The Door of Salvation Opened by the Key of Regeneration, Treatise · Help 3
The third help to Regeneration.
A ſerious conſtant uſe of all the means of grace, which God hath appointed for the renewing of ſouls, with an expectation of a bleſſing from God.
THirdly, if thou wouldſt be Regenerated, Be ſerious and conſtant in the uſe of all the means of grace (which God hath appointed for the begetting ſouls unto Chriſt) with looking unto God for a bleſſing.
Reader, Obſerve five particulars in this third help to Regeneration.
Firſt, Ʋſe and attend on the means of grace. The ordinances of God, are the Marts and Faires, whereat Chriſtians muſt trade for grace. At them thou mayſt buy ſpiritual commodities, without money, and without price. The ever bleſſed God hath upon a twofold account, enjoyned the uſe of his ordinances, partly out of ſoveraignty over us, that we might thereby acknowledg that homage and fealty which we owe to his Majeſty; Partly out of mercy to us, that we might therein receive of his Spirit and grace. By our attendance on ordinances, as by a peppercorn, (for all that we can do is very little) we acknowledg of whom we hold, and to whom we are bound, and alſo they are the door at which God giveth his gracious doles; The manna of the ſpirit doth uſually fall down in the dews of ordinances. Thou haſt Gods command for thy warrant, Mat. 7.7, 8. Iſa. 55.1, 2, 3, 5. and his promiſe for thy motive. In all places where I record my name, there I will come and will bleſs thee, Exod. 20.24. And if thou wouldſt know what bleſſing, what alms God giveth at thoſe places, There the Lord commandeth his bleſſing, even life for evermore, Pſal. 133.3. God giveth not ſuch bleſſings anywhere as there; there are the mercies of the Throne; pardon, love, peace, converſion, increaſe of grace, joy in the Holy Ghoſt; the kidneys of the wheat, the fineſt of the flowre, and the honey out of the rock of mercy. It is ſaid of Conſtantine, that he impoveriſhed all his Empire to enrich Conſtantinople. God doth paſs by other parts of the world as waſte ground, or as a wilderneſs; but the place where he records his Name is his garden: that he will dung, and dig, and dreſs, and take care that it bring forth good fruit; there he commands his bleſſing. It is an alluſion poſſibly to great perſons, to a General, or an Emperor; Where the word of a King, is there is power: The Centurion ſaid, I ſay to one Souldier, Go, and he goeth; to another, Come, and he commeth; to a third, Do this, and he doth it. So God commandeth one ordinance, Go and build up ſuch a Saint, and it goeth; he ſaith to another ordinance, Come and call home ſuch a ſinner, and it doth it; Gods word and work goe together. Men cannot enable others, or give them power to obey them; they may bid a lame man walk, or a blinde man ſee, but they cannot enable them to walk or ſee; God with his word giveth ſtrength to do the thing commanded; as in the old, ſo in the new creation, He ſpake, and it was done, he commanded, and it ſtood faſt, Pſal. 33.9. But there the Lord commands his bleſſing, even life for evermore. The ſtream of Regeneration, or a ſpiritual life, which ſhall never ceaſe; but ſtill go forward and increaſe, till it ſwell to, and be ſwallowed up in the Ocean of eternal life, even life for evermore.
Thou heareſt, Reader, where thy wants may be ſupplied, through what pipes the water of life is conveyed; do thou like the impotent man, wait at the porch of Solomons Temple, begging and expecting ſome alms, God may do more for thee (as for him, Acts 3.2, 8.) then thou doſt ask or think.
It was as eaſie for Boaz (and it might have been done with as little charge) to have given Ruth as much corn at firſt as would have yeilded an Epah of barley, and ſo have ſent her away without any more ado; but he will have her glean it, and then break it. So God could infuſe Grace immediately, but he will have men hear, read, and pray, attend on Ordinances, though not as maſters, yet as means of Grace; He giveth earthly riches to them that are diligent in their particular callings; ſo he giveth heavenly riches to them that are diligent about their general calling.
