Three Decades of Sermons, Decade 2 · Sermon 5
The Neceſsity of the Knowledge of Regeneration.
Diſcovered from Joh. 3. v. 10.
Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto him, Art thou a Master of Iſrael and knoweſt not theſe things?
THE report of Chriſts Miracles being famous every where Serm. 5. at St. Maries Oxon. Aug. 14. 1654. v. 1.(inſomuch that multitudes followed him) at laſt, one of an eminent Rank comes to viſit and conferre with Chriſt, v. 1. By degree he was a Doctor, by his Sect a Phariſee, by his place and calling a Ruler, (as is ſuppoſed) an Eccleſiaſticall Governour, one of the Jewiſh Sanedrim; his name was Nicodemus: The time when he came to Chriſt was by night. VVhat? a Tenebrio, a night Bird? ſurely he was afraid to be ſeen or known by his fellow Phariſees. He had riches, honours, dignities to loſe, and therefore he would carry his deſigns with all privacie, for feare of being put out of the Synagogue. Thus preferments, riches, degrees, Joh. 9. 22.dignities, fear of men, are oftentimes as ſo many fetters and ſhackles to clog men, and keep them off from comming unto Chriſt.
Now followeth a Dialogue between Chriſt and Nicodemus. Firſt Nicodemus makes a declaration of his faith in Chriſt, grounded upon v. 2. v. 3.the great Miracles that he wrought, v. 2. Chriſt give… him an anſwer concerning Regeneration. A Sophiſter would cavil, as if this anſwer had been impertinent, and not ſuitable to what Nicodemus ſpake, but indeed it was the moſt pertinent Anſwer that ever was given: For Chriſt ſp…ke to the ſpiritual neceſſities and wants of Nicodemus: Hee knew wherein this Learned Doctor was ignorant, and therefore Chriſt teacheth him his A, B, C, the Llements and firſt …udiments of Chriſtianity. Chriſt took the Doctor out of the School of the Phariſees, and he himſelf becomes his teacher, foreign &c. Here is a vehement aſſeveration in a matter of higheſt importance: Its ſaid foreign: From above, ſome Beza Eraſm.re…d it foreign, From Heaven. Beza and Eraſmus, foreign and foreign again, and the ſecond time come to the ſame paſs, all which produce this fundamental aſſertion: No Regeneration, no Salvation. Now Nicodemus propoſeth an ignorant and un-doctorlike queſtion, v. 4. concerning entring the ſecond time into his mothers wombe: Chriſt takes yet more paines to inſtruct him, v. 5. of being born of water and of the Spirit. The Spirit of God is the ſole Author of our Regeneration. The Spirit ſanctifieth and worketh like water: As water waſheth away the filth of our bodyes, ſo the Spirit beſprinkleth us with the blood of Chriſt, and waſheth away the filth from our ſoules: This waſhing of water is mentioned Ezek. 16. 9. Hence ſome underſtand theſe expreſſions of Water and the Spirit, of Spiritual water oppoſed to the ceremoniall waſhings of the Phariſees, to which Nicodemus aſcribed too much, or elſe, which is in effect all one to the Spirit working like water, and thus Calvin and Muſculus underſtand the words Aqua nihil aliud eſt quam interna Spiritus Sancti purgatio, ſo Calvin, Calvin. in loc. Muſc. in loc.Omnis regenerationis operatio eſt Spiritus Sancti, ſo Muſculus. Aqua tanquam operationis Sancti Spiritus Symbolum ac Signum adhibetur. Further Chriſt confirmes his aſſertion, in 2 Propohtions v. 6. That which is born of the fleſh is fleſh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. By Fleſh we are to underſtand the corruption of our nature, by reaſon of original ſinne, by Spirit the renovation of our nature by the holy ſpirit of God. Here Chriſt diſtinguiſheth of a two fold birth, Natural and Spiritual, to inſtruct Nicodemus, who though a Doctor of the Law, and had read Jeremy, Ezekiel and other Scriptures ſpeaking of a new heart, a heart of fleſh, and circumciſing of the heart, waſhing of the heart, yet underſtood not at all what thoſe Scriptures meant, and was altogether ignorant of the diſtinction of a naturall and ſpirituall birth. Chriſt leaves not his Scholar ſuddenly, but takes more paines yet to teach him to underſtand ſo hard a leſſon, v. 7, 8. Chriſt ſets it out by a ſimilitude of the wind: Motum ſcimus, modum neſcimus; a man may be regenerate, and yet not know, how and when he came to be ſo. How a man is made in his mothers wombe, who can tell? How a man lives may be told by the effects: and ſo we may tell we are regenerate by its effects and operations, as the tree is known by its fruit. Som know how and when they came to be converted: ſo Paul & Lydia: others ſay (as was ſaid of the blindman) we know he was born blind, but by what meanes he now ſees we know not: Notwithſtanding all that hath been ſaid, Nicodemus is ſtill ignorant, and cannot by his reaſon Joh. 9. …, 21.underſtand theſe things: though he cannot gainſay and diſprove what Chriſt ſaid, yet he holdeth his concluſion, and propoſeth a queſtion full of doubting and unbeleife, v. 9. How can theſe things be? Now Chriſt deals roundly with him, and ſharply rebukes him, him that was a Doctor of the Law, an Interpreter of Moſes and the Prophets, a man ocherwiſe of great learning, and yet unlearned in the main fundamentall doctrine, A man that was a teacher of others, and yet one that needs a great deal of teaching himſelf in the maine principle of Religion. foreign &c. Which words contain a perſon reproving, a perſon reproved, and the Crime for which he was reproved.
