A New Creature, Discourse · Chapter 11
Chap. XI. A trial of the New Creature, by its Effects, Conſequences, and proper Operations.
4. THe laſt way of diſcovering the truth of the New Creature in the Soul, is by its proper Fruits and Effects, as the Tree is known by its Fruits, and the quality of the Spring by its Streams that iſſue from it: I can but name theſe.
1. The New Creature produceth a New Tongue, New Speech, New Expreſſions: the Soul that was wont to ſpeak the Language of Aſhdod, now ſpeaks the Language of Canaan: his Tongue was wont to Swear, Lye, Curſe, rail at Religion, or vain Jangling, idle Tales, impertinent Stories; or at beſt but of Weather, Trading, News; now he changeth his Note; The mouth of the Righteous ſpeaketh Wiſdom, and his tongue talketh of Judgment, Pſal: 37.30, 31. Why ſo? the law of his God is in his heart: Out of the abundance of the Heart, his Mouth ſpeaks, Matth. 12.34 What ſay you, Sirs? do you ſpeak as becometh Saints, not Filthineſs, fooliſh Talking or Jeſting, Eph. 5.3, 4. Is your Speech always with Grace, ſeaſoned with Salt: Col. 4.6. Not corrupt Communication, but that which is good to the uſe of edifying? Eph. 4.29, 31. Do you exhort, and provoke one another to Love and good Works? Heb. 10.24, 25. Do you ſpeak reverently of God, his Word, and Works? Do you with one Mind and one Mouth glorifie God, Rom. 15.6. Edifie Saints, and convince Gainſayers? Ribauldry, Barbarology and Railing, are far from a Godly man's Mouth: rather giving of Thanks, asking and anſwering ſerious Queſtions with his Tongue, which is his glory.
2. New Works: Not only New Expreſſions, but New Actions: The New Creature ingageth Men to a New Courſe of Life, to caſt off the works of darkneſs, and to put on the armour of light, to walk honeſtly as in the day, Rom. 13.12, 13, 14. What a change doth it make in mens Employments, their Backs are now where their Faces were; and their Faces where their Backs were: This Grace of God teacheth them to deny ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, and to live ſoberly, righteouſly, godly; yea, to be zealous of good works, Tit. 2.11, 12, 14. They are wont to work hard for the world; now they work out their Salvation with fear and trembling, Phil. 2.12. They uſed to follow Sports and Stage-playes; now they find other employments, Reading, Praying, Meditating examining their Conſciences, mortifying Luſts: they find ſomething elſe to do now, then to ſpend their time in Idleneſs, and inventing Paſtimes, to paſs away their time: they have many Graces to exerciſe, Duties to perform, perſonal and relative; they have no time to be Idle, but muſt fill up their time with profitable Employment, to God's glory and their own good account: Oh how buſie is a Child of God, ſtriving to enter in at the ſtrait gate, Luk. 13.24. taking the kingdom of heaven by violence, Matth. 11.12. And giving diligence to make their calling and election ſure, 1 Pet. 1.10. and that their Maſter may not find them idle, but that they may be found of him in Peace.
3. A New Rule ſuitable to the New Creature; alas in time paſt, the poor Sinner walked according to the courſe of this World, Eph. 2.2. 1 Pet. 1.18. The old Traditions and Cuſtoms of men were wont to be the carnal man's Canon; he followed the multitude by conformity to the world: but now the rule of the new creature is the Star he Stears his Courſe by, Rom. 12.2. Gal. 6.16. Bring me a warrant from the Word in a plain Text; or a direct unſtrained Conſequence to bottom my obedience upon, or you ſay nothing: God's will is my rule of obedience, that only binds Conſcience: and the New Creature lies ſquare to every Command: The authority of God ſways it, becauſe there's ſomething in the Soul that ſuits and lies ſquare to every precept: if he cannot keep any, yet he hath reſpect to all God's Commandments, Pſal. 119.6. He is as it were fourſquare, lies ſquare to every thing God makes his duty; but an Hypocrite is like a round Globe, toucheth in ſome Corner, omits all but what his Intereſt or Fancy calls him to in that juncture: yea, if he ſhould keep all, yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all, James 2.10. A true Chriſtian is of a Catholick Spirit, an Univerſaliſt, like Zechariah and Elizabeth that walked in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameleſs, Luke 1.6. Theſe were indeed righteous: if there be Circumciſion of Heart, there will be circumſpection in Life: See then you walk circumſpectly [foreign] Eph. 5.15. according to command, and to the height of every Command, baulk none, abate nothing of what God makes Duty.