Secondly, Obſerve in this third help a ſerious conſtant uſe of all the means of Grace appointed for this end; David in meditation findeth the Spirit kindling that fire, which at laſt broke out into an holy flame, Pſal. 39.3. While I was muſing the fire burned.
The two diſciples at godly conference, found Jeſus Chriſt to make a third; while they were diſcourſing of him, he preſents himſelf to them, cauſeth their hearts to burn within them, and openeth their eyes to know him. Dead coals are kindled by live ones; O 'tis good for thee to be among the Saints; Thomas by miſſing one meeting did his ſoul unſpeakable diſ-ſervice.
Cornelius at prayer in his houſe, Acts 10. initi….had a meſſenger from heaven, directing him whither to ſend for one to inſtruct him in the way of Salvation; Prayer hath been a prevalent Orator at the Throne of Grace: Many that have gone thither with prayers and petitions, have come away with praiſes and thankſgivings.
Jacob added tears to his prayes, and as a Prince prevailed with God. He wept and made ſupplication, and prevailed, Hoſea 12.4. Muſick ſounds beſt upon the waters; ſuch water of a ſinner, mingled with the blood of a Saviour, hath melted the very heart of God, A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not deſpiſe, Pſal. 51.17.
When Daniel was faſting his body, an angel is ſent to feaſt his ſoul, Dan. 9.21. While ſome have been caſting themſelves down, God hath been raiſing them up. Papiſts on their faſting dayes deny themſelves fleſh, but have dainty fare, coſtly ſweet-meats. Thou mayſt, Reader, if thou humbleſt thy ſelf under the mighty hand of God, expect that he ſhould in his own time lift thee up: Theſe duties have helped to increaſe, and alſo to beget holineſs.
The Eunuch was reading the Scripture, when Philip was commanded by commiſſion from the Holy Ghoſt, to joyn himſelf to his Chariot, and to inſtuct him in the knowledge of Chriſt, Act. 8.33. Junius, by reading Joh. 1. Auguſtine by reading Romans 13. were converted. The three thouſand (Act. 3.) by hearing, came to love; and truly many thouſands have found the Goſpel of Chriſt preached, to become the power of God unto Salvation. Cyprian confeſſeth that he was converted from idolatry, and negromancy, by hearing the hiſtory of the Prophet Jonas read, and expounded by Cecilius, whom therefore he calleth the father of his new life. Faith and repentance are both wrought by hearing, Rom. 10.14. Acts 3.37. The wandring ſinner is moſt frequently reduced by the Scripture, either read or heard; God cals to him when he is running away, ſaying, Return, Return, O Shulamite, Return, Return. In all Gods great works, there is ordinarily, a word accompanying it, as in the creation God ſaid, Let there be light; when Chriſt raiſed Lazarus, Lazarus come forth; when he converted Paul, Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me? At the great day, Ariſe ye dead and come to judgment; The Devil got in at firſt, into mans heart by his eare. The Dragon bites the Elephants eare, and thence ſucks his blood, knowing that to be the onelyonly place, which he cannot reach with his trunk to defend. The Spirit of God comes in with the word, 2 Cor. 3.8. Rom. 1.12. Gal. 3.2.
As that word of God to Abraham, Sarah thy wife ſhall have a Son, Gen. 18.10. That word I ſay gave birth and being to Iſaac, when there was no likelyhood or poſſibility of his being; from his parents, ſo the word of God give a ſpiritual birth, and being to men and women, when there is no likelyhood or poſſibility in nature, yea when their natures are in flat oppoſition and contrariety to it.
The word diſcovereth our diſeaſes, Rom. 7.7. Jam. 2.9. makes us feel our ſickneſs, Rom. 7.9. applyeth the medicine for our cure, Mat. 11.28. Iſa. 55.1. Rom. 10.14.
The word killeth ſin, caſteth down Satan, enliveneth the ſoul, Eph. 6.15. Jer. 23.29. Rev. 12.11. Joh. 5.24. Joh. 17.17. Iſa. 11.6, 7, 8, 9. Rom. 1.16. 1 Cor. 1.18. Jam. 1.18.