1. The reprover is Jeſus Chriſt, the great Prophet and Teacher, Diviſion. 1. The Perſon reproving, Christ.he that ſpake as never man ſp…k… He is a reprover, and an Inſtructor both to Nicodemus: Chriſt knew with whom he had to deal, with a Phariſee, one that ſtood upon outward righteouſneſs and legall ceremonies, one that was a teacher of others, and yet had need of teaching himſelf.
2. The perſon reproved is Nicodemus, deſcribed by his degree and imployment. The Article preſixt is Emphatical foreign, 2. The Perſons reproved. Beza in loc.ille Doctor, hoc loco videtur Articulus ſuum pondus habere, quo ſignificatur Nicodemum non modo pro doctore, ſed etiam pro excellenti Doctore habitum fuiſſe ab Iſraelitis. So Beza. Nicodemus was the Maſter foreign, a Doctor of the greateſt repute and eminency among the Jewes; he was not a Diſciple, but a Maſter, the renowned teacher of all Iſrael, as if all Iſrael had been his Scholars, and yet this great Schollar muſt goe to School to Jeſus Chriſt. He Jun. in loc.that was ille doctor Iſraelis tanta authoritate & exiſtimatione (as Junius obſerves) yet was ignorant in the maine things.
3. For what was Nicodemus reproved? Anſ. For his groſſe ignorance, 3. The things reproved.and that not in circumſtantialls, but in Fundamentalls, not in ſmaller matters, but in the greateſt of all, foreign (i. e.) knoweſt not thou theſe things concerning regeneration, this birth from heaven, the new and ſecond birth, this being born of water and of the ſpirit. Tu es ille magiſter Iſraelis, magiſter inſignis ad Iſraelitas verbo Dei erudiendos Praefectus: ideo que indigniſſimum eſt &c. ſo Calvin on the place. Becauſe the Scripture ſo often inculcats Calvinus in l…c.this doctrine, the loweſt Scholar ought to know it. And therefore its inſufferable that hee who profeſſeth himſelf a Doctor in the church, ſhould be ignorant of that doctrine. Cogitemus hic quanta caecitas neceſſario obtineat in eo populo, in quo Doctoribus ipſis Muſculus in loc.poteſt objici, rerum ad ingreſſum Regni Dei neceſſariarum ignorantia: ſo Muſculus. What blindneſs muſt there be in that people, when their very teachers are ignorant of the moſt neceſſary things. Theſe things being p…emiſed for the opening of my text, I ſhall ground my diſcourſe, upon this experimental truth of doctrine, That
There may be, and are, many men, otherwiſe of great Learning, Doct. yet groſly …gnorant in the maine Fundamentall Doctrine of Regeneration.
The inſtance of my Text is inſtar omnium, and it ſufficiently proves my aſſertion: yet notwith…anding I'le adde thereunto other inſtances out of the word of God. Paul was bred at the feet of Gamaliel, of the ſtricteſt ſect, a Phariſee, as touching the law blameleſſe, and yet all this while he knew nothing of Chriſt, and Regen…ration, until Chriſt me…t with him by the way, as he was going to Damaſcus: His confeſſion is upon record, That he was a Blaſphemer, 1 Tim. 1. 13.a Perſecuter, and injurious, 1 Tim. 1. 3. The Phariſees were of great learning, and knowledge in the Lawes, they ſtood ſtrictly upon outward waſhings, yet were unacquainted with the waſhing of the heart. Luke 11. 39. The Phariſees were the Rabbies and learned Doctors of their time, they boaſted much of outward righteouſneſs, 1 Cor. 1. 20, 21. 1 Cor. 3. 19. foreign Act. 17. 18.yet their righteouſneſs came ſhort, and was exceedingly defective. Our Saviour tels them foreign Matth. 5. 20. Thoſe foreign of Greece who attained a great meaſure of knowledg, were ignorant of this great point, and therefore their wiſdome hath the brand of fooliſhneſs put upon it, by the learned Doctor of the Gentiles, I Cor. 3. 19. 1 Cor. 20, 21. Simon Magus did ſo bewitch the people, and was accounted of ſuch great abilities, as he was eſteemed the great power of God, Act. 8. 10. and yet he was a man unregenerate, for he was in the Gall of bitterneſs, and Bond of iniquity, v. 23. Tertullus was an eloquent Orator, yet never did man abuſe his parts more then he, who pleaded with ſtrength of eloquence, in ſo bad a cauſe againſt Paul. What need I adde more? The Magicians of Aegypt, the Wiſe men of Babylon, the old Heathen Philoſophers, the Epicureans and Stoicks were all ignorant of Chriſt, and the great work of of his ſpirit to regenerate ſouls. They accounted Paul but a Babler, and they would in all probability have asked the ſame abſurd queſtion as Nicodemus did, can a man enter into his mothers womb the ſecond time? By all their ratiocinations they could never evince a ſecond birth, this foreign: This ſubject came not as a foreign in their diſputations, it was beyond their ken and cognizance, and this was never ſpoken of in Ariſtotles Lycaeum, Zeno's Stoa, nor in Plato's Academy.
