A New Creature, Discourse · Chapter 14
Chap. XIV. An ANSWER to ſome Caſes of Conſcience.
4. THe laſt Head which I propounded in this Uſe of Inſtruction, is Anſwering ſome Caſes of Conſcience that Godly Souls are apt to make in this caſe, wherein I muſt be very brief.
1ſt. Caſe. Whether is it poſſible that a Man can be a New Creature, and not know it, ſince it is ſo remarkable a change.
Anſw. I have hinted at this before, but obſerve it, you muſt diſtinguiſh betwixt a reflexive ſenſe of a change in Heart and Life, and a due apprehenſion of this change morally conſidered as Saving; many a Soul can truly ſay, ſomething hath been done, but I know not whether the thing which may be entituled A New Creature; I am much in the dark about it: I cannot but ſay I have had Convictions, and ſomething like Converſion, though not Conſolation: I am kept ſtill in innitency upon a Promiſe, though I cannot ſay I have aſſurance of my Intereſt in the Covenant. Precious Mr. Paul Bains could ſay, Suſtentation I have, but Suavities Spiritual I do not experience. So you may have the Root, though not the Flower; VVater of Sanctification, though not the Oyl of Gladneſs: wait on God, and in due time you may have this cleared up to you: If you follow on to know the Lord, his going forth is prepared as the Morning, Hoſ. 6.3. Grace and Peace ſhall not be long parted: Light is ſown for the Righteous, and Joy for the upright in Heart, Pſal. 97.11. It's not loſt, but laid up and hid in the Furrows of the Believer's Boſom.
2d. Caſe. Whether is it poſſible that he that's a New Creature, ſhould have a ſelf-accuſing, ſelf-condemning Conſcience?
Anſw. You muſt diſtinguiſh of Conſciences condemning a man's ſelf; 1. Paſſively, when our Hearts cenſure us, and we ſtifle them, ſuch a one indeed is ſelf-condemned: 2. If we be Active in condemning our ſelves; it's a good Sign, and a great Duty; as we ſhewed before: but the meaning of this Query, refers to the State of the Man, whether the Conſcience of a New Creature may cenſure the real Chriſtian, and tell him he is an Hypocrite. To which I Anſwer, If Conſcience act according to the Rule of the VVord, it muſt be regarded as God's Officer, ſpeaking by his authority; but if it ſpeak not in God's Name, and by his order, we may appeal to the Higher Court of the Holy Scriptures, and it's certain that Conſcience may be corrupted, and it is often uſed by Satan, to deceive good Men as well as bad: and they ſhall at laſt have their action againſt Satan for falſe Impriſonment, and diſturbing their Peace: Your beſt courſe therefore is to have recourſe to the VVord, for Conſcience is but an under Officer, and muſt be accountable for its Verdict. Remember, it's one thing to have Hypocriſie in thy Heart, another thing to be an Hypocrite: the beſt will find much Guilt within them, which Conſcience rebukes them for, and they bewail it; but they are not therefore Hypocrites.
3d. Caſe. Whether may God carry it ſtrangely, as if he were an Enemy to a New Creature, that ſhould ſeem to be his darling?
Anſw. Thou art a Stranger to Scripture, and the Experiences of all God's Children, if thou think God muſt always be dandling this New Creature on his Knee, or giving it the Kiſſes of his Mouth; no, no, he hath reſerved theſe Sweat-meats for the upper Table in Heaven: there's great reaſon thou ſhould have his Frowns, as well as Smiles, to humble thy Heart, exerciſe thy Graces, diſcover the neceſſity of Chriſt, the deſireableneſs of Heaven: God can and may, without any impediment to his Love, hide it for a ſeaſon from his own deareſt Child: David indeed called in queſtion God's Love and Faithfulneſs, when he hid his Face; but at laſt, he found that it was his Infirmity, and doubtleſs, lamented it as his Sin: God hath given abundant Security in his Promiſes of his Love without preſent ſenſe: you muſt not think much at him, if he do not come to viſit you, and take you up in his Arms as oft as you would have him: Thou needſt ſome purging Phyſick as well as Cordials: a Son may need a Frown, as well as a Smile from his Father: God is a free Agent, his Kiſſes are his own: but its well thou art ſo ſenſible of his Acceſs and Receſs, his Smiles and Frowns: it's a ſign of ſome Spiritual Life in thy Soul.
4th Caſe. But you ſaid the New Creature grows; I find it otherwiſe, I cannot ſee that I grow in Grace, nay, I decline and go backwards, what think you of that?
I Anſwer, As the Chriſtian grows in Grace, ſo he grows in Light to diſcover his ſtate, and ſees more vileneſs in himſelf, and is ſtill more ſenſible of decays in Grace, which keeps him humble, ſelf-denying and vile in his own Eyes, that's growth too, bleſs God for it: but obſerve it, grains of allowance muſt be given to Old Age, when natural parts decay, and Perſons may not be ſo quick and lively as formerly, yet may be more ſolid and increaſing in Experiences. Mr. Greenham ſaid, It's an hard and rare thing to keep up young Zeal with old Diſcetion. Doſt thou not keep up a more conſtant courſe of Duty, ſettled Reſolutions for God? Is not thy Heart more deaded to the world, taken up with things unſeen? Art thou not more compoſed under Afflictions? doſt thou not more diſcover and bewail Spiritual Sins? Doſt thou not long more after the good of Relations, take more delight in God's VVord, breathe after more of God's Preſence in Ordinances? Speak out, Man, deal faithfully, bear not falſe witneſs againſt thy ſelf: yet it's true, the growing Tree meets with a fall of the Leaf, a ſharp Winter; yet doth a Spring come, it grows in the Summer: Peter's Fall was recruited to geater boldneſs for God: but I hope thou art not a backſlider in Heart, Prov. 14.14. To diſlike the ways of God: Thou art but overtaken with a Sin, againſt thy ſtrong Purpoſes, Gal. 6.1. When thou ſleepeſt, doth not thy Heart wake? Cant. 5.2. Thou art not pleaſed with this declining ſtate: Thy Spirit is willing, but thy Fleſh is weak, Matth. 26.41.
5th. Caſe. But alas, I have ſuch ſtrong, impetuous, yea, imperious workings of Corruption in my Heart, as never any had that hath a principle of Grace: None like me: Is it poſſible I ſhould be a New Creature?
I Anſwer, The Heart knows its own bitterneſs, and wickedneſs, Prov. 14.10. Every gracious Soul thinks his own Heart worſt, becauſe he knows it beſt: But who told thee that thy Heart was ſo bad? Was it always thus with thee? Was there not a time that thou thoughteſt thy Heart was as good as any Bodies? Is it not Spiritual Light that makes theſe ſtrange Diſcoveries? Whatſoever doth make manifeſt, is Light, Eph. 5.13. Did not Sin revive upon the coming of the Commandment? Rom. 7.9. But Friend, let me ask thee: Doſt thou think that upon the planting of this New Creature in thy Soul, Sin ſhould be utterly extirpated, that thou ſhouldſt hear no more of it? Doſt thou not find even bleſſed Paul, groaning ſtill under a Body of Death? Rom. 7.24. Will not the Fleſh ſtill luſt againſt the Spirit? Gal. 5.17. Surely thou knoweſt little of a Chriſtian ſtate, if thou imagineſt a total Immunity from the Body, and Indwelling of Sin in this world: Its well if Sin be not upon the Throne, though thou haſt it in the Field to fight with: the Goſpel-privilege is, Sin ſhall not have dominion over thee, becauſe thou art under Grace, Rom. 6.14.
6th. Caſe. But what will you ſay by a Man that cannot give a preciſe account of the Time and Manner of the forming of this New Creature in his Heart, that never had ſuch terrors as ſome have?
