it but in others it is more infenfibly distilled in their tender years, by the bleffing of God, upon religious education, and there it is more indifcernible.

Secondly, Though a great change be wrought, yet much natural corruption ftill remains for their humiliation and daily exercise; and this is a ground of fear and doubting; they fee not how fuch corruptions are confiftent with the new creature.

Thirdly, In fome, the new creature fhews itself mostly in the affectionate part, in defires and breathings after God; and but little in the clearness of their understandings, and strength of their judgments; for want of which they are entangled and kept in darknefs most of their days.

Fourthly, Some Chriftians are more tried, and exercised by temptation from Satan than others are; and thefe clouds darken the work of grace in them.

Fifibly, There is great difference and variety found in the natural tempers and conftitutions of the regenerate; fome are of a more melancholy, fearful, and fufpicious temper than others are; and are therefore much longer held under doubtings and trouble of fpirit; nevertheless, what differences foever thefe things make, the change made by grace is a marvellous change.

Inf. 7. Laftly, How incongruous are carnal ways and courses to the fpirit of Chriftians! who being new creatures, can never delight or find pleasure in their former finful companions and practices. Alas! thofe things are now most unfuitable, loathfome and deteftable, how pleasant foever they once were; that which they counted their liberty, would now be reckoned their greatest bondage; that which was their glory, is now their fhame; Rom. vi. 21. "What "fruit had ye then in thofe things, whereof ye are now afhamed; "for the end of thofe things is death:" they need not be preffed by others, but will freely confefs of themselves, what fools and mad men they once were. None can cenfure their former conver fation more freely than themselves do, 1 Tim. 13, 14.

Second ufe, for conviction.

If none be in Chrift but new creatures, and the new creation makes fuch a change, as hath been defcribed; this may convince us, how many of us deceive ourselves, and run into dangerous and fatal mistakes, in the greatest concernment we have in this world. But before I urge this ufe, I defire none may make a perverfe and ill ufe of it; let not the wicked conclude, from hence, that there is no fuch thing as true religion in the world, or that all who do profefs it, are but hypocrites; neither let the godly injure themfelves by that which is defigned for their benefit: let none conclude, that seeing there are fo many mistakes committed about this new creature, that therefore affurance must needs be impoffible,

as the Papists affirm it to be. The proper use that should be made of this doctrine, is, to undeceive falfe pretenders, and to awaken all to a more deep and thorough fearch of their own conditions which being precautioned, let all men be convinced of the following truths:

First, That the change made by civility, upon fuch as were lewd and profane, is, in its whole kind and nature, a different thing from the new creature; the power and efficacy of moral virtue is one thing, the influence of the regenerating Spirit is quite another thing, however fome have ftudied to confound them. The Heathens excelled in moral and homolitical virtues: Plato, Ariftides, Seneca, and multitudes more, have outvied many profeffed Chriftians, in justice, temperance, patience, &c. yet were perfect ftrangers to the new creation. A man may be very strict and temperate, free from the pollutions of the world, and yet a perfect ftranger to regeneration all the while, John iii. 10.

Secondly, That many strong convictions and troubles for fin may be found where the new creature is never formed. Conviction, indeed, is an antecedent unto, and preparative for the new creature, as the bloffoms of the tree are to the fruit that follows them; but as fruit doth not always follow where thofe bloffoms and flowers appear, so neither doth the new creature follow all convictions and troubles for fin. Conviction is a common work of the Spirit both upon the elect and reprobate; but the new creature is formed only in God's elect. Convictions may be blafted, and vanish away, and the man that was under troubles for fin, may return again, with "the dog to his vomit, and the fow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire," 2 Pet. ii. 22. but the new creature never perifhes, nor can confift with fuch a return to fin.

Thirdly, That excellent gifts and abilities, fitting men for fervice in the church of God, may be where the new creature is not; for these are promifcuously difpenfed by the Spirit both to the regenerate and unregenerate: Mat. vii. 22. « Many will fay unto “me, in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophefied in thy "name?" Gifts are attainable by ftudy; prayer and preaching are reduced to an art; but regeneration is wholly fupernatural. Sin, in dominion, is confiftent with excellent gifts, but wholly incompatible with the new creature. In a word, these things are fo different in nature from the new creature, that they oft-times prove the greateft bars and obftacles in the world to the regenerating work of the Spirit. Let no man, therefore, truft to things whereby multitudes deceive and destroy their own fouls. Reader, it may coft thee many an aking head to attain gifts, but thou wilt find an aking heart for fin if ever God make thee a new creature.

Fourthly, Be convinced that multitudes of religious duties may

be performed by men, in whom the new creature was never formed. Though all new creatures perform the duties of religion, yet all that perform the duties of religion, are not new creatures; regeneration is not the only root from which the duties of religion fpring, Ifa. lviii. 2. "Yet they feek me daily, and delight to know "my ways, as a nation that did righteoufnefs, and forfook not the ordinances of their God, they afk of me the ordinance of juftice, "they take delight in approaching to God." Thefe are but weak and flippery foundations for men to build their confidence and hopes upon.

The third ufe, for examination.

Next, therefore, let me perfuade every man to try the state of his own heart in this matter, and closely confider and weigh this great question: Am I really and indeed a new creature? or am I an old creature ftill, in a new creature's drefs and habit? Some light may be be given for the difcovery hereof, from the confideration of the

I. Antecedents, 2. Concomitants, 3. Confequents,

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of the new creation.

Firft, Weigh and confider well the antecedents of the new creature: have thofe things paffed upon your fouls, which ordinarily make way for the new creature, in whomfoever the Lord forms it ?