I ſhall now deſcend to the Reaſons of the point, and then conclude Reaſ. 1. Drawn from the nature of Regenerationwith ſome uſefull Application.
There are 3 Reaſons or Arguments drawn a fortiori, viz.
From the Nature of Regeneration, Of unregeneracy, and the free working of Gods ſpirit: and in relation to theſe three, you will clearly ſee the aſſertion proved abundantly.
1. …et's conſider the nature of Regeneration, what it is, which being diſcovered, it will plainly appear, that there may be a great deal of Learning and other kinds of Knowledge, even to admiration Jer. 4. 4. Rom. 12 2. Rom. 12. 2. Epheſ. 4. 23. 2 Cor. 5. 17. 2 Pet. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 5 7. Gal. 4. 19. Joh 3 6. Mat. 3. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 2.of the world, whileſt in the mean time, men may be mere ſtrangers, to this great work of Regeneration. Let's enquire how the ſcripture ſpeakes of Regeneration. Sometimes its compared to circumciſion, Jer 4. 4. its called the renovation of the mind, Rom. 12. 2. The renewing in the ſpirit of the mind, Eph. 4. 23. The new creature, 2 Cor. 5. 17. The divine nature, foreign, not foreign 2 Pet. 1. 4. a new Lumpe, 1 Cor. 5. 7. The forming of Chriſt in the ſoul, Gal. 4. 19. To be regenerate is to be born of the ſpirit, Joh▪ 3. 6. to be baptized with the Holy Ghoſt, and fire, Matth. 3. 11. And theſe are new born babes, 1 Pet. 2. 2. This gives a man eſſe ſupernaturale, a ſupernatural heavenly-born being. Regeneration lookes at the inward man, the hidden man, and there makes a bleſſed change. All the documenta, principia foreign (as they are called) of the ſtricteſt Philoſophers could never bring any: to underſtand what Regeneration meant. Their counſells tended only to the re…ormation of the outward man, to keep men in a decorum, and within bounds of morality, to follow thoſe dictates, which were foreign, but they never aimed at heart-pollution, heart-reformation, the ſearc…ing out of Spiritual filthineſs, vain thoughs &c. The beſt of your heathen Philoſophers, were Mole-ey'd & bat-ey'd, they could not ſee nor underſtand, what purification of the heart meant. Now then Regeneration being a ſupernatural work, as is forementioned by plain ſcripture Teſtimony, its no wonder that many men of excellent parts, who act upon dictates and principles of nature only, that they are ſtrangers unto this great myſtery of the new birth.
2. Another argument may be drawn from the nature of unregeneracy. Reaſon 2. Drawn from the nature of unregeneracyThe ſtate of unregeneracy, is a ſtate of impurity, enmity, blindneſs and deadneſs.
Firſt its a ſtate of impurity. Original ſin is an univerſal pollution Pſal. 51. 5. Job 14. 4. An unregenerate man is a compound of all ſin, he is a Cage of unclean Birds, a Sink of impurity: He is (as a Reverend Divine gives a fit expreſſion) A Pitcher of earth, fill'd up to the brim with the poyſonfull liquor of Hell. Originall ſinne is Mr. Wheatly of Banbury. on the new Birth.that ſpawn, whence is multiplied an innumerable fry of actuall rebellions. What is corrupt nature but a filthy dunghill of all abominations? The heart is the Devills Magazine to ſtore up all manner of wickedneſs, the tongue is ſet on fire of hell, a fountaine of all ſorts of evil communication: The hand an inſtrument of deceipt and violence, The eyes windowes and thorowfaires, to let in all ſorts of impurities, the feet ſwift to run the divels errand, and the whole life is a continued trade in ſin, to uſe the expreſſion of the ſame pretious Divine, now with God, The life of an unregenerate man is one continued Webbe of wickedneſs, made up by the divell and the fleſh, an evill ſpinner and a worſe weaver. This is that eſtate which the Pſalmiſt mentions Pſal. 14. 1, 2, 3.
