Burgess - Houston-Packer Collection BT715 .B85 1652

S s c T. V. Of the New Creature. f9 ly in the outward liver of Mess. For though it demonftrate it felfthere inpart, yet the Choyceft, and molt Noble operation, is within upon the anderftanding. heart, andwill ofaman. This new creation is moll potent there, Where it is invifibleto the bodily eye. For ifthis new creaturewere nomore then anoutward change in our lives; then we might finde fuchin Plato's or Socrares, and IriflotlesSchool, Todefine aman to be a godly man by outwardduties onely; isto define a man by his body, and not by his foul, which is the main part t though therefore thou haft given over thy formte lead andungodly praices , yet we cannot orefently fay, Behold , a new creature for though all old outward thingsare patted away , yet notall old inward. Therefore the promife of this great work of God is primari- ly uponthe heart, and inward parts of a man : and David, though totally ab- dicating his former wickednefs , yet cryeth out , Create in me a clean heart, Ter. 3 t. Pfal, 51. Neither in the Fifth place is thisnew creature to beunderltood, as if there Were q, Not that nc no reliques oftke oldcorruption infucka man. As if in the defcriptionofthis work, reliquesof the you malt all expect to findenothing but what is the meet workof God in you, not old man re- any thing ofyour old (elves, or theold Serpent. No, although Chriit whenbe cu., main. red any man ofhis bodilydifeafe,did it perfectly and prefently , yet the care of our fouls is by degrees, andhach much imperfe tioncleaving to it. There are fome old dregs in thisnew wine: yea thereis not any one duty, or aft ofGrace can be doneby this new creature fo perfectly and purely, but that fome drofs may be found in it. 'Paul wasanew creature, like the fun among the [tars, yet he found Evilprefentwith himWhen be woulddogood t And this God in great wifedome is pleafed to do to keepas timbre, and low in our Crises ; to be alwaies thirsting and panting after Chrifts grace: That as long as this flux of blood rmnneth, thou thouldeft alwaies be defirous to touch at leaf[ the hornofhis garment. This is neeef- fary to the godly,who many tunas think this mountain ofgrace is fo high,that they (hall neverclimb to the top ofit. In the fecond place, Let us confiderthe nature of this new creature by what it op- What the new pofeth: For when the Apoftle faith, anew creature, he fieppofech there are creature is uy- Tome old things to which this ftands diametrically oppoLte. Therefore the Pored to. Apoftle, a Cor. S. ay. exprefly mentioneth the generail of them , when he faith , Old things are pared away , andall things are become New. Let us therefore examine what thofe Old things are, in whofe room this New Crea- ture comes. Fiftt , Thereare the old thingsof fin and angodlinefs. The glorious fan and a I. To theold dark night can as well (land together , as this newCreature ; and thy old fwearing, things of uts- - lying, thy old luîs and prophanenefs : As foon as ever Godworks this new work 'Patinefs: upon thee, prefently chofe obi things do not onely pafs away, but are thrown a- way with great deteflation : Asit is faid of Naaman, a King. S. t. Thar he Was a great man, a man ofmuch eminency, but be was a leper, and till he was wafhed,he was loachfomand unclean. So may we fay ofmany a great man,a rich man,a learn- ed, but if anungodlyman, He is altogether unclean, The Apoftle !peakingof the Corinthians whatthey were formerly, Riotous, Thieves,Vnclean, effeminate, but yeare loathed, but yeare ;unified, but ye are fanhfíed, n Cor. 6.1a. Such black- mores mart have their skins madewhite: Oh then, Why is it that fo many who bear theglorious profeflionof a Chriftian, fhould yet wallow in filch mire, and vomit ? The Apoftle reckons up manygrofs fins, and tels them, TheyJhould not befo much as named among fl them, much leis then, praftifed, and livedin. Oh, what Mi- nder can lift up his voice loud enough, like a trumpet, to declare meta people their trapfgreffons. Thouart to be a new creature, a new building, Why then is there that old rubbifh in thy life? Why is not that old houle pulled down ? Why is it that cußons, and the Divel, and thy wicked heart is flronger to keep thee in chef bonds, thenGods word, andhisMini(tryare able tounlofe thee out of them. Id LI a other

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