Thus thou ſeeſt that the Phyſitian of ſouls hath ſeveral meanes for the cure of thy malady; do not thou neglect any, neither reading nor hearing, neither faſting nor praying, neither meditation nor godly conference, neither ſecret nor private, nor publike duties, for thou knoweſt not which may do the deed. Chriſt may wait at that very door which thou keepeſt ſhut, at that ordinance which thou omitteſt, to enter into thy ſoul. If thou deſireſt that he ſhould meet thee in any duty, do thou meet him in every duty. How fooliſh art thou to take any one horſe out of the team, when the load is ſo weighty, even thine endleſs welfare, and all little little enough, to draw thine untoward heart towards heaven. The Husbandman that hath a piece of ground which lyeth at the end of his fallow, ſtill balked before, will be ſure to plough that up, and expecteth a better crop out of that, then out of any ſuch quantity of ground in the field. Reader, if thou haſt balked any of the forementioned duties, for thy ſouls ſake ſet upon it ſpeedily, for undoubtedly thou mayſt reap a greater harveſt by it then thou imagineſt.
Friend, have a care of ſecret, private, publike duties, for all muſt be minded by them that would be new-moulded. How many thouſands among us do wilfully murder their ſouls! ſome poiſon them by crying enormities, others ſtarve them by the omiſſion of duties. It was a pitiful equivocatiof the Duke D' Alva (before Harlem, that promiſed the Souldiers their lives, and afterwards kild them with hunger) ſaying, That though he promiſed them their lives, yet he did not promiſe that they ſhould have food. Art not thou a cheater, and murderer of thy foul, in promiſing it ſpiritual life, when thou denyeſt it the means of life? As ever thou wouldſt have an harveſt of grace, do thou plough up, and ſow the ground of thine heart, with all the means which God hath ordained for that end.
Thirdly, be thou ſerious in thine attendance on the ordinances of God. Be in earneſt when thou art about ſoul affairs, conſider when thou art praying, or hearing, or reading, or conferring with Chriſtians, it is for thy life, it is for thy ſoul, it is for eternity, and do whatſoever the Lord calleth thee to do for the quickening thy dying ſoul with all thine heart, with all thy might; for there is no doing it in the grave, whither thou art haſtening. When Samſon would deſtroy the enemies of God, He bowed himſelf with all his might. Judg. 16.30. When David was waiting upon the Ark of God, He danced before the Lord with all his might. 2 Sam. 6.14. So when thou heareſt for the death of thy ſins, thou ſhouldſt hear with all thy might, Ezek 40.4. When thou prayeſt for the life of thy ſoul, thou ſhouldſt pray with all thy might, 1 Theſ. 5.17. Ah how ſhould they hear and read and pray for regeneration, that have but a few days (nay hours poſſibly) to do it in, between whom and eternal burnings there is but a little airy breath, and if they be not Regenerated before they die, they are ruined, they are damned for ever!
A childe may handle the mothers breſt, and play with it, and kiſſe it, but all this while he gets no good, till at laſt he layeth his mouth to the breaſt, gets the Nipple faſt, ſucks with his might and ſtrength, and then he draweth nouriſhment; Reader, it may be, thou haſt minded duties, and frequented ordinances, yet poſſibly haſt got no good by them; 'tis likely then that thou doſt but play with them, dally about them, doing them as if thou didſt them not; if ever therefore thou wouldſt get good by them, thou muſt be ſerious and in earneſt about them, do them with all thy ſoul, with all thy ſtrength, knowing that they are of infinite weight, and endleſs concernment to thee, conſidering that if God do not now hear thee (in thy day of grace) he will never, never hear thee; and if thou do not now hear him, thou ſhalt ſhortly never, never more have ſuch an offer.
I doubt not friend, but thou art ſerious about toys and trifles; thou canſt riſe early and go to bed late, and work hard all day, and have thy mind ſtedfaſtly occupied about theſe fooliſh things of the world, from which within a ſhort time, thou ſhalt be parted for ever. How buſie are vain men like a company of Ants, to increaſe their heap of earth. O think of it, is it not pity ſuch a plant ſhould grow in Egypt, which would thrive ſo well in Canaan? How fitly, how finely would that ſeriouſneſs and fervency which thou uſeſt about earth, become and ſute with heaven! Ah twould be worth the while, to be moſt covetous and ſedulous about the things of God, and Chriſt, thy ſoul and Eternity.
