A New Creature, Discourse · Chapter 5
Chap. V. Some Inferences by way of Queſtion a… Anſwer from the Premiſes.
FOr the Practical Improvement of this gre… Truth, I ſhall keep cloſe to the Meth… which the Holy Ghoſt preſcribes in all Truth… 2 Tim. 3.16. All Scripture is given by Inſpirat… of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Repro… for Correction, for Inſtruction in Righteouſne… Theſe are the Uſes I ſhall make of this point.
1. Doctrine, or Information of the Judgme… that our Minds may be informed in points fit … be known.
Now there may be inquiry into Seven Poin… about this Doctrine of the New Creature, whi… I ſhall reduce to Queſtion and Anſwer.
1. Queſt. Whether is the framing of this N… …reature in the Soul miraculous? The Reaſon of this Queſtion, is becauſe we have compared it to, yea, …ewed a precedency above the firſt Creation, which was a Miracle, therefore it ſhould ſeem that this alſo muſt be ſo.
Anſw. 1. Some things are Miracles, yet not … Creation; as Stephen ſeeing Jeſus at God's Right hand, Acts 7. Or barren Sarah's concei…ing, Gen. 2 1. or the Sun's going back, or ſtanding ſtill, Iſa. 38. For then Nature is only ex…ended. 2. Some things both a Miracle and a Creation, as the Virgin Mary's conceiving, and …earing a Son, yet remaining a Virgin, Luke 1.…5. Manna was both a Miracle and a Creation, Exod. 16.22.3. Some things ſeem a Miracle, as an Eclipſe of the Sun, ſeems a Mi…acle to ignorant People, but Mathematicians now the Cauſe. 4. Some things are a Creation, yet not a Miracle, as the Converſion of a …oul, the ſubject is a rational Soul, and ſo ca…ble of a Principle of Grace, and had once …od's Image; but its loſt, and is recovered by … Spiritual Creation, of that which Man had …ſt by his fall and folly; and ſo 'tis called.
2. Queſt. Whether is there any Inclination in …an towards this New Creation? Or whether there … any Spark of Good left in man upon his fall, that …ing improved by his Natural Faculties, and dili…nce may grow up to a New Creature? For it may …m there is in man a Natural Conſcience, prompting …n to good, excuſing him in doing it, drawing him …m Evil, and accuſing him upon the committing it; … Rom. 2.14, 15.
Anſw. 1. Thoſe [foreign or foreign as Grecians call them] common notices, or An… ticipations of Good, are not in the Will, but … the Mind; not in the Affections, but Conſcience, [nec vero cordis nomen pro ſede affectuum, ſe… tantum pro intellectu capitur, Calv. in loc.] It was not ingraven in their Will to chuſe it, but the power of ſome Truths flaſhed in their Eyes, tha… they could not but know them, and have ſo… general liking of them: ſo they could not b… know that Adultery and Stealing are naught… the contrary, good. 2. But whether theſe we… left in man's Heart after the Fall, as Relicks … God's Image, or introduced by God's Providence afterwards for the good of mankind, a… to maintain Peace and Intercourſe in Societi… is much diſputed: Mr. Capel of Tempt. thin… the latter. However, 3. All our Proteſt… Writers affirm, with the Scriptures, that Ma… Nature is univerſally depraved, againſt … Socinians, that hold the Nature of Man is … corrupted, but ſay, whatſoever Spot or Vic… in Man, proceeds from frequent Acts of S… and Cuſtom in Sinning, without the inter… corruption of his Nature. But the Script… tell us of Man's total degeneracy: In me, ſa… Paul, i. e. in my Fleſh dwells no good thing, Ro… 7.18. Our mind and conſcience is defiled, Tit. 1.… There is none righteous, no not one, of all the race Mankind, Rom. 3.9, 10. And therefore ne… a Sanctification throughout, in Soul, Spirit, and B… 1 Theſ 5.23. Yea, 4. There's an utter im… tency in Man to renew himſelf, Rom. 5.6. … we are all without ſtrength, cannot think a g… thought, 1 Cor. 3.4. Yea, dead in Treſpaſſes and Sins, Eph. 2.1. And are meer Paſſives in the firſt Infuſion of Spiritual Life: [Subjectum dei actionem ſuſcipens] a Subject capable of divine operations; but in the power of Darkneſs, lead captive by Satan at his pleaſure, Col. 1.13. Yea, The Carnal Mind is enmity to God, 1 Tim. 2.26. God works both to will, and to do, of his good pleaſure, Rom. 8.7. [ut velimus, in nobis ſine nobis operatur, Aug.]
