Sa c T . V. of the NewCreature. 271 For t. This is the veryneceffary ingredient in our couvcrfion and turning to God : For in that thouart not admitted co pardon and confolatioa, either God mua be blamed , or thou muttbe blamed : feeing Godwas anadverfary to thee, and thou an enemy to him, the fault is fomewhere, and either God mull acknow- ledge(I (peak with reverence) that hehath done ill to threaten thee, to afflict thee,' tobreak thee , or thou molt confeffe the blame lyeth upon thee. Now itwould be blafphemy to charge God fo foolifhly ; but it is pietyto charge thy felt heavily ; and what do the words asatvai,, Repent, or be wife after the fad ? but imply that thouhaft been foolifh, and out ofthywits all the while thou livedfl in Inch ungodly courfes; fo " sc,a> admonition,which the ungodly man is with all readi., neffeto receive, is as much as putting a mind , anunderdanding in a man , as if a man were a bead before, and when he is converted, God breaths a rational foul into him again, at leal' gives a fandified , and right oie of reafon. Again the word G-rrspots, Converfion, doth it not fuppofe an ovation, or a turning away fromGod ? So that thereafon thoubringefl: againd this change, is molt for it. Coliah is cat offwith his own fword : Thou pleaded if thou art a new Creature, thoumutt condemn all thy former life , all thy by-pall converfation : very good reafon ; For how is it repentanceelfe ? How isit converfion elfe ? Neither is chis fuchdifhonour , forGod onely cannot repent becaufe ofhis infinite perfedion,ha- ving no ignorance in his underflanding, or mutability in his will, which are the grounds ofrepentance:ßut asfor man naturallycorrupted and defiled,he is aldai- bil aliad, gnaw panitentiammum, Born, at loftnew regenerated to donothing but repent ofhis former converfation. Do not then think with thy felf, IfI leavemy old life,my former courfes, I anti confefs a blame upon my klf. Alas, in this ve- ry thing lieth thegreat work of anewcreature;in this particular thou art often to excercife thy felf. z. Stick not at this to flumeand condemn thy former life : For this is the eu: ly neceffary qualificationfor thy admilion into grace. Thou muff come withg facrificeofatonement ifthouwilt beaccepted :That is, Chrifis blood which is on- ly flied for chofe that feel themfelves loft. If we confeßàour fins, is oftenthe con- ditionespreffed, for the ScepterofGrace tobe held out tous, Levi:. 5.5. t `fobn . 9. And the Aponte Taal, If wewouldjudge ourfelves, weJhould not be judged of the Lord, I Cor, In. And David, Hecoofeffetb and bewaileth bis }all, that god may bejutiftedandclearedwhen he is je dged, Pfalm y r.Godwill receive a Publi- can , not a Pharifec; If thougiver glory to God, by judging thy own ways , clearinghim,though he fhoulddamn thee , this is the moil compendious way to obtain grace. Plutarchfaith, Some heathens intheirApplications to their gods, would sot carryeither Gold, or Iron, or afief into the Templewith them, but lay a6 Ode when ¡hey went topray , to lignifie they didnot truant earthly wealth or greatnefs, but Godsgoodnefs and power only.And thusit ought tobe in ourfpiritual fuppli- cations to the true God, we mutt lay afide our own righteoufnefs, andgoto Chris, as the menllruous woman who had fpent all thehad upon JPhifitians, yet could not be cured , Oh therefore befo far from fearing this duty, that rather thou wilt forwardly offer thy Pelf thereunto : fay the way to get honour and praife with God, is to difhonour my Pelf, and magnifiehim. His mercy inpardoning, his grace in forgiving,will be fo much themore admirable,by how muchunworthy andvile I am in my owneyes. g. Ifthou art oncefenjbleof theguilt andfilthof thy old waits, thou cantnot hat glory in that thouart changed. Paul laid , When be was achild, he .Bake at a child, but when a man,asa man, Thouwilt lay, When I was a beat(, I lived as a bead , but fince anew creature,asa new Creature. What profit have you of thofe tbinga Whereof yee arenow a/hamed?Rom. 6. at. Thus Paul, Withwhat flume and bit. ternefsdothhe recallhis Blafphemies, and perfecutions ? t Tim. 1.13. If there- foreGodhath oncemade thee attainedof thy old wales, thou wiltnot fear toac- knowledge all thy formerlife wasout ofthe way : Thou wilt remember the daies of 3
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