A New Creature, Discourse · Chapter 12
Chap. XII. Directions, what Means may be uſed for the obtaining this New Creature.
I Am ſenſible I have inſiſted too long upon the Firſt Head of this laſt Uſe of Inſtruction, concerning the Evidences of this work in our Souls, from its Preparatives, Parts, Properties and Effects, I ſhall be the briefer in the reſt.
2. The next is to give ſome Inſtructions to thoſe that feel or fear they are not yet New Creatures, how they are to behave themſelves and what courſe they are to take, that they may become New Creatures
I am much prevented in this by the worthy labours of thoſe excellent Men, Mr. Baxter Mr. Joſ. Allein, and many others in their Directions about Converſion, which is co-incident with this: to whom I refer the Reader.
Yet this muſt not be underſtood, as though it were in any man's power to change his own Heart, no more than he can create himſelf or put life into a dead Carcaſe, but it becomes Men, 1. Not to hinder or obſtruct the ſtrivings of the Spirit that may work this Grace; 2. To improve their natural Faculties to the utmoſt, in order to the attaining of this End: I ſhall but briefly lay before you what a natural man can do, by the help of common Providence, and what he muſt do, as he will anſwer the contrary another day, to that God that hath given him a Command, and rational Faculties capable of compliance.
1. Own and improve natural Principles, ſuch there are, that are [foreign] innate notions, common to man, as man, endowed with Reaſon, as, That there is a God, that this God muſt needs be an excellent Being, the ultimate End of all things, the chiefeſt Good, that all things depend upon him, and muſt be reduced to him; that this God muſt be worſhipped, that his Will is the Rule of man's Obedience; that there is moral good and evil, that there will be a retribution in this or in another world. Natural Conſcience even of Heathens, diſcovers ſomething of theſe grand Principles; for ſo ſaith the bleſſed Apoſtle, Rom. 2.14, 15. That though the Gentiles have not the written Law before their Eyes, yet they have a tranſcript thereof in their Hearts, which declares to them ſome Good and Evil, and Conſcience accordingly excuſeth them if they do well, and accuſeth them if they do evil, Rom. 1.18, 24. The impriſoning of theſe Truths in Unrighteouſneſs, produced a judicial hardening, and giving them up to Uncleanneſs; and rendred them to be without excuſe: and can we think that Men now diſclaiming and obliterating theſe notices of Religion will fare better? Surely no: So on the contrary, the way to obtain more, is to improve what we have: I ſay, not that God is bound to give ſpecial Grace to ſuch as improve common, but an inſtance can hardly be produced to the contrary: and this is God's method in vouchſafing his Grace, to engage Souls to cheriſh and excite moral Principles by diligent endeavours, which God uſually ſeconds with his bleſſing; yea, this courſe doth naturally tend to weaken vicious Inclinations: Set your ſelves about this work, and you little know what it may come to at the laſt. Oh that unconverted Sinners had but the Integrity of King Abimelech, to act according to that Light they have, Gen. 20.6. and reſtraining Grace God affords them, which the Lord ca… Integrity, which yet is but moral, yet is good, ſo far as it goes, and a mean of more.
