ox BECOMING A NEW CREATURE.

pent
too,

621
;

poor have a pattern of this in our Saviour ho avoided liis enemies in one place, that he Tim. 1 vi. 17, 18., "Charg:c tluMU tliat arc rich in the might prcich the gospel in another, Luke world, that they do good, that tlicy be rich iv. 29, 30., " They led him unto the brow in good works." The poor uiau is as it were of the hill, that they might cast him down an altar, if we bring our alms and lay upon headlong; but he passing through the midst of them, went his way," it, with such sacrifices God is well jileased. there was Faith, though it hath sometimes a trembling Christ's wisdom in not betraying himself to band, it must not have a withered hand, his enemy and v. 43., " I must preach the but must stretch forth itself to works of kingdom of God to other cities also," mercy there's nothing lost by charitable- there was his holiness. Christ's securing

here

but

we must

lay out
of"

i'ov

tJic

is

the mixture

the dove,

ness, Prov. xi. 25., "

The
1.,

liberal soul shall

of himself was in order to the j)reaching of

the gospel.

be made

fat," Ps.

xli.

" Blessed

is

he

This

is

to

mix prudence and

make all innocency, when we so avoid danger as we bis bed in his sickness." While men do so do not commit sin. Thus I have, as briefly and as clearly as rememl)er their family, that tiiey do not forget the poor, they shew both prudence and I could, shown you how we must unite
that considereth the poor, thou wilt

piety
12.

they unite the serpent and the dove.

these two, the serpent

wisdom and the dove's dence and holiness. innoccncy is seen so to avoid dan- these two together religion doth much suf" What Christ ger, as not to commit sin, to preserve our fer in the Christian world. liberty, yet keep our integrity. There is a hath joined together, let no man put asunObserve these two, prudence and sinful escaping danger, namely, when we are der." here is the serpent's eye in the called to suffer for the truth, and we decline holiness AVlien these two, wisdom and dove's head. it; but there is an escaping danger without like Castor and Pollux sin as thus, when we do not betray our- innocency apselves into the enemies' hands by rashness, pear together, they presage much good and nor yet betray the truth by cowardice. We happiness that will befal a Christian.
serpent's
in this,

The

and the dove, pruFor want of couDlin"-

SERMON
11 CoR.
V. 17.

II. old things are

" There/ore^ if any man he in Christy he is a new creature passed away, behold all things are became new."

In

this scripture consists the essence

I

and

soul of religion.
Is/,

note here two things.

definition of a Chris-

That whosoever is in For illustration, creature.

2d,

Christ,
I shall

is

a new1.

shew,

That the true

What
work
1.

new
a

creature is; 2.

What
is.

kind of

tian is to be in Christ.

Christ."

He may
;

" If any man be in be in the church visible,

it

it is.

What

new

creature

It is
iii.

a seIt

yet not in Christ

is

not to be baptized
:

cond birth added

to the first,
it

John
is

3.

into Christ's name,

to

makes a true Christian

is

may
ral

be thus described:

a supernatu-

but to be in Christ, that

to

be grafted in-

work of God's

Spirit,

renewing and

him by faith. And if to be in Christ transforming the heart into the divine likemakes a Christian, then there are but icw ness. Christians. Many are in Christ nominally, (1.) The efficient cause of the new creanot re.ally they are in Christ by profession, ture, is the Holy Ghost no angel or archnot by mystical union. Are they in Christ angel is able to produce it, AVho but God that do not know him ? Are they in Christ can alter the hearts of men, and turn stones who persecute them that are in Christ ? into flesh ? If the new creature was not Sure such an holy head as Christ will dis- produced by the Holy Ghost, then the greatclaim such spurious members. est glory in a man's conversion would be
; ;

622

SELECT SERMONS.

long to himself; but this glory God will in all its orient colours till it come to hea The turning of the yen. not give to another. will to God is from God, Jer. xxxi. 19., (2.) The new creature is a work of free" After I was turned, I repented." grace. There is nothing in us to move
(2.)

The organical cause or instrument God

to

make us anew

by nature we are

by which the new creature is formed, is the full of pollution and enmity, yet now God word of God, James i. 18., " Of his own forms the new creature. Behold the banwill begat he us, by the word of truth." ner of love displayed The new creature " word is the seed, out of which springs The may say, By tiie grace of God I am what the flower of the new creature. I am." In the creation we may see the in the new crea(3.) The matter of which the new crea- strength of God's arm ture consists is, the restoring God's image ture we may see the working of God's howels. Tiiat God should consecrate any heart, lost by the fall. Quest. But doth God in the new creature, and anoint it with grace, is an act of pure love; that he should pluck one out of the give a new soul ? Ans. No he doth not bestow new facul- state of nature, and not another, must be As in the altering resolved into free-grace. Mat. xi. 26., " Eties, but new qualities. of a lute, the strings are not new, but the ven so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy tune is mended: so, in the new creature, the sight." This will increase tlie saint's trisubstance of the soul is not new, but is new umphs in heaven, that the lot of free-grace tuned by grace the heart that before was should fall upon them, and not on others. proud, is now humble the eyes, that be(3.) The new creature is a work of rare fore were full of lust, are now full of tears. excellency. A natural man is a lump of earth and sin, God loathes him, Zech. xi. 8., Here are new qualities infused. 2. What kind of work the new creature but upon the new creature is a spiritual
!

is.

glory, as if
(1.)

