The Door of Salvation Opened by the Key of Regeneration, Treatise · Subject 4
The fourth Subject of conſideration, The neceſſity of Regeneration.
FOurthly, Conſider the abſolute neceſſity of Regeneration; if it were not ſo excellent, yet it is a thing of abſolute neceſſity, and therefore muſt not be neglected. It is not a work of indifferency, which may be done or may not be done, but a worke of indiſpenſable neceſſity, which muſt be done or thou art undone for ever. Reader here is an argument, which neither the fleſh nor world nor devil can anſwer, and therefore it muſt not be denied. It is indeed ſo fruitful a bleſſing, that if thou haſt this thou needſt no more; every thing that is worth ought, is in the womb of it; but it is ſo needful that if thou haſt not this, thou haſt nothing; the whole world cannot make up the want of this.
There are many things, about which (poſſibly) thou ſpendeſt much time, and takeſt much pains, which are nothing at all neceſſary in compariſon of this.
Riches are not neceſſary; the want of temporal, may be ſupplied by the fruition of ſpiritual riches: Thou mayſt be poor in the world, and yet rich in faith, and heir of a Kingdom, Jam. 2.5. Nay, riches are ſo far from being abſolutely needful, that they may be hurtful to thee. Thou mightſt, as the Reubenites, ſhouldſt thou have good land here, take up ſhort of the Land of Promiſe. Chriſt calleth riches thorns, Matth. 13.22. and ſurely 'tis hard to touch them and not to prick thy fingers; How hardly ſhall arich man enter into the Kingdom of Heaven!
Pleaſures are not neceſſary; He that hath little but miſery here, may finde mercy hereafter. Though Job had his ſores and pains, yet he had a right to the pleaſures at Gods right hand for evermore: He that endured hunger, cold, thirſt, nakedneſs, watching, faſting, wearineſs, painfulneſs; that was ſcourged, impriſoned, ſtoned, yet was a choſen veſſel unto God, and heir to a crown of righteouſneſs, 2 Cor. 11.23. to 29. Acts 9.15. 2 Tim. 4.6. Beſides, pleaſures may be hurtful to thee; thoſe bees have their ſtings as well as their honey; and many feed ſo plentifully on ſuch luſcious food, that they ſurfeit themſelves. Ariſtotle ſpeaks of a piece a ground in Sicily, which ſendeth forth ſuch a ſtrong ſmell of fragrant flowers, to all the fields thereabout, that dogs cannot hunt there, the ſcent is ſo confounded with the ſmell of thoſe flowers. Earthly pleaſures do not ſeldom hinder our ſcent and ſenſe of ſpiritual delights.
Honors are not neceſſary: A man may be condemned and lightly eſteemed by men, and yet be commended and highly eſteemed by God. Diſgrace may be the way to glory; Joſeph went through a priſon into a palace; and Jeſus from a ſhameful croſs to a glorious crown. Honors alſo may be hurtful to thee. Some climb ſo high, that they break their necks: Thoſe that are in high places are apt to have their heads giddy, and thereby are in great danger of falling. Hamans height and glory brought him to be high at laſt on the gallows.
Friends and relations are not neceſſary: He that is friendleſs on Earth, may be a favorite of Heaven; when no man ſtood by Paul, the Lord was with him, and ſtrengthned him; when David's father and mother forſook him, God took the care of him. When thoſe Stars vaniſhed, the Sun aroſe. Theſe alſo may be hurtful to thee, thou mayſt catch their diſeaſes; Ammon was the worſe for Jonadab, and Ahab the more wicked for Jezebel.
Health is not neceſſary: A diſtemper'd body may have an healthy ſoul: When the outward man decayeth, the inward man may be renewed day by day. No diſeaſe, ſo it be not ſpiritual, can keep the Phyſician of ſouls from viſiting his Patients; ſanctified ſickneſs is far better then unſanctified ſoundneſs.