2ly. The ſtate of unregeneracy is emnity againſt God: Naturall 2. A ſtate of Enmity.men are foreign Rom. 5. 10. That's the concrete; but we read it in the abſtract foreign. Rom. 8. 7. An unregenerate man is Gods enemy, and no greater oppoſition then between God and his enemies Iſ. 1. 25. Luke. 19. 27. To have a potent man thy enemy is ſad, but what is it to have the great God? All the attributes of God put forth themſelves againſt his enemies, his Juſtice, truth, power, holyneſs, abuſed patience. His juſtice in puniſhing, his truth in makeing good all his threats againſt them, his holyneſs, abhorring impurities, his power in… muſtering up all his forces againſt them, his abuſed patience, that hath ſo long forborn, now breaks forth into extremity of fury.
3. The ſtate of unregeneracy is a ſtate of blindneſs foreign: He neither doth nor can perceive. A beaſt may as ſoon underſtand reaſon, 3. A ſtate of blindneſs.as a natural man, qua talis, the things of God. So we read 2 Pet. 1. 9. foreign, nihil pr…ul cernens, as Stephanus Steph. Beza.and Beza obſerved, which word, according to Stephanus, is derived from, foreign connivere, and foreign oculus. Dicuntur foreign, qui oculos ſaepe claudunt quadam debilitate viſus, quod vitium aliquando naturale eſt, Aretius.as Aretius obſerves. Vnconverted perſons are in a ſtate of darkneſs Eph. 5. 8. foreign darkneſs it ſelf in the abſtract, Act. 26. 28. & Eph. 4. 18. They are ſaid to have foreign, calloſam concretionem, Gerhard Har.as Gerhard obſerves in his Harmony: its a kind of hardneſs that is joyned with this blindneſs.
4. This eſtate is a ſtate of death. An unregenerate man is a dead 4. A ſtate of death.man, Eph. 2. 1. 1 Tim. 5. 6. foreign, and ſome will have it from Spa…hale, which ſignifieth ornamenta mul…ebria, or foreign which is cibus delicatior. She that lives thus luxuriouſly is a dead woman: So Jude deſcribes ungodly unregenrate men by this Character v. 12 foreign. This is the ſecond reaſon.
A third reaſon ſhall be drawn from the free workings of Gods Reaſon 3. Drawn from the free working of Gods ſpirit.ſpirit. The ſpirit bloweth where it liſteth. God is a moſt free agent, and his gifts are various: to ſome he gives humane wiſdome, to other divine wiſdom; to ſome he gives ſpeculative head-knowledg, to others practical heart knowledge. His gifts are free, ſome had skill given from God to be builders in the Arke, notwithſtanding they themſelves periſhed in the waters. You know Saul had a ſpirit of Government and Propheſy … both for a time, yet he was a wicked man. The Philoſophers of Athens, were men of great learning, but they were ignorant of Jeſus Chriſt; and thoſe wiſe men of Greece, accounted the Goſpell fooliſhneſs. Though the world accounted them wiſe men, and cryed them up for men of eminent learning, yet they were fooles in matters of Chriſt and eternall ſalvation. Theres a vaſt difference between Parts and Graces: God gives plentifully many times great parts, where he gives not one dramme of ſaving grace. How many know the miſteries of nature, and yet know not of the new nature? Many are acquainted well with moral and intellectual virtues out of Ariſtotle, and yet ignorant altogether of Theologicall graces, ſuch as are Faith, Repo…tance, Love, Humility and the like. Put then all theſe Reaſons together. Is Regeneration ſuch a ſupernaturall work, and is an unregenerate man in a ſtate of Impurity, Enmity, blindneſs and deadneſs? Doth Gods ſpirit work freely, diſpenſing gifts and graces when he pleaſeth, being a moſt free agent, tyed to none, then my Aſſertion will prove it ſelf; That many Learned men are ignorant of the great work of Regeneration. This is hidden from the wiſe and learned of the world. Now to conclude all with ſome uſefull Application.
There are 4 Principal uſes, which I purpoſe to make of this Doctrine. Uſe 1. For Exhortation.viz. For Exhortation, Information, Examination, & Direction.
1. Then here is an uſe of Exhortation: And this I ſhall direct to two ſorts of perſons (and ſo take in my whole Auditory) viz. to Teachers, and to Diſciples; my endeavour ſhall be with all plainneſs of ſpeech to preſs your dutyes home to you, and ſo to divide to every one their portion.
