2.58 of the Kew Creature.' S a c r. V point deferveth diligent explication,becaufeit will be i mirror or glaf[e to f e your felves in , asalfo to know whether you maygo oncomfortably in the way youare in , orelfe wholly begina new courfe : for the Apoftleby this tuppofeth, That a man,may live many years in the outward priviledgesof the Church, and in the dif. chargeof the publickduties which relate to Gods worfhip , and yet be an old crea- ture hermit begin all anew again : Dó not therefore think it orange, thouwho haft ferved God, as thou thinkeft, this fiftyor threefcoreyearsif it be cold thee that thou arcyet to begin to be aDifciple of Chrif1. The Apoftle in this Text tels us what is true Chriftianity , wherein the marrow of ChriUian Religion confifks, viz. Not inexternal ditties , but in a new fan&ification ofthe whole man : This is the Holy of Holies , whereas duties are like the outward porchOf the Temple : I (hall proceed in this method. What tiew r, r !ballinform youwhat the phrafe doth not imply. creaturedoth 2. Wrat it doth oppofe. not imply. This expreflion,'4 newcreature, doth nor imply a. It loth not Fit f}, As ifthere never wererock awort ofgod in the world,before the times ofthe imply that gof,elForalthocgh this phrafebeufedin the newTeftament,yetShem,Enoch,Adam, there was no fuch work be_. after repentance,all their were new creatures. So that this new 'creation was as fore the times loonas ever there was anygodly man in the world : It is true, the Gofpel-admi. ofthe Gofpel. niftradons have manyprerogatives above that of the Law: hence it is called in a peculiar manner , The ICingdome ofHeaven , but yet this work of God in regene- ratingand renewing, was in that formerdifpenfationas well as now, though it may benot fomany innumber werebegotten untoGod.Here Rachel is moue fruit- full then Leah, as I may fo allude. Though God ceafed from this work of Creation on the feventh day in refped of temporal obje&s, yet not of fpiri- tuaL Nor :.. Not that Secondly , la this newcreaturefo tobe tonddet:lood, as ifitfhouldAvis.; be feelt, new faithe'c. ingafter nettreligion,a newfaith, nee worfhip, and fo fhould every day have tome Should betook- new thing. No, but theDo&rine, the pure worfhip of Chril, the holy' life coat- cdafter. mended in the word, this new creature applyeth it felf to, receiveth it without any further change or alteration, thoughthe ufe and euftomof it be never fo old. Indeed when a Church is become like the Chaos at &(t, darknefs ofignorance and prophanenefs,fpreading it f lfall over ; then as the Apoftle preffeth, r Cor. 3. They are tobecome anew temp: butwhen the pureDo&rive andway ofGod is re- ceived and imbr"aced , there alit to idled new things, is as ifa man fhould not be content with the Sunor Earth, but todefire a new Sun anda new Earth. Though this new creature is to grow inknowledge, faith, and other graces,yet they, are not to look for new thingsabove what is written. TheScripture is like the body ofthe Sun, into whichGod hath put all light : And faithTurtellian well, Hoc primam creditors cum creditrrut, gesodnihilultra crederedebemos, This we firlt believe , as loon as ever we beleeve, That theScriptures are like Hercules his pillars with this Motto, Nephis ultra. 3. Not that it Thirdly,Thisnewcreature is not fo to be underffood,as ifit didmake a manfubflan- makes a man tiallyand effentially new. For a man might ask , Where is this new creature ? Doth efleuiàlly, new it givea new foul ? Anew body ? Another kind of natural life then other men have ? No,this new creation is not in refpe& offubfiancials , though the fcripture calls it the Newman , but onelybecaufe ofAccidentals. A man by this path a new faith, new repentance, new affe&ions, new delires, and a new converfation; and certainly this moral change is of as great efficacy and wonder, as a natural'. change. It is not therefore to lie expe&ed as if this grace ofGod fhould .work bodily changes , though it makes a change of the body. Thy eye is changed , thy Tongue is changed , for thefe were inftruments of evil, but now 4. Not that is of good. isin life ooely. Fourthly , Thisnew change orcreature is not fa to be explained, as ifit were axe- 1
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