The new
;

creature

is

a work of di-

vine power
it

so

much

it

imports, because

should see a piece of clay turned into a sparkling diamond, Cant. iii. 6., " Who is this that cometh out of tJie
wilderness, like pillars of

we

is

a creation.

The same power which

from the grave, goes to production of the new creature, Eph. i. It is a work of greater power to produce ness of
raised Christ

smoke perfumed the with 'myrrh and frankincense ?" That is 20. the natural man coming out of the wildersin,

perfumed with

all

the graces of

the

new

creature,

than to

make a
all

Avorld.

the Spirit.

The new
it
i.

creature must needs

soul beautified with

It is true, in respect to

God,

things are
to

be glorious, for
ture,

partakes of the divine na-

alike possible to

him;

but, as to our appre-

2 Pet.
is

4.

A
;

hension,

it

requires a greater

power

make
for,

holiness,

like the

firmament bespangled

a new
1.

creature, than to

make a

world,

When God made

;

the world, he

met

A'en, Isa. Ivii. 15.

with nc opposition but when God is about to make a new creature, he meets with op- new creation, man is made in the image of Satan opposeth him, and the God; by our being creatures, we are the position heart opposeth him. sons of Adam, by being new creatures, 2. It cost God nothing to make the world, we are the members of Christ. Reason but to make the new creature costs him makes one live the life of a man, the new something Christ himself was fain to be- creature makes him live the life of God a
;

with glittering stars it is God's lesser heaIn the incarnation, God made himself in the image of man, in the

come man.

In making the world, it was but speaking a word ; but in making of the
creature,
it

new

creature excels

the rational

nature,

and equals the

angelical.

It is excellent to

new
3.

cost Christ the shedding

of his blood.

hear of Christ's being crucified for us, but more excellent to have Christ formed in us.

he
all

is

; but carrying on the new creature in us our lives long. The new creature is

God made

the world in six days

Concerning the new

creatui'e, I shall lay

down two
Vst

positions.

Position.

That

but begun here,

it is

not perfected or drawn

of a natural

man

not in the powef to convert himself; beit is

ON BECOMING A NEW CREATURE.

cause
it is

G23
God's curses meet. is like one in debt
;

new

croatioii.

make
tures.

ourselves creatures,

As we cannot are the centre where all so not new crea- An unregenerate jn-rson
that
is

in fear to be arrested

he

is

every

But why doth God command us hour in fear to be arrested by death, and Can that traitor to convert ourselves, if we hove no power ? carried jirisoner to hell. be hajipy, who is fed by his prince in priEzok. xviii. 31., Make you a new heart.
Qi;i:sT.

God pave son, only to be kept alive for execution ? we lost it. If a God feeds the wicked as prisoners, they are us a stock of liolincss, master pve liis servant money to employ reserved for the day of wrath, 2 Pet. ii. 9. in his service, and he waste and embezzle How should this fright men out of their natural condition, and make them restless it, may not the master require his money of him ? Though we have lost our power till they are new creatures. 2d Use. Trial. Whether we are new to obey, God hath not lost his rij^ht to comAus.
1.

^^'e

onee

liad ])ower.

Imt

mand.
A.
2.

creatures

our salvation depends upon

it.

Thou(jh

men cannot

convert them-

I.

shall

shew you the

counterfeits of
to

and make themselves new creatures, the new creature, or that which seems vet tliey mav do more than tliev do in a be the new creature, and is not.
selves,

tendency to it they may avoid temptations, they may read the word; the same feet
;

Natural honesty, moral virtue, prudence, justice, liberality, temperance, these

I.

them to a l)lay, will carry them they may implore divine to a sermon grace. But they do not what they are athey do not im])rove the jwwer of nable tui-e to the utmost, and put God to the trial whether he will give grace. A. 3. God is not wanting to them who Deus volentihus non seek to him for grace.
that carry
; ;

make a

glorious

shew

in

the eye of the

the

world, but differ as

ty indeed
if

much from

new

creature as a meteor frwm a star.

is

Morali-

commendable, and it were well this our Saviour there were more of it
;

loves,

Mark

x. 21.,

" Then Jesus beholding

It

him, loved him."

sion, not election.

was a love of compasbut nature

INIorality is

There With his command there goes a pro- is nothing of Christ in morality and that liand. mise, Ezek. xviii. 31., " Make you a new fruit is sour which grows not on the root Moral actions are done out of a heart ;" and there is a promise, Ezek. Christ. " humour, not any respect to vain-glorious xxxvi. 26., A new heart also will I give
deest.