4. A new End, deſign; Alas, Self is the End and great Idol of a carnal Heart, till Grace rectifie and regulate it: All ſeek their own, Phil. 2.21. Matth. 6.2. ſelf-eaſe, pleaſure, ſelf-profit, ſelf-honour, or applauſe; the Water will riſe no higher then the Spring: New Grace changeth the Biaſs of the Soul, as a Ship ſailing Weſtward, there comes a ſtrong Gale of Wind, and carries it directly into the Eaſt: Self-ſeeking is ſo natural, that till Grace alter the conſtitution of the Soul, the ſinner will never be beaten off: ſelf-denyal is the firſt and laſt Leſſon our Lord teacheth his Diſciples, Matth. 16.24. This is the firſt Step and higheſt Round in Jacob's Ladder; hath thy ſoul ſo far learned it, as to makes God's glory, communion with him the chief aim of thy Duties, Studies, Endeavours: canſt thou, ſoul, throw thy ſelf in the Duſt, that God may be on the Throne; diſappear, that God may only be ſeen, as John Baptiſt ſaid, He muſt increaſe, but I muſt decreaſe, John 3.30. If any good be done, its not I, but the grace of God with me, 1 Cor. 15.10. Let him alone have the glory: let the Crown be ſet no where but on Chriſt's Head, Pſal. 151. Cant. 3.11. It becomes him beſt: I will caſt down my Crown before the Throne, and ſay, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power, Rev. 4.10, 11. As all the Lines tend to the center, ſo ſhall all my Actions tend only to thy glory: Let God in all things be glorified, though I be vilified, 1 Pet. 4.11. This Rent will I daily pay as a Tribute to the Crown of Heaven: I am reſolved to glorifie God in my Body and Soul, which are his, 1 Cor. 6.20 Better loſe my Life, then loſe the End of my Life, God's glory.
5. New Worſhip is always a Companion of the New Creature: Its true, the carnal man might hear and read the Word, Pray, receive the Sacrament, and perform the external Acts of Religion before, but formally, heartleſly, hypocritically, God knows, having a form of Godlineſs, but denying the power thereof, 2 Tim. 3.5. But as ſoon as the Grace of God hath formed the New Creature in the Heart: then 'tis ſaid, as of Paul, Behold he prayeth, Acts 9.11. Why, did not Paul pray before? Yes doubtleſs, he was a Phariſee and Phariſees made long Prayers, its likely had a great Gift of Prayer; ay, but now a Paul had the grace of Prayer, behold he prays, now he prays with a witneſs; his Prayer hath all the Requiſites eſſential to Prayer. Oh now, if you could lay your Ear to the Cloſet of this new born Saint; what ſighs and groans would you hear? Rom. 8.26. What throbs, and tears, what ſelf-loathing Confeſſions; what heartrending Complaints; what Heaven-piercing Expoſtulations would you have? What believing, pleading of Promiſes; what improvement of Chriſt's mediatorſhip? this is not formal or heartleſs Canting: As ſoon as ever this New Creature was formed, the Soul was turned from Idols, to ſerve the living and true God, 1 Theſ. 1.9. i. e. as ſuch a God in a ſincere and lively manner, in Spirit and in Truth, John 4.24. If the Words be the ſame, the workings of Heart are as different, as a living man's tone from dead Organ-pipes; the one hath Breath, the other not: The gracious ſoul engageth his Heart to approach unto God, Jer. 30.21. Yea, he alſo ſaith, Let us lift up our Hearts with our Hands, Lamen. 3.41. i. e. [oremus & laboremus] let us pray and uſe our utmoſt endeavour to obtain what we pray for: the Hypocrites Tongue may wag; but the New Creature ſets the Heart a breathing, Hands on working, Feet on walking; Oh how he is concerned in a Duty!