1. To Teachers; was Nicodemus a Doctor, a profound Scholar, 1 To Teachers.and the cheif Rabbi amongſt the Jewes, and yet ignorant of Regeneration; Then let me preſs two dutyes upon you that are Teachers of others,
In the Firſt place let me beſeech you all that are Teachers of others, 1 Let Teachers goe to ſchool to Chriſt:that you would all goe to Schoole to Jeſus Chriſt, to learne this grand fundamentall Doctrine of Regeneration. Of all others Miniſters ſhould be acquainted with this Doctrine of the new birth. The maine end of the Miniſtry is to beget men a new unto God, to convert ſouls unto Jeſus Chriſt; And he is the fitteſt to comfort others, who himſelf hath been comforted, with thoſe things in particular, which hee communicates unto the comfort of others. Of all others, Miniſters ſhould be men of knowledge, Mal. 2. 7. An ignorant Miniſter is none of Gods making, the lame and the blind may not be offered in Sacrifice. Where God gives a calling, he gives gifts, and therefore a Teacher of others, ought to have the tongue of the Learned. Gualterus in locum.Iſa. 50. 4. Blind guids are not of Gods approbation: For if the blind lead the blind, both muſt fall into the ditch. It's Gualters obſervation: Admonemur non modo vulgus hominum, verum etiam ipſos Bullingerus in locum.Doctores propter ignorantiam atque inſcitiam argui at que corripi debere. And Bullinger gives an excellent note upon the place. In Eccleſia nihil eſt melius, utilius, praeſtantius Doctoribus ſive Paſtoribus ſide…ibus, & ſolide doctis. Such then as are unskilfull and ignorant of … this ſoul trade, are unfit for a Miniſteriall imployment, and it's high time to give a vomit to all ſuch, who make the ſacrifice of God to be abhorr'd. No… we are to diſtinguiſh of a twofold knowledge of Regeneration, Theoreticall and Experimentall: A Theoretical knowledge is when a man is convinced by argument, & ſtudy of Scripture that there is a neceſſity of Regeneration; but this Theoreticall knowledge is not like Aarons oyle, that deſcended from the head to other parts; it only lodgeth in the brain. A naturall m…n (its poſſible) may preach for it, diſcourſe of it by ſtrength of parts, reading and ſtudy. Nicodemus came not ſo farre, and many there are that come ſhort of him. But beſides this ſpeculative, there is an experimentall knowledge of Regeneration, when a man findes the ſweetneſs, and lively power thereof, upon his own ſoul: when a man apprehends the image of Chriſt, which conſiſts in righteouſneſs and holyneſs ſtampt upon him: when a man findes a reall, powerfull and effectuall change upon his heart and life; this is the knowledge a miniſter ought cheifly to have. Let him ſtudy the Theory, and be able to inſtruct others what this new birth is; but above all let him labour for the practical and experimentall knowledge thereof, in his own heart, that he may feel it operative, and active in his own heart, and ſo be more able to diſcourſe from obſervations, out of the book of his own heart, 2 Teachers ſhould teach frequently doctrinerather then out of the choiceſt writers that handle that ſubject.
2. You that are Teachers of others, let me beſeech you in the bowells of Jeſus Chriſt, to preach frequently this fundamentall Doctrine of Regeneration. …his is a moſt needfull Leſſon which can be never enough taught, never enough learned: Chriſt crucified, Faith, Repentance, Holineſs, Regeneration, are maine neceſſary doctrines to be Preach't, in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon: doe not throw away and waſt your time about unneceſſary controverſies, vaine …nglings; doubtfull and curious diſputations, where the ſcripture it ſilent. It was ſaid of old, Elias cum venerit ſolvet dub…um. And we ſay now, that where Gods ſpirit is ſilent, our curioſity deſerves a check. Let ſuch as bend their wits to force blood out of the Scriptures, and coyn new interpretations at the Mint of a whimſical brain, let them be convinced of their great folly: and O that for the future, ſuch would preach Regeneration more, and in all their Preaching hold faſt the forme of ſound words. A preacher will doe more good (through Gods bleſſing) by preaching one Sermon on this Argument, from an experimentall feeling of Gods ſpirit upon his heart; then if (to pleaſure any w…n…on ears of Athens) he preach a thouſand Sermons full of high-flown Poeticall expreſſions. Fathers and Brethren ſuffer the word of Exhortation: Round about the country, neere to the Vniverſity, the poore people cry for your help, as the man of Macedonia, come and help us. Charity binds you, Conſcience binds you. In ſome places you have Impropriations, theſe help to feed you with corporall food, and in conſcience you are bound to feed them with ſpirituall food; Why then ſtand any of you idle in the Market? Why doe not you ariſe & be doing, and travel, Eaſt, Weſt, North and South, preaching of the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt? And when you goe, doe not ſtuffe up your Sermons with fragments of Poets, and fag-ends of Philoſophicall diſtinctions. It was the …nne of your Predeceſſours removed lately, ſometimes to preach ſtrong lines, uncouth Phraſes, at ſome Neibouring Pariſh, and this they call'd, Ayring of a Pauls, or a Court Sermon, and ſo they ſeemed to the people no better then Barbarians, preaching in an unknown tongue. High-flown Poets formerly, and Familiſts of late, (both unſit for a Pulpit) amuſe the people with ſublime non-ſenſical ſtraines, ſpeaking as the Apoſtle Jude …ude 16.ſaith, foreign. Take heed none of you be ſuch. Therefore let it be the foreign to preach Chriſt crucified; Shew men their miſery by nature, the neceſſity of Regeneration, The excellency of Chriſt, thisis that unum neceſſarium. Governours, Tutors, Maſters, Parents, all in their places had need take more paines in examining thoſe under them, concerning the Doctrine of a new birth. You will upon ſearch find many men that can diſcourſe of State Controverſies, and Church Controverſies, that can diſcourſe of Diſcipline, that can readily fall upon the Miniſtry, and Vehemently cry down their maintenance, as Jewiſh or Antichriſtian &c. and yet oft times ſuch are very ignorant in the maine neceſſary Point of Regeneration. This is the grand point that ſhould be more preach't then it is now adayes.