3. Queſt. Why then doth God and Man call upon us to turn our ſelves, yea, to make us a new heart and a new ſpirit, Ezek. 18.31. if this be not in our power? Doth he not mock us, when he calls us to do that which he knows it is impoſſible for us to do?
Anſw. No; for, 1st. It was once in our power to do good by his Donation, and if we have loſt it by our own Folly, and cannot do what he requires, we muſt hereby know that God hath not loſt his Authority to command, becauſe we have loſt our Ability to obey: He will let us know his Soveraignty. But, 2dly. God knows Man is a proud Creature, and thinks he can do what he cannot: And now God commands to convince him of his inſufficiency, that he may look uy to God for help. Yet, 3dly. Though Man hath loſt the Rectitude of his Faculties, he hath not loſt his Faculties: he hath a Rational Soul, if he have not Spiritual Grace. Though carnal Perſons be morally dead, yet they are naturally alive: Men have a ſelf-reflecting Conſcience, which they may, and muſt uſe, It is the Candle of the Lord, ſearching all the inward parts of the Belly, Prov. 20.27. 4thly. It was the ſaying of Auguſtin, Twelve Hundred Year… ago, He that made thee without thee, will not ſave thee without thee. If thou be not an Efficient in thy own Converſion, thou mayſt and muſt be an Inſtrument in thy Salvation: thou art bound to work out thy own Salvation, Phil. 2.12.
4. Queſt. What is a Man better for his endeavours unleſs God give him the Grace of this New Creature? All that he can do, will be to no purpoſe, nothing can be pleaſing to God, or available to himſelf in his natural ſtate; For without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God? Heb. 11.6.
Anſw. 1. Though carnal men cannot do what God requires in a due manner, yet God hath ſome reſpect to ſuch as for the matter do ſomething of their Duty; God took notice of Ahab's humiliation, and promiſeth not to bring the Evil in his days, 1 King. 21.27, 29. Jehoahax… wa… none of the beſt Kings, Yet when he beſought the Lord, he hearkned to him, 2 King. 13.4. And upon Rehoboam's humiliation, the Lord conſiderably remitted of his puniſhment, 2 Chron. 12.6, 7. And is not a relaxation or removal of outward puniſhment of ſome worth with you? Yea, though the young Gentleman's obedience was but poor ſtuff, and he in his natural ſtate, yet Jeſus beholding him, loved him; ſee Mark 10.20, 21. Is this nothing?
2. However, ſuch as frame not their Hearts and Doings to turn to God, and through ſloth or wilfulneſs, neglect God's appointed Means of becoming New Creatures; do, Firſt, evidently declare themſelves to be cauſes of their own damnation; Secondly, render themſelves daily worſe and worſe, and grow more unable to repent, 2 Tim. 3.13. Thirdly, provoke God to give them up to their own Hearts Luſts, Pſal. 8.10, 11. Fourthly, make themſelves manifold more the Children of Wrath, Matth. 25.15. Are more inexcuſable, and ſink themſelves deeper in Hell: And is this any way deſirable?
3. But though ſuch poor Souls cannot with all their endeavours, make themſelves New Creatures; yet we may ſay of ſuch, as our Lord ſaid of the Scribe, Mark 12.33, 34. When he ſaw that he anſwered diſcreetly, Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God. You are in an hopeful way to Heaven, while you are endeavouring in the uſe of God's appointed means.