Nay, life it ſelf (which is far more worth then all the foreſaid particulars) is not neceſſary, but in order to this ſpiritual life of Regeneration; If that work be done, a man by loſing his life may be a gainer. Some by yeilding up their Leaſes, which were but for term of years, have got the Feeſimple, the inheritance for ever; by parting with their natural lives, they have got poſſeſſion of eternal life. But Friend, Regeneration is abſolutely neceſſary. The Emperor told the Mariner (when he would have diſſwaded him from going to Sea, Neceſſ… eſt u… eam, neut vivan.becauſe the waters were rough, and it might indanger his life) 'Tis more neceſſary that I go then that I live. I tell thee, 'tis more neceſſary that thou live ſpiritually, then that thou live naturally; thy riches, honors, pleaſures, health, friends, are but toyes and trifles to Regeneration; and truely, life it ſelf is little or nothing worth, but as it makes thee capable of getting and enjoying this. O what a poor empty ſhadow is the life of the greateſt Prince, that is a ſtranger to fellowſhip with God, which Regeneration bringeth the ſoul to?
The reaſon why theſe fore-mentioned things are not neceſſary, is partly, becauſe the want of all theſe things may be made up in the enjoyment of God; Verily, I ſay unto you, that ye who have followed me in the Regeneration, Matth. 19.28.when the Son of man ſhall ſit upon his throne, ſhall alſo ſit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Iſrael: There is no man that hath left houſe, or brethren, or ſiſters, Mark 10.29, 30.or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my ſake and the Goſpels; but he ſhall receive an hundred fold in time, houſes, and brethren, and ſiſters, and mothers, and children, and land with perſecution, and in the world to come life everlaſting. The regenerate, though never ſo poor, naked, diſgraced, ſickly, yet in the Sun they have all thoſe beams, and much much more. As Alexander told Parmenio (when in the beginning of a battel, he was earneſt with him to ſend ſome forces to regain their weapons and baggage then newly loſt) Let usſecure the main battel; for if the field be won, we ſhall recover all our baggage with advantage. So if the ſoul be ſafe, being by Regeneration grafted into Chriſt, if thou wineſt the main battel againſt ſin and Satan, thou wilt recover thoſe with advantage. Thoſe things are not neceſſary, partly, becauſe the want of them will not undo a man for ever; a mans eternal eſtate may be ſecured, though thoſe things be removed; but Regeneration is indiſpenſably neceſſary, becauſe nothing can make up the want of it; not all the golden Mines in India, not the ſweeteſt Paradiſe of earthly pleaſures, not the higheſt chair of ſtate, nor friends, nor kindred, nor health, nor ſtrength, nor life, can make up the want of this: If this be wanting, thy God is wanting, thy Chriſt is wanting, thy heaven, thy happineſs, thy All is wanting. The want of this will undo thee for ever; 'twill make thee miſcarry in the Ocean, this leak will ſink thee eternally: It is a ſtanding Law of Heaven, That except a man be converted, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Matth. 18.3.
There is in regard of the ordination of God, as great a neceſſity of Regeneration, as of Jeſus Chriſt; for what advantage canſt thou have by all the riches and revenues of the Son of God, till by Regeneration thou art married to him, and made one with him? Obſerve, Reader, this fourfold neceſſity of Regeneration.
It is *See the neceſſity of it farther in the reaſons of the doctrine, and the firſt uſe of Informationneceſſary in regard of Gods precept, Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die? Ezek. 33.11, 31, 32. Iſa. 1.16, 17. Jer. 3.1 Hoſea 14.1. James 4.9. There is a neceſſity, either of hearing Gods voice, or feeling Gods hands; either the commandments of God muſt be obeyed by thee, or the judgements of God muſt be inflicted on thee: It is a Goſpel-precept, Epheſ. 4.23, 24. now Goſpel-precepts muſt be minded by all that would partake of Goſpel-priviledges.
It is neceſſary in regard of the purpoſe of God; Elect according to the fore knowledge of God through ſanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience, and ſprinkling of the blood of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.2. Though God did not chooſe men becauſe they were holy, yet he choſe men to be holy; though he appointed not men to be ſaved, becauſe they were Saints, yet he appointed men to be Saints, and then to be ſaved.