2. To Diſciples, the other part of the Uſe reſpects them. Let me beſeech you to lay aſide itching Ears, after novell Doctrines: 2. To Diſciplescome not here with an appetite to have your fancy tickled: Be not like thoſe of old Athens (of our Athens we hope better things) ever expecting ſome new thing, ſome Brain Fancy, ſome Chimara or Ens rationis, ſome new coyn'd Interpretation, beſides, and againſt the rule of the word of God: But rejoyce in plain preaching, and delight in that which tells you plainly of the neceſſity of holyneſs; new creature, intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt. This is the life of preaching, to preach Chriſt crucified, in the demonſtration of the Spirit. And this is the life of hearing to yeild ready obedience thereunto. Let every one ſay, let the plain, powerfull, profitable preaching come, let it come, let it come cloſly, particularly and effectually into my ſoul, let Gods word finde me out, divide unto me my portion, and ſeparate between the joynts and marrow, even between my ſelf and my boſome corruptions. Some of you are the ſonnes of Nobles, Antient Families, O remember wherein conſiſts your beſt Nobility; and that's in this New Birth. The Bereans were foreign. The Kings Daughter is ſaid to be glorious within, her clothing is of Act. 11. 12: Pſal 45. 13.wrought Gold. The graces of Gods ſpirit, Faith, love, meekneſs, temperance, goodneſs, and the like, theſe ennoble your ſoules, theſe make Nobility it ſelf truely noble: And theſe will laſt when honorable perſons ſhall be degraded, and all honours lye in the duſt: Therefore labour for this true Nobility. It was Ignatius his ſaying, Nobilitas & Antiquitas mea Jeſus Chriſtus. It was an excellent ſaying of Lewis of Bavyer Emperour of Germany, Hujuſmodi comparandae ſunt opes, quae cum naufragio ſimul enatent. Such goods are worth getting, that when a ſhipwrack happens, will ſwimme along with us. And theſe are the riches of Chriſt, the graces of his ſpirit, this great grace of Regeneration. When ſtormes, and tempeſt, even Euroclydons, the moſt bluſtering windes come, when concuſſions, overturnings, and hurlyburlyes come, theres ſafety, for that man who hath made God his portion, who hath an intereſt in Chriſt, he ſhall not be afraid of evil tidings, becauſe his heart is fixed, truſting in the Lord; he hath the name of the Lord to go unto, a rock of ages to ſhelter himſelf upon, and ſo ſhall be ſafe. Brethren, I ſpeak to many men of great learning, well skill'd in Arts and Sciences; I acknowledge ſingular uſe of them, and I know none that will ſpeak againſt them, unleſſe ſuch, of whom the Apoſtle ſpeakes, they ſpeak evil of that which they know not; yet notwithſtanding here is a Science that out bids all your Sciences, and that is the knowledge of Chriſt. Paul the learned Doctor of the Gentiles thus determines 1 Cor. 2. 2. I determined to know nothing amongſt you, ſave Jeſus Christ and him crucified. And he calls other things in compariſon of this knowledge Phil. 3. 8, foreign. Above all knowledge, labour to get this knowledge, and above all your gettings, labour to get this underſtanding. And unleſs you be newborn, you can never attaine unto a ſavory knowledge of Chriſt. An ignorant perſon will ask, what is thy beloved more then an other beloved? but the Spouſe anſwered, my beloued is white and ruddy, the cheifeſt of ten thouſand. Here lyes our duty to pray for the ſpirit, and wait upon God in his word; the word is the ſeed, the ſpirit that formative vertue that makes it effectuall. O prize Gods ordinances, and wait upon God in them. Happy will it be for any of you of whom it can be truely ſaid, Loe there was he born, Loe there was he new born, and waſh'd with the laver of Regeneration. In ſuch a place, and at ſuch a Sermon, God came in, and chang'd the heart. This is the Nail we are a driving, we let down the Caſting-net of the Goſpel, hopeing to catch ſome: and it's the deſire of our ſoules to be inſtrumentall, to beget ſoules unto Jeſus Chriſt. Let's all doe our duties faithfully, and leave the ſucceſs with God.
