NÉw CREATION 131- REGENERATION, Ills ed on them, As had multitudes of the primitive Chris- tians, were no otherwise regenerate; nor by any Other internal efficiency of the Holy Spirit, than every one is at this day, who is really Made, partaker of this grace and privilege. Neither were those miraculous opera- tions of the Holy Spirit, which were visible unto others, any part of the work of regeneration, nor did they be- long necessarily unto its for many were the subjects of them, and received miraculous gifts by taem, who were never regenerate; and many were regenerate, who were never partakers of them. And it is a proof of the highest ignorance and unacquaintedness imaginable with these things, to affirm that in the work of regeneration, the Holy Spirit wrought of old miraculously in and by outwardly visibleoperations; but now only in an human and rational way, leading our understanding by the rules of reason; unless the more external mode and sign of his operation be intended for all ever were and ever shall be regenerate by the same kind of operation, and the same effect of the Holy Spirit on the faculties of their souls: which will be farther manifest if we con- sider; Sect. 13. -1. That the condition of all moll as unre- generate is absolutely the same. One is not by nature more unregenerate than another. All men since the fall, and the corruption of our nature by sin, are in the Came state and condition towards God. They are all alike alienated from him, and all alike under his curse, Baal. 1i. 5. John iii. 5, 36. 'tom. iii. 19. chap: v. f5, 16, 17, 18. Ephes. ii. 3. Tit. iii. 3, 4. There are de- greesof wickedness in them that are unregenerate; but there is no difference as to state and condition between them, all are unregenerate alike. As amongst those who are regenerate, there are different degrees of holi- ness and righteousness; one it may be far ekceeding another; yet there is between them no difference of state and condition; they Are all equally regenerate. Ye , some may be in a greater forwardness and preparation for the work itself, and thereby in a greater nearness to the state of itthan others; but the state itself is incapa- ble of such degrees. Now it must be thesame work for the kind and nature of it; which relieves and translates men out of the same state and condition. That which gives the formal reason 6f the change of their state, of their translation from death to life; is and must be the same in all. If you can fix oh any man from the foun- Iì h dation of the world, who was not equally born in sin; and by nature dead in trespasses and sins with all other men; theman Christ Jesus only excepted, I would grant that he might have another kind of regeneration than others have, but that I know he would stand in need of none at all: Sect. 14. -2. The state, whereinto men are brought by regeneration is the same, Nor is it in its essence or nature capable of degrees, so that one should be more regenerate than another. Lvery one that is born of God is equally so, though one may be more beautiful than another, as having the image of his heavenly Fa- ther more evidently impressed on him, though not more truly: Men may be more or less holy, more or less sanctified; but they cannot be more or less regenerate. All Children that are born into the world, are equally, born, though some quickly outstrip others in the perfec- tions and accomplishments of nature. And all born of God are equally so, though some speedily outgo others in the accomplishments and perfections of grace. There was then never but one kindof regeneration in this world, the essential form of it being specifically the same in all. 3, That the efficient cause of this work, the grace and power whereby it is wrought, with the internal manner of the communication of that grace, are the same, shall be afterwards declared: To this standard them-all must come: Menmay hear themselves high, and despise this whole work of the Spirit of God, or set up an imagination of their own in the room thereof; but whether they will or no, they must be tried by it; and no less depends on their interest in it, than their admission into the kingdomof God. And let them pre- tend what they please, the true reason why any despise the new birth, is because they hate a new life. He that cannot endure to live to God, will as little endure to hear of being born of God. But we shall, by the scripture, inquire what we are taught concerning it, and declare both what it is not, of things which falsely pretend thereunto, and then what it is indeed. Sect. 15.First; Regeneration doth not consist in a participation of the ordinance of baptism, and a pro-: fession of the doctrine of repentance. This is all that . some will allow unto it, to the utter rejection and over- throw of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the dispute in this matter is not, whether the ordinances of 21
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