4. And who can tell what theſe Labours will produce? Its true, thou canſt not deſerve Grace [ex congruo] to challenge it of Debt for the work done; nor can I ſay that Grace is due to thee by any Promiſe; for all the Promiſes of God are made in Chriſt, 2 Cor. 1.20. But I have ſomething yet to ſay for thy Encouragement: For, 1ſt. thou haſt to deal with a God of infinite Goodneſs, that hath Sworn he delights not in the death of a Sinner, Exod. 34.7. Ezek. 33.11. And who knows what he may do for thee? 2dly. God hath yet ſpared thy Life, and is ſending terms of Reconciliation to thee a vile Sinner, 2 Cor. 5.20. and ſtands knocking at thy Door, while thou knockeſt at his. A general Pardon is proclaimed, Mark 16.15. thou haſt no cauſe to deſpair. 3dly. Didſt thou ever meet with any that came ſad, and diſappointed from his Door? Did he ever ſay to any, Seek ye me… in vain, Iſa. 1. Nay, doth he not ſay, Thoſe that come unto me, I will in no wife cast off; John 6.37? 4thly. And doth he not ſay, Thoſe that ſeek me early, ſhall find me, Prov. 8? Doth not the Goſpel promiſe what the Law commands? God doth graciouſly undertake to do what he requires us to do; he bids you make you a new Heart; and the ſame God ſaith, I will put a new Spirit within them, Ezek. 11.19. O put him to it, and try him what he will do: the Means I ſhall ſuggeſt hereafter: This only in Anſwer to this Queſtion.
5. Queſt. Is not the New Creature begot in the Ordinance of Baptiſm, which is called the waſhing (or Laver) of Regeneration, Tit. 3.5. then we need no more?
Anſw. 1. Baptiſm (as Circumciſion of Old) is a Seal of the Righteouſneſs of Faith, Rom. 4.11. And ſupports Faith either in the Parent, or in the Child, or Party baptized, for the Promiſe is to you and to your Children, Acts 2.38. The Apoſtles baptized Believers: Now the Effect is not before the Cauſe: If they were Regenerated before, Baptiſm could not be the Cauſe of Regeneration. 2. Yet ſome have been baptized upon the Profeſſion of their Faith, that never were regenerated, as Simon Magus, who was ſtill in the gall of bitterneſs, Acts 8.13, 23. So it was but a Sign, no proper Cauſe, which would have had its certain Effect. 3. If Baptiſm were the Cauſe of Regeneration, then no unbaptized Children were regenerate, and ſo could not be ſaved, if dying in Innocency; but David believed his Child's Salvation, 2 Sam. 12.23. tho' not Circumciſed, by vertue of the Covenant. 4. It is a groundleſs Popiſh Doctrine, to think that Sacraments confer Grace, [ex opere operato] meerly becauſe uſed, that they ſtamp an indelible Character on the Party baptized, its but an External Act, and cannot reach the Heart or Conſcience, no more then Old Teſtament Rites could do, Heb. 10.1, 3. Nor is it in the power of the holieſt Miniſter on Earth, or Angel in Heaven; its God's prerogative, and he is a free Agent, 1 Pet. 1.21. to work or ſuſpend his Grace.
Object. But doth not Baptiſm now ſave?
Anſw. But it is when there's the Anſwer of a good Conſcience, and it is by the Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 1.16.-10.14. The Goſpel-preaching is the Power of God to Salvation; yet all are not ſaved by it: Faith comes by hearing, Jam. 5.3. Yet all that hear, do not believe; For who hath believed our Report? Ordinances are but Channels, not Springs of Grace; the Bleſſing upon them depends only on Soveraign Grace: how many Thouſands have gone to Hell with Baptiſmal Water on their Face! Iſhmael, Eſau, and all the Houſe of Iſrael that were uncircumciſed in Heart, Jer. 9.26. Reſt not ſatisfied with this, but ſee you be baptized with the Holy Ghoſt, and with Fire, Matth. 3.11.