2. Be jealous, leſt you be miſtaken in this point, leſt you miſtake the Nature of this New Creature, or leſt your own Hearts deceive you, for they are deceitful and deſperately wicked, Jer. 17.9. And Satan will be in danger to caſt in a Brat of his own in the room of this New Creature: Counterfeit Grace may look like Saving Grace: Reformation looks like Regeneration how often is a Briſtol Stone taken for a Pearl… painted Grapes once cheated living Birds: yo… muſt firſt get a Scriptural definition of thi… New Creature: To the Law and to the Teſtimony… Iſa. 8.20. Judge your ſelves by that word tha… muſt judge you at the laſt Day, Rom. 2.16. Be afraid of Self-deceit, Bleſſed is he that feareth always: you live in the midſt of Cheats, a deceitful Heart, deceivable Luſts, a deceitful World, and a cunning Devil, all ſet againſt you, and we are apt to believe that to be true, we would have to be ſo: but put the caſe to thy ſelf, What if I be miſtaken? I read of ſome that think themſelves ſomething, when they are nothing, Gal. 6.3. Others put a falſe Syllogiſm upon themſelves, deceiving their own ſelves, James 1.22. What if this be my caſe? VVhat if I be in a golden Dream, imagining I am bound for Heaven, when I am deſcending into the Pit? what if I be found without the Oyl of Grace in the Veſſel of my Heart; a fooliſh Virgin amongſt the wiſe, Mat. 25.1, 10. What if I prove the only Gueſt at the Goſpel-feaſt, without a VVedding-Garment, Matth. 22.12, 13. and be ſtruck ſpeechleſs? Oh what an aſtoniſhing diſappointment will it be? hath none proved ſuch? why may not I? Some have gone off the Stage with a Lye in their Right hand, Iſa. 44.20-50.11. and have lain down in Sorrow, notwithſtanding the Sparks of their own kindling: O what need have I to fear, leſt a promiſe being left of entring into Reſt, I ſhould really come ſhort of it, Heb. 4.1.
3. Deal faithfully with your own Souls, in ſelf-examination: Flatter not your ſelves, but examine not only your Actions, but the Internals of your Souls, how your Principles are ſtated: you may do it, for God hath given you a Self-reflecting Faculty, The Spirit of a man is the Candle of the Lord, Prov. 20.27. that ſearcheth the inward parts of the Belly: You muſt do it, you are commanded to commune with your own heart, to examine your ſelves, Pſal. 4.4.2 Cor. 13.5. Gal. 6.4. Pſal. 77.6. prove your work, God's Servants have made diligent ſearch: and will you continue Strangers to your own Hearts? will you be ſo unkind Neighbours, as never to ask your Hearts how they do? or will you be put off with afrivolous or delatory Anſwer? Oh Sirs, come to a point, drive your ſelves to this Dilemma, I am either a New Creature or not, a Child of God or of the Devil; I am bound either for Heaven or Hell: I had not need to hang in ſuſpence about this weighty caſe: I will now put this doubt out of doubt. I cannot reſt ſatisfied with uncertainties in ſo weighty a concern: God forbid I ſhould weigh it light, or be miſtaken: I muſt not take Preparatives for parts of the New Creature; the Porch for the Houſe. I will try and try again, and prove my marks by Scripture-rule, and appeal to God for the Sincerity of my Heart: Examine me, O Lord, and prove me, and try my Reins and my Heart, Pſal. 26 2. I muſt be a new Man, or no man in Chriſt; I will not be put off with morality, or uncertainty; irreſolvedneſs breeds diſquietneſs. I am determined to make ſomething of it.
4. Attend diligently on the moſt powerful Miniſtry, not ſuch a dull, formal, heartleſs Preaching, as will rock you aſleep in Security, or ſow Pillows to your Arm-holes, Ezek. 13.17— 22. Preaching placentia, promiſing Life in a ſinful State, crying, peace, peace, when God proclaims war againſt you: thouſands are undone by Flatteries. Oh wait on a rouzing, convincing Miniſtry, which is the power of God to Salvation, Rom. 1.16. The Seed, the proper method of working divine Grace, Gal. 4.19. where Chriſt is formed in Sinners Souls, the Glaſs in which you may behold the Face of your Hearts, James 1.25. By which you may be changed into his Image, 2 Cor. 3.18. Beholding the glory of the Lord therein. I have begotten you (ſaith Paul) through the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 4.15. This is God's work-houſe, where he ſhapes and forms this New Creature: of how many an Ordinance may it be ſaid this and that man was born there, Pſal. 87.5. Oh therefore be conſtantly waiting at the Poſts of VViſdom, hear the moſt warm lively Preachers prepare for hearing, ſet your ſelves as in the preſence of God. Say thus with thy ſelf, I am going to hear the VVord of the Living God, which is the miniſtration of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3.8. apt and able to give life to dead Souls, 1 Theſ. 2.15. It is not ſo much the word of Men, but of God. Oh that it may work effectually in my Soul: It is not Man, but God, that is now treating with me, God himſelf is now beſeeching me, the Miniſter praying me in Chriſt's ſtead, to be reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5.20. I perceive it ſticks at me, God hath declared he is Friends with me, if my naughty Heart were at laſt prevail'd with to be reconciled to him. O that this may be the Day, this the Sermon, wherein and whereby thou wilt mould and melt my Soul for thy ſelf: now Lord, let thy words be as Spirit and Life to my Soul; Oh, for renewing Grace.
