The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 8

The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant · Religious treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 8

p. 496CHAP. VIII. God gives a new heart and a new ſpirit to his people in Covenant.

Doct. 1. THat a new heart, and a new ſpirit God will give unto all his people in Covenant [A new heart will I give you, and a new ſpirit, &c.]

SECT. I.

FOr the opening of this great and neceſſary Truth, I will ſpeak unto a few God gives a new heart and a new ſpirit to his people in Covenant. What is meant by heart and ſpirit. Heart taken diverſly.Queſtions.

Queſt. 1. What is meant by heart and spirit?

Sol. The word (heart) is taken

Sometimes Phyſically, for that noble and vital part of man, which is the ſeat of the ſoul, and life in man: Thus it is not looked on in this place. Sometimes it is taken for the ſoule of man which hath its principal reſidence in the heart: Gen. 6. 5. God ſaw that every imagination of the thoughts of mans heart was only evil continually (of mans heart (i. e.) of mans ſoul) Prov. 23. 26. My Son, give me thy heart; (i. e.) thy ſoul, thy will, thy affections; thus it is taken in this place.

Secondly, That word (Spirit) is in Scripture taken ſometimes in oppoſition Spirit how taken.to the body of man, as in Eccleſ. 12. 7. Then ſhall the duſt (i. e.) the body of man return to the earth as it was; and the ſpirit (i. e.) the ſoul ſhall return to God who gave it.

Sometime it is put in a direct diſtinction from the ſoule, as in 1 Theſ. 5. 23. I pray God that your whole ſpirit, and ſoul, and body be preſerved blameleſs, &c. Here the Spirit denotes the intellectual part, and the ſoule denotes the will and affections. And ſo I humbly conceive the word (Spirit) is taken in the Text: Namely for the mind and judgement (called the intellectual part of man) and the word (Heart) is taken for the will and affections; and by both is meant all the ſoul, the whole ſoul in all the faculties of it.

p. 4972. Queſt. What is meant by the newneſs of heart, and by the newneſs of ſpirit? What is meant by newneſs of heart. How many wa…es a thing is ſaid to be new.for this is the thing promiſed.

Sol. A thing may be ſaid to be new, either in reſpect of ſubstance, or in reſpect of qualities.

Firſt, There is a ſubſtantial newneſſe, where all the materials are ſo; as an houſe is new, and a garment is new, and a ſhip is new, being all made of new materials: under this notion God doth not give a new heart, and a new ſpirit unto his people; (i. e.) he doth not give unto them another ſoul for ſubſtance from what formerly they had; they have one and the ſame ſubſtantial ſoul ſtill, &c. all the ſame eſſential faculties of the ſoul ſtill, the ſame faculty of underſtanding, the ſame will, the ſame affections ſtill.

Secondly, There is an accidental newneſs, where the ſubſtance remaines the ſame, yet the qualities ſupervinient, or ſuper-added to the ſubſtance are new: Simile. As when a Garment is cut into a new faſhion; or a piece of Plate is melted and purged of its droſs, and made clean and pure, we call thoſe new, though not for ſubſtance, yet for qualities: Naaman was the ſame man when he was a Leper, and when he was cured, the cure was accidental. In this reſpect God gives a new heart, and a new ſpirit, (i. e.) he doth (as it were) new ſhape the heart and ſpirit; he puts into them ſuch gracious qualities which are oppoſite to the wicked or ſinful qualities in them before.

And theſe are called new, not in oppoſition to our Creation (for God made us holy and righteous) but in oppoſition to our degeneration; for by the fall we loſt all our excellencies, and corrupted our hearts, and filled them with all unrighteouſneſs, with ſinful corruptions: when God doth purge out of our hearts, and infuſeth into them the graces of his Spirit, then are our hearts ſaid to be new, and our This newneſs of heartſpirits are ſaid to be renewed. This only in the general: Now I ſhall more particularly diſcover unto you what this newneſs of heart is which God doth promiſe unto his people.Deſcribed.

It is that great and eminent change wrought in all the ſoul by the Spirit of Chriſt, infuſing a new principle of grace, which inclines and conformes the heart to the whole will of God, and oppoſeth and mortifieth all the old ſinful luſt formerly reſiding and prevailing in the heart.

There are many particulars in this deſcription which I ſhall in order unfold unto you.

Firſt, A new heart is a changed heart; Newneſs (in the very nature of it) A new heart is a changed heart.implies an alteration; for whatſoever is altogther the ſame that it was, cannot be ſaid to be new. If the heart was ignorant, and ſo remains ſtill; if it was proud, and vain, and filthy, and earthly, and ſo remaines ſtill; this heart is an old heart ſtill, there is no newneſs, becauſe no change. Newneſs of heart peremptorily implies a change of the heart; therefore it is (in Scripture) called a new birth; (Joh 3. 3. Except a man be born again.) And a quickning from the dead; (Luke 15. 24 This my ſon was dead, and is alive again.) And a turning from darkeneſs to light; (Act. 26. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.) And a transformation; (Rom. 12. 2. Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.) And a tranſlation; (2 Cor. 5. 17. Old things are paſt away, all things are become new.) And a waſhing, and a cleanſing, and a refining; 1 Cor. 6. 11. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Mal. 3. 2, 3.

Secondly, When the heart is made new, there is a great and eminent change made It is an eminent change.in it: There are three great changes of mans heart.

1. One was by ſin; when man being in honour abode not, but fell by tranſgreſſion, and became like the beaſts that periſh. This was a wofull change, like that of the apoſtatizing Angels from heaven to hell.

p. 4982. Another is by grace, wherein we are changed into the very image of God.

3. A third is by glory, when we ſhall be like God himſelf; For we ſhall ſee him as he is, 1 Joh. 3. 2.

The change which makes newneſs of heart is a great and eminent change, reckoned therefore amongſt the wonders of God, called a Creation, and a Reſurrection, and the opening of the eyes of the blind, and unstopping the ears of the deaf, Iſa. 35. 5. And looſing the tongue of the dumb. It is ſuch a change that others beholding it, ſtand amazed at, as they did when they ſaw Paul appear another man at Damaſcus from what he was at Jeruſalem, Acts 19. 21. Yea the very Angels are affected with it, and rejoyce: I ſay unto you there is joy in the preſence of the Angels of God over one ſinner that repenteth, Luke 15. 10. I call it an eminent and great change, becauſe it ſurpaſſeth all other changes which may be found in men who yet have no newneſs of heart.

There may be a change

1. From rudeneſs of life to civility of converſation.

2. From profaneneſs of walking, to formality in Religion.

3. From ignorance and blindneſs of mind to knowledge.

4. From the practice of ſin to a forbearance of ſin.

5. From quietneſs of Conſcience to perplexity and trouble of Conſcience; and yet no newneſs of heart: The change which conſtitutes a new heart, is a very deep change, it makes man to be a new creature, it doth quite alter the frame and eſtate of a mans heart and Spirit.

It is a change in the ſoul.Thirdly, When the heart is made new, there is a change made in the ſoul, and in the whole ſoul.

1. It is a change in the ſoule: Simile. It is one thing to plaiſter an old houſe, and it is another thing to build a new houſe: It is one thing to adorn a dead man, and it is another thing to inform or enliven a dead man. Newneſs of life doth principally reſpect the root and ſpring The work of renewing grace begins where ſin begins; it begins the Reformation where ſin begins the deformation; it begins to change and cleanſe where ſin begins to corrupt, and defile, and that is in the ſoul: Outward Reformation is one thing, and inward Reformation is another thing: The Phariſees made clean the outſide of the cup, and they were painted Sepulchres, which within were full of rotten bones. Hypocriſie can make a new garbe of viſible actions, but it can never make an new heart; it never changes and alters the ſoul; that ſtill remains under the love and power of ſin: But when the heart is made new, there is ſome inward work of grace by which the ſoul is changed from death to life, from unholineſs to holineſs.

2. It is a change in the whole ſoul; when the heart is made new, all the ſoul In the whole ſoule.is divinely changed: Therefore this newneſs or Renewingneſs is compared to the light which diſperſeth itſelf into the whole body of the Aire, ſo that there is not any one part of the Aire which is not enlightned: To the oyntment which fills the whole room with ſweet Odour: To leaven, which diffuſeth itſelf over the whole lump. As it is with Original ſin, it is an univerſal defilement, it infects all the ſoul, there is not one faculty of the ſoul but it is defiled by it: So it is with Renewing grace, or newneſs of heart, it is an univerſal alteration or change; it alters all the ſoul, and all the faculties of the ſoul; when a new heart is given, there is a change made.

1. In the minde or underſtanding, which now is freed from darkneſs, and enjoys an heavenly light to know the things of God, and to diſcern things that are excellent; and the myſteries of Chriſt and ſalvation appear in their glory. p. 499We all with open face, beholding as in a glaſſe the glory of the Lord, &c. 2 Cor. 3. 18.

2. In the Judgement, which is now freed from miſtakes, and Errors, and high imaginations, and carnal reaſonings and diſputes, and is now captivated to the Truth, and approves of what is good, and condemneth what is evil: It counts ſin the g…eateſt evil, and Chriſt the moſt incomparable happineſs, and the enjoyment of God the only portion: I count all things but droſſe for the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt, ſaid Paul, Phil. 3. 8. Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none on earth that I deſire beſides thee? ſaith David, Pſal. 73. 25.

Thirdly, In the Will, which was proud, and ſtubborn, and unwilling, and averſe, and perverſe; nothing would perſwade it to hearken to Chriſt, to yield, to receive, to obey, all the arguments of mercy and glory would not …ffect and take it: Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life, Joh. 5. 40. But when the heart is made new, the Will alſo is changed; now it falls down before Chriſt, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do, Acts 9. 6. Draw me, and I will run after thee! Cant. 1.

4. In all the affections of the ſoul: Never was there ſuch a change, ſuch a newneſs! how they fall out with one another; Grief falls out with Love, and Love with hatred; nay, they ſeem to be changed one into another: Joy into Grief, and Love into Hatred, and Hatred into Love: what a man did love, he now hates, and what a man did hate, he now loves: and what a man deſired, he now fears; and what a man delighted in, he now grieves at it! Nay, look on them diſtinctly in their ſeveral motion. The deſires were, Who will ſhew us any good? Now the deſires are, What ſhall we do to be ſaved? The delights were in ſin, in ſenſualities, in vanities, in vain ſocieties; now they are in the favour of God, in Chriſt, in pardoning mercy, in holy and heavenly ſociety in doing the will of God: The like may be ſaid for love, for grief, for fear, &c.

Fourthly, This change (which conſtitutes newneſs of heart) is wrought by the Spirit of Chriſt: Therefore our Sanctification (which is the ſame with the giving A change wrought by the Spirit of Chriſt.of a new heart) is called the Sanctification of the Spirit, 1. Pet. 1. 2. And our change into the image of glory, from glory to glory, is by the Spirit of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3. 18. And the newneſs of heart is the work of the Spirit of Chriſt; no man changeth or renews his own heart, but the Spirit doth all: And therefore he is called the Spirit

1. Of Knowledge, becauſe he illuminates and gives knowledge and light, 1 Cor. 12. 8.

2. Of Grace, and holineſs, becauſe he makes us holy, Epheſ. 4. 30.

3. Of Faith, becauſe he cauſeth our hearts to believe, 2 Cor. 4. 13.

4. Of Love and joy, becauſe he worketh theſe in our hearts. All ſaving good comes from the Father as the Fountain, and through the Son as the Mediator, and is wrought in us by the Spirit. As in the Creation the Spirit moved upon the waters, and ſo did as it were brood and frame all the Creatures; To in Regeneration, the Spirit deſcends upon the hearts, and by his vigour doth forme all the newneſs and ſpiritual change in it.

This change is wrought by infuſing a new Principle.Fifthly, The Spirit works this change in the heart by infuſing a new Principle or quality of grace; A new Principle is neceſſary to make a new heart, there muſt be ſomething put into the heart to change the heart; in all alterations thus it is. Simile. If you would have the cold removed from the water, heat muſt come in; and if you would have darkneſs removed from the Aire, the light muſt come in; and if you would have ſickneſs removed, health muſt come in: For all cha…ge amongſt qualities is made by contrary qualities: And ſo it is when God changeth the heart (when of old he makes it new.) He doth this by in…uſing a new Quality into the heart contrary to the old quality of the heart. p. 500which quality is Regenerating or Renewing grace, and is called ſometimes holineſs, ſometimes the New man, ſometimes the Inward man, ſometimes the Law of the mind, ſometimes the Spirit, ſometimes Chriſt, ſometimes the Anointing, ſometimes the ſeed of God; and according to the ſeveral ways of working, it hath ſeveral names; v. g. As it is the forming of an heavenly being in the ſoul, it is called Regeneration. As it is the turning of the heart, it is called Converſion. As it is the humbling of the heart, it is called godly ſorrow. As it is the turning of us from ſin, it is called Repentance. As it is the bringing of the heart in to Chriſt, it is called Faith, &c. As it is the abaſing of the heart, it is called Humility. As it is the gentle tempering of the heart, it is called Meekneſs. As it is a ſubmitting of the heart to God in ſufferings, it is called Patience; and as it is the raiſing of the heart to the allowance of God, it is called Contentment and Self-denial, &c.