Fourthly, Be conſtant in the uſe of the means of Grace; pray and wait, hear and wait, read and wait, watch and wait; In the morning ſow thy ſeed, in the evening with-hold not thine hand; for thou knoweſt not whether ſhall proſper, either this, or that, or whether they both ſhall be alike good, Eccleſ. 11.6. in every morning ſow thy ſeed, pray, read, meditate; in the evening with-hold not thine hand, do the ſame; for thou knoweſt not which ſhall proſper, at which the Spirit of God will give thee a gracious effectual meeting for thy converſion or ſalvation, or whether both ſhall conduce equally to thy ſpiritual and eternal advantage; Do not expect, like the Hyperboreans, to ſow and reap in a day; allow ſome diſtance between ſeed time and harveſt. Phyſick doth not work immediately when its taken into the body; be confident, thou ſhalt reap in time if thou doſt not faint.
Suppoſe thou wert ſick of ſome mortal painful diſeaſe, a dead man in thy own and others thoughts; and an able faithful Phyſitian ſhould warrant thy cure in time, upon condition that thou wouldſt follow his advice, and diet thy ſelf all the while; wouldſt thou not uſe all that he preſcribed, and wait, and long to be recovered? Thou waſt wounded in a moment, but art not ſo ſoon recovered; 'tis good to wait Gods leiſure; what Chriſt ſaid in regard of his coming in Judgement, I ſay in regard of his coming in mercy, Watch therefore, for thou knoweſt not when the Son of Man will come, whether this day, to morrow, or next week; loſe no time, Amici diem perd…di. Hodie non regnavimus.neglect no opportunity; the Heathen Titus, could bewail the loſs of that day wherein he had done no good. Friends, I have loſt a day; and wilt thou wilfully loſe half a day, when every moment is of more worth to thee then a Kingdom? Naaman the Syrian waſhed ſeven times in Jordan; the ſix times waſhing could not do it; 'twas upon the ſeventh time waſhing that he was cured of his Leproſie, and his fleſh came again like the fleſh of a childe. Do thou often bathe thy ſoul in the waters of the Sanctuary; at one time or other (if thou faithfully practiſeſt this help) thou wilt finde them healing waters; obſerve what Saul loſt by not waiting Gods leiſure; Samuel had told Saul, 1 Sam. 10.8. And thou ſhalt go down before me to Gilgal — ſeven dayes ſhalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and ſhew thee what thou ſhalt do. This precept was enjoyned Saul, I ſuppoſe not becauſe Samuel might be hindred by ſome neceſſary occaſions, till ſeven dayes were come, (which reaſon ſome give) but for the trial of Sauls obedience to God in waiting his appointed time. Now Saul, 1 Sam. 13.8, and 13. waited ſix dayes, nay, towards the latter end of the ſeventh day for Samuel; but becauſe he waited not full ſeven dayes he loſt the Kingdom: Thou haſt done fooliſhly, thou haſt not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God (ſaith Samuel to Saul) for now would the Lord have eſtabliſhed thy Kingdom for ever; but now thy Kingdom ſhall not continue, for the Lord hath ſought him a man after his own heart.
O how ſad was it that Saul ſhould loſe a Kingdom for want of two or three hours patience! had he tarried a little longer, he had had the Kingdom for ever; but is it not ſadder if thou ſhouldſt loſe the Eternal Kingdom of Heaven, by not tarrying Gods time, by not waiting his leiſure!