5. Own Convictions by the VVord: ſtrike while the Iron is hot: let not Impreſſions dye or wear off: this loſt both Felix and Agrippa their Souls, Acts 24.25, 26, 27. ſtifled Convictions leave the Heart harder: heated water, cooled again, is ſooner frozen: who knows how long the Spirit may ſtrive? when God is working, work then: put not off warnings, when God convinceth thee of the evil of a Sin, preſently diſcard it, when of a Duty, fall cloſe to the practice of it: when a wound is made, take heed left the Wind get in and it begin to feſter, and at laſt grow incurable: Our Lord is ſtanding at thy Door, and knocking, Rev. 3.20. He will not always wait thy leiſure: the Spirit will not always ſtrive with thee, Gen. 6.3. You muſt ſail when the VVind blows. There are [candida tempora] proper Seaſons for every thing: Its a dangerous thing for a Man not to know his time, Eccleſ. 9.12. If you miſs the nick of opportunity, it may never return: the Market laſts not all the Year: If the Tide have brought you thus far, go with it, it may never return to fetch you off: Now is the accepted Time, now is the Day of Salvation, 2 Cor. 6.2. Not to morrow: O quench not the Spirit, 1 Theſ. 5.19 that would ſet you on a Fire for God: Think you thus, I have ſitten out many a day of Grace, loſt many a golden Seaſon, 'tis infinite mercy God is ſtill calling: if I loſe this, I may never have more; yea, I may be in Hell before another Sermon; yea, before Morning: O that I could know the Day of my Viſitation, Luk. 19.4. O that now at laſt, my Soul were effectually changed!
6. Get thy Heart affected with thy Sin and Miſery, by nature and practice: look on thy ſelf as dead in Treſpaſſes and Sins, and ſo uncapable of quickening thy ſelf. Alas, my Praying, Reading, hearing, Reforming, will never do the cure or effect the End: I am ſunk far below the poſſibility of humane or angelical help; Means muſt be uſed, but Means muſt not be reſted in, they cannot effect the End: nay, alas, I am without strength, Rom. 5.6. and can do nothing, In me, that is, in my fleſh, dwells no good thing, Rom. 7.18. I am a miſerable Leper, full of wounds, bruiſes, putrified ſores, Iſa. 1.5. Wo is me, I am defiled in Adam, and actually polluted; I am a Sink, a Sty, a Dunghill of Sin, a lump of Sin, averſe to all good, propenſe to all Evil: I am in the gall of bitterneſs, and bonds of Iniquity, Act. 8.23. Satan is leading me Hellwards I muſt be chang'd or damn'd: for ought I know I ſtand tottering over the brink of Eternal Miſery; I hang by the ſmall Thread of my natural Life over everlaſting Burnings: my caſe is worſe then the Beaſts, that are not capable of moral Evil, or pain; Acts 3.18. I am already condemned, and waiting for the execution of the righteous Sentence: in a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation, Heb. 10.27. Another Step may ſet me paſt hope for any thing that I know. This night, Luk. 12.20. may Devils require my Soul, and hurry it into the Infernal Lake. O what will become of me! whither am I going: Lord awake my ſleepy Conſcience, to ſee my danger, that I may haſte out of the Sodom of Fire and Brimſtone to the Mountain: God forbid I ſhould ſtay another day in my unregenerate State.