6. Queſt. Wherein doth this New Creature excel ſhining morality, or the ſplendid common Graces of the Hypocrites?
Anſw. 1. In the Root or Principle, begot by a Saving change from Nature to Grace; carnal men, though they have never ſo fair a Flower, yet want the Root of the matter, John 19.27. This unſoundneſs of Heart is the Hair in the Moraliſts Pen that blurs all his fair Writing; as he ſaid of a Perſon of ſuch and ſuch Vertues [tamen est Romanus] yet he's a Leper, as was ſaid of Naaman the Syrian; ſtill graceleſs, unprincipled. 2. In the Univerſality, Zechariah and Elizabeth walked in all the Commandments of the Lord; Luk. 1.6. But of the Moraliſt and Hypocrite it may be ſaid, the Legs of the Lame are not equal: they are addicted to halting and halving: they are always partial, ſeem excellent in one Grace, but defective in another; yea, totally want what is eſſentially neceſſary to conſtitute a Saint: The Moraliſt is defective in compliance with the firſt Table of the Law, the Hypocrite with the Second: but the New Creature lies ſquare to all Commands and Duties at all times, Pſal. 106.3. The New Creature acts for a right End, God's glory and communion with him, but the Moraliſt and Hypocrite always, and in every action hath a ſquint Eye at himſelf, profit, pleaſure, honour, as Jehu and the Phariſees. 4. The New Creature always improves Jeſus Chriſt, both for aſſiſtance and acceptance, the Moraliſt and Hypocrite ſtand upon their own Legs, and think their Penny current Money with God; but the gracious Soul denys himſelf in all; his Works are wrought in God, John 3.21. He is accepted in the beloved, Eph. 1.6. In the Lord ſhall all the ſeed of Iſrael be juſtified, and ſhall glory, Iſa. 45.25.
7. Qu. Wherein lies the difference betwixt this New Creature, which conſiſts in Sanctification, and the ſtate of Juſtification? The Reaſon of this Query, is becauſe Papiſts and ſome others confound them.
Anſw. 1. The New Creature in Sanctification, is an Inherent Work done within us; A New Spirit will I put within you, Ezek. 36.26. And the Kingdom of God is within you, Luk. 17.21. And though at firſt it be immediatly infuſed by the Spirit, yet the Chriſtian is an Agent in promoting his Sanctification, 2 Cor. 7.1.1 John 3.3. they may and muſt cleanſe themſelves. But now Juſtification is a Work done without us by the Lord Chriſt, with his Father, by his Satisfaction of Divine Juſtice on the Croſs, and by his Interceſſion at God's Right Hand, we have Redemption through his Blood, the forgiveneſs of Sins, Epheſ. 1.7. The Red Lines of Chriſt's Blood, blot out the Black Lines of our Sins out of God's Debt-book; he waſheth us from our Sins in his own Blood, 1 John 1.7. Rev. 1.5. He was delivered for our Offences, and raiſed again for our Juſtification, Rom. 4.25. No other Perſon or Thing is interpoſed, no Faith it ſelf, as a Work, hath not any cauſality in this Work, its only God's free Work of Grace for Chriſt's ſake to forgive Sins.
2. The New Creature in Sanctification, is not wrought in the ſame meaſure or degree in all the Saints of God, ſome that are ſincere, come far ſhort of others; there are ſome Babes, others strong men, Heb. 5.13, 14. It's ſaid of ſome Kings of Iſrael, there was none like them, Neh. 7.2. Hananiah feared God above many: There was none like Job in the Earth, Job 1.8. So there was different products of the Seed, yet all in good Ground, Matth. 13.23. Some Chriſtians abound in Faith, Love, Humility, Patience, Knowledge, Mortification, others are defective. But Juſtification is alike to all, and upon all that believe, for there is no difference, Rom. 3.22. The meaneſt weakeſt Believer hath as large a Store as the ſtrongeſt: I write unto you little Children, becauſe your Sins are forgiven you for his Name's ſake, 1 John 2.12. They are as much juſtified as Fathers and Young Men: Mary Magdalen, the Penitent Thief, are as much juſtified as Peter: the reaſon is, becauſe they are all partakers of like precious Faith, 2 Pet. 1.1. The leaſt meaſure whereof attains its End of receiving Chriſt, as the greater; for it's Chriſt received by Faith that juſtifies: a weak Hand may receive a Gift as well as the ſtronger, though not ſo ſteaddily; but its the Gift that inricheth, not the ſtrength of the Hand.