It is neceſſary in regard of the paſſion of Chriſt; he died for ſin, that men might die to ſin; he laid down his life, that men might lay down their luſts; his paſſion is a City of Refuge to the Penitent, not a ſactuary to the preſumptuous; God intended it to help men out of, not to hold them in the mire of ſin; He is the Author of eternal ſalvation to them that obey him, Hebr. 5.9. He died becauſe men were ſinners, but he died that men might be Saints; He ſuffered, the juſt for the unjuſt, to bring us to God, 1 Pet. 3.18. Now man and God can never be brought together, till the emnity which is in the heart of man againſt God be removed. If ever thou have Chriſt for thy Prieſt, to ſatisfie Gods Juſtice for thy ſins, it is abſolutely neceſſary, that thou accept him for thy Prince, to ſubdue thee to his ſervice. Had Chriſt come to procure man a pardon, Gur. Arm. …par, …17.and not to reſtore his loſt holineſs, he had been a miniſter of ſin, and inſtead of bringing glory to God, he had ſet ſin in the throne, and onelyonly obtained a liberty for the creature to diſhonour God without controle. Again ſaith the ſame accurate writer, In vain do men think to ſhroud themſelves under Chriſts wings, from the hue and cry of their accuſing conſciences, while wickedneſs finds a ſanctuary in them. Chriſt was ſent from God, not to ſecure men in, but to ſave men from their ſins.
It is neceſſary in regard of the promiſes of God. Thus ſaith the Lord of hoſts, turn to me, ſaith the Lord of hoſts, and I will turn to you, ſaith the Lord of hoſts, Zach. 1.3. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Jam. 4.8. If ever God draw nigh to thee in mercy, thou muſt draw nigh to him in duty. He that ſhall have the reward muſt do the work. The precepts of God muſt be written on the heart, otherwiſe the promiſes of God ſhall never fall down on thine head. Iſa 1.16, 17, and 55.7. 1 King. 8.35. Prov. 28.13.
Bleſſed are the pure in ſpirit, for they ſhall ſee God, Matth. 5.8. 'Tis the pure heart alone that hath the aſſurance of the pure heaven.
Thou ſeeſt now I hope clearly the abſolute neceſſity of Regeneration; what therefore canſt thou think to do without it? O ponder this again and again, that there is no eſcape, no evaſion; God will not vary from his Law.
Thy dying to ſin is neceſſary; ſin muſt die, or thy ſoul cannot live; If ye live after the the fleſh ye ſhall die; but if ye through the ſpirit do mortifie the deeds of the body, ye ſhall live, Rom. 8.13, 6. Gal. 6.6, 7. Surely thou canſt not think that Heaven will be a ſtye for ſwine, or a kennel for dogs that feed on filth and carrion. Believe it, if any iniquity be let go, thy life muſt go for its life. The Jaylors paid dear for letting Peter eſcape, Act. 12. Herod commanded them to be put to death. Truly ſo dear muſt thou pay for the eſcape of ſin; 'twil bring the ſecond death, even eternal death upon thee: be thy ſin as near and as dear as Iſaac it muſt be ſacrificed; be it never ſo ſmall, it muſt not be ſpared. Ceſar was ſtab'd with bodkins. I have ſomewhere read that a man and a Crocodile never meet, but one dieth: 'Tis certain, ſin and the ſoul never meet but one dieth; if ſin live, the ſoul; dieth; if ſin die, the ſoul liveth; there is no parting ſtakes, or retreating upon equal terms. Maurice of Newport told his Souldiers, when he had ſent away his boates, that there was no flying, the Spaniards being before them, and the Sea behinde them, Either ye muſt eat up and deſtroy thoſe Spaniards, or drink up this ocean. Friend, ſuch is thy caſe, either thou muſt deſtroy thy ſins, or drink up the bottomleſs ocean of the Lords wrath.