7. Learn to know and improve Jeſus Chriſt, The Life of Holineſs as well as Righteouſneſs is in him: I am crucified with Chriſt, nevertheleſs I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me, Gal. 2.20. There's no Spiritual Life, but what is derived from Chriſt, who ſaith, Becauſe I live, you ſhall live alſo, John 14.19. Sinners are dead: the nearer they come to Chriſt, the more hope of Life: as the nearer to the Sun, the more light: we only come to have the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Cor. 4.6. Nothing doth ſo transform a Sinner, as looking on God through Chriſt: the VVoman had vertue from him, that did but touch the Hem of Chriſt's Garment: none are Branches of this Vine, but they have Life and Fruitfulneſs, John 5.5. All that are grafted in this Olive, partake of the root and fatneſs of that Olive-tree, Rom. 11.17. Labour after Faith and Love; Faith unites the Soul to Chriſt, for he dwells in our hearts by faith, Eph. 3.17. Love doth aſſimilate the Soul to God: and the more we are like to God, the more of his Image we have. Faith is the radical ligament of a Soul to Chriſt: Love is a voluntary mover of the Soul to Chriſt: Faith is the receiver, Love the worker: Faith worketh by love, Gal. 5.6. and both are abſolutely neceſſary to the New Creature: Chriſt is the Image of God, and the New Creature is the Image of Chriſt; and ſo of God: Love ſees all good in God-enjoyment as its End, and in conformity to him as its means to attain that End. Faith unites the Soul to God myſtically, Love morally: there can be no New Creature without both theſe; therefore to believe in God, and to love God, are both the only means to be like God, and therein conſiſts the New Creature: …erefore ſtudy theſe, or you'l never be New Creatures.
8. Get divorced from Sin and Sinners: you may and must amend your ways, Jer. 1.3. if you cannot mend your Hearts: Ceaſe to do evil, learn to do well, Iſal. 1.16. Let the wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and return to the Lord, Iſal. 55.7. Be no more ſlaves to your Luſts, which are as Cords to hold you in the Devil's Service, and drag you down H…llwards, Prov. 5.22. This day give an everlaſting Farewell to Sin: Say to every Idol, Get thee hence; what have I any more to do with …ols, Iſa. 30.22. Hoſ. 14.8. If you cannot ſt… up Sin by the Roots, yet be ſure to cut off its I…ches; its true, this is not enough, but this is ſo…ething, and who knows what it may tend to, …nd end in? Departing from iniquity, 2 Tim. 2.…. is one part of the New Creature: however, you cannot find Mercy, except you forſake as well as confeſs Sin, Prov. 28.13. Spare but one Sin, and God will not ſpare thee: turn from all Sins, and you ſhall live, Ezek. 18.21. If you fall out with Sin, there is ſome hopes; and then away with Sinners, forſake the fooliſh and live, Prov. 9.6. But a Companion of Fools ſhall be deſtroyed, Prov. 13.20. There's no hopes of that Man that delights in vain Company: how many have been jear'd or alur'd from hopeful beginnings by looſe Companions if ever God begin this New Work upon you, this will be the firſt Evidence of it; yea, and this is a ſingular help to it, changing your Companions, running from the Tents of the Wicked into the Society of the Godly: I recommend this in a ſpecial manner to all Perſons, young and old, and deſire you to read and ſtudy Prov. 1.10, to 18. 2.12.20. 4.14.18. 2 Cor. 6.17. Be ſure you joyn with Chriſtian Society, open your Caſes to them; beg their Counſel and Prayers: Company is aſſimilating, Sin is infectious, Holineſs imitable: Let Communion of Saints be in your Practice as well as in your Creed: New Society is a Sign and Means of new Hearts: I deſpair of your being New Creatures in Old Company.