I Anſwer, Will any ſay the River Nilus is no River, becauſe men never found out the Head of it? God is a free Agent, and hath different Seaſons and Manners of working: Some were wrought upon in their younger days, and were religiouſly educated, and never ſtept aſide into groſs Sins, and God ſteals in gently upon them, and opens their Hearts as he did Lydia's Acts 16.14. and gently attracts them to himſelf, picking the Lock (as it were) without much noiſe; whenas he breaks the Wards in others, with aſtoniſhing Convictions, as he dealt with Paul, and Luther, and famous Mr. Bolton: Some are of mild and gentle Natures, and God ſees they cannot bear hard blows, which ſome others need, of ſturdy and ſtubborn Spirits: Do not murmur, but thank God that he hath come ſo ſweetly into thy Soul: he knows thy frame and conſtitution: See the Work be there, and a Scriptural work, and leave God to his liberty: But this thou canſt ſay through Grace, it is not with thee now as it hath been, as the blind man ſaid, I may be ignorant of ſome Circumſtances, But one th… I know, that whereas I was blind, now I ſee, John 9.25. Things are otherwiſe repreſented to me, and my Spirit working otherwiſe within then formerly: So that I may ſay as Rebekah with her Twins in her Womb, If it be ſo, or not ſo, why am I thus?
7th. Caſe. But alas, no Body knows what a frame of Spirit I have in my Prayers, ſuch Diſtractions and Diverſions I have from God, as cannot be conſiſtent with the New Creature in any; what think you?
Anſwer, I ſay, 'tis ſad, that ſuch Vermin ſhould crawl in God's Sanctuary, eſpecially when thou art in God's immediate worſhip: but doſt thou approve of them, and make them welcome? Are they not troubleſome Gueſts? Do they not forcibly aſſault thee, as ſo many unmannerly Gueſts? Suppoſe in your Family as you are kneeling in Prayer, a company of Royſters ſtand under your VVindow, roaring and hollowing, though it diſturb you, would you thence queſtion your Sincerity in the Duty? And 'tis all one, whether the diſturbance be in the Room or in the Boſom, ſince both are diſliked as a burden to thee: Mr. Tho. Shepard Treat. of Diſtract.I often reflect on a paſſage I read many Years ago, The good Lord keep the Hearts of his People under a due ſenſe of their Diſtractions, for they are never like to be rid of them while they live. Thou doſt reckon thy ſelf to be as in the Belly of Hell with Jonah, while thou art yok'd with ſuch thoughts and ſendeſt many a deep groan to Heaven againſt them, and at ſomtimes, doſt obtain ſome help againſt them, and getteſt near thy God in duty.
But I ſhall add no more of theſe Caſes, but only add two VVords as a Cloſe of this Diſcourſe, That if poor doubting Souls would, inſtead of their Complainings and Objections, but do theſe two things, it would tend more to their Satisfaction, and the Glory of God.
1. That they would ſpend that time in examining their own Conſciences, which they take up in fruitleſs Complaints: Alas, many Profeſſors have got an Art of whining and complaining to Miniſters and Chriſtian Friends, and think to be better thought of for ſuch complaints; but this is a ſad Judgment of God, for Perſons to pine away in their Iniquity, and yet mourn one towards another, Ezek. 24.23. If poor Souls would ſpend that time in ſearching their own Conſciences and Converſations, it would tend more to the clearing up the Sincerity of their Hearts, and Saving Work of Grace: Fall to this, Sirs, enter into your Cloſets, commune with your own Hearts, deal faithfully and effectually; put not off your ſelves with unproved Conceits and groundleſs Imaginations, but go through-ſtitch with the Work; ranſak your Hearts, they are your own; be not put off with ſuch mannerly Excuſes as Rachel's: Take ſuch an Account as you muſt give to God: let no luſt eſcape your view, or the leaſt Grace be belyed or denyed with any ſcorn or diſregard: When David thought of God, he was troubled, and expreſſeth many diſcontented Murmurings; but when he communed with his own Heart, Pſal. 77.36, 40. he clears God, and condemns his Unbelief; indites the Thief, and clears his Conſcience of that troubleſome Jonah in his Boſome: Thus plaindealing evidenceth a Chriſtian's State ſooner then wrangling: and yet ſtill thou art at a loſs: Appeal to God, and ſay as Job, Thou knoweſt that I am not wicked, Job 10.7. Or as Peter, Thou knoweſt that I love thee, John 21.15. Or as David, Do not I hate them that hate thee? Search me, O God, and know my Heart, Pſal. 139.21, 23. As wiſe Phyſicians, truſt not their own Judgment about their own Health; ſo the Saint knows God's Line reacheth lower then his own, and to his Judgment he will ſtand.
