V E R. i o. Ephefianf, Chap.z. 259 The acception of the word [created] teachethus, I. That there is no preparant matter in us for falvation , not a capacity. 2. What is the (late of all the faithfull, New creatures. 3. That we cannot refift the work ofGod, it is not in our power to withftandour creation , or a creating force ofGod. In Chrift Itfus ] All of us had our being in the firft LA : So was the fecondAdam the Lord from heaven, wo.rroias. As in Adam radically all our lives were (webeing in his loins, fucceffively to de- fcend from him) fo in Chrift is all the fpirituall life originally, and we come to be quickned in our time. So that a man can no more refift his regeneration, then he could his naturali generation. out of me ye can do nothing, Joh. 15.5. Who is the fubjeót of good works e A Beleever. Were not this abfurd, if one fhould fay, I have paid thy debt, but yet I will have thee pay it too : I have bought filch a thing for thee, yet I will give thee money, and have thee buy it too e So fay they, Chrift hath deferved and purchafed heaven, yet he gives us grace, which is as it were Gods penny, and bids us buy it after. But yet they may fay, le is not altogether bootleffe,becaufe it doth amplifie the worthineffe of Chrifts merit, that we fhould be made by it able to merit in our felves. The Cretians; though ufualllyers, flained not every thing: How ab- furd is this, ifone fhould fay, It greatlyglorifies the regali dignity of a King, that he fhould not onely be fo in his own perfon, but make all his fubjelts fo with him e Befides,it taketh for granted a notable falfhood, namely, that Chrift deferved that we fhould dcferve. What is this new creation a It is nothing but the Divine quality throughout man. Theparts of it (as of the naturali man) are, the ho- lineffeof the foul and body : The manner ofbringing it forth, it is in thefe two points,in the conceptionand formingof it, as in the Infant; Ad conceptionem, there is smarts ardor, Ú Coitus. Hence we learn, What all the faithful! are : They are new creatures in Chrifi ; they are fuch who are created anew, and made partakers of another nature then this they bring from their mothers womb, even a divine nature they partake in, as Peter fpeaketh, 2 Pet. 1. 4. The Apoftle every where telleth the faithfull , that now they were not old creatures : old things arepafed away, all become new, 2 Cor. 5. 17. Ye were fimetirnes thus and thus, ence darkneffe, now light, Ephef. 5.8. Such were fameofyea, I Cor, 6.11. Whofoever is in Chrift, is a new creature, 2 Cor. 5. r 7. Know ye not, famany as have been baptized into Chrift, have been baptized into his death, Rom.6.3. renewed in un- derftanding, in will, in affe ions, in all the members, byhaving them made weapons ofrighteaufneffe, Rom. 6.13. This dothwitneffe to many, that they are not Weevers as yet, and therefore under wrath. Why Becaufe they live in the old man, in their old concupifcences, of hatred, pride, luft, covetoufneffe,un- belief, vanitiesofgoodfellowfhip. Now this doth (hakeagreat many, who Expofirion. In Chrift we do all we do well. Objea. Anfsv. `ÜoEt. Beleeversare in Chrift new creatures. yf Is Manyconvin. cedtobe no trueBcleevers. i
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=