] from above: This perfect Gift comes down from the Father of Lights, James 1.17. That Jeruſalem that's above, is the Mother of us all, Gal. 4.26. This New Creature is no Herb that grows in Nature's Garden; its a Plant of Paradiſe: Fleſh and Blood cannot ſo much as reveal this to the ſons of men, Matth. 16.17. Therefore its no wonder if learned Doctors (ſuch as Nicodemus) laugh at ſuch Doctrine, as Fantaſtical Fancies, and ſay, How can theſe things be? John 3.4. Or like Ezekiel's hearers, who ſaith, Ah Lord God, they ſay of me, Doth he not ſpeak Parables? Ezek. 20.49. For ſuch wiſdom is too high for a Fool. Pſal. 56.9. In God's light only muſt we ſee light. Experience is the beſt Miſtriſs in theſe Caſes. We ſpeak wiſdom, ſaith the Apoſtle, among them that are perfect: But the natural man receives not the things of the ſpirit of God, 1 Cor. 2 6, 14. This New Crerture is of a Coeleſtial Original, and muſt have an heavenly Interpreter.
2. In this Deſcription, we have the particular Nature of this New Creature; I call it a Goſpel-Grace: it is no branch or fruit of the Old Covenant of Works, for the Law maketh nothing perfect: There was no Law which could give Life, Gal. 3.2, 21, 28. But the New-Teſtament Diſpenſation, called the Promiſe; this only produceth the New Creation.
Objection. You'l ſay, Had not Old-Teſtament Saints this New Creature? Doth not David ſay, Create in me a clean heart? Pſal. 51.10.
I Anſwer; Old-Teſtament-Saints had a New-Teſtament-Spirit; for they without us could not be made perfect, Heb. 11.40. The ſame Goſpel belonged to them and us, and was preached to both, Heb. 4.2. Abraham ſaw Chriſt's Day, they all partaked of Goſpel Grace, John 8.56. both in Juſtification and Sanctification; they were but different Editions of the ſame Goſpel-Covenant: they were as Children in Minority under Tutors and Governours, Gal. 4.1, 2, 25. Goſpel-Saints as Children at Age; their ſtate was under the Bond woman, in Mount Sinai; Ours is of Jeruſalem, which is free. However, that Goſpel-Promiſe, made known in the Old Teſtament, belongs both to them and us; Ezek. 36.26. A new Heart alſo will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you: This is the proper Goſpel-Work in both Diſpenſations: and ſincere Believers of Old had experience of it, tho' the Veil was upon the Face of Moſes, 2 Cor. 3.14, 15. and the Hearts of Carnal Jews, as it is on all Unbelievers to this day: but Goſpel-Grace renews Souls.
3. Here's the ſubject, in which this New Creature is, and that is in the Soul or Heart of a ſinner: There's the Seat and Centre of this New Creation; its not meerly external in the Eye, or Foot, or Hand, or Tongue; but its an internal work in the Soul, the Chriſtian is renewed in the Spirit of his Mind, Epheſ. 4.23. Behold, ſaith David, thou deſireſt Truth in the inward parts; in the hidden part thou ſhalt make me to know Wiſdom, Pſal. 51.6. Its called the hidden man of the heart, 1 Pet. 3.4. Not but that it breaks out in Lip and Life: but the Root and Spring lies under Ground, out of the view of the world, as the beſt Treaſures are lock'd up, the beſt Goods are under Deck, or as Merchants Wares lie in a back Shop, not expoſed to the open view of the World: A Chriſtians Life is hid with Chriſt in God, Col. 3.3. Hence they are called God's hidden Ones, Pſal. 83.3. And the King's Daughter is all glorious within, Pſal. 45.13. Theſe gracious Souls are like Kings in diſguiſe; and it doth not yet appear what they ſhall be, 1 John 3.2. But when the Shell is broken, the Pearl will appear: all external Changes in men are but the change of the Clothes; this the change of the Man and his Manners: For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly, but inwardly: Right Circumciſion is that of the Heart, in the Spirit, not in the Letter, whoſe praiſe is not of men, but of God, Rom. 2.20, 30. It is wrought by God, and known to God, who alone ſearcheth and ſees the Heart.
