A New Creature, Discourse · Chapter 4
Chap. IV. Wherein the New Creature is available to Souls.
THe third main Head in the Doctrinal part, is to demonſtrate, wherein this New Creature is only and every way available to the Souls of men.
And here, leſt I be miſtaken, I muſt premiſe duplicate page duplicate page two Caveats by way of exception; the firſt refers to the Kind; the ſecond, to the End of this availableneſs.
1. For the Kind, we muſt beware how we put the New Creature in the room of Chriſt: it is not ſo available as our bleſſed Lord Jeſus is, who is the only Foundation, on which the Church is built, 1 Cor. 3.10. And able to ſave to the uttermoſt, Heb. 7.25. No Creature muſt be ſet up in competition with him, for there's no Salvation in any other, Acts 4.12. And herein I am afraid the Quakers are guilty of a groſs Hereſie, who call us from a Chriſt without us, to a Chriſt within us: yea, it hath been a diſpute in the Plantation, called Penſilvania, whether we muſt believe only in a Chriſt within us, or a Chriſt both within and without us, and it was carried moſtly in the former Sence: But let no man be drawn from placing his intire confidence in Chriſt the Son of God, both God and Man in one Perſon, who ſuffered Death on the Croſs, to make attonement for Sinners, and now ſits on the right hand of God to make interceſſion for us. 2. If by a Chriſt within, they mean that called Light within, either Free will or Natural Conſcience, or a power to help our ſelves without ſpecial Grace, its an exploded Error, and it's to be feared, the Jeſuits deliver their Popiſh ſtuff out of theſe mens Mouths with refined Language. 3. If by Chriſt within, be meant Chriſt's Perſon in the Believer, that he is Chriſted or Goded, 'tis blaſphemy. 4. If by this expreſſion, Chriſt within us, the hope of glory, Col. 1.27. or Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith, Eph. 3.17. It is as the Sun is in the Houſe, when the Beams or Rays thereof ſhine into it: So Chriſt dwells in Souls by his Spirit, Rom. 8.9. and its Graces; and this is that which is called the New Creature, and this is but a Creature, and a weak one, full of imperfections; its a Vein of Gold embaſed with Earth and droſs, not to be truſted to: The Bride may highly prize her Husband's Picture, if like him, and drawn by his Hand; but it is ridiculous to dote on that, and ſlight her Husband; and when ſhe wants Money or Clothes, to go not to her Husband for them, but to his Picture: Surely, our Lord will not take it well, if men honour his Image, to the diſhonour of his Perſon: the Original is one thing, the Copy is another: Chriſt the object of our Faith and Grace, and the Fruit of his Spirit are different: Grace in the Heart is not ſo available as Chriſt in Heaven. Let every thing have its due place.
2. That which refers to the End, is this Negative, that the New Creature is not ordained to have a direct tendency to the juſtification of a Sinner; God did not appoint it for that End: That is Faith in Chriſt, Rom. 3.20, 21, 22. in his Blood, Merits and Satisfaction to Divine Juſtice, apprehended by Faith alone: And this excludes not only Man's merits, but any gracious Habits wrought in man, or good Works done by man; nay, it alſo excludes Faith it ſelf as the work of man, any otherwiſe then as laying hold on Chriſt's Righteouſneſs. But this I affirm that this New Creature, or the beſt Inherent Righteouſneſs cannot juſtifie a Sinner before God's Tribunal: For a Man is not juſtified by the works of the Law, but by the Faith of Jeſus Chriſt, Gal. 2.16. And leſt any ſhould ſay, it was by the Works only of the Ceremonial Law, its apparent the Apoſtle includes the Moral Law, that obſervance thereof cannot juſtifie; for the Gentiles were never bound to the Ceremonial Law, yet he proves both Jews and Gentiles to be both under ſin, Rom. 3.9.-2.28, 30. and both alike juſtified by Chriſt in the way of believing: But where there is no Law, there is no Tranſgreſſion, Rom. 4.15. Beſides, that Law that ſhews Sin, is the moral Law; For by the Law is the knowledge of ſin, Rom. 3.20. And 'tis that Law that drives us out of Self to Chriſt, and therefore it can never juſtifie us: God hath nailed up that Door, that none ſince the Fall, can enter into Happineſs by Law-Righteouſneſs; This way to Heaven, is like the Northern Paſſage to the Indies, whoever attempts it, is ſure to be frozen up before he gets half way thither.