3. The New Creature comes on by degrees, its not compleat, as it ſhall be, at the firſt inſtant; it's firſt an Embryo, Chriſt formed in the Heart, and then increaſeth with the increaſe of God, till it come to a perfect man, Col. 2.19. to the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt, Eph. 4.13. The Apoſtle thanks God for the Theſſalomans, that their Faith did grow exceedingly, 2 Theſ. 1.3. and Charity: Its like the Sun that ſhineth more and more to the perfect day, Prov. 4.18. A good Man grows ſtronger and ſtronger, Job 17.9. But now Juſtification is compleat at firſt, every whit as much at firſt ingrafting into Chriſt, as afterwards: All that believe, are juſtified from all things, Acts 13.39. No Condemnation can be laid in againſt them, Rom. 8.1. He forgiveth all treſpaſſes, blotting out the hand-writing, Col. 2.13, 14. God throughly waſheth away his Childrens blood, Ezek. 16.9. There's not a Spot to be ſeen on them, no Charge can be drawn up againſt them, Rom. 8.33.
Queſt. Why then are Chriſt's Diſciples bound to pray daily for Pardon? Matth. 6.12.
Anſw. 1. Becauſe we are daily committing new Sins, in many things we offend all, James 3.2. We miſs it in every thing: Oh, how many are our ſecret Faults, Pſal. 19.12.2. God would have us daily lie under the ſence of our former guilt, the deſert of Sin, and the worth of pardoning Grace; David was aſſured of Pardon by Nathan, 2 Sam. 12.13. yet afterwards prays for it, Pſal. 51.2. The prodigal Son confeſſeth his fault, after his Father had fallen on his Neck, Luk. 15.20, 21.3. Pardoning Grace may be clouded in the ſence and aſſurance of it, and in this reſpect the Righteouſneſs of God is revealed from Faith to Faith, Rom. 1.17. From a leſs to a ſtronger Faith. Beſides, 4. We may diſtinguiſh betwixt a juſtified State, and applications of Pardon to Souls, there is forgiveneſs with God, which muſt be daily ſued out by Faith and Prayer, Pſal. 130.4.
4. Another difference betwixt this New Creature and Juſtification, is, that the Grace of the New Creature is never perfect in this Life; the holieſt Saints have ſome Spots, and defects, who can ſay, I have made my Heart clean, Prov. 20.9. I am pure from my Sin? Eccle. 7.20. There's not a just man on Earth, that doth good, and ſinneth not, Mat. 3.14. John Baptiſt needs a New Baptiſm; all the Diſciples need their firſt waſhing, John 13. A Paul complains of a Body of Death, Rom. 7.14. Its in Heaven only that the Spirits of just men are made perfect, Heb. 12.23. Bat Juſtification is perfect; there's no Spot in the juſtified Cant. 4.7. Fair as the Moon, Cant. 6.10. [as to Sanctification] clear as the Sun [in reſpect of Juſtification] Pſal. 51.7. white as Snow, Iſa. 38.17. God deals with them, as if they had never offended, caſting their Sins behind his Back, into the depth of the Sea, Mich. 7.18. Remembers them no more, Jer. 31.34.
Object. But doth not God puniſh his for Sin?
Anſw. Thoſe are not properly Acts of Vindictive Juſtice, but Fatherly Chaſtiſements, coming from God, not as a Judge upon a Malefactor, but as an indulgent Father to his wandring and way-ward Child. Its true, Afflictions are materially the Curſe, but formally a Bleſſing, being like a Water running through the bleſſed Mineral of Covenant-Love. With reference to this Pardoning Grace, Dr. Ames Medul. p. 139.its worth noting what D. Ames obſerves, that there's fourfold Pardon; 1ſt. In God's decree and purpoſe, foreſeeing it, Gal. 3.8. 2dly. In Chriſt's undertakings, our Sins laid on him, Iſa. 53.6. 3dly. Virtually upon the Chriſtians firſt Relation to God, Rom. 8.1. 4thly. Expreſly applied upon the Believers Repentance, acting of Faith, and ſence of pardon, Rom. 5.1. And I may add, there's a Day of publick proclaiming this Pardon before the whole World, Acts 3.19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your Sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreſhing ſhall come from the preſence of the Lord.