9. Enter into a Solemn Covenant with the Lord, by taking God as your chiefeſt Good and utmoſt End, and by making a Deed of Gift of your ſelves entirely to the Lord. I ſhall not much need to inlarge upon this, having treated on it fully elſewhere, only as its ſubſervient to this deſign: Enter into an Oath, and ſwear the Lord liveth, Jer. 4.2. Deut. 26. and avouch him to be yours. Do this underſtandingly, ſolemnly, reſolutely, deliberately: Set ſome time apart, ſet God before thine Eyes, make him witneſs of the ſingleneſs of thy Heart, that thou takeſt God the Father, to love him, truſt in him, depend on him, reſign up all to him: God the Son, as Prophet, Prieſt, King, to be led by him, juſtified, and ruled by his Laws: God the Holy Ghoſt to be enlightned, to be fanctified, comforted by him: and when thou haſt thus taken God for thy God, and devoted thy ſelf to him, Soul and Body, thou mayſt expect and hope that the Lord will dwell in thee, as in his Temple, his Houſe; cleanſe thee from Filthineſs, adorn thee with Graces, enable thee for his Service, that all the Perſons of the Sacred Trinity will take up their lodging and reſidence in thy Soul, that you may henceforth be an Habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph. 2.20, 21, 22. This imports the New Creature we are ſpeaking of, and this is the way to obtain it, To give up your ſelves to the Lord, 2 Cor. 8.5. To be ordered according to his pleaſure, for his glory, that he may be glorified both in Soul and Body, which are his, 1 Cor. 6.19, 20. If thou voluntarily ſubſcribe to the Equity of his Articles, taking him with all the Sufferings attending the ways of Religion, and yieldeſt up thy whole Intereſt to his diſpoſe, hating the Sins that he forbids, practiſing the Duties that God commands, walking in all the Ways of his appointment, in his Worſhip and Ordinances: this, this is a coming up to the terms of the Covenant of Grace, and then thou ſhalt have the Graces and Privileges of that Covenant, which comprehends this New Creation.
10. Down on thy Knees, and beg this New Creature at the Hands of God: ſay as David, Create in me a clean Heart, Oh God, and renew a right Spirit within me, Pſal. 51.10. Say, Lord I am quite marred in the Old Adam, and I cannot help my ſelf, Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one: but thou haſt promiſed in the Goſpel, to make all things new, and in the New Covenant thou promiſeſt a new heart, Ezek. 36.6. This is the great Mercy, O Lord, I want, and wait for, and I ask thee nothing but what I have under thine own Hand in the Promiſe: Oh that I were partaker of it! yea, thou haſt promiſed to give thy holy ſpirit to them that ask it, Luke 11.13. Now thy Spirit can ſanctifie Hearts, as Lightning cleanſeth the Air, as Fire refines Metals: Lord, ſeal up my Soul with the Holy Spirit of Promiſe; ſet on me thine own Stamp, as the Seal leaves its impreſs on the Wax: Lord, I ſhall never be acceptable to thee, profitable to Men, or comfortable to my ſelf, except I be renewed and become a New Creature, I cannot without this, live to any purpoſe, and I cannot dye with any comfort.
Objection. But God heareth not Sinners, their Prayers are abomination.
Anſw. If you be reſolved to go on in a courſe of Sinning, or pray to gratifie a Luſt, as a Thief for a Prize, you and your Prayers are abominable: but if you be repenting: returning Sinners, and pray for Grace, Pardon, God will pity you, and who knows but he may meet you in Mercy, as he did the returning Prodigal, Luk. 15.20. Repent then, and pray God, if perhaps the thoughts of thy Heart may be forgiven thee, Acts 8.22. Thou art undone, if thou give over Praying: many have ſped well at his Door, and ſo mayſt thou; ſtill ask, ſeek and knock!