Obj. But if a legal Righteouſneſs by our own ſtrength will not juſtifie a Sinner, yet this New Creature, or the habit or exerciſe of Evangelical Righteouſneſs will ſurely juſtifie?
The Apoſtle himſelf Anſwers, No; and he inſtanceth in two famous Saints in the Old-Teſtament, the one is Abraham, the other David, Rom. 4.1, 6 Faithful, Holy Abraham, though no Idolater, but circumciſed, offering his Son, muſt not glory in any Habit or Acts of Grace. And David, though a Man after God's own Heart, yet ſaith, Enter not into judgment with thy ſervant, for in thy ſight ſhall no man living be juſtified, Pſal. 143.2. If the Lord mark iniquity, who can ſtand? Pſal. 130.3. Holy Paul dare not ſtand in his own Righteouſneſs at God's Bar, but in the Righteouſneſs, which is of God by Faith, Phil. 3.7.8, 9. Indeed this imparted or inherent Holineſs, was infuſed into the Soul for other Ends than to juſtifie a Sinner before God from the guilt of any one Sin: and yet this New Creature is very available to the Souls of men in theſe 12 caſes.
1. This New Creature rectifies the Soul's Faculties, that were marred by Adam's Fall: The former Structure, though once a famous Edifice; by the Fall was not only tottering, but a ruinous Houſe, and lies in Rubbiſh; this New Creation re-edifies it in a more ſtately ſumptuous manner: yea, it is richly adorned thereby, Prov. 1.9. They ſhall be an Ornament of Grace unto thy Head, and Chains about thy Neck, Prov. 12.26. ch. 17.27. Thereby the Chriſtian is more excellent then his Neighbour, and of an excellent Spirit, more excellent then himſelf was; he is by this become like the Angels, yea, like God himſelf: and though he be ſhort of Adam in the degree of Grace; yet upon better terms, in point of duration: and now great Grace is upon all true Believers, Acts 4.33. Man by his Fall became like the Beaſts that periſh, Pſal. 49.12. But this New Creature makes him better then other men. All men are level as to God, till this New Creation ſets a divine Stamp on ſome: The tongue of the Juſt is as choice Silver, but the heart of the wicked is little worth, Prov. 10.20. God only hath Soveraignty and Authority, to rate his Creatures: this is the Eſtimate he ſets on his.
2. This New Creature is the fruit and Evidence of Electing-Love; this is the legible print of God's Heart from Eternity: He hath choſen us, Eph. 1.4. that we ſhould be holy: This is the proper product of free undeſerved Grace, Gal. 1.15. God calls by his Grace; This is the glorious diſplay of his Banner of Love over Souls. In the Old Creation there was the ſtrength of God's Arm; in this there is the working of God's Bowels: God found all mankind alike involved in Sin and Miſery, but Grace makes ſome to differ from others, 1 Cor. 46.7. As a curious workman ſeeing a Forreſt overgrowing his Ground, marks ſome Trees, deſigning to make of them ſome rare pieces of workmanſhip; thus God carves his own Image on a common Log, and ſets it apart for himſelf; this is an act of diſcriminating Love, and when the Sinner ſees it, he muſt cry out, Who am I, O Lord God, that thou haſt brought me hitherto? 2 Sam. 7.18. By the Grace of God I am what I am, 1 Cor. 5.10. This, this is a ſhedding abroad his love in my Heart, Rom. 5.5. I read Love in every Line and Letter of this new Impreſſion: and doth not this avail a Soul much?