6. A New War is commenced by the New Creature: as ſoon as this New Creature peeps out, Satan muſters all the powers of darkneſs againſt it: and now begins this holy War, which never ceaſeth while the Soul is in the …ody: and Oh, how many a ſharp skirmiſh hath the Chriſtian with Satan, and his armed Bands! the carnal Heart holds correſpondence with the Enemy, and the Devil lets him alone, and all his Goods (or ſoul's Faculties) are in peace, Luk. 11.21. he ſleeps quietly in the Devil's Tents, little dreaming whither he is going: or rather he is carried in a golden Dream into Satan's Territories: or as Solomo… 's young Gallant with the Whore, As an Ox goeth to the ſlaughter, or as a Fool to the correction of the Stocks, Prov. 7.22. But the converted ſoul ſees his danger, and ſtruggles hard to extricate himſelf, and when he is at liberty, the Devil purſues him with rage ſometimes, otherwhiles with ſubtilty ſeeks to undermine him; he is aware of both, and is not ignorant of his devices, 2 Cor. 2.11. One while he fights with ſpiritu… weapons, and ſo reſiſts the Devil, and he flees… another while the ſoul retires to his ſtrong hold, by Faith and Prayer, and is ſecured: Thus the gracious ſoul is warring a good Warfare, fighting the Fight of Faith, 1 Tim. 1.18-6.12.2 Tim. 2.4. which is a good Fight, he gets diſintang… led from the affairs of this life, and lays aſide every weight, that he may militate more ſtrenuouſly and more ſucceſsfully: nor doth the good ſoul ſo fight, as one that beats the Air, 1 Cor. 9.26. laying about him at adventures, but he ſpies his Enemy, hath taken a view of them in Scripture-light, lets fly at the Faces of foreign and inteſtine Adverſaries, with ſpiritual, ſcriptural Weapons, and never ſounds a Parly, o… makes a Truce, but diſputes every Inch of hi… paſſage to Heaven: thus this New Creature … the Chriſtian Champion.
7. The New Creature finds out new company; alas his old Companions grow ſtale wi… the Convert, he cannot take delight in his old Comrades, that would jeſt and be merry, and ſeek to drive him out of his melancholy Dump with pleaſant ſtories, this is but as ſinging Song to an heavy Heart: The good Heart is now ſick of ſuch vain company, and bids them be gone, they are of no uſe to him. 'Tis very obſervable, three times, and upon ſo many occaſions, doth David require all wicked men to depart from him, Pſal. 6.8. Depart from me, all ye workers of Iniquity, for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping, q. d. I have got better company and comfort then you are, Pſal. 119.115. Depart from me, ye evil-doers, for I will keep the Commandments of my God, q. d. I have taken up other Reſolutions, and muſt have other Companions then you: the laſt is Pſal. 139.19. Surely thou ſhalt ſlay the wicked, O God; depart therefore from me ye bloody men, q. d. I am loath to fare as you fare, and will not be found in your company: this is Chriſtian Policy as well as Piety: 'tis impoſſible the New Creature ſhould take delight in his old Companions: for what communion hath light with darkneſs? 2 Cor. 6.14, 15, 17. what concord hath Chriſt with Belial? There are in the world, perſons more ſuitable to his temper, even Saints (not in Heaven, but) that are in the Earth, men excellent in whom is all his delight, Pſal. 16.3. Theſe, theſe are his Companions, Pſal. 119.63. the delight of his ſoul, he loves them dearly, becauſe they are ſo like his Father in Heaven: theſe are they he hopes to live with in the other world, and he muſt aſſociate with them in this, he loves to diſcourſe with them, joyn in Prayer with them, none ſuch content he hath on Earth as in the communion of Saints.
