Characters of a Sincere Heart, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Vivification of the Fruits of the Spirit is a Character of a ſincere Heart.
THe twelfth and laſt Character of ſincerity Charact. 12. Vivification of the fruits of the Spirit. Sect. 1.(which I ſhall only mention) is, The Vivification of the Fruits of the Spirit. After mortification of the deeds of the Body, there muſt neceſſarily follow, the Vivification of the Fruits of the Spirit; for where Chriſt dwells in a Soul by faith, and by the influence of his grace, the Body is dead, (as the Apoſtle ſaith, Rom. 8. 10.) becauſe of ſin; but the ſpirit is life, becauſe of righteouſneſs. A Learned and Judicious Writer thus interprets that Scripture; Quam vis peccatum morfi nos adjudicet quatenus in nobis remanet primae naturae vitioſibus ſpiritum tamea Dei eſſe victore noc obſtare quod tantum primitiis donati ſumus quia vel una ejus ſciatilla vi…ae ſemen eſt. Calv. in Loc.Although (ſaith he) ſin condemns us to death, ſo far as the remainders of corrupt nature, and the vitioſity thereof remains in us, yet the Spirit is Conquerour: wherefore notwithſtanding out primitive corruption, one ſpark of the Spirit of God is a ſeed of life to us, though in this world we receive only the firſtfruits thereof. All thoſe who by nature are dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, can never be brought from death to life, and from the ſtate of nature into the ſtate of grace, any other way but by the quickning virtue of Jeſus Chriſt. For ſaith the Apoſtle, You hath he quickned, who were dead in your treſpaſſes and ſins. Such as are now (through grace) in a ſtate of regeneracy, were in their natural condition in a ſtate of unregeneracy; and ſuch who are now quickned, were formerly in a dead condition: As it's ſaid of the converted Prodigal in the Parable, Luke 15. 32. He was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. The Apoſtle diſcovers the great difference between the ſtate of regeneracy and unregeneracy, (and the difference is great, as great as the difference between life and death.) Let's diligently review the words of the Apoſtle, Wherein Epheſ. 2. 2, 3.in time past ye walked according to the courſe of this World, according to the Prince of the power of the Air, the ſpirit that now worketh in the children of diſobedience: Among whom alſo we had our converſation in times past, in the luſts of our fleſh, fulfilling the deſires (or wills) of the fleſh, and of the mind, and were by nature foreign.the children of wrath, even as others. And what is the ſole moving cauſe of all? it followeth verſ. 4, 5. But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in ſins, hath quickned us together with foreign. Sect. 2.Chriſt; by grace ye are ſaved.
Queſt. But the Queſtion may be askt, How may ſuch who are regenerated and quickned by Chriſt, be diſtinguiſhed from ſuch who are unregenerate, and yet dead in their treſpaſſes and ſins?
Anſw. I Anſwer, as a tree may be known by its fruits which it bears; i. e. a good tree, by good fruits; and a bad tree, by bad fruits; ſo may regenerate be diſtinguiſhed from unregenerate: unregenerate bring forth the fruits of the fleſh, as adultery, fornication, uncleanneſs, &c. Gal. 5. 19, 20, 21. before mentioned; but regenerate perſons bring forth the fruits of the Spirit. St. Paul gives us a double Catalogue; one is ſhort, but very comprehenſive, Epheſ. 5. 9. The fruit of the ſpirit is in all goodneſs, righteouſneſs and truth. The other is a large Catalogue, Gal. 5. 22, 23. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-ſuffering, gentleneſs, goodneſs, faith, meekneſs, temperance, againſt ſuch there is no Law. If then the fruits of the Spirit exert and manifeſt themſelves in the holineſs of our lives and converſations, it's an infallible ſign of our vivification by the Spirit of Jeſus Chriſt.
By thoſe twelve forementioned Characters of a ſincere Heart, we may and muſt put our ſelves upon a ſtrict ſearch and enquiry, whether our hearts be ſincere and upright towards God? We muſt then with all diligence and impartiality make a ſtrict ſearch into our hearts; we muſt ask, What have I done? Jer. 8. 6. we muſt commune with our own hearts, Pſal. 4. 4. and (as the Church reſolves, Lam. 3. 40.) Let us ſearch and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. And I am perſwaded, that if we have one of thoſe Characters forementioned in ſincerity and in truth, we have the reſt; for they are all Links of one and the ſame golden Chain, and there's ſuch a concatenation between them, as one cannot be ſeparated from another.