Sixthly, Into the Elect and Called of God] Renewing grace is peculiar and Into the Elect and Called of God.proper to the Elect people of God; the Papiſts and Arminians do hold that Reprobates and Apoſtates may have the ſame truly renewing and ſanctifying grace which the Elect of God have; and that the grace in the one, and in the other, differ not quantum ad eſſentiam, (as to truth) but only quantum ad permanentiam, as to continuance.

But this opinion we reject as unſound and dangerous; for although we do grant unto ſome Reprobates and Apoſtates the common gifts and works of the Spirit; as

1. Illumination; whereby they may know the revealed will of God, and aſſent unto the truth of the Word; which appears by the Parable of the ſtony ground, and in Simon Magus, &c.

2. And ſome tranſient working on their affections, as upon hearing the Word, to receive it with joy (Herod heard John Baptiſt gladly, and the temporary believers took in the Word with joy) and with fear as Felix did, and with humbling as Ahab did.

3. And ſome kind of external Emendation or Reformation, as Herod did many things, Matth. 6. 20. Nevertheleſs no Reprobate attained unto the ſtate of Renovation or Adoption, or Juſtification; they were never renewed intenſively by the Holy Ghoſt, never had a new heart given unto them; becauſe

Firſt, The ſtate of Renovation is founded in Gods Election. He hath choſen us that we ſhould be holy, Eph. 1. 4. therefore none but the Elect are renewed.

Secondly, This Renovation flows from union with Chriſt. 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Chriſt, he is a new creature.

Thirdly, All renewed perſons are in ſpecial Covenant with God; he is their God, and they are his people; and he will put his fear into their hearts, that they ſhall never depart from him.

Seventhly and laſtly, Newneſs of heart ariſing from grace infuſed by the Spirit This newneſs conſiſts inof Chriſt, conſiſts, 1. In a Rectitude of Inclination. 2. In a powerful mortification.

Firſt, A Rectitude of Inclination; every faculty of the ſoul is now brought A rectitude of Inclination.into its due place and order, and inclines and conforms unto God, whereas before it was turned from him; now we approve the will of God, and chooſe the way of God. Newneſs is the conformity of our nature with Gods nature, 2 P…t. 1. 4. and of our inclinations and actions to Gods will; what God likes, we like; what God diſallows, we diſallow; what God ſets up, we ſet up; what God would have done, we would have done; and in what God takes delight, in that do we alſo take delight; and in that manner that God would have it done, we love with ſimplicity, we pray with fervency, and we hear with reverence, and we give with chearfulneſs, and we walk with ſincerity.

p. 501Secondly, In a mortification of old luſts; this is called a cleanſing from all filthineſs of fleſh and ſpirit, 2 Cor, 7. 1. and a crucifying of the fleſh with the In a mortification of old luſts.affections and luſts, Gal. 5. 24. and a putting off the Old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful luſts, Epheſ. 4. 22. and a dying unto ſin, Rom 6. 2. and a not ſuffering ſin to reign, that we ſhould obey it in the luſts thereof, Rom. 6. 12. Beloved, this is moſt certain, that newneſs of heart is

1. An univerſal contrariety to all our ſinful corruptions; and therefore where newneſs of heart is, there is a conſtant hatred of ſin, and a continual conflict or combate with it.

2. A real predominancy; renewing grace is ſtronger than remaining ſin, and will never ſuffer it to rule the heart, and ſway as in former times.

Queſt. 3. Why God will give unto all the people of his Covenant a new heart, Why God gives a new heart.or an heart renewed by grace?

Sol. The Reaſons may be theſe.

Firſt, God predeſtinates them unto the means as well as unto the end: Gods God predeſtinates to the means, as well as to the end.predeſtination in the aime or end of it, reſpects the glorifying of his people, (who are therefore called Veſſels of mercy, afore prepared unto glory, Rom. 9. 23. and are ſaid to be choſen, and called to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Theſ. 2. 14.) and Gods predeſtination in the means tending to that glory, is his eternal will and purpoſe to communicate effectually to his people all that is requiſite to bring to the participation of that glory; therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 8. 29. Whom he did fore-know, he did predestinate to be conformable to the Image of his Son. Ver. 30. Moreover, whom he did predeſtinate, them he alſo called; and whom he called, them he alſo juſtified; and whom he juſtified, them he alſo glorified: Mark, predeſtination hath a reſpect to the means as well as to the end; to calling and juſtifying as well as to glorifying; (and calling is to holineſs as well as to happineſs) to conformity to the Image of his Son, as well as unto an inheritance by his Son, and what is that being conformed to the Image of his Son, but (amongſt other things) to be changed into his Image? 2 Cor. 3. 18. And what is that but to have our heart renewed by the Spirit of grace?

Secondly, God will give unto his people all that Jeſus Chriſt hath purchaſed God will give all that Chriſt hath purchaſed.for them, and which was the very deſign of his death: Now Jeſus Chriſt did by his death make a threefold purchaſe.

1. Of the Perſons of all the Elect; he bought them with a price: Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price, 1 Cor. 19. 20.

2. Of all the Services of the Elect: He hath delivered us out of the hands of our enemies, that we might ſerve him in holineſs and righteouſneſs, Luk. 1. 74, 75. He gave himſelf for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purifie unto himſelf a peculiar people, zealous of good works, Tit. 2. 14.

3. Of all Graces for the Elect▪ the donation of the Spirit (as to all the effects of grace) is the fruit of his death and purchaſe; not only eternal glory, but renewing grace is purchaſed by Jeſus Chriſt.

Thirdly, The Lord doth put ſeveral duties and ſervices upon his people, which God hath ſeveral ſervices for his people.are impoſſible for them to perform, unleſs he did give them a new heart, an heart changed and renewed by grace. They muſt deny themſelves, they muſt love the Lord their God with all their ſoul, and all their might. They muſt hate every evil way. They muſt walk uprightly. They muſt be contented in all conditions. They muſt reſiſt temptations, and wreſtle againſt principalities, and againſt Rulers of the darkneſs of this world, and againſt ſpiritual wickedneſs in high places. They muſt overcome evil with good. They muſt love their enemies, bleſs them that curſe them, and do good to them that hate them. They muſt be ready to do every good work. They muſt take up the Croſs, and ſuffer reproaches and loſſes; they muſt perſevere to the end. It is impoſſible for a natural p. 502heart to perform theſe: Is there not then a neceſſity of renewing grace to enable the heart for theſe?

Fourthly, Again, The people in Covenant, they have a new and choice relation, They have a new relation.and muſt have natures ſutable to it: No people have ſuch a relation as they, and unleſs they were renewed by grace, they could never hold that relation. God is their God, and their Father, and they are his children, they are his ſons and daughters, 2 Cor. 2. 18. I will be a Father unto you, and ye ſhall be my ſons and daughters, (ſaith the Lord Almighty) and Ver. 16. Ye are the Temple of the living God; as God hath ſaid, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people; this is their relation, but then mark what he infers from this, in Ver. 17. Wherefore come from among them, and be ye ſeparate, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. q. d. Holineſs is neceſſary for this relation, you muſt be ſeparate, you muſt be renewed, you muſt have no communion with ſin, you muſt be another kind of people, you cannot hold communion with me, nor will I own you for my people and children if you do ſo, &c.

And Chriſt is their head, and they are his body, this is another relation, (Coloſ. 1. 18. He is the head of the body, the Church) Now is Chriſt the head of profane and ungodly men? Is he the head of the dead, or of the living? Do not the head and the body agree in the ſame kind of nature and life? Are not they who are joyned to the Lord one ſpirit? 1 Cor. 6. 17. Certainly as all who come from the firſt Adam do bear his image, ſo all who are of the ſecond Adam do bear his image. Ergo. They muſt be a redeemed and ſanctified people.

Fifthly, I will adde one reaſon more why God will give unto all his people The congruity of it as to their Converſation.a new heart, and it is this, The congruity of it for that converſation which they are to have amongſt men, both good and bad.

Firſt, For good men, they are to have ſociety and communion with them With good men.in all holy things, and in all holy duties, their hearts ſhould be knit unto them in love, their delight ſhould be in them, as in the excellent of the earth; and you know the mutual comfortings and edifyings, and ſtrengthnings, and ſpiritual ſupportings which believers ſhould be to one another: But this requires a new heart, untill that be given, there can never be that love, that delight, &c.

Secondly, For wicked men, the people of God are to ſhine amongſt them as With wicked men.lights, Phil. 2. 15. and to win them by their godly walking, at leaſt to ſtop their mouths, and make them aſhamed that falſly accuſe their good Converſation in Chriſt; they are to convince them, and reprove them, &c. But all theſe things would fail, they could not be, if God did not renue and change the heart of his people by grace, &c.

SECT. II.

Ʋſe 1. Doth God promiſe to give unto all his people a new heart and a new Then many are not Gods people, they have their old hearts ſtill.ſpirit? here it follows that many people are not the people of God in Covenant, becauſe they have not a new heart given unto them; but they have ſtill their old hearts, and old ſpirits, their old corrupt luſts, which they obey and ſerve, and which they will hold faſt, and will not forſake: For the managing of this Uſe, I will briefly ſhew you two things.

1. The infallible Characters of an old and unclean heart.

2. The woful miſeries of people ſtill retaining thoſe old hearts.

1. The Characters of an old or unrenewed heart.Characters of an old heart.

The Scripture gives us five Characters of an old heart; (i. e.) of an heart never yet changed or renewed by grace.

p. 503Firſt, Ignorance; generally the ſinful eſtate is ſet out by ignorance. 1 Pet. 1. 14. Not faſhioning your ſelves according to the former luſts in your ignorance. Ignorance.Eph. 4. 18. Having the underſtanding darkned, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them. Acts 17. 30. The times of this ignorance God winked at.

There are three things, of which if a man be ignorant, he is unqueſtionably in an old ſinful eſtate.

1. Himſelf; if he knows not what a wicked, wretched, vile and miſerable heart is within him, and how accurſed he is by reaſon of it.

2. Jeſus Christ, and the myſtery of ſalvation in and by Chriſt.

3. The excellency and neceſſity of the new creature, of Regeneration and renewing grace; this man is ſtill in his ſins, he is in the gall of bitterneſs, he is dead, &c. The firſt work of the Spirit is, to open the eyes, and to turn men from darkneſs to light, Acts 26. 18. And to give knowledge of ſalvation, Luk. 1. 77. To enlighten the underſtanding, Eph 1. 18. There begins the firſt change and dawning of Chriſt and grace; therefore if that be not done, the old heart remains.

Secondly, Carnal ſecurity and quietneſs, a perpetual ſilence and reſt, (Luk. Carnal ſecurity.11. 21. When a ſtrong man armed keepeth his Palace, his goods are in peace) where ſin reigneth, and ſtill keeps poſſ…ſſion, all is qu…et; the man feels not his burden, nor wounds, not wants, nor ſpiritual trouble; no conflict is to be found in his heart. What lack I yet? ſaid that deſuded covetous young man in the Goſpel. And I was alive once without the Law, ſaid Paul, Rom. 7. And I ſtand in need of nothing, ſaid Laodicea, Rev. 3 All is well, and all is ſafe, and all is quiet; ſin is no enemy to it ſelf: Simile. Cold doth not contend with cold, nor darkneſs with darkneſs; all contention or conflict ariſeth from contrariety; and the fleſh is not contra…y to the fleſh; it is the Spirit which is contrary to the fleſh, &c.

Th…rdly, Enmity to godlineſs in the power of it, and to grace in the life of Enmity to godlineſs.it, and holineſs in the practice of it. Rom. 8. 7. The carnal mind is enmity againſt God, for it is not ſubject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be. Eph. 4. 18. Being alienated from the life of God. Joh. 3. 20. Every one that doth evil, hateth the light. Prov. 29. 27. He that is upright in his way, is abomination to the wicked. Amos 5. …0. They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that ſpeaketh uprightly. Pſal. 2. 3 Let us break their bands aſunder, and caſt away their cords from us. This is an evident ſign of a wicked heart, of an heart far from renewing grace: Thou childe of the Divel, thou enemy of all righteouſneſs, ſaid Paul to Elymas, Acts 13 10. and Cain hated his brother, &c. Why do you not love ſuch a child as well as the other? and countenance ſuch a ſervant as well as the other? and regard ſuch a one of your Kindred as well as another? and why do you not ſpeak evil of ſuch a neighbour, rather than of another? Live they not as peaceably and as inoffenſively? and deal they not as juſtly and ſquarely? O but he is godly, he is religious, he will not run with us to the ſame exceſs of Riot, he will not Swear and Drink, and play the Good-fellow, &c.

Fourthly, Bondage unto ſinful luſt; ſpiritual ſlavery is a real teſtimony of Bondage to ſinful luſts.an old heart; when a man is held faſt with the cords of his ſins, when he is a ſervant to ſin, obeys it in the luſts thereof, hath an heart that cannot ceaſe to do evil, doth project for ſin, and is at the commands of it, and will not forſake it, but takes pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs; his heart and ſin are joyned and matched together as it were by Covenant; he will reject Chriſt, and renounce mercy, and be contented to forfeit ſalvation, and venture to damn his own ſoul, rather than he will forſake his ſin, and come under the power of changing and renewing grace.Unchangedneſs of Converſation.