3. This New Creation conſecrates the Soul to be a receptacle for God, and renders the Perſon acceptable to him: God dwells in the humble and holy Heart, Iſa. 57.15. There only he takes up his lodging, when he hath perfumed the Heart with Mirrh and Frankincenſe, Cant. 3.6. He lays himſelf in that ſweet Bed: Having builded this Manſion-Houſe, it becomes an habitation of God through the Spirit: a Temple of the Holy Ghoſt, Epheſ. 2.22.1 Cor. 6.17, 19. God hath two Thrones in Heaven, and in an Holy Heart: The Soul and Body is a Sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, Rom. 12.1. Happy Soul, that is thus owned by the Great God: no matter if men reject you, if God accept you: if men deſert you, yet if God poſſeſs you, you are are happy: when God caſts out the Devil's baggage, and ſaith, This is my Reſt for ever, here will I dwell, for I have deſired it, Pſal. 132.14, 15. No bad Houſe will be kept there where God dwells, for he makes all welcome; this is available.
4. The firſt inſtant of this New Creation, commenceth a Communion with God; this is a conſequence of the former, and the peculiar privilege of a Saint, Truly, our fellowſhip is with the Father, and with his Son, 1 John 1.3. This communion with God, is a myſtery to moſt men. Every one that hangs about the Court, doth not ſpeak with the King: many meddle with Duties, but meet not with God: It is good for me to draw night to God, Pſal. 73.28. How oft doth the Chriſtian cry out, Oh when ſhall I come and appear before God? Pſal. 63.2. This New Creature puts a Biaſs in the Soul God-wards, it naturally mounts the Soul upwards, to ingage his heart in approaching to God, Jer. 30.21. And the Lord meets him that rejoyceth and worketh Righteouſneſs, Iſa. 64. Birds cannot converſe with Men, there's not a ſuitableneſs of Nature; an Hypocrite cannot, dare not come before God, Job 13.16. But a Saint dare draw near with boldneſs through Chriſt; for he is like God, and [communio fundatur in Similitudine] Communion is founded in Similitude.
5. This New Creature evidenceth a Soul's intereſt in Chriſt, and his union to him; yea, puts the poor Believer in a capacity of ſucking Influence from him, as the Child in the Womb draws nouriſhment from the Mother's Navel; this Churches Navel never wanteth Liquor, Cant. 7.2. It is this New Creature that evidenceth our intereſt in Chriſt: If any man be in Chriſt, he is a New Creature, 2 Cor. 5.17. This was one End of our Lord's giving himſelf for us, to purchaſe to himſelf a peculiar People, Tit. 2.14. Chriſt's Croſs was both an Altar and a Laver, to expiate, and to purge, to ſanctifie and juſtifie: you ſhall find continual ſupplies of Grace from Chriſt, and of his fulneſs receive grace for grace, John 1.16. The New Creature hath a conſtant Spring to feed it, to recruit it in its decays, God ſtill ſaith, My Grace ſhall be ſufficient for thee, 2 Cor. 12.9. So he becomes indefectible, the New Creature needs not to fear famiſhing, having theſe Breaſts of Conſolation to ſuck, Iſa. 66.11. and as a Storehouſe to go to; ſo ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Pet. 5.10. The God of all Grace, who hath called us into his eternal glory by Chriſt Jeſus, after that ye have ſuffered a while, make you perfect, ſtabliſh, ſtrengthen, ſettle you: Surely then this New Creature avails much.
6. The New Creature is the inlet to true Joy, Peace, Satisfaction; though in its firſt Infancy, there be a caſting down, yet it is in order to a lifting up: Light is ſown for the Righteous, Pſal. 97.11. It may for a ſeaſon lie in the Furrows of Goſpel-ſorrow: They that ſow in tears, ſhall reap in joy, Pſal. 126.5, 6. Juſt like the Pangs of a Child-bearing Woman, that end in comfort, John 16.21. The Kingdom of God is righteouſneſs, peace, and joy in the holy ghoſt: Rom. 14.17. all Joy comes in at this Door: that's but a Baſtard, yea, diabolical Peace, that is not a Companion of the New Creature; when a ſtrong man armed keepeth the Palace, his goods are in peace, Luke 11.21, 22. The Palace is the Heart, the Goods are the Soul's faculties; the Strong Man is the Devil: the Soul hath never quiet day in God's way, till Satan be diſpoſſeſſed, and a rightful Lord introduced, that is, our Lord Jeſus. Its true, there are oft Furrows in the Face of the new Creature, but they are for Sin, and for want of the Sence of its inbeing; but in God's time, he will rejoyce with joy unſpeakable and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1.8. Yea, ſorrowful Sufferings will at laſt yield the peaceable fruits of Righteouſneſs, Heb. 12.11. And is this worth nothing?