4. The Inſtrumental, or Organical Cauſe of this New Man, which is the Word of God Rom. 1.16. This is the power of God to Salvation, James 1.18. Of his own Will begat he us by the Word of Truth, 1 Pet. 1.23. Being born again, not of corruptible ſeed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth for ever. The Word is the Seed, which being ingrafted in the Heart, ſpringeth up in obedience, which is the Flower and viſible product of the New Creature; yea, 'tis properly the Goſpel-Word: Moſes or the Law may bring us to the Borders, but Joſhua leads us into Canaan; the terrors of the Law prepare the way, as John Baptiſt, but the Word of the Goſpel is the door of Faith, that takes Souls by the hand, and leads them into the Chamber of Preſence: this is God's method, to work this New Man by a powerful Goſpel-Sermon; ſo ſaith bleſſed Paul, 1 Cor. 4.15. I have begotten you in Jeſus Chriſt through the goſpel; there's the Inſtrument, Paul, I have begotten you; the means, by the goſpel; the author, in Jeſus Chriſt; faith comes by hearing, Rom. 10.14. Prov. 8.34. Therefore let all lie at the Gates of Wiſdom: Expect not this New Creation, if you turn your backs on God's Inſtitutions.
5. The Efficient Cauſe is the Holy Ghoſt, The love of God is ſhed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghoſt, which is given unto us, Rom. 5.5. Oh what a gracious Tincture doth the Spirit leave upon Hearts! what a ſweet Breath doth it breath into them, which breaths out Love to God and Men! How is this New Creature diffuſed into all the Faculties of the Soul by the Spirit! This is both a Seal and an Earneſt, who hath alſo ſealed us, Eph. 6.13, 14. and given us the earneſt of the Spirit in our Hearts, 2 Cor. 1.22. All good is conveyed to us by the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son, eſpecially this Saving Good of Converſion; we are born again of Water and of the Spirit, John 3.3, 8. and ſanctified by the Spirit, born of the Spirit, and are Temples of the Holy Ghoſt, 1 Cor. 6.11, 19. Nothing can ſearch or reach the Heart but the Holy Ghoſt: The Spirit ſearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2.10. and deep things of Men. An Angel is too ſhort-ſighted to ſee into Man's Heart, too ſhort-handed to reach the Conſcience, or make a New Creation: God alone turns Stones into Fleſh; God ſhall enlarge Japheth, and he ſhall dwell in the Tents of Shem, Gen. 9.27. It is an Act of Power to make a People willing, Pſal. 110.3. or Volunteers: No man can come to Chriſt, except the Father which ſent him, draw him, Job 6.44. And God reacheth forth the Hand of the Spirit to attract Hearts to himſelf.
6. The proper immediate Effect of this Work, that is, a change into a new Frame or Courſe, by which the Sinner becomes new, or another than what he was before; this is the [formalis Ratio] genuine neceſſary Attendant; yea, intrinſick nature of this which we call the New Creature: 2 Cor. 5.17. Therefore if any man be in Chriſt, he is a new creature, old things are paſt away, behold all things are become new. The Faculties are the ſame, but new Qualities are put in; as in a Lute, the Strings are the ſame, but 'tis ſet to a new Tune. In a River, the Water is the ſame, but 'tis put into a new Channel, the Bowl hath got a new Byaſs: So the Convert ſaid to the tempting Harlot [Ego non ſum Ego] I am not I; or as Paul ſaid of himſelf, who was before a Blaſphemer, a Perſecutor: but I obtained mercy, 1 Tim. 1.13. i. e. converting Grace hath changed me. Thus the ſame Apoſtle ſaith of the Corinthians, Such were ſome of you, but ye… are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, 1 Cor. 6.11. Oh what a mighty change doth Grace make! from Lying to Fearing an Oath; from vain ſpeaking, to Holy Diſcourſe; from careleſneſs, to the greateſt concernedneſs about Soul affairs; yea, from Darkneſs to Light, Eph. 5.8. From Death to Life; from Satan to God, Acts 26.18. The Man is now got into a new World, as one obſerves from Ezek. 11.19. I will give them one Heart; which that I may do, I will caſt it a new, in order to this, I will melt and ſoften it, as one that hath many pieces of old Silver by them, caſts them into the Fire, melts them, and molds them into one Bowle: Thus doth God with the divided Heart in renewing it, and framing it for his uſe.