He

is

willing to put to his helping

at best,

it

doth not amount to grace.

;

you.

God's glory.
Position.

The

apostle calls the heathen

1

2d
ner,

When God

converts a sin-

magistrates unjust,

Cor.

vi.

1.

While

he doth more than use a moral persuasion, for conversion is a new creation, Eph. iv. 2i. The Pelagians talk much of free-will they say, " The will of man is
;

they were doing justice in their

civil courts,

they were
vices,

unjust

their

virtues

became

because faith was wanting, and they

did

all to raise

them trophies

for their

own

by nature asleep, and conversion is nothing ])raise and fame. So that morality is but but the awakening a sinner out of sleep, the wild olive of nature, it doth not amount which is done by moral ]>ersuasion." But t() grace. Heat water to the highest deman is by nature dead in sin, Eph. ii. 1. gree, you cannot make wine of it, it is waAnd God must do more than awaken him, ter still so, let morality be raised to the he must enliven him before he be a new highest, it is nature still, it is but old Adam
:

creature.
1st Use.

creatures.

Terror to such as are not new Such as are still growing upon

put in a better dress. I may say to a cIntI " man, yet lackest thou one thing," Mark X. 21. Moral virtue may stand with the

the stock of old

their sins,

Adam, who continue

in

and are resolved

so to do, these

are in the gall of bitterness, and are the most miserable creatures that ever God made, except the devils. These stand in
the place where all God's arrows fly
;

moral man doth as much hate holiness, as he doth vice. The Stoics were moralists, and had sublime notions about virtue, yet were the deadliest enemies St. Paul had. Acts xvii. 18. So
hatred of godliness.
that this
is

these

a counterfeit jewel.

624
2.

SELECT SERMONS.
Reliirious education
is

not the

new

with liim,

V. 66.

Many

desire heaven but

Education doth much cultivate will not come up to the price. Affections and refine nature education is a good wall of joy may be stirred. In the parable, the " receive to plant the vine of grace against, but it is second sort of hearers are said to King Jehoash was good as long the word with joy," Mat. xiii. 20. What not grace. but when Je- was this but to liave the affections moved as Ilia uncle Jehoiada lived Yet, that this lioiada died, all Jehoash's religion was hur- with delight in hearing
creature.
; ;
!

ried in

his

uncle's grave,

Because those hearers are said to Have not we seen many 2c?, Because they fell away, trained up religiously under their parents, have no root. and were very hopeful, yet these fair blos- V. 21. King Herod did hear John the Bapsoms of hope have been blown off, and they tist gladly; he was much affected with John's
plain, \st,

2 Kings xii. 2. who have been

did not

amount

to

the

new

creature,

is

have lived to be a shame to 3. A form of godliness

creature.

their friends ?
is

not the
fine

new
fea-

Every bird
sweet

that hath
flesh
;

thers, hath not

all

that shine

with the golden feathers of profession, are not saints, 2 Tim. iii. 5., " Having a form of godliness, but denying the power." What Formality is the ape of but their love to sin is stronger than their is a lifeless form ? formalists may perform all the ex- love to the word therefore all their good afpiety pray, fast, give fections prove abortive, and come to nothing. ternal parts of religion, 6. One may have trouble for sin, yet not Whatever duties a believer doth in alms. formalist be a new creature. Trouble of spirit may do in sincerity, the same may a How devout were the Phari- appear, while God's judgments lie upon hypocrisy. How humble was Ahab what a men when these are removed, their trousees Yet this was but a ble ceaseth, Ps. Ixxviii. 34, 36., " When he reformer was Jehu
; ;

where then was the defect? Why was not Herod a new creature ? The reason was, because Herod was not reformed by the Baptist's preaching; his affections were moved, but his sin was not removed. Many have sweet motions of heart, and seem to be much affected with the word,
preaching;

formal shew of religion. Daedalus, by art, made images to move of themselves, inso-

slew them, then they sought him nevertheless they did flatter hira with their
;

much

mouths." Metal that melts in a furnace, were living formalists do so counterfeit, and play a de- take it out of the furnace, and it returns to many in time of sickvotion, that others think they are living its former hardness What ness seem to be like melted metal. saints they are religious mountebanks. of hands wringing What weeping and 4. Every change of opinion doth not aDo not mouiit to the new creature; man may change confessions of sin will they make But as these look like new creatures ? from error to truth, yet be no new creature liere is a change in the head, but not in the soon as they recover, they are as bad as heart one may be orthodox in liis judg- ever their pangs go off again, and it never ment, yet not cordially embrace the gospel comes to a new birth. 7. A man may have the Spirit, yet not }je may be no papist, yet no true believer. He who is changed only in opinion, is but be a new creature. The apostle supposcth almost a Christian, and shall be but almost a case, that one might be made partaker of saved. the Holy Ghost, yet fall away, Heb. vi. 4, 5. Every sudden passion, or stirring of A man may have some slight transient the affections, is not the new creature. work of the Spirit, but it doth not go to There may be affections of sorrow some, the root he may have the common gifts upon the reading the history of Christ's of the Spirit but not the special grace he ])assion, may be ready to weep, but it is may have the Spirit to convince him, not only a natural tenderness, which relents at to convert liim the light he hath is like a Affections of desire winter-sun, which hath little or no influany tragical sight. may be stirred, John vi. 34., " Lord, ever- ence, it doth not make him more holy more give us this bread :" but these basely he hath the motions of the Spirit, but walks deserted Christ, and would walk no more after the flesh.
that people thought they
r
:

ON BECOMING A NEW CREATURE.

8.

G25

Every

abstaiiiinjj

from

sin is not the

new creature. This ahstaininp^ may be, Isf, From restraining^ frrace, not renewinf^ jrrace:
as

God

withliekl

Gen. xxxi. 24. men from sin, Conscience stands as the anconscience. gel with a drawn sword, and saith, " Do not this evil." Men may be frighted from
sin,

Laban from liintinp; Jacob, Tlie Lord may restrain by tlie terror of a natural

but not divorced. 2d, Men may abstain from sin for a while, and then return as Saul left off pursuing David, to it again for some time, and then hunted him again. sanctified," &c. But every change doth not evidence the This is like a man that holds his breath under water, and then takes breath again, new creature. 1. There is a change from " now turned, one were extreme xxxiv. Ye to another, Jer. 15, 10., from a prodigal and had done right in my sight But ye to an usurer, from a Turk to a Papist. turned and polluted my holy name." 3dy This is as if one should recover of one dis:

were enticements to lust, she takes penance of them, and washed Christ's feet with her tears her hair, which she was so proud of, and which was a net to entangle her lovers, she now takes penance of it, and wii)es Christ's feet with it. Thus the new creature makes a visible change. Such as are the same as they were, as vain and proud as ever, here is no new creature to to be seen for then a mighty change would appear, 1 Cor. vi. 11., "And such were some of you, but ye arc washed, but ye are
that
;

and die of another. 2. Tiiere is an more spiritual sins, leave drunkenness, and outward change, which is like the washing leave uncleanness, and live of a swine. live in pride, Ahab was much changed to in malice. Tlie Pharisee boasted he was no outward view, when he " rent his clothes, adulterer, but he could not say he was not and put on sackcloth," 1 Kings xxi. 27., proud or superstitious here he left gross insomuch that God stands and wonders at " Seest thou how Ahab Inimbletli 4th, Men him: sin, and lived in spiritual sins. may leave sin partially, abstain from some himself?" Yet, for all this, he was but an sins, not all, they feed some sin in a cor- hypocrite. ner. Herod left many sins, but one sin he Quest. What change then is that ivhkh is
leave gross sin,

Men may

and yet

live in

ease,

lived in, viz. incest.

All this doth not a-

requisite in the neiv creature ?

mount
II.

to the

new

creature.

Ans.
heart.
it

It is

an inward change, a change of

the
lieai't

I shall

shew you wherein the essence

Though

be not new-made,

of the
Is^,

new

creature consists.

In general.

To

the constituting of

the

new
is

creature there must be a great

change wrought.
ture,

He who

is

a new crea-

not the same

spirit,

another

man he was. Numb. xiv. 24.,

He
"

is

of

My

ser-

vant Caleb, because he had another spirit." When the harlot, Lais, came to one of her duction of the new creature, there must be old acquaintance after he was converted, a change. 2dhj, More particularly. and tempted him to sin. Ego non sum ego, The change in saith he, " I am not the same man." When the new creature consists in two things,

new-moulded, Jer. iv. It., Wash thy heart, O Jerusalem. Ahab's clothes were rent, but not his hearl. The outward change will do no good without the in-, ward what will become of thorn then, who have not so much as an outward change? Thus you see in. general, that, in the prois
,

one becomes a new creature, there is such and ihoy are both set down in the text a visible change that all may see it; there- " old things are passed away behold all fore it is called a change " from darkness to things are become new." light," Acts xxvi. 18. Paul, a persecutor, 1. " Old things are passed away." Old
:

converted, was so altered that all who saw him, wondered at Iiim and could scarce

when

pride, old ignorance,

old malice; the old

was the same. Acts ix. 21.: another soul had lived in the same body. Mary Magdalene, an unchaste sinner, when then there are no new creatures. IVIio can beonce savingly wrought upon, what a peni- quite freed from sin ? Doth not Paul com-^ tent creature did she become Her eyes, plain of a body of death?
believe that he
if

as

house must be pulled down ere you, can set up a new. Obj. But if all ohl things must pass aivay^

4K

626
Jtiff.

SELECT SF.RMOWS.

We

must know

tliat

the change
it

tnoughts,

the

stirrings

of anger and con-

wrought
chano-e
:

in the

new

creature, tliough
it

be
a
1

cupiscence,
his nature.
pel
sins,

the
(2.)

venom and impurity of

a thorougli change, yet

sin will

is

not a perfect
there

remain.

As
is

is
1
;

pride,

principle of grace,

so of corruption

like

heart,

He

spiritual

doth not oppose goshardness of barrenness; he is not

unbelief,

wine and water mixed, there

generate flesh as well as

in the re-

troubled, that he can love

(3.)

God no more.

opposeth not complexion-sins, such as the bias of his heart carries him morrj question ariseth. Quest. I/sin in the regenerate is not quite strongly to, as lust or avarice ; he saith of done away, then how far must one put off the his constitution-sins, as Naaman, 2 Kings V. 18., " In this thing, the Lord pardon old man, that he may be a new creature ?
spirit.

Here a

He

There must be a grieving for thy servant." But the new creature opposas he that hates a serthe remains of corruption, Rom. vii. 24., eth all kinds of sin " O wretched man that I am, who shall vant, hates all kinds of serpents, Ps. cxix. *' I hate every false way." deliver me from this body of death ?" Paul 104., 2d/y, There is difference between the nadid not cry out of his sufferings, his being tural man's opposing sin, and the new creabeaten Avith rods, shipwrecked, stoned he bemoan- ture's opposing sin, in regard of the mobut, like the bird of paradise A natural man opposeth sin, from In the new creature tives. ed himself for sin.
Ans.
1.
:
;

to stop the a daily carnal motives, there must be quotidianus miigitus, mourning for the indwelling presence of science, and to prevent hell.

corruption

a child of

God doth not wear

creature opposeth sin

tives,

sin as a gold chain, but as a fetter.

out of love to God, and fear of dishonouring the gospel. A. 2. In the new creature there must be A. 4. In the new creature there is mora detestation of old things, as one would detest a garment in which is the plague. tifying old corrupt lusts, Gal. v. 24., " Tliey
It is
;

mouth of conBut the new upon more noble mo-

not enough to be angry with sin but we must hate it, Ps. cxix. 163., " I hate and abhor lying." Hatred is the highest degree of enmity and we must hate sin
;

that are Christ's have crucified the

flesh.'*

The new

creature

is

unto sin," Rom. vi. the love of sin, that

said to be " dead indeed 11. He is dead as to

it

doth not bewitch

it,

not only for

its
;

hurtful effect, but

its

loathits

and

as to the

power of
;

that

it

doth not

some nature
A.
3.

as one hates a toad for

command.

poisonous quality.
In the

crucifying sin
creature there
;

The new creature is continually some limb of the old Adam

off;

new

is

an op- every day drops

perfectly,
it

though
kill

sin

position against all old things

a Christian

dies daily.

doth not die gracious soul

;

not only complains of sin, but fights against

it.

thinks he can never

deals with sin as
xviii.

Gal. v. 17.

enough he Joab with Absalom, 2 Sam.

sin

Quest. But may not a natural man oppose

si7i

?
;

but there between his opposing creature's opposing it.

l.s^,

Ans. Yes

is

a great difference

took three darts in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom." So, with the three darts of faith,
14.,

"

He

sin,

and the new prayer, aud repentance, a Christian thrusts

through the bod5' of sin
this
;

he never thinks

Tliere

is

of opposition,
sin,

a difference in the manner 1. Tlie natural man opposeth

Absalom is enough dead. Try then, if we have this first sign of the
creature, " old things are passed a-

only for the shame of it, as it eclipseth his credit: but the new creature opposeth sin

new

There is a grieving for siu, a detesting it, an opposing it, a mortifying it for the filth of it, this is the passing away of old things, though it is like rust to gold, or as a stain to beauty. 2. The natural man doth not oppose all not in a legal sense, yet in an evangelical sin. (1.) He doth not oppose inward sins; and though it be not to satisfaction, yet it he fights against such sins as are against is to acceptation.

way."

it is

the spirit of mischief,

the light of a natural conscience, but not athe first risings of vain gainst heart-sins,

2.
is

The second
all

trial

of the

new

creature,

"

things are become new."

Then wa

ON BECOMING A NEW CREATURE

creature
is

627

new

all

over

{jracc,

though

it

be but in

part, yet it is in every part. By nature every branch of the soul is defiled with sin, as every part of wormwood is bitter
;

termine, a witness to accuse or excuse; if conscience doth all these offices right, then
it

is

a renewed conscience,
In the

and speaks
is

peace.
(3.)

so, in rcfjenoration,
is

every part of the

new

creature the will

re-

soul

with grace, therefore " new man," Eph. iv. called the grace is Not a new eye, or a new tongue, but 24.
replenished

newed.
put into
gi'ace

An
it
:

old bowl

the will
it,

may have a new bias having a new bias of

strongly carried
to

a new man,

there
new

put into

is

are

new

new

principles,

aims,

"

dispositions,
all

good.

things are

God

The will of a natural man opposeth when the wind goes one way and the
storm
:

become new."
(1.) In the new creature there is a new understanding, Eph. iv. 23., " Be ye re-

tide another, then there is a

so

it

is

nothcr.

when God's will goes one way and ours aBut when our will iroes with
God's, as the

your mind." The first thing a limner draws in a picture is the eye when God newly limns us, and makes us new creatures, the first thing he draws the new creain our souls is a new eye ture is enlightened to see that which he 1. He knows Christ afnever saw before. ter another manner. An unconverted man,

newed
:

in the spirit of

is

wind with the tide, then there a sweet calm of peace in the soul, the

sanctified will

answers

to God's will, as the

echo to the voice, Ps. xxvii. 8., " ^Vlien thou saidst, seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee, thy face. Lord, will I seek." And
the will being renewed, like the priimnn mobile, it carries all the affections along with it
(4.)

by

the light of

common

grace,

may

believe

The new

creature hath a

new
;

con;

but the new creature knows Christ after another guise, manner, so as to esteem him above all, to
Christ to be the Son of

God

versation.
fore he
fore

Grace alters a man's walk walked proudly, now humbly

bebe-

loosely,
his rule,
iii.

now

holily;

he

makes the

adore him, to touch him by faith, to fetch an healing virtue from him. 2. The new
creature

word
Phil.

20.,

and Christ's life his pattern, " Our conversation is in

knows himself better than he

:

did.
disso,

Wlien the sun shines into a room, it covers all the dust and cobwebs in it

As a ship that is sailing eastward, there comes a gale of wind and blows
heaven."

when
heart,

the light of the Spirit shines into the

it

discovers that corruption which

;

shews a man his own vileness and nothingness, Job xl. 4., " BeA wicked man blinded hold, I am vile." with self-love, admires himself; like Narcissus, that seeing his own shadow upon corporally present."
before lay hid
it
;

westward so, before a man did sail hellward, and on a sudden the Spirit of God comes upon him, and blows him heavenward here is a new conversation. It was a speech of Oecolampadius, " I would not speak nor do any thing that I thought Jesus Christ would not approve of, if he were here
it
:

\V1iere
is

there

is

cir-

the water,

fell

in

love with

it.

Saving-

cumcision of heart, there

circumspection

knowledge works self-abasement: "Lord, of life; if we find it thus, that " all things thou art in heaven, and I am in hell " said are become new," then we are new creaHath this day-star of knowledge tures, and shall go to the new Jerusalem a martyr. shined on our mind ? when we die. in his The new renewed creature is 3d Use. Exhortation. Labour to be new (2.)

The conscience of a natural man is either blind, or dumb, or seared but conscience in the new creature is reconscience.
;

nothing else will avail us, Gal. vi. 15., " Neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creacreatures
:

newed. Let us examine, doth conscience ture." We are for new things; we love check for sin? The least hair makes the new fashions, and why not new hearts ? eye weep; and the least sin makes con- but people are full of prejudices against the
science
smite.

How

did

David's

heart

new

creature.
\.

smite him for cutting off the lap of Saul's

garment guide, a

If we are new creatures, there A good conscience is a star to must be so much strictness in religion, so register to record, a judge to de- much praying and watching, as discourogeth

Ob J.

C28
Ans.
1.

SELECT SERMONS.
Is there

many are no better than baptiheathens. The essential part of relized be obtained without labour ? What pains is taken in scarchinji^ for a vein of silver, or gion lies in the new creature, Rom. ii. 29., " Circumcision is that of the heart." Evseeking for pearl ? Men cannot have the
any thing excellent
to
,

Christian

and would they ery thing hath a name from the better part. world without labour have salvation so? 2. The labour in reli- We call a man a reasonable creature, begion bears no proportion with the reward. cause of his soul, which is the more noble What are a few tears shed, to a weight of part so one is called a Christian, because glory ? The soldier is content to wrestle he acts from a principle of the new creawith difficulties, and undergo a bloody fight, ture, which the carnal man doth not.
;
:

for a glorious victory.

:

In

all

labour for

heaven there is profit it is like a man that digs in a golden mine, and carries away all
the gold.

take more pains to go to hell what pains doth an ambitious man take to climb to the pinnacle of honour? Tullia
3.

Men

road over the dead body of her father to be made queen. How doth the covetous man
tire himself,

new creature fits us for communion with God we cannot converse with God till then. Birds cannot converse with men unless they had a rational nature put into them, nor can men converse with God, unless, being made new creatures, they partake of the divine nature. Communion with God is a mystery to most
2dly,
It is

the

and men take some to get the world? Thus more pains in the service of sin, than oth- bout the court of heaven, have not commubreak his
sleep,

his peace,

every one that hangs about the court doth not speak with the king all that meddle with holy duties, and, as it were, hang a:

do in pursuit of holiness. Men talk of nion with God. It is only the new creapains in religion when God's Spirit comes ture enjoys God's presence in ordinances, It and sweetly converses with him as a child into one it turns labour into delight. was Paul's heaven to serve God, Rom. vii. with a Father. ^dly, The necessity of being new creaThe ways of wisdom " are ways of 22.
ers
;

pleasantness," Prov.

iii.

