NEW CREATION BY REGENERATION. Sect. 21.This new creature therefore cloth not con- sist in a new course ofactions, but in renewed faculties, with new dispositions, power, and ability, to them and for them. Hence it is called the divine nature, 2 Pet. i. 4. '" He bath given unto us exceeding great and pre cious promises, that by these you might be partakers a of the divine nature." This has yvos,- this divine na- ture, is not the nature of God, whereof in our own per- sons we are not subjectively partakers. And yet a na- ture it is, which is a principle of operation, and that divine or spiritual; namely, an habitual holy principle, wrought in us by God, and bearing his image. By the promises therefore, we are made partakers of a divine supernatural principle, of spiritual actions and opera- tions, which is what we contend for. So the whole of what we intend is declared, Ephes. iv. 22, 23, '24. " Put to off concerning the former conversation the old man, " which is corrupt, according to deceitful lusts; and be "renewed in the Spirit of your mind; and put on the " new man, which after God is created in righteousness a and true holiness." It is the work of regeneration, with respect both to its foundation and progress that is here described. (1.) The foundation of the whole is laid in our being renewed in the spirit of our mind; which the same apostle elsewherecalls, being transform- ed in the renovation of our minds, Rom. xii. 2. That this consists in the participation of a new saving super- natural light, to enable the mind unto spiritual actions, and to guide it therein, shall be afterwards declared. Herein consists our renovation in knowledge after the image of him who created us, Col. iii. 10. And (2.) the principle itself infused into us, created in us, is called the new man, ver. 24. That is the new creature before mentioned; and called the new man, because it consists in the universal change of the whole soul, as it is theprinciple ofall spiritual and moral actions. -And, (d.) It is opposed unto the old man, ver. 23. put off the old man, and put on the new man, ver. 22. 24. New, this old man is the corruption of our nature, as that nature is the principle of all religious, spiritual, and moral actions, as is evidént, Rom. -vi. 6. It is not a corrupt conversation, but the principle and root.of it: For it is distinguished both from the conversation of men, and those corrupt lusts which are exercised there in as to that exercise. And (2.) It is called the new man, because it is the effect and product of.God''s treat- 127 ing power,- and that in a wily of a new creation; see Ephes. i. 18. Col. ii. 12, 13. 2 Thess. i. 11. and it is here said to be created after God, ver. 24. Now, the object of a creating act is an instantaneous production. Whatever preparations there may be for it, and dis- positions unto it, the bringing forth of a new form and being by creation, is in an instant. This therefore can- not consist in a mere reformation of life. So are we said herein to be the workmanshipof God, created its Christ Jesus unto goodworks, Ephes. ii. 10. There is a work of God in as preceding all our good works to- wards him: For before we can work any of them, in order of nature, we must be the workmanship of God, erected unto them, or enabled spiritually for the per- formanee of them.- . Sect. 22.Again; This new man, whereby we are born again, is said to be created in righteousness and true holiness. That there is a respect unto man creat- ed in innocency; wherein he was made in the image of God, 1 suppose will not be denied. It is also express- ed, Col. iii. 10. You have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Look then what was, or wherein consist- ed the image of God in the first man, thereunto answers this new man, which is created of God. Now this did not consist in reformation of life, no, nor in a course of virtuous actions; for be was created in the image of God, before he had done any one good thing at all, or was capable of so doing. But this image of God consisted principally, as we have evinced elsewhere, in the uprightness, rectitude, and ability of his whole soul, his mind, will and affections, in, unto, and for the obe- dience that God required of him. This he was endow- ed withal antecedently unto all voluntary actions where- by he was to live to God. Such therefore must be our regeneration, or the creation of the new man in us. It is the begetting, infusing, creating of a new saving principle of spiritual life, light, and power in the soul, antecedent unto true evangelical reformation of life, in order of -enture, enabling men thereunto, according unto the mind ofGod. Sect. 23.Hereunto accords that of our Saviour, Luke vi. 43. " A good tree bringeth slot forth corrupt " bait, neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good "fruit," compared. with - Matth. vii. 18. The fruit 'fol- loweth thenature of the tree. And there is no way to 21
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