Doctrine of a Man in the Act of the New Birth, Treatise · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. The Call on Gods part, for the Soul to cloſe with, and to relye on Chriſt.
HItherto of our firſt general, to wit, The Preparation of the Soul for Chriſt: The next is, The Implantation of the Soul into Chriſt; and that hath two parts:
1. The putting of the Soul into Chriſt.
2. The growing of the Soul with Chriſt.
As a graft is firſt put into the ſtock, and then it grows together with the ſtock: Theſe two things are anſwerable in the Soul, and when it is brought into this, then a ſinner comes to be partaker of all ſpiritual benefits.
The firſt part is, The putting in of the Soul: when the Soul is brought out of the world of ſin, to lie upon, and to cloſe with the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and this hath two particular paſſages:
The Call on Gods part.
The Anſwer on mans part.
The Call on Gods part is this, When the Lord by the Call of his Goſpel, and work of his Spirit, doth ſo clearly reveal the fulneſs of Mercy, that the Soul humbled returns Anſwer.
In which obſerve the
Means
Cauſe
whereby God doth Call.
1. The Means is onelyonly the Miniſtery of the Goſpel; the ſum whereof is this, That There is fulneſs of Mercy, and Grace, and Salvation brought unto us through the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Hence the phraſe of Scripture calls this Gospel, or this mercy, A treaſury; All the treaſures of wiſdom and holineſs are in Chriſt: Col. 2. 3.not One treaſure, but All treaſures; not Some treaſures, but All treaſures: where the Goſpel comes, there is joy for the ſorrowful, peace for the troubled, ſtrength for the weak, relief ſeaſonable Iſa. 61.and ſuitable to all wants, miſeries and neceſſities, both preſent and future.
If then ſorrow aſſail thee (when thou art come thus far) look not on thy ſins, to pore upon them; neither look into thy own Ʋſe.ſufficiency, to procure any good there. It is true, thou muſt ſee thy ſins, and ſorrow for them, but this is for the lower Form, and thou muſt get this leſſon before-hand; and when thou haſt gotten this leſſon of Contrition and Humiliation, look then onelyonly to Gods Mercy, and the riches of his Grace in Chriſt.
2. For the Cauſe: The Lord doth not onelyonly appoint the Means, but by the work of the Spirit, he doth bring all the riches of his grace into the ſoul truly humbled: if you ask, How? Firſt, with ſtrength of evidence; the Spirit preſents to the broken-hearted ſinner, the right of the freeneſs of Gods grace to the ſoul: And ſecondly, the Spirit doth forcibly ſoak in the relliſh of that grace, and by an over-piercing work, doth leave ſome dint of ſupernatural and ſpiritual vertue on the heart.
Now the word of the Goſpel, and the work of the Spirit always go together, not that God is tyed to any means, but that he tyeth himſelf to the means: Hence the Goſpel is called, The power of God to Salvation, becauſe the power of God ordinarily, Rom. 1. 16.and in common courſe appears therein: The waters of life and ſalvation run onelyonly in the channel of the Goſpel; there are golden mines of grace, but they are onelyonly to be found in the Climates of the Goſpel: nay, obſerve this, when all arguments prevail not with corruption, to perſwade the heart to go to God, one Text of Scripture will ſtand a man in ſtead above all humane learning and inventions, becauſe the Spirit goes forth in this and none elſe.
This may teach us the worth of the Goſpel above all other Ʋſe 1. of Information.things in the world, for it is accompanied with the Spirit, and brings ſalvation with it. What if a man had all the wealth and policy in the world, and wanted this? he were a fool: What if one were able to dive deep into the ſecrets of Nature, to know the motions of the Stars, to ſpeak with the tongues of men and Angels, and yet know nothing belonging to his peace, what avails it? Why do we value a Mine, but becauſe of the gold in it? or a Cabinet, but becauſe of the Pearl in it? O this is that pearl we ſell all for.
Wouldſt thou know whether thou art carnal or ſpiritual? obſerve Ʋſe 2. of Examination.then, if thou haſt the Spirit, it ever came with the Goſpel: See then how the ſoul ſtands affected with the Goſpel, and ſo it ſtands affected to the Spirit. Is it ſo (may every ſoul reaſon with it ſelf) that I will not ſuffer the word to prevail with me? then ſhall I miſs of the Spirit, then will Chriſt none of me. O remember, the time will come when you muſt dye as well as your neighbors, and then you will ſay, Lord Jeſus forgive my ſins; Lord Jeſus receive my ſoul: But Chriſt will anſwer, Away, be gone, you are none of mine, I know you not. Any man, whether noble or ignoble, let him be what he will be, if he hath not the Spirit he is none of Chriſts: His you are to whom you obey; but Pride and Covetouſneſs you obey: Pride therefore will ſay, This Rom 6. 16.heart is mine, Lord, I have domineered over it, and I will torment it: Corruptions will ſay, We have owned this ſoul, and we will damn it. You therefore that have made a tuſh at the Word, This wind ſhakes no corn, and theſe words break no bones, little do you think that you have oppoſed the Spirit: What, reſiſt the Spirit? me-thinks it is enough to ſink any ſoul under heaven: Hereafter therefore think this with thy ſelf, Were he but a man that ſpeaks, yet would I not despiſe him; but that is not all, there goeth Gods Spirit with the Word, and ſhall I despiſe it? There is but one ſtep between this and that unpardonable ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt, onelyonly adding Malice to my Rage: I oppoſe the Father, perhaps the Son mediates for me; I despiſe the Son, perhaps the holy Ghoſt pleads for me; but if I oppoſe the Spirit, none can ſuccor me.