Fifthly, Ʋnchangedneſs of Converſation; when the Leopards ſpots continue, p. 504and the Blackmores skin remains, and the ſcum of a vain, graceleſs life departs not, but a perſon walks ſtill in the paths of unrighteouſneſs and ungodlineſs; what he was, that he is; as he hath lived, ſo he dyeth, and ſo he will live and dye; hates to be Reformed, ſcorns to be a Changeling, is Proud ſtill, is a Drunkard ſtill, a Whoremonger ſtill, a Sabbath breaker ſtill, a Swearer ſtill, a Scoffer ſtill, &c.

2. The woful miſery of perſons continuing in their old ſinful condition.The miſery of ſuch.

I will but mention the ſum of their miſery.

Firſt, Certainly they are out of Covenant, and therefore God is none of theirs, he neither doth nor will own them for his; and if God will not own them, then mercy will not own them.

Secondly, They belong not to Chriſt at all; for in 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Chriſt, he is a new creature. O how curſed is the ſinner who hath not Chriſt to redeem him from the curſe.

Thirdly, They ſhall never be ſaved; for Hebr. 12. 14. Without holineſs no man ſhall ſee the Lord.

Fourthly, They ſhall certainly be damned. 2 Theſ. 2. 12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs.

SECT. III.

Ʋſe 2. DOth God promiſe to give unto all his people in Covenant a new heart Try our ſelves what newneſs is in us.and a new ſpirit? then let us ſearch our hearts, and look what newneſs God hath wrought there? We find new faſhions upon the backs of perſons; and we find new opinions in the heads of perſons; and we find new changes in the Civil State; and we find new afflictions upon our perſons; and we find new fears in the hearts of men; and we find new and ſtrange diſpenſations of Gods Providence; but where is this new heart? one looks after a new place, and another after new preferment, and another after new pleaſures, and another after new friendſhip, and another after new ſafety; but who looks after the old truths, the good Chriſt, and the new heart; who of us can ſay in a ſpiritual ſenſe, what he ſpake in a corporal ſenſe, One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I ſee, Joh. 9. 25. May it be affirmed of us, what Paul ſpake of the Epheſians, Ye were ſometimes darkneſs, but now ye are light in the Lord, Eph 5. 8. Or what he ſpake of ſome of the Corinthians, Such were ſome of you, but ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, &c. 2 Cor. 6. 6. And what he ſpake of the Romans, Ye were the ſervants of ſin, but you have obeyed from your heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Rom. 6. 17. And being made free from ſin, ye became the ſervants of righteouſneſs, Ver. 18.

Object. But will ſome reply, we are much deceived if that we have not new hearts and changed ſpirits?

Sol. I anſwer, ye may be deceived, and in nothing ſooner than in your own hearts; Our hearts may deceive us in this.the Prophet ſaith, that the heart is deſperately wicked, and withal he ſaith, it is deceitful above all things, Jer. 17. 9. Nothing ſo wicked, and nothing ſo deceitful as mans heart, and as in many other things it may deceive us, ſo eſpecially in this one thing of newneſs, it may make us believe that it is changed and renewed by grace, when indeed there is no ſuch matter, which may ariſe, 1. Partly from the Ignorance in us, what newneſs of heart is. 2. Partly from Self-love and ſelf-flattery; we are apt to make the moſt of what makes the moſt for us, as we are apt to make the leaſt of what makes againſt us. 3. Partly from a ſlothfulneſs of ſpirit, to take pains, to ſearch and try the truth of our ſpiritual conditions. 4. Partly from the partial reſemblances which ſome things have with that which is called newneſs of heart or renewing grace, and yet they differ from it, toto coelo. Now becauſe this is one of the greateſt and commoneſt grounds by which perſons do deceive themſelves, I ſhall therefore inſiſt the more fully upon it.

p. 505There are four things which have a reſemblance (leſſer and greater) with renewing Four things have a reſemblance with renewing grace, which yet is no… it.grace, and yet renewing grace is quite another different thing from them.

1. Civil Righteouſneſs, eſpecially if joyned with the true Religion.

2. Reſtraining grace, in the forbearance of ſins, eſpecially notorious and flagitious.

3. The preſence of common gifts, which man had not before.

4. The powerful effect of an awakend conſcience.

1. Civil Righteouſneſs, eſpecially if conjoyned with Profeſſion Civil Righteouſneſs.of true Religion.

What do men (generally) repute for renewing grace, and for godlineſs, but this; if they be no Papiſts, if they hold no Errors, if they keep their Church, and deal fairly and juſtly with their neighbours, why, they conclude their hearts are good, and their eſtate is ſure, and what can men have more.

But now give me leave to ſay two things unto this.

Firſt, Civil Righteouſneſs is good, and ſo is external profeſſion of the true Religion; Civil righteouſneſs is good.God requires that and this: Matth. 7. 12. All things whatſoever you would that men ſhould do to you, do ye even ſo to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Mich. 6. 8. He hath ſhewed thee O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do juſtly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? To do juſtly is one of the things required. The like may be ſaid for external profeſſion; as we muſt believe with the heart, ſo we muſt confeſs with the mouth, Rom. 10. 11. And we muſt hold forth the word of life, Phil. 2. 16.

Secondly, Nevertheleſs, newneſſe of heart (or renewing grace) is a quite different Yet newneſs of heart is differing from it.quality from their civil Righteouſneſs; and one may be civilly righteous, and honeſt, who never had his heart renewed by grace, nay whoſe heart doth extreamly loath and oppoſe it.

Now civil righteouſneſs, and heavenly newneſs of heart doth differ in ſix They differ in ſix things.things.

Firſt, Civil Righteouſneſs is of a low and inferiour birth or original; there are Civil righteouſneſs is of an inferiour birth.three things which may be ſufficient to make a man civilly righteous.

1. One is the light of nature, which hath ſome notions and principles of common equity and honeſty.

2. A ſecond is the power of edification; Parents and Tutors may ſo repreſent the honor of juſt dealing, and the forbid unworthineſs of unrighteous dealing, that young and tender natures may take in a ſavour, and taſte of them all their dayes, though they never act upon any knowledge that God enjoyns them.

3. A third is the influence of example, beholding ſuch a courſe and way of Righteouſneſs in Parents, and Superiours, in Friends, whoſe examples we are ready to imitate, becauſe their perſons we do love and reverence. But newneſs of heart, or renewing grace is wrought by a higher hand than the dictates of nature, or counſels of friends, or examples of men; it is the birth of the Spirit of God (every regenerate or renewed perſon is born of the Spirit) the immediate power of the holy Ghoſt is put forth in the creating of a new heart.

Secondly, Civil Righteouſneſs either totally confines us to the duties of the ſecond Civil Righteouſneſs confines to duties of the ſecond Table.Table (as if we had none to eye and pleaſe but our neighbour) or if it gives way to the duties of the firſt Table, it is but to a formal and ſuperficial obſervance. The civil righteous man though he is ſtrict in duties to man, yet is irreligious in all his religious performances: He ſaith a Prayer, but he knows not how to pray in the Spirit, and with Faith; and he hears a Sermon, but it is as if he heard it not, ſleeping and waking, with running and roving diſtracted thoughts on the world; he talks of a Sabbath, but he knowes not how to keep a Sabbath, and is weary of it, and counts the ſtrict obſervance of it a Jewiſh burden: But renewing grace p. 506brings in the heart to all the will of God, it enables to give unto Caeſar the things that are Caeſars, and unto God the things that are Gods; to be righteous with good men, and to be upright with God, to ſerve him with love and fear.

Thirdly, Civil Righteouſneſs may look at ſome outward, eaſie, ordinary actions of It looks only at outward eaſie duties.Religion, but it leaves the heart deſtitute of the great inward actings of Religion. When did you ever ſee a perſon only civilly righteous lay the Axe to the root of the tree? ſearching of his heart, and judging the corruptions of his heart, and humbly mourning and lamenting under the ſence of his wicked heart, and hungring after Jeſus Chriſt, and importunately wreſtling for grace and mercy, ſtriving to crucifie the luſts of his heart. He is ſo farre from theſe, that he thinks them either ſuperfluous, or impoſſible. But renewing grace doth chiefly act upon the heart, there it ſets up the Throne, and gives the Law, and exerciſeth Authority and Rule, &c.

Fourthly, Civil Righteouſneſs reſts moſtly in negatives (I am not as other men, ſaid he) if the civilly righteous man doth not ſwear, this is enough although he It reſts moſtly in Negatives.ſhould likewiſe fear an Oath: if he doth not take away the life of another, if he doth not do wrong, that's enough, although he ought alſo to do good. But renewing grace comes off to Poſitives as well as Negatives; it teacheth us to ceaſe to do evil, and it learns us alſo to do good: Iſa. 1. 16, 17. It teacheth us to deny all ungodlineſs and worldly luſts. And alſo to live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world, Tit. 2. 12.

Fifthly, Civil Righteouſneſs it will allow ſuch things which renewing grace will not; It will allow usIt muſt have its indulgence.

1. To aſſociate our ſelves in a way of familiarity with the enemies of God and holineſs, and rather with theſe than thoſe that are good.

2. To omit many perſonal and family duties.

3. To deferre repentance, and making peace with God.

4. To miſpend his time day after day, week after week, year after year in vain pleaſures, and ſports, dicings, cardings, &c.

5. To conform and faſh…on our ſelves to the world, and perfidiouſly to flatter perſons in their ſins only to keep up a correſpondency and intereſt▪ it muſt have indulgence in ſinful thoughts, vile affections, petty Oathes. But renewing grace makes the heart to tremble at theſe things, and to loathe and abhorre them.It alters not one ſinful quality.

Sixthly, Civil Righteouſneſs alters not one ſinful quality in the heart, nor gives it any new ſpiritual ability; notwithſtanding it the heart is as ignorant, and malicious, and unbelieving, and impenitent, and hardned, and earthly, and vain, and proud as ever, and cannot deny itſelf in any delightful way of wickedneſs, &c.

II. Reſtraining grace, by which a perſon forbears many ſinfull act, Reſtraining grace.eſpecially ſuch, as are ſcandalous and dangerous in the opinion of men.

With this do many men ſit down and bleſſe themſelves for renewed and changed perſons, for they are not as other men, neither whore nor thief, and dare not commit ſuch and ſuch ſins!

But Beloved! there is a vaſt difference between reſtraining grace, and renewing grace; they differ in ſix particulars.

Difference betwixt reſtaining and renewing grace. Reſtraining grace is only an impediment to ſinful actions.Firſt, Reſtraining grace is only an impediment to ſinful actions; but renewing grace is an amendment of our ſinful inclinations. When a man is only reſtrained from ſin, Simile. it is with him as with a thief in priſon, who doth not commit any thieviſh act, yet even then he doth retain his thieviſh heart; or as with a dogge that is chained up, and cannot tear and devour, but y… the ſame curſt and revenging nature remains in him. Simile. So when a man is only reſtrained from ſin, p. 507although he forbears any viſible acts of ſin, yet his heart is as wicked as ever, and his ſinful inclinations and affections the ſame as before: But this it is not when the heart is renewed by grace; for renewing grace is not only a cord to with-hold, but it is likewiſe a plaiſter to heal and change, as it is a preſervative againſt ſinful actions and works, ſo it is a ſpiritual ſalve to cure our ſinful natures; the renewed Chriſtian doth not only forbear ſin, but he doth alſo hate ſin; a reſtrained ſinner at ſometimes cannot ſin; a renewed ſinner at no time would ſin: the one doth not commit the ſin which yet he ſtill loves▪ but the other doth ſometimes do the ſin which yet his ſoul ſtill hates.

It is an unvoluntary impediment.Secondly, when a man forbears ſin by the ſole power of reſtraining grace, it is involuntary; There is a ſecret regretting or riſing of the heart againſt this reſtraining power: Simile. The heart looks on it as under a force, or extreamly burdened or oppreſſed; it is diſcontented and impatient, like a horſe that is kept in by a bridle, or like water which is ſtopt, it riſeth and ſwelleth the more; and the ſinner counts it a great part of his miſery that ſuch awing and reſtraining circumſtances are upon him; but when a perſon is renewed by grace, it is no grief or burden of heart to him, that he may not ſin, but he prayes earneſtly to be kept from ſin; (Keep thy ſervant, &c. So David, Pſal. 19. 13.) and he heartily bleſſes God for being kept from ſin: (Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael, &c. 1 Sam. 25. 32.) and is more troubled, and diſcontented, and burdened that he carries within himſelf a body of ſin, which rebels againſt the law of his mind, than that he is hindred and kept from ſin.

Thirdly, A perſon acting only under the ſtrength of reſtraining grace, though a while he may hold off from groſs ſins, yet he will not ſtrive ſeriouſly to mortifie It doth not mortifie thoſe ſins it reſtraines from.the luſts from which thoſe ſins do ariſe, but he will give his heart leave to a delightful contemplation of them, and to ſecret deſires after them, and will venture very near to the commiſſion of them: But when the heart is renewed by grace, the perſon flies from ſin, yea from all appearances of evil, and is ſo far from ſparing of any ſin, that he layes the Axe to the root of the Tree, and endeavours (in good earneſt) the mortifying and crucifying of ſin.

Fourthly, when a perſon hath only that grace which we call reſtraining, his Sin breaks out with more violence upon the removing of the reſtraint▪ſinful corruptions (upon the removing of thoſe reſtraints (do break out with more rage and violence, if once it recover its liberty) the courſe of it now is with more ſtrength and fury: Take you any child, or ſervant, or any other perſon loving of ſin, yet not daring to commit ſin of their fear of thoſe under whom they live; if theſe once get but their liberty, none prove more inſolently and outragiouſly wicked: But where the heart is renewed by grace, it hath a conſtant tenderneſs, and habitual fear, a fixed contrariety and deteſtation of ſin: Though Parents be dead, though Governours be abſent, though Friends be departed, it is all one, God ſtill lives, and God ſtill ſees; and therefore how can the renewed perſon commit any wickedneſs and ſin againſt God? and the longer he lives, the more he hates ſin.

Fifthly, Though men acting by reſtraining grace, may, and do ſometimes forbear He forbears ſin upon other grounds.to ſin, yet it is upon other grounds, than thoſe do who abſtain from ſin, from renewing grace. In reſtriction men abſtain from ſin for fear of outward ſhame, or of outward loſs, or for fear of Gods wrath, or for fear of terror of conſcience, which hath formerly befallen them for ſinning: But in Renovation men abſtain from ſin, out of a love to God, and out of an hatred of the filthineſs of ſin, becauſe it will offend and grieve their God, and defile and pollute their ſouls.

Sixthly, Laſtly, though by reſtraining grace, there is ſome temporary ceſſation from There is only a temporal ceſſation.ſinful evil, yet there is no ſetled inclination unto, nor delight in ſpiritual good, no heart to prize God or Chriſt, or holineſs, or the wayes or works of new obedience: But where God gives renewing grace to the heart, as there is more than a meere ceaſing to ſinne; So there is another heart given inclining to God, to … his Will, to love his Commands, to walk in his Paths, to delight to do his Will; I delight in the Law of God after the inner man, p. 508ſaid Paul. Rom. 7. 22. O that my wayes were directed to keep thy statutes, Pſal. 119. 5. And ver. 112. I have enclined my heart to perform thy statutes alwayes to the end.

III. The preſence of common gifts.The preſence of common gifts.

I call then thoſe gifts common gifts, which the Spirit of God doth give, though not to every man, yet unto men who are really bad and unconverted, as well as to men who are really good and converted; of which ſome do reſpect,What thoſe gifts are.

Firſt, The mind, in light or knowledge of the Scripture in general; and of Chriſt and the way of ſalvation by him in particular, 1 Cor. 12. 8, 9, 10.

Secondly, The judgement, in a credence or aſſent unto what God reveals in his Word as true: King Agrippa believeſt thou the Prophets, I know that thou believeſt? Acts 26. 27.

Thirdly, The heart; as thoſe taſts you read of in Heb. 6. 4. The taſting of the heavenly gift. ver. 5. The taſting of the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come.

Fourthly, The Conſcience, unto which may be given a deep ſenſe of ſin, and extream trouble for it; as you read in Ahab and Judas, &c.

Fifthly, The affections, in which there may be found ſome joyes at the hearing of the Word, as in Herod, and in the third ſort of ground, and delight in approaching unto God, Iſa. 58. 2.

Sixthly, The converſation, in reforming of ſome ſins which the Apoſtle calls an Eſcaping the pollutions of the world, 2 Pet. 2. 20. and in conſcience to ſome duties, as Herod heard John Baptiſt, and did many things, Mar. 6. 20.

Object. But will ſome of you ſay, doth not the preſence of all theſe things Theſe alone do not argue a new heart.certainly conclude the preſence of newneſſe of heart, or of an heart renewed by grace?

Sol. All theſe gifts of them (alone) do not conclude it, the effects which may appear unto you in theſe four Concluſions.

Firſt, A man may attain to all theſe, and yet be a very notorious wicked man: Moſt of theſe did Herod attain unto (if not unto all of them) yet the man A man may have theſe, and remain wicked.was very vile and wicked; and three things did manifeſtly declare him to be ſo; 1. He kept Herodias his brothers wife, Mar. 6. 17. 2ly He took away the life of John the Baptiſt, Mar. 6. 27. 3ly He ſet Jeſus Chriſt at naught, and rejected him, Luke 23. 11. That man who will live in a known notorious ſin, and who will unjuſtly murder the meſſenger of God, and mock and reject Jeſus Chriſt, as vile, is a very wicked man; but all this did Herod who knew much, and heard much, and did much, and had ſome temporary affections. Ergo,

Secondly, No Hypocrites heart was ever renewed by grace (if it were ſo, he An Hypocrite may attain to theſe.were no Hypocrite) but an Hypocrite may attain unto all theſe. Knowledge he may have, none doubts of it; he may excell in it: The Phariſees knew the Law, yea and knew Chriſt: Faith of aſſent he may have, this they had who believed for a ſeaſon, and this had Simon Magus. Some taſt and affections he may have, ſuch had they in Iſa. 58. 2, 3. and in Heb. 6. Trouble in Conſcience he may have for ſin committed, this had Judas: And outward Reformation he may have ſo far as to ſeem righteous in the ſight of men, &c.

Thirdly, Apoſtates never had truth of Renewing grace (for Renewing grace, it Apoſtates may have all this. Renewing grace hath power in the heart above common gifts.is a living ſpring, immortal and abiding ſeed, a gift of God without repentance, the earneſt of our glorious inheritance) but Apoſtates may attain unto all common gifts whatſoever; ſee at leaſure, Heb. 6. 4, 5, 6.

4. Renewing grace hath the power in the heart, which no common gifts have, v. g.

1. It ſeparates the heart from the love of all ſin.

2. It ſets the heart upon the mortification of all ſin.

p. 5093. It brings in the whole heart to God.

4. It ſets out ſuch a new obedience with Spiritual Ingredients and affections, and with ſuch a ſole entire reſpect to Gods glory, that no common gift doth or can.

IV. The ſtrange and powerful effects of an awakened and troubled Conſcience.An awakened and troubled conſcience. This is the neareſt to renewing.

I hardly know any ſuch nearneſs to the work of renewing grace, as that ariſes from Conſcience awakened and troubled for a perſon in this condition.

Firſt, Hath a clear ſight, and an exquiſite ſenſe of his ſinne, not only preſent, but long ſince committed, they ſeeme to be ſet in order before his eyes.

Secondly, His very ſoule is troubled and diſtreſſed, ſo that he would give all the world that he had never ſinned ſo and ſo.

Thirdly, he cannot hold, but he muſt confeſſe his ſins before God, and ſometimes before men, with ſurpaſſing lamentations, and tears, and ſevere accuſings, and condemnings of himſelf.

Fourthly, He puts away all viſible ſinne, and reſolves, and proteſts againſt it, yea and bindes his ſoule with ſolemn vows never to return to folly more.

Fifthly, He cries out for Chriſt, and how he may get Chriſt to make his peace.

Sixthly, There is no viſible duty, but he doth ſet upon, and in ſuch a manner as he never did before; prayes moſt earneſtly for mercy, hears attentively for any hope of mercy, and perhaps aſſociates himſelf with the people of God, and begs their counſel, their prayers, their pity, and their comfort.

Seventhly, He will not (in this anguiſh of conſcience) come near the occaſions of ſinne, but doth withſtand temptations from wicked company, and cries out againſt them as the ſeducers of his ſoul.

Eighthly, He ſets up a kind of Reformation in his Family, which before had (perhaps) no face of Religion in it; but now all notorious profaneneſs is baniſhed, and the neglect of Gods worſhip is redreſſed, and Prayer is ſet up in the Family, morning and evening, and the reading of the Scriptures, &c.

Object. Surely will ſome men ſay, this mans heart is changed, and all this could never be, unleſſe the heart were renewed by grace (and ſome of us never went ſo far as this) can you ſhew any difference 'twixt thoſe effects of an awakened and troubling conſcience, and thoſe flowing from renewing grace?

Sol. Theſe …ffects (I confeſs) are high, and with them (for the preſent) Differences betwixt theſe and renewing grace. In the Ca…ſe.many do deceive themſelves, looking on them as the fruits of renewing grace; but there are manifeſt differences between them.

Firſt, In the Cauſe or Grounds, when they come only from an awakened and troubling Conſcience; the cauſe of them is only the ſenſe of Gods dreadful wrath which is ſuch an unſufferable evil that it breakes and tears the ſenſes, the ſinner will (in that condition) do any thing, and comply with any courſe. How conformable was Pharaoh when the hand of God was heavy upon him; and unto what confeſſion, and reſtitution, and repentance was Judas wrought, when the wrath of God fell upon his Conſcience! But now when the heart is renewed by grace, the man is ſenſible of his ſinning, and mourns for his ſins, and puts away his ſins, and ſets up a courſe of new obedience, not from the meere ſenſe of wrath, but from another Cauſe, even from a love to God, and an apprehenſion of Gods love to him, which raiſeth in him a loathing of all which God loaths, and a liking of all that God likes, and a deſire in all things to walk in all well-pleaſing before the Lord.

Secondly, In the ſecret Principle which ſets the ſinner thus awork; In the p. 510In the Principletroubled ſinner it is ſelf-love; a poor wretch now plainly ſees that he muſt be damned if he doth not leave and change his ſinful courſe; and if he ſlights Chriſt and holy duties, as formerly he hath done, there is in him (in this condition) an horrible fear of death, and of Gods eternal vengeance, and he would not fall into the conſuining fire; (no creature likes its own deſtruction, much leſs an eternal damnation) and therefore this troubled ſinner will ſet upon duties, and will make much moan for Chriſt, and all that moves him unto this, is his ſelf-love, he loves his life, and he loves his ſafety; but yet all this while doth not love Chriſt for Chriſt, nor holy Duties as ways to glorifie God; but where renewing grace is in a man, the principle which ſets him a work for Chriſt, is faith, and which draws him out, is a love of godlineſs, and a love of the glory of God, &c.

Thirdly, In the end or aim, which in works done upon the ſole account of In the end.a troubling conſcience, is only ſelf-eaſe and quietneſs, and calmneſs of conſcience, as the diſtemper lies only in trouble, ſo the remedy lies only in eaſe. Oh if the wrath of God were off in the feeling of it; but the poor wretch doth not think of removing the wrath of God in the ſtate of it; and O if the painful terrors of conſcience were off, that and this he aims at directly; if he thinks of Chriſt, if he prays, if he hears, if he confers, if he reforms, all tends to this, viz. the removing of ſenſible evil, of penal evil, of terrors and troubles, and that his conſcience may be quiet, and hold its peace, and ſpeak bitterly no more unto him; but where the heart is renewed by grace, the conſcience ſhould trouble, yet it is not that only, nor that principally which the perſon looks at to be removed; but it is the cauſe of that trouble; O Lord, take away iniquity; O Lord, heal my ſoul; O Lord, ſubdue my ſin; O be thou my ſanctifying God as well as my pardoning God; my ſins trouble my ſoul, O let me no more trouble thee by my ſins, &c.

Fourthly, In the event or iſſue: Let the troubled ſinner (who appears now with ſuch a great change) let him I ſay, be taken off the Rack, let him get reſpite, In the event.let him get deliverance from his fears, and from his terrors, and from his diſtreſſes: There are four things which will appear in him.

1. He will quickly abate, and grow remiſs in all theſe duties; will not be ſo ſerious, ſo earneſt, ſo conſtant.

2. He will give way to contemplative evil, and will be venturing upon the occaſion of ſin again.

3. He will return in love to his ſinful practices, and with the dog will return again to his vomit, 2 Pet. 2. 22.

4. His latter end is worſe; his conſcience from being a troubled conſcience, will now become an hardned conſcience, and ſeared▪ 2 Pet. 2. 20. But thus it never is with an heart renewed by grace, which turns us from evil to good, and from good to better; and ſtill increaſeth in the ſoul a greater hatred of ſin, and fear to ſin; and the more that renewing grace abounds in the ſoul, the more is tenderneſs abounding in the conſcience.

Thus have you heard (by way of Uſe) 1. A conviction that many perſons are ſtill in their old ſinful conditions, and never bad this new heart given them. 2. That there is a poſſibility to be deceived about the fruiton of this newneſs of heart, and wherein that deceit may be.

p. 511SECT. IV.

Ʋſe 3. I Shall now proceed to a Uſe of Diſcovery, wherein I will propound For diſcovery.unto you ſome Characters by which you may know whether God hath indeed beſtowed upon you this new heart and new ſpirit which he hath promiſed to give unto all his people in Covenant.

The Signs and Characters are theſe ten.Ten Characters of a new heart.

1. A New Sight and Feeling.

2. A New Judgement and Opinion.

3. New Cares and Requeſts.

4. New Principles.

5. A New Combate and Conflict.

6. New Abilities and Powers.

7. New Works and Obedience.

8. New Delights and Satisfactions.

9. New Society.

10. New Rules.

Firſt, To whomſoever God doth give a new heart, unto him he doth give a A new ſight and feeling.new ſight and feeling of their ſpiritual condition; before the Lord renews the heart by grace, there were two qualities predominant in it.

One was ignorance or blindneſs; an unregenerate man is a dead man, Epheſ. 2. 1. and an ignorant man, he underſtands not, he knows not what he is, nor what he doth, nor what his condition of ſoul is: We were never in bondage, ſaid they in Joh. 8. 33. The way of wickedneſs is as darkneſs, they know not at what they ſtumble, ſaid Solomon, Prov. 4. 19.

Another was hardneſs and unſenſibleneſs; a wicked man hath a wicked heart, but he is not ſenſible of it; and his heart is deſperately wicked, but he is not ſenſible of it: He is ignorant and proud, and impenitent, and malicious, and ſerving divers luſts, and under the curſe and wrath of God, but he is not ſenſible of it: His ſin abounds in heart and life, and rules, and bears ſway, and he is a ſlave unto them, but he is not ſenſible of this; but when the Lord renews the heart by grace, there is (preſently) a ſpiritual life, and preſently a ſpiritual ſenſe; the man ſees that in himſelf, which he never ſaw before, and experimentally feels that in himſelf which he never felt before: Alas ſaith he, What a wretched creature am I? and what a ſinful heart is here? full of wickedneſs, deſperately evil; here is no good dwelling in me; here is that ſinfulneſs abounding in me; here is that ignorant, vain, worldly, ſtubborn, ſenſual, rebellious, unbelieving, hardened heart, of which the Lord ſpeaks, and which the Lord threatens, and the man groans under this burden of his ſinful heart and life: Pſal. 38. 4. and exceedingly complains of it: Rom. 7. 24. and now loaths himſelf in his own eyes: Ezek. 36. 31. and bewails his condition with trouble of heart.

Secondly, To whomſoever the Lord gives a new heart, he doth give unto A new judgement and opinion.them a new judgement and opinion; before the Lord renews a mans heart, he hath a corrupt and falſe judgement:

Partly of himſelf, in reſpect

1. Of his eſtate; that he is alive, that he is righteous, that he needs no Repentance, that he ſtands in need of nothing.

2. Of his own ways; that they are the wiſeſt for ſafety, and beſt for delight and profit.

Partly of Gods commands and ways; that of all other they are moſt unequal, and moſt burdenſome, and moſt undelightful, and for the moſt part needleſs; what needs a man to trouble himſelf ſo much for his ſins, and what needs a man preſently to ſet upon the practice of Repentance, and what needs a man to p. 512make ſo ſure of Chriſt and mercy, and grace, and heaven: But when the Lord gives a man a new heart, his judgement is rectified, and he hath now another opinion than formerly he had, his judgement is divers from what it was, in respect of himſelf and his ways. As the Apoſtle ſpake, I was alive without the Law once, but when the Commandment came, ſin revived, and I dyed, Rom. 7. So before renewing grace came into the heart, a man thinks high thoughts of himſelf, and of his ways; but when that comes, then he judgeth of himſelf as he is, and of his ways as indeed they are, and have been. Pſal. 73. 22. So fooliſh was I, and ignorant, I was as a Beaſt before thee, 1 Tim. 1. 15. To ſave ſinners, of whom I am chief; and for his wayes, he now looks on them as ways of death, and paths of hell, in which who ſo walks, ſhall find no reſt nor peace.

In reſpect of God and his ways: God is now look't upon as an only happineſs, and could I enjoy him for my God in Chriſt, I were bleſſed for ever; and his ways are righteous, and good, and holy, and moſt pleaſant, and only ſafe; the way of Repentance, the way of faith, the way of holineſs, the way of a godly Converſation; how excellent, how beautiful, how deſirable are all of them to an heart renewed by grace, which yet in former times were judged with ſcorn and contempt, and hatred.

Thirdly, Where the Lord gives a new heart, there he gives new cares and New cares and requeſts.requeſts: Before the Lord renews the heart by grace, a ſinner is very careful, and very careleſs.

He is very careful for two things.

One is for the world; What ſhall I eat? and what ſhall I drink? and wherewith ſhall I be cloathed? Matth. 6. His heart is ſet on the world, and he minds earthly things, and his heart goes after his covetouſneſs, and who will ſhew us any good? his affections are ſet on things below.

The other is for his fleſhly luſts: They that are after the fleſh, minde the things of the fleſh, Rom. 8. 5. And they make proviſion for the fleſh to fulfill the luſts thereof, Rom. 13. 14. But he is very careleſs about his ſoul, therefore he is ſaid to deſpiſe his ſoul, and not to know the day of his viſitation, nor the things which concern his peace, and to make light of the invitations of Chriſt. But when the Lord begins to renew the heart by grace, there are new cares and new deſires: O how the ſoul is taken with the ſoul, and for the ſoul: Lord, What will become of my poor ſoul? and what ſhall I do for my poor ſoul? if I get not Chriſt, my ſoul is loſt; and if I get not mercy, I am undone: Take the world who will, and take ſinful pleaſures who will, but O Lord be merciful to me a ſinner, and O Lord be thou reconciled to my ſoul, and lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me: Every new heart hath new thoughts, and cares, and deſires: What ſhall we do, ſaid they to John the Baptiſt? Matth. 3. And What ſhall we do, ſaid they to Peter? Acts 2. 37. And What ſhall we do to be ſaved, ſaid he to Paul and Silas? Acts 16. 30.

Fourthly, If a new heart be given, there will then be found in you the preſence New principles.of all new principles, which are contrary to all the old principles in the old ſinful heart; there is not any one ſpiritual and heavenly principle reſpecting ſalvation, but they may be found in you; v. g.

1. Ignorance, that is one principle of an old heart, the contrary unto it; viz. Knowledge is given when you come to partake of a new heart. Coloſ. 3. 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge. Eph. 5. 8. Ye were ſometimes darkneſs, but now are ye light in the Lord.

2. Carnal wiſdome, that is another principle of the old heart; the contrary unto that, is given to a perſon when God renews his heart; viz. Spiritual and heavenly wiſdom, a wiſdom for ſalvation. 2 Tim. 3. 15. A wiſdom unto that which is good. Rom. 16. 9. A wiſdom to approve the things that are excellent. p. 513Phil. 1. 10. A wiſdome to know the times or ſeaſons of grace, and to imbrace and improve them: Hebr. 3.

3. Vanity of ſpirit, that is another old principle in the old heart; an old heart is a vain heart, and an old mind is a vain mind; but when the Lord gives a new heart, he then gives a spiritual ſeriouſneſs unto the heart, To work out its ſalvation with fear and trembling, Phil. 2. 12. And to ſerve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear, Hebr. 12. 28. And to give all diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure, 2 Pet. 1. 1…. And taking heed of neglecting ſo great ſalvation, Hebr. 2. 1, 3.

4. Hardneſs, this is another principle in an old heart; the heart is a ſtony heart, Ezek. 36. 26. and an heart of Adamant, Zach. 7. 11, 12. But when God gives a new heart, there is a principle contrary unto this put into the heart, namely a ſoft and tender, and mournful heart. Joſiah had a tender heart, 2 Chron. 34. 27. God maketh my heart ſoft, Job 23. 16. They ſhall mourn, as one mourneth for his only ſon, Zach. 12. 10

5. Pride, this is another old principle of the old heart. Mark 7. 22. ſo Pſal. 73. 6. Pride compaſſeth them about as with a chain: So Jer. 48. 29. We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftineſs, his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtineſs of his heart: So Rom. 1. 30. Deceitful, proud boaſters: But when the Lord gives a new heart, there is a principle of humility given, which is contrary unto that pride of heart. Deut. 33. 3. All his Saints are in thine hand, they ſit down at thy feet, every one ſhall receive of thy words. Pſal. 131. 1. Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty, &c. Ver. 2. Surely I have behaved and quieted my ſelf as a childe that is weaned of his mother, my ſoul is even as a weaned childe. Acts 20. 19. Serving the Lord with all humility of minde.

6. Stubbornneſs of reſiſtance and unyieldingneſs, this is another principle of an old heart, an old heart is a ſtubborn heart; as for the Word which thou haſt ſpoken in the Name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee, ſaid they to Jeremiah, Jer. 44. 16. Ye always reſiſt the Holy Ghoſt, ye ſtiffe-necked, and uncircumciſed in heart, ſaid Stephen unto them in Acts 7. 51. But when God gives a new heart, there is given a contrary principle unto this, even a yielding and obedient ſpirit to the Word and Will of God: Acts 9. 6. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Acts 10 33. We are all here preſent before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. Iſa. 66. 2. To him that trembleth at my Word. Pſal. 119. 161. My heart standeth in awe of thy Word. Rom. 6. 17. Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered you.

7. Hypocriſie, this is another principle in the old heart; an old heart is an hypocritical heart; it is full of guilt and deceit. Jer. 17. 9. Deceitful above all things: But when the Lord gives a new heart, he gives a principle contrary to this; viz. ſincerity and uprightneſs of heart, and a true heart. John 1. 47. Behold an Iſraelite indeed, in whom is no guile. 2 Cor. 1. 12. Our rejoycing is this, the teſtimony of our conſcience, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity we have had our Converſation in the world.

8. Ʋnbelief, diſcontentment, impatience, diſcord and variance, theſe are other principles of the old heart; but when the Lord gives a new heart, then he works in us contrary principles unto theſe; viz. faith: Phil. 1. 29. Ʋnto you it is given to believe; Repentance. Acts 11. 18. God hath granted to the Gentiles alſo repentance unto life. Contentment: Phil. 4. 11. I have learned in whatſoever ſtate I am therewith to be content. Patience: 1 Cor. 4. 12. Being reviled, we bleſs; being perſecuted, we ſuffer it. Love: 1 Theſ. 4. 9. Ye are taught of God to love one another. I could name many more ſuch heavenly p. 514principles and qualities contrary to the old ſinful principles and qualities which are certainly found (though not in the ſame meaſure or degree, yet in tru…h) in every man whom the Lord doth give a new heart.

Fifthly, Whenſoever the Lord gives a man a new heart, there is preſently a new A new combate and conflict.combate and conflict: Gal. 5. 17. The fleſh luſheth againſt the Spirit, and the Spirit luſteth againſt the fleſh, and they are contrary the one to the other, &c. Rom. 7. 23. But I ſee another Law in my members warring againſt the Law of my mind. The fleſh (which is our corrupt heart or nature, the old man, the Law in our members) and the Spirit (which is our new heart, or renewed nature, the new man, the Law of our mind) theſe are both in the ſame regenerate perſon, and they are diſperſed over every faculty of the ſoul, and they are contrary the one to the other, and do warre one againſt another; and that war is from the firſt moment that renewing grace enters into the heart, to the laſt moment that the ſoule leaves the body.

Object. Now here it may be objected, that this cannot be a true and real ſign of newneſs of heart, becauſe in a natural and unregenerate man, there is many times a combate and conflict between their judgement, and their affections, and between their conſcience, and their temptations unto ſin?

Sol. That there are ſuch combates and conflicts in unregenerate men, I grant; Differences betwixt the conflicts in a regenerate and unregenerate man. In their Principles.but then they are of another nature, different from thoſe in a renewed or regenerate perſon.

Firſt, In their Principles: The conflict in the one ariſeth from ſervile fear; the conflict in the other ariſeth from ſpiritual hatred. A natural Conſcience may ſee the danger of ſinning, and thereupon oppoſe the affections inclining to ſin; but a renewed heart ſees the baſeneſs of ſin, and thereupon inclines the heart to hate it: As ſin a coal of fire, there is the fire which burneth, and there is the coal which defileth; ſo in ſin, there is conſiderable, the wrath unto which it doth expoſe, and the filthineſs whereby it doth pollute the ſoul: The fear of burning wrath, this makes the unregenerate conſcience to hold off, and to argue againſt the temptations to ſin: but it is the defilement and pollution by ſin which makes the renewed heart to abhor and conteſt with it: Not only or principally the evil by ſin, but the evil of ſin which is ſo extreamly contrary to God in his Nature, and Will, and Glory, which we entirely love, &c.

In the Seat.Secondly, In the Seate and place of combate; Simile The combate in unregenerate men, is like that between Souldiers in ſeveral Forts; and that in renewed perſons is like the fight of Souldiers in the ſame Fort where every ones ſword is againſt every one: The conflict or combate in the unregenerate, is only 'twixt one faculty and another diſtinct faculty; the affections go one way, and the judgement and conſcience another way: But when a mans heart is renewed by grace, there now ariſeth a war and combate within every faculty: The judgment is divided againſt the judgment; and the will is divided againſt the will; and the affection againſt the affection: The reaſon whereof is this; becauſe there is fleſh and Spirit, ſin and grace co-exiſtent, and co-habiting in every faculty of the ſoul; ſin is not driven up to one faculty, whilſt grace poſſeſſeth the other faculties: but renewing grace is in every faculty; and remaining corruption is alſo in every faculty: Simile Like Jacob and Eſau ſtrugling in the ſame womb; or like heat and cold in the ſame water, and in every part of it.

Thirdly, In the Extent of the combate; that in unregenerate perſons is only with ſome groſs, ſcandalous, and infamous ſins; but for ſecret ſins, or other In the Exte…t.ſins which the world applauds, theſe are ſtill favoured and harboured; the natural man can go no farther than his light, which in him cannot make a clear and full diſcovery of ſins; nor will he quarrel with his ſins further than he needs muſt, to ſave his eaſe in Conſcience, and credit with men: But when the heart is renewed p. 515by grace, there the combate is againſt all known ſin, the reaſon whereof is this, becauſe the ground of oppoſition is not accidental and particular, but natural and univerſal: the newneſs of the heart is not an humour, but a contrary nature to that of ſin, and therefore the heat doth conflict with all that is cold, becauſe it is naturally contrary unto it; ſo doth renewing grace combate with all ſin, becauſe it is a nature contrary to ſin as ſin; not as little or great, ſecret, or open, &c. but as ſin.

4. In the event: In regenerate men the iſſue of the conflict is either a plain giving up to the will of luſt in the affections (the man being tyred and In the event.vexed with the violent ſollicitations of them, as Sampſon was with Dalilahs importunities) or in caſe that natural conſcience doth prevail, it is not to the mortifying of any ſin, but only to a temporary repreſſing and reſtraining of ſin; but the combate ends otherwiſe where the heart is renewed by grace; for it makes a more conſtant and reſolute reſiſtance, and at the laſt (though perhaps after ſome foiles) it gets the victory over ſin, and wins the field: Thus you ſee that the new ſpiritual combate or conflict, is a true character of a heart indeed renewed by grace: It is not a ſign of true grace that a man hath no ſin, but that his heart is conflicting with all ſin,

Sixthly, Whenſoever a new heart is given by God unto any perſon, then are New abilities.there given new abilities unto that perſon.

Beloved, two things I take for granted.

1. That renewing grace is in itſelf a very powerful quality: There is a Spirit of power and might in it, and going along with it; if it were not ſo, it could never change the heart of a ſinner, nor unthrown ſin, nor maintain conflict with all the powers of ſin and Satan; nor ſend out ſuch high works of ſervices as it doth.

2. That it doth conferre an ability or power on the ſoule; to what end elſe is it given unto us, if by it we have no more power than what we had before in our natural condition? When we are renewed by grace, we are ſaid to be quickned who were dead; which neceſſarily implies that there is a power imprinted in us when we are renewed.

Now there is a two-fold power given when renewing grace is given.

1. One is to do ſuch things which no natural or unregenerate perſon ever did, or could do.

2. Another is to do ſuch things which we our ſelves were not able to do, before God did renew our hearts by grace.

Firſt, take me the braveſt Heathen that ever was, or the moſt accompliſhed Hypocrite that ever was, and conſider what they have done, how far they have gone; if you are not able to go beyond them in doing ſome things which they could not riſe unto, aſſuredly your hearts were never renewed by grace: As Chriſt ſpake, Except your righteouſneſs exceed the righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees, ye ſhall in no caſe enter into the kingdom of heaven, Matth. 5. 20. So ſay I, except you be able to do more than the choiſeſt Heathen, or exquiſite Hypocrite, or any unregenerate perſon in the world, your hearts were never changed by renewing grace.

Object. Will ſome ſay unto me, what do you mean, for many unregenerate men have gone very farre, and ſo high, that it is a queſtion whether ſome of the people of God have riſen ſo high?

Sol. Firſt, Let them go as farre as unregenerate men may or can go; yet every regenerate or renewed perſon goes farre beyond them, and the demonſtration of it is this: renewing grace is the higheſt elevation and perfection of mans nature; common gifts (with which alone unregenerate men are poſſeſſed) are farre below, and behind it in excellency, and abilities.

Secondly, But plainly to open my mind unto you; there are ſix things unto which renewing grace doth enable a man, and unto which no unregenerate perſon could ever attain.

p. 5161. Self-denial in a mans opinion and affections, and worth, and ways, and ends.

2. Sincere love of Jeſus Chriſt, and of all that do belong to Chriſt.

3. A cordial compliance with the whole revealed will of God.

4. A ſubmiſſion of the whole heart to Chriſt in all his offices, and with all his conditions.

5. An unfeigned hatred of every ſin.

6. To live by faith upon the promiſes of God in all the contingencies and occurrences of the world. No unregenerate perſon ever did or could (in that eſtate) riſe unto any one of theſe things, and every renewed perſon doth attain unto them in the truth of them; therefore if you find a power to do thoſe things, aſſuredly your hearts are renewed by grace.

Secondly, Moreover, you may diſcern the preſence of renewing grace, by that power and ability to do ſuch works as you your ſelves were never able to do before. Heretofore you were not able to ſhed a tear for ſin, to forſake any one beloved ſin, to ſend up an affectionate prayer to God, to prize Chriſt above all, and to thirſt after him; to take any delight in God, to ſuffer any reproach for Chriſt: But now ye are able to mourn for your ſins, and to abhor them. 2 Cor. 10. 4. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds. To forſake the deareſt luſts, and to cry mightily to God, and to take delight in him, and in his will and ways, and to prize Chriſt above all, and to hunger and thirſt after him as the only chiefeſt good and happineſs, and you can do for Chriſt, and you can ſuffer for Chriſt, &c. Do you find it thus with you? then are your hearts renewed by grace.

Seventhly, You may know whether God hath given a new heart, by the By new works.new works, and the new means of working: We ſay, that ut res ſe habent in eſſendo, ſic ſe habent in operando: All works and operations are anſwerable to the nature in us; the old nature finds out old works, and the new nature finds out new works. Before the Prophet healed and ſeaſoned the ſpring of water, it did ſend out bitter and unwholſome water, but afterward the waters (the ſpring being healed) were ſweet and wholſome, 2 Kings 2. 21, 22. So before the Lord doth heal our old hearts, the works flowing from them are bitter, corrupt, vile, abominable, (that which is born of the fleſh is fleſh, Joh. 3.) but when he heals the heart by renewing grace, there are new works of holineſs and righteouſneſs anſwerable to a renewed heart, (whatſoever is born of the Spirit is Spirit.)

Now then take a ſurvay of your former Works, and of your former Converſation, and compare them with the preſent works and courſe of life, and be your ſelves the Judges what newneſs you find in them. Have you left your former works of uncleanneſs, of drunkenneſs, of profaning the Sabbath, of ſcoffing at holineſs, of miſpending your precious time in gamings, and in vain pleaſures: Are you not ſtill to be found in the ſame paths and ways, and works of wickedneſs? Are there not ſtill the ſame fruits growing out of the old root? and the ſame ſtream flowing out of the ſame corrupt ſpring? How can ye ſay that you have new hearts, when ſtill you live old lives, and go on in the old courſe of ſin? Beloved, this is moſt true, that a new life ever attends a new heart; if the heart be changed, the life will be changed; newneſs of heart will appear in newneſs of Converſation. Did Paul, did Mary Magdalen, did Zacheus, did any (of whoſe Converſion you read in Scripture) lead ſuch lives as formerly? Did they not put off concerning the former Converſation, the Old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts? Eph. 4. 22. Have they not had their fruit unto holineſs? Rom. 6. 22. Therefore let no man deceive himſelf, ſaying, p. 517though I walk as in former times, and live ſtill as I have lived, yet my heart is as good as the beſt; thou doſt but delude and deſtroy thy ſelf in this vain boaſting, for the Tree is known by his fruits; it is impoſſible that thy heart ſhould be a new heart, as long as thy Converſation remains a wicked Converſation.

Object. But you may ſay, Do you not ſee that hypocrites do appear in good works, and yet they are wicked perſons; and good men ſometimes appear in evil works and actions, and yet they are not wicked: Ergo. This appearance in new works cannot be a ſure ſign of a new heart:

Sol. To this I anſwer.

Firſt, Whatſoever the good works may be which a wicked man may do, I ſhall not at this time diſpute; but this may ſuffice you, that where there is no newneſs of life, there is no newneſs of heart.

Secondly, It is not this or that particular paſſage in the life which denominatively declares the eſtate of the heart either way; one particular good action may be done by him whoſe heart is naught; and one particular ill action may be done by him whoſe heart is good, and truly renewed by grace. As the new heart brings forth new works, ſo it doth act them after a new manner of working; it is poſſible that an unregenerate man may do many works which are morally good, but then he doth not perform thoſe works in ſuch a manner as that man doth, whoſe heart is renewed by grace.

The qualification of works for the manner in a man renewed.There are four qualifications as to the manner of working, or performance of duties which are found in the renewed perſon, and in no other man.

1. He performs them in the ſtrength of Chriſt, by vertue of union and communion with him, Simile. as the members of the body do act by vertue of their union and communion with the head: I can do all things (ſaid Paul) through Chriſt that ſtrengthens me, Phil. 4. 13. And as the branch cannot bear fruit of it ſelf, except it abide in the Ʋine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me, Joh. 15. 4.

2. He performs them as with love; the love of Chriſt conſtraineth me, ſaid Paul, 2 Cor. 5. 14. If a man love me, he will keep my Word, ſaid Chriſt, Joh. 14. 23. Now when a man doth works of obedience out of love, he is ready and willing to do them; the work is written in his heart, he takes delight in the doing of them: I delight to do thy Will O God, Pſal. 40. 8. And make me to go in the paths of thy Commandments, for therein do I delight, Pſal. 119. 35. It is a mans meat and drink to do the will of God, Joh. 4. 34. The yoke is eaſie, and the Commandments are not grievous, 1 Joh. 5.

3. He performs them with fervency of ſpirit, not coldly, and careleſly, and indifferently, but cloſely, and ſeriouſly, with a fervent ſpirit. (Rom. 12. 11. Fervent in Spirit, ſerving the Lord) he ſeeks the Lord with his whole heart; an heavenly impetus & aeſtus, & vigor, &c.

4. He performs them with integrity of intention; looks not at himſelf, but the glory of God in Chriſt, &c.

Eighthly, You may know that God hath given you a new heart, if you find New delights and ſatisfactions.new delights and ſatisfactions. There is not a man in the world but the frame of his heart may be known by that which he takes delight, and contentment, and ſatisfaction in. If one hath a proud heart, the vanities, and faſhions, and dreſſes, and braveries of the world are his delight and ſatisfaction. If one hath an ambitious heart, the honours and applauſes, and dignities, and preferments, and powers of the world are his delight and ſatisfaction. If one hath a covetous heart, the riches and profits, and treaſures of the world are his delight and ſatisfaction. If one hath a ſenſual and unclean heart, the filthineſs and actings of luſts are his delight and ſatisfaction: And there is no unregenerate perſon, but either ſome worldly object, or ſome ſinful object is his delight and ſatisfaction; might he have p. 518wealth enough, or honour enough, or pleaſure enough, he would deſire no more, here he would reſt, and with this he would be contented and ſatisfied: But now when the Lord changeth and reneweth the heart by grace, that which delights and contents, and ſatisfies other men, will not delight and ſatisfie him; nay, thoſe very objects which formerly ſatisfied himſelf, will not now by any means ſatisfie him; but he hath new objects, and new ways of delight and ſatisfaction: If the Lord ſhould ſay unto a regenerate and renewed perſon, I will give thee all the world, this would not ſatisfie him or delight him, though heretofore a little of it would have gone far, and have done much. The renewed perſon ſees what a vanity of vanities the world is, and what a hell of hells ſin is; and his delights and ſatisfactions are now in objects ſutable to his new nature, the higheſt and beſt objects, theſe are ſutable with the higheſt and beſt heart. A God, a reconciled God, the favour of God, the knowledge of him as ſo, the fruition of him as ſo, the meditations on him as ſo, the communions with him as ſo, the manifeſtations of him to the ſoul as ſo, the hopes of the future and eternal enjoyment of him as ſo, Pſal. 73. 25. Theſe, theſe are the delights, the contentments and ſatisfactions of an heart (indeed) renewed by grace. The excellent glories of Chriſt, a near relation unto Chriſt, the life of Chriſt, the peace by Chriſt, the comforts of Chriſt, the enjoyments of and by Chriſt, the love of Chriſt, the powers of Chriſt, the preſence of Chriſt, and fellowſhip with Chriſt, theſe are the new delights, the new contentments, and the only ſatisfactions of a new heart; theſe are food and rayment, theſe are houſes and lands, theſe are parents and friends, theſe are treaſures and pleaſures to a renewed heart; theſe are the reſt of it, and the heaven to it; one ſight of God in Chriſt, one ſmile of his love, one word of peace and joy from Chriſt, delights and ſatisfies a renewed heart more than all which the world can afford.

Ninthly, Another ſign of a new heart, is new ſociety; when God gives a A new ſociety.man a new heart, that man hath a new Maſter, and new work, and new friends, and ſociety. Pſal. 119. 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. 1 Joh. 3. 14. We know that we have paſſed from death to life, becauſe we love the Brethren. 2 Cor. 6. 14. What fellowſhip hath righteouſneſs with unrighteouſneſs? and what communion hath light with darkneſs? Pſal. 139. 21. Do not I hate them O Lord that hate thee? O what a burden is it to a good heart to be in ungodly company? Woe is me that I ſo journ in Meſech, that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar, Pſal. 120. 5. And what a delight is it to a renewed perſon to be in the company of renewed perſons. Pſal. 16. 3. To the Saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight. Pſal. 42. 4. I went with them to the houſe of God, with the voice of joy and praiſe. Holy ſociety is the only ſociety for perſons of holy hearts; and in that ſociety can no man take delight, untill God renews his heart by grace.

Tenthly, Laſtly, When God gives a man a new heart, he doth preſently A new rule.ſet up a new rule of life to walk by; and according to that is his courſe ordered all the days of his life; and what is that rule? not our own judgement, not revelations, not our own will, not our own luſts, not our own affections, not the opinion of men, not the cuſtomes of the world, not the applauſes of the world, not the ways of worldly advancements and advantages: But the rule which a renewed heart ſets up to guide and preſcribe him, is none other but that which God himſelf ſets up for his people to walk by, and that is his written Word. Pſal. 119. 105. Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ver. 133. Order my ſteps in thy Word. This rule he ſets up for all matters of faith, and for all matters of fact; this I muſt believe, becauſe God reveals it and commands me to believe it; this I receive for truth▪ becauſe God delivers it for truth; and that I reject as erroneous, becauſe the Word of God condemns it as p. 519contrary to the truth: And this work I do, and that way I walk in, becauſe God ſets it out in his Word for me; and that I do not do, and ſo and ſo I dare not walk, for I have no Word of God for it; nay, the Word of God is againſt it; why? mans heart is right indeed, it is renewed by grace; but if a man will walk contrary to this rule, if he will not ſpeak and live, according to this Word, it is becauſe there is no light in him, Iſa. 8. 20.

SECT. V.

Ʋſe 4. DOth God promiſe to give unto all his people in Covenant with him a new heart and a new ſpirit? then there is comfort and joy to Comfort to thoſe that have a new heart.all thoſe who finde the new heart given unto them; it is true, that when the Lord doth renew the heart of any by his grace, and ſeparate them from the world unto himſelf, that

1. They ſhall meet with many troubles and ſcoffs, and reproaches, and perſecutions from the world: All that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, ſhall ſuffer perſecutions, 2 Tim. 3.

2. They ſhall meet with many temptations and oppoſitions from Satan; if he cannot hinder grace, and conquer grace, yet he will moleſt and diſquiet grace.

3. They ſhall meet with many conflicts and warrings within their own hearts, and with many weakneſſes and failings, and tryals; nevertheleſs their condition is a very happy and comfortable condition, and there are eight Eight comforts proper to them.choice comforts which are proper to every renewed perſon, and which may cheer up his heart all his days; v. g.

1. Newneſs of heart is a ſure and infallible teſtimony of the beſt, and of the greateſt matters which can concern the ſoul.

2. This newneſs of heart is an unqueſtionable effect of our union with Chriſt.

3. It is the nobleſt and higheſt elevation of the ſoul here on earth, and the clear evidence of the preſence of the Spirit of Chriſt.

4. It enables you for all heavenly communion and ſerviceableneſs to Divine glory.

5. God will own and accept of it, and the fruits of it, though but little and weak.

6. He will ſtrengthen and uphold, and perfect it unto the day of Chriſt.

7. He will poure upon every perſon who enjoys it, all neceſſary bleſſings for this life, and will take ſpecial notice of him, and care for him in the days of adverſity.

8. Renewing grace ſhall (without all doubt) bring us at the laſt to eternal happineſs.

Firſt, Newneſs of heart is a ſure and infallible testimony of the beſt, and of It is a clear teſtimony of the greateſt matters which can concern the ſoul.the greateſt matters which can concern the ſoul.

There are ſix things which do concern the ſoul as nearly I think as any can, and of every one of them is renewing grace a ſure teſtimony. 1. The love of God. 2. The election of God. 3. A relation to God. 4. A change from death to life. 5. The pardon of ſin. 6. The hope of glory.

1. Of the love of God, that the Lord doth indeed ſet his ſpecial love, A teſtimony of the love of God.his very heart upon a perſon. 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath beſtowed upon us, that we ſhould be called the ſons of God. Pſal. 146. 8. The Lord loveth the righteous; for any to be made the ſons of God, this is an effect or fruit of the love of God; now all the ſons of God are p. 520new born, they are born again of the Spirit, Joh. 3. 5. Epheſ. 2. 4. But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us. Ver. 5. even when we were dead in ſins and trespaſſes, hath quicked us together with Chriſt. As it is one of the greateſt teſtimonies of Gods hatred and wrath, for any to be left to his old ſinful heart and luſts, and ways; ſo it is one of the greateſt teſtimonies of Gods love, when he pities them in their ſinful condition, and delivers them out of it, and gives his Spirit to enliven and renew them by grace.

2. Of the Election of God; for this ſee two places: 1 Theſ. 1. 4. Knowing Of election.(Brethren, Beloved) your Election of God. Ver. 5. For our Goſpel came unto you not in word only, but alſo in power, and in the Holy Ghoſt. Eph. 1. 4. He hath choſen us in him that we ſhould be holy. Holineſs (or renewing grace) it is (as one ſpeaketh) the counterpane of Gods decree of Election; God by his own eternal preſcience knows whom he intends for ſalvation, and we by that work of renewing grace in our hearts, come to know that eternal purpoſe of his grace concerning us, it being given unto us an effect flowing from his Election, and in order unto that happineſs unto which he hath choſen us.

3. Of our Relation to God as our God and our Father; as none but his Of our relation to God.people and children are holy, ſo all his people and his children are holy. Iſa. 63. 18. The people of thy holineſs; they are, 1 Pet. 2. 9. an holy Nation, and a peculiar people. 2 Cor. 6. 17. Come out from among them, and be ye ſeparate, and touch no unclean thing. Ver. 18. And I will be a father unto you, and ye ſhall be my ſons and daughters, ſaith the Lord Almighty.

4. Of our tranſlation from life to death; See Iſa. 4. 3. He that is left in Of our tranſlation from death to life.Zion, and he that remaineth in Jeruſalem, ſhall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jeruſalem. Ezek. 16. 6. When I paſſed by thee, and ſaw thee polluted in thine own blood, I ſaid unto thee, when thou waſt in thy blood, Live; yea, I ſaid unto thee, when thou waſt in thy blood, Live. Luk. 15. 32. This my ſon was dead, and is alive again. Rom 6. 11. Likewiſe reckon ye your ſelves to be dead unto ſin, but alive unto God. Renewing grace is one of the ſtricteſt differences between men of death, and men of life; not any man hath it, but he who is made alive by Chriſt, and is in the ſtate of life; no profane perſon hath it, nor doth any hypocrite partake of it.

5. Of the pardon of our ſins; if any man fancieth that his ſins are pardoned, Of the pardon of our ſins.and yet his ſinful heart remains, he deceiveth himſelf; for when God pardons ſins, he changeth the ſinner. Jer. 33. 8. I will cleanſe them from all their iniquity, and will pardon all their iniquities. Mal. 4. 2. The Son of righteouſneſs ſhall ariſe with healing in his wings. 1 Cor. 6. 11. But ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, but ye are justified.

6. Of the hope of glory; Chriſt is the hope of glory, as a meritorious Of hope of glory.cauſe: Coloſ. 1. 27. And renewing grace is the hope of glory as a teſtifying means: 1 Pet. 1. 3. Who hath begotten us again to a lively hope. Ver. 4. To an inheritance incorruptible, &c. 1 Joh. 3. 2. We know that when he appeareth we ſhall be like him, for we ſhall ſee him as he is. Ver. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himſelf even as he is pure.

Secondly, Newneſs of heart is an unqueſtionable effect of our union with Chriſt; It is an effect of our union with Chriſt.Is it no comfort to you that you belong to Chriſt, that Chriſt is yours, that you are in him of a truth! hear what the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Cor. 1. 30. Of him are ye in Chriſt Jeſus, who of God is made unto us wiſdome, righteouſneſs, ſanctification, &c. 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man he in Chriſt, he is a new creature. Beloved, this is moſt certain, that unction flows from union; you are not firſt ſanctified and renewed, and then brought into Chriſt; but you are firſt brought into Chriſt, and ſo are you ſanctified and renewed by the Spirit of Chriſt, partaking p. 521of him, you do partake of life; none have their hearts renewed by grace, but ſuch as are in Chriſt; and all that are in Chriſt have their hearts renewed by grace: Joh. 1. 16. Of his fulneſs have all we received, and grace for grace.

Thirdly, Newneſs of heart is the nobleſt and higheſt elevation of our hearts, It is the higheſt elevation of our hearts.As the degenerate and corrupt nature is of all other the worſt and baſeſt (for there is nothing more vile than that which is moſt ſinful) ſo the renewed nature which is directly oppoſite unto it, is of all other the moſt excellent and raiſing; it is therefore called, the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4. The image of God, Col. 3. 10. The image of his glory, 2 Cor. 3. 18.

There are three things which may convince any Chriſtian, that renewing grace or newneſs of heart is our higheſt elevation and perfection.

1. One, becauſe it is the nearest reſemblance of that nature which is in God himſelf; when you are renewed by grace, then you are like unto God himſelf: 1 Pet. 1. 16 Be ye holy, for I am holy.

2. Another, becauſe it is the choiſeſt work or effect of the Spirit of God, who though he produceth many other works, yet this is the chiefeſt of them, herein is his Arm revealed; and in this doth his glory moſt appear, and ſhine.

3. A third is, becauſe it is our neareſt conformity to Christ our Head, in whom the image of God doth moſt appear. The image of God doth conſiſt in knowledge, holineſs, and righteouſneſs, as you may ſee if you compare Col. 3. with Epheſ. 4. and this image was perfect in Chriſt who was the image of his Father; and unto this are we conformed (in our proportion) when we are renewed by grace; for we are then changed into the ſame image, 2 Cor. 3 18. And upon this one account are they ſaid to be one Spirit with him who are joyned with him, 1 Cor. 6. 17.

Fourthly, Newneſs of heart enables you for all heavenly communion, and ſerviceableneſs It enables for heavenly communion.to Divine glory. Now you may aproach, and come near, and ſtand in the preſence of your God, and he will take delight in you, and impart himſelf unto you; when you call, he will anſwer you, and ſay, Here I am; and when you hear his Word, he will meet you, and teach, and guide, and rejoyce your heart. When God renews our hearts, he doth then ſet us apart for himſelf, owns us as his jewels, looks on us as his Hephziba and Beulah, as his beloved, as ſuch in whom he delights, as his friends, as his favourites; you may open all your wants, and deſires, and conditions unto him, and he will open all his goodneſs, and kindneſs, and mercies unto you: Your hearts are now become his temples in which he will dwell, and walk, and appear with glorious manifeſtations of his love, and grace, and help. Beſides this newneſs of heart makes you ſerviceable unto his glory; you can glorifie him in your hearts by believing on him; in your lives by heavenly, upright, humble, obedient faithful walking.

Fifthly, God will own and accept of it, and the fruit of it, though but little and God owns and accept of it, though little and weak.weak; As the leaſt degree of newneſs doth denominate the condition, ſo the weakeſt expreſſions of it are accepted; He will not deſpiſe the day of ſmall things, Zach. 4. 10. The bruiſed reed he will not break, nor will he quench the ſmoaking flax, Matth. 12. 20. But he will spare his people as a man ſpareth his ſon that ſerveth him, Mal. 3. 17.

Sixthly, Nay he will ſtand by it, and uphold it, and ſtrengthen it, and perfect it: When you are under ſpiritual conflicts with your corruptions and temptations, He will ſtand by it.he will be preſent with you; he will put forth his ſtrong hand upon your weak hand; he will make his power to appear in your weakneſs, he will ſtrengthen what he hath wrought, and finiſh what he hath begun.

p. 522Seventhly, Certain bleſſings, and ſpecial cares are for all whoſe hearts are renewed by grace: No people on earth have ſuch a title to earth, nor ſuch a Special bleſſings are for ….ſure revenue, nor ſuch tender care for them, as renewed and regenerate perſons. The Lord is near unto them, he is round about them, he is in the midſt of them, he will do them good, he will ſurely bleſs them, no good thing ſhall be wanting to them, he will never leave them nor forſake them, he will be a preſent help unto them in the time of trouble, he will know their ſouls in adverſity, and will contend againſt all who do contend againſt them.

Eighthly, Renewing grace will at the laſt bring you to the enjoyment of eternal It will bring us to eternal happineſs.happineſſe: Matth. 5. 8. Bleſſed are the pure in heart, for they ſhall ſee God. Rom. 6 22. But now being made free from ſin, and become ſervants to God, you have your fruit unto holineſs, and the end everlaſting life. Why! It is the firſt fruits of the Spirit; the earneſt of the Spirit; the ſeal of the Spirit; holineſs is happineſs begun; grace is glory begun already, &c.

SECT. VI.

Ʋſe 5. DOth God promiſe to give a new heart? Then let the next Uſe Exhortation to uſe the means for it.be for Exhortation to uſe the means by which every one of us may at length enjoy it.

For the managing of this Uſe, there are three things I will offer unto you.

1. Motives to perſwade you to ſtrive after a new heart.

2. Cautions what to avoid if you would get the new heart.

3. Scripture-informations what the wayes are, which if you take, will certainly bring you to the enjoyment of a new heart.

1. The Motives to perſwade us to look and ſtrive after this new heart.Motives.

They are theſe three. 1. The miſery of an old heart. 2. The neceſſity of a new heart. 3. The poſſibility to be delivered from that, and to be poſſeſſed of this.

1. The miſery of an old heart: It is ſuch an heart that (remaining under the power of it) you cannot pleaſe God; Rom. 8. 8. Nay, you cannot but displeaſe The miſery of an old heart.God, you cannot but ſtill ſin againſt him, cannot ceaſe from ſin, 2 Pet. 2 14.

But more particularly, the old heart,

Firſt, Is a fleſhly and corrupt heart (the old man which is corrupt, Eph. 4. 22. It is called the plague of the heart, 1 King. 8. 38. It corrupts all your thoughts, and all your affections, and all your ſpeeches, and all your actions.

Secondly, Is an abominable heart; the Lord loaths and abhors it, as the defacing of his image, as the workmanſhip of the Divel, as that which is moſt contrary to his Nature, to his Will, and to his Glory.

Thirdly, Is a debaſing heart; it makes us more vile than the vileſt of creatures, it makes us like the Divel, it makes us his children, his ſlaves, his captives and bondmen.

Fourthly, A prejudicing heart, it keeps us off from God, from Chriſt, from all heavenly communion, from all ability to do good, or to receive good; it holds up our diſtance from mercy, from bleſſings, from heaven, and from all hopes thereof: Epheſ. 2. 12. Without Chriſt, having no hope, and without God in the world.