8. The new Creature needs and requires new Cordials, new Food and Phyſick, the world duplicate page duplicate page and all that it can afford, that are wont to be ſo pleaſant, are all but dry Meat, have no more ſavour then the white of an Egg: the Soul hath now a more dainty and delicate Stomach, then to be ſatisfied with ſuch Husks and traſh: he ſues for the tender Mercies of God, Pſal. 119.77. Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live, q. d. I know not how to live a natural Life, and I cannot live a ſpiritual Life without theſe tender Mercies; the Lord knoweth my ſqueamiſh and delicate Stomach, and crowns me withloving-kindneſs and tender mercies, Pſal. 103.4. Luther called the whole Turkiſh Empire but a Crumb caſt to Dogs: and often proteſted to God, that he would not be put off with theſe low things, even when he had a Silver Mine offered him: Even an Heathen Seneca could ſay, [major ſum & ad majora natus] I am greater, and born to higher things, then terrene Objects: Will not a Chriſtian much more ſay ſo? The Chriſtian hath Meat to eat that Men know not of… ſpiritual Manna, Angels Food, is the Chriſtians Diet, John 4.32. the fatneſs of God's houſe; yea, marrow and fatneſs, Pſal. 36.9. 63.5. 19.10. God's word is as hony and hony-comb.; better then neceſſary food: yea, Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, the bread of Life, John 6.55. The New Creature finds full contentment in Chriſt, through a promiſe: Its worth obſerving, that ſpiritual delights are ſuited to all the ſpiritual ſenſes [melos in aure, mel in ore] Muſick in the Ear, his Mouth is moſt ſweet: Wine to the taſte: yea, his Love is better then Wine, Cant 5.16. as Oyntment poured forth to the Smell, ch. 1.2.3, 12, 13. ch. 2.6, 8, 3. yea, as Spiknard, Myrrh: his Embraces to the touch and feeling, His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me: As for the ſight, my beloved is white and ruddy, Cant. 5.10-16. he is altogether lovely in all his parts, and comely proportion: You ſee the New Creature hath its Senſes as well as the Body, and ſpiritual good things gratifie them, who by reaſon of uſe, have their Senſes exerciſed to diſcern good and evil, Heb. 5.14.
9. The New Creature hath a new home, our being upon Earth in theſe Houſes of Clay, Job 4.19. is our ſhort home: our being under the Earth, is our long home, Eccle. 12.5, 7. Rom. 6.23. In the Grave. Hell is the ſinner's laſt and everlaſting Home: Heaven is the Saints beſt eternal home, 2 Cor. 5.6, 8. Knowing that whilſt we are at home in the Body, we are abſent from the Lord— but we are willing rather to be abſent from the Body, and to be preſent with the Lord. A poor graceleſs Wretch is well where he is, like that carnal Cardinal that would not change his part in Paris for his part in Paradiſe: Such as theſe are men of the world, whoſe portion is in this life, Pſal 17.14. Theſe are written in the Earth, poſſibly as recorded and renowned among the great Ones of it, Jer. 17.15. But there's a Generation of the Sons of men, that are not of this world, whoſe Names are written in Heaven, John 15.9. And are travelling towards the New Jeruſalem, thence they came, and thither they are bound; Jeruſalem which is above, is free, which is the Mother of us all, Gal. 4.26. 