The 2d Uſe is for Information. To handle this uſe more diſtinctly, 2 For Information.my work will be.
1. To ſhew you negatively, what Regeneration is not.
2. To ſhew poſitively, what it is.
1. Negatively, and this I ſhall diſcover in theſe enſuing particulars.
1. It conſiſts not, as Nicodemus groſly apprehended, in a ſecond 1. Regeneration is not underſtood in Nicodemus his ſenſe.entring into the wombe. Suppoſe that a naturall man could be born in a natural way, a thouſand times over, yet there is ſuch defilement in his naturall being and birth, by reaſon of Original ſinne, that it's infinitely different and diſagreeing with ſpiritual Regeneration: this natural birth would be but fleſh, and our Saviour tells us, that which is born of the fleſh, is fleſh.
2. Regeneration conſiſts not in a New Phyſicall being, (i. e.) to 2 Regeneratiom conſiſts not in a Phyſicall being,looſe the eſſentials we had of a ſoul, and the faculties thereof. We have ſome Familiſts, and vain Dreamers, who talk of being Goded and Chriſted, and tell of a ſtrange Deification, of being made God with God: This is Blaſphemy in a high meaſure, ſee 1 Pet. 1. 4. foreign. We have by Chriſt not a new ſubſtance put into us, but new qualities. In a Theologicall ſenſe, he is wholly a new man, who is changed in quality from bad to good, yet the ſubſtance remaines ſtill the ſame. The alteration is not in the eſſence, but in the operations and qualities of a man.3. Regeneration is not Civility, and morall honeſty.
3. Regeneration is not civility and morall honeſty, though civility and moral honeſty are both commendable, and a ſhame for any Chriſtians to be ſtrangers to them; yet men may be morally honeſt, juſt in dealings, and yet not outſtrip heathens, who never heard of Chriſt. A Socrates, a Plato, a Regulus, a Fabritius by their principles may goe a great way, & walk inoffenſively to the eye of the world, and yet may be a meer Ignoramus of Regeneration. What's the reaſon, the Apoſtle will tell us, 1 Cor. 2. 14. The naturall man receives not the things of the ſpirit of God. Heathens have called the new moulding of their life, a new birth. Seneca tells us, Nobis ad arbitrium noſtrum naſci licet. Yet this is farre ſhort of that heavenly birth, which the Scripture diſcovers. How were Heathens new moulded, but according to thoſe foreign common naturall principles, according to thoſe inſtitutions which they had in the Schooles of Plato, Zeno and Ariſtotle. Its the property of Gods word only to beget this new nature: It's call'd Incorruptible ſeed, 1 Pet. 1. 23. Now not only a pro…ane man muſt be born again, but a civill man, Joh. 3. 3. It's ſpoken Indefinitely, except a man be born again &c. A man outwardly vertuous, a man of a ſweet diſpoſition, a man of a good nature, he muſt be born againe. It was a Blaſphemous Hyperbole, uſed in commendation of Bonaventure, In hoc homine non peccavit Adam; yet let the nature be nere ſo ingenuous, it muſt be born from above.
4. Regeneration conſiſts, not in great parts, and abilities. Many 4. Regeneration conſiſts not in great Parts and Abilities,may have great learning, both naturall and acquired parts to admiration, and yet remaine altogether ignorant of Regeneration. The learned Orators and Philoſophers, attain'd unto a great meaſure of knowledge, and yet were ignorant of the myſtery of Regeneration. Where Regeneration is, ther's a wonderful change wrought upon the heart, the inward man is purified, the thoughts are ſanctified, the heart cleanſed; But all the Documenta and Principia of the cheifeſt of Philoſophers and Orators mention not one ſyllable of heart cleanſing, heart purifying; they direct no further then the outward man.
5. Regeneration conſiſts not in common graces. There may be a 5. Regeneration conſiſts not in common Grace.cōmon Faith, a cōmon Love, and a cōmon Hope in ſuch as are unregenerate. To have a temporary, opinionative Faith, to have a cōmon verbal Love, a preſumptuous Hope, theſe are common to thoſe that periſh: But to have a Faith that purifieth the heart, a Love without diſſimulation, a Hope that maketh not aſhamed, theſe appertain only to regenerate perſons.