17.

It is like

walk- tures.
1.

ing

among beds

of spices, which cast forth

is

Till then

we

are odious to God, Zech.

a sweet perfume. Obj. 2. But if we leave our old company,

xi. 8.,

"

My

soul loathed them."

sinner

to

God worse

than a toad

a toad hath
:

and become new

to

creatures,

we

shall be exposed

many
Ans.

reproaches.

Who

are they that speak evil of re-

ligion but sucb as are evil ?

Male de me
Besides,

lois

quunter, sed mail, said Seneca.

it

not better that

good, than that

wicked

Mat.

v.

men reproacb us for being God damn us for being 11., " Blessed are ye when
Stars are never the

men

shall revile you."

no poison, but what God hath put into it but a sinner hath that which the devil hath put into him, Acts v. 3., " AVliy hath Satan A wicked man is filled thy heart to lie ?" possessed with an evil spirit, one man is possessed with the devil of pride, another with the devil of malice, this must needs make persons odious to God, to be possessed with the devil. Thus it is till we be-

less glorious

though they have ugly names come new creatures. 2. Till we are new creatures, our duties given them, as the bear and the dragon. they are but saint's reproaches are like a soldier's scars, are not accepted with God " Because iv. grapes. 1. God accepts no Pet. wild 1 14., If honourable, ye are reproached for the name of Christ, the Spirit man, but where he sees his image. The of God and of glory rests upon you." new creature is called the renewing of God's While men clip your credit to make it weigh image, Eph. iv. 24. When they brought Tamarlane a j)ot of gold, he asked wliat lighter, they make your crown heavier. Having iinswerc'd these objections, I come stamp it had on it, and wlien he saw the now to resume the exhortation above all Roman stamp on it, he refused it so, if God doth not see his own stamp and image things labour to be new creatures. Christianity on true the soul, he rejects the most specious \st.^ In this Motives. It is not baptism makes a services. 2. Duties of religion are not acoth consist.

ON BECOMING A NEW CREATURE.

ceptcd witliout
there
is

629
creature
is

tlie

new

creatiiro,

because

mortality.

The new
;

begotten

wanting which sliouhl make them a sweet savour to God, The lioly oil for tlic tabernacle was to be made of several spices and ingredients, Exod. xxx. 23 now, if any of these spices had been left out, it had not been pleasing. The unretliat

of the incorruptible seed of the word, and

never dies
cost
.ill

ii

lasts as

angels, as heaven.

long as the soul, ag God hath laid out much he should lose
destroyed
all

upon

it,

and

if it perish,

his cost.

When Xerxes

generate

man

leaves out the chief spice in

the temples in Greece, he caused the temple of Diana to be preserved for its beauti;

and that is faith. And, Ileb. ful structure the new creature is God's " Without faith it is impossible to temple, adorned with all the graces, which xi. 6., Paith lays hold on Christ, he will not suffer to be demolished. please God." Richand so is accepted. es take wings, king's crowns tumble in the 3. Such as are not new creatures, but dust nay, some of the graces may cease grow upon the stock of old Adam, get no faith and hope shall be no more, but the they are to them, new creature abideth for ever, 1 John ii. benefit by ordinances as dioscordium in a dead man's mouth 27. virtue lose their nay, not oidy they ordihthbf, The misery of the unrejrenerate nances do them no good, but hurt. It creature; dying so, I may say so of him, were sad, if all a man did eat should turn as Christ said of Judas, Mark. xiv. 21., The word preached is a " sa- " Good were it for that man if he had never to poison.
his duties,
;

vour of death;" it is not healing, but hardening; nay Christ himself is accidentally a " rock of offence," 1 Pet. ii. 8. The wicked stumble at a Saviour, and suck death from tl>e tree of life. 4. Without being new creatures, we cannot arrive at heaven. Rev. xxi. 27., *' There shall in nowise enter into it any
thing that defileth."

been born."

Better have been a 'toad, a serpent, any thing, if not a new creature the old siimer must go into old To])het, Isa.

have nothing to ease their torments, not one drop of honey in all their gall. In the sacrifice of jealousy there was no oil put to it. Numb.
caitiffs will

xxx. 33.

Damned

V.

Heaven

is

not like

Noah's ark, that received clean and unclean. sinner is compared to swine, 2 Pet. ii. 22., and shall a swinish creature tread upon the golden pavement of heaven ? Indeed the frogs came iiito king Pharaoh's court, but in heaven there is no entertainment for such vermin. It is only the new creature quali-

of mercv put to damned to lenify them. Therefore get out of the wild olive of nature labour to be new creatures, lest you curse yourselves at last. sinful life will
In hell there
is

no

oil

the sufferjjigs of the

cause a despairing death.