'Tis thither the New Creature tendeth, there it would gladly be: it is troubled at whatſoever ſtops it in its motion homewards: Rom. 8.23. Not only they (i.e. the other Creatures) but our ſelves alſo, which have the firſt fruits of the ſpirit, even we our ſelves groan within our ſelves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our Body: Oh bleſſed Jubile! when ſhall the dawning of that glorious day appear? How long muſt I dwell in Meſhech, or in the Tents of Kedar, Pſal. 120.5. How long ſhall I abide on this ſide Jordan? Oh that once at laſt I might inhabit that goodly Mount and Lebanon! Why is his Chariot ſo long in coming? why ſtay the VVheels of his Chariot? Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly, break down the walls of this earthly Tabernacle, and cloath me with that houſe from Heaven, 2 Cor. 5.1, 2. How long ſhall … be toſt on this tumultuous Sea? when ſhall I reach the Haven? I long to be with Chriſt, Phil. 1.23. among the Spirits of juſt men made perfect, Heb. 12.23-11.13, 14, 15, 16. Here I am a Stranger and Pilgrim, and am ſeeking another Country, thither I am haſting; there I would be, that this diſguiſe may be pluckt off, that when he ſhall appear, I may be like him, and ſee him as he is, 1. John 3.1, 2. My beſt Life is yet hid, but when Chriſt who is my Life, ſhall appear, then ſhall I alſo appear with him in glory, Col. 3.3, 4. For this I hope and wait, and Pray and long.
10. The New Creature begets new Apprehenſions of it ſelf in all this, he was darkneſs, but now he is light in the Lord, Eph. 5.8. The poor old Creature thinks well of himſelf, and his doings; he imagines he can Pray, perform Duty, and when he hath by the ſtrength of his Gifts come off finely, then he applauds himſelf, as Bernard ſaid of himſelf [bene feciſti, Bernarde] well done, now God is beholding to thee, and owes thee a kindneſs, as the Hypocrital Jews, Iſa. 58.3. And the Phariſees, Luk. 18.11. But this New Creature will teach its poſſeſſour another Leſſon, when he hath done all, alas, he is an unprofitable Servant, Luk. 17.9. My Righteouſneſſes are but as filthy rags, Iſa. 64.6. Still I am an unclean thing: I deſerve nothing but wrath, if I juſtifie my ſelf, mine own Mouth ſhall condemn me, Job 9.20. My Spiritual Duties need Spiritualizing; my Repentance needs repenting of, my Exerciſe of Grace needs a gracious Pardon: My Lord Jeſus muſt take away the Iniquity of my holy things, perfume my poor Services, and offer my Prayers with his much Incenſe, upon the golden Altar, Exod. 28.58. before the Throne, Rev. 8.3. I dare not ſtand before God in my beſt ſuit of Inherent Righteouſneſs. If thou Lord ſhouldſt mark Iniquity; Oh Lord, who can ſtand? Pſal. 1 30.3. In thy ſight, ſhall no man living be juſtified, Pſal. 143.2. If I look at the New Creature, there's many defects therein: if I reflect on the pureſt actings of Grace, alas they are imperfect: I muſt be found in Chriſt, or I am loſt for ever, Phil. 3.9. Not having mine own Righteouſneſs, which is of the Law, but that which is by the Faith of Chriſt, the Righteouſneſs which is of God by Faith. Oh my Lord, when I am ſtanding before the Angel of the Lord, Satan ſtands at my right hand, to reſist me, and juſtly he may, for I am cloathed with filthy Garments: Oh ſpeak the word, that mine Iniquity may paſs away from me, and cloath me with change of Rayment, Zech. 3.1, 4. My change of Principles will not do without an upper Garment to cover all my Defects and Faults: there I ſtick, there I muſt ſtand righteous before God at the Great Day: The ſumm of all this, is contained in that excellent Text, with which I conclude this Head, Phil. 3.3. For we are the Circumciſion, which worſhip God in the Spirit, and rejoyce in Christ Jeſus, and have no confidence in the Fleſh.