Anſwer me ſeriouſly; thou wilt ſay thou doſt not love ſuch a man, ſo well as to be hangd for him. Doſt thou love ſin ſo well as to be damned for it? Doſt thou love thy Drunkenneſs, and Swearing, and Uncleanneſs, and ſcoffing at Godlineſs, ſo well as to burn eternally in hell for them? Doſt thou love thy pride, and worldlineſs, and luſtful thoughts, and Atheiſme, and carnall mindedneſs, ſo well as to be tormented day and night, for ever and ever for them? A very Coward will fight, when he muſt either kill or be killed. Willt not thou fight manfully, when ſin will kill thee, if it be not killed by thee? Ahab out of fooliſh pitie, gave Benhadad his life, when he ought to have ſlain him: but the requital which Benhadad made, was to kill Ahab, 1 King. cap. ult. v. 31, 34. ſuch a requital ſin will make thee if thou favour it.foreign the maſculine article ſhewe…h that its to be referred to foreign Mr. Manton on …ude p. 38.
Follow after peace and holineſs, without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord, Heb. 12.14. Obſerve how peremptory, God is in that place, that without holineſs no man ſhall ſee God. It is not ſaid that without peace, no man ſhall ſee God, but without holineſs no man ſhall ſee God. Peace may be broken in the quarrel of truth and holineſs, and yet for all that a man may ſee God. Jeremiah was a man of contention, and yet a man for the beatifical viſion; but they that are not holy cannot ſee God. A pure eye onelyonly can ſee a pure God. As the eye which hath duſt in it without, or thick vapours ſtopping the nerves within, cannot ſee, except it be cleanſed from the one, and purged from the other: So a man, the eye of whoſe mind is clouded with the miſt of ſin, cannot behold God, till he be cleanſed. The Chriſtians happineſs in heaven, conſiſteth in ſuch a viſion of God, as ſhall make him like God, 1 John 3.2. but a dusky glaſs cannot repreſent an image. When the Sun of righteouſneſs ſhall ſhine upon a pure Chriſtal glaſs, a clean unſpotted ſoul, twill cauſe a glorious reflection indeed.
To wind up this fourth ſubject of conſideration. Reader, Affaires of abſolute indiſpenſable neceſſity, ſhould, like weighty things, make a deep impreſſion upon thy ſpirit. Urge thy ſoul often with this; that of all things in the world, regeneration is the one thing neceſſary; Let conſcience preſs it on thee, I muſt be converted, or condemned; here is the word of the living God for it, and ſuch a word as cannot poſſibly go unfulfilled. O my ſoul, what ſayſt thou to it? Except thou art born again, thou canſt not ſee the Kingdom of God. There is a neceſſity of thy turning in time, or burning eternally. How wilt thou anſwer this text and many more, in the other world? Canſt thou think to make the infinite God a liar, and in deſpight of him and his word to eſcape hell? O do not deceive thy ſelf; God will be true, though every man be a liar: therefore ſet about this work, that is thus abſolutely needful, before thou art irrecoverably woful.
Friend, I would adviſe thee to do as the Patriaches did; Joſeph had told them that Except your yonger brother come with you, ye ſhall not ſee my face. Jacob their father would have them (notwithſtanding this expreſs aſſertion) to venture into Joſephs preſence, without their brother. But what ſaid Judah? Gen. 43.2, foreign.The man did ſolemnly proteſt unto us ſaying, Ye ſhall not ſee my face, except your brother be with you. If thou wilt ſend our brother with us, we will go down, but if thou wilt not ſend him, we will not go down; for the man ſaid unto us, Ye ſhall not ſee my face except your brother be with you. So, do thou conſider, and lay it home to thy ſoul, that the great God of heaven and earth hath ſaid, that except regeneration be with thee, be in thee, thou ſhalt not ſee his face with comfort; and though thy deceitful heart and the divel may wiſh thee to venture into his preſence, in the other world without it; yet do thou reply, the almighty and faithful God hath ſolemnly proteſted unto me, that except regeneration be with me, I ſhall not ſee him face to face, and enjoy the beatifical viſion. Therefore if I be regenerated, I will go and look death, judgment, God and Chriſt in the face, with courage and comfort; but if I be not regenerated, I may … go, leſt I die, leſt I be damned eter…y. For God hath ſaid unto me, Follow after holineſs, without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord.