2,64. Iyfe ï Many convin- ced to be ftill old men. Prex. Caution for comfort of the godly. ,Ephe¡ians, Chapuz. V H R.10. fliewed in every new creature. Look at Paul, in fiead ofperfecuting the Goffel, Gal. 1.23. when he was converted, hepreachedthe Cop! in ficadof perfecuting the profeffors of it, he didwith joy fuffer for it, and did gather with diligence to relieve the neceflities of Chriflian profeffors : In fiead of converfing in the flelb, he hadhis converfation in heaven while he was on earth, Phil.3.20. Ifone be rifenwith Chriff, then he will ftek the things above, Coloff. 3.1. ofwhich he bath been careleffe; then he will labour to mortifie his corruption which he hath cherifhed, then hewill think, fpeak, and work rightcoufly: For as the naturali life doth work forth in his aetions, in fenfe, motion, breathing, and in difcourfe ; fo this lifeof God cannot be idle, this in the new creature of the heart will be working, breathing it felt in fpi- rituall fighs and groans. And look as on the contrary, the old man hathhis works ; Ce1.3.9. Put o. fthe oldman, with his works : fo hath this alto. Grace it is called a Law, Rom. 7.23. becaufe it doth com- mand ina man, he cannot fin, for thefeed abideth, t Joh.3.9. And fet him about works which are futable to it; What are thefeworks ! The puttingoffall evil, flying the corruptions in the world through loft, :Pet. 1. q.. keeping our fouls unfpotted of the fins of the times, the workingof righteoufneffe : Now all righteous duties are, either obe- dience to things commanded , or Chriftian fuffering for Chrifl, and for the Gofpcl; in both is thenew creature imployed, Many hence are reproved, who will dream that their hearts are good, while their aEtions are naught; as if God did make a new creature for old works: if yee were of god yee woulddo the works ofGod. Again , it doth let us fee, how we may know that we are made new creatures, even thus, if we havegood works : God cannot have the heart, while the devil haththe works ; following our own hearts, fwearing, lying, &c. A good tree will have good fruit; out ofthe evil heart come adulteries, murthers, and idle talking, fellowfhip with the unfruitfull works of darkneffe. As is the fountain, fuch will be the ftreams that flow from it. When corruption fo far prevaileth,to carry men after the pleafures of fin, vanities of the times, eagerly feeking the commodities of this life, with negle&ofthings heavenly; thefe cannot Hand with this new man. Many think, if theycan the Creed, have Chriftendom, be or- derly Churchmen,fay theLords Prayer,receiveat Eafter ; they think this is Chriftianity enough : and that now they have learned Chrift, and are become new men. As for putting off finfull lulls, to which naturally their hearts incline, they think it needleffe ; and that God, who hath made, and knoweth our natures, dothnot expert that we fhould be free from that which isa nature in us : But this is to get our Lefton by roat ; he that crucifiech not his naturali liftsand inclinati- ons, hath no union norcommunion with Chrift. But ifany weak foul fhould think , becaufe they feel fin raging in them, and themfelves captive to it, that therefore fin is not mortified in 1
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