Quest. IVhat
tares ?

shall

we do

to be

new

crea~

fies

us for glory

this consecrates the heart,

Wait on the ordinances. The preaching of the word is the seed of which
Ans.
1,
;

and only the pure in heart shall see God. the new creature is formed this is the The new creature elevates the soul, as the trumpet which must make the dead in sin loadstone elevates the iron. A soul renew- come out of their grave. ed by grace, is fit to ascend to the heavenA. 2. Pray earnestly for the new crea" Lord, thou hast made me once, ly glory. ture Atlily., The excellency of the new crea- make me again what shall I do with this 2d, The immorta- old heart ? ture l.s/. The nobility. It defiles all it toucheth." lity. The new creature Urge God with his promise, Ezek. xxxvi. 1. The nobility.
:

from heaven it is 26., " A new heart also will I give you." born of God (lod counts none else of the Say, " Lord, I am as the dry bones, but blood royal it ennobles a man's spirit he thou didst cause breath to come into them, as|)ires after the favour of (iod, and looks Ezek. xvii. Do the same to me: 10. no lower than a crown. The new creature breathe a supernatural life of grace into raiseth one to honour ; he excels the prin- me. ces of the earth, Ps. Ixxxix. 27., and is fel4th Use. Tliank fulness. Let such as are low-commoner with angels. 2. The im- new creatures stand upon mount Gerizim,
letch eth
its

pedigree

630
;

SELECT SERMONS.
God, Avho, according to his abundant mercy, hatli begotten us again to a lively hope.'*

ascribe all to blessing and praising God ibe riclies of God's love ; set the crown up-

on the head of free grace. God hath done more for you than if he had made you kings and queens though you have not so much of the world as others, you are happier than the greatest monarchs vipon earth; and, I dare say, you would not change with them. The apostles seldom speak of the new creation, but they join some thankful
;

" Giving thanks to the Father, who hath made us meet for the inheritance The new creature is a sign of in light." election, a badge of adoption. What disCol.
i.

12.,

tinguishing love

make any
hath
left

of

God should us new creatures, when he

is this,

that

the greatest part of the world to

!

perish in their sins

Such as are patterns

praises with

it,

Pet.

i.

3.,

" Blessed be

of mercy, should be trumpets of praise.

'

SERMON
iii.

III.

James
Jl

6.

"

And

the tongue is ajire,

a world of iniquity.'*

he
a
1.

apostle

James

in this scripture, de-

3.

The
;

scribes the evil of the tongue, "

is
fire,

The tongue tongue

riot

tongue they have no

evil

is

the hasty or angry

command
I

of passions,
as a chais

a world of iniquity." a
;

but are carried

holy anger,

away with them,

"

It is

fire."
it

It

burns with intem-

with wild horses.

know

there

an
:

perate heat
tion
2.
;

causeth the heat of conten-

when we

are angry with sin

it

sets others in

a flame.
It

Christ had this anger

when they made

the

"

A world

of iniquity."

was

at first

an organ of God's praise, but it is become an instrument of unrighteousness. All the members of the body are sinful, as presently blown up into exorbitant passion there is bitterness in every branch of worm- this ' tongue is set on fire from hell.' wood, but the tongue is excessively sinful, wrathful spirit is unsuitable to the gospel *' full of deadly poison," v. 8. it is a gospel of peace, and its author is the Doctrine. The tongue, though it be a Prince of Peace, and it is sealed by the little member, yet it hath a world of sin in Spirit, who came in the form of a dove, a it the tongue is an unruly evil. meek peaceable creature. Thou who art 1 sluill shew you some of the evils of the tongue. given much to ])assion, whose tongue is 1. The evil tongue is the silent tongue often set on fire, take heed thou dost, not wholly is it mute in matters of religion it one day in hell desire a drop of water to never speaks of God or of heaven, as if it cool thy tongue. cleaved to the roof of the mouth. Men are 4. The evil tongue is the vain tongue,
to be
;

made

temple a place of merchandise, John ii. 15. That anger is without sin, which is against sin but that is an evil tongue, which is

fluent

and

discoursive

enough

in

other

that vents itself in idle

words
;

Ps. x. 7.,

things, but in matters of religion their lips

" Under his tongue

is

vanity."

A
;

vain

we come into some peo- tongue shews a light heart a good man's ple's company, we do not know what reli- words are Aveighty and ])rudent his li])s gion they are of, whether Jews or Maho- are as a tree of life to feed many his metans, for they never speak of Christ sj)eech is edifying, Prov. x. 20., " The they are like the man in the gospel, who tongue of the just is as choice silver." But, was possessed with a dumb spirit, Mark ix. Prov. XV. 2., " The mouth of fools pours 17. out foolishness:" How many idle away the 2. The evil tongue is the earthly tongue day of grace in frivolous discourses ? A
are sealed up.
If
; ;

men

wise man's words are like gold, weighty, were here, and they looked for and will sink into the hearts of others but an eai*thly eternity these have earthly the words of many are light and featli(>ry minds, John iii. 31., "He that is of the and will make no imjiression. Mat. xii. 30. " Every idle word that men shall speak, earth, speaketh of the earth."
if all

talk of nothing but the world, as

their hopes