Fifthly, It is a deceitful heart: Jer. 17. 9. It tempts you, and deceives you; it promiſeth one thing, and payes you another thing; it pretends but to a little more ſinning, and yet it is unſatiable: It tells you that it will bring you off from ſinning, and yet ſtill it engageth you to farther ſinning: It makes you to believe that you ſhall have mercy, and yet it continues you in a courſe of ſinning which p. 523will loſe you mercy; it ſaith that you ſhall at laſt repent, and yet it makes your heart more hardened and impenitent; it gives you vain pleaſures, and ſo cheats you of all true joy; it feeds you with ſome empty profits, and thereby deprives you of all true riches; it brings in (ſometimes) a little of earth, but then it makes you to loſe Chriſt and your own ſouls.

Sixthly, Is a dreadful heart: It is the root of gall and wormwood, and the fruits of it are terror, and wrath, and death, and hell. All the terrors of conſcience ſpring from it; all the wrath of God breaks out upon you by reaſon of it; all the bitter feelings, and all the dreadful fears and expectations depend upon it; you cannot know peace whiles you live under the power of it: Neither God, nor Chriſt, nor his Spirit, nor his Word, nor Conſcience will ſpeak peace unto you in that condition. But on the contrary, the Law of God threatens and condemns you, and the Goſpel doth as much and more, and God and Conſcience are all in armes againſt you; and every judgement of God (which reſpects your ſoul and body for this life and the next) doth await but one word and commiſſion from the juſt God to fall on you, and to torment and deſtroy you.

2ly The neceſſity of a new heart.The neceſſity of a new heart

You know there is a two fold neceſſity.

One is abſolute, without which a thing cannot be at all, as the union of the ſoul with the body to make a man. Another is Hypothetical; if one would be in a well-being, then ſuch or ſuch a thing is neceſſary: Now you can never be in a well-being, unleſs the Lord give you a new heart; renewing grace is neceſſary as to that. Our well-being reſpects either this preſent, or that future life; and newneſs of heart neceſſarily concerns both.

1. For this life; we cannot be well whiles we are under the curſe for ſin, For this lifeand under the power of ſin; to deliver us from the firſt of theſe, it is neceſſary to get Chriſt, and to be juſtified; and to deliver us from the laſt of theſe, it is as neceſſary to get renewing grace, and to be ſanctified.

2. For the future life of bleſſedneſs, it is alſo neceſſary, foraſmuch as there For the life to come.cannot be a fruition of that, without an antecedent fruition of this: Joh. 3. 5. Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Heb. 12. 14. Without holineſs no man ſhall ſee the Lord.

3ly The Poſſibility of getting this new heart.

I confeſs, that though newneſs of heart be neceſſary, yet if it be impoſſible to be The poſſibility of getting of it.attained, it were in vain to put you upon the ſeeking for it; but as it is neceſſary to enjoy it, ſo it is poſſible to find it; and three things may convince us of that.

Firſt, One is the power of God, to whom nothing is hard or impoſſible: 'Tis true, that an Almighty power muſt be put forth to make a Creature, and to make a new creature: But God is able to quicken the dead, and to reſtore his own image, and to ſlay and ſubdue the power of our ſins, and to create in us a new heart, and to put another ſpirit within us; whatſoever he doth command and require, he is able to give and work.

Secondly, The ſecond is the promiſe of God; you ſee here that he promiſeth to give a new heart, and upon this condition, if men will enquire of him for it, as he likewiſe upon the ſame terms promiſeth to give his holy Spirit to them that ask it, Luke 11. 13. Now the promiſe of God as it includes his power to perform what he hath promiſed, ſo it doth expreſs his intention and will to give what he promiſeth to give, if we ſeek unto him, and rely upon him.

The third is the work of God: He hath according to his Word of promiſe given this new heart to many thouſands in the world; we find large Records of this in the Scripture, Act. 2. 4. and we ſee manifold inſtances amongſt our ſelves what changes he makes in the hearts and lives of men, and many times of ſuch as have been very wicked, and utterly unworthy.The Cautions what to avoid.

2ly. The Cautions what to avoid if we would get a new heart.

p. 524If ever you would ſeek for, and obtain a new heart, then remember theſe five Cautions.

Firſt, Beware of a ſelf-deceiving opinion that you have it already; and that you Beware of a ſelf-deceiving opinion that you have it.(for your part) ſtand not under the want and need of it. This is that which undoth many hearers, when we preſs Chriſt and faith upon them, O they have believed on him: And when we preſs repentance, why, they need no repentance, they have repented long ago; and when we tell them they muſt be converted, they muſt be new creatures, they muſt get new hearts, O they need them not, their hearts are as good as the beſt, and they have very good natures and diſpoſitions: With this the Phariſees deceived themſelves; they were righteous and needed no repentance, and ſo they rejected Chriſt; and with this, Laodicea deceived her ſelf; She was rich and increaſed, and ſtood in need of nothing; and yet ſhe was blind, and wretched, and naked, and poor.

Secondly, Beware that you hearken not to the exceptions and prejudices of your Of hearkning to the prejudices of your old hearts.old and corrupt hearts, which are blind and cannot ſee the excellency of renewing grace, and which alſo are averſe, and have a natural antipathy unto it. You would not imagine (untill you come to the trial) what exceptions and oppoſitions there are in our hearts againſt their Converſion and Renovation; Sometimes we look on it as a melancholly and troubling humour: ſometimes we look on it as a needleſs and vain preciſeneſs; ſometimes we look on it as a proud and unſociable quality; ſometimes we look on it as too low and mean a ſtate and practice for perſons of our greatneſs; ſometimes we look on it as that which will expoſe us to the contempts, and ſcoffs, and reproaches of men; ſometimes we look on it as the grave of all our delights and profits; ſometimes we look on it as a buſineſs utterly impoſſible for any man on earth: Now if any of theſe prejudices, or if any other beſides theſe prevail with us, we will then ſit quiet and contented with our old heart, and will never be perſwaded to look out for new hearts; therefore beſeech the Lord to deliver you from the lying vanities and prejudices of the old heart.

Thirdly, Beware of conſulting with worldly men, or ſetting up the favours Of conſulting with worldly men.or frowns of them: O if I ſhould become a new man, and lead a new life; if I ſhould regard holineſs, and life godly, I ſhould loſe favour, and hopes; how would my Parents look on me? what would my friends and acquaintance think of me! what oppoſition would befall me! how would men ſcoff and jear at me! and what reports and reproaches would they raiſe of me! let me tell thee plainly and faithfully, that if the Lord doth not in much mercy mortifie and ſubdue this weakneſs (that I ſay not wickedneſs) of ſpirit in thee, that thou art contented rather to enjoy thy old heart and courſes with the applauſes of the world, than to yeild in thy heart to Chriſt, and be willing and reſolute to get thy heart renewed by the Spirit of grace, although for this thou mayeſt meet with all ſorts of afflictions and reproaches from the world, thy poor ſoul will be for ever loſt.

Firſt, Beware that you reſt not on your own ſtrength and ſufficiency, to renew or Of reſting in your own ſtrength.change your hearts; if you do, two fruits there will be of it.

1. You will either not ſeek to the Lord at all, or if you do, you will then ſeek him in a careleſs and unbelieving way.

2. Another is, you will but labour in vain, you will never be ſucceſſfull; for you have no ſtrength and ſufficiency of your own: Without me, ſaith Chriſt, ye can do nothing, Joh. 15. 5. And it is God (ſaith the Apoſtle) that worketh in us to will and to do of his good pleaſure.

Fifthly, Beware that you neither delay, nor dally in uſing the means Of delaying and dallying in the uſe of means.to get this new heart: Do not ſay to morrow, the next year, when I am ſick, when I am old; theſe may be too late, and theſe may provoke the Lord to turn away his mercy, and to deny his Spirit, becauſe you put p. 525him off, he may therefore juſtly put you off: Neither dally in the uſe of means, one while attending, another while neglecting; one while being fervent, and another while being remiſſe; one week going forward, and then for a year to fall backward, but reſolve to ſeek this new heart with all your heart, and with all your pains, following on, and preſſing forward, and running till you enjoy this new heart, which God hath promiſed to give unto them that ſeek it.

3ly The wayes or meanes to get a new heart.

Firſt, Strive to be willing that God ſhould make your hearts new, that he The wayes to get a new heartſhould change and renew them by grace; Pars eſt ſanitatis velle ſanari; Jer. 13. 27. O Jeruſalem, wilt thou be made clean? Joh. 5. 6. Jeſus ſaid unto him, Be willing.wilt thou be made whole? O that we could get thus farre, O Lord, I am weary of my old ſinful heart, I am willing that thou ſhouldeſt heal it, and reform it: If the unclean perſon were willing that God ſhould cleanſe him from his filthineſs; and the proud perſon were willing that God ſhould make him humble, this would be a fair ſtep to newneſs of heart.

Secondly, Expreſſe this willingneſs in earneſt Prayers to God, who only is Expreſs this willingneſs in earneſt Prayer.able to give a new heart: Jer. 17. 14. Heal me, O Lord, and I ſhall be healed; ſave me, O Lord, and I ſhall be ſaved. Pſal. 51. 10. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right ſpirit within me.

And let your Prayers have three Ingredients or Concomitants.

1. Sincerity; let them come from your very hearts, let them be the deſires of your ſouls: My ſoule follows hard after thee, Pſal. 63. 8. With my ſoul have I deſired thee in the night, yea with my ſpirit within me will I ſeek thee early, Iſa. 26. 9. That the Lord may ſee that in very deed you would have your hearts changed, and nothing will ſatisfie you till he grant you that requeſt.

2. Faith; give up your earneſt requeſt for this in Faith, 1. Of Credence, that he can give it. 2. Of Reliance, that for his Chriſts ſake, and for his promiſe ſake he will do it: Lord! It is thy promiſe to give a new heart, and all thy promiſes in Christ are Yea and Amen; none doth need the new heart more than I do, and none can give that heart but thy ſelf; and thou haſt promiſed to give it unto them that ask; I come unto thee in the Name of Chriſt, and do beſeech thee for his ſake to anſwer me according to thy Word; thou art able and faithful, thou wilt give what thou promiſeſt to give to them that ſeek thee; I believe all this, Lord help my unbelief, &c.

3. Perſeverance; hold on this requeſt; and againſt all the rebellious workings of your old heart, and againſt all the fears, and diſputes, and diſcouragements of your old hearts, yet lift up one Prayer more, and one Prayer more; you ſhall certainly prevail if you can perſevere in Prayer.

There are three Requeſts which a poor broken-heart is ſure to ſpeed in, if he will pray alwayes, and not faint; One is for a Chriſt, and another is for pardoning mercy, and a third is for a new heart.

Thirdly, Diligently and patienly attend the Word, by which God converts, Attend the Word.and changeth, and renews the heart: Pſal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting ſouls. Jam. 1. 18. Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth. Epheſ. 5. 26. That he might ſanctifie and cleanſe it with the waſhing of water by the Word. How many old ſinful hearts hath God convinced and converted by his Word, that have come unto it with ignorance, and been ſent from it with knowledge! that have come to it with hardneſs, and have been ſent from it with tenderneſs! that have come to it with pride, and have been ſent from it with humility! that have come to it with all manner of profaneneſs, and have been ſent from it with all p. 526manner of holineſs, with the Love of God, and fear of God, and hatred of ſin, and real purpoſe to walk with God in newneſs of obedience; O therefore attend the Word of the Goſpel, which is the power of God unto ſalvation, and therefore the power of God to Renovation, &c.

Fourthly, Laſtly, beſeech the Lord to give you the uniting faith; that faith which will unite your hearts to Jeſus Chriſt, which will effectually bring you into Begge uniting Faith.relation with him, as Members of the Body of which he is the head; as Branches of himſelf the true Vine.

Object. Why, what will this do, may ſome of you ſay?

Sol. I will tell you what it will do; it will infallibly bring in renewing grace to your hearts: You can never be changed and renewed Creatures, unleſs you be in Christ, 2 Cor 5. 17. For our ſpiritual life is in and from him; he is the Authour of life unto us, as Adam was the authour of death unto us: And he was anointed with the Spirit, that we from him might be Anointed with the Spirit: And if once you be united by Faith unto him, you partake of his Spirit to ſanctifie and renew, and conform you unto himſelf; He that is joyned to the Lord is one ſpirit, 1 Cor. 6. 17.

p. 527EZEK. 36. 26.

And I will take away the ſtony heart out of your fleſh, and I will give you an heart of fleſh.

THeſe words are yet a further Declaration of the gracious will and intention of God towards the people of his Covenant: Two things already hath God promiſed unto them; one was to juſtifie them, to pardon all their ſins; another was to ſanctifie them, to renew all their hearts.

And there are two more choice mercies and bleſſings which he doth graciouſly undertake to beſtow upon them.

Firſt, One is, to take away the stony heart out of their fleſh.

Secondly, The other is, to give them an heart of fleſh: O what a mercy is it to be rid of the ſtone in the body which puts us to ſuch exquiſite pain and torment! your mercy is infinitely greater, to be delivered from the ſtone in the heart, which is the depth of ſin, and the height of judgement.

There are three Propoſitions which theſe words do hold forth unto us; viz.

Firſt, There is a ſtony heart, or an heart of ſtone in every man.

Secondly, That God will take away the ſtony heart from his people.

Thirdly, He will not only take away from them the heart of ſtone, but he will alſo give them an heart of fleſh.