2. Inſtead of complaining, fall vigorouſly upon the work of Sanctification, to mortifie beloved Luſts, to cut off a right Hand, and pluck out a right Eye, Matth. 5.29. When you have ſearch'd out the Leaven, purge it out, 1 Cor. 5.7. Lay aſide every Weight, and the Sin which doth moſt eaſily beſet you, Heb. 12.1. Run the Sword of the Spirit to the Heart of every Luſt: Lay the Ax to the root of the Tree, ſtub up Sin by the Roots: if a vain Thought, a proud, luſtful, worldly, paſſionate Thought ariſe in your Hearts, ſuppreſs it, militate againſt it, crucifie the Fleſh, with the Affections and Lusts, Gal. 5.24. So will you evidence your ſelves to be Chriſt's, 2 Cor. 7.1. be daily perfecting Holineſs in the fear of God. Obſerve wherein you miſſed it in ſuch a Duty, and be ſtill mending it, as Apelles, when he had drawn a Picture, was ever and anon ſpying Defects, and then mended it with his Pencil: ſo do you. Obſerve what Conſcience ſaid, Oh my Soul, in ſuch a Duty thou waſt cold, diſtracted, unbelieving, hard, vain-glorious, in ſuch an Affliction thou waſt froward, peeviſh, diſcontented, in ſuch a company thou ſpakeſt idlely, or waſt guilty of ſinful ſilence: In the enjoyment of ſuch a Mercy, or in thy poſperous ſtate, how proud, ſecure, ſelf-conceited, ſlighting others, waſt thou? Oh mourn for this Fault, watch againſt it for the future: walk more cloſely with God, maintain daily Intercourſe with God and thine own Conſcience: thereby you will be better acquainted with God and your own Souls, and diſcern better how your Principles are ſtated; For if you walk according to this Rule, Peace ſhall be upon you, Gal. 6.16. Hence the bleſſed Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 1.12. For our rejoycing is this, the Teſtimony of our Conſcience, that in Simplicity and Godly Sincerity, not in fleſhly Wiſdom, but by the Grace of God, we have had our Converſation in the World. Dying Hezekiah could plead this with God in his Appeal, Iſa. 38.1.
Oh Sirs, learn to e…erciſe every Grace to every Duty; the Exerciſe of Grace is the cleareſt Evidence of Grace, both to our ſelves and others; as he confuted his Antagoniſt, that diſputed againſt Motion, by ſtarting up and walking: So do you walk with God, hereby do we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments, 1 John 2.3, 6. If you walk as he walked, you evidence that you abide in him: as he which hath called you is holy, ſo be ye holy in all manner of Converſation, 1 Pet. 1.15. If you expect that God's Spirit will witneſs with your Spirits, and ſo ſubſcribe your Certificate for Heaven; you muſt be uniform, and univerſal in your courſe of Godlineſs, both in your Worſhip and Walking, walking before God, and with God, Gen. 5.24-17.1. Then indeed will you be found upright or perfect: But if thou have any cloſe Box in the Cabinet of thy Heart, wherein thou layeſt up and hideſt any beloved Luſt; or if thou royleſt theſe Waters by any uneven walking, or ſtoppeſt thy Travels in Heaven's Road, by idleneſs, ſleeping, or ſtepping back, and loſing thy firſt Love, then no wonder if thou canſt not diſcern this Stamp of God's Image upon thy Soul, but calleſt thy very ſtate into queſtion.
Yet above all, I adviſe thee to ſtop the Mouth of Conſcience, with that only that ſatisfied the Juſtice of God: Nothing can reconcile a Man to himſelf, but that which reconciled God and Man.
It was Dr. Sibs Advice, When the Water of Sanctification runs muddy, betake your ſelves to the Blood of Juſtification: There, there muſt lie your Comfort, and Confidence, by this only muſt you anſwer all the Objections raiſed by Satan and Conſcience, from Juſtice, Law, or whatſoever oppoſeth your Peace, riſing from the Defects and Imperfections of Grace, or this New Creature within you: And indeed, the beſt of us muſt anchor and center here, as to out Juſtification, Acceptation with God, or compoſedneſs of Conſcience.
Come then, let us go (in this Goſpel-way) to Jeſus the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the Blood of Sprinkling, that ſpeaketh better things then that of Abel, Heb. 12.24. …; So be it.
FINIS.
End of the text · Oliver Heywood, A New Creature (1695)