Reader, Lie at the pool, and give not over, till the Angel doth move upon the waters. When one of the Fathers had it ſuggeſted to him by the Devil, That it was in vain for him to minde God, for he ſhould never get to Heaven: Then ſaith he, I will follow hard after God, that I may enjoy as much of him as is poſſible on earth. When Blinde Bartimens was rebuked by the Diſciples for calling after Chriſt for his bodily ſight, he cryeth the more earneſtly, Jeſus thou Son of David, have mercy on me, Mark 10.15. What ever diſcouragements thou meeteſt with in thine attendance on God in Ordinances, be like the Engliſh Jet fired by water, and not like our ordinary fires, quenched by it; let them add to, not diminiſh thy reſolution and courage; let not one repulſe beat thee off; be violent, give a ſecond ſtorm to the Kingdom of Heaven. Parents ſometimes hide themſelves to make their children continue ſeeking. He that would not at firſt open his mouth, nor vouchſafe the woman of Canaan a word, doth (upon her continued and fervent Petitions) at laſt open his hand, and give her what ever ſhe asked; O woman, be it unto thee as thou wilt; continued importunity is undeniable oratory.
And truly, if after all thy pains thou findeſt Jeſus Chriſt, will it not make amends for thy long patience? Men that venture often at a Lottery, though they take blanks twenty times, if afterwards they get a golden baſen and ewer, it will make them abundant ſatisfaction. Suppoſe thou ſhouldſt continue knocking twenty, nay, forty years, yet if at laſt, though but one hour before thou dieſt, thy heart be opened to Chriſt, and he be received into thy ſoul, and when thou dieſt Heaven be opened to thee, and thy ſoul received into it; will it not infinitely requite thee for all thy labour! O think of it, and reſolve never to be dumb while God is deaf; never to leave off prayer, till God return a gracious anſwer. And for thy comfort know, that he who begun his Pſalm with, How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord for ever! how long wilt thou hide thy face from me! comes to conclude it with I will ſing unto the Lord, for he hath dealt bountifully with me, Pſal. 13.1, and ult.
Fifthly, Be ſerious and conſtant in the uſe of all the means of Grace which God hath appointed for the renewing of ſouls, … Kings 18.3.6.but expect the bleſſing onelyonly from God; Elijah when he had filled the trenches with water, put the wood in order, laid the Sacrifice on the Altar, then he looks up to Heaven for a bleſſing, and then fire came down from Heaven, whereby God manifeſteth his acceptance. So do thou, hear as for Heaven, ſigh as for thy ſoul, perform every duty as for eternity, attend on Ordinances with ſuch ſeriouſneſs, as one that believeth his unchangeable eſtate is at ſtake in them; but when thou art doing them, and when thou haſt ſet all in order, then let thine heart look up to Heaven for ſucceſs, expect the fire of the Holy Ghoſt to come down from above; be as diligent about duties and ordinances, as if they could regenerate thee, and do all things; but depend on God, as one that knoweth, that without him they can do nothing; Offer the ſacrifice of righteouſneſs, and truſt in the Lord: Truſt in the Lord, and do good, Pſal. 4.5. and 37.9. Look on ordinances onelyonly as (for indeed they are no more then) the order in which, and the inſtrument with which he is pleaſed to work; truſt in God will not conſiſt either with the neglect of, or with truſt in means.
Be thou but faithfull in following theſe directions, and doubt not of Gods benediction; expect that he who commandeth thee to ſeek, ſhould enable thee to finde: Do not as unwiſe Archers, that ſhoot their arrows at random, never looking to ſee them again; but as Jonathan, who when he had ſhot his arrows, had one ready to fetch them again: Expect to reap the fruit of thoſe duties which thou ſoweſt; Go to Gods houſe in the multitude of his mercies, Pſal. 5.7. looking that mercy ſhould give thee a meeting, and grant thee a bleſſing: I will direct my prayer to thee, and will look up, Pſal. 5.3. that is, I will trade, I will ſend out my ſpritual commodities, and expect a gainfull return; I will make my prayers, and not give them for loſt, but look up for an anſwer. God will bring man home by a way contrary to that by which he wandered from him; man fell from God by diſtruſt, by having God in ſuſpition; God will bring him back by truſt, by having good thoughts of him: O how richly laden might the veſſel which thou ſendeſt out come home, wouldſt thou but long and look for its return!
I come now to remove ſome hinderances, or anſwer ſome Objections which ariſe in mens hearts againſt the truths delivered.