The Door of Salvation Opened by the Key of Regeneration, To the reader 2 – Publishers advertisement 2
To the READER.
Chriſtian Reader.
IF there be any thing of importance, it is the working out of Salvation; Phil. 2.12if there be any way or method to work it out, it is by Sanctification; 2 Theſ. 2.13.Which Sanctity begins in Regeneration, and ends in Glorification. The firſt of theſe, is the ſubject of this enſuing Diſcourſe. Regeneration, or the New birth, hath various titles and appellations in Scripture, yet all pointing to the ſame thing, as it was the ſame Meſſiah, though repreſented by ſeverall types; ſometimes Regeneration is called the new creature, Gal. 6.15. tis indeed a creation, becauſe it is beyond the ſphere of natural cauſes to produce; and it is a New creature, foreign, in oppoſition to the old man; yet it is not new for ſubſtance, Ipſam ſane, animam eſſe nemo ſanae mentis ignorat. Bern.but qualities. Somtimes Regeneration is called a Reſurrection, Rev. 20.6. It is a riſing from ſin bAug. Tom.; there can be no riſing to glory, till there be firſt a riſing from ſin. Somtimes it is called a transformation. Rom. 12.2. foreign, Be ye transformed, by the renewing of your mind. In the incarnation Chriſt did aſſume our humane nature; in Regeneration, we partake of his divine nature; by Baptiſm we have Chriſts Name; by the new birth, his image; the change wrought in the new birth, is wonderful; the man is alter idem, like Caleb, of another Spirit: It is ſaid of Alex. Severus, that he could play on the viol, he could carve, or paint, but after he was Emperour, he was never ſeen to do any of theſe things, it was below him: So though man by nature be proud, malitious, expert in all the works of the fleſh, yet when once he is begoten of the ſeed of the word Jam. 1.18. now he is quite altered, ad changed from what he was. 1 Cor. 6.11. but yet every change doth not denominate the new birth; there may be an external, partial, temporary change, yet all theſe may be falſe conceptions, then …birth implyes a new heart, Habet, ſuos impetus pietas. Quin ti…s dec. 6.the will like the primum mobile, is caryed with an holy violence, heavenward; and the affections, as the other orbes move along with it; before this new birth, there are ſpiritual pangs; though there is magis & minus, all have not the like pangs; all feel the ſame hammer of the Law, though ſome are bruiſed more by it then others. Regeneration hath an univerſal influence, Grace perfumes and conſecrates the whole ſoul; though the Saints are Regenerate but in part, yet in every part, 1 Theſ. 5.23. This New birth is not arbitrary but neceſſary. Jo. 3.7. you muſt be born again; other things are for conveniency, this is of neceſſity aGeneratus damnatus nifi regeneratus Auſtin.; better never have been born, if not born again; Generation damnes without Regeneration; the new birth is a glorious birth; it is foreign from above, Joh. 3.7. A true Saint is of the blood royall, he is born of God. 1 John 3.9. That is the beſt pedigres, which is fetched from heaven. Regeneration is the ſignature, and engraving of the Holy Ghoſt upon the ſoul; the new born Chriſtian is decked with the ſpangles of holineſs, the Angels glory; the new birth is a victorious birth. Whatſoever is born of God, foreign, overcometh the world. 1 Joh. 5.4. It conquers the worlds muſick, and fornaoe. The new birth is an happy and a joyful birth; at our firſt birth we come weeping into the world, but at our new birth, there is cauſe of joy, now we are begotten unto a lively hope. 1 Pet. 1.3. How may we leap for joy, when Chriſt is formed in our hearts! tis matter of joy that Chriſt took our fleſh, but it is greater joy that we partake of his ſpirit; we are to calculate our nativity from our new birth. The Perſians did ſolemnize with triumph regum natalitia, the birth days of their Kings; oh how may Chriſtians with gladneſs remember and celebrate their ſpiritual birth day; I mean that time when they began to be born of water and the ſpirit: To conclude, this new birth is an everlaſting birth. 1 Joh. 3.9. His ſeed remains in him, he who is truly Regenerate, dies not the Second death. The new born creature never growes old, he outlives death Rev. 20.6. on ſuch the ſecond death hath no power. This is that we are moſt nearly concernd in; O that all the diſputes of the times, about Pedo baptiſm and Church-memberſhip might at laſt be reduced to this, How ſhall I do to be regenerate? how ſhall I get a better heart? how ſhall I procure evidences for heaven? theſe queſtions will help to make Converts, whereas others wake only Scepticks and Opinioniſts. The temper of moſt men in our age, is to have hot braines, and cold hearts; their religion evaporates into fume, and froth, and may be likened to thoſe eares which run onelyonly into ſtraw; but I ſhalt need ſay the loſſe, the doctrine of Regeneration being ſo amply, and accurately handled in the following Treatiſe. For the author of this work, though I have not had much knowledg of him, yet by that little converſe had with him, I judge him to be a man of a ſerious and gracious ſpirit; tis excellent when the veſſels of Gods houſe retain in them a relliſh and ſavour of that Good wine which they poure out to others. This piece I hope may be very profitable, and may ſerve with the bleſſing of God, to be an alarum to awaken drowſie conſciences, that they ſleep not the ſleep of death; which that it may, is the prayer of him who is,
Thy Friend and Servant in the Lord. Thomas Watſon. From my ſtudy at Stephen Walbrook. Ian. 26. 1659.
THere is extant likewiſe of the Authors of this Treatiſe, an excellent Book entituled, Heaven and Hell Epitomized. The true Chriſtian Characterized. As alſo an Exhortation with Motives, Means, and Directions to be ſpeedy and ſerious about the work of Converſion.
An Expoſition on the whole Book of Salomons Song, commonly called the Canticles: Wherein the Text is explained, and uſeful Obſervations raiſed thereupon. By John Robotham, Preacher of the Goſpel. Both ſold by Tho. Parkhurſt at the lower end of Cheapſide.