7. This New Creature hath all things profitable entailed upon it: Godlineſs is profitable to all things: yea, Godlineſs with contentment, is great gain, 1. Tim. 4.8-6.6. All the good things of Heaven and Earth, are made ſure by Covenanttitle to this New Creature: All things are yours, ſaith God, 1 Cor. 3.21. Every thing turns to advantage: the Chriſtian is the true Chymiſt, to extract Gold out of every thing: All things work together for good to him, Rom. 8.28. though not ſingly, yet joyntly, in compoſition with other Ingredients; he gains to this New Man by outward Loſſes: Every Mercy, Ordinance, Providence, Affliction, is a Talent by which he is a gainer, Mat. 25.27. If he fight with Satan, he gets Ground at laſt. In petty Skirmiſhes the Carthaginians got ſome ſmall Victories, but the Romans came off Conquerors at laſt. So the Godly Soul may receive ſome Foils, but at laſt he ſhall be more than a Conqueror, yea, a triumpher through the Captain of his Salvation, Rom. 3.37.
8. The New Creature renders the Perſon that hath it, ſafe, in a ſafe condition. He that dwelleth in the ſecret place of the Moſt High, ſhall abide under the ſhadow of the Almighty, Pſal. 91.1. The Holy Angels are a royal Guard to theſe New-born Babes of Salvation, Heb. 1.14. Many are the dangers the New Creature is expoſed to, but one Angel is as a whole Camp, to incompaſs and deliver God-fearing Souls, Pſal. 34.7-6.18. But the God of Angels is nigh to them, and ſaves them: in Spirituals God will ſecure them from Seduction, and the evil of Temptation. It is not poſſible that the Elect ſhall be finally and damnably ſeduced, Mat. 24.24. for Grace eſtabliſheth the Heart; and they that are of us, ſhall no doubt continue with us, Heb. 13.9. They ſhall be kept by his mighty power, through Faith to Salvation, 1 John 2.19. 1 Pet. 1.5. And we know that theſe Souls that are born of God, are ſo kept, that the wicked One toucheth them not, 1 John 5.18. God will keep them, that they ſhall not be tempted above what they are able, 1 Cor. 10.13. God will furniſh his Child with Armour of proof againſt Satan's aſſaults; this Breaſt-plate may be ſhot at, but never ſhot through; the Chriſtians Bow abides in ſtrength, and he ſtands as a Rock in the midſt of Waves, Rev. 3.8, 9, 10. He can neither be ſtormed nor undermined, if the Saints have but a little ſtrength, yet it ſhall be laſting, yea, everlaſting.
9. The New Creature makes Chriſtians that poſſeſs it, uſeful and profitable to all about them: It is natural for this New Creature to propagate its kind; as Sin, ſo Grace is aſſimilating: how ſollicitous was the Church for her little Siſter that had no Breaſts, when ſhe ſhould be ſpoken for, Cant. 8.8. How did the bleſſed Apoſtle Paul pant after the Converſion of his Countrymen the Jews, Rom. 9.1.-10.1. The Godly Soul labours to do good to all about him, both good and bad: He would fain pluck Sinners out of the Fire of Hell, Jude 22. and ingage them for Heaven: and he ſpurs on his Brethren in Heaven's-Road, by Counſels, Admonitions, Prayers, Example, and all holy Exerciſes in Chriſtian Communion: yea, this New Creature where ever it is, makes ſuch the Pillars of the Place and Nation, where they live: Ten Righteous Perſons might have ſaved Sodom, Gen. 18.19, 22. And Lot's preſence there, bound the Angels Hands till he was gone: the Godly Soul ſhall never know while he lives, what uſe he was of in the world: Every Godly Soul is a fruitful Tree, that brings forth Fruit in due ſeaſon, yea, in old age, Pſal. 1.3.-92.14.
10. This New Creature fits Souls for Goſpel-Privileges; it is only the New Creature that is a Veſſel qualify'd to receive the new Wine of the Goſpel, Mat. 9.16, 17. In the Goſpel all things are new, Rev. 21.5. There's a New Name, Rev. 3.12. New Church, Jeruſalem, Rev. 21.1. New Way, Heb. 10.19. New Covenant, Heb. 8.10. A New Commandment, John 13.32. New Sacraments, Matth. 26.26-28.19. New Relation, 1 Pet. 2.9. A New Condition, 2 Pet. 3.13. And a New Song, Rev. 14.3. Yea, New Heavens, and a New Earth. And ſurely it is very fit that Chriſtians ſhould have New Hearts, which God promiſeth in the New Covenant, Ezek. 36.26. A new heart will I give you, and a new ſpirit will I put within you. New Qualifications fit Perſons for new Diſpenſations; therefore God joyns the new Heavens, and new Earth with the new Seed, Iſa. 66.22. elſe there would be a great Inconſiſtency: New Palates will find ſweetneſs in this new Meat and new Wine, elſe it will be loſt upon them.
11. The New Creature fits Perſons for Death and Heaven: To theſe to live is Chriſt, and to dye gain, Phil. 1.21. Living and Dying, theſe are the Lord's, Rom. 14. Its this that renders Perſons meet for that heavenly Inheritance, Col. 1.12. No Eyes can ſee God, but of thoſe that are pure in Heart, Mat. 5.8. Theſe, and only theſe, are wrought for this ſelf-ſame thing, 2 Cor. 5.5. Heaven is not like Noah's Ark, that had clean and unclean Creatures brought into it: Without Holineſs no man ſhall ſee the Lord, Heb. 12.14. Frogs came into Pharoah's Court; but no unclean thing can enter Heaven, Rev. 21.9. A ſenſual Pallate cannot taſte the ſweetneſs of that Wine in our Father's Kingdom, Matth. 26.29. For its New Wine, and renewed Souls are capable of taking pleaſure in it: O happy Soul, that hath got Chriſt in the Arms of his Faith, and in his Heart by this New Nature, he may lift up his Head, and ſay with Simeon, Now, Lord, letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in Peace, according to thy Word, for mine Eyes have ſeen thy Salvation, Luk. 2.29, 30. And is not this available to Souls?
12. Yea this New Creature is Heaven begun: it is a conſiderable part of Heaven; Holineſs is a conſiderable Happineſs; its the Seed and Embryo of that heavenly ſtate: Grace and Glory as they are joyned in a bleſſed connexion, Pſal. 84.10. So they differ but in degree, not in Specie; Grace is Glory begun, Glory is Grace conſummated; Grace is the Bud, Glory is the Flower: this New Creature is the Key of Paradiſe, the inlet into Glory: yea, it is Salvation already, 2 Tim. 1.9. Who hath ſaved us and called us. This bleſſed work of the New Creature is a quickning together with Chriſt, and raiſeth us up together, and makes us ſit together in heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus: And thus we are ſaved in our Repreſentative, Eph. 2.5, 6, 7. yea, this Divine Principle is an Heaven begun, not only as a Pledge, but part of it. The Scripture often tells us, that God's Children have Eternal Life, John 17.3. And this is, 1. [in precio] in price, for it is a purchaſed Poſſeſſion, Eph. 1.14.2. [in promiſſo] in promiſe, for God hath promiſed Eternal Life to all that obey him, Heb. 5.9.3. [in ſemine] in Seed, this Water within the Believer, is a Well ſpringing up to Eternal Life, John 4.14.4. [in pignore] in pledge and pawn, this is called ſometimes the Seal of the holy ſpirit, Eph. 1.13, 14. Sometimes the Earneſt, which is part of the thing to be enjoyed. Sometimes the Witneſs of the Spirit, which never bears its teſtimony to a Lye, 1 John 5.10. He that believeth in th… Son of God, hath the witneſs in himſelf; for th… holy ſpirit beareth witneſs with our Spirits, Rom… 8.16. And in theſe reſpects the New Creature is available in ſuch a manner, as no externa… Goſpel-privileges, or worldly enjoyments are to the Children of men. Thus much for the third Head.