7. Here's yet further the compleatneſs of this Change; its not ſome external Acts, Motions, Converſation, nor only Internal Cogitations, Affections, Workings of the Will and Conſcience; but the deſcription goes further, even to the State, Conſtitution, Relation of the Man; and therefore I add, [changing the whole man from an old ſtate to a new] for every Man and Woman hath a ſtate before God; therefore Paul ſends Timothy, to know the ſtate of the Philippians, Phil. 2.19. This imports not a tranſient Act, but a ſettled abiding Frame, continued Relation: Sinners are by Nature Children of wrath, Eph. 2.3. Limbs of Satan, Heirs of Hell; this new Mold makes them Children of God, Members of Chriſt, Heirs of Heaven; yea, it puts them into an habitual tendency towards Heaven, and heavenly things, which is a kind of a ſecond Nature in them; this moves the holy Soul (acting like it ſelf) as naturally upwards, as a Stone moves downward, therefore its called a Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 14. the acting follows the being of a thing: Make the Tree good, and the Fruit will be good, Mat. 12.33. If a Watch be not well made, it will never go well: They ſay of the Peacock, roaſt him as much as you will, yet when cold, his Fleſh will be raw again. So force a Carnal Heart to the higheſt ſtrain of ſeeming Piety, yet it will come to its old Complexion, becauſe there's not a new Nature: fill a Pond full of Water, it will abate if there be not a Spring to ſupply it: The New Creature is united to Chriſt, and receives grace for grace, John 1.61.
8. Here's the Pattern, Copy, Example, according to which this New Creature is moulded, [it is the Soul's being transformed into the divine likeneſs] this Image of God conſiſts in Knowledge in the Intellectual Faculties, Righteouſneſs in the Will, Holineſs in the Affections: Col. 3.10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the Image of him that created him, Eph. 4.24. That you put on the new man, which after God is created in Righteouſneſs and true Holineſs; or holineſs of truth. As the Work of Grace in the Heart is a true Copy or Tranſcript of the Divine Image, they agree as the Face in the Glaſs doth, with the Face of the Man that looks in it, or as the Image in the Wax with the Sculpture in the Seal, from which it is derived: Godlineſs is Godlikeneſs [Summa Religionis eſt imitari quem Colis] The Summ and Subſtance of our Religion is to imitate whom we worſhip: not that its poſſible to be like God with a perfection of degree, but Sincerity; Be ye perfect, as your Father in Heaven is perfect, Mat. 5.48. A Child hath the parts of a Man, though not the bulk; for the New Creature is in a daily increaſe, and tendeth to perfection, as a ſmall Seed hath vertually the bigneſs of a grown Tree, though little in its ſelf: But the Chriſtian is like God; man only can beget a man like himſelf: So the Spirit only doth beget the Chriſtian like God. Now Divines, Journal Chriſtian, Bemon, part 2. pag. 173.take notice of a double Likeneſs, a bare Similitude; Snow and Milk are both white alike, yet are not the Image one of another, 2. Derivation, deduced from another, and ſo the Picture which is drawn every Line by the Face of a Man, this is properly the Image of a man, after whoſe Likeneſs it is made: Thus by Holineſs, the Chriſtian becomes the Image of Chriſt; Rom. 8.29. Whom he did foreknow, he alſo did predeſtinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son.
9. There's the Rule of this New Creature, which is expreſſed, by [turning the Heart and Life to the Rule of the Word]; this either refers to the manner of framing the New Creature, or the Rule by which the New Creature acts and moves, being once formed: As to the former, the New Creature receives the Stamp, Signature, and Impreſſion of the Word: Rom. 6.17. But God be thanked, that ye were the ſervants of ſin: But ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you: Or as it is more properly in the Greek [foreign] into which you were delivered; i. e. the Soul is the Metal, the Word is the Mould, into which the Sinner is caſt, and thereby receives a new Stamp, formed into a new Shape, which naturally iſſues it ſelf into a new courſe of Life, according to Scripture-Rule: This immediately after my Text, ver. 16. is called the Canon, or Rule of the New Creature; for 'tis added, As many as walk according to this Rule, or Canon [foreign] Peace be on them: This is that Cynoſura or Square that Architects have in their Building, to level the Stones and Timber ſuitably [ut ſingulae partes juſt a Symmetria cohaereant. Calvin] that all the parts of the Edifice may agree by a juſt proportion; thus muſt, thus will the Chriſtian do, his deſire and deſign is to lie Square to the Word of God, to have reſpect to all God's Commandments, Pſal. 119.6. To walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameleſs, Luk. 1.6.
Every Child of God is taught by God to walk by Rule: All Callings have their proper Rule; the Phyſician ſtudies Galen; the Lawyer his Littleton; the Philoſopher his Ariſtotle, Plato: yet in all Profeſſions men may vary in their Methods, in the ſame Calling, becauſe no Rule is ſo perfect, but another may add to it: But the ſtanding Rule of God's Word, is perfect, Pſal. 19.7. able to make the man of God perfect, 2 Tim. 3.17. Nothing muſt be added to it, or taken from it. The Chriſtian is both drawn and determined by its authority more then by a whole team of humane Arguments.
10. Laſtly, here's the End of this New Creature, which is twofold, [1. the Glory of God: 2. the Sonl's preſent and everlaſting Communion with him:] Both theſe are wrap'd up together, and are very conſiſtent; yea, cannot be ſeparated. Now God's Glory is promoted by the New Creature; 1. In this World; 2. In the other.
1. In this World the New Creature is only capable of glorifying God; ſuch a Soul is planted in Chriſt the true Vine, and glorifies God by bringing forth much Fruit, John 15.8. Being filled with the Fruits of Righteouſneſs, which are by Jeſus Chriſt, unto the glory and praiſe of God, Phil 1.11. The chief deſign of the true Chriſtian and new Creature, is to promote the glory of God, actively and paſſively; this is the firſt Petition in the Lord's Prayer; and the firſt right Step the converted Soul takes Heaven-ward; and he is content to be vilified, ſo God may be glorified; and if God be glorified by others, what ever become of him, he rejoyceth, as Paul, in preaching Chriſt by others, to preach down his credit, Phil. 1.18.
2. And in the next World, this New Creature will raiſe a glorious Monument, to the glory of Jehovah, When he ſhall come to be glorified in his Saints, and admired in all them that believe, 2 Theſ. 1.10. The New Glory of this Creation will reflect more glory to the Author, than that of the old one: Oh what a glorious Sight will it be to ſee ſo many glorious Stars in the Firmament of Glory, borrowing their Light from and reflecting Light to the Sun of Righteouſneſs.
2. The New Creature is the only Perſon on Earth that's qualified for Communion with God; he only can ſay, Truly our fellowſhip is with the Father, and with his Son Jeſus Chriſt, 1 John 1.3. 'Tis this New Creation that raiſeth this clod of Clay above the Earth, and ingageth the Heart to approach to God, while others worſhip afar off, Jer. 30.21. Exod. 24. Theſe Holy Souls are they that worſhip in the Temple of God, and the Altar, Rev. 11.1. Pſal. 148.14. God admits them into his Preſence, as a People near unto him: this is the Perſon that only ſanctifies God's Name in his Worſhip, and is ſatisfied with the fatneſs of God's Houſe: here's the bleſſed Merchant that trades in rich Pearls, that goes from Port to Port, from Ordinance to Ordinance; not to ſee Places, but to take in his Lading of Communications from God, of Graces, Privileges, Aſſurance and Comforts.
Thus I have briefly opened the nature of this bleſſed Work of the New Creature.