1. Hath the Lord opened the eyes of your understanding in the knowledge of fin and of Chrift? Hath he fhewed you both your difeafe and remedy, by a new light thining from heaven into your fouls! Thus the Lord doth wherever he forms the new creature, Acts xxvi. 18.

2. Hath he brought home the word with mighty power and 1 efficacy upon your hearts to convince and humble them? This is the method in which the new creature is produced, Rom. vii. 9. I Thef. i. 5.

3. Have thefe convictions over-turned your vain confidences, and brought you to a great concern and inward diftrefs of foul, making you to cry, What shall we do to be faved? These are the ways of the Spirit, in the formation of the new creature, Acts xvi. 29. Acts ii. 37. If no fuch antecedent works of the Spirit have paffed upon your hearts, you have no ground for your confidence, that the new creature is formed in you.

Secondly, Confider the concomitant frames and workings of spirit which ordinarily attend the production of the new creature, and judge impartially betwixt God and your own fouls, whether they have been the very frames and workings of your hearts.

1. Have your vain fpirits been compofed to the greatest serious

nefs, and most folemn confideration of things eternal, as the hearts of all those are whom God regenerates? When the Lord is about this great work upon the foul of man, whatever vanity, levity, and finful jollity was there before, it is banished from the heart at this time; for now heaven and hell, life and death, are before a man's eyes, and these are the most awful and folemn things that ever our thoughts converfed with in this world. Now a man of the most airy and pleafant conftitution, when brought to the fight and fenfe of thofe things, faith of "laughter, It is mad; and "of mirth, What doth it?" Eccl. ii. 2.

2. A lowly, meek, and humble frame of heart accompanies the new creation; the foul is weary and heavy laden, Mat. xi. 28. Convictions of fin have plucked down the pride and loftinefs of the fpirit of man, emptied him of his vain conceits; those that were of lofty, proud, and bluftering humours before, are meekened and brought down to the very duft now: it is with them (to speak allufively) as it was with Jerufalem, that lofty city, Ifa. xxix. 1, 4. "Wo to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt ; thou "fhalt be brought down, and fhalt fpeak out of the ground, and "thy fpeech fhall be low out of the duft." Ariel fignifies the Lion of God; fo Jerufalem in her profperity was; other cities trembled at her voice; but when God brought her down, by humbling judgments, then fhe whispered out of the duft. So it is in this cafe.

3. A longing, thirfting frame of spirit accompanies the new creation; the defires of the foul are ardent after Chrift; never did the hireling long for the fhadow, as the weary foul doth for Christ, and rest in him: if no fuch frames have accompanied that which you take for your new birth, you have the greatest reafon in the world to fufpect yourfelves under a delufion.

Thirdly, Weigh well the effects and confequents of the new creature, and confider whether fuch fruits as these are found in your hearts and lives.

1. Wherever the new creature is formed, there a man's courfe and converfation is changed; Eph. iv. 22. « That ye put off, con"cerning the former converfation, the old man, which is cor"rupt, according to the deceitful lufts; and be renewed in the "fpirit of your mind:" the new creature cannot but blush and be afhamed of the old creatures converfation, Rom. vi. 21.

2. The new creature continually oppofes and conflicts with the motions of fin in the heart; Gal. v. 17. “The spirit lufteth "againft the flefh." Grace can no more incorporate with fin, than oil with water: contraries cannot confift in the fame fubject longer than they are fighting with each other; if there be no conflict with fin in thy foul, or if that conflict be only betwixt the

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SERM. XXVI. confcience and affections, light in the one, ftruggling with luft in the other; thou wanteft that fruit which fhould evidence thee to be a new creature.

3. The mind and affections of the new creature are fet upon heavenly and fpiritual things, Col. iii. 1, 2. Eph. iv. 23. Rom. viii. 5. If, therefore, thy heart and affections be habitually earthly, and wholly intent upon things below, driving eagerly after the world, as the great business and end of thy life, deceive not thyfelf, this is not the fruit of the new creature, nor confiftent with it.

4. The new creature is a praying creature, living by its daily communion with God, which is its livelihood and fubfiftence, Zech. xii. 10. Acts ix. 11. If, therefore, thou be a prayerlefs | foul, or if, in all thy prayers, thou art a ftranger to communion with God if there be no brokenness of heart for fin in thy confeffions, no melting affections for Chrift and holiness in thy fupplications; furely Satan doth but baffle and delude thy over-credu lous foul, in perfuading thee that thou art a new creature.

Fifthly, The new creature is reftlefs, after falls into fin, until it have recovered peace and pardon; it cannot endure itself in a state of defilement and pollution, Pfal. li. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. It is with the confcience of a new creature, under fin, as it is with the eye, when any thing offends it; it cannot leave twinkling and watering till it have wept it out: and in the very fame restless state it is, under the hiding of God's face and divine withdrawments, Cant. v. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. If, therefore, thou canft fin and fin again without fuch a burdenfome fenfe of fin, or reftleffinefs, or folicitude how to recover purity and peace, with the light of God's countenance fhining, as in days paft, upon thy foul; delude not thyself, thou haft not the figns of a new creature in thee.

Fourth ufe, of exhortation.

If the new creation be a found evidence of our interest in Chrift, then hence let me persuade all that are in Christ, to evidence themselves to be fo, by walking as it becomes new crea

tures.

The new creature is born from above, all its tendencies are heaven-ward; accordingly, fet your affections on things that are above, and let your converfation be in heaven: if you live earthly and fenfual lives, as others do, you must cross your new nature therein: and can those acts be pleasant unto you which are done with fo much regret? wherein you must put a force upon your own fpirits, and offer a kind of violence to your own hearts. Earthly delights and forrows are fuitable enough to the unregenerate and fenfual men in the world, but exceedingly contrary unto that Spirit by which you are renovated. If ever you will act becoming the