6. Regeneration conſiſts not in a bare profeſſion of Chriſt, and 6. Regeneration conſiſts not &c.acknowledgement of the Goſpel. Many have an external profeſſion, and profeſs that they believe in Chriſt, and yet cannot tell what this New birth means. Many may be turned from Paganiſm to Popery, from Popery to Proteſtantiſm, and yet be unregenerate all the while. There muſt be a converſion from an outward profeſſion at large, to a holy converſation. There muſt be a ſaving work of grace upon the heart. Wee muſt not onelyonly be externally profeſſors, but internally, and really changed in our natures; we muſt be took off the old ſtock, and planted into the new; we muſt not be contented to be accounted nominal profeſſors, unleſſe we be really wrought upon, and throughly changed.
Now as I have ſhewed you in ſix particulars wherein Regeneration is not, I ſhall now endeavour to ſhew in ſix particulars wherein it conſiſts, viz. in a new Nature, a new Understanding, new Will, new Affections, a new Heart, and a new Life and Converſation.
1. For the new Nature, this is called foreign, Eph. 4. 1. Theres a new nature.24. foreign, 2 Cor. 5. 17. foreign, 1 Cor. 5. 7. This conſiſts not onelyonly in the change of ſome particular actions, but the change of the whole Nature.
2. There's a new Underſtanding, Eph. 4. 23. Rev. 3. 18. 1 Joh. 2. A new underſtanding.2. 20. when Saul was converted he had a new underſtanding; he was another manner of man, he was inſpired from heaven, and had divine illumination.
3. There's a new Will, Pſal. 110. 3. Paul askt, Lord, what 3. A new willwouldſt thou have me to doe? after Chriſt met with him by the way.
4. New Affections, Col. 3. 2.4. New affections. 5. A new heart. 6. A new life
5. A new Heart. It's commanded Ezek. 18. 31. and promiſed Ezek. 36. 26.
6. A new Life; there are new paths, there are new waies; the fruit of Regeneration is newneſſe of life and converſation; the fruit of a regenerate man is to holyneſſe; he brings forth fruits meet for repentance, as we are commanded, Mat. 3. 8.
I proceed to another Uſe, for Exhortation, to exhort and excite Ʋſe 4. For Exhortation.every one, to ſearch and enquire, and let every one ask his own heart, whether or no he be regenerated. This is a matter of eternal conſequence, and therefore we ſhould make it a Queſtion, and ask every one himſelf particularly, Am I regenerated yea or no. For Motives conſider,
1. The neceſſity, Joh. 3. 3. No comming to heaven withou Mot. 1 Regeneration.
2. All the Actions, Services, and Duties performed by unregenerate Mot. 2 men, can no waies be acceptable and pleaſing unto God; For whatſoever is not of Faith is ſin: Now the moſt gaudy, ſpecious pretences of unregenerate men ariſe not from a Principle of Faith; there's Self-love, Vain-glory at the bottom. Now without Faith …ere is an utter impoſſibility of pleaſing God, Heb. 11. 6.
3. Nothing defiled ſhall ever enter into heaven: Now an unregenerate Mot. 3 perſon is unwaſht, left to lye in his blood and pollution, his wayes are foul, his mind and conſcience are defiled: No ſink ſo filthy as the ſtate of unregeneracy.
The fift Vſe is for Direction.Ʋſe 5. For Direction.
Firſt, Pray hard for Divine Wiſdome, Jam. 1. 17. All Secular Learning, all the accompliſht knowledge in the Arts and Sciences, are not able to teach this Myſtery of Regeneration. It comes from heaven, it's the work of the Spirits illumination to open the underſtanding, to bring a ſoul from darkneſs unto light.
2. Wait upon God in his Word; the Word is the …eed of Regeneration; it's immortal, incorruptible Seed.
3. Pray for the Spirit; the Spirit cauſeth this Seed to fructifie.
The ſixth Vſe is for Conſolation: O how happy are their conditions Ʋſe 6. For Conſolation. Rev. 1. 5.who are ſavingly wrought on by the Spirit of God! It's God that hath loved them, and waſht them, and made them Kings and Prieſts unto God. They are new born, and are of the family of the Firſt-born. Not fleſh and blood, not the greateſt birth, nor accompliſht parts hath revealed this Myſterie of Regeneration; this is onelyonly the work of Gods Spirit. Now what's the Duty of regenerate perſons?
1. To praiſe God, and tell of his goodneſs: So did Paul, reciting the Hiſtory of his Converſion, break forth into Praiſes, 1 Tim. 1. 17.
2. To walk as becommeth converted children, Eph. 5. 8. Regeneration muſt be evidenced by the fruits of a ſanctified converſation.
3. To ſet an high price on ſo great a diſtinguiſhing love and mercy, That God ſhould change thy heart, and purifie thy nature.
This is 1, a work of an Omnipotent God.
2. In instanti.
3. Ex nihilo; it's a pure Creation; pray then with David, Pſal. 51. 10. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right ſpirit within me. Unconverted muſt pray for Regeneration, and Converted muſt pray fo… further Manifeſtations and Evidences there… that this great work is effectually wrought upon their ſoules.